President's Tour

Independent Education in Florida — The 6 "A's"

Florida's 28 Independent Colleges and Universities have more than 100,000 students, nearly 1/3 of the students attending four-year colleges in Florida. They have assets of more than $3 billion and an annual economic impact of $8.4 billion. These colleges and universities award nearly 1/3 of Florida's four-year degrees each year and produce more than 60% of the first professional degrees awarded in Florida. They mirror many important characteristics of Florida's 11 public universities. They are SACS accredited, not-for-profit and Florida-based.

These colleges and universities are diverse in their students, campuses and missions, offering a wide range of undergraduate, graduate, first-time professional and continuing education programs. Their campuses are dispersed throughout the state located in large cities such as Miami, Fort Lauderdale, St. Petersburg, Sarasota, Jacksonville, Orlando and Tampa. Some are located in lesser known cities and towns - Lake Wales, St. Leo, Deland, Babson Park, Naples, St. Augustine and Lakeland. Campus enrollment ranges from 500 to 19,000 students.

Several were founded and grew as Florida was first developing in the 1800s and early 1900s, while others have opened during Florida's record growth of the past five decades. They offer majors in liberal arts and sciences, fine arts, medicine, law, engineering, architecture, optometry, and other technical fields. They have nearly 200 main and satellite campuses, as well as on-line programs. Regardless of their history, size, location or focus, these schools provide unique educational opportunities. They get high grades from students, alumni, educators and communities. Their report card has six "A's" … Available, Accessible, Affordable, Accountable, Adaptable and Acclaimed.

Available

Independent Colleges and Universities are available throughout the state.
While many educational institutions are capping their enrollment and turning away qualified students, independent colleges have an exceptional record of openness to all students, particularly … minority, urban, rural and physically challenged students. ICUF's colleges and universities have an articulation agreement that is unique among the states. It guarantees access for all Florida community college graduates to independent colleges and universities.

Three of the colleges are designated as Historically Black Colleges. One is a Hispanic majority university and two other universities have a majority of minority students. Forty-two percent of the total ICUF undergraduate population, who are Floridians are minorities. The urban and rural locations of satellite sites provide nearby educational opportunities for students who might have financial or physical problems leaving their home. On-line programs ensure accessibility for students throughout the state, as well. Several colleges have outreach and community service programs to reach and recruit students with disabilities and disadvantages. Independent colleges and universities are participants in the FACTS system that provides on-line information to students, parents and counselors, as well as their own campus websites to assist in enrollment.

Accessible

Independent Colleges and Universities are accessible to all students
While many educational institutions are capping their enrollment and turning away qualified students, independent colleges have an exceptional record of openness to all students, particularly … minority, urban, rural and physically challenged students. ICUF's colleges and universities have an articulation agreement that is unique among the states. It guarantees access for all Florida community college graduates to independent colleges and universities.

Three of the colleges are designated as Historically Black Colleges. One is a Hispanic majority university and two other universities have a majority of minority students. Forty-two percent of the total ICUF undergraduate population, who are Floridians are minorities. The urban and rural locations of satellite sites provide nearby educational opportunities for students who might have financial or physical problems leaving their home. On-line programs ensure accessibility for students throughout the state, as well. Several colleges have outreach and community service programs to reach and recruit students with disabilities and disadvantages. Independent colleges and universities are participants in the FACTS system that provides on-line information to students, parents and counselors, as well as their own campus websites to assist in enrollment.

Affordable

Independent Colleges and Universities are affordable for Florida students.
The 28 independent colleges and universities are affordable for students, using federal Pell Grants, federally guaranteed loans, Bright Futures Scholarships, the Florida Residents Access Grants and a variety of institutional scholarships and loan programs. ICUF institutions award financial aid to 80% of their students … more than $200M financed by these colleges & universities themselves. These colleges and universities, also receive around $100M of state financial aid mainly from the Florida Resident Access Grant. This grant helps Florida students to attend non-public colleges. Over the years, the FRAG commitment by the Legislature to independent education has meant that these colleges and universities have intensified their recruitment of Florida students, instead of seeking more out-of-state enrollments. Currently, more than 60% of the students at these colleges and universities are Floridians.

