In December 2017, the Association have written several articles in its Blog.  These articles were written based on our observations on Hukill’s bill.  Our analyses become a reality in that the law makers in FL have proposed tougher metrics to award state funding to the FL State Colleges which may soon have a new name as well, i.e., FL Community Colleges System, the name most of the administrators have voiced their concerns.  Imposing the new and harsher metrics reflect many things such as:

1. Setting a new and higher academic and financial accountability standards which may have been neglected in the past;
2. Revitalize, the old ways to conduct business, where institutional data have not been used optimally in the decision making process; and
3. In general, to regain public or tax payers’ trust on higher ed system which has been tainted by sub-optimal decisions for so long.  At some points, have negatively affect the students and their family financially.  Example: Increase student loan debts.
4. Statistical modeling will be more challenging.
5. LEAN application becomes a must instead of optional.

Looking at the timing that Hukill’s bill was discussed on the first day of the state legislation session in 2018 suggests the urgency of the Bill.  If it got approved (most likely after several iterations), then there is no much room left for the Colleges to make a meaningful and high-impact strategic change, especially for institutional metrics related to retention, grad rate, enrollment and gainful employment.  IRI V.1 and IRI V.2 may help, only if the institutions already have the IRI experts in-placed to accelerate and accommodate these policy changes.  However, to change the current colleges’ culture may not be easy, it may take years, if it ever happens.  The college shake-up in FL will bring both great opportunities and woes.  However, the Association expects that it will spread like wildfires to the other parts of the US in the very near future as it has been expected/predicted to occur years ago.