Okay everyone this really needs to be shared and we all need to take action. I know this is long but please read and take action.

This was sent to me from my college today:

"The Community College Program Fund budget approved by the Florida House of Representatives and Senate includes massive, permanent and damaging cuts to community and state colleges. These cuts threaten key programs and services provided by TCC that our students and the community depend on.

It is not too late to make a difference! Governor Rick Scott is focused on supporting all Floridians and the growth of our state’s economy. He is listening – please let him know how these proposed cuts will affect our community.

To help you craft a message to the Governor, feel free to use the message below as a starting point – personalize it. You’ll also find instructions for getting in touch with Governor Scott via email. In addition to contacting the Governor, reach out to members of our local legislative delegation and their aides via email and telephone. Take five or ten minutes to reach out and advocate for the College and our community.

Thank you for your support,

Tallahassee Community College"

While many of you will think "well I don't go to TCC, I'm not in college, or I don't go to a community school." this still effects you. Community colleges provide people with so many things at affordable costs. Classes don't cost students thousands of dollars, they do programs to help the communities they are in, class sizes are smaller, many offer free tutoring. These schools are so important. In the past I may have been someone to just pass over something like this, but I have first hand seen what these schools do for people. I wouldn't be getting a higher education without a community college because I didn't graduate high school but instead got my GED. If this cut actually takes affect here is what will happen: Professors will be fired causing the student teacher ratio to change. Class sizes will increase so the students that need a little more one on one help will get left behind. The cost of tuition will go up so that parent working two jobs to support their family and pay for school to better their life can no longer afford the classes they need for a better life. Free tutoring will disappear so when a student needs help before a final they either have to pay over $100 a session or try on their own and risk failing. The kid that worked as hard as they could for a scholarship but got passed over can't receive the amount of financial aide they needed and are now stuck flipping burgers. 

 This one seemingly small thing affects everything. This year Colleges asked for their budget to be raised $100 million but instead are getting it cut by $30 million. Our Florida House and Senate voted on this and passed it without anyone hearing about it. Please if we all come together and let our voices be heard we can make a difference. We all cry for change but do nothing about it. Please let's do something about it. Below is an email you can send to Governor Rick Scott in hopes to get him to veto this act. I can not stress enough the importance for all of us to do this. Young adults do this for your future; parents do this for your child's future. We can make a difference!

"Email address: Rick.Scott@eog.myflorida.com

Suggested subject line: Florida Colleges need your help now!

Dear Governor Scott,

As [an alumnus/an alumna/a friend/parent/student] , I respectfully ask you to veto the proposed Community College Program Fund budget approved by the Florida House of Representatives and Senate. The budget includes a permanent $30.2 million cut targeting the Florida College System that will have a devastating impact on our College and the System.

You’ll recall that our System actually asked for $100 million in additional funding this year to support further enhancements in training programs and services offered by our colleges. This proposed cut will limit colleges’ ability to serve our neediest students – first-generation, minority, low income, unemployed and veterans – and to prepare talent to meet employers’ needs around the state.

Thanks to your efforts and leadership, Florida’s economy is growing and our unemployment rate is on the decline. But how can our colleges help students get good jobs and meet employer demands for talent when they are deprived of public support? How can we support your economic development agenda while having our budgets slashed?

Our students and their families need to see that Florida lawmakers care about their success. While we’ve kept costs low for students, at some point quality erodes without sufficient funding. What do we tell families and employers who turn to us and find we can no longer accommodate them?

Florida has the nation’s #1 college system – a system that other states seek to emulate. However, these budget cuts take us in the wrong direction and make it difficult to provide the quality instruction and services our students need. We applaud the goal of developing the strongest public higher education system in America – but that can only be accomplished through investment in both the university and state college systems. More than half the students currently enrolled in upper division coursework in our state universities started at a community college in Florida.

Please veto the proposed Community College Program Fund budget and support our efforts to build talent in our state."

Here is also an email you can send to representatives and senate:

"Please send your messages to the following members:

Ramon Alexander

Ramon.Alexander@myfloridahouse.gov

Office: (850) 717-5008

Aide: Chicarla Williams Pye (chicarla.williamspye@myfloridahouse.gov)

Loranne Ausley

Loranne.Ausley@myfloridahouse.gov

Office: (850) 717-5009

Aide: Jessica Lamb (jessica.lamb@myfloridahouse.gov)

Halsey Beshears Halsey.Beshears@myfloridahouse.gov

Office: (850) 717-5007

Aide: Chris Kingry (Chris.kingry@myfloridahouse.gov)

Bill Montford

Montford.bill.web@flsenate.gov

Office: (850) 487-5003

Aide: Taylor Peck (peck.taylor@flsenate.gov)

Suggested subject line: Florida Colleges need your help now! 

Dear Representative/Senator [Name],

As [an alumnus/an alumna/a friend] of Tallahassee Community College, I respectfully ask for your support to encourage Governor Scott to veto the proposed Community College Program Fund budget approved by the Florida House of Representatives and Senate. The $30.2 million cut targeting the Florida College System that is included in the budget will have a devastating impact on our College and the System. 

You’ll recall that our System actually asked for $100 million in additional funding this year to support further enhancements in training programs and services offered by our colleges. This proposed cut will limit colleges’ ability to serve our neediest students – first-generation, minority, low income, unemployed and veterans – and to prepare talent to meet employers’ needs around the state. 

Florida’s economy is growing and our unemployment rate is on the decline. But how can our colleges help students get good jobs and meet employer demands for talent when they are deprived of public investment? How can they support economic development throughout Florida while having their budgets slashed?

Our students and their families need to see that Florida lawmakers care about their success. While our colleges have kept costs low for students, at some point quality erodes without sufficient funding. What do we tell families and employers who turn to our colleges and find they can no longer accommodate them?

Florida has the nation’s #1 college system – a system that other states seek to emulate. However, these budget cuts take us in the wrong direction and make it difficult to provide the quality instruction and services our students need. We applaud the goal of developing the strongest public higher education system in America – but that can only be accomplished through investment in both the university and state college systems. More than half the students currently enrolled in upper division coursework in our state universities started at a community college in Florida.

Please tell the governor to veto the proposed Community College Program Fund budget and support the education and workforce training needs of our state by investing in community and state colleges.

Thank you for your consideration, representation and advocacy."

All things in quotations are suggested letters from Tallahassee Community College. Please feel free to make your own or make these your own. We need to take a stand against this. Our communities need your help. One voice can change the world so please don't think your's won't change anything!