Florida State University kicked off the fall semester with the launch of a new academic unit for some of its creative and detail-oriented students – the School of Design.
As someone passionate about the world of design, 21-year-old Dallas, Texas native and FSU senior India Skipper is one of nearly 200 students in the school who are stepping into the new era with the university.
FSU’s College of Fine Arts launched the new School of Design for the 2026-27 academic year that began last month, which comes after the college's design program has been around for over 50 years. It is housed in the William Johnston Building on campus, which is located near Landis Green.
While a new bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary design was recently launched at FSU, a graduate certificate in graphic design was created last year. Although the number of students enrolled int the new undergraduate major is unclear, approximately 192 students are currently enrolled in FSU's design programs, according to a College of Fine Arts spokesperson.
Besides the latest offerings, the new school also consists of bachelor's and master's degrees in interior design. Current students in FSU's design programs are not affected by the new transition, according to the university.
While interior designing is not a profession in high demand compared to jobs in fields with shortages – such as healthcare – the employment of interior designers is projected to grow by 3% in the next few years, which is an average job growth percentage, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The median pay is about $67,000 a year.
Potential job offerings for design students include being a commercial designer in an interior design firm or architectural firm, a residential designer, a design project manager, a facilities planner, a design marketing specialist and a creative director.
In addition, FSU's decision for the new school designation comes as the university's interior design program is currently ranked No. 3 in the nation for both undergraduate and graduate education by Niche, a publication that analyzes dozens of public data sets for its college and graduate school rankings.
Florida State University is introducing a new Civics and Liberty Studies degree. The program combines constitutional law and public policy with data analysis to build citizen leaders.
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For some students, the program at FSU offers a new way to connect big ideas with real-world impact.
Maegan Smarkusky, a junior political science major at Florida State, says the program has already made an impact.
“This program has changed, the Institute for Governance and Civics has changed my career trajectory,” Smarkusky said.
“I’m thrilled to see this program at FSU. If I had this when I came in as a freshman, I would certainly be doing this major. I know there are going to be students who want to pursue constitutional law. I want to learn more about founding principles and what it means to be a citizen in the United States,” Smarkusky said.
The vote sealing the deal sent a wave of celebration throughout the FSU community, and signaled the launch of a major FSU Health advertising campaign, featuring ad slogans such as "Building healthy futures."
In a letter with an update on the city's decision, President Richard McCullough explained what the transfer means for students, faculty, researchers and the community moving forward.
"This partnership gives Florida State an extraordinary opportunity to serve our community while educating future generations of health professionals and advancing research that improves lives," McCullough wrote.
Students will have "more opportunities to learn and train in a major hospital setting." Faculty and researchers will have "new opportunities to turn discoveries into better care for patients."
"This partnership gives Florida State an extraordinary opportunity to serve our community while educating future generations of health professionals and advancing research that improves lives," McCullough wrote.
Students will have "more opportunities to learn and train in a major hospital setting." Faculty and researchers will have "new opportunities to turn discoveries into better care for patients."McCullough also provided updates on current FSU Health projects. The 140,000 square foot FSU Health Research Center on the TMH campus is facility is expected to open in late 2026, and the acute care hospital in Panama City Beach is expected to be complete in 2028.
"Together, these efforts will strengthen FSU Health, our academic health ecosystem that connects clinical care, medical education, and research," he wrote.
The smartest people around Ron DeSantis are doing math.
They’re calculating the odds of him ever becoming President of the United States. And they don’t love what they’re seeing.
So, they’re floating a different presidency: Florida State University.
It sounds far-fetched until you start talking to people who would know.
Multiple sources say senior advisers in DeSantis’ orbit have quietly gamed out the possibility of him landing at FSU as a high-profile power perch — instead of chasing a national comeback that looks, at least for now, like a steep climb.
Federal research funding has tightened nationally. Every university feels it. But schools with steady leadership and strong political footing tend to navigate federal turbulence better than institutions already fielding internal doubts.
This year, they’re nearly twice that sum apart on how much more to provide to the project.
In its budget proposal for Fiscal Year 2026-27, released Thursday, the House is recommending $91.975 million more for the planned building, which would add engineering research labs and classroom space to support enrollment growth and reduce overcrowding at the joint campus.
