Florida Senate - 2018                            (NP)    SR 1892
       
       
        
       By Senator Stargel
       
       
       
       
       
       22-01853A-18                                          20181892__
    1                          Senate Resolution                        
    2         A resolution recognizing Florida Polytechnic
    3         University for successfully meeting the criteria
    4         established by the Legislature in creating it.
    5  
    6         WHEREAS, the creation of Florida Polytechnic University was
    7  proposed by legislation advanced in the 2012 legislative
    8  session, which was approved by the Governor on April 20, 2012,
    9  and
   10         WHEREAS, the enacting legislation established criteria to
   11  be met by the fledgling university related to academic programs,
   12  facilities, administration, student enrollment, and programmatic
   13  and institutional accreditation, and
   14         WHEREAS, in August 2014, Florida Polytechnic University
   15  opened its doors in Lakeland to an inaugural class of 554
   16  students in the 2014 fall term, and in the 2017 fall term
   17  enrolled 1,445 students and employed 225 full-time staff and
   18  faculty, and
   19         WHEREAS, Florida Polytechnic University’s mission is to
   20  catalyze Florida’s economic growth through applied science,
   21  technology, engineering, and mathematics education and research,
   22  and
   23         WHEREAS, Florida Polytechnic University’s iconic
   24  Innovation, Science, and Technology Building, designed by
   25  Santiago Calatrava, was voted by architects as 1 of the 16 most
   26  breathtaking buildings in the world, and
   27         WHEREAS, to fulfill its mission of economic development and
   28  meeting Florida’s workforce needs, Florida Polytechnic
   29  University offers degrees in computer engineering, electrical
   30  engineering, mechanical engineering, computer science and
   31  information technology, advanced technology, and science and
   32  technology management, and
   33         WHEREAS, Florida Polytechnic University strives to develop
   34  the complete, mature engineer who will remain in Florida through
   35  a hands-on curriculum that includes strong fundamentals,
   36  effective problem solving and communication skills, and
   37  leadership, and
   38         WHEREAS, Florida Polytechnic University works with more
   39  than 200 industry partners to identify research projects, grow
   40  small-sized to medium-sized businesses, and place students in
   41  internships, all of which are graduation requirements, and
   42         WHEREAS, Florida Polytechnic University’s successful
   43  entrepreneurship program is focused on student activity and
   44  involvement and empowers students to explore their ideas and
   45  create new business ventures, and
   46         WHEREAS, Florida Polytechnic University students have
   47  placed in all entered entrepreneurship competitions, including
   48  second place in the Florida Venture Forum and third place in the
   49  Governor’s Cup Competition, and
   50         WHEREAS, Florida Polytechnic University looks forward to
   51  the future with plans to increase enrollment, continue to
   52  recruit highly qualified and diverse students, and increase the
   53  number of majors and faculty, and
   54         WHEREAS, Florida Polytechnic University graduates are
   55  employed in high-skill, high-wage jobs and many are receiving
   56  awards and accolades for their achievements in computer
   57  engineering, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering,
   58  computer science and information technology, advanced
   59  technology, and science and technology management, and
   60         WHEREAS, in June 2017, Florida Polytechnic University was
   61  accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
   62  Commission on Colleges, thereby successfully fulfilling the
   63  legislative criteria set forth in the enacting legislation, NOW,
   64  THEREFORE,
   65  
   66  Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of Florida:
   67  
   68         That Florida Polytechnic University is recognized for and
   69  congratulated on successfully meeting the criteria established
   70  by the Legislature in creating it.
   71         BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution, with
   72  the Seal of the Senate affixed, be presented to Florida
   73  Polytechnic University President Randy K. Avent, Ph.D., as a
   74  tangible token of the sentiments of the Florida Senate.