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USF System Government Relations Newsletter
July 2017
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2017 Legislative Session Recap
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The 2017 Florida Legislative Session was historic for the USF System. T
hanks to President Judy Genshaft's leadership and the support of our advocates in the Florida Legislature, the USF System had a very successful session and received around $60 million in new funding.
Below is a breakdown of legislative funding for the USF System's priorities:
- $12 million towards construction of the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine and Heart Institute in downtown Tampa (Top-right: the latest rendering for the new building).
- $3.1 million for the renovation and remodel of USF St. Petersburg's Davis Hall.
- $1.5 million in increased funding for USF St. Petersburg Operational Support.
- $1.3 million in increased funding for USF Sarasota-Manatee Programs of Strategic Importance.
- The Legislature also created two new programs to support state universities and awarded the USF System one of the biggest shares in the state, based on our past performance. The new "World Class Scholar" program will provide the USF System with $10.5 million in new funding and the new "Professional and Graduate School Excellence" program will provide the USF System with an additional $5.7 million. Special thanks are due to the Florida Senate, under the leadership of President Joe Negron, for proposing the creation of these new programs and for providing millions in new support for all 12 state universities this year.
The Board of Governors also approved USF's annual update to its Emerging Preeminence plan. With the approval comes $8.7 million in additional funding for strategic investments to help USF meet the benchmarks required to achieve full Preeminence.
Please take a minute to contact our Tampa Bay legislators and thank them for their tireless work and support of the USF System. Click here to locate contact information for your State Senator and Representative.
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Path to Preeminence Update
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Since the “Preeminent State Research Universities Program” was written into Florida law four years ago, USF has been on an intentional course to meet at least 11 out of the 12 metrics needed to attain the Preeminent designation.
USF has achieved most of the metrics and was on track to reach the 11th metric – the 6-year 70% graduation rate next year. By reaching this 11th metric by the Spring of 2018, USF would qualify as Preeminent and would be eligible to receive millions in new state investment due to the designation.
At the beginning of this year, the Florida Senate filed legislation to change the Preeminence program’s 6-year 70% graduation rate metric to a 4-year graduation rate of 50% or greater, which USF already meets (USF’s most recent 4-year graduation rate was 54%).
At the final public meeting of the regular legislative session, a change in the preeminence metric graduation rate was proposed and adopted as a 4-year 60% rate. This change meant that USF would not meet the graduation rate metrics and therefore the 11 metrics needed for the Preeminence designation and push back the date by which USF could qualify for the designation.
On June 14th Governor Scott vetoed Senate Bill 374, which included the change to the graduation rate metric that prevented USF from achieving the Preeminent designation next year. Governor Scott’s veto means the graduation rate metric stays unchanged at the 6-year 70%, and USF will remain as an “Emerging Preeminent” designated institution for fiscal year 2017-2018 with $8.7 million in additional increased funding. We project that USF will achieve a 6-year 70% graduation rate at the conclusion of the August 2017 graduation ceremonies.
Many members of The Florida Senate have since given USF their commitment to work with USF's leadership and determine how best to keep USF on its appropriate path to preeminence on our original schedule with a target date of reaching the designation in this upcoming school year.
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USF System Places Second in the State University System Performance-Based Funding Scores
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The University of South Florida System continues to be a leader in academic excellence, placing second among all 12 state universities in the 2017-18 Board of Governors performance-based funding scores.
The performance-base funding model consists of 10 metrics including the percent of bachelor's and graduate degrees awarded in programs of strategic emphasis for the state and the percent of graduates employed. The USF System places first in Florida in each of these metrics.
By placing second overall, the USF System will receive $13 million in increased performance-based funding from the state for the upcoming school year.
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USF and Florida Institute of Oceanography launch W.T. Hogarth Research Vessel
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On May 23rd, 2017, USF and the Florida Institute of Oceanography (FIO) hosted a "Launching and Christening Ceremony" for a new research vessel, the R/V W.T. Hogarth in Tarpon Springs, FL.
The vessel was launched after being christened by USF System President Judy Genshaft and State Representative Kathleen Peters (R-District 69). Speakers at the event included State Representative Chris Latvala (R-District 67) on behalf of his father, Senator Jack Latvala (R-District 16), State Representative Chris Sprowls (R-District 65) and Tarpon Springs Mayor Chris Alahouzos.
The R/V W.T. Hogarth was made possible in part by $3 million in state funding received by FIO during the 2016 legislative session.
The 78-foot vessel will be used to support research efforts by USF, as well as 12 institutions and agencies across Florida. This research will be devoted to protecting Florida’s marine life, a crucial component of the state’s economy.
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Click the video above to watch highlights from the R/V W.T. Hogarth Christening Ceremony
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U.S. Representative Kathy Castor and USF Health Researchers discuss importance of NIH-funded research
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On April 10th, U.S. Representative Kathy Castor visited the USF Health Byrd Alzheimer's Institute to discuss with USF researchers the importance of National Institutes of Health (NIH) - funded research for USF and the Tampa Bay region.
Funding from the NIH helps USF conduct groundbreaking research every year in various areas including neuroscience, Alzheimer's, heart disease, diabetes, cancer and more.
"NIH funding helps USF find treatments and cures for many diseases," said Rep. Castor.
The Congresswomen met with several researchers from USF Health as well as students working in the USF Health Byrd Alzheimer's Institute research laboratory.
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U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (D- FL14) emphasized the importance of NIH-funded research during a press conference at the USF Health Byrd Institute.
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USF Caucus Spotlight: Representative Joe Gruters
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Joe Gruters is a member of the Florida House of Representatives, representing District 73 which includes Sarasota and Manatee Counties.
Rep. Gruters is a fourth generation Sarasotan, his great grandfather William Hobson moved the family to Sarasota in 1922 to serve as the chief tent maker for the Ringling Brothers Circus.
He graduated from Florida State University in 1999 with his bachelor's degree and went on to get his Masters in Business Administration (MBA) from the University of South Florida, in 2003.
Rep. Gruters works as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and is co-owner of Paoli & Gruters CPA.
He is an active member of the community and local government and currently serves on the Community Leadership Council at USF Sarasota-Manatee and is a member of the downtown Sarasota Kiwanis.
As a member of the Tampa Bay Area Legislative Delegation and a USF Alum, Representative Gruters has been supportive of the USF System by sponsoring bills (HB 6017 & HB 2409) this session filed on behalf of USF Sarasota-Manatee. Because of the tireless work of the Representative, the Senate companion bill (SB 256 by Senator Steube) to HB 6017 was passed by the House and ultimately signed into law by the Governor. Rep. Gruters remains committed to filing legislation to support USF Sarasota-Manatee and "help with its continued growth in areas of strategic emphasis such as the STEM fields as well as in accounting.”
In November 2016, Rep. Gruters was elected as a state representative. He currently serves on the Careers & Competition Subcommittee, Commerce Committee, Energy & Utilities Subcommittee, Joint Legislative Auditing Committee, Justice Appropriations Subcommittee and the Tourism & Gaming Control Subcommittee.
For more information on Representative Gruters, visit his official House web site here.
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Representative Joe Gruters (R-District 73)
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