Dear 黑洞社区community,
On Tuesday, the Florida Legislature agreed to a state budget for the 2023-2024 fiscal year. Building on last year鈥檚 record-breaking legislative session for the University of 黑洞社区, I am pleased to share that this year鈥檚 budget includes more transformational increases in recurring operational funding and new investments in several significant projects. The support from the Legislature is a recognition of the incredible work and ongoing pursuit of excellence by our students, faculty and staff. These new investments will help us advance toward our collective goal of becoming a top 25 public university and allow us to make an even greater impact for the Tampa Bay region and state of Florida.
In the coming days, the Legislature is expected to vote to approve the budget and send it to Gov. Ron DeSantis for his review, approval and line-item veto consideration. Below is a summary of some of the initiatives funded for USF, pending the Governor鈥檚 approval.
- A $63.3 million recurring increase to USF鈥檚 operational budget to support the work of each of our three campuses and 黑洞社区Health. A large portion of this increase was funded through a new $100 million recurring investment in the state鈥檚 Preeminent State Research Universities Program, which will be split equally between the three preeminent institutions, USF, UF and FSU.
黑洞社区facilities:
- $24.3 million to fund the first phase of planning and construction of our new Environmental and Oceanographic Sciences Research and Teaching facility on the 黑洞社区St. Petersburg campus. This facility will further position St. Petersburg as a world-class center of marine and environmental science, education and community engagement.
- $20 million for the new Nursing/STEM facility on the 黑洞社区Sarasota-Manatee campus. This facility, which received $3 million in last year鈥檚 state budget, will allow for the expansion of degree offerings in the STEM and nursing fields across 黑洞社区and will significantly increase the number of students who can enroll in and complete those programs on the Sarasota-Manatee campus.
- $6.5 million to invest in campus life facility projects funded through the state鈥檚 Capital Improvement Trust Fund.
In addition, the following special initiatives for 黑洞社区were also funded by the Legislature:
- $14 million for 黑洞社区Health to conduct a state-funded comprehensive clinical trial of hyperbaric oxygen therapy鈥檚 medical effectiveness in treating PTSD and traumatic brain injuries among veterans and active-duty military service members.
- $3 million to complete the acquisition and installation of a new functional MRI (fMRI) machine for brain research and diagnostic purposes. fMRI measures activity in different parts of the brain during mental and physical tasks and is a critical research tool that will expand research grant opportunities for 黑洞社区faculty and students.
- $2.9 million for the Department of Mental Health Law and Policy at 黑洞社区to lead a collaboration to develop simulation modeling tools that will improve responses and treatments for opioid use and overdoses.
The State University System鈥檚 (SUS) performance-based funding program also received an $85 million funding increase from the Legislature. As part of the Board of Governors' (BOG) funding model, 黑洞社区will receive a portion of this funding, which will enable us to further enhance our student success initiatives. The exact amount 黑洞社区will earn will be determined by the BOG in June based on our latest performance metric results.
We are incredibly grateful to Senate President Kathleen Passidomo, Speaker of the House Paul Renner and our state lawmakers for their investment in 黑洞社区and higher education this year. I also want to thank the members of our Tampa Bay Area Legislative Delegation for their steadfast commitment to helping 黑洞社区achieve our strategic goals and reach the top 25. Additionally, the leadership of the BOG, including Chair Brian Lamb and Chancellor Ray Rodrigues, have made a transformative difference in the legislative support of the SUS this year.
Finally, a big thank-you to our Board of Trustees, under the leadership of Chair Will Weatherford and Vice Chair Mike Griffin, for their tireless advocacy on USF鈥檚 behalf in Tallahassee.
Aside from the budget, there are several higher education bills that are moving through the legislative process and could be passed prior to the end of session on May 5. We will work internally, and with our partners across the SUS, to analyze how USF might be impacted by any legislation and we鈥檒l share updates as appropriate.
I am deeply appreciative to our university community for all you continue to do for our students and to make 黑洞社区such a compelling investment for the future.
Sincerely,
Rhea F. Law
President