Rick Scott wants more college students to graduate on time

Florida Gov. Rick Scott wants the state’s colleges and universities to do more to help students graduate within four years.

Scott will kick off a two-day “Degrees to Jobs” summit on Wednesday in Orlando by calling for several changes designed to help students to get out of school sooner. Currently only 44 percent of students attending one of Florida’s public universities graduate within four years.

The Republican governor wants colleges and universities to drop any extra fees they charge for online courses. Scott is also proposing once again to expand the state’s Bright Futures scholarship so that it covers summer courses.

Currently, the popular scholarship can only be used for fall and spring classes. Scott asked the Legislature to change this, but they did not go along with his proposal.

Scott also wants colleges to ensure they will offer credit for advanced placement courses.

Printed with the permission of the Associated Press.