In wake of one of the most devastating disasters to hit Puerto Rico, U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL) filed legislation Thursday to prevent Puerto Rico’s Medicaid program from running out of money.
As a U.S. territory, Puerto Rico receives only a fraction of the money states get for its Medicaid program. Instead of providing the island with an open-ended amount of funding as states get, Congress provided Puerto Rico and other U.S. territories with a set amount of money, which could soon run out if lawmakers fail to act.
With nearly half of Puerto Rico’s 3.5 million residents on Medicaid, allowing the island’s Medicaid funding to run dry would result in hundreds of thousands of people losing access to much-needed health care.
To prevent the looming Medicaid-funding crisis, also known as the Medicaid-funding cliff, Nelson filed legislation today along with U.S. Sens. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Robert Menendez (D-NJ) and Cory Booker (D-NJ) that would eliminate the current cap on Medicaid funding and instead provide Puerto Rico access to the same open-ended funding system the states get.
“The people of Puerto Rico need our help,” Nelson said. “As we work to help them recover and rebuild in the aftermath of this devastating disaster, we also have to look toward the future and help them avert what could be a serious health care crisis if nothing is done.”
In addition to helping Puerto Rico avert a potential health care crisis, Nelson’s legislation would also make some of Puerto Rico’s low-income seniors eligible for federal subsidies to help them cover the cost of their prescription drug costs.
The legislation now heads to the Senate Finance Committee for consideration.
A copy of the bill is available here.
Puerto Rico
ICUF Offer Assistance to Students in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands
ICUF affiliated schools offering tuition and housing
assistance to students displaced by recent hurricanes
The Independent Colleges and Universities of Florida (ICUF) today announced many of its affiliated schools are offering tuition assistance, expedited admissions, fee waivers and scholarships to students who have left Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI). The efforts came in the wake of devastating losses in the Caribbean due to Hurricane Maria. Additionally, the student bodies of many ICUF affiliated schools have participated in on-campus and community based relief efforts to send desperately needed supplies to the Caribbean.
Schools like St. Thomas University, Barry University, Stetson University and others are offering direct support to incoming students including free room and board, as well as books and meal plans, while other schools are bringing relief directly to the affected areas. Nova Southeastern University recently donated nearly 1,500 pounds of medical supplies to Puerto Rico. A full list of relief efforts is provided below.
“Many of our faculty, students and their families are from the areas affected by Hurricane Maria. To see our schools and students coming together to help our neighbors and families in the Caribbean has been truly remarkable,” said Dr. Ed Moore, President of ICUF. “All of the ICUF schools are committed to finding ways to bring relief to those hardest hit by the storm and working to make sure that students from these areas do not lose progress towards their degrees. With so much catastrophic damage to infrastructure, places like Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands will need long term solutions that I know ICUF can play a part in creating. By equipping these students with the ability to continue their education with as little interference as possible, our hope is they will be able to use the knowledge gained at our institutions to help rebuild their communities and make them stronger than before.”
Adventist University of Health Sciences (ADU)
- Conducted a week-long supply drive for Puerto Rico, in collaboration with Florida Hospital and the Florida Conference of the Seventh Day Adventist Church; provided two pallets containing 20 boxes of food and non-food items and cases of water.
- Volunteered at a “Blessings for Puerto Rico” sorting and packing project hosted by Florida Hospital; part of a collective effort at this event that sent six 24-foot trucks of supplies to Puerto Rico.
- Engaged in relief efforts in the USVI through an ADU faculty member who assisted a team from Florida Hospital on a medical mission; also promoting a link for monetary donations.
- Discussing a framework of assistance to students from Puerto Rico and the USVI.
Barry University
- Offering expedited, flexible admissions and financial aid to affected students; current students affected will be able to file an appeal to have their financial aid re-evaluated and will not be assessed a penalty fee for late payment of fall tuition.
- Chartered a commercial airline to evacuate more than 70 students, faculty, staff, family members and pets from Barry’s St. Croix Physician Assistant program as Hurricane Maria approached; housed, fed and provided other on-campus amenities to these individuals.
- Coordinating various relief efforts, including fundraising, collection of items, volunteer/mission trips and monitoring the needs of hurricane victims.
- Reached out individually to all students from the Caribbean and offered guidance based on students’ unique needs.