That’s exactly the amount Tallahassee Republican Sen. Corey Simon and Merritt Island Republican Rep. Tyler Sirois sought in matching appropriationrequests.
That $72 million funding gap is among the largest, if not the largest, appropriation differences in line items that appear in both budgets. And it suggests that while the House is eager to fund most or all the project immediately, the Senate is keener on funding it in phases.
Calls for a new building at the Tallahassee campus, dubbed “Building C,” began in 2002, but declining enrollment and project costs at the time led to it gaining little traction.
In 2017, then-Dean J. Murray Gibson again pitched the project to the Board of Governors, citing the school’s 2,550 students and expectations of further growth in the coming years.
An education grant survey for the Board of Governors that year found that, based on the college’s enrollment then, its 117,089 usable square feet met just 53% of its current student body’s needs.
More than eight years later, the school still doesn’t have the building, and its population has grown tomore than 3,700 students, following 48% and 22% increases in graduate and undergraduate enrollment, respectively, since 2021.
FSU's Board of Trustees has unanimously voted to extend Peter Collins' term as Chair for another two years. Bob Sasser also continues as Vice-Chair for the same term.
The Collins extension is significant for FSU Athletics. He has been a strong advocate for Norvell, Alford, etc.
Florida State University has retained first‑year students from fall to spring at a record 99.2% — one of the highest rates in the nation and a powerful testament to our commitment to student success and nurturing a supportive environment where students can thrive.… pic.twitter.com/tTqIPG4tPR
— FSU President Richard McCullough (@PresMcCullough) February 12, 2026
Florida State University saw a historic 99.2% first-year retention rate this spring semester with 6,400 students returning.
That translates to roughly 6,400 first-year Seminoles choosing to continue their college journey at FSU, marking a significant milestone for the Tallahassee institution.
The university's commitment to retention extends beyond first-year students. FSU also recently set another record with 97% first-year retention, meaning students who started as first-year students in fall 2025 returned for their second fall semester.
Brown emphasized that strong retention rates don't just reflect current student success. They can also lead to higher graduation rates in the future.
University leaders say these historic numbers follow deliberate investments in support programs and engagement opportunities designed to keep students connected to campus life and academic success.
Florida State University has broken its own records in graduation and retention rates, securing its role as a formidable national leader in student academic success! Read more ➡️ https://t.co/Co51vF4r69pic.twitter.com/P3zLHF8BBU
Florida State University is deepening its investment in advanced medical training and care in Northwest Florida through a new partnership between the FSU College of Medicine and the Andrews Research & Education Foundation.
The agreement, which became effective Aug. 1, brings the Orthopedic and Sports Medicine Fellowship and the Primary Care Sports Medicine Fellowship under FSU sponsorship. The fellowships are accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education.
“This partnership reflects the strong collaborations we are building that expand educational opportunity, support world-class research and improve the health of communities across our state,” said FSU President Richard McCullough. “We’re excited to team up with Andrews and continue growing FSU’s impact in Northwest Florida.”
Fellowships provide advanced, specialized training that a doctor undertakes after completing medical school and residency, giving them the skills and experience they need to manage both routine health issues and more complex cases.
“For nearly two decades, the Andrews Institute has provided unparalleled care to the residents of Northwest Florida and beyond,” said Dr. Alma Littles, dean of the College of Medicine. “At Florida State, we continually seek to partner with the best-of-the-best and we are delighted to enter this partnership with Andrews. This agreement strengthens our commitment to advancing medical education and improving community health throughout North Florida.”
The Orthopedic and Sports Medicine Fellowship will accept four fellows, while the Primary Care Sports Medicine Fellowship offers one fellowship slot. With these latest additions, the FSU College of Medicine sponsors 26 programs with more than 330 residents and fellows. It also expands the footprint and positive impact of FSU Health, a transformational initiative to improve health in North Florida by leveraging FSU’s cutting-edge research capabilities and educational programs to forge new partnerships with clinical partners like Andrews.
