FSU's programs place high in national rankings
Several of Florida State University’s graduate and professional programsranked among the best in the country in the U.S. News & World Report’s 2022 edition of “Best Graduate Schools.”
More than 30 graduate programs at FSU are ranked in the top 25 according to the publication’s annual rankings, released March 30.
Some key rankings:
- The College of Education’s graduate program made the largest jump among FSU’s programs, climbing 19 spots to No. 28 nationally and No. 18 among public universities.
- Florida State’s College of Criminology and Criminal Justice maintained its top 10 status at No. 7 in the nation and among public universities.
- The College of Business’ MBA specialty in real estate again ranked in the top 10 among public schools at No. 9 and in the top 20 nationwide at No. 17.
- FSU’s Library and Information Studies program, housed in the College of Communication and Information’s School of Information, placed No. 11 nationally and No. 10 among public universities.
- FSU’s School Library Media specialty maintained its No. 1 status, and Services for Children & Youth rose four spots to No. 3 in the nation.
- Public affairs programs, which are offered by the Askew School of Public Administration in the College of Social Sciences and Public Policy, were ranked No. 28 nationally and No. 16 among public institutions.
- FSU’s College of Medicine tied for No. 13 in diversity with 26 percent of students identifying as an underrepresented minority. The college also came in at No. 42 in primary-care production.
- The College of Law rose two spots to No. 48 in the nation and No. 24 among public universities.
FAMU-FSU College of Engineering increases in national rankings
The FAMU-FSU College of Engineering also made a significant improvement in this year’s U.S. News & World Report’s 2022 edition of “Best Graduate Schools.”The college moved up to No. 98 among all engineering graduate schools nationally.It marked the first time the college has ranked in the Top 100 for engineering graduate degrees.
College of Engineering researcher develops stormwatertool
The strained link between land development and the state’s water resources is the focus of a new study by FAMU-FSU College of Engineering Assistant ProfessorNasrin Alamdari.
Alamdari, a civil engineer, is developing a new open-source tool to predict the effects of best management practice in stormwater management. BMP techniques include structural, vegetative and managerial practices to treat, prevent and reduce water pollution.
Alamdari is working with urban planners from cities and counties across Florida.
Alamdari's research is funded by a $266,473 grant from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. The four-year grant begins in July 2021, and Alamdari plans to hire two research doctoral students to help with the study.
FAMU-FSU College of Engineering alum donates $50,000
Scott Collins, principal owner of Orlando Project Controls, LLC, returned to the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering to speak with civil and environmental engineering senior design students.
Collins surprised the college witha $50,000 donation for the new CEE senior design lab.The money will allow the department to complete renovations and purchase technology for the new lab.
Collins, a 1987 graduate of the college, received his bachelor’s degree in civil and environmental engineering.
Florida State kicks off homecoming week
Florida State University will celebrate Homecoming Week with this year’s theme “Linked by Legacy” beginning today through Sunday.
The week of festivities will include alumni events, a reverse-style parade and the inaugural Spring Alumni Awards. The week will conclude with the Garnet & Gold 4 Miler, a scenic run through campus that finishes on the 50-yard line inside Doak Campbell Stadium.
Highlights include:
TUESDAY, APRIL 6
FSU Then and Now, 12 p.m.
Sandra Varry, University and Heritage Archivist, hosts a webinar on the history of Florida State’s campus and its current trajectory. Varry also will discuss the history of FSU’s libraries. Registrants will have the opportunity to submit a question in advance of the event to be answered live. Registration is available athttp://gonol.es/FSUThenAndNow.
FRIDAY, APRIL 9
This year’s parade will be a reverse parade, in which floats, parade entries and performers will remain stationary while spectators drive through the parade area in their vehicles to view the participants.
The event will be livestreamed athttps://www.facebook.com/fsualumniassociation.
Homecoming Live, 7 p.m.
The Annual Homecoming Live pep rally will be held in Doak Campbell Stadium and feature appearances by special FSU performers and a well-known comedian. The evening will culminate with the crowning of Florida State’s Homecoming Chief and Princess.
For additional information, visithomecoming.fsu.edu.
