Trustees Praise Eastern Florida President for Outstanding Job

Eastern Florida State College President Dr. Jim Richey was praised Monday for his excellent performance by the Board of Trustees who extended his contract to 2021.

The trustees took the action during Richey’s performance review for 2015, which is the fourth since he became president in 2012.

They were unanimous in praising his accomplishments, citing dozens of new programs, keeping tuition low, maintaining high graduation rates and growing business partnerships.

“He’s done an outstanding job throughout his employment at the college,” said vice chair Moses Harvin. “He treats the college like his family. He looks out for every faculty member, every dollar.”

Said trustee Dewey Harris: “I’m truly pleased with the direction the college is going.”

Richey thanked the board for its support, saying “without you, we would not be where we are today.”

He also thanked the “outstanding, hardworking and professional faculty who have done a tremendous job through the years. They’re truly making a difference.”

He went on to say the college’s staff is “second-to-none in keeping the college running smoothly and efficiently,” and is grateful for the “heartfelt support we feel from our community,” including donors, volunteers and those serving on advisory boards.

Board chair Alan Landman listed a number of Richey’s achievements in 2015 in discussing what he called his strong leadership.

Landman said they included:

• Continuing to launch new academic programs with 30 now underway, including 10 Bachelor Degree tracks with 1,000 students enrolled.
• Being among the top graduation rates in the 28-member Florida College System; ranking 4th in Associate in Arts Degree graduates.
• Not raising tuition for the fourth straight year, with EFSC ranking 21st nationally in lowest college tuition.
• Continuing a college-wide facilities expansion, including a new $20 million Health Sciences Institute under construction on the Melbourne campus.
• Expanding business partnerships, including an agreement with Orlando City Soccer Club to base their Orlando City B team at the Titan Soccer Complex on the Melbourne campus.
• Starting an FAA-approved Aviation Center at Melbourne International Airport to train mechanics and technicians for the airport’s rapidly growing commercial aviation sector.
• Growing the Eastern Florida State College Foundation’s endowment to $21 million, the largest in its history.