Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability
Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability

State Higher Education Facility Planning Process Is Designed Reasonably Well; Current Formulas May Inaccurately Portray Projected Needs

Report 06-30, March 2006




Report Summary

The state's current processes to select and fund higher education facility construction projects include multiple levels of review and ensure that institutional requests for new construction are coordinated with the state's higher education goals, local strategic plans, and community development plans.

However, the effectiveness of the planning process is dependent on the information provided by the institutions to their respective state-level divisions to determine the state's most critical facility needs. As the facility planning process relies heavily on each institution's educational plant survey to identify and prioritize higher education facility needs, it is important that the information contained in these assessments is correct. The reliability and accuracy of information contained in these surveys could be improved by addressing two issues.

  • The Department of Education and Board of Governors should update the formulas used to develop educational plant surveys to ensure they accurately portray current institutional need for additional facility space.
  • The department and the Board of Governors should provide additional technical assistance to some institutions to address common errors in educational plant surveys.


Related Reports
  1. Review of the Capital Outlay Facilities Space of Florida's State University System
    Report 20-SUSFACI February 2020
  2. Review of the Capital Outlay Facilities Space of Florida's College System
    Report 20-FCSFACI June 2020
  3. The State Requirements for Educational Facilities (SREF) Should Be Retained; Some Modifications Could Be Made
    Report 17-04 January 2017
  4. More State Direction Could Increase the Utilization of Higher Education Classrooms
    Report 09-25 April 2009
Copies of this report in print or alternate accessible format may be obtained by email OPPAGA@oppaga.fl.gov, telephone (850) 488-0021, or mail 111 W. Madison St., Room 312 Tallahassee, FL 32399-1475.
Copies of this report in print or alternate accessible format may be obtained by email OPPAGA@oppaga.fl.gov, telephone (850) 488-0021, or mail 111 W. Madison St., Room 312 Tallahassee, FL 32399-1475.
education, school districts, employment projections, Community College Facilities; SUS Facilities; Postsecondary Facilities Planning; Postsecondary Facilities Utilization; Postsecondary Facilities Construction; Higher Education Space Allocation; Construction Costs; Fixed Capital Outlay Budget; PECO Funding, estimating conference, skill sets, training programs, workforce, labor pool, job vacancy, employer survey, unemployment insurance, economic development, degree production, wage rates, job openings, job growth, high skill, high wage, high demand, targeted occupation, incentive funding, career counseling, staffing patterns, best financial management practice, performance reviews, schools, school districts, academic freedom, student grievances, faculty grievances, community colleges, college, university, school, grades