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HIGHER EDUCATION THEHE OF OUR TIME
Florida residents heard more about higher education before and during the
1963 Legislature than ever before in history. In the next few months the sub-
ject will be coming up for public discussion throughout the State as the
canpaign gets under way for approval of a constitutional amendment for bond
financing of university, junior college and vocational technical buildings.
why all this sudden and intense interest in higher education? This is a
question many people are asking as they note the increasing emphasis on this
subject.
It was no accident that higher education developed into one of the dominant
themes of the 1963 Florida Legislature. Higher education is the dominant these
of our tine.
Throughout the nation there is a critical appraisal of colleges and univer-
sities, public and private. to determine how they stack up with regard to
quality and capacity. In state after state there is a feverish effort to add
more classrooms and to step up the quality, particularly in the fields of science
and engineering.
In his opening address to the Legislature, Governor Farris Bryant remarked
that "by far the most critical need that we face in this coming biennium is the
need to make sufficient provision for the higher education of the young people
of Florida."
There are two basic reasons for this growing emphasis. One is the explod-
ing college and university enrollments. The other is the revolution in tech-
nology and new knouledge generated by activities in the fields of space. defense
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and .Licth-hauud industries.
The launching of the Russian Sputnik in the 19505 ushered the United
States almost overnight into the Space Age at breakneck speed.
Alone with the intense developments in defense and space came a new trend
in growth-type industries in which brainpower, rather than natural resources
of coal and iron, hold the key. New rrouth type industries began to migrate
to areas uith strong university setups where they could utilize the brainpouer
of outstanding scientists, mathematicians and engineers.
Leading economists anticipate that economic development and industrial
growth in the future will stem increasingly from advanced education and progress
in scientific research.
Sigration of industry resultinn from developments in science and technology
is causing headaches and unemployment problems for many sections of the country
with obsolete type industry. At the same time. it is brinninn vast opportunity
for other states which prepare for it.
These new trends in industry offer opportunity for Florida particularly.
This State, lonu established as a tourist playground and vegetable and citrus
growing area, is beginning to blossom into an industrial state as well. The
accent in Florida is in the growth-type industries which not only fit more
neatly into the attractive Florida landscape but offer the greatest potential
for future development.
Industrial growth is a necessity for the future economic prosperity of
Florida. This State no longer can be dependent upon an agrarian economy
coupled with our traditional tourism business.
Within a comparatively short period of less than 10 years Florida has
develooed into the ninth most populous state in the nation. By 1970 it will
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become No. 8. Florida is attracting national proainance politically, economi-
cally and socially. Unhappily, however, from this prominence and growth stems
problems, and from unsolved problems can stem crises. Florida may well be on
the threshold of its greatest era, or in converse, of its backward slide should
it fail to realize its great potential.
Accelerated industrial growth must be the essential element to the realiza-
tion of our potential. If Florida does in fact succeed in its drive toward
industrial prominence then the stability of its tourist business, its agrarian
economy and the other facets of florida business which have so long served us
well, not only will be preserved but will grow and prosper as the industrial
deVelopment cont inues .
As this type of growth proceeds. the tax coffers of the State and its cities,
towns, municipalities and counties will begin to fill, affording every geographi-
cal area of the State a sound financial basis upon which each such area will wax
strong and be in position to afford the facilities its citizens need and desire.
in its Harch report to Congress on "Manpower Requirements, Resources,
Utilization and Training" the U. S. Department of Labor forecast that between
1960 and 1970 Florida would have the largest percentage increase in the nation
in its labor force 1,271,000 workers or a gain of 67. per cost.
This prediction is good and bad news alike for florida. If jobs are pro-
vided for this vast new group of workers then it means prosperity; if the jobs
aren't provided then it will mean a swelling of the ranks of the unemployed and
an economic decline in Florida.
We know that a greater emphasis will be placed on college training for
occupations in the future. requiring higher skills. As Florida grows indus-
trially, more job opportunities will be created in industrial establishments and
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in other industry groups which develop out of the economic spurt generated by
industrial growth.
Florida, whether she wants it or not. is caught up in a higher education
race in which state after state is pushing ahead rapidly. It is a race in which
Florida can ill afford to lag behind.
Let's take a look at where Florida stands in relation to the rest of the
nation in her contribution to higher education and in the number of its college
age population in college.
In the year 1962 fewer than one out of three of Florida's college age popula-
tion of 18, 19, 20 and 2l year olds were attending college. The figures show
that 3l per cent of the college age population in this State was actually in
college. The national average was u1.6 per cent. California had 58.? per cent --
almost two out of three of its college age population in college.
This leg was even more acute at the upper level in the junior and senior
classes. In 1962, of every 100 young people 20 and 21 years old. only 15 of
those in florida were in college. The average for the nation was 29. California
had 35.
Compounding Florida's problem is the fact that its population growth rate
has been running at the highest level percentanewise in the nation. Proiections
of the U. 5. Census Bureau'o 1960 figures show that the number of Floridians in
the college age group will increase conservatively from 2u3,uea to uva,ooo be-
tween 1960 and 1970, or almost double. The average estimated gain for the nation
as a whole will be 57 per cent.
