History of Florida Polytechnic

Gov. Rick Scott signed SB1944 into law in April 2012, creating Florida Polytechnic University. But the school's history actually dates back more than six months before that.

2011-10-31 19:42:58

Business leaders vote to support Poly split

With State Sen. JD Alexander, R-Lake Wales, looking on, business leaders - many with ties to USF Poly - vote to support Poly independence.

2011-11-03 05:42:58

10 News airs Investigation of JD Alexander

10 News airs its three-month-long investigation into JD Alexander's tactics, motivations, and connections to USF Polytechnic.

2011-11-07 15:42:58

$10,000 for Star Wars Statues

10 News details extravagant spending by USF Poly Chancellor Marshall Goodman, including $10,000 statues of Darth Vader and a Storm Trooper.

2011-11-10 19:00:00

Student foreshadows Alexander's revenge

Michael Long, the lone student on the Florida Board of Governors, calls out State Sen. JD Alexander for threatening retaliation if the board doesn't approve a new university in Polk Co.

2011-11-10 20:55:38

Poly gets permission for eventual independence

The Board of Governors approves a compromise plan to allow USF-Polytechnic to split into an independent university in the next 3-10 years.

2011-12-20 10:55:38

Genshaft dismisses Goodman

USF President Judy Genshaft replaces embattled Poly Chancellor Marshall Goodman with Lakeland CPA David Touchton.

2011-12-22 11:49:38

Barbs traded over Genshaft's Poly dealings

USF President Judy Genshaft is criticized by several members of Florida's Board of Governors for her handling of USF Polytechnic.

2012-02-08 00:00:00

Alexander Asks for immediate Poly separation Again

State Sen. JD Alexander crafts a bill to do what the Board of Governors would not: separate Polytechnic from USF immediately.

2012-02-13 21:00:00

Senate Threatens USF with 58% budget cut

Senate Budget Chair JD Alexander helps author a proposed budget that cuts USF's state revenue by 58% after several tumultuous months dealing with the USF Polytechnic issue.

2012-02-14 15:00:00

10 News launches #SAVEUSF campaign

After shining a spotlight on JD Alexander's "bullying" last fall and his proposed devastating cuts to USF's budget, 10 News launches campaign to unite Tampa Bay and rally against disproportionate cuts.

2012-02-14 22:00:00

High School seniors worry about USF cuts

Potential USF students talk to 10 News about how the potential budget cuts could affect them.

2012-02-15 22:00:00

USF students worry about cuts

Students tell 10 News what $103 million in budget cuts would mean to their educations. "It's time to get spears and shields go to Tally," one said. "This is our university; our education is what's most important.

2012-02-15 23:00:00

USF students take action

As lawmakers prepare to vote in Tallahassee, so too do members of USF's student government. They also lead several buses of upset students up to the capital.

2012-02-16 00:00:00

Tampa Legislators step up for USF

A late deal between two Tampa senators & Senate Budget Committee Chairman JD Alexander, R-Lake Wales, paves the way for a bigger budget compromise.

2012-02-16 09:00:00

Senate advances USF cuts but shows first sign of leinency

After a long day of debate, a Senate committee approves its initial 2012-13 budget with nearly 60% cuts to USF. But a late deal brokered between two Tampa senators and Senate Budget Committee Chairman JD Alexander, R-Lake Wales, paves the way for further compromises.

2012-02-18 00:00:00

Politifact looks at Fuzzy math in USF debate

With a major disconnect between USF and state senators, 10 News partners with Politifact Florida to analyze the disputed budget numbers.

2012-02-18 19:00:00

Gov. Scott tells 10 News "no" to unfair cuts

The 10 News Investigators track down Gov. Rick Scott to deliver letters from Tampa Bay residents and get his promise that he won't sign a budget that cuts USF disproportionately.

2012-02-18 19:00:00

Tampa Bay leaders hold secret Saturday summit

State Senators Jim Norman and Arthenia Joyner meet with USF president Judy Genshaft on a Saturday afternoon to strategize a Monday meeting with JD Alexander.

2012-02-22 00:00:00

USF Poly students fear split

Fearing their education was in limbo, USF Poly students vent to administration during an open forum.

2012-02-23 15:00:00

USF budget deal reached; uneven cuts off table

A deal is brokered on the senate floor to take the steep, uneven cuts to USF (58% of state allocations) off the table. Senators agree to reduce cuts to 26% to fit similar cuts at other state universities.

2012-02-23 15:00:00

More controversial votes ahead for USF

With the budget battle behind them, USF awaits more major votes, including the fate of its Polytechnic campus.

2012-02-27 15:00:00

Some question why Board of Governors exists after poly follys

10 News' Adam Freeman investigates why the state's Board of Governors exists when legislators can impose their own agendas on the state university system.

2012-02-28 15:00:00

USF researches Poly accreditation

Representatives from USF, its Board of Trustees, and the Board of Governors meet with accreditation officials at the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools near Atlanta.

2012-02-28 15:00:00

Genshaft gives rare 1-on-1 interview

On the day news spread of additional budget restorations to USF, its president, Judy Genshaft, gives an exclusive personal interview with 10 News.

2012-03-06 15:00:00

USF funding recovered, but Poly decision looms

USF President Judy Genshaft said the final budget numbers reflected the "best-case scenario," but she didn't yet know how the split of the Polytechnic campus would affect students.

2012-03-10 15:00:00

Poly bill prepared for Governor

After passage in both chambers of the legislature, SB 1944, creating "Florida Polytechnic University," is prepared for Governor Scott. He is lobbied by both sides of the debate.

