Florida Senate - 2026                            (NP)    SR 1788
       
       
        
       By Senator Rodriguez
       
       
       
       
       
       40-01834B-26                                          20261788__
    1                          Senate Resolution                        
    2         A resolution recognizing February 26, 2026, as “Keiser
    3         University Day” in Florida and celebrating the
    4         university’s nearly 50 years of providing quality
    5         education, serving a diverse student population, and
    6         positively impacting both this state and the global
    7         economy.
    8  
    9         WHEREAS, Keiser University, as a vital institution of
   10  higher learning, offers more than 100 doctoral, master’s,
   11  bachelor’s, and associate degree programs in many of Florida’s
   12  critical workforce sectors, including nursing, health care,
   13  defense and homeland security, information technology, and
   14  transportation and logistics, as well as highly specialized
   15  fields, such as cybersecurity, digital forensics and incident
   16  response, and artificial intelligence, and
   17         WHEREAS, Keiser University, with more than 100,000 alumni
   18  and 4,000 employees, has become one of Florida’s largest
   19  private, not-for-profit universities, annually serving
   20  approximately 20,000 students, and
   21         WHEREAS, Keiser University serves students at 21 campuses,
   22  including 18 located throughout Florida, in Tallahassee,
   23  Jacksonville, Daytona Beach, Clearwater, West Palm Beach, Fort
   24  Lauderdale, Fort Myers, Lakeland, Melbourne, Naples, Miami, New
   25  Port Richey, Orlando, Pembroke Pines, Port St. Lucie, Sarasota,
   26  and Tampa, as well as 3 international campuses, strengthening
   27  this state’s workforce development and economic growth, and
   28         WHEREAS, Keiser University ranks among the top institutions
   29  in the nation in providing upward social mobility, earning the
   30  No. 1 ranking in that category from U.S. News & World Report in
   31  2023, and
   32         WHEREAS, Keiser University is one of the largest producers
   33  of nursing professionals in this state, with more than 7,000
   34  nursing graduates in the past 8 years, and
   35         WHEREAS, 20 percent of Keiser University’s students are
   36  active-duty service members, veterans of the United States Armed
   37  Forces, or family members of service members or veterans, and
   38         WHEREAS, Keiser University, with a 28 percent Hispanic
   39  student population, is recognized as a Hispanic-serving
   40  institution and is a member of the Hispanic Association of
   41  Colleges and Universities, and
   42         WHEREAS, 67 percent of Keiser University’s graduates
   43  annually complete degrees in the science, technology,
   44  engineering, mathematics, and health care fields, and
   45         WHEREAS, 70 percent of Keiser University’s student body is
   46  female, and approximately 86 percent of Keiser students stay in
   47  Florida after graduation, and
   48         WHEREAS, Keiser University programs support nontraditional
   49  students, including parents, caregivers, veterans, first
   50  generation students, and students who work full time or part
   51  time, NOW, THEREFORE,
   52  
   53  Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of Florida:
   54  
   55         That February 26, 2026, is recognized as “Keiser University
   56  Day” in Florida and that the university’s nearly 50 years of
   57  providing quality education as a vital institution of higher
   58  education and serving a diverse student population are
   59  celebrated.
   60         BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Keiser University’s impressive
   61  growth since its humble beginnings in 1977, its Florida-based
   62  mission to meet the state’s workforce needs, and its positive
   63  economic impact on both this state and the global economy are
   64  hereby recognized, supported by the guidance of more than 1,000
   65  advisory board members with industry-specific expertise.
   66         BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Keiser University Chancellor
   67  Arthur Keiser, Ph.D.; the members of his cabinet, including
   68  Executive Vice Chancellor Peter Crocitto, Mr. Jim Waldman, Mr.
   69  Chris Valleau, Vice Chancellor Belinda Keiser, Mr. Terry Reid
   70  Paul, Dr. Sherry Olsen, Mr. Robert Cross, Dr. Robert Keiser, Mr.
   71  Carlo Amato, Mr. Charles Parker, and Mr. Andrew Lee; and the
   72  membership of the Keiser University Board of Trustees are
   73  recognized for their enduring commitment to providing students
   74  with access to a superior education.
   75         BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the members of the Keiser
   76  University faculty are recognized for their leadership in the
   77  classroom and online learning and their charitable service in
   78  this state.