President Jackson Sasser will lay out his vision for the 2010-2011 academic year at Santa Fe College at Fall Convocation on Friday, Aug. 20. This is a school-wide meeting of faculty and professional staff at which Sasser discusses new initiatives and gives an update on the college’s budget.
Fall enrollment figures
Santa Fe’s fall semester classes begin Monday, Aug. 23. The college’s estimate for total fall enrollment, which includes the Fall, Fall A and Fall B semesters, is about 18,000 students. Last year, the aggregate of these three terms was 17,290. Today, Santa Fe’s enrollment is up almost 4 percent over last year (head count). Projecting that percentage to last year’s head count yields the best guestimate of about 700 more students this year.
Convocation’s guest speakers
In addition to remarks by Sasser, Convocation will feature:
Brian Beach, the University of Florida’s senior vice president of administration and business ventures, adressing the rapidly growing number of partnerships and joint programs between UF and Santa Fe and how the two institutions are key to Innovation Gainesville, a new public-private initiative designed to apply UF research and Santa Fe’s technical training to the development of companies in key areas such as biotechnology and pharmaceuticals.
Kay McClenney, director of the Community College Survey of Student Engagement, will discuss key findings from the administration of a student engagement survey and how it translates to facilitating student engagement and success at Santa Fe.
2010-2011 academic year news
New this year:
- The opening of the new UF@SF Center on campus to serve as an outpost for the recruitment of Santa Fe students into UF programs, including distance education
- A new initiative to mentor and support students with GEDs as they enter their first semester at the college ~ This is a critical time for a beginning college student in terms of retention. In July, Angela Long, coordinator of Student Leadership & Activities, and Austin Brinza, SF student body president, led a student delegation to Washington, D.C. to present a retention plan to the Undersecretary of Education Martha Kanter. While their proposal did not result in federal grant funding, Santa Fe is able to offer a scaled-down version of the program for this academic year. ~ Read more
- A new push to improve employee wellness
More news
Santa Fe is exploring the idea of offering a farmer’s market on the Northwest campus.
RTS is now offering a new bus route to Santa Fe, route number 23, which travels between the Oaks Mall and the Northwest campus. See route
The college’s new grant-funded Health Information Technology (electronic medical records) classes will begin Sept. 30. ~ Read more
The college is offering a 1-credit course mindfulness course designed to prevent burnout among health care providers. ~ Read more
Due to the increase in enrollment and the construction of the new Fine Arts Hall on campus, parking is a challenge the first two weeks of classes. Santa Fe is offering tips to ease the situation. ~ Read more
Convocation schedule
Convocation will be held from 9-10:30 a.m. Friday, Aug. 20 in the gymnasium at the Northwest campus, 3000 NW 83rd St.
CONTACT:
For more information about convocation or to arrange a media interview with President Sasser, please contact Larry Keen, assistant to the president, at 352-395-5164.
For help facilitating your story, contact Julie Garrett, media relations coordinator, 352-395-5430 or 352-870-2924 (cell) or julie.garrett@sfcollege.edu.