2012-03-10 15:00:00

Alexander: "Tampa thinks Polk should be landfills & prisons"

After watching USF President Judy Genshaft address a Tiger Bay luncheon, State Sen. JD Alexander said, "USF had no real intention to see (Fla. Poly) become a great institution...Tampa thinks Polk County should be landfills and prisons and things they don't want. I don't see our future that way."

2012-04-20 17:55:00

Gov. Scott signs bill to split Polytechnic from USF

Florida Gov. Rick Scott signs SB 1944, splitting USF's Polytechnic campus into the state's newest university, Florida Polytechnic.

2012-04-23 17:55:00

What's next for Fla. Poly?

Polk County readies itself to build the state's 12th university.

2012-05-01 00:00:00

Call goes out for Fla. Poly trustees

The Board of Governors opens the application process for appointees who will be members of the charter Board of Trustees for Florida Polytechnic University.

2012-05-23 00:00:00

Board of Governors negotiates USF/Poly split

Meeting for the first time since the creation of Florida Polytechnic, the Board of Governor's Select Committee expresses concern over financial shortfalls at the yet-to-be-built campus as well as an aggressive timeline pushed by some supporters.

2012-05-31 00:00:00

Poly Vision booster club forms; JD Alexander defends actions

JD Alexander tells 10 News that the actions he took were in the best interest of Polk Co. and that dozens of other elected & business leaders are joining him to form the "Florida Poly Vision" booster club for the yet-to-be-created university.

2012-06-05 00:00:00

10 News uncovers potential conflicts among Poly trustee applicants

Fifty-four people apply to be part of the first Board of Trustees for Florida Poly, but while the group includes former astronauts and elected officials, it also includes a number of candidates with potential conflicts of interest.

2012-06-08 14:42:48

Governors threaten to stop Poly construction

The Board of Governors threaten a halt to construction at Florida Polytechnic if legal issues surrounding a "reverter clause" on the donated land aren't immediately addressed.

2012-06-11 00:00:00

10 News uncovers lies on trustee applications

The 10 News Investigators discover three more Board of Trustees applicants with potential business dealings with the new school. And none of them weren't forthcoming on their applications.

2012-06-18 03:42:48

JD Alexander's employee withdraws trustee app after 10 News story

The president of Sen. JD Alexander's company, Phoenix Industries, withdraws his name from consideration for the board of trustees at Florida Poly after a 10 News Investigation.

2012-06-22 14:42:48

Legal issues settled; Poly construction continues

A month after threatening to pull the plug on construction at Florida Polytechnic University, the Board of Governors appear to finally be satisfied with progress on a lingering land issue. They drop the threat to halt construction.

2012-06-27 12:00:00

Leaked emails show JD Alexander's wife influencing Poly

Emails obtained by 10 News show JD Alexander's wife, Cindy, is swapping notes with ousted Polytechnic administrators. Cindy - or someone using her email - asks for "talking points for individual calls" and "who are (the opinion leaders) and what do we need to say?"

2012-06-27 12:41:10

Leadership changes at USF Lakeland

Thanking him for a "difficult job done well," USF President Judy Genshaft tells interim leader David Touchton he would no longer be in charge of the university's Lakeland/Polytechnic campus after June 30.

2012-07-02 18:00:00

Gov. Scott starts interviewing trustee applicants

Governor Rick Scott starts interviewing candidates for his six Board of Trustee appointments at Florida Polytechnic University, including at least one candidate with a potential conflict of interest.

2012-07-10 20:30:00

Board of Governors names Poly trustee finalists

Florida's Board of Governors announces its 10 finalists for the first Board of Trustees at Florida Polytechnic. None of the candidates with potential conflicts, identified by 10 News, makes the cut.

2012-07-11 22:45:03

Trustee candidates questioned

Ten trustee candidates are interviewed by the Board of Governors for the new Florida Polytechnic University.

2012-07-12 13:00:00

Board of Governors appoints four trustees

The Board of Governors appoints the first four members to Florida Poly's Board of Trustees.

2012-07-13 00:00:00

Governor names four trustees

Governor Rick Scott announces the appointments of four Florida Polytechnic trustees, avoiding any of the potential conflicts identified by 10 News.

2012-07-15 23:03:02

Marshall Goodman resigns from USF

The former chancellor of the University of South Florida Polytechnic resigns from the university, which had put him on in December.

2012-08-01 14:17:40

Poly trustees meet for first time; Cindy Alexander sits in

Florida Polytechnic trustees meet for the first time with each other and several Board of Governors. Also in attendance: JD Alexander's wife and an ousted USF-Poly administrator.

2012-09-05 00:00:00

Fla. Poly Trustees Tour Campus Construction

Trustees get their first look at Santiago Calatrava's progress on Florida Poly's Innovation, Science, and Technology Building.

2012-10-11 15:47:24

POLY FINALLY AGRESS TO ACCEPT ASSETS, LIABILITIES FROM USF

Two university communities breath sighs of relief after the FPU Board of Trustees announce plans to finally accept $100 million dollars worth of assets and liabilities from USF.

2012-10-25 04:12:16

Trustees discuss new hires, political influence

The Board of Trustees for the fledgling university took several steps forward, including assuming assets and liabilities from USF Lakeland. The board also discussed political influences while State Sen. JD Alexander watched from the audience.

2012-10-25 23:00:00

Trustees pen op-ed

After voting to assume assets & liabilties from USF - essentially "going live," Poly's trustees pen an op-ed that appears in the Lakeland Ledger.

History of Florida Polytechnic

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