The institution
has degree granting authority from the appropriate government agency or
agencies. |
_X_Compliance
___Partial Compliance ___Non-Compliance
Narrative
St. Petersburg
College is in compliance with this requirement because it has received
degree-granting authority from the appropriate state agencies.
Authorization to
grant degrees
St. Petersburg College was founded in
1927 as St. Petersburg Junior College, Florida's first two-year
institution of higher education. Initially a private facility, the
College became fully accredited in 1931. In 1939 the Florida
Legislature adopted a law authorizing counties with a population of
50,000 or more to establish a public junior college, with permission of
the State Board of Education. On May 11, 1948, SPC converted from
private to public status, the second junior college (after Palm Beach
Junior College) in the state to make the change.
In June 2001,
legislation was signed by Gov. Jeb Bush enabling SPJC to become the
first among Florida’s 28 public community colleges to transition to a
four-year institution. The College dropped the “Junior” from its name,
and, since August 2002, the College began offering bachelor’s degrees in
Education, Nursing and Technology Management. The programs became
accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools in
December 2001, and St. Petersburg College’s first group of nine
four-year graduates – all in Technology and Management – received their
degrees in July 2003.
Formal authority
for the award of degrees, certificates of completion, and advanced
technology diplomas in Florida Statute 1004.73 was revised in 2001 by
the Florida State Legislature to include a special provision addressing
the status of St. Petersburg College as a four-year college: |
Excerpt from Florida Statute 1004.73
St. Petersburg College
(1)
LEGISLATIVE INTENT.--The Legislature intends to create an innovative
means to increase access to baccalaureate degree level education in
populous counties that are underserved by public baccalaureate
degree granting institutions. This education is intended to address
the state's workforce needs, especially the need for teachers,
nurses, and business managers in agencies and firms that require
expertise in technology.
(2) ST.
PETERSBURG COLLEGE; MISSION; POLICIES.--St. Petersburg College shall
immediately seek accreditation from the Southern Association of
Colleges and Schools as a baccalaureate degree granting college.
(a) The
primary mission of St. Petersburg College is to provide high-quality
undergraduate education at an affordable price for students and the
state. The purpose is to promote economic development by preparing
people for occupations that require a bachelor's degree and are in
demand by existing or emerging public and private employers in this
state.
(b) St.
Petersburg College shall maintain the mission and policies of a
Florida community college, including the open-door admissions policy
and the authority to offer all programs consistent with a community
college's authority.
(c) St.
Petersburg College shall maintain the distinction between the
college and its university center. St. Petersburg College is
limited to community college programs and to selected baccalaureate
degree level programs that meet community needs and are authorized
as provided by this section. The University Center may make
available more diverse program offerings, but those programs are
offered by a participating college or university and are not to be
classified or funded as programs of St. Petersburg College.
(d) The
academic policies of the upper-division program at St. Petersburg
College must be in accordance with policies of the State Board of
Education.
The initial list of
SPC’s baccalaureate degrees authorized by the State of Florida was
included in the Florida Statute.
Excerpt from Florida Statute 1004.73
St. Petersburg College
1.
Bachelor of Science in Nursing. This program must be designed to
articulate with the associate in science degree in nursing. St.
Petersburg College shall continue to offer the associate in science
degree in nursing.
2.
Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education.
3.
Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science in Special Education.
4.
Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education.
5.
Bachelor of Applied Science in fields selected by the Board of
Trustees of St. Petersburg College.
The Board of
Trustees shall base the selection on an analysis of workforce needs
and opportunities in the following counties: Pinellas, Pasco,
Hernando, and other counties approved by the Department of
Education. For each program selected, St. Petersburg College must
offer a related associate in science or associate in applied science
degree program, and the baccalaureate degree level program must be
designed to articulate fully with at least one associate in science
degree program. The college is encouraged to develop articulation
agreements for enrollment of graduates of related associate in
applied science degree programs.
(b) St.
Petersburg College may offer courses that enable teachers to qualify
for certification and recertification as required by law or rule.
(c) St. Petersburg College may
offer programs to provide opportunities for a person who holds a
baccalaureate degree, but is not certified to teach, to obtain any
additional courses required for teacher certification.
SACS approved the
addition of baccalaureate degrees at St. Petersburg College in 2002,
saying, “The Committee commends St. Petersburg College for their
vision, planning, and implementation of a creative and innovative
expansion of programs to include baccalaureate degrees in the high-need
areas of Nursing, Teacher Education, and Technology Management in their
service region.”
Currently, in
addition to Bachelor’s Degrees in Nursing, Technology Management, and
Education, the College offers Bachelor’s Degrees in the following
fields, as allowed in the statute:
-
Dental Hygiene
-
Orthotics and Prosthetics
-
Public Safety
Administration
-
Veterinary Technology
-
International Business
-
Business Technology
Education
-
Technology Education
-
Paralegal Assisting
-
Banking
Each new degree
program has been submitted to and approved by SACS.
As mentioned in
(2)(b) above, Florida Statute 1004.73 instructs the College to maintain
the mission and policies of a Florida community college, Florida Statute
1004.65 provides additional authority for the granting of degrees: |
Excerpt from Florida Statute 1004.73
St. Petersburg College
(6) The
primary mission and responsibility of community colleges is
responding to community needs for postsecondary academic education
and career degree education. This mission and responsibility
includes being responsible for:
(a) Providing
lower level undergraduate instruction and awarding associate
degrees.
