This case study, part of the State Structures for the Governance of Higher Education study, focuses on governance and related issues in Florida's higher education system. The study's overall purpose was to examine differences among states in their governance structures, and to determine if differences in performance were related to governing structures and whether structure affects strategies of state policymakers. The study is based on analysis of documents and on interviews conducted in 1995 with state officials, education administrators, faculty, and staff. Individual sections of the report present information on: (1) state demographics and the political context; (2) the characteristics of the higher education system; (3) issues for higher education (access, productivity, accountability, deregulation, and economic development); (4) the state university system (history, role of the Board of Regents and Chancellor, and enrollment/tuition); (5) community colleges background, enrollment and tuition; (6) the role of the Postsecondary Education Planning Commission; (7) Florida's private colleges and universities; (8) student financial aid trends in aid, family income, and family savings; (9) the budget process for both the state university and community college systems; (10) system articulation and information; and (11) assessment of the system's structure. A list of advisory committee members is appended. (Contains 34 references.) (DB)