From the Assistant Vice President / OGCS Director | |
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I am pleased to share that the University has started the new year on a very positive note.
Total enrollment in the 2024 Winter Intersession is the highest in UT’s history. I want to congratulate the many faculty and staff who contributed to this success.
News of the new agreement the University has recently signed with TECO Energy has spread quickly. UT is now the preferred provider of graduate education for their employees. We hope that this partnership is the first of many UT will develop with other employers, businesses, and organizations in the Tampa area.
I continue to be impressed with the quality of students we are attracting into our graduate programs. The diverse backgrounds and experiences they bring add to our vibrant community.
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One example of the exceptional students who benefit from the “Spartan Experience” is Gillian Tiralla. I first met Gillian when she was an undergraduate here at UT. She was about to graduate and was uncertain about her future. She interviewed for a position at OGCS and eventually became the graduate admissions counselor for the Natural and Health Sciences programs.
I will frankly share that I suspected her tenure in OGCS was not going to be a long one. But the energy, enthusiasm and quality she brought to our department was not unexpected. It was in the course of recruiting for the MS in Exercise and Nutrition Science that she found her academic passion.
She enrolled in the program while continuing to work for UT. In December, she graduated with the distinction of being recognized as the program’s top student. It was personally rewarding for me to be part of the graduate hooding ceremony that recognized Gillian’s exceptional accomplishment.
I would not be surprised if, after completing her doctoral program, her journey brings her back to UT on the academic side. That would make her “Spartan Experience” complete.
Congratulations, Gillian! You make UT proud!
ART GOON
Assistant Vice President / Director of Graduate and Continuing Studies
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Record Winter Intersession Enrollment | |
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The University enrolled 748 total students in Winter Intersession 2024 compared to 592 last year. The result was a 26.3% increase. The previous record enrollment for the Winter term was in 2021 when 618 total students enrolled.
The Winter 2024 enrollments surpassed that by 21.0%, making this year’s enrollment the highest in University history.
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| Winter Enrollment | 2023 | 2024 | Change | % Change | 2021 | 2024 | Change | % Change | | Undergraduate | 453 | 589 | +136 | +30.0% | 520 | 589 | +69 | +13.3% | | Graduate | 139 | 159 | +20 | +14.4% | 98 | 159 | +61 | +62.2% | | Total | 592 | 748 | +156 | +26.3% | 618 | 748 | +130 | +21.0% | | |
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The most significant factor contributing to the record-breaking enrollment was the impact of online courses. Similar to the summer semester, UT students want to take classes during these terms to either catch up or get ahead in their studies. But they also want to be able to go home and spend time with family and friends. Online courses allow them to do both.
Enrollment in online courses increased 158% from 157 students last Winter to 405 this year. They accounted for 54.1% of the total Winter enrollment.
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| 2023 | % of Enrollment | 2024 | % of Enrollment | Change | % Change | | In Person | 210 | 35.5% | 275 | 36.8% | +65 | +31% | | Online | 157 | 26.5% | 405 | 54.1% | +248 | +158% | | Hybrid | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0 | | Other Distance Mode | 222 | 37.5% | 68 | 91.1% | -154 | -69% | | Other | 3 | 0.5% | 0 | 0% | -3 | -100% | | Total Enrollment | 592 | 100% | 748 | 100% | +156 | +26.4% | | |
New Spring 2024 Graduate Student Profiles | | |
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Chris Keiper
BA Business Management
Master of Professional Studies
Master of Business Administration
New Spring 2024 M.S. in Finance Student
Chris is a sales solution specialist and builder of relationships with stakeholders around the world, with more than 12 years’ experience as a military veteran of the U.S. Navy. He shares, “I chose the University of Tampa to pursue my M.S. in Finance because it offered the exact coursework and specialization I was looking for in a degree to advance my career and knowledge in financial services. Also, the proximity to the city of Tampa added to my decision of choosing the University of Tampa as this city continues to see growth in the business community for southwest Florida.”
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Will Neely
BS in Finance
New Spring 2024 M.S. in Accounting Student
Will has traveled the world to help children in underserved communities and has lead fundraisers for them. He has professional experience in banking. He shares, “My decision to pursue a Master of Science in Accounting at the University of Tampa was driven by several factors. First, having been born and raised in Tampa, I was already aware of UT's strong academic reputation, particularly the business school, which I would be attending. After having attended a large, state school I was also drawn to UT's smaller class sizes and more personalized approach coupled with its local business connections and partnerships. Overall, the transition has gone really well and I have received a lot of support from both the administration and professors.”
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Breon Robinson
United State Marine Corps.
