Type Public College System Chancellor Madeline Pumariega | Established 1933 Students Over 813,000 annually | |
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Former names Florida Community College System Location 28 locations, Florida, USA | ||
The Florida College System, previously known as the Florida Community College System, comprises 28 public community colleges and state colleges in the U.S. state of Florida. In 2013-14, enrollment consisted of more than 813,000 students. Together with the State University System of Florida, which includes Florida's 12 public four-year universities, it is part of Florida's system of public higher education.
Contents
While governed by local boards of trustees, the colleges are coordinated under the jurisdiction of Florida's State Board of Education. Administratively, the Chancellor of the Florida College System is the chief executive officer of the system, reporting to the Commissioner of Education who serves as the chief executive officer of Florida's public education system. In 2009, the Florida Legislature changed the name from the "Florida Community College System" to the "Florida College System," reflecting the fact that some of its member institutions now offer four-year bachelor's degrees. As of 2014, only three members of the Florida College System retain "community college" in their official name.
Mission and offerings
Section (s.) 1004.65, Florida Statutes (F.S.), establishes the primary mission and responsibility of Florida College System institutions as responding to community needs for postsecondary academic education and career degree education. This mission and responsibility includes:
(a) Providing lower level undergraduate instruction and awarding associate degrees. (b) Preparing students directly for careers requiring less than baccalaureate degrees. This may include preparing for job entry, supplementing of skills and knowledge, and responding to needs in new areas of technology. Career education in a Florida College System institution shall consist of career certificates, credit courses leading to associate in science degrees and associate in applied science degrees, and other programs in fields requiring substantial academic work, background, or qualifications. A Florida College System institution may offer career education programs in fields having lesser academic or technical requirements. (c) Providing student development services, including assessment, student tracking, support for disabled students, advisement, counseling, financial aid, career development, and remedial and tutorial services, to ensure student success. (d) Promoting economic development for the state within each Florida College System institution district through the provision of special programs, including, but not limited to: (e) Providing dual enrollment instruction. (f) Providing upper level instruction and awarding baccalaureate degrees as specifically authorized by law.A separate and secondary role for Florida College System institutions includes the offering of programs in:
(a) Community services that are not directly related to academic or occupational advancement. (b) Adult education services, including adult basic education, adult general education, adult secondary education, and General Educational Development test instruction. (c) Recreational and leisure services.In addition, s. 1007.33(2), F.S., requires that any Florida College System institution that offers one or more baccalaureate degree programs:
(a) Maintain as its primary mission: (b) Maintain an open-door admission policy for associate-level degree programs and workforce education programs. (c) Continue to provide outreach to underserved populations. (d) Continue to provide remedial education. (e) Comply with all provisions of the statewide articulation agreement which relate to 2-year and 4-year public degree-granting institutions as adopted by the State Board of Education pursuant to s. 1007.23, F.S.Athletics
The schools athletic teams are governed by the Florida State College Activities Association (FSCAA) and compete in the National Junior College Athletic Association Region 8.
Timeline
Dr. James L. Wattenbarger, Distinguished Service Professor Emeritus, University of Florida and Dr. Harry T. Albertson, Former Chief Executive Officer, Florida Association of Community Colleges, outlined the history of the Florida College System through 2009.