University of Tampa students, faculty and staff will honor the legacy of the late Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with a day of service to the Tampa Bay community on Friday, Jan. 25. [Read more…] about UT Will Host Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service Friday, Jan. 25
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UNIVERSITY OF TAMPA RECEIVES SILVER LEED CERTIFICATION FOR NEW FITNESS AND RECREATION CENTER
TAMPA — The University of Tampa recently received LEED® Silver certification from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) for its new Fitness and Recreation Center, which was opened in September 2016.
The Fitness and Recreation Center is the fifth building on UT’s campus built in accordance with the rigorous standards set by USGBC’s LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) green building certification program. The other four buildings are the Science Annex and Jenkins Hall, which both achieved LEED Gold designation, and the Dickey Health and Wellness Center and the Maureen A. Daly Innovation and Collaboration Building, which both achieved LEED Silver designation.
The LEED rating system, developed by the USGBC, is the foremost program for buildings, homes and communities that are designed, constructed, maintained and operated for improved environmental and human health performance.
The 40,000 square-foot, two-story Fitness and Recreation Center is centrally located on campus. It is a one-stop shop for all exercise programs, personal training and evaluation, wellness and nutrition programs, intramurals, recreation activities, club sports and some exercise related laboratory and research activities.
Since its opening, the center has experienced a total of 168,628 student visits, and students have logged more than 4,800 hours on the Precor cardio equipment: treadmills; adaptive motion trainer; elliptical motion trainers; recumbent and upright bikes. An average of 48 group fitness classes are held each week, with an average weekly participation rate of 629 individuals.
“The University is committed to providing healthy, safe and efficient buildings for all students, faculty and staff,” said UT President Ronald Vaughn. “The Fitness and Recreation Center is a well-utilized facility in the heart of campus. It is satisfying to have achieved LEED certification while also meeting our facility goals.”
“The University of Tampa’s LEED certification demonstrates tremendous green building leadership,” said Mahesh Ramanujam, president and CEO of USGBC. “LEED was created to make the world a better place and revolutionize the built environment by providing everyone with healthy, green and high performing buildings. UT’s Fitness and Recreation Center serves as a prime example of how the work of innovative building projects can use local solutions to make a global impact on the environment.”
For more about the UT Fitness and Recreation Center, see www.ut.edu/fitnesscenter.
LEED is the foremost program for the design, construction and operation of green buildings. More than 78,000 commercial and institutional projects are currently participating in LEED, comprising more than 15 billion square feet of construction space in all 50 states and more than 160 countries and territories.
The U.S. Green Building Council is a nonprofit membership organization whose vision is a sustainable built environment within a generation. For more information, visit www.usgbc.org.
The University of Tampa is a private, residential university located on 110 acres on the riverfront in downtown Tampa. Known for academic excellence, personal attention and real-world experience in its undergraduate and graduate programs, the University serves approximately 9,000 students from 50 states and 140 countries. Approximately 62 percent of full-time students live on campus, and more than half of UT students are from Florida.
THE UNIVERSITY OF TAMPA SETS ANOTHER ENROLLMENT RECORD
TAMPA — For the 21st consecutive year, The University of Tampa has set another enrollment record. This year’s total enrollment, including graduates and undergraduates, is 8,913 — up 7 percent from last year’s total of 8,310. This year’s total enrollment is about quadruple the University’s enrollment of two decades ago.
The enrollment continues to be strong as new student enrollment goals were attained, plus the University posted a 78 percent freshman-to-sophomore retention rate. This rate is a record for UT.
All U.S. states and approximately 140 countries are in the mix of students. About 16 percent of UT students are international, and 20 percent of UT students declare themselves as Hispanic, African-American, American Indian/Alaska Native or Asian.
Almost 97 percent of UT undergraduate students are full time, and the majority of them live on campus. Students are housed in 12 different residence halls all built or renovated since 1998.
The University continues to be more selective, receiving more than 163,000 inquiries and 23,000 applications for this fall’s new class of 2,684 full-time undergraduate students.
Entering students’ SAT scores were also elevated with 22 percent of the new first-year students being eligible for the University’s distinguished Honors Program.
