I recently had the opportunity to host three state college presidents in our office for a roundtable luncheon conversation with our editorial team. Joining us for the discussion were: Angela Garcia Falconetti, president of Polk State College; Georgia Lorenz, president of Seminole State College; and Jeffery Allbritten, president of Florida SouthWestern State College.
Although each of these colleges vary in size, student body, location and the communities they serve, they and their 25 state peer institutions all have one goal in mind — which is to guide, educate, develop and prepare Florida’s future workforce. They do so by providing students access to high-quality academic and career programs that help maximize learning, while developing a competitive workforce that is able to respond rapidly to the growing and diverse regional and statewide business employment needs.
As Florida continues to grow in population — and as a global business leader and epicenter — it is critically important that we continue to support the institutions responding to the employment needs of the state’s expanding business landscape.
The intertwined relationship between Florida’s 28 state colleges and the business communities that they serve is nothing short of impressive. Each of the communities that the state colleges help to support with workforce development programs all have differing needs based on the industry sector makeup of the region. The state colleges pride themselves on working directly and collaboratively with their community business partners to ensure their workforce needs are being met. In turn, the Florida College System (FCS) is truly the engine that is driving and delivering on Florida’s vast and growing workforce needs.
It is our responsibility as Floridians to ensure that our legislative body truly understands the role our state colleges play across Florida. In doing so, we also need to make certain their financial needs are being met.
This legislative session, in addition to dollars for hardening, repairing and maintaining their buildings, the FCS is requesting $200 million in new recurring dollars to help ensure the FCS keeps postsecondary education affordable for Floridians and that schools can recruit and retain the best faculty. The funding would enable the colleges to invest in innovative ways to support students to continuously improve outcomes, as well as provide capacity to serve more students and work-based learning opportunities.
The Florida College System has a proven track record. With the $100 million it received in 2023 from the Legislature, the FCS boosted enrollment by 5.4%, increased student degree completions by 6% and increased student industry certifications by 15%.
Through apprenticeships, technical training, micro-credentials, two-year, four-year or graduate programs, continuing education and more, these educational institutions play a critical role in the state’s economic development success by shoring up Florida’s talent pipeline.
Please help me in reminding our representatives of local and state government about the important role and responsibility they play in properly funding Florida’s College System.
— David G. Denor, Publisher ddenor@floridatrend.com