Title: FSU Day

Summary: Recognizing February 7, 2012, as "FSU Day" in Florida and celebrating Florida State University's contribution as an outstanding institution of higher education, etc.

Full Text:
WHEREAS, in 1994, Florida State University joined an elite group of the nation s top research universities in achieving designation as a  Research I  institution by the Carnegie Foundation, and WHEREAS, today, Florida State University offers graduate and undergraduate degrees in programs within independent colleges and schools, taught by a faculty of 2,306, which has included National Academy of Sciences members and six Nobel Laureates, and WHEREAS, the freshman class entering Florida State University in the 2011 Fall semester was one of the most academically accomplished freshman classes in the university s history, with an average high school GPA of 3.9, an average SAT score of 1850, and an average composite ACT score of 27, and WHEREAS, the academic accomplishments of accepted honors students entering Florida State University in the 2011 Fall semester are even more impressive, with an average high school GPA of 4.3, and WHEREAS, Florida State University is the headquarters for the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory (NHMFL), which designs, builds, and operates the world s most powerful research magnets, attracting more than scientists from across the globe and pushing the frontiers of science and engineering, and realizing a return of $5.17 for every dollar invested by the taxpayers of this state, and WHEREAS, the Florida State University Veterans Center was opened as part of the university s efforts to become the most veteran-friendly campus in the nation, with its Veterans House serving as the focal point for all campus veteran resources, academic advising, orientation and transition programming, personal and rehabilitative support services, and assistance with United States Department of Veterans Affairs  educational benefits and certification, and WHEREAS, the Florida State University College of Medicine launched a statewide clinical research network that now includes more than 1,900 Florida physicians and more than three million patients in the effort to improve health care outcomes for all Floridians, and WHEREAS, Florida State University College of Medicine alumni in 2012 entered into practice in communities that have a significant need for more physicians, including Bonifay, Blountstown, Clermont, and Marianna, and percent of the college s graduates who practice in this state are primary care physicians, ensuring that the state has more physicians practicing in areas of practice having significant need, and WHEREAS, the college experience continues to enrich the lives of Florida State University students due to its long standing tradition of promoting racial, ethnic, and cultural diversity on campus, along with the aggressive recruitment of diverse groups of students, NOW, THEREFORE, Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of Florida: That the members of the Florida Senate recognize February 7, 2012, as  FSU Day  in Florida and celebrate Florida State University s contribution as an outstanding institution of higher education. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution, with the Seal of the Senate affixed, be presented to Florida State University President Eric J. Barron, Ph.D., as a tangible token of the sentiments of the Florida Senate.