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published: Friday, June 29, 2012

New name, new look for college

By SAMANTHA GHOLAR

sgholar@newssun.com

AVON PARK -- A handful of major changes have taken place over the course of a week at South Florida Community College, which has only a few days left of being called SFCC.

On June 21, the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS), at a meeting in Atlanta, Ga., approved the college as a baccalaureate degree granting-institution.

The college is now officially able to enroll and graduate students with a bachelor's degree in the areas of Applied Science (Supervision and Management) beginning in the fall.

"This is a significant milestone, one that we've worked hard to achieve. This is a great day for our college community and for all the future students who will most certainly benefit from this educational opportunity," said Dr. Norman Stephens, the college's president.

More exciting news has taken the college community by force this week with the preparation of the name change from South Florida Community College to South Florida State College. As of Sunday, the name change will go in affect along with a few other changes.

The board unanimously approved and adopted the name change Wednesday night.

"We are excited to begin this new step," said Stephens. "So far, 22 of the 28 Florida colleges have or are in the process of adding bachelor's degree programs and changing their names. In addition to our new bachelor's degree, we will maintain our current mission."

Along with the name change, the soon-to-be SFSC has changed the school's colors. The black and orange has been replaced by a deep navy blue and orange. The college's logo has been updated as well.

"The four blue lines represent the Highlands, DeSoto, and Hardee campuses and Lake Placid Center, and the three orange lines represent the three counties SFSC serves: Highlands, DeSoto and Hardee," Stephens said.

"The white pathways between them represent the journeys our students make along the way to achieving their educational goals. The shape of the logo forms a letter 's,' representing both South and State," explained Stephens. The curved lines were added to "project energy and movement while representing lines of latitude."

The institution was established as South Florida Junior College in 1965 by the Florida Legislature; it became South Florida Community College in 1984. The college serves over 20,000 residents on four campuses: Highlands Campus in Avon Park, DeSoto Campus in Arcadia, Hardee Campus in Bowling Green and the Lake Placid Center.