Find Your Perfect Program:
University Presidents Propose Higher Tuition Rates for STEM Majors
By Catherine Groux
Posted January 19, 2012 08:20 AM
In October 2011, Florida Governor Rick Scott made headlines and stirred up controversy when he told the Sarasota Herald-Tribune that the state should focus on producing more science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) majors as opposed to liberal arts degree holders.
"Is it a vital interest of the state to have more anthropologists? I don’t think so," Scott said, as quoted by The Huffington Post.
While other academic and political figures have also called for an increase in STEM associate's and bachelor's degree holders, school leaders in Florida say that in order for this to happen, they may need to charge STEM students more money, according to The Associated Press.
Recently,
Students who major in STEM subjects may see higher tuition rates in the future. Bernie Machen, president of the University of Florida, and Eric Barron, president of Florida State University, told the House Education Committee that the additional laboratories and equipment they would need for more STEM majors should come from increased tuition for these degree seekers. Because their programs cost more, these students should pay more for their courses of study, Machen told the panel.