(b) Preparing
students directly for careers 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 career certificates, credit courses leading to associate in
science degrees and associate in applied science degrees, and other
programs in fields requiring substantial academic work, background,
or qualifications. A community college may offer career education
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.
(e) Providing
dual enrollment instruction.
(7) A
separate and secondary role for community colleges includes:
(a) Providing
upper level instruction and awarding baccalaureate degrees as
specifically authorized by law.
(9) 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 test. Each community college may
provide access to baccalaureate degrees in accordance with law.
Florida Statute
1001.65 provides that as chief executive officer, the College President
shall act as Corporate Secretary for her/his respective Board of
Trustees, and responsible for the administration and operation of the
College. Among the duties of the President is the awarding of degrees,
certificates, and applied technology diplomas. Florida Statute 1001.64
also grants to the Board of Trustees the authority to adopt rules
establishing student performance standards for the award of the same.
Florida State Board
of Education Rules provide more detailed guidance supporting the Florida
Statutes, excerpted here to show only the authority to grant degrees: |
Excerpt from State Board of Education
Rule
6A-14.030
Instruction and Awards in Community Colleges
Community
colleges are authorized to provide instruction and to confer
degrees, certificates, and diplomas only as prescribed herein. Any
degree program, certificate, or diploma program offered at a
community college shall be offered at the established standard
credit hour length. Revisions to the standard credit hour lengths
and the lengths of new programs added to the Statewide Program
Inventory list must be approved by the Division of Community
Colleges.
(1) Associate
in Arts degree. …
(2) Associate
in Science degree. …
(3) Associate
in Applied Science Degree. …
(4) A
Technical Certificate …
(5) An Applied
Technology Diploma …
(6) An
Advanced Technical Certificate …
(7) Career and
Technical Certificate. …
(8) Continuing
Workforce Education. …
(10)
Preparatory instruction. …
(11) Lifelong
learning instruction. …
|
St. Petersburg
College Board of Trustees reaffirms the responsibility of the College to
grant Bachelors of Science degrees, Bachelors of Applied Science
degrees, Bachelors of Arts degrees, Associate in Arts degrees, Associate
in Science degrees, and Technical Certificates in Board of Trustees Rule
6Hx23-1.021, Adoption of Chapter 6A-14 Florida Administrative Code, and in the mission and goals of the College, published in the College
Catalog and the St. Petersburg College Web site. |
St. Petersburg College Goals
SPC Goals Supporting
The Mission Statement
-
Provide equal
educational opportunities to a diverse student body.
-
Prepare students
for work in selected professional fields through Bachelor of
Science, Bachelor of Arts, and Bachelor of Applied Science degree
programs and in partnership with other colleges/universities through
St. Petersburg College's University Partnership Center.
-
Prepare
lower-division students for transfer into baccalaureate programs
through the Associate in Arts program and articulated Associate in
Science degree programs.
-
Prepare
lower-division students for careers requiring post-secondary
education through Associate in Science, Associate in Applied
Science, selected Technical Certificate and Applied Technology
programs.
-
Provide
opportunities for under-prepared students to achieve college
entry-level skills in reading, writing and mathematics through the
college preparatory programs and opportunities for exceptionally
dedicated students to maximize the development of their academic
abilities and talents through honors courses and service projects.
-
promote challenging
educational opportunities for area high school students through dual
enrollment, charter school programs and similar programs;
-
Provide
opportunities to improve employability, enhance career skills and
attain personal enrichment through courses, seminars, workshops and
other continuing education programs.
-
Promote economic
and cultural development for the state through special education and
training programs including collaborative labs initiatives,
technical courses and work-shops, promotion of the arts and services
designed to enhance the competitiveness of individuals, agencies,
businesses and industries in the local, state, national and global
economies.
-
Contribute to the
international education of students through a variety of courses,
foreign study tours, Faculty and student exchanges, linkages with
international institutions, distance learning and other special
programs.
-
Serve target
populations beyond the borders of Pinellas County through distance
learning programs and other means that emanate from the
institution's history of services and specialized expertise.
-
Provide additional
services to students and the community through partnerships with
government, businesses and other academic institutions, through
grants and through Foundation projects.
-
Enhance student
learning and assist with career planning, goal-setting and financial
aid to maximize students' opportunities to succeed.
-
Provide an open
admission general education curriculum which results in students'
achievement of the following educational outcomes:
General Education Goals.
-
Communicate
effectively by demonstrating the ability to speak, listen, read and
write in an organized and analytical manner.
-
Demonstrate
effective mathematical skills emphasizing practical problem solving
and data interpretation.
-
Utilize the
scientific method as it applies to understanding scientific and
social phenomena.
-
Recognize basic
scientific principles underlying human influence upon the earth and
its inhabitants.
-
Implement
appropriate forms of existing and evolving technology for personal,
educational, and professional purposes.
-
Demonstrate the
ability to work effectively with others in a variety of settings.
-
Demonstrate an
understanding and appreciation of the humanities and fine arts
including participating in cultural activities featuring art, music, literature, dance and/or theater.
-
Participate as
informed and responsible citizens in solving social, economic and
political problems in a multicultural and global society.
-
Recognize ethical
issues and dilemmas in the personal, business and social areas of
their lives and apply ethical principles and logical problem-solving
skills when making ethical decisions.
-
Think logically,
critically and creatively to solve problems and make decisions.
-
Recognize the
importance of lifelong learning process in the pursuit of personal,
intellectual and career development.
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