A new California tuition law allows for up to six of the state’s schools to charge extra for their more popular courses, but UF classes are currently safe from the price increase.
UF spokesman Steve Orlando said if tuition changes of that nature were to come to Florida, the change would have to come from the Florida Legislature and the Board of Governors because the university doesn’t control its tuition prices.
“That decision would have to come from somewhere above us,” Orlando said. “I’m not aware of any conversations like that taking place here.”
The California bill, successor to Santa Monica College’s two-tiered tuition plan that was canceled in 2012, was signed Thursday. The California Community College Chancellor’s Office announced in 2012 that it found the practice would not be permissible under the California Education Code.
Judy Guevara, a 19-year-old UF psychology sophomore, said classes are already expensive without tuition hikes for popular courses.
“A lot of popular classes are required,” Guevara said. “It would prevent people who can’t pay for them from completing their degrees.”
A version of this story ran on page 1 on 10/15/2013 under the headline "Popular classes don’t cost more at UF"
