Add St. Thomas University to Venture Miami Scholarship Program

AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY FORM File ID: #17286 Date: 02/25/2025 Requesting Department: Department of Economic Innovation & Development Commission Meeting Date: 03/13/2025 Sponsored By: District Impacted: All Type: Resolution Subject: Accept - St.Thomas University - Venture Miami Scholarship Purpose of Item: To include St. Thomas University as a university participant in the Venture Miami Scholarship Program. Background of Item: The City of Miami entered into an agreement with the Miami Foundation to establish the City of Miami’s Venture Miami Scholarship Program which was approved by the City Commission on July 28, 2022. The purpose of the fund is to match the gap in tuition cost for the City of Miami residents attending the respective college or university who are Pell Grant eligible. The Miami Foundation is responsible for the acceptance and management of funds. To date Miami Dade College, Florida International University, Florida Memorial University, and University of Miami are the participating institutions. At this time the University of St. Thomas would like to join as a participating university. Budget Impact Analysis Item has NOT an Expenditure Item is NOT Related to Revenue Item is NOT funded by Bonds Total Fiscal Impact: N/A Reviewed By City Manager’s Office Keith Carswell Department Head Review Completed 02/27/2025 10:09 AM Office of Management and Budget Aniska Elliott Budget Analyst Review Completed 02/27/2025 10:45 AM Office of Management and Budget Marie Gouin Budget Review Completed 02/28/2025 1:11 PM City Manager’s Office Larry M. Spring Assistance City Manager Review Completed 03/03/2025 9:46 AM City Manager’s Office Natasha Colebrook-Williams Deputy City Manager Review Completed 03/03/2025 10:00 AM City Manager’s Office Arthur Noriega V City Manager Review Completed 03/03/2025 10:20 AM Legislative Division Valentin J Alvarez Legislative Division Review Completed 03/03/2025 10:30 AM Office of the City Attorney Domini J. Gibbs ACA Review Completed 03/03/2025 9:30 PM Office of the City Attorney George K. Wysong III Approved Form and Correctness Completed 03/04/2025 4:35 PM City Commission Todd B. Hannon Meeting Pending 03/13/2025 9:00 AM City Hall 3500 Pan American Drive Miami, FL 33133 www.miamigov.com City of Miami Legislation Resolution File Number: 17286 Final Action Date: A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION AUTHORIZING THE ADDITION OF ST. THOMAS UNIVERSITY TO THE PARTICIPATING COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES IN THE CITY OF MIAMI’S VENTURE MIAMI SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM (“PROGRAM”); FURTHER AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO NEGOTIATE AND EXECUTE ANY AND ALL DOCUMENTS NECESSARY, ALL IN FORMS ACCEPTABLE TO THE CITY ATTORNEY, FOR THE PURPOSE STATED HEREIN AS IT RELATES TO THE PROGRAM. WHEREAS, the City of Miami ("City") has a deep interest in supporting residents who have an interest in technology related careers; and WHEREAS, on July 28, 2022, the City Commission adopted Resolution No. R-22-0281 thereby allocating an amount not to exceed Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($500,000.00) to the Miami Foundation (“The Foundation”), for the establishment and initial funding of the City’s Venture Miami Scholarship Program (“Program”); and WHEREAS, The Foundation has a robust scholarship fund portfolio that works to help students gain access to higher education; and WHEREAS, the Program was initially designed to be in partnership with Miami-Dade College, Florida Memorial University, The University of Miami, and Florida International University ("Initial Colleges and Universities") to collaborate with the City to afford recent City high school graduates an opportunity to pursue a science, technology, engineering, or mathematics ("STEM") degree with no tuition cost when attending either of the Initial Colleges and Universities ("Purpose"); and WHEREAS, St. Thomas University requested to be added to the list of Initial Colleges and Universities to participate in the Program; and WHEREAS, a goal of the Program remains to invest in at-need City residents that have been accepted and pursue a bachelor's degree in a defined STEM or high wage/demand occupation at either of the colleges and universities stated herein; and WHEREAS, the terms of agreement between The Foundation and the City shall remain the same as it relates to the acceptance, and management of the funds allocated to the Program pursuant to Resolution No. R-22-0281; and WHEREAS, the Initial Colleges and Universities and St. Thomas University have agreed to provide various matching contributions for the Program that align with enrollment numbers; and WHEREAS, the City Commission wishes to add St. Thomas University to the list of colleges and universities to participate in the Program and authorizes the City Manager to negotiate and execute any and all documents necessary, all in forms acceptable to the City Attorney for the purpose stated herein; and

NOW, THEREFORE,

BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA: Section 1. The recitals and findings contained in the Preamble of this Resolution are adopted by reference and incorporated herein as if fully set forth in this Section. Section 2. St. Thomas University is hereby added to the list of colleges and universities to partner with the City and The Foundation for the Program. Section 3. The City Manager is hereby authorized1 to negotiate and execute any and all documents necessary, all in forms acceptable to the City Attorney, for the purpose stated herein, as it relates to the Program. Section 4. This Resolution shall become effective immediately upon its adoption. APPROVED AS TO FORM AND CORRECTNESS: 1 The herein authorization is further subject to compliance with all legal requirements that may be imposed, including but not limited to, those prescribed by applicable City Charter and City Code provisions.