Dec 07, 2024  
2024-2025 College Catalog 
    
2024-2025 College Catalog

About College of Central Florida



Mission Statement

We transform lives and enrich our community by providing a supportive, high-quality learning environment that prepares individuals to excel in work and life.

Vision Statement

Your first choice for quality higher education.

Values

We Empower

  • Cultivating individual and collective strength, value and responsibility
  • Creating a caring and collaborative culture where faculty and staff are committed to the success of all
  • Supporting each individual’s potential and growth

We Engage

  • Being a responsive partner, fully focused on the success of our students, faculty, staff and community
  • Taking initiative to achieve positive results
  • Taking action to connect, learn and grow with the institution

We Excel

  • Delivering high-quality learning experiences
  • Committing to the highest standards of education, service, accountability and organizational performance
  • Leading with service excellence

District Board of Trustees

Joyce Brancato
Rusty Branson
Bobby Durrance, Chair
Bill Edgar
Fred Roberts Jr. 
Charlie Stone, Vice Chair

President’s Message

Dr. James Henningsen and Graduating Students

I am delighted to welcome you to the 2024-2025 academic year. Congratulations on your decision to pursue higher education as a Patriot! Whether you are new or a returning student, we are invested in you and your future.

At CF, we are committed to your success, both academically and personally. We will help you get where you’re going - whether into a high-skill, high-wage career or continuing your education. If you’re like 86% of our graduates, you’ll be working in your field or continuing your studies for an advanced degree within a year after graduation from CF. And keep in mind that students who earn an associate degree can pursue a bachelor’s degree at CF or seamlessly transfer to a state university. 

We understand that our students juggle multiple demands on their time and finances. That’s why keeping tuition costs low and offering a flexible class schedule are top priorities for us. In 2022-2023, about $16 million was disbursed to students in grants, scholarships and other financial assistance, and we’re proud of the fact that 2/3 of CF graduates leave the college with no student loan debt. We strive to continue our top ranking in the U.S. for quality and affordability.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “Intelligence plus character, that is the goal of true education.” And there’s way more to CF than just a formal education! I encourage you to get to know your fellow students and learn from their differences. You’ll find many opportunities in person and virtually. We have events scheduled throughout the semester and clubs and organizations to help you build your network of connections. Whether you join a student organization to grow your leadership abilities or volunteer for service opportunities to make an impact, you will create lasting friendships and memories. 

Thank you for making CF your first choice for quality higher education. On behalf of the District Board of Trustees, faculty and staff, we all wish you a happy and successful 2024-2025 academic year!

James D. Henningsen, Ed.D.
President, College of Central Florida

 

Accreditation and Memberships

The College of Central Florida 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 the College of Central Florida may be directed in writing to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097, by calling 404-679-4500, or by using information available on SACSCOC’s website (www.sacscoc.org). 

College of Central Florida is also approved by the Florida Department of Education to award associate degrees, baccalaureate degrees, college credit certificates and occupational certificates.

The programs listed below are also accredited by the agencies listed. Please reference each program of study for additional information.

  • The Dental Assisting Technology and Management, A.T.D.  program is accredited by the American Dental Association Commission on Dental Accreditation and has been granted the accreditation status of “approval without reporting requirements.” The Commission is a specialized accrediting body recognized by the United States Department of Education. The American Dental Association Commission on Dental Accreditation can be contacted at 312-440-4653 or at 211 East Chicago Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611. For additional information regarding the Commission on Dental Accreditation, please consult the website at http://www.ada.org/en/coda.
  • The Dental Hygiene, A.S.  degree program is accredited by the American Dental Association Commission on Dental Accreditation and has been granted the accreditation status of “initial accreditation.” The Commission is a specialized accrediting body recognized by the United States Department of Education. The American Dental Association Commission on Dental Accreditation can be contacted at 312-440-4653 or at 211 East Chicago Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611. For additional information regarding the Commission on Dental Accreditation, please consult the website at http://www.ada.org/en/coda.

