SESSION WATCH
THE BILL ITSELF

SR 1788

Keiser University Day

VERSION S 1788 Filed · BACK TO THE SUMMARY · OFFICIAL RECORD

underlined language is being added; struck language is being deleted. Line numbers are the Legislature's own — the same ones amendments cite.

Florida Senate - 2026 (NP) SR 1788 By Senator Rodriguez 40-01834B-26 20261788__
1 Senate Resolution
2 A resolution recognizing February 26, 2026, as “Keiser
3 University Day” in Florida and celebrating the
4 university’s nearly 50 years of providing quality
5 education, serving a diverse student population, and
6 positively impacting both this state and the global
7 economy.
9 WHEREAS, Keiser University, as a vital institution of
10 higher learning, offers more than 100 doctoral, master’s,
11 bachelor’s, and associate degree programs in many of Florida’s
12 critical workforce sectors, including nursing, health care,
13 defense and homeland security, information technology, and
14 transportation and logistics, as well as highly specialized
15 fields, such as cybersecurity, digital forensics and incident
16 response, and artificial intelligence, and
17 WHEREAS, Keiser University, with more than 100,000 alumni
18 and 4,000 employees, has become one of Florida’s largest
19 private, not-for-profit universities, annually serving
20 approximately 20,000 students, and
21 WHEREAS, Keiser University serves students at 21 campuses,
22 including 18 located throughout Florida, in Tallahassee,
23 Jacksonville, Daytona Beach, Clearwater, West Palm Beach, Fort
24 Lauderdale, Fort Myers, Lakeland, Melbourne, Naples, Miami, New
25 Port Richey, Orlando, Pembroke Pines, Port St. Lucie, Sarasota,
26 and Tampa, as well as 3 international campuses, strengthening
27 this state’s workforce development and economic growth, and
28 WHEREAS, Keiser University ranks among the top institutions
29 in the nation in providing upward social mobility, earning the
30 No. 1 ranking in that category from U.S. News & World Report in
31 2023, and
32 WHEREAS, Keiser University is one of the largest producers
33 of nursing professionals in this state, with more than 7,000
34 nursing graduates in the past 8 years, and
35 WHEREAS, 20 percent of Keiser University’s students are
36 active-duty service members, veterans of the United States Armed
37 Forces, or family members of service members or veterans, and
38 WHEREAS, Keiser University, with a 28 percent Hispanic
39 student population, is recognized as a Hispanic-serving
40 institution and is a member of the Hispanic Association of
41 Colleges and Universities, and
42 WHEREAS, 67 percent of Keiser University’s graduates
43 annually complete degrees in the science, technology,
44 engineering, mathematics, and health care fields, and
45 WHEREAS, 70 percent of Keiser University’s student body is
46 female, and approximately 86 percent of Keiser students stay in
47 Florida after graduation, and
48 WHEREAS, Keiser University programs support nontraditional
49 students, including parents, caregivers, veterans, first
50 generation students, and students who work full time or part
51 time, NOW, THEREFORE,
53 Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of Florida:
55 That February 26, 2026, is recognized as “Keiser University
56 Day” in Florida and that the university’s nearly 50 years of
57 providing quality education as a vital institution of higher
58 education and serving a diverse student population are
59 celebrated.
60 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Keiser University’s impressive
61 growth since its humble beginnings in 1977, its Florida-based
62 mission to meet the state’s workforce needs, and its positive
63 economic impact on both this state and the global economy are
64 hereby recognized, supported by the guidance of more than 1,000
65 advisory board members with industry-specific expertise.
66 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Keiser University Chancellor
67 Arthur Keiser, Ph.D.; the members of his cabinet, including
68 Executive Vice Chancellor Peter Crocitto, Mr. Jim Waldman, Mr.
69 Chris Valleau, Vice Chancellor Belinda Keiser, Mr. Terry Reid
70 Paul, Dr. Sherry Olsen, Mr. Robert Cross, Dr. Robert Keiser, Mr.
71 Carlo Amato, Mr. Charles Parker, and Mr. Andrew Lee; and the
72 membership of the Keiser University Board of Trustees are
73 recognized for their enduring commitment to providing students
74 with access to a superior education.
75 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the members of the Keiser
76 University faculty are recognized for their leadership in the
77 classroom and online learning and their charitable service in
78 this state.