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.
| Timeline of the Florida College System |
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|---|---|---|
| 1927 | St. Petersburg Junior College founded as private, two-year college | |
| 1933 | Palm State Junior College founded as first public college | |
| 1939 | Legislature passes law allowing counties to petition for the establishment of public colleges | |
| 1947 | "Junior colleges" detailed in report to legislature | |
| 1947-1948 | St. Petersburg Junior College becomes part of Florida's public system
Legislature approves creation of three new colleges: Palm Beach Junior College, Chipola Junior College, and Pensacola Junior College |
|
| 1948 | Creation of Florida Association of Public Junior Colleges | |
| 1955 | Legislature created Community College Council to formulate long-range plans | |
| 1957-58 | Community College Council issues report to legislature which recommended state plan for 28 community/junior colleges
Legislature approves creation of six new colleges: Gulf Coast Community College, Central Florida Community College, Daytona Beach Community College, Manatee Junior College, North Florida Junior College, and St. Johns River Community College Legislature approves statutory revisions permitting junior colleges to separate from K-12 Legislature establishes the Division of Community Colleges |
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| 1960 | Legislature approves creation of four new colleges: Brevard Community College, Broward Community College, Miami Dade Community College, and Indian River Community College | |
| 1962 | Legislature approves creation of three new colleges: Edison Community College, Lake City Community College, and Lake-Sumter Junior College | |
| 1964 | Legislature approves creation of Okaloosa-Walton Community College | |
| 1965 | Legislature approves creation of Polk Community College | |
| 1966 | Legislature approves creation of five new colleges: Florida Keys Community College, Florida Community College at Jacksonville, Santa Fe Community College, Seminole Community College, and South Florida Community College | |
| 1967 | Legislature approves creation of two new colleges: Valencia Community College and Tallahassee Community College | |
| 1968 | Legislature approves creation of Hillsborough Community College
Legislature approves measure allowing community colleges to be governed under local boards |
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| 1972 | Legislature approves creation of Pasco-Hernando Community College | |
| 1979 | Legislature creates Community College Coordinating Board | |
| 1983 | Legislature replaces Community College Coordinating Board with State Board of Community Colleges | |
| 1996 | Colleges become first state agency in Florida to embrace performance based budgeting | |
| 1998 | Commissioner of Education eliminated from cabinet position | |
| 2000 | Florida higher Education Reorganization Act restructures higher education systems and Division of Community Colleges merged with Division of Workforce Development | |
| 2001 | Senate Bill 1162 eliminates State Board of Community Colleges, creates State Board of Education, and creates local boards of trustees
St. Petersburg, Edison, Miami Dade, and Chipola approved to offer baccalaureate degrees |
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| 2002 | New statutes give more control to local boards | |
| 2003 | Okaloosa-Walton approved to offer baccalaureate degrees | |
| 2004 | Legislation outlines process for community colleges to create baccalaureate degrees and allows community colleges to change names to reflect expanding mission | |
| 2009 | The Florida Community College System is renamed the Florida College System | |
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