  • The Radiography, A.S.  degree program is accredited by the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology, 20 North Wacker Drive, Suite 2850, Chicago, IL 60606-3182, 312-704-5300, mail: mail@jrcert.org
  • The Nursing, R.N.  program, the Nursing - L.P.N to A.D.N. Bridge  program and the Registered Nurse to Bachelor of Science in Nursing  program are approved by the Florida Board of Nursing and accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Education in Nursing Inc., 3390 Peachtree Road, NE, Suite 1400, Atlanta, Georgia 30326, telephone 404-975-5000.
  • The Physical Therapist Assistant, A.S.  degree program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education, CAPTE, 3030 Potomac Ave.,Suite 100, Alexandria, VA 22305-3085, Telephone 800-999-2782, email address accreditation@apta.org, website http://www.capteonline.org.
  • The Surgical Services, A.S.  degree program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs, www.caahep.org, upon the recommendation of the Accreditation  Review Council on Education in Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting. Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs; 9355 113th Street N, #7709, Seminole, FL 33775, telephone 727- 210-2350, fax 727-210-2354, www.caahep.org.
  • The Paramedic, College Credit Certificate  program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs, www.caahep.org, upon the recommendation of the Committee on Accreditation of Educational Programs for the Emergency Medical Services Professions, CoAEMSP, 1361 Park Street, Clearwater, FL 33756, telephone 727-210-2350, website www.caahep.org. It also meets the standards of the 1998 EMT/Paramedic National Curriculum from U.S. Department of Transportation.
  • The College of Central Florida Respiratory Care, A.S. degree program is seeking accreditation by the Commission for Respiratory Care (CoARC) www.coarc.com. This program is pending accreditation, however, the College of Central Florida can provide no assurance that accreditation will be granted by the CoARC.
  • The College of Central Florida Cardiovascular Technology, A.S. degree program is seeking accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) www.caahep.org upon the recommendation of the Joint Review Committee on Education in Cardiovascular Technology (JRC-CVT). This program is pending accreditation, however, the College of Central Florida can provide no assurance that accreditation will be granted by the CAAHEP.

  • The College of Central Florida Diagnostic Medical Sonography Technology, A.S.   program is seeking accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) www.caahep.org upon the recommendation of the Joint Review Committee on Education in Diagnostic Medical Sonography (JRC-DMS). This program is pending accreditation, however, the College of Central Florida can provide no assurance that accreditation will be granted by the CAAHEP.

The programs listed below are approved or certified by the agencies listed. Please reference each program of study for specific statements regarding approval or certification.

The college holds memberships in the American Association of Community Colleges, the Association of Florida Colleges, and the Association of Community College Trustees. Among other memberships are the National Junior College Athletic Association, the National League for Nursing and Florida Campus Compact.

CF has been approved by the state of Florida as an institution in which recipients of General Scholarship Loans for Preparation of Teachers (awarded by the state) may take the first two years of college work. Additionally, the college participates in the Drug-Free Workplace Program.

The state Department of Education will accept work taken at the college to satisfy various certification requirements. CF is state approved for veterans training under Public Law 550, Public Law 89-358 (Veterans Readjustment Benefits Act of 1966), and for the education of disabled veterans and war orphans.

History

Central Florida Junior College was established in 1957 when community leaders and citizens envisioned an educational resource that would help Marion, Citrus and Levy counties to grow and prosper. With foresight and determination, those community leaders planted the seed that has become the educational hub of the tricounty area.

In 1958, Hampton Junior College opened as one of the first black, two-year colleges in the state, and in 1966 the colleges merged. The name was changed to Central Florida Community College in 1971 to reflect more accurately the character and purpose of the college serving a larger community. In 2010, the college changed its name to College of Central Florida.

The Ocala Campus was established on a 60-acre tract donated by Atlantic Realty and Investment Company and the City of Ocala and has grown to include 140 acres. The attractive campus is at a crossroads, between downtown Ocala and Interstate 75 on State Road 200. The campus has been recognized by Marion County for its beautiful grounds.

In 1982, the Bronson Center opened on a 20-acre site east of Bronson. In 1993, the campus was relocated to the Levy Center in Chiefland. The Jack Wilkinson Levy Campus opened for classes in Chiefland in Fall 2017.

The college also offered classes in Citrus County for many years before partnering with the Citrus County School Board to establish an educational complex in Lecanto in 1984. To accommodate a growing need, a free-standing campus opened in 1996 on 88 acres in Lecanto and 10 acres were added later. The Learning and Conference Center opened at the Citrus Campus in fall 2009 and was renamed the Charles S. Dean Sr. Educational Center in January 2022. In July 2022, the campus was renamed the Wilton Simpson Citrus Campus.

CF’s Hampton Center opened in 1996 on the site of the former Florida State Fire College in West Ocala. The facility was completely rebuilt and reopened in 2004. The Hampton Center is an important presence in the west Ocala area, offering Dental academic programs as well as a dental clinic.

The college has operated the Appleton Museum of Art since 2004. The museum has become a teaching and learning institution, offering classes and tours, and helping to serve the cultural needs of the community.

The Vintage Farm Campus was added as a CF location in 2017 after an anonymous donor gifted the 103-acre hobby farm to the college. The beautiful site, just a few miles from the Ocala Campus, serves as a learning lab for students in Equine Studies and Agribusiness programs.

