(Sarasota, FL February 24, 2004) - USF Sarasota-Manatee announced a milestone of over 3,000 students enrolled annually at the Board of Trustees meeting Tuesday.

In 27 years USF Sarasota-Manatee reached 1,500 students and in the past 3 years that number doubled to more than 3,000. Charged by the state legislature to produce more baccalaureate degrees, USF Sarasota-Manatee is facing continued rapid and substantial growth.

The top two legislative priorities for USF Sarasota-Manatee are for funding growth. The university needs $14.7 million to relocate the Campus Center to the Crosley Estate. This will fund two-thirds of the total construction cost with the remainder requested in 2005. USF will ask for $1.6 million to fund enrollment growth, which will support program development in high demand areas such as health, engineering, hotel and restaurant management and expansion in South Sarasota County classes at MCC Venice. USF Sarasota-Manatee now offers 35 full degree programs up from 19 in just 3 years.

Jan Smith, campus board chair said, “The campus board of USF Sarasota-Manatee reaffirms its commitment, desire and focused efforts to build its campus center on the Crosley Estate, per the master plan, and encourages all other private and governmental bodies engaged in this activity to do the same. ”

“Without provision of new, appropriate space, the campus enrollment and program goals cannot be accomplished,” said Dr. Laurey Styker, campus CEO. “This is the best taxpayer value because USF Sarasota-Manatee and New College of Florida will continue to share library, conference and student recreational facilities.”

In the fall of 2000, when Dr. Stryker arrived on the USF Sarasota-Manatee campus, a strategic 5-year plan was developed that called for instituting 35-degree programs and growing to 2,300 students on campus at any given time. On an annual basis that meant USF could serve approximately 3,300 total students. The university met and exceeded its goals in 3 and ½ instead of 5 years.

“Much of this growth resulted from the tireless efforts of Dr. Stryker, who worked with the chambers and economic development councils of Sarasota and Manatee counties and South Sarasota County,” said Dr. Peter French, vice president and associate dean of USF Sarasota-Manatee.

“By interacting with the community to find the programs they wanted, collaborating more effectively with the school districts, and working with local business and industry to serve their employees needs Dr. Stryker has positioned the university squarely in the community it serves,” said French.

As the 30-year anniversary of USF Sarasota-Manatee approaches, the current headcount of over 3,000 students is a challenge as USF wrestles with finding room and funding for students and new faculty to educate them.