“This partnership unites two respected institutions with a shared mission to elevate clinical research, academic excellence and innovative patient care,” said Ashton Hayward, president, Andrews Research & Education Foundation. “By leveraging Florida-based talent, the collaboration will foster groundbreaking work in musculoskeletal science, regenerative medicine, biomechanics and surgical innovation. Together, AREF and FSU will create new opportunities for trainees, researchers and health care professionals to contribute to the growth of medical knowledge and improve outcomes for patients throughout Florida and beyond.”
According to Bill Boyer, associate dean for Graduate Medical Education and the Designated Institutional Official for all sponsored GME programs at the College of Medicine, program accreditation and sponsoring institutions are important to fellowship applicants.
“People look to see if a program is university-sponsored,” Boyer said. “They look to see if it is accredited. All of our programs have either initial accreditation or full accreditation and, of course, FSU is continually accredited. Reputation also helps and FSU’s GME programs are known as some of the best — and we fill every slot each year. This, coupled with the outstanding reputation of Andrews will attract the best talent to these programs and to Northwest Florida.”
“Up until about 10 days ago, this wasn’t even on our radar screen,” Collins said in an interview with the Tallahassee Democrat Wednesday. “The hospital we’re building in Panama City and the partnership we have with TMH is what we were focusing on.”
FSU’s Board of Trustees met virtually Wednesday morning ahead of a Florida Board of Governors approval that same day in favor of the university being issued up to $413.9 million in bonds to finance a new FSU Health hospital construction in Panama City Beach. That led hospital backers to accuse Tallahassee Mayor John Dailey and City Manager Reese Goad of meeting in secret with FSU President Richard McCullough, but the university leader told the Democrat FSU is simply looking to build on the relationship between TMH and the city. “The vision we have for FSU Health is to provide excellent and improved healthcare in this region and in Panama City Beach,” McCullough told the Democrat Wednesday. “That’s our goal, and we look forward to working together with TMH and the city with whatever they decide to do.” Days after the city’s agenda item became public, McCullough sent a letter declaring interest in seeing TMH become an Academic Medical Center, commonly referred to as a "teaching hospital," presumably under the FSU Health banner. Goad acknowledged to the Democrat that he and the mayor met with McCullough a week before the agenda item appeared and that McCullough expressed FSU's interest in ownership of the hospital. But he said similar discussions have occurred periodically over many months and only TMH's request to change its bylaws with the city triggered the agenda item. Collins dismissed accusations that FSU is launching a "hostile takeover" bid for the hospital. “Frankly, I don’t think any of us know at this point what the city really wants to do,” Collins said. “Everybody has just taken off with some wild assumptions. We don’t have any plans to take over the hospital. It’s not our asset – it's the city’s asset. If the city decides to go another route, then that’s up to them.” He added: “We have nothing to do with this – other than our partnership with TMH both on our academic health center that we’re building here and the project in Panama City – and for anybody to suggest that we’re driving this discussion or moving this forward, it’s just not true.” Governors Vice Chair Alan Levine took the opportunity Wednesday to address in part the tension between the city, TMH and FSU. That came after a discussion about FSU’s future Panama City hospital during a Facilities Committee meeting. He quoted TMH President and CEO Mark O’Bryant’s response in an interview with Tallahassee Democrat. When asked if FSU is essentially trying to emulate what the University of Florida has in many ways – regarding the UF Health Shands Hospital – through a possible ownership of TMH, O'Bryant said: "I'm not sure that's the model you want. They don't really focus as much on the local community over there because they have a different mission. Their mission is for more academic research. So if you think about the whole population, people should be concerned.” “I take great offense to that comment,” Levine said, regarding O'Bryant's response. “As a member of this board, when somebody in a position like that makes an uneducated comment about the investments we make in our academic medical centers and to mischaracterize what their mission is in those communities, I do think something strong needs to be said to respond to that,” he added. “FSU gets to decide who their partners are,” he went on, “but I would strongly encourage their partner here in Tallahassee to rethink their position on that.” Although Collins says owning TMH is not a plan of the university’s, he acknowledges it’s an interest – but only to a certain extent.
“It’s an interest for us in the sense that we have an academic medical center that we’re building out there, and it’s a partnership with the hospital, so our partner is of interest to us,” Collins said. “We’ve been working on that partnership with TMH for both of these projects for three years, and it’s worked well so far.” FSU and TMH broke ground on the medical space near it's Panama City campus in January 2023 ahead of a groundbreaking on TMH’s campus in Tallahassee later that year for a new academic health center.
