New Student Development Center opens
The much-anticipated Student Development Centered opened in February providing the university community with a new state-of-the-art facility. The 8,600 square feet building is shaped like a phoenix (the university’s mascot) and has a strength and cardio training area with exercise machines, free weights and lifting plates. It also includes office spaces and a multi-purpose room for group training, classes and meetings. Read the Florida Poly News article.
Florida Poly developing ‘Happy Suit’ for Astronauts
Florida Polytechnic University researchers are developing a critical component for the next generation of spacesuits that will not only make astronauts more comfortable and efficient, but will also keep them happy. Faculty and students work on new technology that would detect emotional and physical deficiencies in astronauts through wireless sensors, that will then send an immediate response to improve the “atmosphere”, and adjust the environment to fit the astronaut’s needs. Read the Florida Poly News article.
Women in STEM Summit
The 2018 Women in Stem Summit brought together hundreds of elementary, middle and high school students, area teachers, and businesses leaders from across the region to talk about how women entrepreneurs are disrupting the marketplace. Read the Florida Poly News article.
EXCELerating into the future
At EXCELerate 2018 nearly 400 Florida Poly #changemakers came together to celebrate the university’s successes to date and launch the next chapter of the university. The one-time event challenged university supports to “be the exponent” in helping Florida Poly turn its attention toward becoming a gamechanger in the state’s economic development scene. Read President Randy K. Avent’s speech.
Inaugural class graduates
On May 4, the force was strong at Florida Poly when the university achieved a major milestone in short history. The university graduated its first four-year class. More than 200 students took to the stage at the RP Funding Center to accept their diploma. Read the Florida Poly News article.
Students find unprecedented success with entrepreneurial projects
Florida Poly students and aspiring entrepreneurs had great success at state and local competitions with their innovative projects designed to bring high-tech solutions to real-world problems. Over the past two years, Florida Poly students won $30,000 for their projects. Florida Poly was also the only university to place in the top three spots in the statewide Governor’s Cup in 2017 and 2018. Read the Florida Poly News article.
Florida Poly providing Draken International with the ‘missing link’
The University established a partnership with Draken International, the leading company in adversary air service in the world. Students and faculty are now involved in modernizing the company’s fleet of ex-military jets with more advanced software and also improving their global supply-chain logistics and warehousing techniques. The partnership is expected to continue indefinitely and will be supplemented with capstone design projects for Florida Poly students. Read the Florida Poly News article.
Einstein Bros. Bagels and Tú Taco open on campus
Einstein Bros. Bagels and Tú Taco opened in a newly renovated space in the Wellness Center giving students, faculty, and staff even more food choices. Read the Florida Poly News article.
New Florida Poly Mobile app goes live
Florida Polytechnic University launched its official mobile app just in time for the
start fall semester. The app provides students, faculty, staff, and the general community
with everything they need to know about the university in the palm of their hand and
is 100 percent customizable. Read the Florida Poly News article.
Purple Fire Week
During the first full week of classes each year, Florida Poly students have the opportunity to get to know each other and the university. It’s a wild week, chock full of overnight activities, good food, loud music, and commraderie. Read the Florida Poly News article.
Creation of the state’s only university research center dedicated to advanced mobility
The university announced the creation of its Advanced Mobility Institute (AMI), a university-affiliated technology research center focused on the development and testing of autonomous vehicle (AV) related technology. AMI is not only unique to the state, but also one of the largest university centers specialized on the narrow area of testing and verification of AV technology in the country. Read the Florida Poly News article.
Florida Poly 2.0: A new vision for excellence
Advancing to Excellence isn’t just Florida Poly’s new strategic plan. It’s a roadmap that lays out how the university will become an economic gamechanger in Florida through the education of the world’s top high-tech STEM business leaders. The plan identifies four main priorities based on dominant higher education trends: degree alignment, student success, economic development, and affordability and efficiency. The plan outlines how Florida Poly will address these priorities through 16 goals, and includes a new mission and vision for the University. Read the Florida Poly News article.
On the forefront of cybersecurity education
The Florida Center for Cybersecurity awarded a $70,500 grant to Assistant Professor Dr. Karim Elish to develop an evolving course on mobile security and privacy. The work on the grant will continue through next year, and Elish hopes the new course can be approved in time to be offered in fall 2019. Florida Poly students will be among the first in the nation to take such a course. Read the Florida Poly News article.
New scholarship opens doors for future STEM leaders
Dr. Muhammad Rashid and his wife, Fatema, established the Drs. Muhammad and Fatema Rashid Chess Scholarship Fund. It’s an endowed scholarship that will provide Polk County students the opportunity to obtain a science, technology, engineering, and mathematics degree at Florida Poly. Read the Florida Poly News article.
Florida Poly Game Expo
Screens full of monsters, wizards, fighters, spells, weapons, and even cats took over the Saddle Creek Logistics Commons at the university’s EXPO on Nov. 29. About 50 students presented a total of 24 games to peers, faculty, and industry leaders, featuring a wide variety of characters, interfaces, challenges, and player interactions. Read the Florida Poly News article.
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