FCCJ moves to become state college by summer

[thelakelander]

FCCJ will be renamed First Coast State College, Northeast Florida State College or Florida Northeastern State College.

At a time of statewide budget uncertainty for higher education, Florida Community College at Jacksonville is moving full-force toward a future that includes a name change, more four-year degrees and a major reorganization.

FCCJ will become a state college as early as this summer, pending approval, President Steve Wallace said this week. The school offers some bachelor's degrees, so the immediate change amounts to mostly a new name. But Wallace said he is using this opportunity to remake the school into at least three branches, including a new technical college that would focus on developing jobs for a changing economy.

full article: http://www.jacksonville.com/news/metro/schools/2009-01-08/fccj_moves_to_become_state_college_by_summer

[jtwestside]

It would be really nice to see some of the Section 8/HUD housing in the area around their downtown campus turned into student housing. Particularly in and around Springfield. Students living in the area would also add vibrancy and flavor (and potential customers) to the 8th and Main commercial district.

[downtownparks]

I agree, and hope they add a lot of four year programs to the downtown campus. Right now they have most of their computer courses on the southside campus, even though the "advanced technology center" is downtown.

Personally, I like Florida North Eastern. Has a nice ring to it.

[Lucasjj]

I believe it will take several years before there is a need for student housing in that area. UNF has shown that this area attracts mainly commuter students. My final semester there in Spring of 2008 was the first semester they even had to implement a waiting list for student housing.

The need will also depend on how they structure the programs. In my experience with FCCJ, my courses were dispersed around Jacksonville to several campuses. If they implement specific programs at certain campuses that would at least create some demand for students to be directly in that area.

[jtwestside]

Well I would hope some negotiating/pleading is being done by someone (SPAR?) to entice FCCJ to structure their programs in such a way that would benefit the area. Having students downtown for classes would do a lot for the Urban Core as a whole.

Man it would be nice to see students and not bums using Hemming plaza and the other urban areas.

[Joe]

My favorite name is First Coast State.

I agree with the other posters. A full-fledged downtown campus would be the best result. They certainly have the space as well as the ability to create a true college campus (as opposed to the unavoidable community college feel on some of the suburban campuses).

However, I fear that Lucasjj's analysis will prove correct. First Coast State will probably spread these 4 year program out over all the campuses rather than creating a concentrated downtown college.

[JeffreyS]

I like First Coast State and I agree a centralized campus for the four year programs would be best. I do however think the south side campus isn't particularly Community College looking and Kent is a very attractive campus.

[hightowerlover]

FCCJ changes name to Florida State College at Jacksonville

Florida Community College at Jacksonville has changed its name to Florida State College at Jacksonville. The school made the announcement at a Tuesday afternoon news conference.
http://jacksonville.bizjournals.com/jacksonville/stories/2009/03/02/daily11.html

Florida Community College at Jacksonville has changed its name to Florida State College at Jacksonville. The school made the announcement at a Tuesday afternoon news conference.

The school already offers four-year degrees in critical care nursing, management, fire sciences management and networks and telecommunications.

The school’s shift to a state college designation will allow it to expand its four-year offerings to offer new programs in early childhood education, public safety management and information technology management. The school plans to add three new four-year programs to its curriculum each year.

Based on the response last summer when the first three four-year programs were added, school officials expect strong interest.

“We were overwhelmed with the response,” said FSCJ President Steven Wallace last month. “We filled them virtually overnight.”

The switch to a state college was made possible by legislation passed last year that created another tier in public higher education between the community college and university levels. Five of the state’s 28 community colleges have already made the switch.

FSCJ will be divided into four separate entities by becoming a state college. In addition to the state college there will be a nondegree technical college, a general equivalency diploma academy and the Pathways charter school.

[Joe]

Booo ... First Coast State was a way better name.

Anyway, this is a very exciting time for FSCJ. I hope they use downtown when they eventually have demand for residential housing, although I have the sneaking suspicion that downtown will probably be the main location for the nondegree technical programs they mentioned.

[stjr]

It will be fun to see the FSU alums explaining that they are the "other" Florida State!

Maybe they will claim trademark infringement.

[comncense]

As an employee of the "college", I'm very underwhelmed by this name. $50k in marketing research money and this is what they came up with? It's like me changing my name from Jason to Jace... No logo change, no mascot change... What are we anyway, the Stars? I just think there was better options to take instead of coming up with a name that's pretty much ripped off from another existing school in the state. When you have to keep "at Jacksonville" in the name, that shows it's a bad choice already.

[Coolyfett]

It will be fun to see the FSU alums explaining that they are the "other" Florida State!

Maybe they will claim trademark infringement.

Yea I agree, they should have went with First Coast State...very turtlish.

[civil42806]

It will be fun to see the FSU alums explaining that they are the "other" Florida State!

Maybe they will claim trademark infringement.

Yea I agree, they should have went with First Coast State...very turtlish.

turtles all the way down

[ProjectMaximus]

It will be fun to see the FSU alums explaining that they are the "other" Florida State!

Maybe they will claim trademark infringement.

lol...my mom told me tonight that they actually had to wait for FSU to sign off on the name...

[Coolyfett]

The words "Florida State" should have never been included in the name!!! Why does jax continue to do thing LIKE THIS?? Can you a imagine a basketball game where it is Florida State Uni VS Florida State College of Jax?? Why create such a glass ceiling?