Office of the President

Hello, Panthers!

I want to highlight for you a critical program that is helping our students reach their maximum potential.

Why? Because I’d like for everyone to familiarize themselves with our Quality Enhancement Plan. The QEP reflects Florida Tech’s continuous improvement efforts and is part of SACSCOC accreditation.

Titled “Steps to Success Through Transformative Advising,” our QEP follows best practices in student success by shifting the undergraduate advising model from faculty advisors to professional staff advisors.

The QEP formally launched in Fall 2024, and we have seen many advantages the change in advising models has spurred. Among them:

• Professional staff advisors can offer more consistent and dedicated time to students, while faculty advisors need to balance teaching, research, and service commitments.
• Professional staff advisors will get specialized training in advising and academic coaching that faculty advisors may not.
• Having the consistent presence of a single advisor throughout a student’s academic career can help build stronger relationships and provide better continuity of care, leading to more successful academic outcomes.

We’re hiring and training additional professional staff advisors to bolster this program and enhancing the functionality of HUB and Canvas to give all advisors access to more data to better advise students.

We are also expanding Florida Tech’s early alert system to sooner identify students who may be struggling.

And look for the development of a new, dedicated Student Advising Center coming to Evans Library in Fall 2025!

The “Steps to Success” QEP will help ensure our students have the tools they need to realize their educational aspirations. It’s a great “step” into a fantastic future!

We’ll talk again soon. Until then, go Panthers!

Sincerely,

John Nicklow, Ph.D.
President

Hello, Panthers!

I took a little field trip for this month’s note to Vertex, our reimagined facility in Palm Bay. This new applied innovation hub, which houses CAMID and so much more, will bring together industry, higher education, local and state governments, investors, community members and others to fuel transformative partnerships.

Vertex will connect them with applied engineering technologies, customized workforce development programs and the unmatched talents and expertise of the Florida Tech community.

Vertex was launched after months of engagement with founders, CEOs, business leaders and innovation experts—including several alumni. Mark your calendar for a Vertex Showcase event on Friday, March 28^th, with more information to come!

On another topic, have you made note of the university’s Quality Enhancement Plan? The QEP is a key part of the university’s continuous improvement efforts and one of the SACSCOC accreditation standards.

Our 2025 QEP, “Steps to Success,” focuses on a strategic shift from undergraduate faculty advisors to a team of dedicated professional staff advisors. Improved outcomes for our students are the primary goal. I encourage you to familiarize yourself with this important effort!

And lastly, 37 Hours of Giving is almost here! Set your alarms for Friday, March 7^th and Saturday, March 8^th to join with our global Panther family to come together to support scholarships, athletics and other key university initiatives that positively impact the lives of Florida Tech students. I want you to know personally that your help makes all the difference for this campus!

We’ll talk again soon. Until then…Go Panthers!

Sincerely,

John Nicklow, Ph.D.
President

Hello, Panthers!

Spring semester is here, and your university is ready for a terrific 2025. There’s so much in store!

We’re working diligently on the university strategic plan, “Forward Together, Boundless Potential.” It’s giving us great insight into important analytics as we plan for the future.

Also, we’ll be asking for your input on a campus climate survey to better understand your perspectives on what’s working well and what isn’t. We want to know where we’re excelling and where we have more continuous improvement work to do.

We are excited that our Master Plan development wraps up this semester, a process that will provide us with a vital blueprint to help us all picture what the Florida Tech facilities of tomorrow will look like.

And later this Spring, we’ll break ground on our new six-story, 556-bed housing complex. This state-of-the-art effort will enable us to better serve our students and modernize our infrastructure. Keep listening for details!

Meanwhile, our core work—educating students with excellence and conducting groundbreaking research—also continues with energy and enthusiasm thanks to our hardworking and talented students, faculty and staff.

Stacy and I look forward to seeing you around campus, along with the newest member of the Nicklow family, Daisy. She’ll be eager to say hello, as well—if we can get her to take a break from chasing Pete!

Let’s talk again soon. Until then, Go Panthers!

Sincerely,

John Nicklow, Ph.D.
President

Dear Panther Family,

With so many exciting things going on at Florida Tech this year—welcoming the largest class of first-time college students in our history; increased engagement, visibility, and rankings; the arrival of eight new Piper airplanes for our Aviation program; the unveiling of our new Athletics logo and mascot, and much more—it is no wonder that campus is abuzz with pride, energy, and Panther spirit!

The face of this renewed vitality is our updated Pete the Panther mascot. He’s a modern and fierce symbol of the hard work, strength, and determination found in every Florida Tech student and in each of you. Pete’s spirit is alive in the steadfast dedication of our faculty and staff, in the enduring loyalty of our alumni, and in the vigorous support of our community partners and friends.

We are truly inspired by your Panther spirit, and we are deeply grateful for all the ways you help make Florida Tech better, each and every day.

May the joyful spirit of the holidays—and Pete the Panther—remain in your hearts throughout 2025!

Best wishes, 

President John and Dr. Stacy Nicklow