Several high-priority initiatives and key projects for the 黑料爆料 will receive funding as part of the final state budget for fiscal year 2025-26 signed into law today by Gov. Ron DeSantis.
鈥淭he support from the state will enable us to continue to prepare students for success in high-demand fields, solve real-world challenges through research and innovation, drive economic impact and elevate our communities,鈥� USF President Rhea Law said.
Today, Gov. DeSantis approved the following:
USF OPERATING BUDGET
- A $12.5 million nonrecurring and $2.5 million recurring increase to USF鈥檚 operational budget to support work on each of our campuses. A large portion of this increase is funded through a new nonrecurring investment in Preeminent State Research Universities.
- An $8 million nonrecurring operational support increase to fund strategic projects at USF Health, including Parkinson鈥檚 and neurological research.
USF FACILITIES
- $10 million to begin construction on the facility that will house the Bellini College of Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity and Computing. This facility will help position the Tampa Bay region as a global leader in these fields and the state funds will supplement the record-setting $40 million private gift from Arnie and Lauren Bellini to establish the new college.
- $10 million to complete the state鈥檚 share of the Environmental & Oceanographic Sciences Research and Teaching facility at the USF St. Petersburg campus. This investment will further position St. Petersburg as a world-class center of marine and environmental science, education and community engagement.
- $8.5 million to upgrade our facilities and services offered to student-veterans, military families and first responders on the Tampa campus.
- $8 million to plan for construction of the new USF Health Translational Research Institute facility, which is expected to be the largest standalone facility dedicated to research in our institution鈥檚 history.
- $7.3 million to invest in campus life facility projects across all campuses and USF Health, funded by the Capital Improvement Trust Fund.
In addition, the following special initiatives for USF were also approved:鈥�
- $2.5 million to acquire and install cutting-edge classified research equipment at the Institute of Applied Engineering.
- $1 million for the Eileen Hoffman Hafer UMatter Program at USF St. Petersburg, which provides students with unique abilities an accessible university experience in a postsecondary setting. The funding will allow the program to expand enrollment and upgrade facilities.
Additionally, the Legislature appropriated new funding to enhance security and cultural protections for Jewish students throughout the state, including $325,000 at USF.
鈥淲e are grateful to the Florida Legislature for enacting, and to Gov. DeSantis for approving, such a strong budget for USF. I appreciate the members of the Legislature, including Senate President Ben Albritton, House Speaker Daniel Perez and our entire Tampa Bay Area Legislative Delegation for their support of USF. I also wish to thank the Board of Governors, including Chair Brian Lamb and Chancellor Ray Rodrigues, and our Board of Trustees, including Chair Will Weatherford and Vice Chair Mike Griffin, for their advocacy throughout this year鈥檚 legislative session,鈥� said Law, who also thanked members of the USF community for all their contributions to the university鈥檚 ongoing success.
The new state budget takes effect July 1, 2025.