Florida College System


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.
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.

Member institutions

Student profile

Mission and offerings

Section 1004.65, Florida Statutes, establishes the primary mission and responsibility of Florida College System institutions as responding to community needs for post secondary academic education and career degree education. This mission and responsibility includes:
A separate and secondary role for Florida College System institutions includes the offering of programs in:
In addition, s. 1007.33, F.S., requires that any Florida College System institution that offers one or more baccalaureate degree programs:

Athletics

The schools athletic teams are governed by the Florida State College Activities Association and compete in the National Junior College Athletic Association Region 8.

Chancellors and directors

Timeline

, distinguished service professor emeritus, University of Florida
and Harry T. Albertson, former chief executive officer, Florida Association of Community Colleges, outlined the history of the Florida College System through 2009.