Everglades University
- Providing leave-of-absence and appropriate academic interruption assistance to online students in Puerto Rico.
- Offering institutional scholarships to Puerto Rican students to assist them and welcoming and expediting transfer students from Puerto Rico.
- Collecting and shipping supplies to Puerto Rico from a drop-off location at the Everglades Boca Raton main campus.
Flagler College
- Responding to inquiries from students enrolled in institutions in Puerto Rico and the USVI related to opportunities to complete or continue their college education.
- Admissions, Financial Aid and the Registrar’s offices are making every effort to accommodate the students’ requests and to ensure that credits earned at Flagler will be transferable to the institution that will award their degrees, if Flagler College is not to be that institution.
- President Joyner also established an emergency aid fund to assist any students who needed financial support for travel or other short-term needs.
Florida Southern College
- Working with students who may have difficulty paying tuition due to storm effects; students can meet with financial aid specialists for assistance on an individualized basis.
- Several clubs and organizations have held or plan to hold fundraising activities for victims.
- A relief trip is planned for spring break if conditions permit.
- Reached out to students with Puerto Rico or USVI as country of origin to offer emotional support and counseling as needed.
Jacksonville University (JU)
- Waiving the application fee for prospective students in affected regions; the Honors deadline has been extended on a case-by-case basis for these students.
- Working individually with JU’s Puerto Rico-based Master of Fine Arts in Choreography program students to provide support and continuity in their education and programming.
- Contacted all current students from the affected areas (Puerto Rico, USVI and throughout the Caribbean) to provide support or assistance as needed, including financial aid; Student Counseling Center is offering natural disaster support group meetings.
- Its students are engaged in various projects to fundraise for and support disaster relief for hurricane victims; the College of Fine Arts will use funds raised through its three-day Fall Dance concert in November to help provide relief for residents of Puerto Rico.
Keiser University
- Offering affected students the opportunity to enroll at one of Keiser’s 19 campuses within Florida, the Nicaragua campus or through the Online Division.
- Keiser operates on a modular schedule which offers monthly enrollment in new courses and intakes (accepted) new (and transfer) students, allowing these students to not delay/interrupt their education.
- Offering Disaster Relief Scholarships to displaced students in need.
- Due to transcripts and school records possibly not being readily available to support transfers, the institution will work with these students and rely on other verification processes to determine admissibility.
Lynn University
- Offering institutional scholarships to incoming Lynn students from areas impacted by the hurricanes.
- Organized a donation drive for Hurricane Irma victims in the Florida Keys and the Caribbean Islands, with the supplies to be distributed first to the Florida Keys, and remaining items delivered to the Caribbean Islands via a Norwegian Cruise ship; volunteers also worked with Feeding South Florida to distribute meals to affected Florida Keys residents; coordinating relief volunteer trips to Naples, Florida and the Florida Keys, as conditions permit.
- Volunteered at Boca Raton’s Red Reef Park to clear hurricane trash and debris.
Reached out to all students whose families were impacted by disasters in affected areas of Florida and the Caribbean; offered support including counseling, health and financial services to affected students and employees, as needed.
Nova Southeastern University (NSU)
- Using a plane and carrying medical supplies and personnel provided by NSU donor Dr. Kiran Patel, NSU officials flew three relief missions, each with 500 pounds of supplies provided by the university to Puerto Rico; also organizing collection drives and donating supplies to relief organizations.
- Opened a path for graduate students who could make their way to the mainland to be accommodated and continue their studies at NSU’s Florida campuses; also adapting curricula and delivery methods to allow affected graduate students to continue their education after normalizing their living situation.
- Established an outreach program to confirm NSU students’ wellbeing and whereabouts via multiple means; launched a dedicated webpage and sending daily messages on all platforms advising of aid/support.
- Created and utilized “NSUcares,” a fundraising/volunteer channel originally established by President Hanbury, to help NSU victims of Hurricane Irma as well as aid NSU victims of Hurricane Maria and Hurricane Harvey.
Palm Beach Atlantic University (PBA)
- Working with SF4PR (South Florida for Puerto Rico), which was created by an alumnus and adjunct instructor to collect needed donations.
