A group of Polk County business leaders and state lawmakers came together Thursday to announce their support for the state’s newest public university. As that group met, the board that oversees the university system announced it had received more than three-dozen applications for seats on the board of trustees at the new school.
Florida Poly Vision, Inc. is a group of more than 60 Polk County business leaders who say they want to advocate for the new Florida Polytechnic University, formerly known as the University of South Florida Polytechnic. Meanwhile, the Florida Board of Governors, which oversees the university system, said it had gotten more than three-dozen applications for seats on Polytech’s board.
“At a cursory glance we’re really gratified at the number of people who have a national perspective in business, manufacturing, research and development, higher education—there seems to be a good representation there,” said Kelly Layman, spokeswoman for the Florida Board of Governors.
Thursday was the last day to apply for 11 positions on Polytech’s board. Those appointments will be made by the Board of Governors and Governor Rick Scott. Two other slots will be filled by the student body president and a faculty representative.
