Great Cities, Need Great Universities
I know each member of the Florida Consortium of Metropolitan Research Universities family is busy with the new school year. We are too, in fact, we kicked off our new strategic plan on July 1, 2019. The plan and more importantly our refined strategic direction is the result of hard work and contributions from campus and community partners.
Our President’s Council which is made up of President Rosenberg of Florida International University, President Seymour of University of Central Florida, President Currall of University of South Florida, and Paul Luna, President and CEO of the Helios Education Foundation has endorsed the next phase of our partnership.
What's next?
Going forward, our work together as a Consortium of metropolitan research universities will be focused in three distinct areas:
- Strategic student populations (ex. transfer, low income, first generation students etc.)
- Active Learning & High skill development
- Employability
In keeping with our refined areas of focus, the Florida Consortium is sponsoring some great events this semester. First, we teamed up with EMSI to co-host the Florida Workforce Collaboration Summit. The event was held in Gainesville, FL on September 26, 2019 and focussed on Florida’s diverse and dynamic economy. Higher education administrators, faculty, as well as employers, economic development and workforce development representatives discussed labor market trends and ways data can help us facilitate constructive partnerships.
Next up, we're hosting three Campus Convenings at, FIU, UCF and USF. Led by Provost Furton of FIU, Provost Dooley, and Provost Wilcox along with select leaders from each campus community, we will discuss the next phase of our collaborative work and what it means for students, our campuses, and communities at large.
Finally, we're sponsoring the Florida Summit on Accelerating Transfer Success as it returns to UCF on October 28, 2019. This event welcomes higher education faculty, staff, and community leaders from across the state to discuss transfer student advocacy and success. Dr. Janet L. Marling, executive director of the National Institute for the Study of Transfer Students will deliver the keynote.
Also important and worth noting, the Helios Education Foundation is set to publish a series of white papers intended to help institutions scale innovation, collaborate effectively with on and off campus partners, and support learners throughout their academic journey. The first white paper in the series will focus on the Florida Consortium’s collective impact.
As you can imagine, we’re excited about the future of our partnership and our ongoing impact in the Sunshine State.
Michael Preston, Ed. D.
Executive Director, Florida Consortium of Metropolitan Research Universities