As we saw recently, Florida Polytechnic University has a plan to transcend its challenges and jump-start its credibility in time for its first class of undergraduates in 2014. Those challenges–a by-product of instant, contentious autonomy granted in the 2012 Legislative session–are familiar enough: no history, no facilities, no accreditation, virtually no faculty, no student housing and no federal financial aid.
But construction is underway and a recruiting strategy is ready for implementation: All 500 undergraduate students arriving next year will get in free. The cost–in-state tuition is $5,000–will be covered via fund-raising by the school’s new foundation.
“It’s a recruiting tool,” explained Ava Parker, the COO of the Lakeland paean to JD Alexander’s effrontery and legacy priority. “We see scholarships as a way to recruit the best and brightest to our university.”
Two points.
The “best and brightest” aren’t going to “Poly Wanna Student Body.” They will leverage any meaningful definition of “best and brightest” into scholarships at accredited schools with all the traditional trappings of higher education.
Those who do sign on at Freebie U. will arrive despite the obvious caveat: You may very well get your no-money’s worth.