Higher Education Partnerships Benefit Florida Students
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Higher Education Partnerships Benefit Florida Students
~ Students seeking college degrees use cost-effective program to pursue dreams ~ORLANDO – Students pursuing a college degree have a variety of avenues to consider in Florida, thanks to the partnerships between The Florida College System and the State University System. The long-standing 2+2 Pathways to Success, a joint program that provides opportunities for students to pursue and complete university baccalaureate degrees on their local Florida College system campuses, was recognized today by Florida College System Chancellor Dr. Will Holcombe during a University of Central Florida (UCF) Board of Trustees meeting. UCF President Dr. John Hitt accepted a ceremonial check for his leadership role in the development of new and existing 2+2 partnerships with Florida Colleges.
“The purpose of the 2+2 Pathways to Success program provides a geographically accessible and economical way for students to attend their university of choice on a campus of their local Florida College,” said Dr. Holcombe. “The collaboration between our colleges and their university partners offer these trend-setting programs to benefit the many cost-conscious students who need to stay close to home for a variety of reasons. The programs are also less costly to the state of Florida at a time when dollars are scarce at our own colleges and universities.”
The 2010 legislature appropriated $4 million to be split among public colleges and universities who engage in these partnerships. They appropriated another $1 million for colleges and universities who want to establish new joint baccalaureate degrees in 2011-12. The six Florida colleges in the Central Florida area and UCF will split more than $2 million for the existing partnership program, called Direct Connect to UCF, and another roughly $300,000 for new partnerships.
While 18 Florida colleges and eight universities are sharing awards and recognition under the program this year, UCF is the largest recipient of the funds because of its broad reach with six Florida colleges: Brevard Community College, College of Central Florida, Daytona State College, Lake-Sumter Community College, Seminole State College of Florida and Valencia College.