Florida Colleges Chancellor Presents Best Practice Awards

Thursday, October 27, 2011

DOE Press Office (850) 245-0413

Florida Colleges Chancellor Presents Best Practice Awards

~ Award winning programs highlight innovative programs ~

NAPLES - From new technology to increased retention and progression rates, several Florida colleges were honored yesterday with Best Practice Awards from the Florida College System (FCS). Dr. Will Holcombe, FCS Chancellor, presented the awards during the 62nd Annual Association of Florida Colleges Convention in Naples, honoring Florida State College at Jacksonville, Sante Fe College, Pasco-Hernando Community College and Seminole State College for their outstanding programs that have helped to develop business partnerships and promote cutting-edge technology.

"Florida colleges continue to play a vital role in developing avenues for students to remain competitive in a rapidly changing global marketplace," said Education Commissioner Gerard Robinson. "Congratulations to each of these institutions for their initiative and creativity in developing programs that prepare students for the future and that are responsive to workforce needs."

College program directors submitted detailed descriptions of their programs to the Division of Florida Colleges during a rigorous nomination process earlier this year. The nominees were evaluated and ranked based on academic affairs, student affairs, workforce education and business affairs.

"Our colleges are leaders and innovators in education," said Chancellor Holcombe. "The Best Practice Awards give much-deserved recognition to exceptional programs that allow our institutions to learn from proven strategies that raises the level of performance for the entire Florida College System."

The award winners are as follows:

• Academic Affairs Academic Success Centers for Developmental Mathematics
  Florida State College at Jacksonville
• Business Affairs
  Renewable Energy Initiative
  Santa Fe College
• Student Affairs
  Making Achievement Possible
  Pasco-Hernando Community College
• Workforce Education
  The Practicum Culminating Simulation Experience
  Seminole State College of Florida

In addition to the recognition at the event, the Florida College System also includes strategies from the award-winning programs on the Department's Best Practices website at www.fldoe.org/cc/retention. The site offers information to assist other college leaders in developing and implementing innovative solutions to challenges facing their institutions. It also enables users to learn new techniques, improve processes, and offers assistance in creating new programs and making current programs more effective. To learn more about the Best Practices program, visit www.fldoe.org/cc/retention.

About The Florida College System

Florida's colleges remain the primary point of access to higher education in Florida, with 66 percent of the state's high school graduates pursuing postsecondary education beginning at a Florida college, and 81 percent of freshman and sophomore minority students in public higher education attending one of Florida's 28 colleges. To learn more about The Florida College System, visit http://www.fldoe.org/cc/.