- Holding themed donation events on campus, i.e., soliciting flashlights and batteries for “Light for Puerto Rico;” prepping donations for shipment.
- PBA has a representative on “Palm Beach County Cares,” which is gathering donations county-wide for Puerto Rico; PBA is providing volunteers for those efforts as well.
- Considering staging a relief trip to Puerto Rico.
Rollins College
- Offering a discounted transfer program for the Spring 2018 semester to degree-seeking students currently enrolled in Puerto Rican and Caribbean colleges and universities.
- Eligible, admitted students will be charged a flat fee of $8,500 for the semester, covering tuition and room and board.
- Students enrolled at Rollins for the Spring 2018 semester under this program may continue their studies at Rollins for the 2018-2019 semester with satisfactory academic performance.
- Working individually with each currently enrolled student from the affected areas to provide maximum financial and emotional support through its Offices of Financial Aid and Student and Family Care.
Saint Leo University
- Tracking all affected current students to locate them and check on wellbeing; assisting these students with continued attendance, if able, or to take temporary leave.
- Offering counseling and disaster assistance/relief to affected students; have begun disbursing relief funds.
- Offering free room and board and discounted tuition of $8,500 for the Spring 2018 semester to college students in Puerto Rico whose studies have been affected by the hurricanes; these students may continue their studies at Saint Leo with satisfactory academic performance.
Southeastern University
- Four trips planned to Puerto Rico to assist with relief efforts, starting Thanksgiving break.
- Reached out to affected students, resulting in efforts including shipping supplies to students’ families, purchasing airplane tickets for students and providing for a delayed exam schedule.
- Social Work Club and Department sponsoring a donation drive gathering essential items to send to Puerto Rico, as well as holding weekly support meetings for those with family in Puerto Rico.
- Established a fund to provide financial assistance to those impacted by the recent hurricanes.
Stetson University
- Waiving all room charges for the Spring 2018 semester to new students from the affected islands.
- Reaching out to students able to be identified who may be affected.
- Offering support such as counseling, academic support and financial assistance as needed to those students.
- Created a Hurricane Relief fund to assist students submitting financial appeals related to the hurricanes; funds are granted to students from the USVI, Puerto Rico and Florida not able to make payments for hurricane-related reasons.
St. Thomas University
- Offering free room, board and books to prospective students from the affected islands transferring in to St. Thomas; Metz providing free meal plan and Follett providing books.
- Making it possible through testing and other means for these students to continue with the current semester’s work.
- Offering 50 percent Disaster Relief Scholarships through Spring 2018; received a $250,000 gift from the Knight Foundation to support the University’s efforts to help these students, the funds of which will apply directly to scholarships.
- Offering support to sister institutions in Puerto Rico and USVI.
University of Miami (UM)
- As with Hurricane Katrina, accepting undergraduate students into classes at no tuition charge, committing to prohibit these students to transfer to UM or remain at UM once their home institutions reopen so as not to deplete future revenue from these schools when they reopen.
- Hosting faculty and graduate students from Puerto Rico and USVI institutions so they can continue their academic/scholarly endeavors and activities; providing access to UM offices, labs and resources at no cost.
- UM estimates the ability to support up to 300 such undergraduate students across its schools and disciplines at UM.
The University of Tampa
- Identified affected students and working closely with them on payment schedules for the Spring 2018 term; routinely issuing statements to targeted student groups affected by disaster.
- Ongoing support groups and one-to-one counseling for students affected by the storm.
- Vice President for Student Affairs hosting weekly lunches, supporting fundraisers and meeting with Caribbean Student Organization leadership to better understand needs and lend support.
- Holding relief/aid activities/events on campus, as well as providing information to all campus community members about ways to help.
The Independent Colleges and Universities of Florida (ICUF) is an association of 30 private, non-profit educational institutions based in Florida and accredited by The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS). Serving 157,000 students at 127 sites throughout the state, ICUF offers programs at main campuses and branch campuses in communities and on state colleges. For more information, please visit www.icuf.org.
Sen. Bill Nelson's remarks following visit to Puerto Rico
U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL) took to the Senate floor today to share what he saw on the ground in Puerto Rico yesterday.
“We’ve had colleagues come back because of a flight over in a helicopter and say that they don’t see a lot of damage,” Nelson said. “Of course not, because they’re flying over parts of towns that most of the structures are made with concrete blocks. But when you get down there on the ground and go into the structure, then you’re going to see a different story.
