University of South Florida once again has come to the forefront for their increasing innovative approach to bring research to the market place with high numbers of patents.  There have been 133 agreements of which 105 patents were granted in this past fiscal year and attests to the institutions dedication to commercializing research.  That’s a 12% increase from the year before.

USF has been in the top 10 nationally among public universities in generating new inventions for the past six years, according to rankings by the Intellectual Property Owners Association and the National Academy of Inventors.

According to Tampa Bay Times, Jerome R. Stockfisch, nine new startup companies sprang from USF in the fiscal year, including those repurposing waste to create sustainable sources of nutrients, energy and water and a guided particle system technology for the defense/aerospace, medical, consumer electronics and automotive industries. It’s a strong program and will add educational value to the C-4 concept that has been developed in the past year.

USF Sarasota-Manatee along with New College of Florida, Ringling College of Art & Design, and State College of Florida have formed the Consortium of Colleges on the Creative Coast, C-4.  The alliance will allow the four Sarasota and Manatee colleges’ nearly 20,000 students to take courses at any of the group’s institutions for credits that will count at their home campus.  The north corridor of Tamiami Trail in Sarasota, Florida has become an Education Destination and will allow the 4 institutions to collaborate on issues such as housing and campus development.

In the future there are plans to allow cross-registration which will enable a student to take courses at another school to enhance or develop a degree in their home school without the cost of registration to another school. Pre-requisites are required to take upper level courses at other institutions, and placement is only available if there is room in a class.

Shelby Webb, of the Herald tribune quotes Larry Thompson, Ringling School of Arts and Design President, “Students at Ringling could go to USFSM or New College to take foreign language courses, which are not taught at the arts school, among other subjects.”

This is not a new concept.  The linking together of educational institutions to create well-rounded educational opportunity is done mostly in the northeast and with private schools.  This is an approach that will put Sarasota-Manatee as an Education Destination.