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(Sarasota, FL September 16, 2003) - USF Sarasota-Manatee set a record in student enrollment this fall with a 22 percent increase over last year.

Dr. Laurey Stryker, campus CEO, said, “Our goal to double the number of students to 4,800 over the next five years is well on its way. As we continue adding students, programs and faculty, we will need more room.”

Stryker and the Campus Board are asking the Florida Legislature for $14.7 million next session to relocate the campus center on the Crosley Estate, just north of the current campus, which is shared with New College of Florida. “Our enrollment growth fully justifies the campus relocation,” Stryker said.

In 1974, USF began offering evening courses in education, business and liberal arts at some of the public schools in Sarasota and Manatee counties. In less than a year, the USF Sarasota-Manatee campus opened, providing courses for upper level undergraduates, graduates, and continuing education students.

Nearly 30 years later, USF Sarasota-Manatee now attracts more than 2,700 students annually to an expanded and growing schedule of offerings that includes 34-degree programs. A first for regional campuses, USF located its School of Hotel and Restaurant Management on this campus; some 69 students are enrolled in the initial classes.

The numbers reflect a diverse group of students, but the numbers are only part of the story. These figures represent people from a variety of backgrounds who say the number one reason they chose USF was because of its convenience close to home. The academic programs and small class size came in second and third as deciding factors for students.

USF has hired 10 new faculty members for the new academic year to keep up with the burgeoning student growth. Dr. Peter French, Associate Vice President and Dean of Academic Affairs for the USF Sarasota-Manatee campus, said USF was following a legislative mandate based on the intent that the regional campuses would produce more baccalaureate degree graduates.

“The needs of an expanding economy require a well trained workforce. Working in collaboration with the public we serve, we have implemented programs that will meet local needs,” explained French.

“In 2000 the five-year plan was to grow to 4,800 students with 36-degree completion or master’s degree programs. Now at the end of three years we are meeting all targets with 2,700 students and 34-degree programs. We have expanded the market to finish degrees here on campus more effectively serving the needs of the community.”

Those programs include the school of hotel and restaurant management, and master’s degrees in social work and criminal justice administration. This month the first graduates of the MBA program complete their studies and the MA in educational leadership now meets 100 percent of the local needs for school principals and assistant principals. “These were the programs people wanted. We want to design new programs in consultation with the public.”

Stryker said recently in her welcome statements to faculty and staff, “This is a defining moment for USF Sarasota-Manatee. We are offering more degree programs, our students are receiving more scholarships, more are graduating with honors, and our retention rate of 92% from fall to spring semester means they are happy with their professors, the programs, and the small class size. USF graduates are a source of pride for this community.”

Economic growth in the community is being measured by the work force and availability of jobs. Many USF students are coming back to school in hopes of increasing and honing new skills to find better jobs. Others look to finish up a degree started before families and jobs had to compete for their attention.

USF has always been on the forefront of economic development in Sarasota and Manatee counties. Stryker says, “We produce your teachers, your nurses, your accountants, and your leaders. Certainly training a workforce is tremendously important in this economy and this community. With some companies still having to recruit from the outside, we want to provide more programs to fill that need.”