FAU Rockets to Top of BOG Performance Funding Model

FAU today was ranked as the top-performing public university in the state by The Florida Board of Governors (BOG), which oversees the State University System.

Florida Atlantic University today was ranked as the top-performing public university in the state by The Florida Board of Governors (BOG), which oversees the State University System.

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Florida Atlantic University today was ranked as the top-performing public university in the state by The Florida Board of Governors (BOG), which oversees the State University System.

This No. 1 ranking is based on the BOG’s performance-based funding model for the 2016-17 academic year. With 84 out of a possible 100 points earned, FAU tied with the University of Central Florida for first place among the 11 state universities that receive performance-based funding.

Rank	University	Points/100
1	FAU	84
1	UCF	84
3	UF	82
4	USF	79
5	FIU	76
6	FSU	68
7	FGCU	67
8	FAMU	65
9	NCF	59
10	UWF	57
11	UNF	56

FAU has consistently improved in the rankings since the performance model was introduced just three years ago, ranking sixth for 2015-16 and ranking second from the bottom the first year the list was released, which at that time put the University at risk of losing all performance funding.

 “Today is a great day for Florida Atlantic University," said FAU President John Kelly. “This is a wonderful achievement and everyone associated with FAU should be very proud of all we’ve accomplished in the last two years.

"We will continue to hire stellar faculty and do everything possible to help our students succeed and receive a world-class education.”

The BOG performance-based funding model rewards universities based on their performance on 10 metrics designed to acknowledge the unique mission of each university and establish a minimum acceptable level of performance on issues such as graduation and retention rates.

The model was introduced by the BOG in early 2014 as a way to ensure Florida’s universities have “credibility” with elected officials in the state. It rewards universities for both excellence and improvement.

“Our ascent in the rankings is a result of our goal to become America’s fastest-improving university,” Kelly said.

FAU has improved thanks, in part, to the implementation of its strategic plan and student success initiatives, said FAU Provost Gary Perry. The plan provides a roadmap to the future, incorporating measures that include increased admission requirements for students, recruitment of stellar faculty and collaboration with world-renowned business and research partners to build an academic and research-based infrastructure that will attract the best and brightest students to South Florida.

“The faculty and staff have come together with a laser focus to implement our new strategic plan, which ensures that all of our students have the opportunity to graduate in a timely and cost-effective manner,” said Perry.

Over the next decade, FAU aims to position itself as a globalized, forward-thinking institution that caters to high-ability students.

FAU’s highlights include:

• This year, FAU ranked first in the state in percent of bachelor’s graduates employed full-time or continuing their education one year from graduation.
• Over the last two years, FAU’s six-year graduation rate increased by 8 percent.
• FAU increased its academic progress rate by 6 percent.
• FAU consistently ranks in the top two for median average full-time wages of undergraduates employed in Florida one year after graduation.

“FAU has demonstrated remarkable gains in only two years, which is a testament to the power and effectiveness of performance funding,” said Board of Governors’ Chair Tom Kuntz. “This is a win for the State University System, for President Kelly and his faculty and staff, and most of all, for the students.”

Funds will be allocated in fiscal year 2016-17, which begins on July 1.

-FAU-

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