Since 1957 particularly. Florida has been falling behind in providing uni-
versity buildings to keep up with the expansion of enrollment and exnansion of
knowledge. we are now faced with the situation where construction of needed
buildings cannot be delayed longer because the projections indicate that the
major impact of the college enrollment explosion will be felt in the next three
years as the war babies begin reaching college age.
Conservative projections made on the basis of actual enrollment figures
from the State Department of Education show that the number of high school grad-
uates will jump from 3,910 in 1962-63 to 52,136 in 1963-6 and 60.333 in
1960.65. This heavy increase will continue so that by 1970 the State will have
an estimated 218,000 students enrolled in its public and private institutions
of higher learning.
Four enrollment projections have been made for the Board of Control since
1958. Each has been higher than the preceding one. A first projection in 1956
placed the 1970 enrollment in Florida's public and private colleges and univer-
sities at 132,000. The figure was raised later to 158.000, then revised upward
to 172,000. Another projection, made in January of this year by Florida State
University's Institute for Social Research. placed the 1970 total enrollment at
105.000. The Space Era Education Study completed shortly before the 1963 Legis-
lature by a group of outstanding educators, scientists and engineers forecast
that the 1970 enrollment might hit 210,000.
The 1963 Legislature took steps to ovorcooe Florida's lag in higher educa-
tional facilities. It created a new upperlevel State college in the Pensacola
area to open in 1967. This will be the first of a new system of State colleges
to fill the gap between the junior college: and the State universities. Three
new junior colleges were authorized in Okaleosa, Polk and mm counties.
The Legislature also authorized a new State university in the strategic
East Central Florida area where the nation's missile test center and related
industrial complex is located. The bill authorizing the university said that
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nine counties were to he considered as a site. They are Flagler. Orange,
Seminole, Lake, Brevard, Volusia, Osceola, Indian River and St. Lucie. The
bond program to be voted upon November 5 provides $200,000 for planning of con-
struction of the new university.
Another law enacted by the 1963 Legislature authorized an extension of the
University of Florida College of ngineering to be located in East Central
Florida. The Lenislature provided $1,511,000 in State funds and it is expected
that this will be supplemented by federal funds. This facility, which would be
engaged in graduate and research work, likely will be located on the site of the
new university. A survey is now under way to determine the site and a selection
will be made before the end of the year.
Another important bill enacted by the 1963 Legislature authorizes the Board
of Control to create Divisions of Sponsored Research in State universities. This
bill provides the universities more freedom in budgeting and spending in per-
forming research under grants from the federal government, business and industry.
It is expected that the bill will be the means of steppiny up sponsored research
programs at the universities and helping to attract new industry.
The 1963 Legislature appropriated $113,960,02u for operation of the State
universities the next two years. While this was some $23 million more than the
Legislature provided two years ago, the universities said the amount wasn't
enough to meet their actual needs. The Board of Control had asked for Slu2
million for operation of the universities.
The 1963 Legislature also appropriated $13 million from general revenua for
new buildings at the universities and $17 million for buildings at the junior
colleges. The Board of Control has placed the accumulated needs of the State
universities for new buildings at more than $100 million. The junior colleges
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have set their capital outlay needs at $58 million.
The bond amendment to be voted on november 5 is a constitutional plan of
borrowing to finance university, junior college and vocational technical school
construction on an orderly, continuing basis. The plan is modeled after the
1952 amendment which earmarked a portion of automobile tag receipts as a basis
for issuing Board of Education bonds for construction of public school buildings.
The amendment limits to $75 million the amount of bonds which can be issued
during the l963-65 biennium. In any succeeding biennium, no sore than $50 million
in bonds may be issued, except by two-thirds vote of the members elected to each
house of the Legislature. The amendment earmarks proceeds of the revenues de-
rived from the utilities gross receipts tax for retirement of the bonds and pro
vides that any general revenue funds spent on buildings in 1963-65 will he re-
funded fron bond proceeds.
Th: Legislature placed several important safeguards around the borrowing.
Interest on the proposed bonds cant exceed .5 per cent. Bonds must be sold
through public bidding. Any discount must be less than two per cent and the
State Board of Administration will be fiscal adviser for the bond issue, saving
about $1 million in fees. In addition, no project can be financed under the
bond program unless it has been approved by a vote of three-fifths of the elected
namb3r5 of each house of the Legislature. Finally, the State Bond Review Board
must review the bonds to be issued under the program to determine their fiscal
soundness and whether such financing has legislative approval.
It is an established economic principle that it is sound to borrow when the
sate of return is greater than the cost of borrowing.
The bond program would allow Florida to meet today's needs today. Human
rspite! is the :ajor resource on which Florida's progress must be built. The
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college graduate over his lifetime will earn from $100,000 to $175,000 more than
the high school graduate. Most of the college and university construction will
bring in side benefits, such as grants and other support from the federal govern-
ment and various research foundations.
florida in the next few years has a tremendous challenge in providing ade-
quately for higher education and meeting the opportunities facing this State.
