companies , giving them a go-to place to expand their workforce and provide continuing education for existing staffs . It can also help start-ups get their footing as they begin building their technical teams .
It ’ s a unique facility that will stand out in Central Florida for what it can accomplish in a host of fields .
CITE will support students in 16 college programs focused on aerospace , computer technology , engineering , and advanced manufacturing where students can earn Bachelor Degrees , Associate Degrees and College Certificates .
There was significant local support for CITE , correct ?
Yes . In fact , NASA and more than 50 companies wrote letters of support to the Legislature for the project . They included employers such as Lockheed Martin , Boeing , Blue Origin , Northrup Grumman and OneWeb Satellites .
Tell us about the Aerospace Center of Excellence ( ACE ). Isn ’ t the Aerospace Technology Program located on the Cocoa Campus ?
That is correct . The program is based on the Cocoa Campus and will remain centered there , with Cocoa students often serving apprenticeships at KSC that lead to jobs immediately upon graduation .
That said , ACE will provide a location to expand the college ’ s Aerospace Technology program to the Titusville Campus , which is ideally situated adjacent to the Kennedy Space Center .
Several new commercial space companies are locating near Titusville . ACE will provide a much-needed training ground for North Brevard students and allow the Aerospace Technology two-year degree program to double in size .
It ’ s just what North Brevard companies are looking for because it can also draw students from nearby Orlando and Volusia County . That can vastly expand their talent pool .
The EFSC Board of Trustees approved a new $ 82.6 million Fiscal Year budget that went into effect on July 1 . It comes as the college fully emerges from the COVID-19 pandemic and resumed normal operations . What are the budget highlights ?
Keeping tuition low . Doing that has benefited our students immensely and is something I am particularly proud of . This is the 11th straight year we have not raised tuition .
Additionally , our faculty and staff are superb professionals . Throughout all we have faced the last two years with COVID , they stood tall and never wavered in their service to our students . Raises were included for both full-time and part-time faculty and staff . The budget also fully funds all academic programs . I ’ m confident that this budget will accomplish our mission and serve as a reliable roadmap for our continued success .
Eastern Florida State College is a valuable resource for employers . Having a local college with a vision for the future and a strong focus on workforce programming supports our attraction and retention of manufacturing and high-tech business to the Space Coast . The funding the college recently received from the State Legislature for the new facilities on the Melbourne and Titusville Campuses is proof that EFSC is focused on meeting the needs of industry for both Brevard County and Florida .
– Linda Weatherman President & CEO , Economic Development Commission of Florida ’ s Space Coast
6 | EFSConnections Fall 2022