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Florida leaders ask Puerto Rican students displaced by the recent earthquakes be awarded in-state tuition

Members of Florida’s congressional delegation are asking for in-state tuition for Puerto Rican students displaced by the recent earthquakes on the island.

“When trying to readjust after a major disaster that destroyed an entire way of life, saving thousands of dollars in tuition can make a huge difference for these students and their families,” wrote the Members. “We respectfully encourage you consider working with the Florida Board of Governors to extend in-state tuition through the current semester to students that have relocated to Florida after being displaced by the recent earthquake swarm.”

On Thursday central Florida Rep. Darren Soto (FL-09) joined nine other representatives, including central Florida Rep Stephanie Murphy and Rep Val Demings, in sending a letter to Marshall M. Criser III, the Chancellor of the State University System of Florida, urging him to work with the Florida Board of Governors to extend in-state tuition to students who have relocated to Florida.

If approved, students from Puerto Rico who have been displaced by the earthquake would pay about $200/per credit hour versus he $750/per credit hour charged to out-of-state students.

In 2018, following Hurricane Maria, the University of Central Florida’s Board of Trustees voted to extend in-state tuition for Puerto Rican Students through 2023.