Accountable

Independent Colleges and Universities are accountable to students and the public.
Independent colleges and universities keep students on-track to graduate and track their own performance. Florida's independent colleges and universities provide an annual accountability report that measures educational performance in several important ways, including: number of degrees granted; time to earn a degree; minority enrollment; community college transfers success; faculty statistics and class size. These reports indicate that ICUF's diverse students earn their degrees and graduate on-time … in around four years. They do not take courses that are unnecessary or amass excessive credit hours for graduation, a costly, common occurrence in public institutions. This accountability report exceeds the current performance measurement systems of Florida's public community colleges, colleges and universities. These educational institutions are also full participants in the FETPIP system, which tracks the employment outcomes and earnings of their graduates. They are partners in the WEOIS System (Workforce Education and Outcome Information System) that tracks high school students as they progress through their academic and professional lives.

Adaptable

Independent Colleges and Universities are adaptable to meet new demands.
Because they are independent, these institutions can change quickly to answer Florida's educational and employment needs. Unburdened by government bureaucracy, they can make a decision on Monday and implement it by Friday. They have in the past year engaged the workforce development system, helping women and unemployed workers re-enter the workforce and get better paying jobs. They are working with businesses to meet their high-skill workplace needs and to retrain their incumbent workers. Many of ICUF's research institutions can excel in aeronautical, computer, engineering, marine and medical research.

Last year that State's Workforce Estimating Conference identified the high-demand, critical demand and emerging demand bachelors degrees that Florida must have to be economically competitive. ICUF schools are expanding their efforts in these priority areas. They can help solve Florida's shortages in nurses, teachers, engineers and information technology specialists. ICUF institutions have 8 colleges of nursing, as well as on-line nursing training programs. They have 18 colleges of education that train teachers. They have 17 institutions that award computer and information technology degrees. Nine institutions offer pre-engineering and engineering degrees.

Acclaimed

Independent Colleges and Universities are acclaimed educational centers.
Within the ICUF system, students have many excellent and unique options often not found at public community colleges and universities. A student can select high-skill training at a leading research institution, top-notch, athletic programs in NCAA Division 1 and 2 championship schools or reflective, historic setting where classes are small and the campus has a homey feeling. These institutions offer world-class degrees in: engineering; computers; law, medicine, aerospace; medical and health sciences; gerontology; nursing; e commerce; tourism and hospitality management; sports management; music, fine arts, graphic and interactive communication; computer imaging; computer animation; digital arts; marine science; architecture; optometry; pharmacy; aeronautics; and airport management.

ICUF institutions award approximately 22,000 degrees at all levels, compared to 48,000 degrees awarded by the State University System. That is 25% of all bachelor degrees, 29% of the master degrees, 43% of the doctoral degrees and 58% of the first-professional degrees award by all Florida's public and independent colleges and universities. Furthermore, the proportion of doctoral degrees awarded to women at ICUF institutions was almost twice that of the public universities.

ICUF graduates have continued their careers to become Noble Prize winners, noted human rights activists, religious leaders, entertainers, writers and athletes, as well as Florida nurses, teachers, doctors, business people, engineers, scientists, therapists and leaders.

ICUF schools include the first college or university to offer both bachelors and masters in e-commerce. One of its schools includes the nation's only college-based marine search and rescue operation. An ICUF institution boasts the nation's top-rated aerospace engineering program, another the world's largest all-glass wave tanks, a third the nation's largest medical school campus and a fourth a campus design by Frank Lloyd Wright. Many of these institutions encourage and require community service to gain a degree, providing millions of hours of public service. One ICUF school provides, what has been called, cutting-edge education in the Internet and website design. One ICUF campus is completely wired with 22 miles of fiber optic cable and another provides a computer in every resident hall room. An ICUF school is one of only seven offering a deaf education program. Another offers the nation's only private citrus production program.

The 28 independent colleges and universities of Florida are a powerful education and economic tool that are making the grade. Their current performance rates straight "A's."