State Officials: This Year’s ‘State University System Admissions Tour’ May Break Attendance Records

~Universities host events for middle and high school counselors guiding students~

~Final stops on the annual tour are this week at FAU, FIU, FGCU, and USF~

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – More than 2,500 counselors from across the state are going “back to college” at a state university to learn best practices and new changes in Florida law – and could set a statewide record for the annual gatherings in the process.

The Annual State University System Admissions Tour is a service sponsored and coordinated by the State University System and the Florida Board of Governors, in partnership with the Florida Department of Education.

The compelling effort provides middle and high school counselors coordinated opportunities to meet face-to-face with university admissions personnel on a wide range of issues. To further maximize the effort, the State University System also invites experts from the Florida Department of Education to present information regarding changes in education that affect students while in middle school and high school, such as changes to standard diploma requirements or the Bright Futures college scholarship program.

State University System Chancellor Frank T. Brogan is proud of the program’s popularity and growth – and noted that the tour schedule was expanded this year to help accommodate the increasing interest.

“Our universities are open year-round and every one of them has an open door to any questions or need for assistance by the schools whose students pursue a higher education, but this special annual event ensures we maintain and strengthen that bond, and I am grateful to the host universities this year on the tour for making this effort so successful and even more accessible,” Brogan said.

This year, the growth and popularity of the program translated quickly to full capacity at four of the seven spots long before the event occurred, indicating there may be an attendance record set.

This week marks the final stops on the tour.

Sept. 7:  Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton (registration closed).

Sept. 8:  Florida International University, Miami (registration closed Sept. 2).

Sept. 9:  Florida Gulf Coast University, Fort Myers (registration closed Sept. 3).

Sept. 10: University of South Florida, Tampa (registration closed).

This year, with changes to the admission standards and changes in the law due to Senate Bill 4, the demand has been higher than ever.  It is anticipated that approximately 2,500 counselors statewide will attend the events.

“We appreciate the leadership and partnership of the State University System to bring this program to our dedicated counselors who are committed to ensuring that our students complete graduation requirements and succeed in their next steps,” said Florida Department of Education Commissioner Dr. Eric J. Smith.

The tour this year also was supported in new ways by The College Board and ACT, Inc., the national testing company.  Representatives from both organizations also are on-hand for questions and to discuss any issues one-on-one with counselors.

Earlier stops on the tour last week were the Florida State University’s Panama City campus, the University of North Florida in Jacksonville and the University of Central Florida in Orlando.

For more information, parents and students are encouraged to connect with school counselors.