FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions
- Which universities are included in the 'State University System'?
- Where can I find information on admission to a state university?
- What should I do if I am denied admission to my university of choice?
- Where can I find information on Florida residency for tuition purposes?
- Where can I find information on Bright Futures?
- Do I need to attend the university during the summer semester? Will Bright Futures pay for summer courses?
- How can I determine if course credits will transfer?
- What are common prerequisites and how do I know if I need them for my major?
- What do I need to know about returning to the university system after being absent for a period of time, ranging from several months to several years?
- How can I file a complaint against a public university?
- What do I need to know about university housing contracts?
- How can I file a complaint regarding university housing?
- Why did the Board of Governors recently approve a system-wide enrollment freeze?
- How can I file a consumer complaint concerning a particular private/independent institution?
- Where can I obtain a copy of my transcript from a private college or technical school that is now closed?
- Where can I find information about distance education courses and programs offered by Florida institutions?
- Are distance education degrees recognized as real college degrees by employers and other educational institutions?
- Is distance education my best option to get or finish a degree, if I cannot attend on-campus because of work/family/other constraints?
- Can I be certified to teach in Florida with a degree in Education from my institution of choice?
- Where do I go to get a "seal" for my degree to prove to my home country that my degree is legitimate?
- How do I have my degree from a university in another country evaluated so that I can pursue further postsecondary education and/or obtain a job in the U.S.?
- What resources are available within the State University System to students with disabilities?
- What are the requirements for the Purple Heart Tuition Waiver? How do I apply for this waiver?
- Who should I contact about the Talented 20 program?
- What opportunities are available for students who come from adoptive or foster homes, or are in the custody of the Department of Children and Family Services?
- What is the Academic Common Market? Who is eligible for entry?
Which universities are included in the 'State University System'?
The State University System of Florida is the public university system, and includes 11 universities: Florida A&M University, Florida Atlantic University, Florida Gulf Coast University, Florida International University, Florida State University, New College of Florida, University of Central Florida, University of Florida, University of North Florida, University of South Florida, and University of West Florida.
Florida also has a public community college system and many private colleges and universities.
Where can I find information on admission to a state university?
The Florida Academic Counseling and Tracking for Students (FACTS) Web site addresses a variety of issues facing students interested in higher education in Florida, including up-to-date general admissions information, university degree program offerings, residency guidelines, and information for transfer students. FACTS also includes information for students considering entry to a community college.
For questions regarding a specific university, please consult the university admissions office Web site.
What should I do if I am denied admission to my university of choice?
In Florida, there are many highly qualified students who are unable to be admitted to their first choice university due to the lack of space. Each university determines its own admissions policies and decision-making processes, and the admissions process is very competitive at all universities. Each university has an appeals process that allows students to bring additional information to the university's admissions review process. This can be initiated by contacting the university admissions office for further information. There is no state level appeals process for university admissions decisions.
Florida's 2+2 articulation agreement between community colleges and state universities allows students to enroll in and complete a community college associate in arts program, and transfer the lower level course credit hours into a State University System baccalaureate degree program.
Where can I find information on Florida residency for tuition purposes?
Information on residency for tuition purposes can be found on the Florida Academic Counseling and Tracking for Students (FACTS) Web site under the Advising Manuals tab, under Residency Guidelines.
Where can I find information on Bright Futures?
The Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program is administered by the Florida Department of Education's Office of Student and Financial Aid.
Do I need to attend the university during the summer semester? Will Bright Futures pay for summer courses?
All students entering the State University System with less than 60 credit hours must enroll in a minimum of 9 credit hours of coursework during one or more summer sessions. Exceptions are made for students who earn 9 or more credits from one or more of the acceleration mechanisms, such as dual enrollment, early admission, advanced placement, and credit by examination.
Bright Futures does not currently fund summer enrollment. If this places undue hardship on the student or their family, a hardship exemption may be sought through the Academic Affairs office at the university of attendance.
How can I determine if course credits will transfer?
The Department of Education maintains a statewide course numbering system for postsecondary and dual enrollment education. If a course is recognized by the statewide course numbering system, the course should transfer. Students should be cautioned that if they change their major, the credit may not count towards their degree. Students planning on pursuing a baccalaureate degree should have been taking the common prerequisites for their major while at the community college in order to facilitate ease of transfer. Credits earned by students who graduate from a Florida community college with an associate in arts degree will be accepted by state universities under the statewide articulation agreement.
The Florida Academic Counseling and Tracking for Students (FACTS) Web site also assists with transfer of credit questions under the Transfer Services tab.
What are common prerequisites and how do I know if I need them for my major?
