USF Sarasota-Manatee hits record enrollment

USF Sarasota-Manatee hits 7-year enrollment high

USF S-M hits 7-year enrollment record

SARASOTA -- Enrollment at the University of South Florida, Sarasota-Manatee, surpassed 2,000 for the first time in seven years after adding freshmen and sophomores on campus two years ago.

Admissions officials say enrollment for the fall semester rose 7 percent, or 135 students, compared with the same period a year ago, to 2,038 students.

Undergraduate enrollment rose 4.5 percent, or 79 students, to 1,773. Graduate registrations increased 4.1 percent, or 56 students, to 175. Another 90 undergraduate and graduate students are enrolled in non-degree programs or coursework.

"We are very excited about reaching this milestone in our projected enrollment growth," USF Sarasota-Manatee Regional Chancellor Sandra Stone said in a statement. "Clearly, we are meeting a need for higher education in our service area."

Admissions officials say enrollment has escalated for years, but the recent pace has picked up.

"The continued ability to recruit and admit freshmen as well as lower-level transfer students for the past three years has helped tremendously," said Andrew Telatovich, director of admissions and financial aid, in a statement. "Our new biology program has also been a factor in the university's growth, along with the interest generated by our Culinary Innovation Lab for our hospitality management program."

Consortium of Florida Ed Foundations taps Glass

BRADENTON -- The Consortium of Florida Education Foundations recently named Mary Glass, executive director of the Manatee Education Foundation, as a member-at-large.

Glass is one of five statewide local education foundation leaders who govern the organization, along with four officers.

Established in 1987, the CFEF seeks to advance student achievement in Florida by increasing private-sector investment and involvement in public education, according to officials. The CFEF has 60 member foundations with 1,100 business and community leaders as volunteer board members. Collectively, they raise more than $45 million annually to support students, teachers and schools through a variety of programs.

The CFEF has provided more than $33 million to local education foundations since 2002 through various private and public sector partnerships, including the Florida School District Education Foundation Matching Grants Program.

-- Herald staff reports

This story was originally published September 17, 2015 at 12:00 AM with the headline "USF Sarasota-Manatee hits record enrollment ."