“The hospitals are rationing services while they struggle to get the medicine and the fuel they need to power the generators. The dialysis centers, they’re struggling to get the water and fuel that they need to operate.
“I wanted to come to the floor of the Senate, having gotten back very late last night from Puerto Rico, and tell the Senate that more needs to be done.
“There should absolutely be no ambiguity about what is going on in Puerto Rico. It isn’t rosy. It isn’t that you can sit in a comfortable seat in a helicopter looking down from 1,500, 2,000 feet on structures that look like they are intact when, in fact, the reality on the ground below is completely different.
“Our fellow Americans are dying, and they desperately need our help. I have seen it with my own eyes on the ground. And I’m here to urge this congress and the administration that we have to act.”
Following is a rush transcript of Nelson’s remarks and here’s a link to watch video of his speech: https://youtu.be/5mEF6TY-VmE.
U.S. Senator Bill Nelson
Remarks on the Senate floor
October 16, 2017
Sen. Nelson: I want to talk about a matter of life and death. It’s happening as we speak in Puerto Rico.
I went there yesterday. I didn’t want to have a flyover of the island, but at the invitation of Governor Rosselló, I got into a helicopter so that I could get up into the mountains, into the areas that have been closed because people hadn’t been able to get there on the roads.
This is what I wanted to see. We’ve had colleagues come back because of a flight over in a helicopter and say that they don’t see a lot of damage. Of course not, because they’re flying over parts of towns that most of the structures are made with concrete blocks. But when you get down there on the ground and go into the structure, then you’re going to see a different story.
First of all, you’re going to smell a different story, because the water has accumulated, and now it’s turning to mold and mildew. And inhabitable conditions. But when you get up into the mountains, the places that were cut off, that not until a week ago did they have the roads cleared so that people could get up.
And as we speak, as of yesterday, still reconstructing the roads so that people can get on these narrow winding little dirt roads going up through the mountains. So for two and a half weeks communities have been completely cut off like the one that I saw yesterday — Utuado — way up in the mountains. I want to show you some pictures, but I want you to realize that today’s Monday.
Next Wednesday is four weeks since the hurricane has hit. Can you imagine going into a state of 3.5 million people, and 85% of the people did not have electricity? Or can you imagine going into a state — and, by the way, these are our fellow American citizens. They’re just in a territory. Can you imagine going into a state where 50%, a month after the hurricane, 50% of the people do not have potable water? It’s an absolute outrage, and I don’t think the American people realize what’s happening.
So let me be your eyes by what I saw yesterday.
So, Madam President, this is a river bottom in a, in the little town of Utuado. This side of the river is cut off from this side of the river because the one bridge washed out. If you look at this structure, the question is, how long is this going to last because it is tilting to the left, and any major rush of water down is going to take out this section. I want you to see how creative these people are. It’s hard to see at this distance, but this they have erected a cable system coming over to the other side. What they have taken is the basket of a grocery cart, taken the wheels off, taken the handles off. And this is on a pulley where these guys are pulling it over and then they pull it back. This is how people on this side of the river are getting food and water and medicine if they can’t walk across.
This is how people are surviving now when this section of the bridge goes — and it’s just a matter of time — they’re going to try to hook up a cable over here at the top of this river bank over to the top of this river bank and do the same kind of pulley.
You know, here in the states on the mainland, if something like this happened, the Corps of Engineers would be there. We’d be rebuilding. The Department of Transportation would be rebuilding that. Ladies and gentlemen of the Senate, these are our fellow Americans, citizens. And they’re going without.
All right, let me show you another one. So this is the bank of another river. By the way, on this bank, let me show you the result. That’s what happened. This whole house. Right behind here, I’ll show you the church in a minute. So I asked the pastor did the people survive. He said one was trapped in the house. They were able to get that person out. The others had already fled. But you can see the force of the extra rain, the water coming down, and houses like that are history. Here’s that same section of the river with the church in the background, the church survived. I talked to the pastor of the church. Here I am having a conversation with the people that live on this side. I asked the pastor did he lose any parishioners. He did not. On his side of his church, he has a dish. And because he has a generator, he is the only person in this town that has any kind of communication, in this case through the satellite dish for television.
