Oct. 12, 2026 – South Florida State College (SFSC) and the University of Florida (UF) Institute of Higher Education have been awarded the Title III Strengthening Institutions Program (SIP) grant. The partnership will receive $4.65 million over five years to support the Florida Learning, Innovation, and Growth for a High-skilled Talent (FLIGHT) pipeline. SFSC will receive approximately $3.29 million and over $1.35 million will go to UF.
“We are excited to collaborate again with SFSC and continue building out this partnership,” said Dr. Lindsay Byron, interim director of the UF Institute of Higher Education. “FLIGHT is an opportunity to both improve current workforce education pathways between SFSC and UF and develop new programs in Precision Agriculture. Over the next five years, we will have the resources to provide the next generation of SFSC students with cutting edge education and opportunities.”
Through FLIGHT, the institutions will modernize their career and technical education (CTE) programs for the workforce, strengthen the current infrastructure to support workforce development, develop services to support workforce student success, and expand postsecondary pathways from SFSC to UF, and beyond.
“South Florida State College is grateful to the U.S. Department of Education and the U.S. Department of Labor for the approval of the Strengthening Institutions Program grant, known as FLIGHT,” said Dr. Mark Bukowski, vice president for student services at SFSC. “We also thank the University of Florida for their assistance in the grant process, and with whom we will partner with on this grant. FLIGHT will help plan and implement new skilled pathways for students in the Florida Heartland, which will lead to high wage opportunities and continue to build on the strong talent and community whom we serve at SFSC.”
Within the first two years of the program, SFSC plans to align its teaching and training to modern workforce practices and improve the systems and processes for students to therefore increase student engagement in support services and career pathways.
In the years to follow, more SFSC students will earn industry credentials and micro-credentials, improve training pathways for rural residents, embed AI and digital literacy across all programs, and increase transfer rates to UF.
For more information about SFSC, visit southflorida.edu, and for more information on the UF Institute of Higher Education, visit https://ihe.education.ufl.edu/about.
ABOUT THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA COLLEGE OF EDUCATION
The UF College of Education has a long history of mission-driven excellence, working to advance research, prepare the next generation of educators, and solve society’s most pressing challenges. The College is No. 2 in the nation among all graduate and online graduate education schools. Among the 10 centers and institutes that operate at the College, the Institute of Higher Education (IHE) conducts cutting-edge research and offers data-driven recommendations for administrators and policymakers to better understand the challenges facing the industry at all levels. IHE partners with individual colleges and state systems to provide rigorous, innovative assessment of practices and policies aimed at improving student success.
In response to U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon’s August 2026 letter to educational institutions, South Florida State College has prepared the following statement concerning academic rigor, transparency, accountability, student outcomes, and meeting Florida’s workforce needs:
At South Florida State College (SFSC), academic quality and student learning are evaluated through multiple, ongoing processes. Program-level learning outcomes, General Education Outcomes, and curriculum-controlled course objectives are regularly assessed to determine the extent to which students are achieving established learning expectations.
SFSC’s General Education Assessment process evaluates student achievement of established General Education Outcomes across the curriculum. Assessment results are reviewed to identify trends and opportunities to strengthen student learning and inform improvements to curriculum, instruction, and assessment.
The College also conducts an annual Educational Program Assessment (EPA) process focused specifically on program-level student learning. Program managers establish student learning outcomes, identify measures and expected levels of achievement, report assessment results, and document how findings are used for improvement. A faculty subcommittee reviews these assessments and provides feedback to strengthen the quality of program-level assessment and support continuous improvement.
Separate from the annual EPA process, SFSC conducts Educational Program Reviews to evaluate the overall health and effectiveness of its academic programs. Level I Program Reviews examine multiple indicators of program performance and demand. Based on those findings, programs may continue without further action or undergo a more extensive Level II review focused on program performance, demand, or both.
Throughout late 2025 and early 2026, SFSC reviewed its academic programs and services as part of its application for accreditation with the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). Administrators and staff from a variety of offices and academic departments developed a substantial report that can be viewed on the College’s website. After its initial review, HLC shared insights for continued excellence, and the College is currently awaiting a final accreditation decision expected in November 2026.
