“The pipeline from high school to higher education and from higher education to the workforce,” was how Florida State College at Jacksonville’s mission was described Monday by Cynthia Bioteau, the institution’s fifth president.
Now in her eighth week at FSCJ, Bioteau addressed the Rotary Club of Jacksonville at the Omni Downtown.
Since its founding as Florida Junior College at Jacksonville, the school has evolved from a few students and classes into offering more than 100 certificate and degree programs to more than 57,000 part-time and full-time students at nine campuses and learning centers.
Bioteau said the curriculum is designed to teach skills that lead to high-wage jobs needed by the local business community. Consequently, she said, 68 percent of FSCJ graduates live and work in North Florida.
In addition to certificate programs, FSCJ offers bachelor’s degree programs in 10 fields, including business administration, nursing, information technology management, early childhood education logistics and financial services.
Bioteau said a new area of study — mechatronics — will train students in the field of computerized machining and manufacturing.
Classes may be completed on campus, at work sites and online. With curriculum that reflects the needs of employers, Bioteau said FSCJ graduates can join the workforce soon after graduation.
Ninety-seven percent of students who graduate from the health care courses of study are able to find jobs in the field and employers are ready to hire the school’s logistics program graduates.
Bioteau said the curriculum is developed with the assistance of advisory committees made up of business owners and managers in specific fields.
Courses designed to meet the needs of specialized groups such as military veterans and courses for students whose first language is not English also are part of the curriculum.
The course catalog is under constant review and subject to change, based on the needs of the community.
“We may discontinue programs if they no longer provide the needed workforce. Every winter, you cut out the deadwood before spring,” Bioteau said.
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