Section 240.301, Florida Statutes 2000
1240.301 Community colleges; definition, mission, and responsibilities.--
(1) State community colleges shall consist of all public educational institutions operated by community college district boards of trustees under statutory authority and rules of the State Board of Education and the State Board of Community Colleges. A community college may provide adult education services, including adult basic education, adult general education, adult secondary education, and general educational development test instruction. The state community colleges are locally based and governed entities with statutory and funding ties to state government. As such, the community colleges' mission reflects a commitment to be responsive to local educational needs and challenges. In achieving this mission, the colleges strive to maintain sufficient local authority and flexibility while preserving appropriate legal accountability to the state.
(2) As comprehensive institutions, the community colleges shall provide high-quality, affordable education and training opportunities, shall foster a climate of excellence, and shall provide opportunities to all while combining high standards with an open-door admission policy. The community colleges shall, as open-access institutions, serve all who can benefit, without regard to age, race, gender, creed, or ethnic or economic background, while emphasizing the achievement of social and educational equity so that all can be prepared for full participation in society.
(3) The primary mission and responsibility of public community colleges is responding to community needs for postsecondary academic education and 2degree career education. This mission and responsibility includes being responsible for:
(a) Providing lower level undergraduate instruction and awarding associate degrees.
(b) Preparing students directly for vocations requiring less than baccalaureate degrees. This may include preparing for job entry, supplementing of skills and knowledge, and responding to needs in new areas of technology. Career education in the community college shall consist of certificate career education programs leading to certificates for occupational completion points, credit courses leading to associate in science degrees and associate in applied technology degrees, and other programs in fields requiring substantial academic work, background, or qualifications. A community college may offer vocational programs in fields having lesser academic or technical requirements.
(c) Providing student development services, including assessment, student tracking, support for disabled students, advisement, counseling, financial aid, career development, and remedial and tutorial services, to ensure student success.
(d) Promoting economic development for the state within each community college district through the provision of special programs, including, but not limited to, the:
1. Enterprise Florida-related programs.
2. Technology transfer centers.
3. Economic development centers.
4. Workforce literacy programs.
(4) A separate and secondary role for community colleges includes the offering of programs in:
(a) Community services which are not directly related to academic or occupational advancement.
(b) Adult general education.
(c) Recreational and leisure services.
(5) Funding for community colleges shall reflect their mission as follows:
(a) Postsecondary academic and vocational education programs and adult general education programs shall have first priority in community college funding.
(b) Community service programs shall be presented to the Legislature with rationale for state funding. The Legislature may identify priority areas for use of these funds.
(6) Community colleges are authorized to offer such programs and courses as are necessary to fulfill their mission and are authorized to grant associate in arts degrees, associate in science degrees, associate in applied science degrees, certificates, awards, and diplomas. Each community college is also authorized to make provisions for the general educational development examination.
History.--s. 41, ch. 79-222; s. 14, ch. 83-326; s. 38, ch. 86-156; s. 3, ch. 87-326; s. 17, ch. 87-329; s. 2, ch. 88-399; s. 15, ch. 89-189; ss. 40, 52, ch. 89-381; s. 68, ch. 92-136; s. 18, ch. 94-230; s. 26, ch. 97-307; s. 3(7), ch. 2000-321.
1Note.--Repealed January 7, 2003, by s. 3(7), ch. 2000-321, and shall be reviewed by the Legislature prior to that date.
2Note.--The term "degree career education" was substituted for the term "postsecondary vocational" by the editors pursuant to the directive of the Legislature in s. 16, ch. 94-232.
