(June 10, 2004) -- Sen. Lisa Carlton remembers “the challenge” issued a few years ago.

“We told University of South Florida to grow our Sarasota-Manatee campus and become the focal point for students wishing to pursue a four-year degree or higher,” Carlton said. “We knew that a university presence was the key to economic growth.”

USF responded to the challenge and now, with the help of the Sarasota and Manatee counties’ legislative delegations, the new Crosley Campus Center will become a reality. The 2004 Legislature approved USF’s request for $14.7 million to build the 100,000-square-foot facility across from the airport and construction is scheduled to begin this fall. The facility could open by the summer of 2006.

“We asked USF come down from its Ivory Tower, listen to the business community and build a program that responded to their needs,” Carlton said after the session. “It was an extraordinary effort. They built programs in business, nursing, teaching and accounting. New facilities became a necessary element. It’s a model for others because building a regional campus is still a relatively new concept.”

“We are elated,” said USF Sarasota-Manatee CEO Dr. Laurey Stryker. “This is our defining moment … the culmination of years of hard work by our alumni, staff and community supporters.”

Campus Board Chairman Jan Smith thanked the local legislative delegation, stating, “They fulfilled their commitment and stuck with us through some difficult times. We are extremely grateful for the leadership and perseverance to see this through.”

The new state-of-the-art facility will be located just north of the existing campus on state-owned property in front of the Crosley Museum. USF will continue sharing the Cook Library, Sudakoff Center and recreational facilities with New College of Florida.

The campus also received $1.4 million in new operating dollars to cover enrollment growth. USF President Judy Genshaft said she was very pleased with the additional dollars received during the 2004 session.

Chairs of both the Sarasota and Manatee counties’ legislative delegations made funding for the Crosley Campus one of their top priorities. Rep. Nancy Detert of Venice, who sits on the Appropriations Committee and Chairs the Sarasota delegation, and Rep. Bill Galvano of Bradenton, who sits on the Education K-20 Committee and chairs the Manatee delegation, agreed to lead the charge, along with Carlton, Rep. Ron Reagan, Rep. Donna Clarke and Sen. Les Miller.

“It’s easy to be a champion for USF once we recognize that they are going overboard to meet the needs of the business community,” Detert said. “USF has a huge presence in our community. I like the way they responded to the needs in the area of hospitality management. The Ritz-Carlton, Hyatt and others will hire their graduates.”

Carlton called the legislative effort a “team effort on the part of the entire Southwest Florida delegation. We all have different perspectives and relationships and the combined effort made it successful. We didn’t hear just from USF. We heard from the private sector, students, future students and alumni. It’s going to be nice for families of young children to know that they can go right from pre-K all the way to a graduate level degree and have access. It doesn’t get much better than that.”

The total cost of the new facility is $22 million so USF will be back next year asking for the $7.3 million balance from both the Legislature and private contributions. USF had not received construction dollars for the Sarasota-Manatee regional campus since 1985.

“We are out of room and it is our time for funding,” said Stryker, who has been working diligently on revising the Master Plan for facilities and the separation from New College since the two institutions were split up by the Legislature three years ago. The Crosley site, which was purchased by the state in 1991 to accommodate the expansion, “is ideally suited on the county line to serve both communities, and accommodates the proposed university corridor along U.S. 41,” Stryker said.

“Without the leadership of Dr. Stryker, none of this would have been possible,” said Carlton. “She embraced an overwhelming challenge … she embraced the business and academic community … and never, ever backed down from that challenge, which she met and exceeded.”