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Polk County Declares March 14, 2017 “Women in STEM Day”

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Provost Terry Parker with gathering of Florida Poly faculty and staff inside the Polk County Neil Combee Administration Building in Bartow, Florida for the proclamation signing.

Florida Polytechnic University has received a proclamation from the Polk County Board of County Commissioners designating March 14, 2017 as “Florida Polytechnic University Women in STEM Day.”  On that date, the university will host its second annual Women in STEM Summit, which aims to foster alignment, partnership and collaboration among university scholars and industry leaders. 2.23.2017 Women in STEM
The proclamation was read during the Polk County Commission meeting in Bartow on Tuesday. Florida Poly Provost Dr. Terry Parker accepted the proclamation on behalf of the university, along with more than a dozen other Florida Poly faculty and staff.
“Diversity in all forms – demographic, cultural, philosophical – is important to building a strong academic community,” said Dr. Parker. “Nationwide, it seems especially hard to find diversity in STEM, but through programs like the Women in STEM Summit, Florida Poly hopes to inspire more students of all backgrounds to consider opportunities in these innovative fields.”
STEM stands for “science, technology, engineering and mathematics.” In 2015, women earned approximately 20 percent of all bachelor’s degrees conferred in engineering, and 16 percent of those in computer science, according to federal data. Florida Poly’s current degree programs focus exclusively on the core STEM subjects of technology and engineering.
Florida Poly’s Women in STEM Summit will give students, faculty and industry leaders the chance to network, develop mentorship opportunities and learn from the experience of several accomplished speakers. The event’s keynote is Karen Catlin, former Vice-President at Adobe Systems, who now advocates for women in technology. The event will also include a panel conversation with men and women who have overcome barriers to find success in STEM industries.
For more information about Florida Poly’s second annual Women in STEM Summit, click here.

Florida Poly Receives $1.5 Million FDOT Grant to Improve Fog Prediction

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Florida Polytechnic University Professor Dr. Christina Drake has received a $1.5 million grant from the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) to study new methods of predicting fog on Florida roadways, helping forecasters better alert travelers of dangerous weather conditions.
Florida Poly will work with PraxSoft, an information technology and engineering company based in Orlando, to refine, develop and deploy new monitoring software. In addition, Florida Poly will establish testing sites in Central and Southern Florida to improve the current weather model and help provide advanced warnings of road conditions that can cause traffic congestion.
“Transportation challenges are among the most pressing in Florida as our population grows and becomes more mobile. Advancing transportation technology – including systems for predicting and monitoring roadway conditions — will ultimately make travel safer, easier and more efficient for everyone,” said Florida Poly President Dr. Randy K. Avent. “This is exactly the type of applied research for near-term impact we aim to pursue at Florida Poly.”
Florida Poly and Praxsoft have already begun working on this project, and the team will make recommendations to FDOT for new technologies and testing methods over the coming months.
Alongside Dr. Drake on this project are Associate Professor of Nanotechnology and Multifunctional Materials Dr. Christopher Coughlin and Assistant Professor of Electrical Engineering Dr. Harish Chintakunta. The grant will employ undergraduate students as research associates, and establish new data collection, analysis and engineering methods.
“This project will have an impact throughout Florida and beyond as we research sensor systems for roadway safety conditions that affect a huge number people every year,” said Dr. Drake, Florida Poly Assistant Professor of Electrical, Mechanical & Industrial Engineering. “In addition, having Florida Poly students participate in real-world studies like this will not only enhance our current efforts, but also prepare them to be lifelong innovators and problem-solvers, ready to take on the challenges of tomorrow.”
“We are impressed with the wide pool of talent at Florida Poly,” said FDOT Project Manager Fred Heery, Sr., P.E. “Fog can be a major issue on Florida’s roadways, and we’ve seen several major accidents over the past decade related to intense fog conditions. The purpose of this study is to improve traffic management, but more importantly to help improve the safety of Florida travelers.”
This grant is representative of Florida Poly’s commitment to engaging students and faculty in real-world problems, said Florida Poly Provost Dr. Terry Parker.
“We believe strongly in applied research and embedding real-world problems into our curriculum. This grant will positively impact both the public’s safety and students’ understanding of how to harness science for the public good,” Parker said.

