Santa Fe College | |
Type: | Public college |
Parent: | Florida College System |
President: | Paul Broadie II, Ph.D. |
City: | Gainesville |
State: | Florida |
Country: | United States |
Coordinates: | 29.6784°N -82.4325°W |
Students: | 12,607 (Fall 2020) |
Former Names: | Santa Fe Junior College (1965–1972) Santa Fe Community College (1972–2008) |
Campus: | Suburban |
Nickname: | Saints |
Sporting Affiliations: | NJCAA Region 8, Mid-Florida Conference |
Logo Alt: | The Logo of Santa Fe College featuring the letters "SF" prominent on top of the words "Santa Fe College" in blue |
Santa Fe College is a public college based in Gainesville, Florida, with satellite campuses in Alachua and Bradford counties. It is part of the Florida College System. It was established in 1965 as Santa Fe Junior College by the Florida Legislature and began offering classes in September 1966.[1] As of Fall 2020, the school had an enrollment of 12,607 students, and offers associate and baccalaureate degree programs.[2]
Santa Fe Community College was established by the Florida Legislature in 1965 in response to a request from the Alachua and Bradford County Boards of Public Instruction, which had canvassed the area and learned that the community would be well served if all citizens have the opportunity for an education. Although the original name of the school was Santa Fe Junior College,[3] the name was changed to Santa Fe Community College in 1972.[4] The name sometimes caused confusion with the similarly named Santa Fe Community College a college in Santa Fe, New Mexico.[5]
In 2008, Santa Fe Community College officially changed its name to Santa Fe College to emphasize the bachelor's degree programs that it began offering.[6] [7]
The college has more than 50 accredited technology and applied sciences programs, most which are two-year degrees.
African American | 19.46% | 16.9% | 13.4% | |
---|---|---|---|---|
European American | 51.9% | 54.1% | 60.7% | |
Hispanic American | 18.97% | 25.6% | 18.1% | |
Other | 9.97% | 0.5% | 1.3% |
Offering an Associate in Arts Degree, the Arts and Sciences Program consists primarily of liberal arts and sciences courses. This program culminates in a two-year liberal arts degree that can be transferred to a university which offers a bachelor's degree. The descriptions, course numbers and content of classes at Santa Fe College are the same as those in the first two years at Florida's public universities.Santa Fe College's liberal arts courses are also transferable to most public and private four-year schools in the US.[11]
Offering the Associate in Science degree or certificate, the Associate in Science program consists of technology and applied sciences courses designed to prepare students for careers in skilled professions. Some of these programs enable them to transfer to a four-year college or university. Programs offered include Dental Assisting, Air Conditioning Repair, Automotive Technology, Child Development, Construction, Public Safety, Information Technology, Cardiovascular Technology, Aviation Safety, Nursing, and Zoo Animal Technology.[11] The Zoo Animal Technology program involves onsite learning through the Santa Fe College Teaching Zoo which is the only college zookeeper training facility in the United States.[12]
Santa Fe College offers nine bachelor's degrees: 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]
Santa Fe College is supported by the Lawrence W. Tyree Library, which is located in Building Y on the main Northwest Campus. Opened in January 2002, the $10 million building includes a coffee shop, multiple group study rooms of varying sizes, DVD and video viewing stations, computerized classrooms, a conference room and two reference desks.[13]
Additional technology and services available to Santa Fe College students and faculty through the Tyree Library include printers and copiers, BookScan stations, multiple charging stations, quiet study space throughout the third floor, and 87 computers distributed throughout the library's ample study areas, as well as a thorough online library catalog through which patrons can also request books and other media from library collections throughout the state.[14] The library is named in honor of former Santa Fe Community College president, Lawrence W. Tyree.
See main article: Santa Fe Saints. Santa Fe College is represented athletically by the Santa Fe Saints. Five Saints varsity teams play within Region 8 of the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA).
In 2009, Santa Fe College adopted a fight song. "Saints Forever" was performed for the first time on Tuesday, April 21, 2009, between softball games in Gainesville. The song was a collaboration between Chris Sharp, the college's director of bands, and Ryan B. Leverone, a Santa Fe College student.[15]
In 2009, Santa Fe College was listed 6th in the nation in awarding A.A. degrees by Community College Week.[16]
In 2012 and 2014, the college was named as one of the ten best community colleges in the United States by the Aspen Institute.[17] [18]
In 2015, the Aspen Institute gave the school the Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence as top-rated community college in the United States.[19]
In 2015, Santa Fe College's Lawrence W. Tyree Library received the 2015 Excellence in Academic Libraries Award from the Association of College & Research Libraries.[20]