‘A shift in our narrative’: FIU takes its place with the top Florida universities
Florida International University officially entered what’s considered the major leagues in Florida higher education on Friday by gaining preeminent status, rising to the level of the University of Florida, Florida State University and the University of South Florida.
Most importantly, the breakthrough comes with $25 million in additional state funding.
“We’re very, very exciting because everybody had a part in reaching this goal,” said Kenneth Jessell, FIU’s president. “We will celebrating with the community in the early fall when everybody is back on campus.”
The Florida Board of Governors, a 17-member body that oversees and manages the 12 public universities in the state, designated FIU as a “preeminent state research university” for the first time ever during its summer meeting in Orlando.
The Board of Governors and the state legislature approved a law in 2013 that launched its preeminence program for universities. The program offers more money to universities that perform better. Each year, the legislature budgets a specific amount of funds for the program that then gets split up among preeminent universities.
The law requires universities to meet at least 12 of 13 metrics outlined by state officials. Some of the standards are having a freshman retention rate of 90 percent or higher for full-time, first-time-in-college students, or employing at least six faculty members who are members of a national academy.
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UF and FSU became preeminent in 2013, and USF in 2018. FIU — the largest university in South Florida with about 56,000 students and about 10,000 employees — became the youngest institution to reach the state milestone at 52 years old this week.
FIU met all metrics this year except for one mandating an endowment of $500 million or more. It fell short with about $340 million, said Maydel Santana, a university spokeswoman.
“That is definitely one that we have known is a bigger one for us, because we don’t have that longevity in terms of the number of alumni and the period that they have been able to accumulate wealth,” Jessell said.
In comparison, for instance, UF’s endowment pool totaled $2.5 billion in 2022. But that school was founded in 1853 and is 171 years old.
This year, the Florida Legislature approved $100 million for the four preeminent schools: USF, UF, FSU AND FIU. Each will get $25 million.
FIU officials didn’t cite any specific plans to invest the money, but Jessell said the university plans to use it mainly for employee retention purposes. Some efforts could include hiring new faculty and staff, or providing some cost of living merit-based raises for faculty and staff, he said.
“You can’t be successful if you don’t have the right people in place,” he said.
FIU’s journey to preeminent status
Last year, FIU almost reached preeminent status but just missed by not reaching at least 60 percent in the four-year graduation rate for full-time, first-time-in-college students. FIU Provost Elizabeth Béjar said FIU got to 59.8% in that regard last year and to 64.9% this year.
Both Jessell and Béjar said that FIU reached its goal because every university employee pitched in.
“This has been a very intentional endeavor by all of our faculty and support staff,” Jessell said. “Everyone has taken the attitude of ‘what can we do to improve?’”
Academic advisors, for instance, have been available when students have needed them. Professors have tried new strategies to help students retain information better. Administrative leaders have implemented programs in areas like career development to motivate students and have made sure students aren’t facing external obstacles, like issues with courses not being available in time.
Béjar also pointed to FIU’s holistic view of students. Beyond traditional academics, she said, university officials tried to build support systems and experiential opportunities that encouraged students to stay engaged. FIU also gave “completion grants” so that if a student needed $500 to finish a semester, the university stepped in and provided that.
Overall, Béjar said she believes the preeminent status will mark a new chapter for FIU where locals realize its value.
“I believe the adage goes, ‘you’re never a prophet in your own town.’ And this town now has a top ... university. And students can live in Miami at home or close to home and they can get a best in class, best in the United States, best in the world ... right here.
“And I think that is a shift in our narrative.”
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Metrics needed for preeminence in Florida higher education
These are the 13 goals state law outlines for the 12 public universities to reach in order to be designated “preeminent”:
An average weighted grade point average of 4.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale and an average SAT score of 1200 or higher on a 1600-point scale or an average ACT score of 25 or higher on a 36 score scale for fall semester incoming freshmen.
A top-50 ranking on at least two well-known and highly respected national public university rankings, including, but not limited to, the U.S. News and World Report rankings.
A freshman retention rate of 90 percent or higher for full-time, first-time-in-college students.
A four-year graduation rate of 60 percent or higher for full-time, first-time-in-college students.
Six or more faculty members at the state university who are members of a national academy.
Total annual research expenditures, including federal research expenditures, of $200 million or more.
Total annual research expenditures in diversified non-medical sciences of $150 million or more.
A top-100 university national ranking for research expenditures in five or more science, technology, engineering, or mathematics fields of study.
One hundred or more total patents awarded by the United States Patent and Trademark Office for the most recent three-year period.
Four hundred or more doctoral degrees awarded annually, including professional doctoral degrees awarded in medical and health care disciplines.
Two hundred or more postdoctoral appointees annually.
An endowment of $500 million or more.
Total annual STEM-related research expenditures, including federal research expenditures, of $50 million or more.
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