News

Latest News

A group of students in front of the IST on the first day of the 2026-27 academic year, which saw record enrollment.

Record enrollment propels Florida Poly into new era of growth

August 17, 2026

Florida Polytechnic University soared into the 2026-27 academic year on Monday, Aug. 17, welcoming a record enrollment of 2,342 students. The milestone represents a remarkable 35% increase in total student enrollment over the last two years, up from over 1,900 students in 2025 and more than 1,700 in 2024, further solidifying Florida Poly’s reputation as a premier destination for high-demand STEM education.

Aerial image of the Innovation, Science and Technology Building at Florida Poly, which was named a Collegiate Purple Star Campus for veterans services.

Florida Poly earns Collegiate Purple Star Campus designation for veteran support

August 14, 2026

Florida Polytechnic University has been designated as a Collegiate Purple Star Campus, a state-recognized honor affirming its commitment to supporting military-connected students, veterans and active-duty families.

Naibys Alzugaray, a rising senior majoring in computer science at Florida Polytechnic University, during her internship at EA in Orlando.

Florida Poly senior turns EA Madden 27 internship into software engineering career

August 14, 2026

For Naibys Alzugaray, landing an internship at Electronic Arts (EA) in Orlando, Florida, was the realization of a dream that started in high school. But by the end of the summer, that dream became a permanent reality. On the final day of her internship on Aug. 7, the Florida Polytechnic University rising senior received a full-time software engineer job offer to return to EA after graduation to join the company’s Software Engineer Academy crew.

Florida Polytechnic University Men’s Soccer player Fernando Martinez during the University’s first media day.

Florida Poly’s student-athletes take center stage at inaugural media day

August 11, 2026

With the fall 2026 semester just days away, Florida Polytechnic University’s first student-athletes donned their new uniforms, laced up their cleats and stepped into the spotlight Monday, Aug. 10, for the University’s inaugural media day for the men’s and women’s soccer and cross country teams as they prepare for their first season of competition.

The Commission for Public Higher Education (CPHE) and representatives from Florida Polytechnic University gather during CPHE’s inaugural site visit at the institution on Aug. 5-6.

Commission for Public Higher Education completes first accreditation site visit at Florida Polytechnic University

August 10, 2026

The Commission for Public Higher Education (CPHE), a nascent institutional accreditor, today announced the successful completion of its inaugural site visit at Florida Polytechnic University on Aug. 5-6, marking a historic milestone for both organizations. The visit was the first conducted by CPHE, making Florida Poly the first institution to advance through this critical phase of the Commission’s accreditation process.

Florida Polytechnic University employees watch the live broadcast of a NASA diver performing an underwater test of the University’s student-designed tool dock as part of NASA’s Micro-g NExT Challenge.

NASA tests Florida Poly student-designed tool to improve spacewalks

August 7, 2026

When astronauts venture outside the International Space Station to perform critical maintenance, it is essential for them to access and store their tools quickly and conveniently. Every tool must remain securely attached to their spacesuit while still being readily available when needed. A team of Florida Polytechnic University mechanical engineering students spent 10 months developing a one-handed wearable tool dock designed to make that process easier, faster and more efficient. NASA put the team’s tool to the test at Johnson Space Center in Houston.

All Stories

Florida Poly student learns the ropes of road resurfacing at FDOT internship

July 3, 2023

An encounter at Florida Polytechnic University’s Career and Internship Fair drove Catarina Andrade to a summer internship that sees her working with engineering-related departments at the Florida Department of Transportation. The mechanical engineering major is a pavement evaluation intern and primarily works with the group of professionals responsible for road resurfacing at the agency’s offices in Bartow, Florida. Other technical

Electrical engineering major drives automation, high-tech innovation at national lab internship