Everything else is either being run on a generator or else there is no electricity. And as you know, these generators are not powerful enough to run air conditioners. And, therefore, you go through the water accumulates, the mold and mildew starts to accumulate. And all the health effects as a result of that.
And so, Madam President, does this look like something that we would have in this country? Does this look like something that we would have in this country? Or does this look like a third world country? Do these images and these photographs, do they bring to mind other Caribbean nations that we’ve seen that have been devastated by earthquakes and hurricanes? Think about what happened to Haiti.
So when people go down and happen to go to San Juan, which by the way, 85% of San Juan is without power, you see these little pockets. And of course they’re trying to get the generators going to the hospitals for the obvious reasons. They need the generators to go to stations where people are getting their dialysis treatments. That’s obvious. But what about the wear and tear on the generators and the replacements? The governor of Puerto Rico, Governor Rosselló, has a very ambitious schedule.
He wants to restore 95% of power by the middle of December. I hope that the governor is right. But what I’m afraid is with the Army Corps of Engineers going through that laborious procedures, which it’s been turned over to them to get the electrical grid and structures up and running, I’m afraid it’s going to be a lot longer.
I asked for estimates on the immediate needs, and especially the rebuilding of the grid. $4 billion. Are we going to be able to get that for them? What are going to be the ultimate needs of Puerto Rico if, as we just heard, the senator from Texas talk about his state and the estimates that you’ve heard out of Texas of being as much as $100 billion. What about the needs of Puerto Rico? What about the needs of Florida? What about the needs of the Virgin Islands? We got a supplemental coming up but is that going to take care in the interim up until December the needs of all of those four areas that have been hit hard?
If Texas is $100 billion, long-term fix for Puerto Rico may well be $80 billion to $90 billion. And who knows what it’s going to be for Florida and the Virgin Islands. And, therefore, are we in this Congress with or without the leadership of the White House going to have the stomach to help our federal fellow American citizens?
Oh, I’m sure we’re going to help Texas, and I’m sure — I certainly hope so, we’re going to help my state of Florida, but are we willing to help the American citizens in the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico?
So it’s not a rosy picture when you hear some members of Congress come back and say they didn’t see a lot of damage. It’s people using a pulley that have jerry-rigged across a river to survive with daily supplies of food and fuel and water, and you can’t see that from the air, and if you have no power, you have no water, you have no sewer systems, and what you have is chaos.
So a month since Hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico. The hospitals are rationing services while they struggle to get the medicine and the fuel they need to power the generators. The dialysis centers. They’re struggling to get the water and fuel that they need to operate. So I, like many, have written in this case to the U.S. to do more to help these dialysis centers obtain the supplies that they need.
And so I wanted to come to the floor of the Senate, having gotten back very late last night from Puerto Rico, and tell the Senate that more needs to be done, and it’s going to have to be done for a very long period of time.
We have to do more to ensure the supplies that are reaching the island are getting to those that need them. Remember, remember things got piled up in the ports in the first week, and they didn’t get out to be distributed. It took what Senator Rubio and I were saying at the time, it’s going to take the united states military, which is uniquely organized and capable of distribution of long logistical lines, and it wasn’t until a week later after the hurricane that the three-star General Buchanan was put in charge.
I met with him and the head of FEMA down in the Puerto Rico area, that head of FEMA. Finally, those supplies are getting out, but this is supplies for survival. So we need to pass a disaster relief package that fully funds Puerto Rico’s recovery. We need to provide Puerto Rico with the community development block grant money that Governor Rosselló has requested, just like we need the CDBGs for Texas and Florida and the Virgin Islands as well, and we need to make Puerto Rico eligible for permanent work assistance so that they can start to rebuild their infrastructure immediately.
So I want to make something fairly clear. There should absolutely be no ambiguity about what is going on in Puerto Rico. It isn’t rosy. It isn’t that you can sit in a comfortable seat in a helicopter looking down from 1,500, 2,000 feet on structures that look like they are intact when, in fact, the reality on the ground below is completely different. And certainly, they didn’t go up there and see all those bridges washed out in the mountains. They didn’t see people scrambling for food. They didn’t see the Puerto Rican National Guard rebuilding that little narrow dirt road, winding along the banks of that river. They didn’t see or walk into the buildings that you would almost be overwhelmed with the smell, the smells particularly of mold and mildew.
