Santa Fe College

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Santa Fe College
Established	1966
Type	2-year or 4-year (Bachelor Degrees)
President	Jackson N. Sasser
Students	17,391 [1]
Location	Gainesville, Florida, USA
Colors	Blue and white
Website	www.sfcollege.edu

Main campus, southern end

Santa Fe College is a state college located in Gainesville, Florida, and is a member institution of the Florida College System. Santa Fe is accredited by the Florida Department of Education and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. Located in North Central Florida, its main campus is in Gainesville, Florida. More than 50 Technology and Applied Sciences programs are accredited in their respective fields. In 2009, Santa Fe was listed 6th in the nation in awarding AA degrees.^[1]

History [edit]

Santa Fe College was established by the Florida Legislature in 1966 in response to a request from the Alachua and Bradford County Boards of Public Instruction, which had canvassed the area and learned that the community would be well served if all citizens have the opportunity for an education. There are programs at Santa Fe that match the interests and meet the needs of almost every student. Most of these programs can be completed in two years. In 2008, Santa Fe College officially changed its name from Santa Fe Community College to emphasize the bachelor's degree programs that it began offering.^[2]

Locations [edit]

Campuses [edit]

• Northwest Campus, located in the Northwest side of Gainesville next to I-75, opened in 1972. The 175-acre (0.71 km²) campus serves as the main campus for the college.

Centers [edit]

• Andrews Center, located in Starke, opened in the renovated Bradford County Courthouse in 1985. It expanded in 1991 with the restored Cultural Building and in 2001 with the Lillian Stump Center.
• Blount Center, located in downtown Gainesville, opened in 1990. Originally in the renovated 6th Street railroad depot, it expanded in 1993 and again in 2006 with a new classroom building.
• Charles R. and Nancy V. Perry Center for Emerging Technologies, located in Alachua, opened in 2009. The Perry Center serves as the home for the new Clinical Laboratory Technology baccalaureate degree, as well as the biotechnology degrees.
• Davis Center, located in Archer, opened in 2004.
• Kirkpatrick Center, located near the Gainesville Regional Airport, opened in 1972. This center, sometimes referred to at the Institute of Public Safety, educates law enforcement and corrections officer recruits and offers programs to retrain sworn officers. The Kirkpatrick Center also educates students in the Emergency Medical Services, Fire Sciences and Aviation Sciences programs.
• Watson Center, located in Keystone Heights, opened in 2005, with a second building being added in 2006.^[3]

Degrees [edit]

Arts and Sciences Program [edit]

Offering the Associate of Arts Degree, the Arts and Sciences Program consists primarily of liberal arts and sciences courses. This program culminates in a two-year liberal arts degree that can be transferred to a university which offers a bachelor's degree. The descriptions, course numbers and content of classes at Santa Fe are the same as those in the first two years at Florida's public universities. Santa Fe's liberal arts courses are also transferable to most public and private four-year schools in the US.

Technology and Applied Sciences Program [edit]

Offering the Associate of Science degree or certificate, the Associate of Science program consists of technology and applied sciences courses to prepare students for careers in skilled professions. Some of these programs enable them to transfer to a four-year college or university. Programs offered are Dental Assisting, Air Conditioning Repair, Automotive Technology, Child Development, Construction, Public Safety, Zoo Animal Technology, Information Technology, Cardiovascular Technology, Aviation Safety and Nursing.

Bachelor's degrees [edit]

Beginning with the 2009 academic year, Santa Fe College will offer bachelor's degrees in health science management and clinical laboratory technology.^[4] In the future, Santa Fe plans to offer additional Bachelor's degrees as one of Florida's community colleges which is transitioning into the new Florida College System.^[5]

Athletics [edit]

Fight Song [edit]

In 2009, Santa Fe College adopted a fight song. "Saints Forever" was performed for the first time on Tuesday, April 21, 2009 between softball games at Santa Fe College in Gainesville, Florida. The song was a collaboration between Chris Sharp, the college's director of bands, and Ryan B. Leverone, a Santa Fe College student.^[6]

"Saints Forever" [edit]

Up, Saints, fo – re – ver ‘neath the White and the Blue,

We’ll fight with a pride that’s bur – ning bright, bur – ning true.

Our hearts are cou – ra – geous, we won’t ac – cept de – feat,

As Saints we will rise, and we will ne – ver re – treat!

We’ll car – ry the fi – re ‘cross A – la – chu – a’s plain,

Our hope for the fu – ture will always re – main.

Go Saints, fight!

Your strength will win the day,

For the glo – ry of San – ta Fe!

S – A – N – T – A – F – E!

S – A – I – N – T – S!

Notable Alumni & Attendees [edit]

Alumni Status is open to all graduates of Santa Fe College, all former students of SFC who regularly matriculated and left Santa Fe College in good standing.

See also [edit]

• Santa Fe College Teaching Zoo

References [edit]

External links [edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Santa Fe College

• Santa Fe College

Coordinates: 29°40′53″N 82°26′00″W / 29.6813724°N 82.4332952°W / 29.6813724; -82.4332952