FLORIDA COMMUNITY COLLEGE SYSTEM
Student Financial Aid Fee Report
Fiscal Year 2001-2002
Section 1009.23(8)(a) (formerly 240.35(11)(a)), Florida Statutes, states:
Each community college is authorized to collect for financial aid purposes an
additional amount up to, but not to exceed, 5 percent of the total student tuition or
matriculation fees collected. Each community college may collect up to an
additional 2 percent if the amount generated by the total financial aid fee is less than
$250,000. If the amount generated is less than $250,000, a community college that
charges tuition and matriculation fees at least equal to the average fees established
by rule may transfer from the general current fund to the scholarship fund an amount
equal to the difference between $250,000 and the amount generated by the total
financial aid fee assessment. No other transfer from the general current fund to the
loan, endowment, or scholarship fund, by whatever name known, is authorized.
All twenty-eight colleges collected the 5 percent financial aid fee in 2001-02. The total financial aid
fees collected from students enrolled in college credit courses amounted to $15.9 million. Nine
colleges at which the 5 percent fee generated less than $250,000 elected to charge the additional 2
percent fee. The additional 2 percent fee generated $440,370. Four colleges exercised the authority
provided in this statute to transfer a total of $373,767 from the general current fund. Funds carried
forward from previous years provided an additional $2.7 million for awards. Interest earning and
other earnings generated on these funds provided an additional $238,002. $4.0 million was set aside
to carry forward into the 2002-03 fiscal year in accordance with the provisions of Section
1009.23(8)(b) (formerly 240.35(11)(b)), Florida Statutes, states:
. . . . An amount not greater than 40 percent of the fees collected in a fiscal year may
be carried forward unexpended to the following fiscal year.
Two colleges reportedly carried over more than the 40 percent maximum allowable limitation;
however, one college has subsequently reported a complete liquidation of these fees in fiscal year
2002-03 and the other college plans to completely liquidate these fees in fiscal year 2003-04.
These actions provided the total amount of $19.6 million available for awards in 2001-02.
The provisions of Section 1009.23(8)(c) (formerly 240.35(11)(c)), Florida Statutes, provide
guidance related to the awards, which may be made from these funds. It states:
Up to 25 percent or $300,000 whichever is greater, of the fees collected may be used
to assist students who demonstrate academic merit, who participate in athletics,
public service, cultural arts, and other extracurricular programs as determined by the
institution, or who are identified as members of a targeted gender or ethnic minority
population. The financial aid fee revenues allocated for athletic scholarships and fee
exemptions provided pursuant to s. 1009.25(3) (formerly subsection 17) for athletes
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shall be distributed equitably as required by s. 1000.05(3)(d) (formerly
228.2001(3)(d). A minimum of 75 percent of the balance of those funds shall be
used to provide financial aid based on absolute need, and the remainder of the funds
shall be used for academic merit purposes and other purposes approved by the
district boards of trustees. In addition, this statute includes a statement that the
financial aid fee report “. . . shall include an assessment by category of the financial
need of every student who receives an award, regardless of the purpose for which the
award is received.”
Twenty-five colleges awarded academic merit grants, which totaled $3 million and represented 19.4
percent of the expenditures. Twenty-three colleges awarded athletics grants, which totaled $3.2
million and represented 20.3 percent of the expenditures. Eight colleges awarded public service
grants, which totaled $186,002 and represented 1.2 percent of the expenditures. Nineteen colleges
awarded cultural arts grants, which totaled $787,294 and represented 5 percent of the expenditures.
Nineteen colleges awarded grants for other extra-curricular programs, which totaled $635,705 and
represented 4.1 percent of the expenditures. Overall, the colleges expended 78.8 percent of the
balance of their funds (after the aforementioned categorical distributions) to provide financial aid
based on absolute need (Section 1009.23(8)(c) (formerly 240.35(11)(c), Florida Statutes). Two
colleges failed to provide a minimum of 75 percent of the balance of those funds shall be used to
provide financial aid based on absolute need. Both colleges have stated that they will take the
appropriate action necessary to ensure that the 75 percent minimum is met in future years. The total
number of awards made in 2001-02 was 21,398 and amounted to $15.7 million.
Section 1009.22(8) (formerly 239.117(8), Florida Statutes, provides authority to collect financial
aid fees from students enrolled in workforce development programs as follows:
Each district school board and community college board of trustees is authorized to
establish specific fees for workforce development instruction not reported for state
funding purposes or for workforce development instruction not reported as stat
funded full-time equivalent students.”
Fourteen community colleges collected financial aid fees based upon the provisions of this statute.
Total fees collected amounted to $794,484. The amount of $638,208 was brought forward from
prior years, and $13,025 was earned in interest, making a total of $1.4 million available for awards.
The amount of $717,738 was awarded in 2001-02 and $727,979 was carried forward for awards in
future years.
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