Apr 28, 2024  
2023-2024 Student Handbook 
    
2023-2024 Student Handbook

About Us



Official College Notifications - eSantaFe

Santa Fe College (SF) uses eSantaFe to send official notifications to students. These notifications include, but are not limited to, alerts regarding financial aid, student records, admissions, registration and academic status.

As an SF student, you are responsible for accessing your student records and student notifications via eSantaFe.

You will receive an email reminder informing you of any notifications; however, it is strongly advised that you regularly and frequently check your eSantaFe account and keep your email address up to date in SF’s student records system. Failure to do so may cause you to miss critical information that may affect your status at the college.

When you log onto eSantaFe, please register with the Emergency Notification System (ENS) so the college can reach you in a crisis. You may list up to five different ways to be contacted in case of emergency: two voice numbers, two email addresses and one text number.

College Prominence

Accreditation Status

Santa Fe College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award associate and baccalaureate degrees. Questions about the accreditation of Santa Fe College may be directed in writing to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, GA 30033-4097, by calling 404-679-4500 or by using information available on SACSCOC’s website (www.sacscoc.org).

League for Innovation in the Community College

Santa Fe College is a charter member of the League for Innovation in the Community College and is one of 19 League Board colleges. More than 750 institutions from 11 different countries are League affiliate members.

The League, founded in 1968, is an educational consortium that functions specifically to stimulate innovation and experimentation. It is the only organization of its kind in the community college field and has achieved national recognition for the quality of its programs and activities.

As a national organization with members in all regions of the country, the League influences community college development throughout North America. To this end, the League is not only committed to programs that contribute to the continuing improvement of member colleges, but also to providing opportunities for other community colleges to participate in its workshops, conferences, projects and activities.

College Philosophy, Mission and Values

Statement of Philosophy

The philosophy of Santa Fe College is student centered. Consistent with this philosophy, we value cultural diversity and serve all persons regardless of race, color, creed, national origin, religion, gender, marital status, age or disability. The college believes that preparing students for healthy, productive lives in a democratic society is the chief obligation of the public educational system. Therefore, we seek to enable changes in individuals that allow them to live richer, more rewarding, and more useful lives.

We further believe that educated people should be guided in their behavior by decency and civility; accordingly, we prize honesty, integrity, and social responsibility among both our staff and students. The college aspires to transmit these values as well as foster in students the critical thinking and problem-solving skills, global perspective, and creativity necessary to make educated and ethical decisions in all aspects of their lives.

Mission

In keeping with our values and goals, Santa Fe College, a comprehensive public institution of higher education serving North Central Florida and beyond, adds value to the lives of our students and enriches our community through excellence in teaching and learning, innovative educational programs and student services, and community leadership and service.

Values

Santa Fe College is a dynamic, innovative learning community committed to:

  • Academic excellence, academic freedom and intellectual pursuit
  • Individual, social and global responsibility
  • Honesty, integrity and civility
  • Cultural diversity and equity
  • Collaboration with our community
  • Open access
  • Lifelong learning
  • Assessment, accountability and improvement
  • Sustainable use of environmental, social and economic resources

College History

Santa Fe College was established by the state government in 1965 to offer wide access to quality higher education.

Since then, SF has established programs and services that enable the college to carry out its mission of educational opportunity, responsiveness to the community, economic development and innovation in the public interest. The philosophy of the college during those years has been, and continues to be, one of student centeredness.

Enrollment has grown rapidly. Fewer than 1,000 students enrolled when classes were first offered in September 1966. Today, approximately 18,000 students take credit classes and 12,000 more take non-credit classes. Credit classes are offered at the Northwest Campus, Andrews Center in Starke, Blount Center in downtown Gainesville, Davis Center in Archer, Kirkpatrick Center in east Gainesville, Perry Center for Emerging Technologies in Alachua and Watson Center in Keystone Heights.

The college has expanded education programs by increasing the number of classes offered by electronic means such as the Internet and live broadcasts to the SF centers. More than 4,000 students take classes through Open Campus, SF’s online center.

Formerly named Santa Fe Community College, Santa Fe College was authorized by the state of Florida in 2009 to offer bachelor’s degrees that meet demand for specific skills needed in the economy. At that time the college changed its name to Santa Fe College.

SF has had only four presidents. Dr. Joseph W. Fordyce was president from 1965 to 1971, when he was succeeded by Alan J. Robertson. Dr. Larry W. Tyree was named president in 1990 and was succeeded in 2002 by Dr. Jackson N. Sasser.

College Academics

The college’s educational offerings include the Associate in Arts (AA), Associate in Science (AS), Associate in Applied Science (AAS), Bachelor of Applied Science (BAS), Bachelor of Science (BS), Vocational Certificate (VC) and Continuing and Community Education programs.

The Associate in Arts program consists generally of liberal arts courses. Many students in this program intend to transfer to four-year colleges or universities. SF sends more students to the University of Florida than does any other institution. Many former SF students go to other four-year schools, public and private, in and out of state. Since 2009, the college has offered bachelor’s degrees in several new areas of study.

Santa Fe offers Bachelor of Applied Science (BAS) degree programs in Clinical Laboratory Science, Industrial Biotechnology, Health Services Administration, Multimedia and Video Production Technology, and Organizational Management. The Bachelor of Science (BS) programs provide degree completion opportunities for students from a variety of educational backgrounds, including those who may hold the Associate in Arts or Associate in Science degree. Santa Fe College currently offers the Bachelor of Science degrees in Early Childhood Education and Nursing. Additional degrees will follow in the future, as specific needs are identified.

Career and Technical Education consists generally of AS, AAS and certificate programs that prepare students for successful entry into a career, although some programs are transferable to universities. Surveys show that more than 90 percent of students in these programs either enter a career or proceed to further higher education.

Continuing Education programs assist professionals looking to advance or change their careers with recertification, additional training or special course work.

Community Education offers non-credit leisure courses for personal growth. More than 9,000 area residents participate in Community Education courses each year.

Academic life is highlighted by the Honors Program, Phi Theta Kappa, SF-UF Foreign Languages Institute, Research in Undergraduate Education Festival, a Model UN team, a Brain Bowl, a Math Team and several international Study Abroad programs.