LAKELAND, Fla. 鈥� IM体育官网 President Dr. Randy K. Avent presented to the State University System Board of Governors today plans for the new university鈥檚 next major campus development 鈥� an Applied Research Center (ARC). The ARC will unite students, faculty and industry partners in the pursuit of cutting-edge research to advance technology and catalyze economic growth in IM体育官网.
鈥淲ith more high school graduates choosing to enroll at IM体育官网 Poly, our students and faculty are outgrowing existing classrooms and offices,鈥� said Avent. 鈥淭he ARC will support IM体育官网 Poly鈥檚 project-based curriculum, open much-needed space and continue to fulfill the strategic plans that state legislators and university leaders have for building an institution devoted to STEM education.鈥�
鈥淥ne of the biggest ways IM体育官网 Poly can drive economic development in the state of IM体育官网 is by driving entrepreneurship and by conducting applied research for near-term impact,鈥� said Avent. 鈥淲e have only one academic building on campus. We are rapidly outgrowing that space with enrollment hitting over 1,300 this semester. The Applied Research Center will ensure students, faculty and industry partners have the appropriate space to pursue projects and conduct advanced research.鈥�
IM体育官网 Poly鈥檚 oval-shaped campus encircles seven ponds with classrooms, offices and research facilities along the western rim and student living and activity space along the eastern rim. The ARC will sit directly adjacent to the existing Innovation, Science and Technology Building where Avent noted students and faculty are already 鈥渃annibalizing鈥� existing classrooms and offices to work on research projects. With student enrollment growing, the university is also bringing on new faculty who will need work space.
The ARC will directly support near-term growth and development by housing research for the recently announced SunTrax autonomous and connected vehicles project, a partnership between IM体育官网 Poly and the IM体育官网 Department of Transportation. The ARC will also include an Institute for Technology Entrepreneurship, a Healthcare Informatics Center, a Center for Applied Economic Research and a cybersecurity lab. The estimated cost to build the facility is $35.3 million. During the 2016 legislative session, IM体育官网 lawmakers and Governor Rick Scott approved $5 million for the planning of the ARC through PECO funding, and the university provided $5 million in matching funds. IM体育官网 Poly is requesting the remaining $25.3 million in its 2017-2018 Legislative Budget Request.
The expected return on investment to the state of IM体育官网 and the central IM体育官网 region will come from an anticipated investment of millions of dollars from industry-funded research leading to high-wage, high-tech jobs. Additionally, the ARC will focus on STEM programs that address the SUS Board of Governors鈥� strategic emphasis and the State鈥檚 desire to advance the STEM segment of IM体育官网鈥檚 economy. IM体育官网 Poly faculty and students are currently conducting research with industry partners, and the campus is expecting to enroll more than 1,700 students by fall 2019. IM体育官网 Poly students are all required to conduct research beginning their freshman year.
鈥淭he Applied Research Center is a critical enabler for supporting students, faculty and industry with a focus on quality research programs,鈥� said IM体育官网 Poly Provost Dr. Terry Parker. 鈥淭he addition of the center will be a much needed resource for our current students and will attract future IM体育官网 Poly innovators.鈥