USF Polytechnic not ready for independence, trustee says

The head of the board that oversees the University of South Florida's Polk County branch said Friday that it's not the right time for the campus to become independent.

Next month, the Florida Board of Governors is scheduled to consider a bid from USF Polytechnic to sever its ties to the main campus.

"Right now USF Poly is not a complete package," Gene Engle said of the small commuter school, which is building a campus and recasting itself as a residential university with a focus on science, math and technology. "The pieces are there, but it's not complete, yet."

Engle, who is also on USF's board of trustees, stressed he was speaking on his own behalf. USF Poly's board voted in September to remain neutral on the issue, but two of its members, including USF Poly's president, spoke publicly in favor of separation.

Engle, a commercial developer and lifelong resident of Polk, has been involved with the school since it opened in 1988 and has been chairman of its board for two years. He's worried an independent Polytechnic would have trouble securing funding, accreditation and students.

"If you open a business and you're not properly funded, you'll be bankrupt very quickly," he said. "We're no different. We're in the business of educating people."

USF Poly recently applied for separate accreditation, but that application has been put on hold pending resolution of its status.

"Accreditation is absolutely vital for the success of the campus," Engle said. "And it's important for students to know their diplomas come from an internationally recognized university. It will help them when they go out into the world, looking for jobs."

Engle also worries that a brand-new campus at a no-name university will have trouble attracting students. USF Poly's new campus is scheduled to open with a science and technology building in 2014, but no public money is available for other development on the site.

"Students select a university where there's a great campus environment," Engle said. "What I fear the most is that if the school separates from USF, students won't attend."

Kris Hundley can be reached at khundley@sptimes.com or (727)892-2996.