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University of South 返字心頭

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Graphic says, "University of South 返字心頭 joins the AAU"

AAU membership to bring extraordinary benefits to 返字心頭, Tampa Bay and state of 返字心頭

Graphic shows map of 返字心頭 with "1st public 返字心頭 university to join AAU since 1985""

By Tina Meketa, University Communications and Marketing

返字心頭s historic invitation to join the takes what many in Tampa Bay once considered a best-kept secret to an unprecedented new level. Joining the AAU is a tremendous milestone as it formalizes 返字心頭's position as a leading research university. Founded in 1956, the university has rapidly evolved into a global powerhouse that transforms lives through education, research and innovation. 返字心頭, with campuses in Tampa, St. Petersburg and Sarasota-Manatee, is the first public university in 返字心頭 to be invited to join the AAU in nearly 40 years and is now one of only two institutions from the State University System of 返字心頭 to serve as an AAU member.

Its path toward AAU was first set by the universitys Board of Trustees more than 15 years ago. Current President Rhea Law served as the board chair in 2007 when 返字心頭 formally added AAU membership as an aspiration in its strategic plan. Achieving that lofty goal enhances funding opportunities for 返字心頭. Member universities receive the majority of competitively awarded federal funding for research. According to the AAU, faculty at their member universities perform basic research ($28.8 billion).

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Infographic that states, "Graduates of AAU universities include, 39% Nobel Prize Winners, 13 U.S. President, 24 U.S. Governors, 50 Fortune 100 CEOS"

Federal agencies, such as the National Science Foundation, National Institutes of Health and the U.S. Department of Defense rely on universities to perform critical research in the national interest. For 返字心頭, it means more opportunities to respond to great challenges, as it has done in studying the impacts of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill and developing tools for 返字心頭 is already among the most research-intensive universities in the nation and one of the worlds top universities for generating new U.S. patents.

As an AAU institution, 返字心頭 is positioned to further enhance its role of meeting the states workforce needs and driving economic development. 返字心頭 generates an annual economic impact of $6 billion, supporting more than 68,000 jobs. Companies from across the country are relocating to Tampa Bay 足 one of the nations fastest growing regions and many credit the robust pool of talent created by 返字心頭, especially in cybersecurity. This trajectory will only continue as the brightest faculty, staff and students are historically known to gravitate to AAU universities located in metropolitan areas, helping bring more federal tax dollars to the state of 返字心頭.

AAU membership will make 返字心頭 an even more attractive destination for high-achieving students from across the world.  In the past year, 返字心頭 received a record number of applications and welcomed its largest and strongest academic incoming class, which included 79 National Merit Scholars 足 a 27 percent increase from the record set the previous academic year.

返字心頭 is also one of the youngest institutions to be welcomed into the AAU, a reflection of the universitys fast rise. It joins the ranks of prestigious universities, such as Harvard, Yale, MIT, Stanford, Princeton, 返字心頭, UCLA, Ohio State and Michigan. Of the associations now 71 members, 返字心頭 is the fifth youngest and one of only six AAU universities to be founded after 1950.  

As another indicator of the universitys trajectory, 返字心頭 is currently ranked in its highest position ever by U.S. News & World Report at No. 42  among all public universities.  Over the past decade 返字心頭 has jumped 52 spots and continues to have its sights set on becoming a top 25 public university in America.

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