In recent years, the college has renovated several key buildings and added others that have changed the face of the Ocala Campus. The oldest building at the college was renamed Founders Hall in 2007 and reopened in 2009 after extensive remodeling. The Ewers Century Center and Webber Center Gallery serve students and the community. Renovations to the C. Farris Bryant Student Union, Stearns Learning Resources Center, Health Sciences Simulation Center, Charles R. Dassance Fine Arts Center and Allied Health Sciences building provide state-of-the-art technology and student-friendly facilities. 

Administration

College operations are governed by the College of Central Florida District Board of Trustees. Members of this board are appointed by Florida’s governor and confirmed by the Florida Senate. The chief administrative officer of the college is the president, who also serves as secretary to the District Board of Trustees.

CF board members represent Citrus, Levy and Marion counties. They bring strong leadership and unique backgrounds adding to the diversity of the college’s leadership.

Wilton Simpson Citrus Campus

The Wilton Simpson Citrus Campus is located at 3800 S. Lecanto Highway in Lecanto, approximately three miles south of State Road 44. Complete admission and registration activities and advising are available. All general education core requirements may be taken at the Citrus Campus. Complete A.A. degrees, as well as select A.S. degree and bachelor’s courses, are also available at the Citrus Campus. Some specific electives and specialized A.S. degree programs may need to be completed at the Ocala Campus. A student lounge, library, Learning Support Center and Testing Center are available to students at the Citrus Campus. The campus has a Student Activities Board and a variety of clubs and student life activities. The Citrus Campus also offers conference services to the general public and the business community.

Hampton Center

The Hampton Center, located at 1501 W. Silver Springs Blvd. in Ocala, first opened in 1996. A new center reopened in 2004 with a focus on health occupations. Academic programs offered at the Hampton Center include the Associate in Science in Dental Hygiene and an Applied Technology Diploma in Dental Assisting. The Hampton Center includes three classrooms, two dedicated labs, and 17 modern equipped dental operatories. This space allows for both a restorative clinic and a dental hygiene clinic to provide a broad range of dental services to those in need, at a reduced fee. These clinics offered at the Hampton Center provide the opportunity for students to meet their educational requirements and engage in community outreach services that will impact the surrounding counties.

The Marion County Health Department dental clinic is conveniently located in West Ocala at the Hampton Center. This unique partnership between CF and the health department provides additional dental services as well as a clinical site for the CF dental programs.

Jack Wilkinson Levy Campus

The Jack Wilkinson Levy Campus is located at 15390 N.W. Highway 19 in Chiefland. The campus offers college credit courses leading to associate degrees and credit and vocational certificates. High school students may earn both high school and college credit through the Dual Enrollment program at the Levy Campus. The campus is also home to the college’s Applied Welding Technologies programs. Adult general education programs leading to the General Education Diploma and continuing education courses are also offered.

The Levy Campus features a comprehensive student center with admissions, assessment, advising and enrollment services. Students also benefit from a tutoring and learning support center, a modern learning resources center, student lounge and a health and wellness facility. The campus offers fully equipped multipurpose classrooms, computer labs, a multidiscipline science lab and 3,000 square feet of exhibit and conference space that will accommodate nearly 200 guests.

Vintage Farm Campus

The College of Central Florida Vintage Farm Campus offers several degree and certificate programs to help students enter leading industries in the state of Florida. Ocala is proclaimed the Horse Capital of the World because the area supports a wide range of equine activities. Combined with agribusiness, both industries have been the lifeblood of the tricounty region for decades. This campus serves as our teaching laboratory to ensure our Equine Studies and Agribusiness students are equipped with the best hands-on experiences to tackle workplace issues they will face in their chosen careers. This world-class resource facility houses classrooms, labs and in the future a covered arena training center that will be used for demonstrations, labs, and livestock judging events for both local primary and secondary schools.

Appleton Museum of Art

The Appleton Museum of Art, College of Central Florida, is one of the south’s premier visual art museums. Located at 4333 E. Silver Springs Blvd. (State Road 40), the museum is approximately four miles east of downtown Ocala.

As a vibrant cultural center for Ocala and the region, the Appleton Museum offers outstanding exhibits, lectures, films, workshops, tours, concerts, trips, school-related programs and volunteer opportunities for the community.

Educational programs are developed and scheduled to complement both temporary and long-term exhibitions. The museum’s educational programs include a combination of lectures and presentations by scholars and artists, hands-on adult and children’s classes, and docent-led tours.

The Appleton Museum of Art, Appleton Store and Artspace are open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. CF students, faculty and staff are admitted free during regular museum hours with their CF ID card. Visit AppletonMuseum.org for more information.

