12
In the two years since our formal founding, the Florida Consortium of Metropolitan Research Universities has hit the ground running and continues to build momentum. We’ve developed a strong relationship with the Kresge Foundation. The relationship led to a communications grant for $200,000. In 20162017 the Florida Consortium dramatically increased communication efforts and engaging
the public. From a
research brief, inter-campus newsletter, a brand
new website,
increased visibility on social media, numerous
press releases
to several panel/speakerships and signature successfully leveraged the Kresge communication grant to
events, we’ve spread the
Florida Consortium’s message and impact. For example, the 2017 Florida Consortium of Metropolitan Research Universities’ second annual Student Success Conference took place
on
March 23-24, 2017 at the UCF Rosen College of Hospitality Management in Orlando Florida. We expanded the format for the annual gathering, featured an inspiring keynote from Paul J. Luna, President and CEO of the Helios Education Foundation along with a wide variety of plenary sessions and networking opportunities. In doing so, 160 administrators from FIU, UCF and USF as well as regional education partners such as the Florida College Access Network joined us in Orlando. Together administrators and faculty from our member institutions along with business and community leaders discussed the challenges students face and trends impacting our region and state. Turning the Dials on Student Success Ultimately, the conference focused on helping students complete their degrees and prepare for the modern workplace. Once we wrapped our 2017 gathering we reviewed feedback from conference attendees and began discussing what we could do to raise the bar in 2018 and beyond. At the same time, our longtime collaborator Paul Dosal, Vice President of Student Affairs and Students Success at the University of South Florida was having a similar discussion with his team. So in partnership with USF we are hosting the inaugural National Student Success Conference in 2018. The National Student Success Conference will take place February 21-23, 2018 at the Grand Hyatt Tampa Bay. Dr. George D. Kuh, the Founding Director, Senior Scholar and Co-principal Investigator at the National Institute for Learning Florida Consortium of Metropolitan Research Universities Annual Report 2016-2017