S 1788

Florida Senate - 2026  (NP)    SR 1788
By Senator Rodriguez
40-01834B-26  20261788__
1Senate Resolution
2A resolution recognizing February 26, 2026, as “Keiser
3University Day” in Florida and celebrating the
4university’s nearly 50 years of providing quality
5education, serving a diverse student population, and
6positively impacting both this state and the global
7economy.
8
9WHEREAS, Keiser University, as a vital institution of
10higher learning, offers more than 100 doctoral, master’s,
11bachelor’s, and associate degree programs in many of Florida’s
12critical workforce sectors, including nursing, health care,
13defense and homeland security, information technology, and
14transportation and logistics, as well as highly specialized
15fields, such as cybersecurity, digital forensics and incident
16response, and artificial intelligence, and
17WHEREAS, Keiser University, with more than 100,000 alumni
18and 4,000 employees, has become one of Florida’s largest
19private, not-for-profit universities, annually serving
20approximately 20,000 students, and
21WHEREAS, Keiser University serves students at 21 campuses,
22including 18 located throughout Florida, in Tallahassee,
23Jacksonville, Daytona Beach, Clearwater, West Palm Beach, Fort
24Lauderdale, Fort Myers, Lakeland, Melbourne, Naples, Miami, New
25Port Richey, Orlando, Pembroke Pines, Port St. Lucie, Sarasota,
26and Tampa, as well as 3 international campuses, strengthening
27this state’s workforce development and economic growth, and
28WHEREAS, Keiser University ranks among the top institutions
29in the nation in providing upward social mobility, earning the
30No. 1 ranking in that category from U.S. News & World Report in
312023, and
32WHEREAS, Keiser University is one of the largest producers
33of nursing professionals in this state, with more than 7,000
34nursing graduates in the past 8 years, and
35WHEREAS, 20 percent of Keiser University’s students are
36active-duty service members, veterans of the United States Armed
37Forces, or family members of service members or veterans, and
38WHEREAS, Keiser University, with a 28 percent Hispanic
39student population, is recognized as a Hispanic-serving
40institution and is a member of the Hispanic Association of
41Colleges and Universities, and
42WHEREAS, 67 percent of Keiser University’s graduates
43annually complete degrees in the science, technology,
44engineering, mathematics, and health care fields, and
45WHEREAS, 70 percent of Keiser University’s student body is
46female, and approximately 86 percent of Keiser students stay in
47Florida after graduation, and
48WHEREAS, Keiser University programs support nontraditional
49students, including parents, caregivers, veterans, first
50generation students, and students who work full time or part
51time, NOW, THEREFORE,
52
53Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of Florida:
54
55That February 26, 2026, is recognized as “Keiser University
56Day” in Florida and that the university’s nearly 50 years of
57providing quality education as a vital institution of higher
58education and serving a diverse student population are
59celebrated.
60BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Keiser University’s impressive
61growth since its humble beginnings in 1977, its Florida-based
62mission to meet the state’s workforce needs, and its positive
63economic impact on both this state and the global economy are
64hereby recognized, supported by the guidance of more than 1,000
65advisory board members with industry-specific expertise.
66BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Keiser University Chancellor
67Arthur Keiser, Ph.D.; the members of his cabinet, including
68Executive Vice Chancellor Peter Crocitto, Mr. Jim Waldman, Mr.
69Chris Valleau, Vice Chancellor Belinda Keiser, Mr. Terry Reid
70Paul, Dr. Sherry Olsen, Mr. Robert Cross, Dr. Robert Keiser, Mr.
71Carlo Amato, Mr. Charles Parker, and Mr. Andrew Lee; and the
72membership of the Keiser University Board of Trustees are
73recognized for their enduring commitment to providing students
74with access to a superior education.
75BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the members of the Keiser
76University faculty are recognized for their leadership in the
77classroom and online learning and their charitable service in
78this state.