SACS-COC Fifth-Year Interim Report

Part II. Institutional Summary Form Prepared for Commission Reviews

 

Educational Programs

1. Level of offerings

_X_ Diploma or certificate program(s) requiring less than one year beyond Grade 12
___ Diploma or certificate program(s) of at least two but fewer than four years of work beyond Grade 12
_X_ Associate degree program(s) requiring a minimum of 60 semester hours or the equivalent designed for transfer to a baccalaureate institution
_X_ Associate degree program(s) requiring a minimum of 60 semester hours or the equivalent not designed for transfer
_X_ Four or five-year baccalaureate degree program(s) requiring a minimum of 120 semester hours or the equivalent
___ Professional degree program(s)
___ Master's degree program(s)
___ Work beyond the master's level but not at the doctoral level (such as Specialist in Education)
___ Doctoral degree program(s)
___ Other (Specify)

2. Types of Undergraduate Programs

_X_ Occupational certificate or diploma program(s)
_X_ Occupational degree program(s)
_X_ Two-year programs designed for transfer to a baccalaureate institution
_X_ Liberal Arts and General
_X_ Teacher Preparatory
___ Professional
___ Other (Specify)

 

Governance Control

Check the appropriate governance control for the institution:

___ Private (check one)

___ Independent, not-for-profit
Name of corporation OR
Name of religious affiliation and control: ___

___ Independent, for-profit *
If publicly traded, name of parent company: ___
_X_ Public state * (check one)

___ Not part of a state system, institution has own independent board

___ Part of a state system, system board serves as governing board

_X_ Part of a state system, system board is super governing board, local governing board has delegated authority

___ Part of a state system, institution has own independent board

 

Institutional Information for Reviewers

1. History and Characteristics

St. Petersburg College (SPC) has been existence since 1927, opening as Florida's first two-year institution of higher learning serving Pinellas County under the name St. Petersburg Junior College (SPJC). SPJC was chartered by the State of Florida in 1928; graduated its first class in 1929; located to its own first campus at Mirror Lake in 1931; and was initially accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools in 1931. In 1948 it converted from private, non-profit to public status, and in 2001 it was renamed St. Petersburg College when it was authorized by the Florida Legislature, the College District Board of Trustees, and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to offer baccalaureate programs under a 2 + 2 model. SPC employs an open-door admission policy with some entry requirements for specialized programs. SPC is governed by a five member Board of Trustees appointed by the Governor of the State of Florida. SPC is compared to 27 other colleges in the Florida College System for peer comparisons.

SPC enrolls more than 65,000 students (credit and non-credit) students annually, primarily from the College's geographic service area of Pinellas County, Florida. For the fall semester 2013, 35% were seeking the associate in arts program, 14% were seeking a baccalaureate program, and 33% were seeking an associate in science or workforce program. The college serves a broad range of ages with 54% falling under the age of 25 years. Women are in the majority with 59%. Seventy-one percent of students list their ethnicity as "White," while the second largest group of 13% is Black/African American.

Dr. William D. Law, Jr. began his service as SPC's sixth president in June 2010. In 2013, the Board of Trustees (BOT) revised the College mission statement to read: Promote student success and enrich our communities through education, career development, and self-discovery. The BOT also adopted 13 value statements related to: Student Focus, Academic Excellence, Outstanding Service, Diversity, Ethics, Culture of Inquiry, Partnerships, Transparency, Leadership & Empowerment, Global Citizenship, Innovation, Mutual Respect, and Professional Development.

2. List of Degrees

St. Petersburg College is approved as a "Level II" institution by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. It is classified as a "Baccalaureate/Associate's College" by the Carnegie Commission for the Advancement of Teaching. It offers associate in arts (AA) , associate in science (AS), bachelor in science (BS), and bachelor in applied science degrees (BAS), as well as certificates and diplomas. Listed below are those offered in the 2012-13 academic reporting year (fall 2012, spring 2013, and summer 2013):

 

