USF Poly reorganization to save $1 million

In a move designed to reprioritize and remain focused on the benchmarks for independence outlined by the Board of Governors, the University of South Florida Polytechnic yesterday announced strategic changes that will increase efficiency and save approximately $1 million.

“The USF Board of Trustees has identified fiscal responsibility as an important task with which I am charged,” said Interim Regional Chancellor David Touchton Touchton. “In the last several weeks, I have spent much of my time meeting with key staff to analyze our institutional priorities and look for ways to increase efficiency.

The international initiatives for France, Asia and Central and Latin America have been discontinued. The following positions have been eliminated: Director of Extended University/Global Partnerships Asia; Director of Global Partnerships France/Soft Landing Program/Co-Director Florida France Linkage Institute; and the Senior Grant Specialist which focused on international recruitment in Central and Latin America.

“These are great initiatives and may become a priority once the campus reaches a stage of maturity where these efforts can be supported,” said Touchton.

The Director of Strategy and Innovation position has been eliminated and development efforts have been consolidated and moved into the department of Government Affairs & Community Relations. The position of Senior Advisor to the Regional Chancellor has also been eliminated.

“These changes were strategic and done with a great deal of thought and consideration. I believe this will contribute to our being better fiduciaries of state funds and will go a long way in making us a leaner institution as we focus our energy and resources on accreditation as a STEM institution.”