Dear Florida State University Family,
As 2024 comes to an end, I want to thank every member of the FSU family — students, faculty, staff, alumni, parents, and friends. You are the heart of Florida State, and your dedication makes our university the remarkable place it is today.
This year, FSU reached new heights in national recognition. We were ranked No. 10 among public universities by Niche, our highest academic ranking ever, and earned the No. 1 spot for student satisfaction among public universities from The Princeton Review. These accolades reflect the excellence of our community and the incredible experiences we offer.
Our students achieved outstanding success, with a 96% retention rate and a record 76% four-year graduation rate that is among the Top 10 in the nation. We welcomed the most accomplished freshman class in our history, and we continued to invest in programs that support student success. We provided additional resources to enhance programming for first-generation students through the Center for Academic Retention and Enhancement (CARE), expanded the Presidential Scholars and Honors Programs, and offered additional advising support for all students.
We continued to expand our research enterprise by conducting groundbreaking studies, engaging in creative endeavors, and launching bold initiatives. Research expenditures surpassed a record-breaking $454 million, paving the way for world-changing discoveries and contributing to the economies of our state and nation.
We are making great progress on the FSU Health initiative we launched in 2022 with the aim of revolutionizing health care in North Florida and beyond. We broke ground on an academic health center at Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare, set to open in 2026. We are negotiating to build a 100-bed hospital at the Panama City Beach medical campus with TMH as an operating partner. With support from the Florida Legislature, we also launched the Institute for Pediatric Rare Diseases — the first of its kind in Florida — to advance research and care for children with rare conditions.
Our commitment to serving the community remains strong. FSU students volunteered more than 236,000 hours of service this year, contributing $7.5 million in value to our local nonprofits and strengthening ties with the Tallahassee community.
I was pleased to talk about these and other accomplishments and outline my goals for the future in my recent State of the University address. If you were not able to attend, you can view a webcast of the speech here.
I am so proud of everything we have achieved together this past year. Our momentum is unstoppable, and I truly believe the best is yet to come. As you celebrate the season with family and friends, please know that your contributions to Florida State University’s unprecedent success are deeply appreciated. First Lady Jai Vartikar and I wish you peace, joy, and happiness in the New Year.
Warm regards,
Richard McCullough
President, Florida State University