
Game On: Florida Poly opens new Esports Arena
Florida Polytechnic University unveiled a new, state-of-the-art esports arena on Friday, Feb. 13, giving its 14 teams a premier place to practice, compete and host battles in today’s top esports games.

Florida Polytechnic University unveiled a new, state-of-the-art esports arena on Friday, Feb. 13, giving its 14 teams a premier place to practice, compete and host battles in today’s top esports games.

Students with enterprising aspirations crowded into the Barnett Applied Research Center at Florida Polytechnic University on Tuesday, Feb. 3, to hear directly from prominent tech entrepreneur Todd Baylis.

Florida Polytechnic University’s undergraduate data science degree program has been ranked No. 9 in the nation by TechGuide.org for 2026, placing it among prestigious institutions in the top 10 such as Stanford University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Duke University.

Transitioning between cultures, educational expectations, and even changes in the weather is redefining the college experience for two students participating in the prestigious Killam Fellowships Program this academic year at Florida Polytechnic University.

Cybersecurity and artificial intelligence education at Florida Polytechnic University is receiving a major boost with $2.9 million in federal funding for the creation of its Public Service Applied Innovation Laboratory (PSAIL).

As artificial intelligence reshapes the global technology landscape, STEM educators must be more vigilant than ever to keep their students’ skills at the cutting edge. A $500,000 grant from Google is supporting Florida Polytechnic University faculty as they work to make that happen.
Karla Martinez plans to go toe-to-toe with terrorism after college. “I have a strong sense of patriotism, so national defense is big for me,” Karla explains. “I want to pair that with the challenge of cyber security.” Getting that dream job at the Department of Homeland Security isn’t going to happen overnight, but Karla is taking steps to get there.
The role is reserved for senior students, but rising junior Michelle Culbert not only persuaded Lockheed Martin to give her the internship, she also became the first Florida Polytechnic University student to earn a position there. It hasn’t taken long to prove her value. Every month, the Lockheed Martin payroll facility in Lakeland creates metrics reports of vendors and suppliers.
Florida Polytechnic University President Dr. Randy K. Avent is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Terry Parker as Provost for Florida Poly, effective September 1. Parker is a long-time academic leader and engineering researcher who most recently served as Provost and Executive Vice President of the Colorado School of Mines, one of the world’s leading engineering institutions focused on
While studying how materials handle stress, Logan Chambers has proven himself capable of bearing heavy workloads. This summer, the Florida Polytechnic University rising junior is taking a class, working jobs at Subway and in the school’s IT department and has an internship with the Port of Tampa Bay. Logan started his internship May 16, and it hasn’t taken long for
At first glance, Port Tampa Bay doesn’t appear to be much more than an elaborate rail yard jutting into Hillsborough Bay. But “when you peel the onion away, so to speak, you find there’s technology at every level that’s critical to running a complex, working port,” says Port Tampa Bay CEO Paul Anderson. Port Tampa Bay is Florida’s largest port
LAKELAND, Fla. – This summer, dozens of students at Florida Polytechnic University are fanning out across the country to intern with some of the largest and most high-tech companies, solving real-world challenges and building their path to full-time employment. A total of 64 Florida Poly students have secured internships with dozens of companies such as Coca-Cola, General Electric, Lockheed Martin,
Florida Polytechnic University is pleased to recognize one of its prominent Foundation Board members, Dr. Sijo Parekattil, Co-Director of the PUR clinic, for completing a remarkable cross-country “Drive for Men’s Health” road trip, raising awareness of men’s health issues. Their trip also helped raise financial support for men’s health research and the Florida Polytechnic University Foundation, which supports scholarships and the
LAKELAND, Fla. – Florida Polytechnic University has been awarded “Candidacy for Accreditation” status by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC), one of the nation’s leading accrediting bodies. University President Dr. Randy K. Avent shared the news with students, faculty and staff during a gathering at the Innovation, Science and Technology (IST) Building. SACSCOC Vice President,
LAKELAND, Fla. – Florida Polytechnic University has won a prestigious national health and safety award for developing a campus program that improves sustainability and recycling in its chemistry labs. The University’s Environmental Health & Safety (EH&S) staff worked alongside students to design the “Reducing Waste in Chemical Labs” project which allows the waste for one lab to become the raw
LAKELAND, Fla. – The Florida Polytechnic University Board of Trustees has appointed transportation executive Frank T. Martin as its new Board Chairman. Attorney Don Wilson has been appointed Vice Chairman. Both appointments are for two-year terms that run until 2018. “Florida Poly is known for recruiting and attracting the best and the brightest, and that includes our Board of Trustees,”
One of the most common phrases Renee Michel hears as the safety officer for Florida Polytechnic University is, “I didn’t think about that.” But looking at safety from every angle is what Renee does. That’s why there’s a special refrigerator in the lab that doesn’t create potentially explosive static discharge. It’s why the labs in the Innovation, Technology and Science
Tallahassee–Florida Senate President-Designate Joe Negron (R-Stuart) visited Florida Polytechnic University as part of his 4-day listening tour of the State University System of Florida. Senator Negron requested a tour of the University’s iconic Innovation, Science and Technology Building and asked to hear from students, faculty and administrators about the University’s strategic plan and top priorities. Senators Lizbeth Benacquisto (R-Ft. Myers)