Media Relations
University of South Florida
Lakeland
3433 Winter Lake Road
Lakeland, FL 33803
(863) 667-7077
Fax (863) 667-7097
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Contact:
Samantha Lane
(863) 667-7017
LAKELAND, FL (November 17, 2004) – The University of South Florida's
presence in Polk, Highlands and Hardee counties grows stronger with
the help of generous contributions from a company with headquarters
in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Williams Acquisition Holding Company, a subsidiary of the Williams
Companies, Inc., plans to donate 530 acres of land at the eastern
intersection of Interstate 4 and the Polk Parkway for the future
home of USF Lakeland's new primary regional campus. Williams Acquisition
also plans to contribute funds to establish the Williams Endowed
Professorship in Information Technology, the first endowed professorship
for the Lakeland campus.
"The donation of land and the endowment of a professorship for USF
Lakeland reaffirms our company's commitment to Florida and to higher
education," said George Shahadi, vice president of corporate real
estate at Williams Acquisition. "We are very proud to be involved
in the creation of a new campus for USF Lakeland."
USF Lakeland currently shares a campus with Polk Community College
in Lakeland offering degree programs, certificate programs and research
opportunities at the junior, senior and graduate levels to nearly
2,600 students. In its effort to extend educational opportunities
to central Florida communities, USF Lakeland also offers classes
at several off-campus locations, including South Florida Community
College, Hillsborough Community College, Citrus County, Bartow,
Lake Wales, Lakeland Regional Medical Center and local high schools.
To better accommodate the growing population of its service area,
USF Lakeland is embarking on an expansion program ensuring its ability
to grow with the community. The university plans to begin development
of its new campus by initially building a 100,000-square foot facility
on the donated property which would become USF Lakeland's primary
campus.
"As a regional resource, the university is committed to providing
educational opportunities that contribute to the cultural and economic
development of the region," said Preston Mercer, vice president
and CEO of the Lakeland campus. "We will continue to strive to advance
the public good through collaboration with government, social and
cultural agencies, businesses and industries within the region."
USF Lakeland anticipates doubling enrollment in three years and
further projects the student body to top 15,000 in 20 years. The
addition of this campus allows for future expansion, more academic
programs and better integration within the community. The university
plans to break ground by 2008 with a grand opening scheduled for
2010.
Agreements for the land donation and the endowed professorship will
be signed Monday, Nov. 22, at 4 p.m. at USF Lakeland's current home
on the Polk Community College Campus, 3433 Winter Lake Road, Lakeland.
The public is invited to this event and should call (863) 667-7017
for details.
Aerial
view of land donated for USF Lakeland's new primary campus
(4.5MB PDF)
Williams
Acquisition Signing Ceremony Nov. 22, 2004 (video)
Pictures of Signing Ceremony
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