Should the responsible and progressive-ninded citizens in florida accept whole-
heartedly this challenge, then we will have insured not only the future of
florida but will have laid the foundation for the greatest era of development
this State has ever seen.
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H!'"-il~:ii'il'UCf.TiiG -Til"~: Ol~ O!l? TI;l~ Elorida rm;W:ir; :0: Jed more ;10c.u-: 0.1-ner education j--ef:are end d'Jrinir 121e 1%3 "s.i-:1:ituru Nian over br:-fort: ill hl.ory. In CIV. rext fe'.: 1-.orittic the 9116 -ject will N: crrin.u--r --|R:lic di:-,cu/J ion tiirosar-le-'Jt the "-c;ite tli's carlipra ert t -JEICajr lely L DEal--rava | ot" ..1 Silm E i tu E cijl-ll W!lf!TIG'lierkt (-Or tioTir! i-flieTitib:2 13:live'r'iIV, lutilar cijllure ar. V-:,Cariolysi rectil:ioji 1.LJildiri: all thiti 9,1ddeTi ITid jrir.cr15e i-iters:st ill hi:'her educlit ici,? This is :s :;110Gtion ra: peop [5 are ;il'r j|1:: .15 ".20-y note the; iT!GV:-Nin-' N.fia a cir; th S'Jil NC r I T. a 3 ro -it'r ide'Ti t 'l-.GT h 1.:!11:: -sluc.:! t 10:1 dev-ac,[-ac; i ric031r-: Of t'rit dcr i r.ar.T t'ie-re.:s ci T:le ]. e -.3 Eloriesi 2-afi:, i.itige siis-1:gr .:r.l-JU-1"lio iti tlle aldr. .ri-J21C thur,'& Of' C'jr i ll::rJ 2'i.1-Ji-.li --ut tr.e r.-at jor: '-bg;i-: -j CE-it jr.al g-:r:s (:5.12 t)f .:lls!--rea Mid ur ive:-sitioi, [3012110 -Jh-' |;riVate, 1:rji:-terr:i-li; ig.1w t|w/ ^.r:.ich ijp t:j di re: :=ini e rplia ty arid Cd['30 i ty. E11 2:uiej .ti'.1:r statethtertis .I eviti::J. 1:[ ] cpt to add riO1T Cill:>Gror-1:a : ric 1:cste[. It .it:0 -jol i e-,', [..3r[ ic-J1.ar]Y ~Lrl t|10 i1.--13.
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1".1Culr..? :!C. 6 .|-lapidgi it. atTrilcting nMiaTidl prOr-sineri-.E! pol Eticall'?, ecir101-.i. ca.lJ'r arid -:orially. :.:-lhapp:27 -w-ever, fr,--l:Unis _rroi intrice a:ici ,'rm:U: stenis prub tel:e.., 1:1,2 r roi! uT:Jos.
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ill oth0r LGdts try rrotij-a wra g. 3:w-iOp cul. c.i tile egarmr ic 3 --Ort gin--ratud '_,y iridustrial ijrotatlt. I.OE'ida, MbetheT She 2drar0 it Dr riot is eaur'ht ugl it1 a hi.riht^r edurrifico race in whir:h state after -st-art i:s rushille halted rapidly. It is a race in which Florida can ill afford to les.' whi11d. ist '5 cake a luce -27 Itire ricarldStands in relation te the rest of thc. nation in her contribution to birher Isautatioil and in the number of its collei'e ar3 [10ptilat ion in COller*t' In the year 19-2 felwer clan one out of three of GoriMN callege are [.opialarino of 1[1, 19, 20 and 21 year old-; wereattendinr. collere. The fi;-ures show that .'l per cent of tn.: colle e :We popuinion in thic -tate was actually irt callege. The national averag.e uns 41.5 per cent, ralifornia had 58.7 per cent -alrart two clut of three of ito collere artpolularicil in callere. This lar. was even more acute at the upps!r ino-s in the jtmior. and senior classes. In 1962, of every 100 young .eople ?O and 21 years old, only L5 nf 11tose in Elraride '.1ere in college. ibe average for the natirn was 2Ci. Calipornia blad 35. Cor.[Mur.dir:d l~laridal s proirien ir : it,: i act the i ts polmlarion growth rati: Nas been runr-in:' et the hielle:u hvel percentaroise ~n the na-iors Projections of the U. 5. Onse; !ure.iu's ~1%C j'ir.ur-Es show that the number af Floritlianc $11 the college are :-roup uill increa::e cc.nservativelv r-ror. 744483 tn 478,000 between 1950 and 1970, or alr.asr double Tne ..lucrare estirated gain for the nation as a er.ile will bc 9 1.11r ce:it. since 1557 particularly, Flcrida has 1:een failin.' Mbir.d in providing uni.. versity buildinr:s to keep up with the expanrion of enrelin.ent and e.wansion or knowledl'.e. :N are rtow Eaced wiu1 the sitsaattori where canotru-tiert cir rp-eded
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