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DeSantis announces major changes to in-state tuition, tenure policies for college professors

THE VILLAGES, Fla. — Gov. Ron DeSantis announced changes to higher education policies in the state on Tuesday during a news conference in The Villages.

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DeSantis said graduating high school students whose grandparents live in Florida will now qualify for in-state tuition if their test scores are high enough.

He said the reform also changes the way universities receive accreditation and how the tenure process works for professors.

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DeSantis said higher education employees with tenure will now go under review every five years, giving the school’s board of trustees the ability to part ways at that time if desired.

DeSantis was joined by Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran, Senate President Wilton Simpson and House Speaker Chris Sprowls.

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Katlyn Brieskorn, WFTV.com

Katlyn Brieskorn is a Digital Assignment Editor at WFTV. She joined Channel 9 in July 2019.

Sarah Wilson

Sarah Wilson, WFTV.com

Sarah Wilson joined WFTV Channel 9 in 2018 as a digital producer after working as an award-winning newspaper reporter for nearly a decade in various communities across Central Florida.