Ed.: delivered at the Dec. 5, 2006 meeting of the Student Senate
I want to make a few comments about President Machen’s proposed Academic Enhancement Program. We discuss it at length last week, but almost all of the quibbling had to do with the Oversight Committee, and very little with the proposal itself.

It was important to discuss the Oversight Committee. Although our resolution was non-binding, it was important to be as specific as possible in our recommendations. It was important to present what we think is necessary to keep the program accountable and working for students. The task force did a good job in preparing the resolution, and we passed a good bill.

But some things went unsaid that I think need to be said.

First, let’s get something straight: the “program” is a fee. It’s a tuition hike. Let’s be honest: it’s an expense that students have to pay as a condition of attendance. Trying to hide it under flowery language is a sham, and the administration ought to be ashamed of itself for trying to pull a fast one on us.

Moreover, I have qualms trusting this administration with more of our money. At the same time it waged a campaign to move UF into the “Top Ten,” this administration let our biggest college fall into disrepair. On alcohol policy, it treats us like children; on fiscal planning, it pumps millions of dollars into pimping our already-awesome stadium rather than investing in the needs of our Asian-American students. Openness is not a priority for them: just ask Charlie Grapski. Neither is shared governance: just ask the faculty of CLAS. But this is the administration we’ve been dealt, and ultimately, the resolution was not a referendum on President Machen.

Finally, and most importantly, is the question of who will bear the burden of the Academic Enhancement Program. I think the vast majority of UF students and prospective students need not concern us too much. At an extra $1,000/year, UF will still be a bargain for its value, and still within the reach of most students’ families. But… maybe not everyone.

The design of the program has wisely excluded students on need-based financial aid — and, when the new fee is calculated into UF’s costs, we should expect even more students to be eligible for need-based aid. But what about the students who aren’t on need-based aid, but for whom the costs of attending UF are still a significant burden? What about the student whose family has $1 more in assets and income than would be eligible for need-based aid?

The entire financial aid system is a boondoggle — anyone who’s ever applied for aid knows that. Let’s hope the administrators of higher education in this country, the states, the Congress, and donors get together and find a way to improve things. But until now, we haven’t had to worry too much, since almost any Florida resident admitted to UF would also have the marks to receive a full ride on Bright Futures. If that’s no longer the case, then we — as representatives of the students and future students of this university — we have reason to worry.

The question we face is: what kind of university do we want UF to be? Here’s what I think we should want: a nationally-recognized school that attracts the best students and faculty from across the country, and affords the opportunity to attend to every Floridian. The sole criterion for attendance should be academic performance: if you demonstrate commitment in and out of the classroom, you should be able to attend UF, regardless of how poor or rich your family is or what color they are.

We must not lose sight of this vision even as we strive to improve the quality of education at UF. And sure enough, the proposal before us will improve the quality of an education at UF. We would all benefit from more professors, more sections, smaller classes, and goodness knows I’ve talked to death the need for better advising.

ur challenge is to uphold this commitment to accessibility throughout the administration of the Academic Enhancement Program, or indeed, through whatever may come in the future.

This is our challenge as student leaders, as well as a challenge to UF’s administrators and our overseers on the Board of Governors and in Tallahassee. Let us not forget it.