Bachelor's degree programs are typically divided into two levels: lower-level courses and upper-level courses. Earning an associate of arts at a public community college, or earning the first two years of course work for a four-year degree at a university, are equivalent methods of completing lower-level course work. For many majors, there are specific courses, common prerequisites, which must be taken before a student can formally begin upper level course work.
Common Prerequisites are standardized across all public universities and community colleges in Florida to facilitate efficient transfer of credit from the associate in arts degree into the State University System.
Typically, students will be informed of all degree program common prerequisite requirements through the academic advising process. These requirements can be found in the Common Prerequisite Manual on the Florida Academic Counseling and Tracking for Students (FACTS) Web site under the Advising Manuals tab.
Additional lower-level courses may be required for entry to a particular university degree program, and not all prerequisite courses are offered at every Florida public postsecondary institution. If you have specific questions, contact the university academic department to which you will be seeking admission.
What do I need to know about returning to the university system after being absent for a period of time, ranging from several months to several years?
Every university has a student handbook which outlines university policies and a bulletin which outlines the curriculum requirements to graduate with a particular degree. The bulletin at the time of entry is a contract between the student and the university as long as there is continued enrollment in the university. If a student is absent from the university for a period of time specified in the student handbook, the student may be required to seek readmission to the university.
If a student is attempting to return to the university after several years of absence, many universities have policies regarding recency of academic credit. Students should contact the individual university registrar's office regarding questions relating to graduation requirements.
How can I file a complaint against a public university?
Every State university employs an ombudsman to provide accurate information and resources needed to pursue and resolve academic and campus conflicts. For admissions issues, students should initially contact the university admissions office, and for registration or residency issues, students should initially contact the university registrar's office. There is no state level appeal in these matters. When a student believes that his/her Civil Rights have been violated, he/she is encouraged to contact the Florida Commission on Human Relations or consult an attorney.
What do I need to know about university housing contracts?
Before signing an official housing contract to live in on-campus housing, a student should be certain that he/she will be enrolling at the university. Each university housing office has information regarding procedures to follow to be released from a housing contract for university approved educational purposes (study abroad, etc.).
How can I file a complaint regarding university housing?
A student with housing questions or conflicts should directly contact the university housing office. The University Ombudsman is also available to provide information, explain university policies, and explore housing options. All housing policies and contracts are determined by the individual university and there is no state level appeal of these policies.
Why did the Board of Governors recently approve a system-wide enrollment freeze?
On July 10, 2007, the Board of Governors took unprecedented action to ensure that the State University and its 11 institutions have the resources needed to provide high-quality education to its 300,000 students. These actions were taken out of a growing concern among members that continued enrollment funding shortfalls and cutbacks were undermining quality university education and shortchanging Florida's students. Among the actions of the Board in response to the State's budget shortfall was the decision to freeze freshmen enrollment growth at current student levels.
The universities have not received full basic state support for each student for many years. As a result, many highly qualified students are now unable to be admitted due to the lack of space. As a priority goal, the Board of Governors is committed to provide well equipped and adequately funded universities that will be able to educate increasing numbers of students in the future.
Where can I obtain a copy of my transcript from a private college or technical school that is now closed?
The Commission for Independent Education (CIE) has access to many old college records, and may know which institution now has ownership of the records not in CIE's possession. The CIE office phone is: 850-245-3200 or toll free 888-224-6684.
How can I file a consumer complaint concerning a particular private/independent institution?
Students should initially address individual concerns with the institution in question. The appropriate state level entity to address student concerns regarding private institutions is the Commission for Independent Education. The CIE office phone is: 850-245-3200 or toll free 888-224-6684. If the complaint involves a violation of civil rights, students may also contact the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights.
Where can I find information about distance education courses and programs offered by Florida institutions?
Visit the Florida Distance Learning Consortium for an online catalog of available courses. Links to university distance learning Web sites are also provided. Private college and university Web sites will include information on their distance education offerings.
Are distance education degrees recognized as real college degrees by employers and other educational institutions?
A common misconception is that degrees earned through distance education are inferior to degrees earned through on-campus study. All public colleges and universities in Florida use instructional technology, allowing students to take a mix of on-campus and online courses as they earn their degree. For programs offered entirely through distance education, the curriculum is usually the same as for on-campus programs, except in those cases where a distance education program is developed specifically as an "external" or "degree completion" program.
In trying to determine how widely an online degree program offered outside the Florida university system will be accepted, a key question to ask is whether or not the institution is regionally accredited. Distance education offerings that promise a greatly shortened time to degree, or that offer excessive amounts of credit for life learning, especially if they are offered by non-accredited institutions, could be problematic.