BA in Political Science
New Spring 2024 M.A. in Professional Communication Student
Breon Robinson, a member of the United States Marine Corps who was formerly employed at MacDill Air Force Base, has taken a significant step forward by enrolling in the Spring 2024 MAPC Graduate Program! With aspirations of attending law school and shaping a successful career beyond his educational pursuits, Breon looks to MAPC to equip him with the necessary skills and knowledge to achieve his personal goals.
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Linedjie Lathrop
United States Marine Corps.
Bachelor of Intelligence and Cyber Studies
New Spring 2024 M.S. in Cybersecurity Student
A Haitian immigrant who arrived in the US at the age of nine, Linedjie’s journey included achieving her high school diploma, serving her country in the Armed Forces, earning a bachelor’s degree in Intelligence and Cyber Studies, and rising to the role of Senior Cybersecurity Analyst. Linedjie is committed to driving transformative change, and hopes her experiences will directly impact young African American boys and girls.
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UT2UT Benefits for MASEM Students | |
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UT Alum Returns
for Master’s Degree
A distinguished alum, Nathaniel Jae, from the 2020 UT Philosophy program is harnessing VA benefits to return and enroll in UT's Spring 2024 Master of Arts in Social and Emerging Media Program! Jae previously served a six-year term in the United States Marine Corps. With an eye toward leveraging MASEM to advance his entrepreneurial venture, Alive N Thriving, he's poised to make a significant impact.
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UT2UT Guaranteed Admission for Athletic Standout
Top Spartan Track and Field Athlete, Jake Swad, has embarked on a new journey by enrolling in UT’s Spring 2024 Master of Arts in Social and Emerging Media Program!
Swad's achievements include a memorable victory at the Annual UT Track Classic in February 2023, where he triumphed in the 4x100 Relay alongside Maurice Gentry, Joey Coulter, and Martin, clocking an impressive 43.84. Notably, Swad showcased his individual excellence with a stellar 11.02 finish in the 100-meter race, securing third place, while Martin secured fourth place overall.
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Accelerated MASEM Start
for Undergraduate Musical Star
Hope Lelekacs, a shining star at The University of Tampa, graces the Spring 2024 Master of Arts in Social and Emerging Media Program in her senior year. Perhaps you've already caught sight of her captivating performance in the Fall 2023 musical at UT. With a passion for excellence driving her forward, Lelekacs is determined to utilize her dual degrees to seize a sought-after position in the advertising industry. Keep an eye on this rising talent as she continues to shine brightly on her journey to success.
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Shannon O’Brien, Vicky Repp and Linda Sabria
UT2UT at Fall Family Weekend
The UT community indulged in tasty treats during our Pumpkin Pie and Ice Cream Social. Hosted as part of the annual 'Fall into Fall' weekend family activities, visiting families and students enjoyed complimentary ice cream and pie while discovering more about UT's graduate programs and UT2UT pathways.
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Vicky Repp and Maria Quillen
Alumni Weekend
In celebration of Alumni Weekend, OGCS participated in the "Reunion Village" at the President's Reception this past October. OGCS Graduate Admissions Counselors spoke to alumni about graduate programs and pathways that UT offers to alumni and current students. Many alumni of our graduate programs stopped by to say hello!
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OGCS Co-Sponsors M.S. Instructional Design and Technology Networking Event
Students in Instructional Design and Technology got a chance to meet with professionals in their field. Soon to be graduates of the IDT program showcased their portfolios and professionals outside of UT gave their suggestions on how to navigate this career path, this event ensures that IDT students are well equipped to be successful in the work force.
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109th Annual Convention
The National Communication Association advances Communication as the discipline that studies all forms, modes, media, and consequences of communication through humanistic, social scientific, and aesthetic inquiry.
NCA Graduate Open House was a fantastic opportunity for UT to find and interact with prospective students as well as connect with our alumni. It was attended by Communication Assistant Professor Stephen Kromka, Director of Graduate Admissions Maria Popel, and alumni Daniel Riley.
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Annual Global Conference
OGCS Graduate Admissions Counselor Maria Quillen attended the Collegiate Entrepreneurships' Organization's 40th Annual Global Conference and Pitch Competition in November.
Giles Hertz, Associate Professor, Business Law and Entrepreneurship, spoke with CEO student attendees. CEO (Collegiate Entrepreneurs’ Organization) headquarters is housed at The University of Tampa.
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TECO Energy Center for Leadership
OGCS Co-Sponsor
of
Fall 2023 Speaker
Chris Stevens
Co-founder of Keurig Premium Coffee System
Keynote speaker Chris Stevens from the University of Notre Dame, original founder of the Keurig Premium Coffee System, spoke to an audience of over 100 attendees at the recent TECO Center for Leadership Speaker Series. Co-sponsored by the Notre Dame Club of Greater Tampa Bay and the Office of Graduate and Continuing Studies, the event brought about discussion on the intersection of leadership excellence, along with his own personal experiences with innovation.
