TALLAHASSEE, Fla.— Keiser University Seahawk pride was on full display on April 19 at the Florida Capitol as faculty, staff, alumni, and friends gathered to celebrate Keiser University’s tremendous impact on Florida during Keiser University Day at the Capitol.
Members of the Keiser University community blanketed the first-floor rotunda in Seahawk blue and white and celebrated Keiser University’s role as Florida’s largest private, non-profit university, serving approximately 20,000 students, 3,800 team members, and 100,000 alumni, and its commitment to helping address Florida’s growing need for workforce talent in many of the state’s critical industries.
“We are so pleased that we had the opportunity to meet with our state leaders and thank them for their ongoing support of Keiser University,” said Arthur Keiser, Ph.D., Chancellor of Keiser University. “We’re excited to keep working with legislators to ensure Keiser University can continue its positive impact in Florida and help meet the critical workforce demands of the state and the educational needs of our students.”
During the visit, teams of Keiser University representatives met with more than two dozen members of Florida’s cabinet and legislature leaders to thank them for their support and advocate for Keiser University’s educational priorities. Highlighting the discussion was the Effective Access to Student Education (EASE) Grant, a state-funded access grant that provides tuition assistance to Florida full time, undergraduate students attending one of the 30 Independent Colleges and Universities of Florida (ICUF).
The EASE Grant is a vital tuition assistance program to more than 46,000 Florida resident students who receive it. Students who attend ICUF universities, like Keiser University, have a positive impact on Florida’s future. For every $1 million of taxpayer dollars invested in Florida’s independent colleges and universities, these institutions produce 305 degrees every year, compared to 41 degrees per $1 million invested in in Florida’s State University System.
The highlight of the event took place on the floor of the Florida Senate with Senators passing a resolution recognizing April 19, 2023, as the Inaugural “Keiser University Day” in Florida.
For nearly 50 years, Keiser University has been dedicated to the higher educational needs of its students and committed to addressing the critical workforce needs of Florida. Keiser University’s economic impact in Florida is more than $3 billion annually and the University was recently ranked No. 1 in upward social mobility by U.S. News & World Report (2023). With campuses in 21 Florida communities, Keiser University is community based with a statewide impact.
Keiser University has become one of the largest producers of nurses in the state of Florida, graduating more than 3,200 nursing professionals in the past five years. The University recently signed memorandum of understanding with the Department of Homeland Security to help produce the next generation of homeland security professionals and is the only institution in the state with a Master of Science in Nursing degree focused on the unique needs of women.
About Keiser University:
Keiser University is a private, independent, non-profit university serving nearly 20,000 students at 21 Florida campuses, online, and two international sites. Co-founded in 1977 by Chancellor Arthur Keiser, Ph.D., and Evelyn Keiser, Keiser University currently offers more than 100 degrees from associates to the doctoral level. Keiser University is a designated Hispanic-Serving Institution, a member of the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities and was ranked No. 1 in the U.S.in providing Social Mobility by U.S News and World Report in 2023.