College/Dept	Degree	Program	Graduates
Natural Sciences Department
	AS	Environmental Science Technology	15
	BS	Biology	28
Engineering and Building Arts Department
	AS	Architectural Design and Construction Technology	12
	AS	Drafting and Design Technology	7
	CT	Building Construction Technology	12
	CT	Drafting Technology	2
	AS	Aviation Maintenance Management Technology	5
	AS	Engineering Technology	17
	CT	Engineering Technology Support	10
	CT	Lean-Six Sigma Green Belt	28
	CT	Six Sigma Black Belt	20
	CT	Computer-Aided Design & Drafting	4
	CT	Medical Quality Systems	4
	CT	Rapid Prototyping and Design	4
College of Computer Information & Technology
	AS	Computer Networking	24
	AS	Computer/Web Programming and Analysis	17
	AS	Technology Management	9
	AS	Informational Technology (IT) Security	19
	AS	Web Site Design & Management	14
	CT	Cisco Certified Network Associate	7
	CT	Computer Support	9
	CT	Computer/Web Programming Specialist	5
	CT	Informational Technology (IT) Security	12
	CT	Linux System Administrator	4
	CT	Web Designer	10
	CT	C#	3
	CT	C++
	CT	Java	2
	CT	MS IT Professional Server: Administrator	6
	CT	Mobile Device
	CT	Open Source	1
	CT	Visual Basic.NET	2
	BAS	Technology Management	72
College of Business
	AS	Business Administration	31
	AS	Insurance Services
	AS	Financial Services - Banking	1
	AS	Industrial Management Technology	1
	CT	Accounting Applications	20
	CT	Business Administration	9
	CT	Entrepreneurship	6
	CT	International Business
	CT	Management / Leadership	11
	CT	Marketing	5
	BS	Business Administration	64
	BAS	International Business	32
	BAS	Management & Org Leadership	113
	CT	Project Management	6
	BAS	Sustainability Management	36
College of Public Safety Administration
	AS	Criminal Justice Technology	23
	CT	Computer Related Crime Investigations	11
	CT	Gang Investigations
	CT	Homeland Security	7
	AS	Crime Scene Technology	28
	CT	Crime Scene Technology	25
	AS	Digital Forensics and Computer Investigations	2
	AS	Emergency Administration & Management	8
	CT	Emergency Administration & Management	1
	AS	Fire Science Technology	29
	CT	Fire Inspector I	4
	CT	Fire Inspector II
	CT	Fire Investigator I	1
	CT	Fire Officer I	3
	CT	Fire Officer II
	BAS	Public Safety Administration	85
	CT	Gangs Enforcement Mgmt
Fine Arts/Humanities Department
	AS	Digital Arts: Media & Interactive Web Design	15
	CT	Digital Graphics	3
	CT	Digital Media Technology Interactive Web Design
	CT	Digital Media Technology Production	1
	CT	Digital Media Video Production	4
	CT	Video Game Foundations	2
	AS	Photography	3
	AS	Music Industry & Recording Arts	22
	CT	Avid Certified Pro Tool Operator
College of Education
	AS	Early Childhood Education	8
	BS	Biology 6-12	3
	BS	Middle Grades Science 5-9	1
	CT	Educator Preparation Institute w/all Post Bacc Certs	27
	BS	Educational Studies	27
	BS	Prekindergarte/Primary Ed w/ ESOL & Reading
	BS	Elementary K-6 w/ ESOL & Reading	79
	BS	Exceptional Student K-12 w/ ESOL & Reading	46
	BS	Middle Grades Math 5-9	7
	BS	Math 6-12	3
Hospitality & Tourism Department
	AS	Hospitality & Tourism Management	11
	CT	Food & Beverage Management	5
	CT	Rooms Division Management	6
	CT	Food & Beverage Specialist	14
	CT	Rooms Division Operation	12
	CT	Rooms Division Specialist	12
College of Policy and Legal Studies
	AS	Paralegal Studies	28
	BAS	Paralegal	38
	CT	Paralegal	37
	BS	Public Policy & Admin	15
College of Nursing
	AS	Nursing (R.N.)	343
	BS	Nursing RN	267
	ATC	Critical Care	14
	ATC	Emergency Care	8
	ATC	Sepsis Awareness & Education	1
Communications Department
	AS	Sign Language Interpretation	6
School of Veterinary Technology
	AS	Veterinary Technology
	CT	Veterinary Management	3
	BAS	Veterinary Technology	22
	CT	Veterinary Technology	4
College of Health Sciences
	AS	Dental Hygiene	30
	BAS	Dental Hygiene	53
	BAS	Health Services Admin	137
	BAS	Orthotics & Prosthetics	18
Health Sciences Department
	AS	Emergency Medical Services	11
	CT	Paramedic	16
	ATD	Emergency Medical Technician	77
	AS	Funeral Services	18
	ATC	Funeral Arts	7
	AS	Health Information Management	30
	AS	Healthcare Informatics	12
	CT	Healthcare Informatics	53
	CT	Medical Coder	23
	AS	Human Services-Social Services (combined)	11
	AS	Human Services - Alcohol/Substance Abuse	17
	CT	Addiction Studies	3
	CT	Youth Development Professional	1
	ATD	Maternal and Child Health	1
	AS	Physical Therapist Assistant	21
	AS	Radiography	18
	AS	Respiratory Care	17
Associate of ARTS
	AA	General	3076
Programs on Teach Out with Graduates
	AS	Accounting Technology	5
	AS	Medical Laboratory Technology	16
	AS	Parks and Leisure Services	3
	AS	Video Game Foundation	1
	BAS	Banking	4
	BS	Business Tech Ed	1
	BS	Technology Ed	2
	ATD	Assoc Addiction Professional	1
	ATD	Youth Development Prof	1
Total Graduates by Degree Type
		AA	3076
		AS	995
		BAS	610
		BS	543
		CT	510
		ATD	80
	TOTAL		5814

