Tampabay.com
JUNE 10, 2008

USF gets its Polytechnic

The governor has signed into law SB 186, officially turning USF's Lakeland campus into the state's first polytechnic university.

He said this 'step forward for higher education will place this campus on the same level as the other campuses of the University of South Florida."

After signing the bill, Gov. Crist sent out a mass e-mail with shout-outs to lawmakers including Sen. J.D. Alexander and Lakeland Rep. Seth McKeel "for their leadership on this issue." He also thanked Rep. Ed Homan of Temple Terrace and Sen. Carey Baker.

Crist also is expected to leave intact the $15-million in the proposed 08-09 budget that USF needs to start building a new campus for the polytechnic.

Alexander owns lots of land near the Lakeland campus.

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Gradebook features education articles and insights on schools in Florida, focusing on Tampa Bay area schools. What's the latest from the Florida Department of Education? How is the FCAT being used to compare Florida schools? What's going in on in Tampa Bay schools? Get an insider's view from the Times education reporting team.

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Rebecca Catalanello covers Pinellas County schools. E-mail her: rcatalanello@tampabay.com.

Tony Marrero covers Hernando County schools. E-mail him: tmarrero@tampabay.com.

Marlene Sokol covers Hillsborough County schools. E-mail her: sokol@tampabay.com.

Ron Matus covers Pinellas County schools. E-mail him: matus@tampabay.com.

Jeffrey S. Solochek covers Pasco County schools. E-mail him: solochek@tampabay.com.

Kim Wilmath covers the University of South Florida. E-mail her: kwilmath@tampabay.com.

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