Commissioner's Corner: A look at Valencia College

In April, I wrote about the University of Central Florida’s growth to be the nation’s second largest university and its maturation into one of Florida’s premier universities. This month, I would like to discuss another important educational institution in our community, Valencia College.

Valencia College has grown rapidly in both facilities and student body since its humble beginnings nearly a half-century ago. In 1967, Valencia Junior College welcomed its first 500 students and 20 faculty members. Students attended class in portable buildings on a temporary site on West Oak Ridge Road. In 1971, Valencia changed its name to Valencia Community College and moved into what is known today as the West Campus on Kirkman Road. By 1975, Valencia had spread through Central Florida with the Open Campus in downtown Orlando, the Osceola Center in downtown Kissimmee, and the East Campus on Econlockhatchee Trail. Over the next 15 years, Valencia opened its North Center on Lee Road in Winter Park, a joint-use facility on Osceola Boulevard, and hosted former President Gerald Ford to celebrate the school’s 20th anniversary. The 1990s saw the creation of the Osceola Campus on Denn John Lane in Kissimmee as well as the Winter Park Campus on Morse Boulevard.

Valencia has continued to grow in the new millennium. It opened the Walt Disney World Center for Hospitality and Culinary Arts in 2002, its Criminal Justice Institute in 2004, and a Lake Nona Campus in 2012. Over the last 50 years, the charter class of 500 students has grown to a student body of 71,000 students from over 80 countries around the world. The size of the faculty has grown to keep pace with the ever-expanding student population. Valencia employs 1,484 full and part-time professors as well as 1,965 other staff.

Valencia’s growth as a college has brought with it increased levels of academic achievement. Today’s students can pursue an education in any of 25 associate’s degree programs, 81 certificate programs, and three bachelor’s degree programs. Many of these graduates go on to successful careers. Valencia associate’s degree graduates had a 93 to 95-percent job placement rate in 2015. Valencia has been publicly recognized for its achievements. In 2011, Valencia won the inaugural Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence. The Aspen Prize recognizes community colleges with high achievement and performance as well as exceptional student outcomes in four areas: student learning, certificate and degree completion, employment and earnings, and high levels of access and success for minority and low-income students.

Valencia works closely with industry partners in the community to create corporate education and training partnerships with Florida Hospital, Lockheed Martin, NationsBank, SeaWorld, Universal Studios, and others. Valencia provides a pathway for many students to achieve a four-year bachelor’s degree at UCF through the DirectConnect program, which guarantees Valencia graduates admission and a smooth transition to UCF. This program has led to Valencia becoming the primary source of transfer students to UCF, and one in four UCF graduates begins their college education at Valencia.

In an exciting recent development, Valencia College will be an integral part of the planned UCF downtown Orlando campus. Valencia will partner with UCF to share space and teaching staff to keep costs down for both institutions. Approximately 30 percent of the downtown campus’ student body will be made up of Valencia College students. As you may have read, UCF was recently awarded $20 million in state funding toward this project. This state funding, combined with a $20 million contribution from UCF and $20 million from community partners, including $3 million from Orange County government, will fund this important project. Most importantly, the city of Orlando approved a $75 million contribution toward the project, including land and infrastructure improvements. The location of this campus will provide easy access to downtown-area internship opportunities for students, particularly those living on or near the campus.

As a county commissioner, I am proud of the tremendous educational gains our community has made over the past 50 years. Valencia College is a great place to begin your higher education, and prospective college students in Orange County considering attending Valencia have many options to achieve success in realizing their academic goals. Valencia’s partnership with UCF and private industry, as well as the availability of other colleges and universities in our community, makes Orange County an even greater place to live, work, and learn. I am the proud parent of a Valencia College student that plans on attending UCF though the DirectConnect program. As always, if you have any questions about any county issue, please do not hesitate to contact me or my aide, Edgar Robinson. We can be reached at 407-836-7350 or by email at [email protected].