The graduate school student population increased to 939 students, many from all over the world.
Vice President of Enrollment Dennis Nostrand said the University’s record enrollment shows UT’s increasing appeal amongst prospective students, as well as the degree to which students enjoy their rich and meaningful UT experience.
“Interest in UT set an all-time record this past year, due in large part to our expanding reputation for delivering a rich, high-quality educational experience,” Nostrand said. “Plus, once undergraduates decide to attend UT, we do an excellent job of graduating them in four years or less.”
UT President Ronald L. Vaughn added that the University is successfully maintaining its personal attention and community feel, which have been characteristics of UT throughout its 86-year history. Also, UT added 28 new full-time faculty positions for this fall, as well as additional staff support.
“We remain committed to pursuing quality and educational excellence,” Vaughn said. “The fact that we met our enrollment goals, plus we set new retention records, shows our success in providing an outstanding academic and co-curricular experience to students.”
The University of Tampa is a private, residential university located on approximately 110 acres on the riverfront in downtown Tampa. UT is known for academic excellence, personal attention and real-world experience in its undergraduate and graduate programs.
UT STUDENTS HOST “FAIR-STYLE” HURRICANE FUNDRAISER ON WEDNESDAY
UT STUDENTS HOST “FAIR-STYLE” HURRICANE FUNDRAISER ON WEDNESDAY
Mechanical bull riding, other activities to encourage campus-wide donations
TAMPA — A fair-style fundraiser to support Hurricane Harvey, Irma and Maria disaster relief efforts — featuring a lighthearted nod to Texas with mechanical bull riding — will be held at UT on Wednesday, Sept. 27.
The event will be held in the courtyard behind the Vaughn Center from 10 a.m.–3 p.m. It is a student-coordinated event, sponsored by UT’s PEACE Volunteer Center, Student Productions and Student Government.
Additionally, approximately 20 student organizations will host activities to encourage students to donate to the effort.
All funds will be donated to the Red Cross, and physical donations will be collected by a local nonprofit.
Media is welcome to cover the event. Please contact the Office of Public Information and Publication, or the fundraiser organizers ([email protected]), with any questions.
UT HONORS SYMPOSIUM TO EXPLORE “TRANSGENDER DYNAMICS IN TRUMP’S AMERICA”
TAMPA — On Wednesday, Sept. 27, Gina Duncan, Equality Florida’s director of transgender equality, will discuss “Transgender Dynamics in Trump’s America” as part of The University of Tampa’s Honors Program symposia series. Duncan’s talk will begin at 4 p.m. in the Plant Hall Grand Salon.
Recognized as a national and international spokesperson and educator on transgender rights, public policy and civic engagement, Duncan has trained major corporations across the United States on transgender inclusion. She was a guest speaker at the Global Summit on Human Rights in Milan, Italy, sponsored by the Harvey Milk Foundation.
Duncan chairs the advisory council for TransAction Florida, Equality Florida’s transgender inclusion initiative. TransAction advocates for transgender rights and protections through public policy, advocacy and education efforts statewide and nationally.
For more information, contact the Honors Program at (813) 257-3545 or [email protected].
The University of Tampa is a private, residential university located on 110 acres on the riverfront in downtown Tampa. Known for academic excellence, personal attention and real-world experience in its undergraduate and graduate programs, the University serves 8,700 students from 50 states and 140 countries. Approximately 65 percent of full-time students live on campus, and more than half of UT students are from Florida.
MOVE-IN DAY AT UT IS ON THURSDAY, AUG. 24
TAMPA — Many new University of Tampa residential students will move into their residence hall rooms on Thursday, Aug. 24.
Photographers and reporters are welcome to photograph and interview students in common areas on campus. Members of the media are not allowed in non-public residence hall floors and rooms without prior consent from the Office of Public Information and Publications.
Nearly 2,000 students will be checking in and moving their belongings into their room — with help from family, friends and UT professional and student staff — in one of 11 residence halls on campus.
For more information, contact the Office of Public Information and Publications at (813) 253-6232.
