By Tina Meketa, University Communications and Marketing
±«Óătv's invitation to join the AAU was announced during a news conference Jun. 1, 2023
Throughout the last year, ±«Óătvâs membership in the has become a springboard to an array of benefits for the ±«Óătv community, Tampa Bay region and state of Florida. From the successful recruitment and retention of world-class faculty and students to more corporations and community organizations inquiring and establishing new partnerships with the university â AAU membership is fueling ±«Óătvâs momentum in significant ways.
âReceiving an invitation to join the AAU is one of the most significant milestones in the ±«Óătvâs history. It signals that our peers recognize ±«Óătv has established itself as one of the nationâs leading research universities by achieving benchmarks focused on the success of our students and faculty and the continued growth of our robust research enterprise,â ±«Óătv President Rhea Law said. "Just one year after joining the AAU, our community is already seeing the impact of this achievement as it is helping to further elevate the outstanding work of our world-class students, faculty and staff. At ±«Óătv, we continue to be bold in our pursuit of excellence and we are focusing on maximizing the impact of our university for generations to come.â
±«Óătv is using its place in the AAU to build on the institutional record for research funding set in fiscal year 2023. Since joining the AAU last year, ±«Óătv has received $288 million in federal grants and contracts â up 5% from that same time the year prior. Federal funding makes up more than half of ±«Óătvâs total research expenditures. The AAUâs 71 members perform .
AAU President Barbara Snyder
AAU membership has already opened doors to networks that were not previously available to ±«Óătv. AAU institutions are invited to join approximately a dozen constituent groups, such as for chief academic officers, senior research officers, public affairs officers and general counsels, that meet regularly to discuss key issues, share best practices and develop strategies to help advance Americaâs leading research universities.
One of the AAUâs primary missions is to advocate for federal resources and policy issues pertaining to higher education, science and innovation. As a member, ±«Óătv leaders have a voice in the conversation as AAU seeks support for investments in student financial aid, faculty scholarship and research that is vital to the nationâs economic competitiveness.
"As one of Americaâs leading research universities, the ±«Óătv in its first year in AAU has proven to be a strong partner in our efforts to promote the government-university research partnership, which produces discoveries that improve the lives and health of Americans, expand our economy and make us safer and stronger,â AAU President Barbara Snyder said. âPresident Law and ±«Óătv have jumped in with both feet, continuing to make scientific advances while advocating for science and the importance of research. We are thrilled to have them on our AAU team."
World-class faculty
Building upon the world-class faculty that helped ±«Óătv reach AAU status, such prestige is attracting an unprecedented number of high-caliber faculty members from across the world to conduct their research and teach at ±«Óătv. The Department of Medical Engineering â a joint department between the and the College of Engineering â welcomed two new faculty members over the last year, with another starting in the fall â all from AAU institutions. Neda Latifi joined ±«Óătv as an assistant professor in August with a focus on cardiovascular tissue engineering from the University of Toronto.
Neda Latifi, assistant professor of medical engineering
"I was drawn to apply to ±«Óătv by its remarkable ascent in the rankings over the past 15 years and the chance to contribute to the establishment of translational tissue engineering and regenerative medicine research within a burgeoning biomedical engineering program," Latifi said. "After initiating the application process last spring, I found the on-site interview to be incredibly rewarding and encouraging. Subsequently, I received offers from ±«Óătv and other universities. Learning of ±«Óătv's invitation to join the AAU solidified my decision to accept the position here."
In the School of Information Systems and Management in the Muma College of Business, nearly 400 people applied for faculty positions throughout the last year â a significant surge in the number and caliber of applications received before ±«Óătv became an AAU institution.
âThis year, we are hiring seven new faculty members â unprecedented in the school's history,â said Kaushik Dutta, interim director of the School of Information Systems and Management and an associate dean in the Muma College of Business. "Our AAU status has undoubtedly elevated our appeal in the academic community."
