Board of Governors sets goals for 12th university

By: Philippe Buteau / News Director

The State University System Board of Governors has a set a series of goals that, if achieved, could lead to the University of South Florida’s Polytechnic Campus becoming the 12th university in the state system.

The BoG, the 17 member body which oversees the current 11 state universities, gave the approval after a four-hour discussion in a 13 to 3 vote during their Nov. 9 to 10 meeting which took place at Florida Atlantic University. Governor Stanley Marshall is not present for the November Board meetings.

USF Polytechnic is a math and science-focused branch of USF located in Lakeland, Fla. about 40 minutes away from USF’s main campus in Tampa. The BoG’s approval came not too long after comments from Gov. Rick Scott in which he questioned why the state was graduating so many anthropology majors.

“Is it a vital interest of the state to have more anthropologists?” Scott said. “I don’t think so.”

The decision, however, isn’t guaranteed for USF and its satellite campus. USF Polytechnic has several benchmarks it must meet before it can return to the BoG for final approval to be the 12th state university.

Among those benchmarks, after separate accreditation is achieved, Polytechnic will implement the programs identified in Phase I of the Business Plan upon approval of the programs by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, according to a press release from the State University System.

USF Polytechnics’s benchmarks, which could take at least five years to achieve, are as follows:

Highest priority for program development and implementation shall be focused on programs in STEM fields and appropriate discipline-specific accreditation shall be sought.

Polytechnic must attain a minimum full-time enrollment of 1, 244 as calculated in the Business Plan, with a minimum 50 percent of that FTE in STEM and 20 percent in STEM-related programs.

The following facilities and infrastructure shall be in place – the Science and Technology Building, Phase I of the Wellness Center, the modular resident hall (70 beds) and the residence hall (120 beds).

Polytechnic shall have a full complement of the following services or functions, provided either directly or where feasible through a shared services model – financial aid, admissions, student support, information technology and finance and accounting with an internal audit function.

Students shall be given an option to graduate with a diploma from USF, subject to USF’s criteria.

The BoG shall monitor the development of the campus and its operations, working in collaboration with the appropriate boards, on a semi-annual basis.

The Board shall be consulted on any significant change to the Business Plan prior to any action being taken on such change.

“One of the Board’s constitutional responsibilities is to ensure a coordinated, accountable State University System. While growth is no doubt in our future, today we provided a set of reasonable benchmarks that USF Polytechnic Campus must reach in order to gain independence,” said BoG chairwoman Ava L. Parker. “These benchmarks ensure the development of a STEM-focused institution that will meet the growing demand for jobs in our state. The Board of Governors is committed to the support and oversight required to ensure the success of the University.”