DeSantis wants to see gender studies ‘dry up,’ make universities responsible for loans

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (FLV) – Gov. Ron DeSantis laid out his vision for an improved American university system, arguing that universities should be responsible for student loans and vying to bolster technical training.

“You look at the student debt problem […] I don’t think taxpayers should pick up the debt because you have a truck driver paying the debt for someone that got a degree in gender studies – that that doesn’t make sense,” the governor said.

“A lot of these students were sold a bill of goods by the universities, the universities were [saying] ‘unless you get a degree, you’re not gonna be successful,’ and the universities wanted them taking out a lot of loans because they end up plowing it in,” he continued. “We are gonna deal with the loans by making the universities responsible for loans.”

He added that making universities responsible for student loans will force them to focus on fields like engineering that yield higher-paying jobs in the workforce.

“If that is the case, you’re going to see things like gender studies dry up, they’re going to focus on engineering, they’re going to focus on things where they know people will be gainfully employed,” he said.

A second aspect of his vision for universities, he said, is to bolster technical training.

“You can go through some of the technical training, welding commercial vehicles, all this stuff – you’re making like, 100 grand, by the time you’re 20, with no debt or very little debt,” DeSantis said.

The governor touted Florida’s truck driving industry, emphasizing its importance for logistics.

DeSantis has focused on apprenticeship and vocational training throughout his tenure as governor. Late last year, he announced funding to invest in expanding commercial driver’s license training.

“This is something that is going to make a huge impact on opportunity. We’re happy that there was a great response to what we’ve already done,” DeSantis said at the time. “We’re happy that there’s a lot of people that see the value in pursuing this line of work.”

“The best way to learn is to do and so I’m a big believer in apprenticeships,” he added.