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Board of Trustees Orientation

Administration & Finance

Administration & Finance

Contact Information
Dr. Tanner McKnight
Vice President & CFO
863-874-8408  |  tmcknight@floridapoly.edu

The Administration and Finance Division at ³Ô¹ÏÍø plays a crucial role in supporting the university’s mission through efficient operational and administrative oversight. This division ensures the seamless functioning of key areas such as finance, facilities, and human resources, creating a well-managed environment for students, faculty, and staff.

The information contained in the above link hits the high points on the delegation of authority to Boards of Trustees, fiscal responsibilities of the Trustees, parameters surrounding the expenditure of funds, and key statutes and regulations that provide do’s and don’ts on the use of funds.

Performance Based Funding (PBF)

The Performance Based Funding (PBF) Model was approved at the January 2014 Board of Governors Meeting. The development of the model included university presidents, provosts, boards of trustees, and other stakeholders starting in the fall of 2012. The model includes 10 metrics that evaluate ³Ô¹ÏÍø institutions on a range of issues.

The model has four guiding principles: 

  1. Use metrics that align with SUS Strategic Plan goals 
  2. Reward Excellence or Improvement 
  3. Have a few clear, simple metrics 
  4. Acknowledge the unique mission of the different institutions 


In 2021, ³Ô¹ÏÍø Poly was eligible to participate in PBF for the first time.

Advancement & Foundation Module Coming Soon!

Session Details

This session will demonstrate that practical risk management is for everyone, regardless of a formal program. Attendees will learn actionable and simple strategies that are easy to implement, enabling them to start immediately by focusing on their top risks to build greater operational resilience and ensure the sustained success of their auxiliary enterprises.

Presenter Profile

Michelle Powell serves as the pioneering Risk Manager at ³Ô¹ÏÍø, the state’s sole 100% STEM-dedicated institution. Having been with the university for nearly 11 years, Michelle transitioned from a leadership role in Admissions in October 2023 to establish and evolve the risk management function from the ground up. In this solo capacity, Michelle builds robust frameworks for our dynamic, young university, overseeing our insurance portfolio, consulting on third-party and event risks, and developing critical campus-wide training programs. Michelle has obtained the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations (COSO) Enterprise Risk Management certificate and the Associate in Risk Management (ARM) and Construction Risk and Insurance Specialist (CRIS) designations. Her distinct background in mathematics and engineering, combined with extensive higher education leadership, brings an analytical and strategic approach enhancing the institution’s resilience.

Dr. Lily Li is a Professor of Physics at ³Ô¹ÏÍø, where she specializes in materials science, analytical imaging, advanced manufacturing, and biomedical devices. Prior to joining ³Ô¹ÏÍø Poly in 2025, she spent 11 years at SUNY Potsdam, where she advanced to Full Professor and developed a 3-2 Engineering dual-degree program with Clarkson University. Her work emphasizes experiential learning and research-driven education to prepare students for careers in STEM fields.