FCCJ to become state college, name change likely

[Ocklawaha]

considering the state already has massive financial problems I don't understand the need to spend money on this, we already have a state university here, UNF, why do we need another one? As another has noted JAX needs a low level, low cost school like FCCJ

beein frum Jacsunville i done finelly foudn sumptin wei'ns agreee onn. Ainnt got no kneed fer no dam skul. Mie unkle earnst ainnt got no skul'in neithere. He done whooped everie won on da st MARYES, reel goode tu. He gots hiss selff a piccup truk an a    trailller house, 4 coun doggs, 3 fisshn reals an a wowman. Maude. Maude iss a desh tu. Her gotts 9 teethe, an 18 chilin an 2 dressis. com on doowne fer turcie dae, we's havin catfsih, com ovver.

Got to love this city!

OCKLAWAHA

[Charles Hunter]

Takes out pin marked "Legislature".

Pops balloon labeled "4-year FCCJ"

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/education/sfl-flpstatecollegesbox0705sbjul07,0,322350.story

FCCJ doesn't seem to be on the list of community colleges going to 4-year schools

[Ocklawaha]

Shazam wate til I teles ernest! Nother dollur fer mie Bud.

OCKLAWAHA

[ProjectMaximus]

That doesn't matter, the changes are coming in waves. The list you have there is the original list (actually it's missing Broward College and some, like St Petersburg College, have been in the conversion process for a couple years now)

If you look at the date of the news story you've posted, it's actually older than the news story that started this entire thread.

So keep your hopes up, folks!! (although I personally don't believe the state college distinction is going to have anywhere close to the dramatic effect some seem to be expecting)

Takes out pin marked "Legislature".

Pops balloon labeled "4-year FCCJ"

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/education/sfl-flpstatecollegesbox0705sbjul07,0,322350.story

FCCJ doesn't seem to be on the list of community colleges going to 4-year schools

[Charles Hunter]

oops, need to tune up my Google-foo

[JOHANNA747]

I have always loved FCCJ and try to take new and exciting courses there once a year.  Do you think the extra programs added will leave UNF and EWC and JU behind in certain categories-sports, music etc. (Since neither of these institutions seem to be making the mark in either arena. 

[Charles Hunter]

OK, Google-foo tuned, and it wasn't out of tune to begin with:

1004.875 State College Pilot Project.--
     (1) The Legislature finds that it is in the best interest of the state to provide the residents of the state affordable access to baccalaureate degree programs that are designed to meet regional and statewide employment needs. 

     (2)(a) Beginning with the 2008-2009 fiscal year, the State College Pilot Project is created, which shall be conducted by Chipola College, Daytona Beach College, Edison College, Indian River College, Miami Dade College, Okaloosa-Walton College, Polk College, Santa Fe College, and St. Petersburg College in collaboration with the Florida College System Task Force. The purpose of the pilot project is to recommend to the Legislature an approval process for the transition of baccalaureate-degree-granting community colleges to state colleges in order to meet the employment needs of Florida, criteria for the transition of institutions in the Florida College System to state colleges, and a funding model for the Florida College System.

So, no FCCJ in the Pilot Program, which must issue a report to the Legislature on recommendations for expanding the program, and implementation ideas.

From here: http://www.flsenate.gov/cgi-bin/view_page.pl?Tab=session&Submenu=1&FT=D&File=sb1716er.html&Directory=session/2008/Senate/bills/billtext/html/
Quoted section begins on line 196.  It talks about the Pilot Program and reporting around line 263.

Doesn't (or didn't) Senator Wise work for FCCJ?  Couldn't he get our school included??

[ProjectMaximus]

Cool. Thanks for the added info. It solidifies what I had alluded to back in July...

I heard from my parents (both professors at FCCJ) that a decision on the state college designation probably won't be made for awhile.

I believe there are about 10 more community colleges considering the switch after this initial "pilot project," and as I said, FCCJ is among those, but it's far from a done deal. This fall marks the inception of their four 4-year degree programs, so it's a start, but it's just a start.

[jaxphotocat]

For what it is worth, I am a professor at FCCJ and my understanding is that we offer four 4-year degrees now, which makes us a college. The big questions are will we keep this status, if so, will we expand our offerings?

I do not see a cost problem at this time.  We are offering degrees that there is a shown demand for and we already most of the parts in place since we where already courses and/or 2-year degrees.

I would like us to be allowed to offer a few BA degrees that are liberal arts based.

"First Coast College of Jacksonville"  "FCJ" -  so named by Charles Hunter  does sound pretty good.  Also, I will toss out there "Florida College at Jacksonville"  --->>> We can even save money losing the weight of the extra "C"!!!!  : )

My 2 cents.

Jaxphotocat

[apvbguy]

if you convert FCCJ into a 4 year state university what will take the place of FCCJ? there is a need for a community college, I don't know if there's a need for another 4 year school

[Charles Hunter]

The legislation I linked to requires the new state COLLEGES (not Universities) to continue their missions of providing low-cost, access-to-all, education to their communities.

Going back to what jaxphotocat said, this is what confuses me, FCCJ is offering 4-year degrees, but isn't part of the "pilot program"?  Why not be in the pilot?

[Ocklawaha]

Making a North link on the Skyway as a transit - trunk - Line seem to make all that much more sense. Edward Waters  - First Coast College - Jones - JU, toss in the Courthouse, library or a railway connection and we'd have to beat the tourists and students off with bats.. "In a godda de vida"

OCKLAWAHA

[mrsepsr]

If you want to spur downtown development and activity, nothing better than upgrading your higher education right in the middle of downtown. Ensures a constant influx of young adults. BU in Boston, NYU in New York, etc, etc.

http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/072408/met_308718930.shtml

Jax State College?
Jax College (kinda like that one)
Jax College International (heh heh)

One of the things that appeals to me and my husband about living in downtown Jacksonville is that it's within walking distance to a college and library.  We would love to live in a high rise with a river view, but the places I've been able to find while surfing the net, like Berkman Plaza, and Peninsula seem like even just a studio on a low floor would be at least $200-$300,000.  Does anyone know of any high rise condos on the river, or downtown with a river view that has prices in the $100,000's?  We're considering moving up there from Fort Myers.  Any comments, suggestions, or warnings?  Thanks!

[nicktooch]

best name is First Coast College of/at Jacksonville.  i dont think anyone will be able to stop calling it FCCJ, or want to.

[Jason]

If you want to spur downtown development and activity, nothing better than upgrading your higher education right in the middle of downtown. Ensures a constant influx of young adults. BU in Boston, NYU in New York, etc, etc.

http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/072408/met_308718930.shtml

Jax State College?
Jax College (kinda like that one)
Jax College International (heh heh)

One of the things that appeals to me and my husband about living in downtown Jacksonville is that it's within walking distance to a college and library.  We would love to live in a high rise with a river view, but the places I've been able to find while surfing the net, like Berkman Plaza, and Peninsula seem like even just a studio on a low floor would be at least $200-$300,000.  Does anyone know of any high rise condos on the river, or downtown with a river view that has prices in the $100,000's?  We're considering moving up there from Fort Myers.  Any comments, suggestions, or warnings?  Thanks!

There are quite a few options.  The river views are going to come at a premium but there are plenty of other places for rent and sale in and around downtown.

Check out http://www.downtownjacksonville.org/

Hope you find what you're looking for.