Good news came from Tallahassee just in the nick of time, as Florida’s nonprofit, accredited private institutions of higher education prepare to welcome new and returning Florida students to campus.

What am I talking about? I’m referring to the very innovative program established by the State of Florida 38 years ago known as the William Boyd IV Florida Resident Access Grant (commonly known as the FRAG). This program is a grant program (no requirement for repayment) that provides assistance to pay part of the tuition of a Florida resident student attending an eligible private, nonprofit higher education institution like Ringling College of Art and Design. As a result of this last state legislative session and the approval of the Governor, the amount a student receives for the 2017-18 academic year under this program was increased from $3,000 to $3,300.

We all know that attending a private college anywhere in the country has a large price tag—and Ringling College is no exception. But, every bit seriously helps. And although a $3,300 grant out of a $40,000-plus tuition bill may not seem like a lot, these funds are one critical component of the total financial aid package that our staff in the  Department of Financial Aid put together to ease the financial burden and help alleviate financial stress on students and their families.

Our former elected officials in 1979 had the foresight to begin this program and our current state legislators have the wisdom to continue this creative legacy. Indeed, Florida stands out among all the other states because it understands the benefits of private higher education in addition to public higher education.  

The FRAG program does a number of things that benefit the State. For example, the FRAG saves the State money in overall higher education funding because those Florida students who attend a private university with the $3,300 FRAG means that the state does not have to pay the much higher operating and capital costs of sending the student to a public university. The program also reduces the tuition gap between public and private colleges and increases diversity through the support of all types of higher education in the State.

At Ringling College, some 400 students receive tuition assistance from the FRAG.  In mid-August, we will have nearly 200 new Florida residents in our freshmen class and that means nearly 200 more opportunities for our students to dream bigger, do better and realize their fullest creative potential.  

The expansion of the FRAG by $300 this year is because of the foresight and determination of Florida Senate President Joe Negron and Sens. Bill Galvano and Jack Latvala. In the other chamber of the legislature, Speaker Richard Corcoran and Chairs Larry Ahern, Carlos Trujillo and Liz Porter made sure that the FRAG not only continued but increased. I also want to give a nod to our local Sen. Greg Steube and local Rep. Wengay Newton, who supported this effort as well.

Thank you, Tallahassee. Keep up the good work!

Dr. Larry R. Thompson is president of Ringling College of Art and Design.