More on FSU’s future Panama City hospital construction after approval
As FSU makes moves with Wednesday's approval for $413.9 million in bonds for the construction of a new hospital in Panama City Beach, the facility is part of a greater FSU Health project for a new medical campus in the area.
“It’s a big deal,” McCullough told the Democrat. “This is the largest debt issuance that we’ve ever had at FSU. Some people have to drive about half an hour or so if they need healthcare in that region, so we’re just really excited to play our part to help. Right now, we’re really focused on community healthcare.”
The university will “partner with an operator, anticipated to be TMH pending approval by the City of Tallahassee,” to lease and operate the new state-of-the-art hospital in Panama City Beach, according to an FSU release.
In addition, FSU has received approximately 16.5 acres of land donated by The St. Joe Company for the hospital, which is slated to be complete by the end of 2027 near FSU’s Panama City campus with up to 180 beds, a 20-bed emergency center and other inpatient services including surgery, cardiology procedures and imaging.
Project planning and design have not been completed but BOG documents show that the project, including design, construction, and equipment for a five-floor, 340,000 square foot facility, are projected to total $328 million.
The Panama City Beach hospital will initially open with 80 beds and four operating rooms to support orthopedic surgery, otolaryngology, gynecology, and general surgery. FSU Health in Panama City’s footprint will eventually be able to accommodate up to 600 beds.
The hospital will be built on an undeveloped 18-acre parcel of land donated by The St. Joe Co. adjacent to a new urgent care facility that Tallahassee Memorial Healthcare built called TMH Physician Partners and Urgent Care facility.
Documents show FSU intends to enter into a long-term lease and management agreement with TMH to manage day-to-day operations. TMH will make lease payments to FSU in an amount greater than or equal to the annual debt service of the bonds.
The approval comes as FSU and TMH, which have been operating under a memo of understanding, are at odds over the future of a City of Tallahassee-owned hospital and whether it should be transitioned into an academic teaching institution as part of FSU or continue to be run by TMH, which has a long term-lease with the city to manage the facility.
Offense taken
Hospital administrator and Board of Governors member Alan Levine said he normally doesn’t involve himself in local disputes but took offense at TMH CEO Mark O’Bryant’s comments to the local newspaper about the dispute.
State University System Gov. Alan Levine speaks during a Board of Governors meeting in Orlando on Thursday, June 27, 2024. (Screenshot via The Florida Channel)
O’Bryant told the Tallahassee Democrat that TMH is community-based and that its board comprises local residents. By contrast, he said, FSU is governed by an appointed board whose members are not local.
When asked whether FSU was trying to emulate the University of Florida, which operates its health care facilities in Gainesville and Jacksonville under the UF Health moniker, O’Bryant told the paper: “I’m not sure that’s the model you want. They don’t really focus as much on the local community over there because they have a different mission. Their mission is for more academic research. So if you think about the whole population, people should be concerned.”
Levine, who is chairman, president, and CEO of Ballad Health, said he “takes great offense to that comment.”
Levine told the BOG he compared charity and Medicaid care between UF Health and TMH and discovered that UF has three times as many Medicaid patients as TMH, with a 15% caseload versus 5%, respectively. Additionally, UF Health offers a financial assistance policy to provide charity care to people who earn 200% or less of the federal poverty level. TMH’s financial assistance policy is set at 150% of the FPL.
“I don’t think it’s fair. If you were to go to Jacksonville or go to Gainesville and ask people whether or not our academic medical center cares about the local community and that’s not what drives decisions they make, then you don’t know much about academic medical centers,” Levine said.
He called O’Bryant’s comments “uneducated” and said, “I do think something strong needs to be said to respond to that.”
Levine offered this unsolicited advice: “FSU gets to decide who it partners are but I would strongly encourage their partner here in Tallahassee to rethink their position on that because it’s not true.”
Beginning July 1, four physician residency programs at Ascension Sacred Heart hospitals in Northwest Florida will fall under the sponsorship of @FSUCoM.