The College upholds high academic and technical standards, and several programs boast job placement rates above 90% for graduates and completers. SFSC’s student achievement data are published throughout its public-facing website so prospective students and families can examine completion, licensure, job placement, and other measures of student success. The College also uses data from the Florida Education and Training Placement Information Program (FETPIP) to track employment and continued education outcomes after completion. In the most recently reported A.A. completer data, 64% continued their education, 55% were employed, and 81% were either continuing their education or employed. This information, paired with individual academic program information, helps students make informed decisions about their education and future.
SFSC also evaluates the academic performance of A.A. graduates after they transfer to Florida’s State University System. In the most recently reported transfer data, 85.2% of SFSC A.A. graduates earned a GPA of 2.5 or higher, 68.5% earned a GPA of 3.0 or higher, and the overall mean GPA was 3.17. These results provide additional evidence that SFSC students are prepared to succeed academically after transfer.
Throughout the College, committees focus on using institutional data to support planning, assessment, and improvement. Each month, SFSC’s Data Analysis Group (DAG) reviews institutional data, including enrollment, student success, retention, completion, and other key performance measures, to identify trends, investigate areas of concern, and provide data-informed insights that support institutional decision-making and continuous improvement. The Academic Quality Committee (AQC) reviews program and assessment data to identify trends, areas for improvement, and opportunities to strengthen institutional processes and student outcomes. The Student Success Committee reviews institutional data and student feedback to identify barriers to student success, develop targeted interventions, and monitor their effectiveness in improving student progression, persistence, and completion.
With workforce programs as a core part of the College’s mission, SFSC offers more than 70 programs for credit or credential, and six programs currently offer a Money-Back Guarantee if a student completes the program and its requirements but cannot obtain employment in the field within six months of completion.
In conclusion, South Florida State College defines what students are expected to learn, measures the extent to which they achieve those expectations, evaluates the effectiveness and viability of its academic programs, and examines student outcomes after completion. Through General Education Assessment, Educational Program Assessment, Educational Program Review, institutional data analysis, workforce and transfer outcome measures, and public reporting, SFSC uses evidence to continuously improve while remaining accountable to its students, regional employers, and the rural communities it serves.
Sept. 24, 2026 – South Florida State College (SFSC) announced that it received $351,549 from the Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) funded by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) through the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA), created through Florida Statute to serve as the chief health policy and planning organization for the state.
As an institution that provides education and services to rural communities, SFSC created Rural Care Connect (RCC) to create pathways in five academic programs by strengthening three programs that currently exist at the College and by developing two new programs. The three programs that will be bolstered through grant funding are Nursing Assistant, Phlebotomy, and Electrocardiography Technology (EKG). The two programs that will be created with the financial support of the grant are Central Sterile Processing Technology and Emergency Medical Responder.
“The application process was highly competitive, and we are thrilled to have the opportunity to help expand access to quality healthcare in rural communities,” said Dr. Kathleen Cappo, dean of health sciences at SFSC. “This grant allows SFSC to be part of a meaningful statewide effort to address healthcare needs in rural Florida, and we look forward to seeing the impact that SFSC and our fellow award recipients will have in the communities we serve.”
SFSC has included community partners, such as AdventHealth, CareerSource Heartland, Mosaic, and Who We Play For, in the development of the five academic programs serving our rural district.
For more information about the programs supported by the RHTP grant, contact Danielle Nuccio, health sciences advisor, at 863-784-7027 or danielle.nuccio@southflorida.edu.
Sept. 22, 2026 – South Florida State College (SFSC) received a $15,000 grant from the William G. and Marie Selby Foundation, Inc. to provide scholarships for students at SFSC’s DeSoto Campus in Arcadia. These funds will be matched through the SFSC Foundation, bringing the total funds for scholarships to $30,000.
Annual scholarships will be awarded up to $1,500 for full-time students, up to $1,125 for students enrolled 9 and 11 hours, and up to $750 for students enrolled 6 and 8 hours. The criteria for obtaining a scholarship through the Selby Foundation is that there must be financial need, the student must be a resident of DeSoto County and a graduate of Desoto County High School, must be accepted or enrolled in a degree program at the SFSC DeSoto Campus, and must maintain a minimum of a 3.0 GPA to be considered for renewal.
Scholarships from the Selby Foundation grant are available for fall 2026 and spring 2027. If a student would like to apply for a scholarship for the summer 2027 term, they must be registered for summer classes by the second week of January 2027.
