More New Programs, Buildings Greet EFSC Students This Fall

It’s all about growth at Eastern Florida State College.

Growth in more programs that put students in top career fields, in state-of-the-art facilities where they learn and in off-campus locations that broaden their educational options.

Those new initiatives and more are awaiting about 16,000 students returning to the college Aug. 15 for the start of the Fall Term.

They will have convenient locations to study in face-to-face classes on the Titusville, Cocoa, Melbourne and Palm Bay campuses, and through expanded eLearning courses online.

They will also have 17 new programs to choose from as the college continues its focus on fast-growth job fields such in Business, Health Care and Computer Technologies.

The list includes new Bachelor Degree tracks that will increase the number of four-year programs to 14 by January, with more than 1,000 bachelor-level students enrolled this fall.

“Our Bachelor tracks are giving students an excellent opportunity to get a jump-start on great careers and they’re seizing the opportunity,” said college President Dr, Jim Richey.

“The programs allow them to build classes around their busy schedules by taking courses on campus or online, with online especially appealing to working adults juggling jobs and families.”

The college is offering nearly 600 online classes during Fall Term with some Bachelor Degrees and Associate Degrees available completely through eLearning.

Eastern Florida students have another big advantage as they return:  The college has not raised tuition five years in a row, making it easier on their pocketbooks, with Eastern Florida one of the most affordable colleges in the state and the nation.

“Holding the line on costs is central to our mission because it gives more students a chance to get into the classroom and succeed,” said Richey.

On the Melbourne campus, students will see a new $20 million Health Sciences Institute heading toward completion.

The 60,000-square-foot facility will house 12 new and existing programs and contain 10 specialized labs to train healthcare professionals in a wide range of fields.

“The institute is a real game-changer that will be on par with the best facilities of its kind in the country,” said Dr. Linda Miedema, Vice President of Academic Affairs and Chief Learning Officer. “It’s going to be a tremendous asset to the healthcare community on the Space Coast.”

The Health Sciences Institute is scheduled to open in January with construction on yet another building – a new Student Union – set to begin later in 2017.

The projects are the next step in a $75 million plan to expand the Melbourne campus with new academic buildings and make it a vital center for higher education and workforce development well into the 21st century.

The first new facility, a Public Safety Institute that includes law enforcement and corrections academies, opened in January 2015.

Meanwhile, the college plans to start offering classes at Patrick Air Force Base in October with a variety of Bachelor Degree, Associate Degree and College Credit Certificate programs available.

The classes on base will be geared to Air Force and other active duty personnel, Department of Defense workers, National Guard and Reserve troops, and military family members.

Expanding the college’s reach still more, the Center for Space Education at Kennedy Space Center will house a program that allows students to study for a certificate in Geographic Information Systems.

Welcome Back events are planned for EFSC faculty, staff and students, with the first event Thursday, August 11 to update faculty and staff on college-wide initiatives during a 10 a.m. gathering at the King Center on the Melbourne Campus. That's proceeded by a faculty and staff breakfast from 8 to 9:30 a.m. in the Melbourne Campus Gym.

Student Welcome Back events will be held August 29 - Sept. 1 during a week-long focus on student resources including clubs, tutoring access, career planning assistance and other academic support. All student events are from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the following locations and days: Titusville Campus Pavilion, Monday, August 29; Cocoa Campus Quad, Tuesday, August 30; Melbourne Campus Pavilion, Wednesday, August 31; and Palm Bay Building 2 Patio, Thursday, September 1.

For more information on Eastern Florida, visit easternflorida.edu.