Florida Poly Students Now Eligible to Apply for Federal Student Aid

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Students at Florida Polytechnic University are now eligible to apply for Federal Student Aid after the University successfully completed a series of steps required by the US Department of Education. This new designation for Florida Poly means current and prospective students can submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for the 2016-17 academic year to help cover their education costs.
“For many students, the ability to receive Federal Aid can mean the difference between attending college or not,” said Florida Poly President Dr. Randy K. Avent. “To be able to offer this option is another significant step forward for us as a university. It will certainly help Florida Poly attract and retain high-achieving students who can help meet our state’s growing demand for innovation.”
Florida Poly encourages all of its students to complete the FAFSA. Once the application is submitted, the school will coordinate with the Department of Education to determine what types of Federal Aid would be available for each student. Florida Poly can now be found in FAFSA’s list of schools for both the 2016-17 and 2017-18 applications.
Florida Poly’s Federal School Code is 042634.
The University received approval to participate in Federal Student Aid programs after completing all the steps required by the Federal Government. Those steps included:

  • Establishing financial aid policies within the school;
  • Demonstrating proof of working systems and structures that will help in the administration of Federal Aid;
  • Participating in the audit of numerous financial statements showing no deficiencies; and
  • Receiving a minimum of Candidacy Status with the regional accrediting body, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).

“Our main focus at Florida Poly is to provide our students a great education and ultimately help them become leaders in their field,” said Scott Rhodes Vice Provost of Enrollment. “It’s important that students here have all the necessary resources to succeed, including access to Federal Aid.”
University officials plan to begin the Federal Aid program at Florida Poly during the Spring 2017 semester by offering Pell Grants, which are need-based grants for low-income students. Florida Poly will not start other programs such as Direct Loans, PLUS Loans, or any other federal aid programs until after the 2016-17 academic year has been completed.
During Florida Poly’s first two years as a university, all full-time students received Florida Poly Financial Aid Scholarships. Those scholarships, granted in collaboration with the University Foundation, will still be available to students based on both merit and need.
“Through our Florida Poly Financial Aid Scholarships, many of our students have been able to achieve their academic goals,” said Director of Financial Aid, Eric Callueng. “The addition of Federal Student Aid gives our students even more options to help them cover the cost of education.”

Florida Poly Names Commons Area Inside IST Building After Industry Partner Saddle Creek Logistics Services

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Florida Polytechnic University named the commons area inside the Innovation, Science and Technology (IST) Building after Saddle Creek Logistics Services on Monday. Saddle Creek has been an industry partner with Florida Poly since the University opened its doors in 2014.  The naming of the commons area after Saddle Creek reflects the importance of the partnership.
“Saddle Creek’s support has contributed directly to our students’ success and the growth of our university,” said Florida Poly President Dr. Randy K. Avent. “The naming of the commons after them is just one small way we can thank them for their commitment to Florida Poly and the education of our students who are preparing to enter the high-tech workforce.”
The newly named Saddle Creek Logistics Commons is an 11,000-square-foot space inside the IST Building.  This area is an extremely popular place on the Florida Poly campus where you can find students gathering, studying and working side-by-side with their professors on various experiential learning projects. It has also been the main space for many of the University’s biggest events, including its annual PIVOT gala and the University’s recent Inaugural Graduation, which took place Jan. 3, 2017.
Monday’s naming ceremony included brief comments from leaders of both Florida Poly and Saddle Creek Logistics Services and culminated in unveiling a rendering of the sign that will soon mark the named space. The ceremony was followed by a reception and tours of the university.
Saddle Creek Logistics Services is a Lakeland-based omnichannel supply chain solutions provider founded in 1966. Their partnership with Florida Poly includes providing internships for Florida Poly students, partnering with faculty to develop an industry-relevant curriculum, and providing financial support. Saddle Creek contributed $1.25 million to the University this year.
“Over the years, technology has become critically important in the logistics business, and that’s one of the big reasons we partner with Florida Poly,” said Cliff Otto, CEO of Saddle Creek Logistics Services and a member of the Florida Polytechnic University Board of Trustees. “This University is preparing students to tackle real-world problems in the areas of science, technology, engineering and math. We take great pride in being able to help Florida Poly do that.”
Saddle Creek Logistics Services is one of the largest privately held third-party logistics companies in North America with locations all over the country. They provide customers a variety of logistics services that include warehousing, omnichannel fulfillment, transportation and packaging.
They are also providing internships for Florida Poly students. Travis Hills, a sophomore from Tampa majoring in Computer Science with an emphasis in Cyber Security, is currently interning at Saddle Creek.
“What I learn in the classroom I’m able to apply at my internship. And what I learn at my internship I’m able to apply in the classroom,” said Hills. “It’s a great way for me to apply what I’ve learned and better prepare myself for real-world situations in my field of study.”
Saddle Creek Logistics Services is one of many top-tier companies partnering with Florida Polytechnic University. To ensure students graduate job-ready, Florida Poly collaborates with a network of more than 90 industry partners to offer guidance on developing a project-based curriculum and to provide internship opportunities that stress real-world experience.