Moria Dailey
Published: March 8, 2006
Senate Bill 246, sponsored by Senator Lee Constantine (R – Altamonte Springs), if passed, would require students to pay 75 percent more than the in-state tuition price after taking 120 percent of the required credits for their program of study. At PJC, this would mean students who have more than 72 credit hours would have to pay $109.11 per credit as opposed to the normal $62.35.
The bill was originally proposed last year, and was passed through both the Florida House and Senate; Governor Jeb Bush vetoed the bill, however, and it was not enacted.
“They’re against that [SB246]; it does nothing to help students. Why support a bill that hurts students rather than helps them,” Dennis Reynolds, director of student activities, said.
The bill does include several exemptions.
People who are forced to withdraw from their classes due to personal or medical hardships are exempt from the penalty; also, credits earned through internships, in accelerated programs, in certificate and recertification programs, as well as remedial and ESOL classes aren’t counted.
People who are pursuing a double major are also exempt, as are credits taken by the military.
Joshua Simmons, the president of the Milton Campus Student Government Association, said that he felt the excess credit hours bill was the most important issue that the SGA will be facing during their trip to Tallahassee.
“Personally I would like to take classes beyond my required A.A. I would like to venture and just kind of broaden my knowledge of certain courses,” Simmons said.
Many other members of PJC’s SGA feel the same way; the excess credit hours bill is a major issue for many students.