The residency programs include internal medicine as well as obstetrics and gynecology at Ascension Sacred Heart Pensacola;… pic.twitter.com/W7i4upPCAw
— Florida State University (@FloridaState) June 4, 2025
As discussions continue about the future of health care in Tallahassee, it’s important to understand what an academic medical center (AMC) is and what it would mean for patients, physicians, and the broader medical field.
An academic medical center is a hospital that is closely partnered with a medical school at a major research university. It combines patient care, medical education, and groundbreaking research. It is a place where physicians, scientists, and educators work together to heal patients, discover new treatments, and train the next generation of health care professionals. Academic medical centers have driven some of the greatest advancements in modern medicine.
Here’s what an academic medical center would mean for Tallahassee.
Your existing health care: Doctors who want to continue to focus 100% on direct patient care would do so, with no changes. There would not be any expectation for doctors currently here to do research. The hospital would remain committed to serving the local community and provide care to individuals who are uninsured.
Outlook for health care in Tallahassee with an AMC: Patients would have access to expanded top-tier medical care without having to leave Tallahassee. Tallahassee would have more doctors and health care professionals who perform specialized care and more doctors and health care professionals who provide excellent generalized care.
In addition, an academic medical center would have doctors who conduct research to bring new, cutting-edge treatments to Tallahassee. The goal is to hire additional doctors who see patients and do research. This combined approach helps save patients’ lives. A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that patients treated at hospitals with AMCs have up to 20% higher odds of survival compared to those treated at non-AMC hospitals.
Cutting-edge treatments: Academic medical centers are known for developing new treatments and conducting clinical trials that give patients access to the latest innovations in medicine. I have personally witnessed how medical discoveries at academic medical centers have cured some cancers, transformed lives of those with genetic diseases, and greatly improved patient outcomes. Innovations in health care includes technologies such as advanced imaging, genetic therapies, artificial intelligence, and advanced diagnostics.
Economic growth: Investment in health care, medical education, and research will attract top talent, create new jobs in Tallahassee, and strengthen our local economy. AMCs provide more than 6 million jobs nationwide and contribute hundreds of billions of dollars to the U.S. economy each year.
A community partnership: TMH and FSU are both committed to having the hospital remain a community asset. While FSU is a state university, we are in Tallahassee and have always been firmly committed to the well-being of Tallahassee. To be clear, FSU is interested in creating an academic medical center with TMH to improve and advance health care in our community. There’s no state takeover and employees would not become state workers.
Florida State University is already deeply committed to advancing health care in our community. We are very proud that our faculty in the College of Medicine are doing leading research and our students have been receiving clinical education from health care professionals in this community for decades. We have residents and fellowship students in the community and many of our graduates are practicing here in Tallahassee.
Our goal is to expand these commitments and make them even better. With a $134 million investment appropriated to FSU from the State of Florida, we are constructing a health research building in Tallahassee on TMH’s campus. We are also borrowing $419 million to build a 180-bed hospital in Panama City Beach called FSU Health.
Academic medical centers save and improve lives, train future medical professionals, ensure that communities benefit from the highest standard of care, and expand resources and expertise for our community.
As this conversation moves forward, we welcome an open dialogue with local officials, health care leaders, hospital staff, and members of the community.
The opportunity is here. Together, we can make it happen.
Richard McCullough is president of Florida State University, one of the top public universities in the nation.
Excited to announce plans to build a new FSU Health hospital in Panama City Beach! This facility will support local physicians, prioritize patient experience, and enhance community health. Looking forward to a new era of health care that will benefit families and communities for… pic.twitter.com/cZhxZ8LxIP
— FSU President Richard McCullough (@PresMcCullough) March 26, 2025
With the goal of improving access and innovation in health and health care in Northwest Florida, Florida State University has announced plans to build an acute care hospital in Panama City Beach under the FSU Health name.
Pending approval by the State of Florida, the plan paves the way to construct a state-of-the-art medical facility that will serve the residents of Bay and Walton counties. Bond financing for the project, estimated to be approximately $414 million, was approved Wednesday by the Florida Board of Governors, the 17-member board responsible for the operation and coordination of the state’s 12 public universities. The 13-member FSU Board of Trustees approved the bond financing in a meeting earlier in the day.
The university will partner with an operator, anticipated to be Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare (TMH) pending approval by the City of Tallahassee, to lease and operate the new hospital. This arrangement will ensure long-term quality performance that aligns with growing community needs and innovative best practices.
