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Florida Polytechnic University received $5.7 million in state funding to begin the design phase of its new Student Achievement Center. The funds were included in the $116 billion state budget signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis on Wednesday, June 12.

Florida Poly secures state funding for new Student Achievement Center

June 13, 2024

A new Student Achievement Center will soon provide even greater support to Florida Polytechnic University students as they pursue the in-demand STEM degrees that help fuel Florida’s high-tech economy.

Florida Poly received $5.7 million in funding for the achievement center’s preliminary design stage after Gov. Ron DeSantis signed the state budget on Wednesday, June 12. The new budget takes effect on July 1 with the start of the 2024-25 fiscal year.

Funds are being provided through Florida’s Public Education Capital Outlay (PECO) program.

“We’re very excited about what the Student Achievement Center will mean for the future of our students and their success academically, personally, and professionally,” said Dr. Randy K. Avent, Florida Poly’s president. “We appreciate Gov. DeSantis’ leadership and the Legislature’s ongoing support of Florida Poly and our strong STEM mission.”

The Student Achievement Center will contribute greatly to the development of students’ educational needs. The facility will focus on resources dedicated to student success, including accommodations for career and internship services.

It will feature study spaces, an auditorium, collaborative multimedia spaces, and be home to faculty and staff fully dedicated to helping students successfully complete their degree and transition to the workforce. The building will offer students another comfortable place to be while on campus and is expected to help accommodate expected student body growth over the next several years.

In addition to the funding for the Student Achievement Center, the 2024-25 budget also includes a $3 million increase to Florida Poly’s operating budget. The increase will help support the expansion of the University’s academic programs, student services, and both student and faculty bodies.

 

Contact:
Lydia Guzmán
Director of Communications
863-874-8557

Session Details

This session will demonstrate that practical risk management is for everyone, regardless of a formal program. Attendees will learn actionable and simple strategies that are easy to implement, enabling them to start immediately by focusing on their top risks to build greater operational resilience and ensure the sustained success of their auxiliary enterprises.

Presenter Profile

Michelle Powell serves as the pioneering Risk Manager at Florida Polytechnic University, the state’s sole 100% STEM-dedicated institution. Having been with the university for nearly 11 years, Michelle transitioned from a leadership role in Admissions in October 2023 to establish and evolve the risk management function from the ground up. In this solo capacity, Michelle builds robust frameworks for our dynamic, young university, overseeing our insurance portfolio, consulting on third-party and event risks, and developing critical campus-wide training programs. Michelle has obtained the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations (COSO) Enterprise Risk Management certificate and the Associate in Risk Management (ARM) and Construction Risk and Insurance Specialist (CRIS) designations. Her distinct background in mathematics and engineering, combined with extensive higher education leadership, brings an analytical and strategic approach enhancing the institution’s resilience.