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2010 Florida Statutes
Florida colleges; governance, mission, and responsibilities.
1Florida colleges; governance, mission, and responsibilities.
—Each 1Florida college shall be governed by a district board of trustees under statutory authority and rules of the State Board of Education.
Each 1Florida college district shall:
Be an independent, separate, legal entity created for the operation of a 1Florida college.
1Florida colleges are locally based and governed entities with statutory and funding ties to state government. As such, the mission for 1Florida colleges reflects a commitment to be responsive to local educational needs and challenges. In achieving this mission, 1Florida colleges strive to maintain sufficient local authority and flexibility while preserving appropriate legal accountability to the state.
As comprehensive institutions, 1Florida colleges shall provide high-quality, affordable education and training opportunities, shall foster a climate of excellence, and shall provide opportunities to all while combining high standards with an open-door admission policy for lower-division programs. 1Florida colleges shall, as open-access institutions, serve all who can benefit, without regard to age, race, gender, creed, or ethnic or economic background, while emphasizing the achievement of social and educational equity so that all can be prepared for full participation in society.
The primary mission and responsibility of 1Florida colleges is responding to community needs for postsecondary academic education and career degree education. This mission and responsibility includes being responsible for:
Providing lower level undergraduate instruction and awarding associate degrees.
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 1Florida college 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 1Florida college may offer career education programs in fields having lesser academic or technical requirements.
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.
Promoting economic development for the state within each 1Florida college district through the provision of special programs, including, but not limited to, the:
Enterprise Florida-related programs.
Technology transfer centers.
Economic development centers.
Workforce literacy programs.
Providing dual enrollment instruction.
Providing upper level instruction and awarding baccalaureate degrees as specifically authorized by law.
A separate and secondary role for 1Florida colleges includes the offering of programs in:
Community services that are not directly related to academic or occupational advancement.
Adult education services, including adult basic education, adult general education, adult secondary education, and General Educational Development test instruction.
Recreational and leisure services.
Funding for 1Florida colleges shall reflect their mission as follows:
Postsecondary academic and career education programs and adult general education programs shall have first priority in 1Florida college funding.
Community service programs shall be presented to the Legislature with rationale for state funding. The Legislature may identify priority areas for use of these funds.
The resources of a 1Florida college, including staff, faculty, land, and facilities, shall not be used to support the establishment of a new independent nonpublic educational institution. If any institution uses resources for such purpose, the Division of Florida Colleges shall notify the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
1Florida colleges are authorized to:
Offer such programs and courses as are necessary to fulfill their mission.
Grant associate in arts degrees, associate in science degrees, associate in applied science degrees, certificates, awards, and diplomas.
Make provisions for the General Educational Development test.
Provide access to and award baccalaureate degrees in accordance with law.
Authority to offer one or more baccalaureate degree programs does not alter the governance relationship of the 1Florida college with its district board of trustees or the State Board of Education.
s. 215, ch. 2002-387; s. 91, ch. 2004-357; s. 4, ch. 2009-228; s. 7, ch. 2010-155.
Section 21, ch. 2010-70, directs the Division of Statutory Revision to prepare a reviser’s bill to substitute the term “Florida College System institution” for the terms “Florida college,” “community college,” and “junior college” where those terms appear in the Florida K-20 Education Code.