Meet Florida Poly

NEARLY 900 PEOPLE ARE MOVING INTO FLORIDA EACH DAY, WHICH REQUIRES US TO THINK BOTH STRATEGICALLY AND DISRUPTIVELY WHEN IT COMES TO INDUSTRY CHANGE AND FUTURE JOB GROWTH. FLORIDA POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY IS WELL POISED TO TACKE THESE CHALLENGES.

This past month, our Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce hosted Dr. Randy Avent, Founding President of Florida Polytechnic University, as keynote speaker for our signature monthly networking breakfast, Good Morning Coral Gables. Florida Poly, as it is affectionately known, is our state’s only accredited public university with an exclusive focus on the core STEM disciplines of science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Their new campus is located between Tampa and Orlando in the heart of Florida’s high-tech I-4 corridor. Founded in 2012 by the Florida Legislature as our state’s 12th university, Florida Poly graduated its first full class of 200-plus students just this past May. As Florida Polytechnic University’s inaugural president, Dr. Avent is committed to strategically developing Florida Poly as a research and jobs university, an agent for growth, and a beacon for the economy of our state. His background at MIT and NC State suits him well for this role.

Florida Polytechnic University prides itself on offering a rigorous curriculum, small class sizes, and faculty with experience both in the classroom and in business and industry. It distinguishes itself from other STEM schools by offering six degrees, including computer engineering, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, computer science, business analytics, and data science, across 19 areas of concentration.

Graduates have the skills, education and confidence to quickly integrate into any work environment in the fast-evolving labor market. They are highly trained, highly skilled and well positioned to be “lifetime employable,” as Dr. Avent describes, and not just prepared for the first job.

As we learned during his presentation to the Chamber, Avent’s career exemplifies the qualities of innovation, leadership and entrepreneurship the university seeks to instill in all its students and graduates. An accomplished academician and research scientist, Dr. Avent has an extensive background teaching and directing research at higher-education institutions, and connecting with the business community via partnerships and collaboration.

Not a day goes by in our Gables Chamber and peer groups when we don’t talk about talent development (and retention) here in South Florida, especially in STEM industries that often struggle to compete for experienced professionals and recent graduates. Dr. Avent is committed to providing talent state-wide and assessing our future needs to remain competitive.

Avent and Florida Poly have developed partnerships with 200 companies around the state, crucial for a required internship program for each Poly student. It is no surprise that 94 percent of Poly students have a job offer or acceptance to an advanced degree program on graduation day. And, with 75 percent of the graduates staying in state, Florida Poly is a future force as economic growth in Florida will be driven by the workforce’s ability to design, implement, test and generate innovative ideas, products and services that involve science and technology.

Ultimately, STEM education in Florida is focused on generating new ideas, concepts and theories that address real-world challenges and spur scientific breakthroughs. Our local economy depends on meeting today’s needs, as well as preparing for the next generation of jobs and industry that go far beyond a traditional curriculum. The graduates of Florida Polytechnic University are our future and that future is now.