UF and State College of Florida expand engineering course offerings, further stimulating regional economy.
The University of Florida Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering has been working with State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota (SCF) through the UF Innovation Station Sarasota County (UFIS-SC) to expand the number of majors engineering students can choose from as they enter the Gator Engineering at SCF program. Currently, students can choose among Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, and Digital Arts and Sciences majors. Mechanical Engineering and Aerospace Engineering will soon become additional options for prospective applicants.
The engineering college at UF is composed of nine different schools and departments with a variety of majors offered in each, providing room for continued expansion according to the needs of the Sarasota community and the surrounding region. High school juniors looking into Gator Engineering at SCF for the 2020 fall semester can select from one of the four majors mentioned above plus Mechanical Engineering and Aerospace Engineering.
The collaboration between the University of Florida Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering and SCF allows students to begin their critical-tracking coursework at SCF, taking advantage of smaller class sizes, and remaining close to home. Students matriculate to the UF campus in Gainesville to continue their engineering studies in their chosen major after successful completion of the courses. “We’re excited to expand this program and increase its academic offerings,” said Dr. Carol F. Probstfeld, president of SCF. “Offering skills-based education prepares our students for high wage, high demand careers in our community.”
The Gator Engineering at SCF program also helps students connect with companies in Sarasota and surrounding regions for internships and work-study programs. These experiences support the pipeline of local students entering the UF Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering programs and returning to the community as they build their career after graduation, thus further enhancing the region’s technology and innovation ecosystem. “This additional program offering strengthens the region’s collective efforts to grow our innovation-based economy. Expanding the engineering majors available to Gator Engineering at SCF students will grow the pipeline of talented engineers available to local companies and, over time, accelerate business innovation,” said Mark Huey, President and CEO of the Economic Development Corporation of Sarasota County.
The burgeoning development of the high tech industry in the Sarasota area has increased demand for highly skilled interns. UFIS-SC has responded by matching students directly enrolled at UF with industry partners in the region, introducing new talent into the engineering workforce pipeline. The Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering views UFIS-SC as a continuing living testimony of what it can achieve in terms of economic impact when there is a successful four-way partnership between a premier engineering college, an excellent community college, a supportive local business community and an exceptional student talent base. “The continued expansion of the Gator Engineering at SCF program is one example of how our team at the UF Innovation Station Sarasota County continues to listen to the needs of the community and respond in ways that positively impact economic development,” said Erik Sander, Executive Director of the Florida Engineering Experiment Station.
About the Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering
The Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering at the University of Florida houses one of the largest and most dynamic engineering programs in the nation. The curriculum offered across nine departments, 15-degree programs, and more than 20 centers and institutes produce leaders and problem-solvers who take a multidisciplinary approach to innovative and human-centered solutions. Students, faculty, and alumni are hailed as New Engineers who aim to transform the way we live, work and play. The college produces inventions at twice the national average – and startups at five times the national average – for every research dollar spent. Engineering is the largest professional school, the second largest college, and one of the top three research units at UF. Established in 1910, the college was named after Distinguished Alumnus Dr. Herbert Wertheim in 2015.
Contact: Diane Choate, Public Relations Strategist
Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering
University of Florida
352-294-7957
dchoate@eng.ufl.edu
About State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota
Established in 1957, State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota (SCF) is the region’s first and largest public college, serving 11,000 college credit students annually at campuses in Bradenton, Lakewood Ranch and Venice, and via online classes. Another 14,000 participants annually attend professional development and personal enrichment classes. SCF is a dynamic College dedicated to meeting the educational and workforce training needs of citizens and businesses in the region. The College is a member of the Association of Florida Colleges, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, the American Association of Community Colleges and the Florida Association of Colleges and Universities.
Contact: Jamie M. Smith
Director, Communications & Marketing
State College of Florida
941-752-5587
Smithj4@scf.edu