June 22, 2023

Florida Polytechnic University rising sophomore Josh Alletto’s knowledge, confidence, and high-tech skills earned him a summer internship that he’s sure will change his life. Alletto, an electrical engineering major, is spending his summer working at Argonne National Laboratory in Lemont, Illinois. The laboratory is a federally funded research and development center owned by the U.S. Department of Energy. The opportunity

Alum’s dream career in aerospace blasts off

June 20, 2023

From the time Austin Adams ’22 was a child, thoughts of humans making discoveries and charting new paths in space captivated his imagination. “Space has always been my passion,” said Adams, who received a bachelor’s degree in business analytics from Florida Polytechnic University in 2022. “When I’d watch a rocket launch and leave the Earth to benefit humanity and make

Dutch Charlemagne Fellow explores deep tech startups with Florida Poly faculty

June 12, 2023

Sabine Kerssens, a Dutch systems engineer, is pursuing research in collaboration with Florida Polytechnic University about how effective European research institutes are at commercializing advances in knowledge and using them for economic, social, and environmental impact. Kerssens received the prominent European Charlemagne Prize Fellowship and is working on her research with support from Dr. Rei Sanchez-Arias, assistant chair of Florida

Florida Poly Foundation names Jack Harrell board chair

June 1, 2023

Longtime Lakeland businessman Jack Harrell III has been appointed chair of the Florida Polytechnic University Foundation Board of Directors. Harrell has been a member of the board since 2018.

Early hurricane prep can keep you safe when storms strike

May 31, 2023

The Atlantic hurricane season is here, and Florida Poly wants to encourage everyone within the University community to be prepared in case a storm comes our way. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)’s Climate Prediction Center expects that the 2023 hurricane season will include 12 to 17 named storms, five to nine hurricanes, and one to four major hurricanes

Alum thrives in engineering career with global manufacturing services company Jabil

May 24, 2023

Sinead Fernandes ’19, ’21 is forging a successful path as a test development engineer at Jabil, a global manufacturing services company headquartered in St. Petersburg, Florida, and one of the largest companies in the Tampa Bay area. “I work on the electrical and computer engineering side of things from the concept phase to delivering the test system to the customer,”

Phoenix’s aerospace career off to a flying start

May 18, 2023

Florida Polytechnic University rising sophomore Jonathan Gauthier’s burgeoning expertise as a private pilot dovetails with his growing knowledge of mechanical engineering and his desire to one day design aviation equipment and parts for both optimal performance and a stellar user experience. Gauthier earned his pilot’s license in 2022. He was inspired to take to the skies as a sophomore in

Work less, learn more: Florida Poly’s affordability reduces hours students must work

May 12, 2023

The burden of paying for a quality college education is much lower for Florida Polytechnic University students than for those attending many other universities in the country. The author of a report by My eLearning World, an online resource offering coverage about various aspects of digital education, said Florida Poly students work about 77% fewer hours than the average American

The face behind the Phoenix – meet Florida Poly’s first mascot

May 8, 2023

When Solaris, Florida Polytechnic University’s life-size Phoenix mascot, was unveiled in the fall of 2020, one of the biggest questions on campus was who was the lucky student who got to wear the vibrant purple suit? Solaris, who gained its name in the spring of 2023, soon started popping up at University events across campus and in the region. Its

Florida Poly celebrates STEM grads at 2023 commencement

May 7, 2023

Florida Polytechnic University celebrated the graduation of more than 200 bachelor’s and master’s degree candidates on Sunday, May 7, at its 2023 commencement ceremony. The event was held at the RP Funding Center in Lakeland, Florida. “It’s all happening very fast – I’m nervous but I’m also excited,” said Gabriel Sladecek, who received his bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering. “I’m

US News: Florida remains nation’s #1 for higher education

May 3, 2023

U.S. News & World Report has once again named Florida the top state in the country for higher education. Florida’s higher education system has held the top spot since the inception of the rankings in 2017. Florida Polytechnic University is one of 12 public institutions within the State University System. “It is exciting to see how the hard work of