March 2015

& UNIVERSITIES OF FLORIDA

INDEPENDENT

COLLEGES

ED H . MOORE , PhD PRESIDENT (850) 681 -3188 emoor e@ ic uf . o rg

ICUF Celebrates 50

Years of Service to

Higher Education

ICUF 2015 Presidential

Fellows Annual Legislative Day

ICUF Honors 2015 Legislative Alumni

ICUF Preferred Vendor:

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The 50th anniversary of the Independent Colleges & Universities of Florida (ICUF) was recently recognized by Governor Rick Scott during a meeting with the ICUF Council of Presidents and a large group of student leaders. Governor Scott presented a proclamation of congratulations and commendations for five decades of service to Florida’s higher education system. The Florida Senate and Florida House of Representatives also honored ICUF for their golden anniversary. Florida House Representative Mike Miller recognized ICUF from the floor during session, and Senator Aaron Bean read a resolution from the floor of the Senate Chamber.

Governor Rick Scott said, “Florida’s universities are preparing our students to find a job and pursue their dreams when they graduate. I am proud to congratulate ICUF on their milestone anniversary and look forward to seeing their continued success as they serve Florida’s students, communities and businesses.” ICUF was incorporated on March 2, 1965 by the presidents of 11 colleges and universities to support the critical role of independent higher education in our state. Today, ICUF boasts 31 member institutions that serve more than 152,000 students at 145 sites across the state and offer more than 400 online degree and certificate programs. ICUF awards more than 60 percent of their degrees in Florida in the critical fields of science, technology, engineering, mathematics, health care, business and education.

Cont’d on pg. 2

ICUF CELEBRATES 50 YEARS OF SERVICE

TO HIGHER EDUCATION

March 2015 Page 2

“On behalf of all ICUF institutions, we are honored by the recognition of Governor Scott and the legislature,” said Dr. Ed Moore, President of the Independent Colleges & Universities of Florida. “For 50 years, ICUF colleges and universities have created pathways of success for countless Floridians by providing high-quality, affordable and accessible opportunities to earn a college degree. We look forward to another 50 years of service to the students and communities throughout Florida.”

In previous years, ICUF has championed multiple needs-based tuition assistance programs for Florida students, including the Florida Student Assistance Grant Program and the Florida Resident Access Grant Program (FRAG). The FRAG program, now in its 36th year, assists more than 40,000 students annually with their undergraduate tuition costs. Today, ICUF works to strengthen and promote higher education and create more educational opportunities and increased access for Floridians seeking to better themselves through a college degree. This year, ICUF institutions will award 25 percent of all bachelor’s degrees, more than 50 percent of all first-time professional degrees and 40 percent of all advanced degrees in Florida.

Prior to Dr. Moore, other ICUF CEOs have included former Speaker T.K. Weatherall, Former Senator George Kirkpatrick and William Boyd, for whom the FRAG program is named.

Continued from page 1

Senator Aaron Bean and

ICUF Representatives

Representative Mike

Miller and ICUF

Representatives

March 2015 Page 3

The 2014-15 ICUF Presidential Fellows program culminated on March 11 with a trip to the Capitol for ICUF’s annual legislative day. Thirty student ambassadors from 14 ICUF institutions met Governor Scott and House and Senate leadership. The students were able to convey to these leaders what the Florida Resident Access Grant means to them. The Fellows also heard Jesse Panuccio, Executive Director of the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity, discuss Florida’s economic picture and the students’ encouraging career prospects after graduation. Forty Fellows in all from 21 ICUF institutions participated in the program this year. In addition to their Capitol activities, these students conducted FRAG awareness campaigns on their campuses. ICUF Presidential Fellows are personally selected by their institutions’ presidents, as the best and brightest to represent the colleges and advocate on behalf of independent college and university issues. ICUF began the program 10 years ago, and it has been a major success in both grassroots advocacy and in building student engagement in civic issues.

DAY

Annual Legislative

ICUF 2015 Presidential Fellows

Page 4 March 2015

Sen. Joseph Abruzzo

Lynn University

Sen. Jeff Brandes

Florida Southern College

Sen. Thad Altman

Rollins College

FL Institute of

Technology

Sen. Lizbeth Benacquisto

Palm Beach Atlantic

University

Sen. Aaron Bean

Jacksonville University

ICUF Honors its 2015 Legislative Alumni

WE ARE PROUD TO HAVE SO MANY LEADERS FROM OUR SCHOOLS!

Sen. Rene Garcia

University of Miami

Sen. Charles S. Dean,Sr.

Rollins College

Sen. Miguel Diaz de la

Portilla

University of Miami

Sen. Bill Galvano

University of Miami

Sen. Andy Gardiner

Stetson University

Sen. Denise Grimsley

University of Miami

Warner Univrsity

Sen. Jack Latvala

Stetson University

Sen. Tom Lee

The University of Tampa

Sen. Joe Negron

Stetson University

Sen. Jeremy Ring

Nova Southeastern

University

Page 5 March 2015

Sen. Geraldine F.

Thompson

University of Miami

Sen. Maria Lorts Sachs

University of Miami

Rep. Ben Albritton

Florida Southern College

Rep. Bryan Avila

University of Miami

Rep. Frank Artiles

St. Thomas University

University of Miami

Rep. Lori Berman

University of Miami

Rep. Daniel Wright

Burgess, Jr.

Barry University

Rep. Richard Corcoran

Saint Leo University

Rep. Jose Felix Diaz

University of Miami

Rep. Manny Diaz, Jr.

St. Thomas University

Nova Southeastern

Rep. Eric Eisnaugle

Florida Southern College

Rep. Heather

Fitzenhagen

Nova Southeastern

Rep. Julio Gonzalez

University of Miami

Stetson University

Rep. Matt Hudson

Barry University

Rep. James W. Grant

Stetson University

Page 6 March 2015

Rep. Mike Miller

Rollins College

Rep. Edwin Narain

Saint Leo University

Stetson University

Rep. Jared Evan

Moskowitz

Nova Southeastern

University

Rep. Jose R. Oliva

St. Thomas University

Rep. David Richardson

The University of Tampa

Rep. Sharon Pritchett

St. Thomas University

Rep. Scott Plakon

Stetson University

Rep. Kathleen M. Peters

Eckerd College

Rep. Kathleen C.

Passidomo

Stetson University

Hodges University

Rep. Chris Sprowls

Stetson University

Rep. Cynthia Stafford

St. Thomas University

Rep. Cyndi Stevenson

Stetson University

of Independent Colleges

and Universities

Florida

Page 7

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March 2015

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