Building a Dynamic Future
College leading the way in workforce development
E
astern Florida State College has been a key part
of Florida’s Space Coast for more than a half-century,
educating generations of students who have
contributed to the state’s growth and prosperity. In just four years, Dr. Richey’s vision and dynamic
leadership have transformed the college into an
innovative engine of economic development with
proven results.
More than 95,000 graduates have earned their
diplomas since 1960 as the college has grown to
include four vibrant campuses in Titusville, Cocoa,
Melbourne and Palm Bay. Launching new programs
But the recession and end of NASA’s space shuttle
program at Kennedy Space Center hit Brevard County
hard, requiring the college to take a new approach
with fresh ideas to help the region rebound and
meet the demands of the global economy.
Those challenges were successfully met when the
college’s Board of Trustees hired Dr. Jim Richey in
late 2011 and a new era of education and workforce
development was launched on the Space Coast.
The focus:
Creating new programs in today’s fastest-growing
career fields that provide business and industry
with the skilled employees they need, and provide
students with excellent job opportunities upon
graduation.
Working closely with the private sector, the college
has embarked on the largest expansion of academic
programs in its history, launching 40 new Bachelor
Degree, Associate Degree and Certificate Programs
since 2012.
Almost all are centered on Business, Health Care
and Computer Technologies in support of the
direction given to the state’s institutions of higher
education by the Florida Legislature and Gov. Rick
Scott to create academic programs that lead to jobs.
The programs include 10 Bachelor Degree tracks
that are meeting a critical local need in giving
students an affordable, convenient way to advance
their education and careers that did not previously
exist in the community.
The four-year degrees have been created in
concert with the State University System and are all
workforce related.