Higher Education Growth Parallels that of City’ s Q&A with Dr. Angela Falconetti, President of Polk State College
HAVEN: In what ways has Polk State College grown over the last ten years in Winter Haven?
for the company’s new manufacturing facility under construction near the CSX intermodal terminal off State Road 60, which is estimated to bring up to 500 jobs to Winter Haven. In addition to quality workforce training, the Polk State Corporate College provides exceptional professional development opportunities that are also tailored to employers’ needs. The City of Winter Haven and Polk State launched the Leadership Development in Public Administration (LDPA) Program in 2020 and has since trained more than 30 city employees to enhance the city’s workforce and, therefore, the services and quality of life for Winter Haven’s residents who benefit from the hard work and dedication of the city’s employees.
DR. FALCONETTI: I am proud to serve as Polk State College’s fifth President. Polk State has grown exponentially in the last decade in a variety of ways, from its physical footprint to the diversity of students served, to an increase in degree and workforce certification programs in direct response to the needs of our community. Enrollment at Polk State’s Winter Haven Campus has increased by approximately 845 students since 2010-2011, and the College is proud to serve approximately 14,000 degree-seeking students and 9,000 individuals in workforce training programs each year.
Center for Public Safety Partnerships like these truly illustrate why Polk State’s motto is We are Polk. By working closely with partners including the City of Winter Haven, Polk County Public Schools, Winter Haven – BayCare, and the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, Polk State is able to keep its finger on the pulse of the community’s educational and workforce needs and develop programs and solutions to meet them. This was the driving force of the development of Polk State’s Center for Public Safety, which was made possible by the advocacy of the Polk County Sheriff’s Office and supporting local public safety agencies. The state-of-the-art facility houses the Polk State Kenneth C. Thompson Institute for Public Safety (KCTIPS), the College’s associate and baccalaureate degree programs in Criminal Justice, and the Emergency Medical Services Program. The development of this center includes innovations such as simulation labs that are sought out and utilized by public safety agencies across the State of Florida. Our community has quickly experienced the return on investment of this facility. Polk State KCTIPS students, for example, have achieved 100% pass rates on the state exam since 2017, illustrating the College’s success in preparing students to become highly skilled, dedicated members of law enforcement.
Over the last decade, the College has also increased its number of programs, most notably with the expansion of baccalaureate degrees it awards from the launch of its first bachelor’s degree in 2009, to six baccalaureate degree programs today in the areas of aerospace sciences, criminal justice, elementary education, early childhood education, nursing, and supervision and management. Additionally, 11 Associate in Science degrees have been added since 2010-2011 in the areas of aerospace administration, aviation maintenance, professional pilots science, business administration, business management, cardiovascular technology, computer network engineering technology, computer systems and business analysis, graphic design, advanced manufacturing, and network systems. Polk State is proud to confer more than 460 baccalaureate degrees and more than 2,000 degrees and certificates overall each year. Polk State has also successfully expanded its footprint across Polk County with the development of the Polk State Clear Springs Advanced Technology Center in Bartow in 2014 and the opening of the Polk State Center for Public Safety in Winter Haven in 2016. The Advanced Technology Center in Bartow is a state-of-the-art facility that houses the Polk State Corporate College and the Engineering Technology Program.
LEGOLAND® Partnership Polk State continues to be the top choice for higher education and workforce training, also illustrated by LEGOLAND®Florida Resort’s investment of $30,000 through the Polk State College Foundation to launch the Building Higher Prepaid Scholarship Program. This program builds on the longstanding partnership between Polk County’s largest-serving higher education institution and premier international theme park to provide eligible LEGOLAND® Florida Resort employees with the support to pursue their education at no cost to them. Polk State is proud of its successful collaboration with LEGOLAND® Florida Resort, which serves as a key player in Central Florida’s tourism industry and works closely with the College to develop academic and career-building opportunities for students, graduates, and
Advanced Technology Center/Polk State Corporate College The Polk State Corporate College is leading the way in workforce training for industries across the State of Florida, and Winter Haven benefits greatly from the training and resources available through the ATC and Corporate College’s strong partnerships with local industry and municipal government. The Corporate College is proud to provide quality, customized training for companies bringing an abundance of rewarding, high-wage career opportunities to Winter Haven and Polk County, including Florida Can Manufacturing. Polk State has partnered with Florida Can to train more than 300 employees in the areas of mechanical, electrical, and automated systems troubleshooting
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