Records show that Florida Polytechnic University has paid a Tampa public relations firm more than $200,000 for media relations help since April 2013, 16 months before the school opened.
Bills obtained by The Lakeland Ledger in a public records request show that Tucker/Hall has been instrumental in creating the university's message, even though the school has a $2 million budget for communications and marketing, with a staff of six employees. Tucker/Hall is same public relations firm used to shape the city of Lakeland's response to fallout from a sex scandal at the police department in 2013.
Florida Polytechnic was formed in 2012, when state lawmakers voted to break up the University of South Florida and create the new school. The school opened its doors to students in 2014. It has an enrollment of 950 students.
