Florida Senate - 2018 (NP) SR 1744 By Senator Hukill 14-01884-18 20181744__ 1 Senate Resolution 2 A resolution honoring Bethune-Cookman University and 3 designating January 11, 2018, as “Wildcat Day” in the 4 State of Florida. 5 6 WHEREAS, on October 3, 1904, Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune, with 7 “five girls, $1.50, and faith in God,” founded the Daytona 8 Literary and Industrial Training School for Negro Girls in 9 Daytona Beach, which would become Bethune-Cookman College in 10 1931, and 11 WHEREAS, through the power of God and the tenacity of Mary 12 McLeod Bethune, the Daytona Literary and Industrial Training 13 School for Negro Girls grew from an all-girls elementary school 14 to Bethune-Cookman College, launching its first master’s degree 15 program in 2006 and achieving university status in early 2007, 16 and 17 WHEREAS, with a current total enrollment of 4,140 students, 18 Bethune-Cookman University offers 43 degrees through 12 academic 19 schools and colleges, including 7 graduate programs, and offers 20 11 online degrees; maintains intercollegiate athletic programs 21 and instrumental and choral groups that have achieved national 22 recognition; and is one of 3 private historically black colleges 23 and universities in this state, and 24 WHEREAS, on July 13, 2017, after serving as the general 25 counsel for 2 years, Judge Hubert L. Grimes (Retired) accepted 26 an appointment as the interim president of Bethune-Cookman 27 University, bringing with him 25 years of judicial and 28 administrative experience, and 29 WHEREAS, during Interim President Grimes’ first 90 days, 30 the Bethune-Cookman University community adopted the acronym 31 TIP, pledging “transparency, integrity, and positive action,” 32 and to that end, the university has maintained accreditations 33 with the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, the 34 Florida State Board of Education, and the United Methodist 35 Church Board of Higher Education, and 36 WHEREAS, Bethune-Cookman University has experienced 37 tremendous growth, with the highest enrollment in the school’s 38 history and the largest freshman class with more than 1,300 39 students; has become the first college or university in Florida 40 and second historically black college or university in the 41 nation to obtain United States Distance Learning Association 42 certification; and the university’s online college is now 43 certified in 25 states and the Bahamas, and 44 WHEREAS, Bethune-Cookman University develops global leaders 45 who are committed to service, lifelong learning, and diversity 46 by providing a faith-based environment of academic excellence 47 and transformative experiences and since 1943 has graduated more 48 than 19,000 students, and 49 WHEREAS, the university’s motto, “Enter to learn. Depart to 50 serve,” represents a call to action for 21st century learners to 51 empower themselves and others, connect with their communities, 52 and influence the world around them, NOW, THEREFORE, 53 54 Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of Florida: 55 56 That January 11, 2018, is designated as “Wildcat Day” in 57 the State of Florida in recognition of Bethune-Cookman 58 University’s contribution as an outstanding institution of 59 higher education. 60 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution, with 61 the Seal of the Senate affixed, be presented to the interim 62 president of Bethune-Cookman University, Judge Hubert L. Grimes, 63 as a tangible token of the sentiments of the Florida Senate.