FSU’s Society earns national honors
Florida State University’s chapter of the Society for Advancement of Management walked away with several honors at the annual International Collegiate Business Skills ChampionshipMarch 18-20.
FSU’s students won chapter of the year and two other chapter-wide awardsfrom a field of colleges and universities from around the globe in the undergraduate division.Honors included 11 awards for individual members.
Bob Garner is chapter advisor and a member of the teaching faculty in the Jim Moran College of Entrepreneurship.
FAMU hosting forum Monday on return to campus
Florida A&M University President Larry Robinson will host a Return-To-Work Virtual Town Hall at 3 p.m. Monday to discuss plans for the fall semester.A full return to in-person classes is planned for fall 2021.Questions can be submitted in advance at Townhall@famu.edu
Scholarship fund to benefit FAMU students from Detroit,Bahamas
Florida A&M University students from the Bahamas and Detroit studying business or agriculture will benefit from the creation of the $300,000 Cornelius A. Smith and William F. Pickard, Ph.D., Friendship and Alliance Scholarship Fund.
Sir Cornelius A. Smith is the governor-general of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas.His friend, William F. Pickard, is CEO and founder of Global Automotive Alliance and the largest non-alumnus donor to FAMU.
Pickard’s relationship with FAMU dates back decades. His most recent engagement includes donating more than $310,000 to date, with an additional $150,000 to be donated in 2021, and another $250,000 pledged over the next few years.
Pickard is also a frequent FAMU School of Business & Industry Forum speaker who always receives rave reviews from students.
The scholarship will pay for up to 15 hours of tuition for the fall and spring semester annually and is renewable each year for up to three years. Two students from Detroit, Pickard’s home, and two students from the Bahamas are eligible to apply.
FAMU’s NOAA center hosting education and science forum
Florida A&M University will host the Tenth Biennial Education and Science Forum Thursday and Friday.
The virtual event,themed“Two Decades of Excellence: Nurturing Future Leaders in STEM,” is hosted by the FAMU-based National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Center for Coastal and Marine Coastal Ecosystems.
FAMU President Larry Robinson is director of the center.
The keynote speaker for the Opening Plenary Session at 1 p.m. Thursday is former Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa P. Jackson, Apple’s vice president of Environment, Policy and Social Initiatives.
Registration can be found at https://ccme.famu.edu/eppforum2021/registration.
FAMU Day of Giving surpasses $450,000
Florida A&M University’s second annual Day of Giving, “1887Strikes,” raised $459,549 in gifts from 2,800 donors.The gifts represent a 215% increase over the 2020 campaign.
TCC partners with the Florida DOC to train inmates
Tallahassee Community College and the Florida Department of Corrections are recognizing eight inmates who have earned their commercial driver’s licenseand vocational certificate.The collaboration is the first of its kind to exist in Florida. The transitioning offenders took courses for eight weeks to earn their credentials.FDOC and TCC have jointly agreed to extend the program into next year.
TCC has trained and issued more than 1,200 credentials at five different corrections facilities and one work release center across Florida.Additionally, TCC plans to launch two new programs which are welding and machining in the next few months.
TCC Foundation hosts 5K Trail Run
The Tallahassee Community College Foundation is hosting the 6thannualHops & Half Shells 5K Trail Run and One Mile Fun Run at 8:30 a.m. April 17, at the TCC Wakulla Environmental Institute. Proceeds from the race will support TCC student scholarships.
This year, a virtual run is also offered. Participants could complete the race at their own pace by running, jogging, or walking on a trail, treadmill or track from any location.
Free oystersfarmed by the WEI’s oyster aquaculture students and Deep Brewing Company craft beer will be provided to participants age 21 and up at the end of the race.
Attendees can pre-register online for the in-person race by April 15. Registration on race day starts at 7:30 a.m. for the in-person event.
For more information or to register, visittcc.fl.edu/HopsandHalfShells2021.
TCC employees wintechnology awards
Dani Hawke, Merry Low, and Nicholas Vick at Tallahassee Community College’s Learning Commons have won 1stplace in the 2021AFCTechnology Commission Exemplary Practice Award Competition.The Association of Florida Colleges Technology Commission recognizes who excel in their duties.
Contact senior writer Byron Dobson at bdobson@tallahassee.com or on Twitter @byrondobson.
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