(Sarasota, FL, February 3, 2005) – The University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee Campus Board, in a special announcement at its February 3 meeting, acknowledged the Manatee Memorial Hospital Foundation Inc.’s gift of $250,000 for state-of-the-art equipment and technology enhancement of the Crosley Campus Center.

“The Manatee Memorial Hospital Foundation has been a loyal partner with USF Sarasota-Manatee and a strong supporter of our nursing programs. This gift is one more example of the foundation’s commitment to quality higher education for the health care industry in our region,” said Campus Board Chairman Jan Smith.

In recognition of MMHF’s past and present gifts and ongoing campus support, USF Sarasota-Manatee plans to name the College of Nursing educational area in the Crosley Campus Center as the “Manatee Memorial Hospital Foundation College of Nursing Center.” Previously MMHF gave USF Sarasota-Manatee $250,000 for recruiting nurses to further their education through the baccalaureate and master's degree programs in nursing at the regional campus. The foundation also partners with the campus through internships and placement of graduates, supporting the growing demand for more nurses to serve our community.

“Although the Foundation primarily funds medical scholarships, this gift will assist in bringing the campus and the opportunity for advanced degrees here to our community,” said Vernon DeSear, Manatee Memorial Hospital Foundation executive director. “In essence, the technology and course study will be available in our own backyard at USF Sarasota-Manatee. Health-care professionals interested in furthering their education while in the workforce won’t have to drive to Tampa.”

The USF Sarasota-Manatee recently announced a new Nursing Informatics Certificate program designed to train nurses in state-of-the-art information management and technology systems that improve health care delivery. The campus also offers an R.N. to B.S. program giving licensed registered nurses with an associate’s degree or diploma the opportunity to earn a bachelor’s degree in nursing.

The Crosley Campus Center will be a 96,000-square-foot facility with 24 classrooms; a 190-seat lecture/exhibition hall; seminar and video-conferencing rooms; computer labs; a daycare center; student gathering places; faculty and staff offices; a technology and learning center; dining facilities; and training facilities for the School of Hotel and Restaurant Management. Once completed, the Center will offer some 800 courses annually in 37 degree programs.

USF Sarasota-Manatee is an upper-level campus for those with an associate’s or bachelor’s degree who are interested in getting a baccalaureate or master’s degree, professional certification, or continuing education credit. The campus offers the prestige of a national Research 1 university with the convenience of a hometown campus, including classes in south Sarasota County at a Manatee Community College Venice site.