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Dear UT Friends,
We extend our heartfelt gratitude for your generous sponsorship and unwavering enthusiasm during NLC's 2023 Leadership Conference. Your invaluable contribution made this event a resounding success! The positive energy and connectedness that filled the room were palpable, and initial evaluations reveal that our community is ready to move forward “together”.
Your partnership with NLC and our entire sector is truly exceptional.
Thank you again for your partnership and ongoing support. As the year draws to a close, we extend our heartfelt wishes for a season filled with joy and good health.
With gratitude,
Jamiel Maze, MA (she/her) | Resource Development Coordinator
NONPROFIT LEADERSHIP CENTER
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2023 Annual Conference
Educational Sponsor
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Graduate Council wrapped up another busy semester with several new and exciting initiatives including the following:
Proposals endorsed by Graduate Council, approved by Academic Standards Committee, and approved by Faculty Senate:
- Amendment to Graduate Grade Forgiveness Policy
- Physician Assistant Medicine – Modifications to Dismissal and Academic Probation Criteria
Proposals endorsed by Graduate Council and approved by the Admissions Policy Committee:
- MS-Exercise and Nutrition Science – Change in Summer Admissions
- MA Social and Emerging Media – Guaranteed Admission Agreement with Gannon University
- MS Accounting - Admissions and GMAT waiver
- MS Business Analytics – Admission and GMAT Waiver
- MS Cybersecurity – Admission and GMAT Waiver
- MS Information Technology and Management – Admission and GMAT Waiver
- MS Finance – Admission and GMAT Waiver
- MS Marketing – Admission and GMAT Waiver
- English Proficiency Waiver for Graduate Admissions
Proposals endorsed by Graduate Council and submitted to the Curriculum Committee
- MS Nursing Program Modification
- Doctor of Medical Science Program Proposal
- MS Cybersecurity 4+1 Proposal
- MBA Concentration in Business Valuation Proposal
- MS Human Resources Management Proposal
- MS Marketing Program Changes
- MS Finance Program Changes
Additionally, the University is on track to develop a separate Graduate Catalog that will launch in Summer 2024. The graduate-focused edition will be a graduate-focused resource for students, faculty and staff.
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New Graduate Assistant Positions | |
The University’s Graduate Assistant program was expanded this past Fall with the addition of new positions for the:
- College of Business Graduate Programs Office
- Executive Doctor of Business Administration Program
- MS Criminology and Criminal Justice Program
- Scarfone/Hartley Gallery
Three additional new positions will be added in Fall 2024 to support the:
- MS Exercise and Nutrition Program
- University Center for Mathematics
- UX/Gaming/Emerging Media Testing Lab
Previously, Graduate Assistant positions were available to students enrolled in graduate Business program. There are now position available for student majoring in Criminal Justice, Professional Communication, Social and Emerging Media, Exercise and Nutrition Science, and Nursing. Requests and proposals for new Graduate Assistant positions can be submitted to the Office of Graduate and Continuing Studies. Deadline for submission is the end of November each year. Review of proposals are done by the Provost’s Office in conjunction with the annual budget process. New GA positions approved are implemented the following Fall semester. For more information, contact the Office of Graduate and Continuing Studies.
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UT Signs Partnership with TECO Energy | |
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The University of Tampa announced this week that it has partnered with Tampa Electric Company (TECO) to become a preferred provider of education for TECO employees pursuing a UT graduate program
Beginning in Fall 2024, TECO employees who are admitted and enrolled in a UT graduate program will be awarded a TECO Partnership Tuition Grant, receive dedicated academic advising and have access to enrollment support from UT.
Through this partnership, TECO will identify their employees who wish to pursue a UT graduate degree or certificate and connect them with a dedicated UT admissions liaison to begin the application process. Eligible TECO employees must meet all applicable admission requirements.
TECO students pursuing a graduate program will be awarded the TECO Partnership Tuition Grant for $50 per credit hour for each course they are enrolled.
The University hopes that this agreement is the first of many that will be developed with other employers and organization in the Tampa area.
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Want to learn more about our programs and events? Join one of our Spring 2024 Virtual Information Sessions. Full schedule here. | |  |
Spring Graduate Open House, April 25th at 5:30pm Skyview Room. Refreshments, tours and more. RSVP to reserve a spot. | | |
FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA | |
Stay up to date on all new initiatives, programs and events by connecting with our LinkedIn page | | | | |