“The new hospital is a testament to our unwavering commitment to providing exceptional service and quality care to the community,” FSU President Richard McCullough said. “We are creating a state-of-the-art facility that will meet the community’s needs, support local physicians, and prioritize an outstanding patient experience, enhancing the overall health and well-being of our residents.”
TMH President & CEO Mark O’Bryant underscored the importance of the partnership, stating, “This collaboration with FSU represents an exciting step forward in expanding high-quality health care services for Panama City Beach and the surrounding region. By combining our expertise and resources, we are ensuring this growing community has access to top-tier medical care, both now and in the future.”
FSU has received approximately 16.5 acres of land donated by The St. Joe Company for the hospital’s site at 1002 North Arnold Road at the intersection of Highway 79 and Philip Griffitts Senior Parkway. The new hospital will be located in the same medical district and adjacent to the new Medical Office Building which opened in July 2024.
The first phase of the hospital can accommodate up to 180 beds and will offer a broad range of health care services, including emergency medicine, general surgery, and diagnostic imaging. In addition, the agreement outlines the development of specialized service lines such as cardiac care, neurology, and orthopedics.
“Access to quality health care is essential for the well-being of all residents in Northwest Florida,” said Jorge Gonzalez, president, CEO & chairman of The St. Joe Company. “FSU Health meeting a critical need for more health care options in tandem with education and research opportunities for students is transformative for the region.”
A key component of the plan is the Academic Clinical Collaboration Agreement, which will govern future clinical research and medical education programs at the hospital. This partnership will create opportunities for FSU’s graduate medical education initiatives and improve the much-needed talent development of health care professionals in the region.
“I’m thrilled to hear that FSU, in collaboration with Tallahassee Memorial Hospital and The St. Joe Company, has announced their intention to expand access to health care in Northwest Florida with a new hospital in Panama City Beach,” said U.S. Rep. Neal Dunn, who represents Bay and 15 other counties in Florida’s 2nd Congressional District. “FSU and Tallahassee Memorial have a proven track record of improving health care outcomes across the communities they serve. This new facility represents the beginning of another outstanding chapter of collaboration between these organizations that will benefit the entire Bay County community.”
The project is the next phase in FSU’s longstanding commitment to improving health care in North Florida.
Notable milestones include the launch of FSU Health in 2022 and construction of an academic health center on the Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare campus, which is set to open in 2026.
“We are proud to be part of this region’s future, and we look forward to opening the doors to a new era of health care that will benefit families and communities for generations to come,” McCullough said.
The construction of the new Panama City Beach hospital is set to begin soon, with a targeted opening date in 2028.
Florida State University and Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare on Thursday celebrated the groundbreaking of a new academic health center that will bring together researchers and clinicians to transform health and health care in the region.
FSU President Richard McCullough, Board of Trustees Chairman Peter Collins, TMH President and CEO Mark O’Bryant, and Florida Agency for Healthcare Administration Secretary Jason Weida spoke at the building site on the TMH campus in Tallahassee.
“It’s wonderful to be here today as we mark a truly historic moment for our entire North Florida community,” McCullough said. “We’re here because of an unprecedented investment from the State of Florida to transform health care and research in this region. This facility is just the beginning as we build a legacy of health, hope and opportunity for North Florida and beyond.”
The 140,000-square foot building includes clinical research space, a family residency practice, laboratory facilities and other resources designed to bridge the gap between academic research and patient care. It will house about 30 principal investigators and is expected to attract $40 million in grant funding annually.
The frontiers of medicine — such as the use of pluripotent stem cells that adapt a patient’s own cells for treatment, new and highly effective therapies for cancer, and other innovative treatments — make the present an amazing time in health care, McCullough said.
“That’s why partnerships are so important,” he said. “It’s important for FSU because we will have the opportunity to attract some of the best doctors in the world who will develop leading therapies for patients. The opportunity to be part of that is really attractive for the ambitious physicians and researchers we hope to recruit to join us on this endeavor.”
The shared vision for the facility began taking shape in 2022, when the Florida Legislature and Gov. Ron DeSantis awarded FSU $125 million to build an academic health center. The building is scheduled to open in late 2026.