Legislative and Philanthropic Support
Such interest can be attributed to not only enhanced research opportunities, but the perceived value of earning a degree from ±«Óătv. That sentiment has proven beneficial in the Florida Legislature, which includes eight ±«Óătv alums. The fiscal 2024-2025 state budget, passed by the legislature and waiting for approval from Gov. Ron DeSantis, provides ±«Óătv with significant increases in recurring operational funding and substantial support for other important projects, such as a major clinical trial that measures the effectiveness of hyperbaric oxygen therapy on alleviating the symptoms of PTSD/TBI in military veterans.
"Reaching AAU status is a testament to ±«Óătv's longstanding commitment to student success, world-class research and faculty excellence," said ±«Óătv alum . "AAU positions the university to compete for the very best talent nationally and globally, accelerating the growing reputation of the university and the Tampa Bay community. I am proud to be a Bull and help propel the unparalleled trajectory ±«Óătv is on for both now and the future."
±«Óătv Board of Trustees Chair Will Weatherford and Vice Chair Mike Griffin with President Rhea Law at the Florida Board of Governors meeting
âTampa Bay will go as far as the ±«Óătv takes it, and vice versa. I have been saying that for a long time, but our shared trajectory was elevated exponentially when ±«Óătv joined the AAU one year ago,â said Will Weatherford, chair of the ±«Óătv Board of Trustees. âIn the last 12 months, I have had dozens, if not hundreds, of conversations with business and community leaders, as well as current and prospective clients who have shared that our university and our region leapfrogged others on their lists of preferred destinations because of all the positive momentum they see here. We have known for a long time that our students, faculty, alumni, friends and the entire ±«Óătv Bulls community are second to none. Every single day, more and more people know that, too.â
In its first Giving Week since becoming an AAU institution, the ±«Óătv Foundation raised $7 million â . Of the 9,259 donors, 1,408 gave to the university for the first time and the number of gifts from alumni was up 70% from the previous year.
Anthony James, chair of the ±«Óătv Foundation Board of Directors
"As chair of the ±«Óătv Foundation Board of Directors, I've been wonderfully positioned to hear the response of alumni, donors and community leaders to our membership in the AAU. That response has been both powerful and inspiring," said Anthony James, who graduated from ±«Óătv in 1973. "Our community is intensely proud and excited for the future, and I look forward to seeing that enthusiasm continue to fuel ±«Óătv's incredible momentum."
Mike Griffin, vice chair of the ±«Óătv Board of Trustees, is the executive managing director for , a global commercial real estate brokerage firm with 40,000 employees. The former two-time Student Government president, who has championed the universityâs successes since graduating from ±«Óătv in 2003, said the AAU designation is incredibly helpful when illustrating the significance of ±«Óătv, especially to those unfamiliar with the universityâs success.
âWe are just full of bright, intelligent professionals and to internally at my company be able to say that I'm a part of this university, from fastest rising over the last decade, to AAU, to knocking on the $700 million door in research, to say that we're in that league, it's been a game changer,â Griffin said. âThe Bulls are at that level now and ±«Óătvâs future has never been brighter.â
Community, Corporate and Government Partnerships
ⱫÓătvâs invitation to join AAU provided a particularly prestigious public acknowledgement of what the EDC has known for many years â that the ±«Óătv is a key driver of economic development in our region through its top-notch talent and research activity. Strong universities are critical to the EDCâs mission to recruit and expand corporate operations in Tampa Bay, and we are fortunate to have a partner like ±«Óătv that continues to raise the bar. The secret is out.â â Craig J. Richard, president and CEO of Tampa Bay Economic Development Council
The ±«Óătv Office of Corporate Partnerships reports that since ±«Óătv accepted the invitation to join the AAU, conversations with prospective collaborators are advancing more quickly, indicating future investment is on the horizon, both through workplace talent development and philanthropy.
±«Óătvâs robust pool of talent has increasingly become one of the âs top selling points when trying to attract new companies to the region. Over the past 15 years, the EDC reports it has helped more than 370 companies relocate or expand operations in Hillsborough County â including several that have since forged new partnerships at ±«Óătv. Theyâve tapped into ±«Óătvâs colleges â drawing upon faculty membersâ expertise and longtime commitment to aligning curriculum with workforce demands.
