State College of Florida Manatee – Sarasota

3038 Evans Mill Road, Lithonia, GA

State College of Florida Manatee-Sarasota, located in Bradenton, Florida, was founded in 1957 as Manatee Junior College. By 1959 the school has moved to what is now the Manatee campus. By 1985 the school changed its name to Manatee Community College, a name it kept until 2009. The name was changed to the current after the school began offering a bachelor's degree program in nursing. Since then the school has added several more bachelor programs. SCF is part of the Florida College System and is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

Academics

State College of Florida Manatee-Sarasota offers a number of academic and career programs. These programs prepare students with the skills and knowledge necessary to pursue their goals. Academic programs fulfill the first two years of a four year education and allow for transfer to a four year institution to earn a bachelor's degree. Certain conditions are in place, and if met, allow for easy transfer within the Florida College System. Career and technical programs provide either an associate degree or certificate, and train the student in their area of study, providing them with all the necessary skills to succeed. Graduates of such programs are able to immediately enter the workforce. Bachelor programs are limited, and require separate application and requirements for entry.

Programs offered include:

• Accounting
• Anthropology
• Nursing
• Physical Therapist Assistant
• Criminal Justice

SFC Manatee-Sarasota also offers non-credit courses for individuals interested in pursuing particular courses and adult education courses for those who wish to further their education as adults. Continuing education courses also allow individuals in need of license or certification renewal to obtain the hours necessary to qualify.

Admissions and Financial Aid

Admission to FSC Manatee-Sarasota requires students to have a high school diploma or GED and be a resident of the state. IF a student qualifies, he or she may complete an application, providing all pertinent documents, including transcripts, to the school. Students may be tested for placement, though such a te4st may be waived if ACT and/or SAT scores are provided. Financial aid is available in the form of loans, grants and work study programs. Students in need of aid should complete and submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA0 which will be used to determine eligibility and awards. Scholarships are also available, though they may require separate applications and may be awarded for a variety of reasons (including need).

Athletics

The SFC Manatees participate in a number of intercollegiate athletic programs through the National Junior College Athletic Association's (NJCAA) Suncoast Conference and the Florida Community College Activities Association. Athletic programs foster a healthy atmosphere of competition, increasing school pride as well as providing a rewarding experience. In addition, such programs develop skills that are useful for professional and academic life. These include teamwork, discipline, and maintaining good health.

Athletic programs:

• Baseball (Men Only)
• Softball (Women Only)
• Basketball (Men Only)
• Tennis (Women Only)
• Volleyball (Women Only)

Clubs and Organizations

SFC Manatee-Sarasota offers a large number of clubs and organizations for students to participate in. Such groups provide students the opportunity to encounter other individuals with similar interests or to explore new interests by interacting with others who have maintained such interests. Clubs and organizations serve multiple purposes; some provide academic assistance and focus, some fall into the realm of the extracurricular, while others seek to expand the arts. These groups often hold events and maintain regular meetings, ensuring that students have ample opportunity to explore the workings of the club and see if it is right for them. Such clubs also help forge bonds with others that typically extend beyond the campus, and often last well after the students have graduated.

Clubs and organizations at SFC Manatee-Sarasota include:

• Brain Bowl
• History Club
• Film/Video Club
• Pop Culture Club
• Swamp Scribes