‘Our time is now’: President McCullough optimistic about FSU’s future – Florida State Information

Florida State College President Richard McCullough mirrored on the outstanding achievements of the previous yr and stated that he’s stuffed with optimism about main the college to larger heights throughout his State of the College deal with Wednesday.

“We’re a tutorial powerhouse on the rise, and I look to the longer term with confidence and pleasure,” McCullough stated.

McCullough delivered his annual replace to the FSU School Senate in the course of the group’s month-to-month assembly, which occurred within the Durell Peaden Auditorium on the Faculty of Medication.

He famous that at a time when some universities throughout the nation are scuffling with declining enrollments and deep cuts in state funding, FSU is seeing document numbers of pupil purposes and larger investments from private and non-private sources than ever earlier than.

“I feel it’s very clear that our time is now,” McCullough stated.

Through the deal with, McCullough outlined the 9 targets he offered to the Board of Trustees earlier this month, which embody rising within the nationwide rankings, investing in pupil success and increasing the college’s analysis enterprise.

He reaffirmed the college’s overarching aim to attain recognition as one of many nation’s High 15 public universities and make progress towards membership within the Affiliation of American Universities (AAU). In September, U.S. Information & World Report once more ranked FSU No. 19 on its checklist of the highest public universities, and McCullough stated he’s assured that the college will proceed to rise.

“We proceed to get higher due to our laborious work, optimism and, most significantly, strategic investments,” he stated. “We have a look at each class at this college and dig down deep … This yr pupil indebtedness is down, school compensation is up, our pupil check scores are up, the standard of scholars is up, and our competitiveness on a nationwide scale is rising.”

A give attention to pupil success and growing commencement and retention charges are fueling FSU’s rise within the rankings and driving pupil purposes. Actually, FSU had probably the most first-year pupil purposes of any establishment within the State College System of Florida with about 80,000 this yr.

This previous yr, the college invested further sources to reinforce programming for first-generation college students via the Heart for Tutorial Retention and Enhancement, or CARE, allotted funding to double the variety of Honors college students from 400 to 800, and raised $15 million in presents to help and develop the Presidential Students Program – FSU’s premier undergraduate scholarship.

One other main aim is to develop the college’s analysis enterprise. McCullough pointed to the brand new FSU Well being initiative, which is able to create alternatives to draw vital Nationwide Institutes of Well being (NIH) funding and improve the college’s analysis portfolio exponentially.

Final spring, the Florida Legislature appropriated $125 million to construct a brand new tutorial well being heart in Tallahassee. The venture guarantees rework well being care supply, schooling, and biomedical analysis within the area and make Tallahassee a well being care vacation spot. The imaginative and prescient for FSU Well being extends to Panama Metropolis and all through the booming Panhandle area.

“This can be a large alternative for Florida State to maneuver into our yard and construct a analysis and well being care supply system for this area,” McCullough stated.

To assist obtain FSU’s tutorial and analysis targets, McCullough stated one among his prime priorities has been to rent extra full-time, tenure-track school. Previously yr, the college has made main investments on this space, hiring greater than 150 new school, with about 90 of these in tenure-track positions.

“We’re particularly targeted on figuring out and recruiting senior-level school, together with Nationwide Academy members,” he stated. “These school will assist us pursue our analysis targets, entice federal grant funding and contribute to our nationwide prominence.”

Together with rising the analysis enterprise, McCullough stated the college will proceed to help a tradition of entrepreneurship and innovation by streamlining tech switch insurance policies to assist make it simpler for college kids and school to carry their concepts to {the marketplace}.

McCullough stated the college is actively engaged on implementing suggestions of the President’s Job Drive on Anti-Racism, Fairness, and Inclusion, and several other initiatives have already been accomplished, together with growing funding to rent underrepresented school.

This yr’s legislative session, which included a $125 million appropriation for FSU Well being, was probably the most profitable in college historical past. When the following session begins within the spring, McCullough stated the college will proceed to make use of a strategic strategy and search funding and operational help that can assist FSU attain its long-term targets of reaching the nation’s High 10 public universities and membership within the AAU.

“We’ve daring and audacious targets, and naturally we can’t accomplish them alone,” he stated.  “As a public establishment, we’re uniquely positioned to enhance the standard of life at Florida State College, but additionally the standard of life within the State of Florida.”

Fundraising is one other prime precedence for McCullough, and the college will construct upon a wonderful yr. Previously fiscal yr, the FSU Basis raised its the second-highest whole in presents and pledges in additional than a decade. He stated the college will give attention to growing alumni giving and can start laying the groundwork for its subsequent complete marketing campaign and securing presents for the college’s highest, most strategic priorities.

In closing, McCullough underscored his optimism towards FSU’s future, and pledged to work tirelessly to attain the college’s targets.

“From pupil success and school achievement to analysis and entrepreneurship; from fundraising and relationship constructing to nurturing an inclusive group and celebrating our athletic success, we have now been relentless in our pursuit of excellence, and we have now gained nationwide consideration for our efforts,” he stated.

“This really is our time.”