On Friday, Gov. Ron DeSantis announced all 28 schools in the Florida College System are backing the “Last Mile College Completion Program” to help students finish up their degrees.
DeSantis, the Florida Department of Education and the Florida College System made the announcement as all 28 colleges back the program, using funds from the Legislature to offer scholarships for students who are close to completing their degrees.
“The Last Mile College Completion Program helps students who left college with 12 or fewer credit hours remaining, to complete their first associate or baccalaureate degree,” the governor’s office noted.
“Last legislative session we created the Last Mile Completion Program, which puts Florida on the path to becoming number one in the nation for its workforce by 2030,” said DeSantis. “Thank you to all the college presidents who have signed on and supported the Last Mile College Completion Program. I will continue to prioritize education and do everything in my power to help students complete their higher education goals and be prepared to enter the workforce.”
“Thank you, Governor DeSantis for prioritizing higher education by creating the Last Mile Completion Program,” said Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran. “We are thrilled that all 28 Florida college presidents have shown their support for this new program. As Commissioner of Education, I will continue working every day to ensure students receive the best education possible, and the Last Mile College Completion Program is a step in the right direction to achieving that goal.”
The governor’s office offered some insight on why DeSantis has championed the program during his first year in Tallahassee.
“The Last Mile Completion Program creates a pathway for many returning students to earn their degree. As Florida’s workforce engine, the Florida College System knows that continuing to develop Florida’s talent pipeline for workforce needs is a top priority for business owners in Florida, and the Last Mile College Completion Program is part of the solution,” the governor’s office noted.
The minimum criteria to be included in the program includes Florida residency, good academic standing, being within 12 credit hours of completing their first associate or baccalaureate degree and having attended a regionally accredited college or university within the past eight years.
The 28 Florida Colleges Supporting the Last Mile College Completion Program are as follows:
Broward College
Chipola College
College of Central Florida
The College of the Florida Keys
Daytona State College
Eastern Florida State College
Florida Gateway College
Florida Southwestern State College
Florida State College at Jacksonville
Gulf Coast State College
Hillsborough Community College
Indian River State College
Lake-Sumter State College
Miami Dade College
North Florida College
Northwest Florida State College
Palm Beach State College
Pasco-Hernando State College
Pensacola State College
Polk State College
St. Johns River State College
St. Petersburg College
Santa Fe College
Seminole State College of Florida
South Florida State College
State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota
Tallahassee Community College
Valencia College
Reach Kevin Derby at kevin.derby@floridadaily.com
