Bill Summary: Florida Excellence in Higher Education Act of 2017

• Renames and restructures Florida College System: The Florida College System is renamed the Florida Community College System and is transferred from the State Board of Education to a new independent State Board of Community Colleges, effective October 1, 2017.

• Creates State Board of Community Colleges: Establishes a 13-member board (Commissioner of Education plus 12 citizen members appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate) to oversee and coordinate the community college system with a Chancellor as chief executive officer.

• Revises baccalaureate degree authorization: Prohibits community colleges from offering bachelor of arts degrees and establishes enrollment caps limiting upper-level undergraduate enrollment to no more than 15 percent of combined lower-level and upper-level enrollment.

• Requires "2+2" pathway agreements: Mandates each community college execute at least one "2+2" targeted pathway articulation agreement with state universities by 2018-2019 to guarantee transfer students access to baccalaureate degree programs.

• Modifies financial aid and scholarship programs: Creates new scholarship programs including the Florida Farmworker Student Scholarship Program, extends Benacquisto Scholarships to qualified nonresidents, expands Florida Academic Scholars to cover textbooks and college expenses, and requires state universities to implement block tuition policies for undergraduate students.