High Impact

American Dream University

USF President Judy Genshaft had plenty of accomplishments to talk about in her annual Fall Address in September. Speaking at the Marshall Student Center, President Genshaft announced that for the first time, USF surpassed the $400 million mark for research earnings, with more than $411 million in total research awards and contracts for the 2011-2012 academic year.

And that was just the beginning.

President Genshaft also announced a new partnership between USF Health and Lakeland Regional Medical Center that will create up to 250 new residency positions. And she said that USF was one of seven universities to receive a $1 million federal grant to support new web and mobile ventures. The grant could mean new companies and hundreds of new jobs in the Tampa Bay region.

The university's dramatic ascent in national and global rankings over the last year was a focus as well. USF ranked in the top 50 for research expenditures among all universities; 10th among universities worldwide for earning U.S. patents; fourth among the nation's friendliest universities for veterans; and 12th among the nation's coolest (greenest) schools.

During the address, President Genshaft referred to USF as the "American Dream University" — a place that is a microcosm of America and a place that can change lives.

The president spoke about the university's new, five-year strategic plan and affirmed USF's commitment to global research, public-private partnerships and its primary strategic initiative — to ensure success for the more than 47,000 students who call USF home.

She said USF is closing in on the record goal of its $600 million fundraising campaign.

"Years ago,"" she said, "we realized that every time someone said the University of South Florida System couldn't do something, we did it. That's why we earned the reputation of being unstoppable, and why I continue to believe this university system is unstoppable."