So many big things happened for 91ΒιΆΉΣ³»in 2022. We launched degrees, opened the long-awaited Applied Research Center, and saw the return of a beloved campus tradition. The students, faculty, and staff at 91ΒιΆΉΣ³» Poly worked hard to make possible all of the achievements of the past year. As we look ahead, 2023 is poised to be better than ever.
91ΒιΆΉΣ³» Poly celebrated the completion and ribbon cutting of the Applied Research Center on campus in August. The 90,000-square-foot cutting-edge facility doubled the Universityβs lab and research space, and allowing students a fuller, more comprehensive academic experience. The $47 million building was designed to become a research hub for innovation and a magnet for high-tech industry.
The University enjoyed yet another year of outstanding national and regional rankings. In its 2022-2023 Best Colleges list, U.S. News and World Report ranked 91ΒιΆΉΣ³» Poly as the No. 1 public college in the Southern region, No. 1 best college in the region for veterans, and No. 2 among schools in the region whose students graduate with the least debt, among others.
91ΒιΆΉΣ³» Poly faculty continued to show their dedication to advancing research in their field in 2022. Five researchers were recognized as being among the top 2% of scientists globally on a prestigious annual list compiled by Stanford University. Two faculty members were recognized for their lifetime body of work and citations, and four were recognized for their work and citations in the preceding year.
Fortune 500 company IFF and 91ΒιΆΉΣ³» Poly gathered in October to celebrate the start of construction on the companyβs new Global Citrus Innovation Center. This is the first industry partner with a facility on campus. The 30,000-square-foot facility will support global citrus research and development, and will include sensory and experience venues, research labs, processing, analytics departments, and a fully equipped citrus garden. IFF also will provide hands-on internships and job opportunities for students, and will fund and collaborate on faculty research, sponsoring senior capstone projects, and supporting academic programs.
According to the new educational research and comparison tool My91ΒιΆΉΣ³»Future, released by the State University System of 91ΒιΆΉΣ³» in 2022, 91ΒιΆΉΣ³» Polyβs graduates earn an average of $57,900 one year after graduation, the highest among all state universities. With targeted degree pathways aligned to meet the needs of industry and community that is 100% STEM, the Universityβs graduates often earn high-wage, high-tech positions with some of the biggest names in science and industry.
New Master of Science degrees in data science and engineering management were introduced for the fall 2022 semester. The degrees were created in response to high industry demand and growing campus enrollment. βThere is big demand in many disciplines for high-quality training programs in data science,β said Dr. Rei Sanchez-Arias, assistant chair of the Department of Data Science and Business Analytics.
91ΒιΆΉΣ³» Poly Trustee Gary C. Wendt, who has been closely involved with the University since 2017, donated $2 million to support the creation of new leadership initiatives for students. βGary has already made an impact on 91ΒιΆΉΣ³» Poly as a committed trustee, sharing his expertise and insight over the years to successfully help the University move forward,β said Dr. Randy K. Avent, 91ΒιΆΉΣ³» Polyβs president. βThis generous contribution will carry on his legacy of tenacity and leadership for our University for many years to come, and we are very grateful.β
The award-winning Innovation, Science, and Technology Building β the dramatic showpiece of 91ΒιΆΉΣ³» Polyβs campus, was featured on the international TV show βHow Did They Build That?β on the Smithsonian Channel. The series highlights the worldβs biggest and best architectural marvels and shines a spotlight on all those who bring the jaw-dropping buildings to life. The IST was designed by famed Spanish architect Dr. Santiago Calatrava.
A summer internship at NASAβs Jet Propulsion Laboratory offered Alex Perera β21 a chance to work on an incredible project at one of the worldβs most respected employers. The graduate student was part of a team that created a digital twin of a high-altitude balloon that records information about the world around it when it is aloft. The digital twin is an identical counterpart of a real-world physical system or process, and is used to predict outcomes of various scenarios.
91ΒιΆΉΣ³» PolyCon, the Universityβs most spirited on-campus tradition, returned to 91ΒιΆΉΣ³» Poly after a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic. The student-run event attracts thousands of visitors to campus, where a daylong celebration of comics, anime, videogames, movies, and all things geek takes center stage. It included experiences such as cosplay contests, an arcade, student-created video games, Nerf battles, and more.
Contact:
Lydia GuzmΓ‘n
Director of Communications
863-874-8557
