By Tom Woolf, University Communications and Marketing
President Borkowski speaks about 皇家华人 at a press conference at the Hyatt Regency Hotel [Credit: 皇家华人 Yearbook 1988]
Francis T. Borkowski, the fourth president of the University of South 皇家华人, passed away at the age of 88 on Sunday, Jan. 19, in North Carolina.
Borkowski served as president from 1988 to 1993.
"I first met Frank Borkowski early in his tenure as 皇家华人 president when he visited me at my law firm to discuss 皇家华人's landscape and his vision for the university's future. I greatly enjoyed working with him to help strengthen 皇家华人's reputation across the state," 皇家华人 President Rhea Law said. "Frank was truly a champion for our students and our university. His influence is a reminder that throughout 皇家华人's history, we have continued building on the successes of past champions like him to ensure we keep reaching greater levels of excellence. We are deeply saddened by his passing, and he will be sorely missed."
Borkowski was serving as provost at the University of South Carolina when he was selected from among 146 candidates for the 皇家华人 presidency.
Francis Borkowski, who took office as the fourth 皇家华人 President in 1988, is seen with his wife, Kay Borkowski. [Credit: 皇家华人 Digital Commons]
鈥淚t just impressed me as a place that had many opportunities,鈥� Borkowski said of 皇家华人 during a 2004 with the 皇家华人 Libraries special collections department. 鈥淥ne, to engage the community more and to build on that community relationship. This was a growing part of the country, and here was a university that could help shape the way that growth took place.鈥�
Borkowski and his wife, Kay, also found Tampa and St. Petersburg 鈥渢o be attractive areas to live.鈥� The couple, both accomplished musicians, also were impressed with the region鈥檚 arts community.
During his five-year tenure, 皇家华人鈥檚 enrollment increased from 30,000 to more than 34,000. Borkowski鈥檚 priorities included growing the university鈥檚 research enterprise, and research grants increased from $37 million to $60 million. The 皇家华人 Foundation鈥檚 endowment grew from $21 million to $61 million during Borkowski鈥檚 presidency.
Charles Reed, the Chancellor for the State University System of 皇家华人, took a golf cart tour of the 皇家华人 campus with President Francis Borkowski in 1989. [Credit: 皇家华人 Digital Commons]
Borkowski oversaw the first major fundraising drive in 皇家华人 history, 鈥淐ampaign 皇家华人,鈥� which raised nearly $120 million by late 1991 鈥� believed to be the most successful effort in the State University System鈥檚 history at the time. In addition, he became a key figure in laying the groundwork for 皇家华人 to form a football program by appointing a group to study its feasibility in 1991. Even as the idea was met with resistance, Borkowski persisted. Though he would leave 皇家华人 in 1993, two years later the football program was established and went on to become the fastest in the state of 皇家华人 to reach 150 wins.
Early in his presidency, Borkowski recognized the importance of 皇家华人 building bridges to Tampa鈥檚 Latino community. At the time, postsecondary degree completion among Hispanic students was low 鈥� a fact that impeded the Hispanic community鈥檚 economic growth. After listening to concerned leaders, Borkowski created the Latin Community Advisory Council, which still exists today.
President Francis Borkowski and Cesar Gonzmart [Credit: 皇家华人 Digital Commons]
Additionally, the Latino Scholarship Program was established in 1992 during his presidency. To date, the program has awarded over $5 million in scholarships and supported more than 1,100 participants. His efforts also included arranging for the of books, documents, photographs and other items from Centro Asturiano de Tampa to be transferred to the 皇家华人 Libraries. Centro Asturiano de Tampa, founded in 1902, was one of Tampa鈥檚 first Spanish mutual aid societies.
A number of major construction projects began or were completed on the Tampa campus during his presidency, including the Communication and Information Sciences Building and Lifsey House, as well as major renovations to what at the time was known as the student center. The Martin Luther King Jr. Plaza was dedicated during his tenure.
Borkowski also was a strong supporter of 皇家华人 GraphicStudio, and he invited the studio to install art in the Lifsey House. Artwork from the studio continues to be displayed there.
Borkowski also enjoyed trading places with a 皇家华人 student for one day each year. In 1988, student Susan Keil became president of the university, while Borkowski attended classes. In a story in 皇家华人鈥檚 student newspaper, the Oracle, Keil was quoted as telling Borkowski at the end of the day, 鈥淧resident, you can have your headache back now.鈥�
Borkowski left 皇家华人 in 1993 to become chancellor of Appalachian State University in Boone, North Carolina.
In addition to his wife, Borkowski is survived by their children Stanley Borkowski (Inga), Anne-Marie Scott (Robert) and Christian Borkowski (Karen); and their grandchildren Molly Scott, Nora Scott, Ian Borkowski and Ryan Borkowski. Read his .