Degrees earned through distance education at accredited institutions of higher learning are not typically identified any differently on transcripts or diplomas than degrees earned through on-campus instruction.
Is distance education my best option to get or finish a degree, if I cannot attend on-campus because of work/family/other constraints?
Distance education is an attractive alternative to on-campus courses for those who have scheduling conflicts with traditional weekday course offerings, but it is not the only option available. Evening courses, off-campus instructional sites and accelerated weekend programs are also attractive alternatives for adult learners.
Prior to enrollment at a state university via distance education, a student should confirm that the degree program is available through distance education, that he/she is sufficiently prepared academically to enroll in the program of choice at the level offered, and that the necessary technology and skills are in place to be successful in the courses and program.
Can I be certified to teach in Florida with a degree in Education from my institution of choice?
If you have questions about your ability to be certified to teach in Florida, please contact the Department of Education's Office of Educator Certification at (850) 245-9796.
Where do I go to get a "seal" for my degree to prove to my home country that my degree is legitimate?
The Department of State provides this service. At this Web site, instructions are provided at the section entitled: Notaries and Apostille Certification. The phone number for the Department of State is: 850-245-6945.
How do I have my degree from a university in another country evaluated so that I can pursue further postsecondary education and/or obtain a job in the U.S.?
If you are planning to enroll in a Florida university, contact the university admissions office to determine which degree evaluation services are preferred by that university. If you are seeking a job in the United States, you should first contact potential employers to determine if a credential evaluation is necessary. Should the employer require a credential evaluation, we recommend the evaluation be done by a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services or the International Education Credential Services provided by the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers.
What resources are available within the State University System to students with disabilities?
The Florida Academic Counseling and Tracking for Students (FACTS) Web site provides information about disability services for those seeking entry to the Florida Higher Education System. Under the college planning heading, there is a link to the postsecondary institution disability directors. Students should contact the office for student disability services at their university or college of interest to learn what specific accommodations are available.
Students accepted into a State university may also want to apply for a Johnson Scholarship. This is a need-based scholarship for students with disabilities attending a state university. Students do have to apply and it is competitive, but there is no cost to submit an application. The application for the Johnson Scholarship for the State University System of Florida can be found on the Johnson Scholarship Foundation home page, under Scholarships.
What are the requirements for the Purple Heart Tuition Waiver? How do I apply for this waiver?
The State of Florida provides tuition waivers to recipients of the Purple Heart or other combat decoration superior in precedence if the recipient is enrolling in a Florida public community college or state university, and provided he or she meets this specific criteria:
- Must be admitted as a full-time, part-time, or summer-school student in an undergraduate program of study leading to a degree or certificate;
- Is currently, and was at the time of the military action that resulted in the awarding of the Purple Heart or other superior combat decoration, a resident of Florida; and
- Must submit to the community college or university Department of Defense Form 214 (DD-214), issued at the time of separation from service, as documentation that he or she has received a Purple Heart or other combat decoration superior in precedence.
Contact the veterans' representative at the college or university that you plan to attend for information about applying for this waiver.
Who should I contact about the Talented 20 program?
Contact the Florida Student Support Services Project at (850) 922-3727 or visit its Web site.
What opportunities are available for students who come from adoptive or foster homes, or are in the custody of the Department of Children and Family Services?
A student who comes from one of the backgrounds listed below is exempted by the State of Florida from the payment of tuition and fees, including lab fees, in a postsecondary career program, a Florida public community college, or a state university:
- The student is or was at the time he or she turned 18 years of age in the custody of the Department of Children and Families (DCF) or the Relative Caregiver Program.
- The student was adopted from DCF after May 5, 1997.
- The student, after spending at least 6 months in DCF custody after reaching 16 years of age, was placed in a guardianship by the court.
However, the exemption remains valid for no more than 4 years after the date of graduation from high school. This exemption replaces the Road to Independence Scholarship. Contact your DCF representative for information about applying for this waiver.
What is the Academic Common Market? Who is eligible for entry?
Florida participates in the Southern Regional Educational Board's (SREB) Academic Common Market (ACM). The ACM is a reciprocity agreement between 16 participating states to expand the number and type of programs that can be offered to their residents at in-state tuition rates. Florida students are given the opportunity to study approved graduate degree programs not offered by Florida universities at out-of-state universities at in-state tuition rates. In turn, Florida accepts out-of-state students into the State University System at in-state tuition rates for select graduate-level programs.
For more information, please see the BOG-ACM Web site, or contact the ACM coordinator from your home state.
