Santa Fe College is a public college located in Gainesville, Florida. As part of the Florida College System, it offers both associate and baccalaureate degree programs. Established in 1965 by the Florida Legislature as Santa Fe Junior College, the institution began classes in September 1966. It was renamed Santa Fe Community College in 1972 and became "Santa Fe College" in 2008 to highlight its baccalaureate programs.[6][7]
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Former names | Santa Fe Junior College (1965–1972)[1] Santa Fe Community College (1972–2008)[2] |
|---|---|
| Type | Public college |
| Established | 1965 |
Parent institution | Florida College System |
| Accreditation | SACS |
| Endowment | $35.3 million (2024)[3] |
| Budget | $98.1 million (2024)[4] |
| President | Paul Broadie II |
Academic staff | 251 (full-time)[5] 404 (part-time)[5] |
| Undergraduates | 12,729 (fall 2022)[5] |
| Location | , , United States 29°40′42″N 82°25′57″W / 29.6784°N 82.4325°W |
| Campus | Midsize suburb[5] |
| Colors | Saints blue and white |
| Nickname | Saints |
Sporting affiliations | NJCAA Region 8 – Mid-Florida Conference |
| Mascot | Caesar the St. Bernard |
| Website | www |
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Campuses
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Santa Fe College operates multiple campuses and centers throughout Alachua and Bradford counties:
- Northwest Campus: The main campus, located on 175 acres (71 ha) in northwest Gainesville, opened in 1972.[8]
- Andrews Center: Located in Starke, opened in 1985 and has since expanded.
- Blount Center: Situated in downtown Gainesville, opened in 1990, with expansions in 1993 and 2006.
- Charles R. and Nancy V. Perry Center for Emerging Technologies: Located in Alachua and opened in 2009, this center focuses on clinical laboratory technology and biotechnology degrees.
- Davis Center: Located in Archer and opened in 2003.
- Kirkpatrick Center: Near Gainesville Regional Airport, opened in 1972 and is also known as the Institute of Public Safety, providing training for law enforcement, emergency medical services, and aviation sciences.
- Watson Center: Located in Keystone Heights, opened in 2005 and added a second building in 2006.[9]
Academics
editSanta Fe College offers over 50 accredited programs in technology and applied sciences, primarily leading to associate degrees. It provides programs in fields such as dental assisting, air conditioning repair, automotive technology, and more. The college’s zoo animal technology program is notable for its onsite training at the Santa Fe College Teaching Zoo.[10]
The college offers nine bachelor’s degrees in areas including accounting, clinical laboratory science, early childhood education, health services administration, industrial biotechnology, information systems technology, multimedia and video production technology, nursing, and organizational management.[11]
Library
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The Lawrence W. Tyree Library, located on the Northwest Campus, opened in January 2002. The $10 million facility includes study rooms, a coffee shop, computer stations, and a comprehensive online catalog. It is named in honor of Lawrence W. Tyree, a former president of the college.
Athletics
editSanta Fe College is represented by the Santa Fe Saints, with varsity teams competing in Region 8 of the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA).
Awards and recognition
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In 2012 and 2014, the Aspen Institute named Santa Fe College one of the ten best community colleges in the U.S.[12][13] In 2015, the college received the Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence, recognizing it as the top community college in the country.
In 2015, the Lawrence W. Tyree Library received the Excellence in Academic Libraries Award from the Association of College & Research Libraries.[14]
Notable alumni
edit- Debbie Boyd, former member of the Florida House of Representatives
- Robin Campbell, U.S. Olympian (1980–1984)
- Craig Fugate, former FEMA Director
- Adam Kluger, advertising executive and founder of The Kluger Agency
- Connie Mack IV, former U.S. representative
- Marco Rubio, U.S. Senator
- Karen Thurman, former U.S. representative and Chair of the Florida Democratic Party
- Clovis Watson Jr., former member of the Florida House of Representatives and former Alachua County Sheriff
- Jeremy Hunter, Musician and composer known as Skatune Network
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Laney, Glenn (January 21, 1966). "Alachua's Junior College Receives Its Formal Name". The Tampa Tribune. p. B-1. Retrieved February 16, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Santa Fe Becomes Latest College To Switch Name". Orlando Sentinel. June 1, 1972. p. 1-B. Retrieved February 16, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Marra, Andrew (February 12, 2024). "Two Florida universities have more than $1 billion in endowments to invest on campus". The Palm Beach Post. Retrieved September 9, 2024.
- ^ "The Florida College System - College Operating Budget - Annual Budget Summary - Fiscal Year 2024-25 (Santa Fe College)". Florida Department of Education. Retrieved September 12, 2024.
- ^ a b c d Santa Fe College. National Center for Education Statistics (College Navigator). Retrieved September 4, 2024.
- ^ Voyles, Karen (July 1, 2008). "SFCC adopting new name". The Gainesville Sun. Archived from the original on June 15, 2011. Retrieved July 1, 2008.
- ^ Travis, Scott (July 7, 2008). "'State colleges' will offer 2- and 4-year degrees". Sun-Sentinel. pp. A1–A2. Retrieved February 16, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Celebrating 50 Years". Santa Fe College. Retrieved May 16, 2023.
- ^ "Santa Fe College".
- ^ "Santa Fe College Teaching Zoo". Visit Florida.
- ^ "Programs by Type". Santa Fe College. Retrieved 19 March 2015.
- ^ "Two Florida community colleges named 'Top 10' in the nation". Florida Trend. September 4, 2014. Retrieved 4 September 2014.
- ^ Bidwell, Allie (March 19, 2015). "Structured Pathways Help Community Colleges Succeed". USA Today. Retrieved March 19, 2015.
- ^ Jester, Erin (31 March 2015). "SF College's library gets national award" (PDF). Gainesville.com. The Gainesville Sun. Retrieved 15 November 2016.
External links
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