 

3. Off-Site Locations and Distance and Correspondence Education

 

Off-Site Locations

All St. Petersburg College locations allow for student enrollment in course work that leads to a degree, diploma, or certificate. These locations span Pinellas County from north to south and west to east. Specialized academic programs that are offered only at particular sites in a traditional, face-to-face manner (50% or more credit hours), are listed below each site:

 

Tarpon Springs (USA, Tarpon Springs, FL)

• BS Elementary K-6 w/ESOL & Reading
• BS Middle Grades Math 5-9
• BS Middle Grades Science 5-9

Clearwater (USA, Clearwater, FL)

• AS Architectural Design/Const Tech
• AS Drafting and Design Technology
• CT Building Construction Technology
• CT Drafting Technology
• AS Engineering Technology
• CT Engineering Technology Support
• CT Lean-Six Sigma Green Belt
• CT Computer-Aided Design & Drafting
• CT Medical Quality Systems
• CT Rapid Prototyping and Design

EpiCenter (USA, Clearwater, FL)

Veterinary Technology Center (USA, Largo, FL)

Seminole (USA, Seminole, FL)

Health Education Center (USA, Pinellas Park, FL)

• AS Dental Hygiene
• AS Radiography
• AS Physical Therapist Assistant

St. Petersburg Gibbs (USA, St. Petersburg, FL)

• BS Elementary K-6 w/ESOL & Reading
• BS Middle Grades Math 5-9
• BS Middle Grades Science 5-9
• AS Photography

Downtown/Midtown (USA, St. Petersburg, FL)

Allstate Center (USA, St. Petersburg, FL)

 

 

Distance and Correspondence Education

Program modality is categorized into three areas: traditional face-to-face (lecture), fully online only, and student choice (where courses and course sections can be offered as either online, lecture, or "blended" within or across specific semesters). The duality of course modality offerings makes categorization of academic programs dependent upon the semesters being looked at. An updated list of available programming is available for students on the College website, listed under the Academics tab.

For the following programs, at least 50% or more of the credit hours are delivered through distance education using asynchronous online technology:

 

Bachelor of Applied Science (B.A.S.)

• Dental Hygiene
• Health Services Administration
• International Business
• Management and Organizational Leadership
• Public Safety Administration
• Sustainability Management
• Technology Development and Management
• Veterinary Technology

Bachelor of Science (B.S.)

• Business Administration
• Nursing

Associate in Arts (A.A.)

Associate in Science (A.S.)

