Bill Text: FL S1162 | 2018 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: University of Florida
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2018-02-21 - Adopted [S1162 Detail]
Download: Florida-2018-S1162-Introduced.html
Florida Senate - 2018 (NP) SR 1162 By Senator Perry 8-01294-18 20181162__ 1 Senate Resolution 2 A resolution recognizing the University of Florida for 3 its exemplary accomplishments as a leading academic 4 and research institution, as well as for its 5 contributions to the betterment of the state and 6 nation. 7 8 WHEREAS, the University of Florida is a top 10 university, 9 ranking No. 9 in the 2018 U.S. News & World Report list of Best 10 Public Universities, and 11 WHEREAS, the University of Florida ranks third among all 12 research universities in the country for getting its ideas out 13 of the laboratory and into the real world, placing UF ahead of 14 such schools as Stanford, MIT, Cal Tech, and the University of 15 Texas system, according to the Milken Institute’s 2017 ranking 16 of Best Universities for Technology Transfer, and 17 WHEREAS, the University of Florida’s entomology department 18 is the best in the world, and a host of other UF programs rank 19 in the top 10 globally from among more than 26,000 degree 20 granting institutions of higher education, according to the 2017 21 Center for World University Rankings, and 22 WHEREAS, applications to the University of Florida reached 23 a new record in 2017, with more than 34,000 prospective students 24 vying for admission during the summer and fall semesters, nearly 25 an 8 percent increase over the previous year’s total of 32,026, 26 and 27 WHEREAS, the University of Florida is once again ranked as 28 one of the nation’s “Best Colleges for Your Money” by Money 29 magazine, coming in 10th among public institutions in 2017, and 30 WHEREAS, the UF MBA Full-Time Program at the Hough Graduate 31 School of Business achieved its highest ranking ever in The 32 Economist’s MBA Full-Time Rankings, rising from last year’s No. 33 10 position to No. 5 among U.S. public institutions, and 34 WHEREAS, with generous funding made possible by the 35 Legislature and Governor Rick Scott, the University of Florida 36 will hire 500 new faculty members to further enhance teaching 37 and research and to keep UF among the best research universities 38 in the nation, and 39 WHEREAS, University of Florida faculty earned nearly $686 40 million in research awards in fiscal year 2017, including major 41 grants to study the Zika virus and citrus greening, and for 42 special education training, and 43 WHEREAS, the United States Department of Defense is seeking 44 ways to speed up cognitive skills training and is awarding 45 University of Florida engineers and neuroscientists up to $8.4 46 million over the next 4 years to investigate how to apply 47 electrical stimulation to peripheral nerves as a means of 48 strengthening neuronal connections in the brain, and 49 WHEREAS, the University of Florida’s athletics program 50 placed third in the 2016-2017 Learfield Sports Directors’ Cup 51 standings, making UF the only program to finish among the 52 nation’s top 10 in each of the last 34 national all-sports 53 standings, and 54 WHEREAS, in just over a month during 2017, three Gator 55 teams celebrated NCAA Championship wins in women’s tennis, men’s 56 track and field, and baseball, equaling the single season high 57 set in 2011-2012 at Florida, which is one of only six schools to 58 win national titles in baseball, basketball, and football, and 59 WHEREAS, in November, UF Health opened the UF Health Heart 60 and Vascular Hospital and the UF Health Neuromedicine Hospital, 61 representing important steps in the ongoing efforts to serve 62 patients in the Gainesville area, and throughout the state, the 63 Southeast, and beyond, and creating a healing environment in 64 which UF Health’s personalized approach to care will draw upon 65 the latest technologies in medical science, NOW, THEREFORE, 66 67 Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of Florida: 68 69 That the University of Florida is recognized for its 70 exemplary accomplishments as a leading academic and research 71 institution, as well as for its contributions to the betterment 72 of the state and nation. 73 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution, with 74 the Seal of the Senate affixed, be presented to University of 75 Florida President W. Kent Fuchs, Ph.D., as a tangible token of 76 the sentiments of the Florida Senate.