“Getting to the heart of helping students requires both caring people and funding,” said Dr. Asena Mott, dean of off-campus instructional sites at SFSC. “That’s where The Selby Foundation comes in. Their legacy of care is backed by financial support. For years, they have asked where they could help DeSoto students, and followed through with generosity. Their gifts have elevated students above stumbling blocks and into success. We are ever grateful!”
To apply for a scholarship through the Selby Foundation, students are encouraged to speak with a student advisor at the SFSC DeSoto Campus at 2251 NE Turner Avenue in Arcadia or call 863-993-1757.
Sept. 16, 2026 – The South Florida State College (SFSC) Foundation received a $100,000 donation from the Jacarlene Foundation to support students enrolled in skilled trade programs at SFSC.
The Jacarlene Foundation trustees stated, “Growing up in an agricultural family in Highlands County, I saw firsthand how vital the skilled trades are to our community. As trustees, supporting these programs—and the students in them—matters deeply to all of us.”
Established on Nov. 15, 1988, the Jacarlene Foundation’s mission is to strengthen Florida through the arts, the environment, and education. Through philanthropy, the Foundation has helped build stronger communities throughout the state to improve life for all of Florida’s residents, human and animal.
“We are deeply grateful to the Jacarlene Foundation for their continued investment in our trade students,” said Emily Dabolt, executive director for institutional advancement at SFSC. “Because many of these programs fall outside traditional degree pathways, the students are not eligible for federal FAFSA or Pell funding, and they face financial barriers that other students do not. This gift helps remove those barriers, allowing students to complete their training, earn industry credentials, and enter the workforce prepared to contribute to the success of Highlands, DeSoto, and Hardee counties.”
Applicants for the Jacarlene Foundation Scholarship must be enrolled and accepted into an SFSC trade program. Preference will be given to students who demonstrate academic promise and financial need. Students can receive an application for the Jacarlene Foundation Scholarship by contacting the SFSC Foundation at foundation@southflorida.edu or 863-453-3133.
Aug. 21, 2026 – South Florida State College (SFSC) graduated 16 Practical Nursing (PN) program students in a traditional pinning ceremony on Thursday, July 30 in the Alan Jay Wildstein Center for the Performing Arts on the Highlands Campus in Avon Park.
The graduates were Jaleigh Brantner, Zareana Fogel-Thomas, Pamela Garcia-Cisneros, Cathryn Kersey, Hailey Lee, Jannan Lee, Tracy Likens, Jeshua Lopez, Alysia Mayer, Rosa Montalvo, Aleine Petit-Homme, Mackenzie Pruitt, Samantha Rivera, Alexia Segura, Heather Steele, and Biatriz Ynoa.
Jeshua Lopez was the recipient of the Academic Excellence Award and Mackenzie Pruitt was honored with the Clinical Excellence Award, both supported by the Thakkar Family Foundation.
Each year, PN graduates award the Golden D.U.C.K. to someone or an organization that has served as a mentor to the students in the program. The D.U.C.K. acronym represents the foundational elements of the mentoring arrangement: Developing, Understanding, Compassion, and Knowledge. The award was presented to Good Shepherd Hospice for their “way of providing comfort, preserving dignity, and being present for patients and their families during life’s most meaningful moments,” which left a lasting impression on the graduates.
The practice of pinning new graduates has been a nursing school tradition in the United States since 1916 and, symbolically, welcomes each graduate into the nursing profession. The pin is worn prominently on a nurse’s uniform throughout their career. One story of the ceremony’s beginning goes back to 1883, when Queen Victoria awarded Florence Nightingale the Royal Red Cross on St. George’s Day for her service to the sick and injured during the Crimean War. In turn, Nightingale later extended the honor to her outstanding nursing students by presenting them with a medal of excellence.
Graduates of the 11-month Career Certificate PN program each become a licensed practical nurse (LPN) by passing the National Council Licensure Examination for Practical Nurses (NCLEX-PN) exam. SFSC Nursing graduates are usually fully employed in the field within a few months of graduation.
SFSC offers an Associate in Science degree in Nursing (ADN) program for students interested in becoming registered nurses in two formats: a two-year Generic-RN program and a one-year Transition-LPN to RN program. The College also offers a fully online Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program.
For information about SFSC’s Nursing programs, contact Danielle Nuccio, Health Sciences advisor at 863-784-7027 or by email at healthsciences@southflorida.edu.