People have died as a result of this hurricane. People have died because of the lack of supplies and power. Our fellow Americans are dying, and they desperately need our help. And ladies and gentlemen of the Senate, I have seen it with my own eyes on the ground. And I’m here to urge this congress and the administration that we have to act and act for a very long period of time. Our citizens in Puerto Rico need our help. We have the responsibility to help fellow citizens in need.
Madam President, I yield the floor.
Nelson asks HHS for additional assistance in Puerto Rico
U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson today sent the following letter to the head of the Dept. of Health and Human Services asking for additional support and assistance in Puerto Rico following reports this week of the island’s most vulnerable residents who remain in “mortal peril.
Read more from the New York Times report here.
Following is the text of the letter sent to HHS Acting Secretary Hargan, a pdf copy is available here.
October 13, 2017
Eric Hargan
Acting Secretary
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
200 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington DC 20201
Dear Acting Secretary Hargan,
I write today regarding the humanitarian crisis in Puerto Rico. As recently detailed in The New York Times, in the wake of Hurricanes Irma and Maria many of the island’s most vulnerable residents remain “in mortal peril.”
Three weeks after Hurricane Maria made landfall, only 10 percent of the island has power. At least 40 percent of the island doesn’t have access to clean drinking water. Contaminated floodwaters are placing thousands of residents at-risk of infection, and even death.
Access to oxygen supplies, medicines and diesel to power generators are limited. Sixty-seven of the nearly 70 hospitals are operational with 29 running off temporary generators. Forty-three of the island’s 48 dialysis centers are operational, and yet dialysis patients are receiving reduced treatments. While these numbers sound encouraging, I’m concerned they’re painting a much rosier picture than reality.
According to the article, individuals who depend on oxygen tanks, ventilators, and dialysis are dying or are at risk because of limited access to medically necessary services and fuel supplies to power generators. Generator power is intended to be a temporary solution and it will be months before power is fully restored. At a minimum, these facilities need sufficient diesel—or an alternative power source, like solar-powered generators— to keep their patients alive and healthy.
While I understand the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is sending personnel and resources to Puerto Rico, this article made clear that it is not enough. The situation is not improving, and Americans are dying. I have raised this issue with your agency before, and I urge you now to take immediate steps to prevent further loss of life.
I implore you to partner with the island to ensure that priority locations like dialysis centers and hospitals have access to an adequate supplies of diesel, personnel, and medication, and have power restored as soon as possible. In addition, I have heard from dialysis providers who are struggling to get fresh water and diesel into Puerto Rico because an inconsistent flight schedule is making it difficult to time the delivery of its shipments. To that end, I ask you to coordinate with other federal agencies, including the Federal Emergency Management Administration and the Federal Aviation Administration, to help these supplies get to where they are most needed.
The actions mentioned above only scratch the surface of what needs to be done. I urge the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to act before more people die and this becomes a full-blown crisis.
Sincerely,
UF offers free online courses to students displaced by hurricanes in Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands
The University of Florida is offering free courses through UF Online to assist college students displaced by Hurricanes Maria and Irma in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Undergraduate students displaced from select colleges and who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents may enroll as non-degree seeking students in UF Online courses for the spring 2018 term and/or the summer 2018 term(s) at no charge for tuition and fees.
UF anticipates being able to handle 1,000 students through the program.
“I’m proud that the University of Florida is helping Puerto Rican students continue their education online as Puerto Rican families work to rebuild their lives following the devastation caused by Hurricane Maria,” Gov. Rick Scott said. “We are doing everything we can to help them throughout this process, and we will continue to work together to make sure Puerto Rican families have all the support they need to rebuild their lives.”
Said UF Provost Joe Glover: “The devastation left in the wake of Hurricane Maria is almost unparalleled. We hope this opportunity will help some of the people in the affected areas begin to rebuild their lives and will assist in the progress toward restoring a sense of normalcy for students from Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.”
The listing of courses that will be offered by UF Online during spring 2018 can be found HERE. To apply and for more information, CLICK HERE.
