Thank you, Florida legislators, for supporting Florida Polytechnic | Guest column

The Florida Polytechnic University community is grateful for the strong support we received from the Polk County Legislative Delegation during the 2024 Session.

Sens. Colleen Burton and Ben Albritton and Reps. Josie Tomkow, Jennifer Canady, Melony Bell and Sam Killebrew have been staunch advocates for our university, and I want to thank them for believing in our mission and for their service to our community.

As a result of this support, and that of the legislative leadership, we can continue our growth efforts by expanding our in-demand academic programs, our talented student body, top faculty and essential campus facilities.

I also offer special thanks to Senate President Kathleen Passidomo, Speaker Paul Renner and Appropriations Chairs Doug Broxson and Tom Leek. Your investment in Florida Poly will support the university’s transformational growth and help solidify its rising reputation as a premier core STEM institution.

The increased funding for program enhancements will be key to helping us continue recruiting some of the highest performing students in the state. Florida Poly has the second-best SAT scores among public universities in Florida, which shows we are attracting some of the brightest minds as our campus and academic offerings grow year after year. With the additional resources, we’ll be able to strengthen our recruitment and retention efforts over the next fiscal year, making a great difference in our ability to not only attract, but also keep top talent here in Florida.

The Student Achievement Center received funding for the preliminary design stage. This critical facility will substantially enhance our student experience by providing important resources needed to accomplish even greater academic and professional success.

Our graduates earn the highest salaries among all state universities one year after graduation, which is a testament to our excellent engineering education. However, with only two academic buildings on our campus so far, the SAC will fill a crucial gap by offering spaces fully dedicated to student success, career services and collaborative learning.

The new facility will also house offices for faculty and staff focused on supporting students as they work to complete their degrees and transition into the workforce.

Our university is growing, and as we grow, so does our impact on the state. Despite being just a decade old, Florida Poly is already making vital contributions to the state as a powerful economic driver.

The university is producing a much-needed pipeline of STEM professionals, delivering outstanding career outcomes for its graduates, and attracting high-tech industry. The establishment of the new Global Citrus Innovation Center by Fortune 500 company IFF on our campus exemplifies the magnetic pull that technical universities like ours have on industry development, with companies seeking proximity to our pool of talented students and graduates.

From lean start-ups to multinational corporate giants, professionals in engineering and applied sciences are in high demand, but in low supply throughout the state and the nation. Florida Poly was created to help meet this need by producing exceptional talent educated in STEM fields and prepared with real-world work experience.

WalletHub’s latest rankings placed Florida Poly No. 30 in the nation for best career outcomes, ahead of Stanford. This indicates that our sought-after alumni are demonstrating great success in industry, excelling in high-wage positions all over the state and beyond.

As our state leadership and community continue watching Florida Poly’s progress and growth, our campus will transform into a national leader in core STEM education while our students evolve from freshmen filled with promise to professionals ready to put their rigorous high-tech degree to good use.

We appreciate that the Florida Legislature is recognizing the value of Florida Poly. We can’t wait to take the big, bold steps needed to propel our growth and expand our academic reach and economic impact in Florida. Our remarkable students, faculty and staff are working hard every day to ensure the state sees a tangible return on their continuing investments in Florida Poly.

Our graduates will be the architects of the future, leading the vanguard for progress and success in Florida. We truly are grateful for your support.

Randy K. Avent is the founding president of Florida Polytechnic University in Lakeland, the state’s only all-STEM university.

This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Florida Polytechnic gives the state a tangible return on investment