In addition to corporations, ±«Óătv has strengthened its ties with government agencies and local industries. As leader of the Tampa Bay Regional Consortium, which consists of 45 partner agencies such as business management consulting firm, , and the , ±«Óătv is uniting the regionâs greatest powerhouses to speak with one voice as they work to secure new federal grants and contracts.
ⱫÓătv's AAU designation expands the potential for our region. It creates new opportunities through the recruitment and retention of faculty and students, the potential for new research and the strengthening of the future workforce. The designation raises our visibility and makes the rest of the nation take notice â we are not just a beach community,â said Alison Barlow, executive director of the St. Petersburg Innovation District. âThe partnership of the university and our business community is strengthened in our collective role as an economic driver for the state. I look forward to being part of this journey with ±«Óătv.â
"As a proud alum of the ±«Óătv, I am thrilled to see ±«Óătv achieve AAU membership, marking it as a leader in academic and research excellence. This prestigious recognition elevates ±«Óătv's global reputation, attracting top-tier talent and unlocking new research opportunities,â said Jason Warnke, senior managing director of Accenture. âIt not only enhances the value of our degrees, but also drives economic growth and community impact in the Tampa Bay region. This milestone sets a new benchmark for future growth, ensuring ±«Óătv remains at the forefront of innovation and education."
Retired Gen. Frank McKenzie and former Secretary of Homeland Security Kirstjen Nielsen discuss AI in the military
The ±«Óătv Institute of Applied Engineering opened its Rapid Experimentation Lab in March
Retired Gen. Frank McKenzie, former commander of U.S. Central Command and director of the ±«Óătv Global and National Security Institute, reports the universityâs AAU status has contributed enormously to the instituteâs success.
âAAU has brought additional credibility to our efforts in addressing global and national security. By leveraging ±«Óătvâs academic and research excellence, weâve been able to attract high-profile experts to the university and broaden our exposure through more speaking engagements and requests from the media to educate their audiences about some of the worldâs most pressing challenges,â McKenzie said.
±«Óătvâs relationship with the Department of Defense continues to grow. The ±«Óătv Institute of Applied Engineering, which has an agreement with U.S. Special Operations Command for it to provide up to $85 million in research funding, has forged several new partnerships with additional branches of the armed forces, such as the U.S. Army. Itâs also experiencing expedited conversations with prospective clients â many have indicated theyâre familiar with the universityâs acceptance into the AAU.
âOur federal customers have told me they felt that this mark of quality was a big help in justifying âwhy ±«Óătvâ in their sourcing packages. No one ever complains when you ask an AAU university to do research,â said Darren Schumacher, president and chief executive officer of the Institute of Applied Engineering.
Student Recruitment
The benefits of the universityâs status as an AAU institution are reaching well beyond the boundaries of Tampa Bay. As members of ±«Óătvâs undergraduate recruitment team visit high schools, attend college fairs and meet with prospective students and families across the country, they use AAU as a key differentiator in demonstrating the value of earning a degree from ±«Óătv.
âOur AAU membership has been an important highlight during all our campus events this past year,â said Martin Smith, assistant vice president of Admissions. âNational research shows outcomes matter to prospective students and their parents. Our prospective families walk away from our events understanding the importance of being an AAU institution and its impact on the prestige of earning a University of South Florida degree as it pertains to getting into graduate school and finding their first job.â
±«Óătvâs coaches have also been incorporating the accolade into their recruitment efforts, including head coach Alex Golesh. He has been diligent in educating prospective student-athletes about the benefits of playing at a leading research institution and regularly references AAU in national media interviews. The team just had its best recruiting class in more than a decade.
âThe universityâs gaining of prestigious AAU membership and what it says not only about the elite level of education offered at ±«Óătv, but the sustained growth and trajectory of the university and the Bay area, has been a key selling point for our coaches as they recruit the best and brightest to compete for the Bulls,â said Michael Kelly, vice president for ±«Óătv Athletics. âAAU membership has changed the discussion around ±«Óătv Athletics nationally and the perception of who our peer institutions are. Combined with the continued progress toward an on-campus stadium, an exciting athletics facilities master plan and the recent surges in success in football and menâs basketball, the momentum and vast potential of our university and ±«Óătv Athletics are clear.â