Students will be expected to provide some evidence they were/are enrolled in one of the schools listed below. Examples of acceptable evidence include: student ID card, a bill from their school for housing, and/or tuition, a transcript, etc. It should be noted that all UF Online courses are taught in English.
Upon request, effective in fall 2018, undergraduate students from Puerto Rico and/or the U.S. Virgin Islands will be considered for degree-seeking status in UF Online at normal UF Online tuition (75 percent of the resident in-state tuition with reduced fees) as degree-seeking students provided they were degree-seeking students in good standing at four-year colleges and/or universities in Puerto Rico or the U.S. Virgin Islands and provide appropriate documentation by August 30, 2018.
UF will evaluate what credits can be transferred from the student’s former institution to the student’s UF transcript.
Students may also continue as non-degree seeking, paying the UF Online in-state rate, with no additional documentation required through the fall 2018 term. A list of programs available through UF Online can be found HERE.
Credits earned may be transferred to other public institutions in the state of Florida if the student becomes enrolled there as a degree-seeking student, since the UF Online courses offered are all part of the state wide common course inventory.
The credits earned may be transferable to universities in Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands and other states, but that determination will be made by the individual universities.
List of Institutions: Puerto Rico
Conservatory of Music of Puerto Rico
San Juan, PR
Inter American University of Puerto Rico:
- Aguadilla Campus, Aguadilla, PR
- Barranquitas Campus, Barranquitas, PR
- Bayamon Campus, Bayamon, PR
- Fajardo Campus, Fajardo, PR
- Guayama Campus, Guayama, PR
- Metropolitan Campus, Rio Piedras, PR
- Ponce Campus, Mercedita, PR
- San German Campus, San German, PR
Universidad Metropolitana
San Juan, PR
University of Puerto Rico: Aguadilla
Aguadilla, PR
University of Puerto Rico: Arecibo
Arecibo, PR
University of Puerto Rico: Carolina Regional College
Carolina, PR
University of Puerto Rico: Cayey University College
Cayey, PR
University of Puerto Rico: Mayaguez
Mayaguez, PR
University of Puerto Rico: Ponce
Ponce, PR
University of Puerto Rico: Rio Piedras
San Juan, PR
University of Puerto Rico: Utuado
Utuado, PR
List of Institutions: U.S. Virgin Islands
University of the Virgin Island
St. Thomas
Gov. Scott Directs DBPR to Eliminate Licensing Fees for Puerto Ricans Displaced by Hurricane Maria
Governor Rick Scott today directed Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) Secretary Jonathan Zachem to issue an Emergency Order suspending all fees required for occupational license applications for residents of Puerto Rico who were impacted by Hurricane Maria and are now in Florida. This includes over 50 different individual professional license types, such as barbers and realtors. By suspending fees, residents from Puerto Rico will be able to obtain a license from the state more quickly and continue their careers in Florida.
Governor Scott said, “As families from Puerto Rico relocate to Florida following the devastation caused by Hurricane Maria, it is crucial that we continue to do all we can to make it easier for these individuals to rebuild their lives and provide for their families. Today, I have directed the Department of Business and Professional Regulation to take immediate action to suspend licensing fees that would hinder or delay recovery efforts so these families can get back on their feet and continue successful careers in our state.”
DBPR Secretary Jonathan Zachem said, “Following Hurricane Maria, the Department is working to provide necessary resources to help families and individuals recover and get to work more quickly. We appreciate the leadership of Governor Scott in helping these families, and hope that by eliminating burdensome fees, residents from Puerto Rico will be able to continue their livelihood here in Florida.”
To view the Emergency Order, click HERE.
DFS Law Enforcement Personnel Lands in Puerto Rico
On Sunday, Major Karl Morgan with the Department of Financial Services’ Bureau of Fire and Arson Investigations flew to San Juan, Puerto Rico alongside personnel from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Florida Highway Patrol and Florida Department of Law Enforcement to assist with hurricane recovery efforts following Hurricane Maria.
Major Morgan joins an eight-member multi-agency incident management team that will coordinate the activities of law enforcement personnel. Last week, CFO Patronis pledged to assist Puerto Rico in its recovery efforts, and additional resources remain on standby.