Aug. 19, 2026 – On Thursday, July 23, South Florida State College (SFSC) honored 13 of its Radiography graduates in a traditional pinning ceremony on the Highlands Campus in Avon Park. The graduates have earned their Associate in Science (A.S.) in Radiography.
The graduates honored were Destiny Badillo, Tori Britt, Megan Crawford, Cristina Diaz Agosto, Lili Garcia, Azusena Gomez Urbina, Lissette Ledesma, Lisa Lee, Brisa Elena Luevano, Eunice Moffatt, Juan Molina-Molina, Chloe Pomerleau, and Alyssa Prieto.
“We are incredibly proud of our graduates and all they have accomplished,” said Amy Ferrante, director of SFSC’s Radiography program. “One of the most rewarding parts of being an educator is having the opportunity to watch students grow in knowledge, confidence, and professionalism as they prepare to enter the healthcare field. Seeing students reach this milestone and begin their careers as radiologic technologists is truly the reason we do what we do.”
Upon completing SFSC’s two-year A.S. degree in Radiography, graduates can work as certified radiologic technologists by passing the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) national examination. Radiologic technologists work in hospitals and clinics performing diagnostic imaging examinations, such as X-rays and MRIs.
For information about SFSC’s Radiography program, contact Danielle Nuccio, Health Sciences advisor, at 863-784-7027 or by email at healthsciences@southflorida.edu.
Aug. 17, 2026 – The South Florida State College (SFSC) Foundation is proud to announce the establishment of the Ruth E. Handley Memorial Scholarship, a new scholarship honoring the life and legacy of former SFSC employee Ruth E. Handley, a lifelong supporter of the profound impact of education. The scholarship will support those who have a passion for educating others.
Mrs. Ruth E. Handley believed in the transformative power of education, fairness, and equal opportunity as she dedicated her life to serving others and making a positive impact in her community. Through this scholarship, her legacy of compassion, service, and commitment to future educators will continue by helping students pursue their educational and career goals.
“Mrs. Handley’s impact on this community is impossible to measure,” said Emily Dabolt, executive director of institutional advancement at SFSC. “Through this scholarship fund, her legacy will be honored for years to come by helping students discover the same passion for educating others that guided her entire life.”
To be eligible for the Ruth E. Handley Memorial Scholarship, applicants must be enrolled at SFSC and a resident of DeSoto, Hardee, or Highlands County. Applicants must also submit a 500-750-word essay describing their career goals and motivation for pursuing a career in educating others. Preference will be given to students with a 3.0 GPA or higher and involvement in extracurricular activities. The student must also complete a standard financial aid application.
For more information about this or any scholarship at SFSC, email foundation@southflorida.edu or call 863-453-3133.
Aug. 14, 2026 – A $40,000 grant from the Community Foundation of Sarasota County has been awarded to the South Florida State College (SFSC) Foundation, Inc. to benefit residents of DeSoto County, part-time students, and student-parents who are attending SFSC in the fall and spring of the 2026-27 academic year.
The grant comes from the Edward K. Roberts Community College Fund, which was established by Roberts as a legacy to support Florida’s community colleges and other charitable organizations. Managed by the Community Foundation of Sarasota County, the fund continues Roberts’ vision of making higher education a priority, particularly for those motivated to seek a better life for themselves.
SFSC’s grant funds are designated to aid students who attend college part time and may not qualify for other forms of financial aid and students who are parents, whether single or married. Preference is also given to residents of DeSoto County or students attending classes at the SFSC DeSoto Campus in Arcadia.
Individual students may receive up to a maximum of $3,000 through the end of the grant. The grant covers tuition, housing, books, childcare, transportation, and needs that would otherwise prevent students from attending college.
“The Community Foundation of Sarasota County and the Edward K. Roberts Community College Fund have long understood that investing in students is investing in the future of our communities,” said Emily Dabolt, SFSC executive director of institutional advancement. “For a part-time student balancing work and family, or a parent going back to school, a single unexpected expense can be the reason they don’t make it to graduation. This grant helps make sure that doesn’t happen, and we’re honored to carry that mission forward for the students who need it most.”
Scholarship recipients are identified by SFSC’s Office of Financial Aid. To apply for a scholarship, visit the Financial Aid Office in Building B on the Highlands Campus in Avon Park, call 784-7134, or email financialaid@southflorida.edu. Students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). If you have questions about the FAFSA or need assistance, contact the Office of Financial Aid.
For information about the Community Foundation of Sarasota County, visit cfsarasota.org.
