August 2017
IN THIS ISSUE
Spotlights








Florida Trend: The Weight of Expectations
Message from Chancellor Madeline Pumariega
As our colleges and students kick off a new year, we welcome and wish our new and returning students a wonderful year.  This recent New York Times Opinion article written by Gail O. Mellow, President of LaGuardia Community College, is a timely reminder of the reality of the diversity of students we serve. As Mellow mentioned, students at many of our colleges understand the value of an education and work tirelessly to balance life, family and their academics. In this regard, our colleges continue to be the pathway to the American dream.

As open access institutions, our colleges serve the majority of Florida's low-income, first generation students.  Our students tend to be older than the "traditional" college student and many work part-time or full-time to support families while in school.  They are determined to obtain their degrees to provide their families a future filled with opportunities. This past year, our Florida colleges graduated 112,000 students prepared for their future. 

At a time when some question the value of a college education, such data reinforces the notion that education is a key to providing a pathway to prosperity.  According to Mellow, a student who earns their associate's degree will garner nearly 20 percent more than those with a high school degree.  These data illustrate the fact that those individuals with a postsecondary credential not only earn more, but bounce back faster during tough economic times. The same can be said for short-term certificates that meet the demands of industries, such as the daytime welding program launched by Daytona State College.

We begin a new academic year with hope and inspiration for our colleges. This is especially true given the recent events that have taken place in Texas and Louisiana where many families, higher education institutions, and entire communities have experienced devastation due to Hurricane Harvey. Many of our Florida colleges have begun efforts to assist those who have been displaced by this storm. I know that you will join me in our thoughts and prayers for residents both in Texas and Louisiana for a quick recovery and renewed hope.  

With great appreciation,


Madeline Pumariega
Chancellor
Florida SouthWestern State College reducing fees and increasing scholarship access 
Florida SouthWestern State College (FSW) is focused on graduation and retention and as a result launched the Dedicate to Graduate Initiative to increase graduation rates, better engage students, and enhance the overall advising process. To minimize the obstacle of cost, FSW eliminated student fees that provided for a potential savings of $1,047,510, which included reducing course fees in 61 courses, eliminating fees in 81 courses, reducing the online access fee and eliminating the mandatory graduation fee. FSW also created a comprehensive scholarship program that aligns with the college's strategic priorities. The scholarship revamp project provided an in-depth review of scholarship criteria as well as streamlining the processes for students to apply for scholarships, facilitating affordability. The college developed an internal scholarship database that consolidated multiple paper scholarship application forms into one central, easy-to-use web-based application utilizing information submitted by students on their admission application, as well as information gathered from FSW's Student Information System. The database has allowed FSW to more accurately match students with the available funds. Overall student awards has increased three percent since 2014-15. 
Upcoming Innovations & Excellence Convening 
On Tuesday, October 3 from 12:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Wednesday, October 4 from 8:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., the Florida College System, in partnership with the Council of Presidents, will be hosting an Innovations & Excellence Convening at Daytona State College, Mori Hosseini Center. This event is purposed to focus on innovative practices on mathematics pathways redesign, college affordability, and workforce partnerships/collaborations to increase attainment in the state.

National speakers and leaders from the Community College Research Center, Charles A. Dana Center, the Florida Chamber of Commerce, CareerSource Florida, Enterprise Florida, and the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity will be present to discuss mathematics pathways redesign, trends and strategies in higher education and the pipeline needed for advancing and aligning degrees to jobs in Florida. Dr. Sara Goldrick-Rab, author of the newly released book "Paying the Price," will be present to share her findings on college affordability and access. For further information, please visit our website here.

For further information, please visit our website  here. 
Indian River State College and Florida Power & Light Partnership 
Florida College System Institutions strive to create programs for students that help meet workforce needs. Our colleges forge partnerships with local business industries. Indian River State College (IRSC) has partnered with Florida Power and Light (FPL) to launch an intensive five-week solar energy program aimed towards students looking to join FPL's solar expansion, which includes eight new solar plants that are under construction across Florida and is expected to employ more than 1,500 people. This new program is an addition to the college's Electrical Power Technology Program (EPT) within its two-year Associate in Science degree program, which has a 90 percent job placement rate. Additionally, students will gain hands-on experience through a summer internship and two-week course at an active substation, which is a critical part of the electrical generation, transmission and distribution system. Subject matter experts from FPL have ensured students will gain exposure to real-world tasks.