Gov. Scott: Florida Enters New Host-State Agreement to Help Displaced Puerto Ricans
Governor Rick Scott today announced that the Trump Administration has approved his request to enter into Host-State agreement with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). This agreement approves 100 percent federal reimbursement for costs incurred by the State of Florida related to the accommodation of those displaced by Hurricane Maria. In Florida, this includes sheltering operations and other support for those who are currently in Florida and for those who are still arriving from Puerto Rico. Click HERE to see the agreement.
Governor Scott said, “The number one concern that I’ve heard from families displaced by Hurricane Maria is that they need a safe place to stay so they can begin rebuilding their lives. This agreement with the federal government that I asked for will allow Florida to continue helping displaced families while they are in Florida. Since Hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico last week, we have been engaged in relief and response and we will continue to make sure that Florida is providing as much support and hospitality as possible.”
This week, the Governor announced the opening of three disaster relief centers in Port of Miami, Orlando International Airport and Miami International Director Airport. For a complete list of assistance that Florida has provided to Puerto Rico, click HERE.
CFO Patronis Deploys DFS Law Enforcement Assets to Assist in Puerto Rico
Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis today announced that law enforcement personnel from the Department of Financial Services will join the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE), the Florida Highway Patrol, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission and others to offer aid in Puerto Rico following Hurricane Maria.
CFO Patronis said, “Hurricane Maria devastated Puerto Rico, leaving many families with nothing but the few belongings they could carry as they fled their homes. As Florida continues to rebuild after Irma, I know that disaster recovery requires an ‘all hands-on deck’ approach, and I’m proud to make resources available to help Puerto Rico get back on its feet. The needs are great, and we’ll do what we can do assist during this difficult time.”
To help assess the law enforcement needs in the area, the Department is deploying Major Karl Morgan from the Bureau of Fire and Arson Investigations to join an eight-person incident management team. Additional resources, including heavy land-clearing equipment used during Hurricane Irma recovery efforts, remain on standby.
While in Puerto Rico, a collective law enforcement team coordinated by FDLE will conduct recovery missions and offer security resources to protect relief materials being shipped or flown into the coastal country.
Florida-based personnel and resources are made available to Puerto Rico through the Emergency Management Assistance Compact.
Sen. Victor Torres calls on Gov. Scott to expedite stockpiles emergency supplies for Puerto Rico
The former Marine and New York City Cop urges Rick Scott to
tap close relationship with Donald Trump to hasten relief
Less than 24 hours after his return from hurricane-ravaged Puerto Rico, and his first hand observation of one of the island’s largest cities still ignored by relief efforts, state Senator Victor Torres (D-Orlando) on Tuesday called on Governor Rick Scott to cut through the red tape stymieing the shipment of emergency supplies.
“The longer we wait, the worse it gets,” said Senator Torres, whose trip on Monday included the delivery of generators, chain saws, and other critically needed supplies to Ponce, Puerto Rico’s third largest city located in the southern part of the island. “The mayor told us yesterday that we were the first government officials to step foot in her city. No one from FEMA, no one from San Juan, and certainly no one from Tallahassee had preceded us in delivering supplies or accessing the situation in this city or its outlying towns.”
Noting the massive amount of water, food, and additional equipment – all critically needed by the people on the island yet lying idle in warehouses in Orlando – Senator Torres added that although Governor Scott emphasizes his close relationship with President Donald Trump, he has not made an effort to use that tie to cut through roadblocks hindering the shipment of stockpiled supplies to areas outside of the island’s capital.
“We’ve seen both the governor and the president fly into and out of the capital, bringing little more than photographers and promises,” said Senator Torres. “This does nothing to alleviate the suffering and the potential death count as supplies remain bottlenecked in warehouses.”
In his visit to Ponce, Senator Torres observed that the people themselves took it upon themselves to clear critical infrastructure, including roads, as well as the landing strip in the city’s airport for air transport. In addition, five of the city’s eight ports are operational, but no supplies are arriving. Senator Torres said that the governor could easily remedy the situation by asking for federal intervention.
“I saw firsthand the desperation that is mounting on the other side of Puerto Rico that has been neglected,” said Senator Torres. “Two weeks after Hurricane Maria made landfall, Governor Scott’s promises of immediate help while he continues to wait for some kind of formal request from Puerto Rican officials are ringing hollow. It’s time for him to get to work.”