Campus Maps

Directions, hours of operations and campus maps for each CF location can be found at https://www.cf.edu/locations.

Continuous Notice of Nondiscrimination

College of Central Florida offers equal access and opportunity in employment, admissions and educational activities. The college will not discriminate on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex, pregnancy, age, marital status, national origin, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status or disability status in its employment practices or in the admission and treatment of students. Recognizing that sexual harassment constitutes discrimination on the basis of sex and violates this policy statement, the college will not tolerate such conduct.

College of Central Florida is an equal opportunity college and avows its belief in equal access and opportunity for all students, employees and guests of the institution. If you have a concern regarding discrimination or harassment, please contact:

Title IX Coordinator Dr. Mary Ann Begley
Ocala Campus, Building 3
Room 116
Telephone: 352-291-4410
Email: equity@cf.edu

If you have concerns, other than discrimination or harassment that fall within one of the following categories, you should contact the representative listed below by that category:

Americans with Disabilities Act Coordinator for Employees Dr. Henri Benlolo
Ocala Campus, Bryant Student Union
Room 205D
Phone 352-854-2322, ext. 1430
Email: benloloh@cf.edu
Americans with Disabilities Act Coordinator for Students Cindy Pfriender, LMHC
Ocala Campus, Bryant Student Union
Room 204F
Ocala, FL 34474-2322, ext. 1580
Email: pfriendc@cf.edu

The college will make every effort to resolve concerns or problems as quickly as possible and to make reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities. Below are links to specific documents:

  • Equal Access/Equal Opportunity Policy No. 1.01, CF.edu/Policies
  • Discrimination, Harassment, and Related Misconduct Policy No. 1.03, CF.edu/Policies
  • Discrimination, Harassment and Related Misconduct Grievance Process for Employees and Students, No. 1.03 CF.edu/Procedures
  • Observance of Religious Holidays Policy No. 3.18, CF.edu/Policies
  • AIDS and Blood Borne Pathogens Policy No. 3.02, CF.edu/Policies

Copies of policies and procedures are also available from the Title IX Coordinator, located in Building 3, Room 116, and Human Resources Department located in Founders Hall, Ocala Campus. In compliance with state and federal regulations, the District Board of Trustees of the College of Central Florida has approved the above nondiscrimination policies and procedures to govern all areas of college operation including enrollment, admissions and equal opportunity employment. The following federal and state laws apply:

  • Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VI), 34 CFR Part 100
  • Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (Title IX), 34 CFR Part 106
  • Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Section 504), 34 CFR Part 104
  • Vocational Education Programs Guidelines for Eliminating Discrimination and Denial of Services on the Basis of Race, Color, and National Origin, Sex and Handicap (Guidelines), 34 CFR Part 100 Appendix B
  • Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), 28 CFR Part 35
  • ADA Amendments Act of 2008
  • Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008
  • Pregnancy Discrimination Act of 1978
  • Age Discrimination Employment Act of 1967
  • Vietnam Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act of 1974
  • GINA Act of 2008
  • Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security and Campus Crime Statistics Act, 20 U.S.C. Section 1092 (f)
  • Section 304, Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013
  • Florida Statutes 760.01, 794.011, 1000.05, 1001.02, 1001.64, 1012.855

College of Central Florida, under applicable rules of the Administrative Procedures Act, may change any of the announcements, information, policies, rules, regulations or procedures set forth in this catalog. The catalog cannot always reflect new and modified regulations. Statements in this catalog may not be regarded in the nature of binding obligations on the institution or the state of Florida.

Ombudsman

An ombudsman is a neutral third party who helps students address problems or concerns. At CF, you may contact the college ombudsman if you feel a policy or procedure is not being followed fairly by the college. The ombudsman is impartial, and considers the interests and concerns of all parties involved with the goal of achieving fair and equitable solutions. The ombudsman does not arbitrate, adjudicate, or participate in any internal or external processes.

Ombudsman Dr. Charles McIntosh
Ocala Campus, Building 31, Room 108G
Telephone: 352-854-2322, ext. 1360
Email: mcintosc@cf.edu

Prohibition of Misrepresentation to Students and Others

The College of Central Florida strives to provide accurate, honest and clear information in print, online, broadcast media or oral presentations. The college will make every effort to avoid misrepresentation to students and others in communications made in writing, visually, orally, or through other means. All misrepresentations should be avoided; however, this procedure specifically applies to the three areas covered by statute 20 USC § 1094(c)(3). Those three areas include:

  • The nature of the institution’s educational programs.
  • The institution’s financial charges.
  • The employability of the institution’s graduates.