• Business Administration
• Crime Scene Technology
• Criminal Justice Technology
• Digital Forensics and Computer Investigations
• Emergency Administration and Management
• Fire Science
• Health Information Management
• Healthcare Informatics
• Veterinary Technology

Certificates

• Accounting Applications
• Autism Endorsement
• Business Administration
• C#
• C++
• Computer Related Crime Investigations
• Crime Scene Technology
• Critical Care Advanced Technical Certificate
• Emergency Administration and Management
• Emergency Care Advanced Technical Certificate
• Entrepreneurship
• Fire Inspector I
• Fire Inspector II
• Fire Investigator I
• Fire Officer I
• Fire Officer II
• Funeral Arts
• Healthcare Informatics
• Homeland Security
• Information Technology (IT) Security
• International Business
• Java
• Linux System Administrator
• Management/Leadership
• Marketing
• Medical Coder
• Mobile Device
• Open Source
• Project Management
• Sepsis Awareness and Education Advanced Technical Certificate
• Teacher Certification Reinstatement
• Veterinary Hospital Management
• Visual Basic.NET
• Web Designer
  

 

4. Accreditation

There are twenty-seven active programs at St. Petersburg College (SPC) that are currently accredited or approved by federally recognized accrediting agencies. Each agency is recognized by one or more of the following bodies: U.S. Department of Education (USDE), Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA), and the Association for Specialized and Professional Accreditors (ASPA). To date, each program has been granted full accreditation or approval status. No negative action has been taken against SPC for any accreditation or approval that the institution holds, and there have been no instances where an accrediting agency has terminated the accreditation of an SPC program as a result of non-compliance.

Two programs at SPC have voluntarily withdrawn their “fully accredited” status with a federally recognized accrediting agency - Nursing, BS and Medical Laboratory Technology, AS. The baccalaureate nursing program received full accreditation from the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC) in 2004, which was recognized through 2009. In 2006, the program opted to apply for accreditation with the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) and was granted full accreditation through 2011 and decided not to renew accreditation with NLNAC. The Nursing, BS program has continued its accreditation with CCNE and was most recently granted full accreditation in 2011 through 2021. The Medical Laboratory Technology AS program was closed effective Spring 2013. A letter to this effect was submitted to SACS in 2012 and approved by SACS-COC in 2013. A letter was submitted to NAACLS in April 2013. Individual teach out plans have been made for all students currently enrolled within the program.

The table below lists all federally recognized agencies that currently accredit or approve programs at the institution. Each accrediting agency is mapped to the program and degree levels it accredits or approves and the date of the last review. This information is publicly accessible via SPC's Accreditation webpage.

 

Accrediting Agency	Accredited Programs	Most Recent Review
American Bar Association (ABA)1*	Paralegal (A.S., B.A.S., Post-Baccalaureate Certificate)	2012
American Board of Funeral Service Education1	Funeral Services (A.S.)	2008
American Dental Association – Commission on Dental Accreditation1	Dental Hygiene (A.S.)	2012
American Physical Therapy Association – Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education1, 2	Physical Therapist Assistant (A.S.)	2007
American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) – Committee on Veterinary Education and Activities1, 2	Veterinary Technology (A.S., B.A.S., Lower Division Certificate, and Post-Baccalaureate Certificate)	2011
Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM)3	Health Information Management (A.S.)	2004
Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care3	Respiratory Care (A.S.)	2008
Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)1	Nursing (B.S.)	2011
Committee of Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP)2 EMS – Committee on Accreditation of Educational Programs for the Emergency Medical Services Profession Orthotics and Prosthetics – National commission on Orthotic and Prosthetic Education	Emergency Medical Services (A.S.)	2010
	Orthotics and Prosthetics (B.A.S.) **	2009
	Paramedic (Certificate)	2010
Florida Department of Education – Bureau of Educator Recruitment, Development and Retention1	(Teacher certification, 7 BS and 1 post-bacc)	2010
Florida Department of Health – Bureau of Emergency Medical Services1	Emergency Medical Technician (Certificate)	2011
Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT)1, 2	Radiography (A.S.)	2010
National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC)1, 2	Nursing (A.S.)	2012

¹ Recognized by U.S. Dept. of Education (USDE)
² Recognized by Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA)
³ Association for Specialized and Professional Accreditors (ASPA)

*The American Bar Association (ABA) "approves" programs but does not "accredit" them.

**The Orthotics & Prosthetics program was given a one-year extension from 2012 to 2013 causing the time between re-approval to be four years, rather than three. The extension is due to revision of the curriculum in preparation for recent mandates requiring a master's degree to work as an Orthotist / Prosthetist.

5. Relationship to the U.S. Department of Education

There have been no limitations, suspensions, or termination of student financial aid or other financial aid programs by the U.S. Department of Education during the previous three years. St. Petersburg College is not on reimbursement, nor any other exceptional status in regard to federal or state financial aid.