Role of higher education

The Gainesville (Fla.) Sun: In the same week that the University of Florida was recognized for being a great value, Gov. Rick Scott made the case that state university tuition should stay flat.

Both things happen with such regularity that they’re hardly news at this point. It would be nice, for once, if the governor also acknowledged that keeping tuition low benefits students only if universities get the state funding and support needed to maintain quality.

Last week, Kiplinger’s Personal Finance announced that UF ranked as the third-best value for in-state tuition among public colleges and universities. UF compared favorably to its peers in measures of quality such as graduation and retention rates ....

Just before the rankings were released, Scott declared his intention to keep tuition at UF and other state universities from rising.

Economic growth

While universities should be viewed as engines of the state’s economic growth, the governor’s heavy-handed approach to higher education can actually restrict that role.

As technology rapidly changes the job market, it’s perhaps more important to ensure students are taught to think critically rather than prepare them for a specific job that might disappear in a few years.

Research universities such as UF have traditionally been the places to instill such skills in students, while state colleges have been more about vocational training.

As Scott blurs those lines, he risks further eroding the ability of universities to prepare students for whatever careers the future holds.