The impact of this initiative extends far beyond the walls of the center. During its construction, the project will create about 1,200 jobs, and once it’s up and running, it will sustain over 350 high-paying, permanent jobs. The projected economic impact is significant — more than $251 million annually.
The facility is part of FSU Health, a transformational initiative to improve health and health care in North Florida. By combining TMH’s patient care with FSU’s medical and health education programs and cutting-edge research capabilities, FSU and TMH will further their longstanding goal of expanding health care in the region.
Other projects are underway, including the construction of the FSU Health-Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare Medical Campus in Panama City Beach that will bring together clinicians, researchers and students to meet the increasing need for medical care in the fast-growing Florida Panhandle. FSU has also increased opportunities for students through its College of Medicine, opened a physician assistant training program and recently welcomed its first class for a new doctoral program at the College of Nursing.
As Florida State University still basks in the glow of a successful legislative session, its Board of Trustees recently approved a $219 million state budget request — one with a STEM focus — for the 2025-26 fiscal year.
While the request includes five main initiatives with $96 million in new money, one of them is an ask for $56 million for the modernization of Tallahassee’s National High Magnetic Field Laboratory that is headquartered at FSU.
FSU trustees also recently approved the university’s largest operating budget in history, which is $3 billion for 2024-2025.
Besides the state budget money being requested for the National MagLab — which is billed as the largest and highest-powered magnet lab in the world — FSU’s wish list for next year’s session shows millions of dollars being requested for a new Translational Aging Research Hub as well as FSU Health and research operations.
The budget also includes recurring funding requests for the joint FAMU-FSU College of Engineering and for growth of FSU’s national prominence, where $65 million is being requested compared to $50 million that was requested for this current fiscal year.
“This will be a lot of work, and we appreciate any chance that any of you as trustees will get to talk to our representatives to support our vision,” FSU President Richard McCullough told the board Monday. “Our time is now.”
When it comes to the MagLab, the facility is Florida’s only national laboratory. It is also home to 17 world-record magnet systems and it hosts nearly 2,000 users every year who conduct ground-breaking research.
This year, the state budget included $25 million of Public Education Capital Outlay (PECO) funds that went toward the MagLab.
“I think we've done a really good job over the last two or three years of educating a lot of the senior leadership in the legislature, but there's still a lot of legislators that really don't understand the impact of Florida having a national lab, the prestige it brings and the researchers it brings to Florida and to Florida State,” Collins said. “We're definitely going to have to do some more educating, but I feel really good about this request.”
A little over $5 million dollars of recurring funds is being requested for the 2025-26 fiscal year while $51 million would come from non-recurring funds for modernization tasks — including facility upgrades to maintain world-record magnet systems and the construction of a new Magnet Fabrication building to expand capacity for new magnet creation.
FSU’s $35.5 million request for a Translational Aging Research Hub is in efforts of positioning Florida to be the national leader in healthy aging research, care delivery and digital health solutions.
Investments include creating a center for excellence focused on healthy aging and digital health, creating a statewide informatics and data science infrastructure to support interdisciplinary public health research, and creating training programs and information networks for caregivers and health services providers around healthy aging, according to a report of the legislative budget request.
While $7 million of the request would be recurring funds, $28.5 million would come from non-recurring funds.
Here’s a list of the remaining top items from FSU’s wish list in the legislative budget request for the 2025-26 fiscal year:
Bolstering FSU Health and research operations: $50 million ($33.5 million in recurring funds, $16.5 million in non-recurring funds to start up new faculty research labs, develop a shared public health research data hub and make laboratory upgrades).
Growing FSU’s national prominence: $65 million (all in recurring funds to hire prominent research faculty, build on nation-leading student success, improve student success for transfers, reducing the student-to-faculty ratio, recruit and retain top talent and invest in new research faculty).
Fueling research and student success in the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering: $13.14 million (all in recurring funds to attract and retain top faculty, hire motivated and skilled staff and provide adequate student financial support).
The first phase of the hospital can accommodate up to 180 beds and will offer a broad range of health care services, including emergency medicine, general surgery, and diagnostic imaging. In addition, the agreement outlines the development of specialized service lines such as cardiac care, neurology, and orthopedics.