Workforce Workhorse : Flagler Technical College Partners with Local Businesses to Keep County Growing
by Aaron London
It ’ s been said the more things change , the more they remain the same . While that may be a generalization , for Flagler Technical College , it gets to the heart of the school ’ s mission . Operating for years as Flagler Technical Institute and charged with providing local students with educational opportunities in career fields from cosmetology and health sciences to transportation , distribution and logistics , the Flagler County school took on a new identity in July 2020 , becoming Flagler Technical College .
Executive Director Renee Stauffacher said the decision to re-brand the educational institution was taken to give graduates a leg up in finding a career . “ There are 48 technical colleges and institutes in the state and I believe it ’ s up to 45 of them that have changed their name to college ,” she said . “ What it does is it helps give credibility to the certificate programs we offer and it helps parents understand it is a post-secondary college option for students .”
Already aligned with other higher education institutions , including Daytona State College , Stauffacher said the agreements Flagler Technical College has made allows students to translate their work at FTC into college credits “ if and when they want to move on .”
Stauffacher said FTC is also in discussions with the University of North Florida as that school ’ s plans to build a medical nexus facility in Palm Coast move forward .
“ We ’ ve been in discussions with them to make sure we can all
Renee Stauffacher
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