The EPT program provides students with a wide range of skills while helping FPL to prepare for possible future employees. In all, this program will prepare a talent pipeline of skilled workers and stay current with industry changes. The success of this partnership has resulted in grants from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Department of Energy and National Science Foundation, as well as an American Association of Community College's award for Top Five College and Corporate Training Partnership. 
Academic programs in the Florida College System (FCS) are developed and updated based on the workforce demand of college service areas. In 2015, over 70 percent of recent FCS graduates were employed the year after graduation. This compares to an employment rate of only 51 percent for recent graduates with a High School Diploma. 

The FCS degrees with the highest program employment rates include Bachelor's degrees (80 percent), Advanced Technical Certificates (79 percent), Associates in Science (79 percent), FCS Career & Technical (79 percent), Applied Technology Diplomas (78 percent), Associate in Applied Sciences (72 percent), and Credit Certificates (71 percent).

Nearly all (97 percent) Associate in Arts (AA) degree completers from the FCS are either employed or continuing education the year after they graduate. AA completers have substantially higher rates of continuing education among all degree types (71 percent) by taking advantage of entry into Bachelor's degree programs offered at either FCS or State University System (SUS) institutions, and consequentially have slightly lower rates of immediate employment (64 percent) compared to other FCS degree completers. 
Maria Garcia Cardenas - Miami Dade College  

Maria Garcia Cardenas is in her first year studying Pre-Nursing at Miami Dade College (MDC). Cardenas moved to the United States from Cuba and began her first semester at MDC just after four months in the country. During her time at MDC, Cardenas has volunteered for the New American's Campaign Citizenship Clinic, which aims to assist people applying for their United States citizenship. Additionally, she obtained a part-time job where her mission is to assist others just like her who have an opportunity to pursue an education to be prepared to enter the workforce.   

Cardenas has also been a member in the TRIO-Educational Opportunity Center (TRIO EOC) program, a federally funded educational program designed to afford the opportunity of a college education to families without a legacy of higher education. She entered the program after only a few days of entering the U.S. After receiving services from TRIO EOC and enrolling in classes at MDC, she applied to be a student assistant for the TRIO EOC program as well. Cardenas expressed that she chose to become an assistant to learn more about the American education system and help individuals like herself looking for postsecondary opportunities. Since then, Cardenas has received all A's in her classes while balancing work and school, as well as adapting to a new country while pursuing her higher education goals. 
Faculty and Administrators: Nominate a Student to be the Chancellor's Clark Maxwell Scholar Student of the Month
In honor of the late Chancellor Clark Maxwell Jr., each month a student is selected to represent the Florida College System. Nominations for the Student of the Month are accepted on a rolling basis. If you know a student who demonstrates exemplary leadership skills, academic success, and/or commitment to community service through their involvement in the Florida College System, nominate them today!
Grand Opening of College of Central Florida's Jack Wilkinson Levy Campus  
The College of Central Florida (CF) Jack Wilkinson Levy Campus celebrated its grand opening August 11 after 13 years in the making. The Levy Campus is a 58,000 square-foot full service campus and is the first permanent higher education facility in Levy County. The facility is said to generate $15 million in annual economic impact according to local economists. It will feature a large welding program, science lab, biology lab, learning resource center with study rooms, office space, student lounge, health and wellness center, book store, and large community conference room. Testing labs, two computer labs and five classrooms can be found at the Levy Campus as well. A student center will also be available for  students featuring enrollment services, career services and advising and financial aid.

The campus is na me d  after  Ja ck Wilkinson, lifelong resident of Levy County, to honor him and the generous $2.5 million donation he contributed to build a permanent CF campus in Levy County before passing away at the age of 96. Wilkinson's gift was the largest in CF history. He was a farmer, rancher and timber grower who taught mathematics to students in the Levy County school system for 45 years.