from staff
Under the New Florida Initiative, the University of North Florida was awarded $375,000 for its engineering program from the State University System Board of Governors.
The board announced project winners Monday from all 11 public institutions in two award categories.
The two categories announced Monday, the Clustering Grants and Scholars Boost Grants, represent the second and final phase of the 2010 New Florida Initiative awards distribution, which totaled $12 million.
UNF will receive $250,000 for a Scholars Boost Grant for a professor to lead the Bruce Taylor Engineering Institute and a $125,000 Cluster Grant for engineering and medical-related technologies.
The Cluster Grant also awards $150,000 to Florida State University to group “a proven Center of Excellence in Advanced Materials at FSU with a burgeoning interest at UNF in engineering and medical-related technologies,” according the state university system.
The two final lists announced Monday consist of 31 projects with 45 monetary awards totaling $10 million. All 11 universities applied and were selected for different projects that build on existing programs or create new academic benchmarks.
Many of the 31 projects include at least two state universities working together and many have three working together.
That “represents an unprecedented and groundbreaking effort by the entire State University System to leverage some of our best minds and nationally renowned facilities,” said Ava L. Parker, a Jacksonville attorney who chairs the Florida Board of Governors, the 17-member governing body of the State University System created in 2002 by voters through a constitutional amendment.
Parker said that the New Florida Initiative, launched nearly a year ago, already has experienced significant success due to a diligent review process and a sense of urgency.
“This day marks the realization of a vision we announced in partnership with the Legislature in January of this year – that we would ensure our State University System both pursues and achieves our obligation to help transform Florida’s economy into one that is sustainable and knowledge-based, featuring high-skill, high-wage jobs,” said Parker.
“These projects that now hold the title of being named New Florida Initiative awards will, I predict, not only be historical markers but exponential ‘life forces’ to the long-term sustainability of the state’s economic portfolio. Our universities will regenerate, retain and recruit the ‘best of the best’ for Florida’s economic future,” she said.