For 15 consecutive years, every year since 2008, Colleges of Distinction has included FSC in its 2022-23 guidebook and website. The national and statewide honors highlight Florida Southern’s focus on student success and satisfaction in all three areas of study.
Florida Southern College is one of only six private schools, and 11 in total, in the State of Florida to earn this overall distinction. Nationally, more than 400 colleges and universities earned overall distinction, coming from 45 different states and the District of Columbia.
“Our mission is to provide the best quality education possible to our students,” said Dr. Anne B. Kerr, president of Florida Southern College. “Having Colleges of Distinction repeatedly recognize our success confirms our superb quality in higher education.”
Florida Southern’s Barney Barnett School of Business and Free Enterprise was one of just 10 business programs in Florida to be recognized by Colleges of Distinction. Among the organization’s selection criteria were a focus on career-relevant courses with a broad set of multidisciplinary perspectives, and student opportunities for real-world experience through industry internships and other forms of professional engagement.
FSC’s School of Education, which is one of nine Florida-based institutions to receive this special recognition, was chosen for its commitment to nurturing and supporting future educators.
Selection criteria included a stable reputation for quality and success, a well-rounded multidisciplinary program, and practical experience in student teaching to boost preparation and confidence levels.
The Ann Blanton Edwards School of Nursing and Health Sciences at FSC was one of just six nursing programs in Florida to receive special recognition. Its selection was based on criteria such as the core tenets of stability and excellence, faculty who are recognized for their impressive experience and research, practical learning opportunities, and the School’s national CCNE accreditations and stellar pass rates on the NCLEX pre-licensure exams.
“We’re inspired by the ways in which Florida Southern College immerses students in their fields,” said Wes Creel, Founder of Colleges of Distinction, “all while fostering a welcoming community that will support them through and beyond their college years.”
Creel continued, “Every student has individual needs and their own environment in which they’re most likely to thrive. We want to extend our praise to the schools that prioritize and cater to students’ goals.”
Every year since 2008, the Colleges of Distinction guidebook has recognized Florida Southern as one of the highest-impact providers of a student-centered undergraduate education in the State of Florida and the nation.
Florida Southern College earns its recognition for excellence through student-centered programs that include experiential education, student-faculty collaborations, learning communities, a guaranteed internship, an elite honors program, and a Junior Journey travel program, among other initiatives.
Colleges of Distinction believes that a thorough selection process requires more than an overview of institutional data, statistics, and size of endowment. Instead, the Colleges of Distinction selection process comprises a sequence of in-depth research and detailed interviews with the schools, accepting only those that adhere to the Four Distinctions: Engaged Students, Great Teaching, Vibrant Community, and Successful Outcomes. These principles are all informed by the high impact practices to prioritize the ways that institutions enable students to have a fulfilling, individualized college experience both inside and outside of the classroom.
A trusted resource for students and parents since 2000, the Colleges of Distinction guide provides school profiles, customized tools, and resources designed to help students and their parents find the right college at which to learn, grow, and succeed. Staff and advisors conduct extensive research, visiting hundreds of colleges and talking with thousands of students, graduates, college presidents, provosts, deans, administrators, and professors to compile their annual recommendations of U.S. colleges and universities that deliver educational excellence.
Visit FSC’s page on the Colleges of Distinction website.
Go Mocs!