Florida College System - Mission and Offerings

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:

1. Enterprise Florida-related programs.

2. Technology transfer centers.

3. Economic development centers.

4. Workforce literacy programs.

(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:

1. Responsibility for responding to community needs for postsecondary academic education and career degree education as prescribed in s. 1004.65(5), F.S.

2. The provision of associate degrees that provide access to a university.

(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.