Highlights for Fall Term and beyond at Seminole State

Registration for Fall Term 2022 at Seminole State College of Florida is underway, and the College is gearing up for the 2022-23 academic year with new programs, updated spaces and continued support and opportunities for students. With classes beginning Aug. 22, here’s a sneak peek at the highlights for Fall Term and beyond.

New and Revived Programs 

As Seminole State continues to partner with local industry to help meet workforce needs, the College will offer new programs to prepare students for successful careers in high-demand fields. 

Bachelor’s Degrees

Among the programs slated to begin this fall is the Bachelor of Applied Science (B.A.S.) degree in Management and Organizational Leadership. The program will offer concentrations in entrepreneurship and general business and will prepare students to effectively lead with integrity and character in virtually any leadership or management scenario. The curriculum was created with input from the local business community, so students will be equipped with the skills employers are looking for from day one. The (B.A.S.) degree in Management and Organizational Leadership degree is one of four new bachelor’s degrees the College will offer. This fall the College also will offer two new education degrees, Elementary Education (K-6) and Exceptional Student Education (K-12), to help address the teacher shortage, and one in Public Safety Administration. 

Welding Technologies Certificate

Seminole State’s Welding Technologies Certificate gets new life this fall. As the state continues to support career and technical education (CTE), through the Florida Department of Education’s Get There initiative, the College received funding that allowed for the purchase of new equipment to reactivate the welding program. Students will be introduced to the fundamentals of the trade and will be prepared for high-demand jobs in the construction, manufacturing, repair and maintenance industries. The certificate combines online learning with in-person lab experiences for hand-on training and can be completed in just one year.

Renovations and Upgrades

Renovations for Construction Trades

Seminole State received $5.8 million in state funding for renovations to building D on the Sanford/Lake Mary Campus. The building houses the College’s construction trades programs and is primed for an update. While plans are still being finalized, the project could begin as early as this fall. Aside from the renovation, the overall vision for the building involves “bringing the facility up to date with the needs of current and future programs through a redesign of the classroom and lab space, student and program collaboration, technology integration, support of various delivery models, and expansion of partnership development and training,” said Basim Khartabil, associate vice president of the School of Construction, Design, Engineering and Information Technologies. 

Dance Floor Turned Theater Space

Perhaps one of Seminole State’s best kept secrets is the dance floor in building B on the Sanford/Lake Mary Campus. Once used for dance classes at the College, the space is now set to make its debut this fall as a black box theater. “Josh Jacobs [Technical Director in the Center for the Fine and Performing Arts] has designed the space to become a small intimate theater so that our students will have a dedicated space on campus in which to perform,” said Dr. Michele Cuomo, academic dean of Arts and Communication. With the space being repurposed this summer, the hope is to present The Witches of Shakespeare at Lake Mary Museum, where it was performed last year, and in the new black box theater in October, Cuomo said. 

Planetarium Upgrades

While the Emil Buehler Perpetual Trust Planetarium at Seminole State is a great place to see the stars sparkle, the building itself is getting its own shine thanks to renovations that began this summer. The first phase, which will run through September, includes updating and refreshing acoustic panels, walls and doors, replacing covers on the theater seats and removing the old star projector and operation control panel that has been in use since the planetarium open in 1987. Thanks to a $125,000 award from the planetarium’s namesake and additional funding from the College, there will be a new planetarium projection system and classroom space. The new projection system not only will provide impressive resolution and contrast but also will allow for immersive learning experiences beyond the field of astronomy, making it unlike anything the planetarium has offered before. The system is set to be installed this fall with the planetarium reopening for a grand Space Week celebration in January 2023. 

Even with renovations underway, the planetarium will offer Telescope Thursday programs and its popular Spooky Star Party this fall with dates to be announced at the beginning of Fall Term. 

Golden Opportunity: DirectConnect to UCF®

New for fall? Not quite. Seminole Sate has participated in DirectConnect to UCF® for nearly two decades. Thousands of Raiders have transferred to UCF through this nationally recognized program, but it’s a golden opportunity that more students could be taking advantage of. Students who are new or even returning to Seminole State this fall and have plans to transfer to UCF once they graduate, should talk to their advisors about how they can reap the benefits of DirectConnect. In addition to accelerated admission to UCF, students who participate in DirectConnect have a personal success coach who can assist them with the transfer process. Plus, with UCF’s regional location on Seminole State’s Sanford/Lake Mary Campus, students can continue to study close to home.

Start a Raider. Finish as a Gator.

Seminole State partners with UF Online, the University of Florida's fully online baccalaureate degree program, to offer A.A. graduates a seamless transfer pathway to a bachelor's degree program not offered at Seminole State. UF Online's numerous programs start three times a year and are designed for students at various stages in their lives and educational journeys including first-time-in-college, transfer, and second bachelor’s degree-seeking students.

Raider Support

It’s no secret that when students’ practical needs are met, they can focus and perform better inside the classroom. With that in mind Seminole State not only supports students academically but also provides resources to help students thrive outside the classroom. Now, that kind of “Raider Support” falls under the umbrella of Holistic Student Services and includes resources such as: 

• Telehealth Services: Free telehealth program for currently enrolled students. No insurance or deductibles required. 
• Destination Graduation: Partnership with Heart of Florida United Way that helps at-risk students access resources they need to stay in school
• LYNX Transportation: Free bus rides on the LYNX system for Seminole State students (and employees) 
• Raiders Helping Raiders Pantry: Food and hygiene items for students in need

With these resources under one umbrella, it’ll be easier than ever for students to find and access the wrap-around services they need. Plus, even more Raider Support is coming this fall. Seminole State is working with Seminole County Legal Aid Society to provide free, on-campus legal advice for students and is working on a partnership with Lyft that will provide a limited number of free vouchers for students with transportation needs. More information will be provided to students when these resources become available. 

Early Decisions

Seminole State’s annual Decision Day for Seminole County Public Schools seniors, previously held in spring, is moving to Fall Term. For high school seniors in the class of 2023, Decision Day will be held Nov. 10 on the College’s Sanford/Lake Mary Campus. With the daylong event moving to an earlier slot in the academic year, students will be able to explore Seminole State and all the opportunities available to them sooner to aid in making their college decisions. Information and registration for November’s Decision Day will be available this fall.

Fall Term classes at Seminole State begin Aug. 22 with additional sessions starting in September and October. To learn more about the College, its programs and how to apply, visit seminolestate.edu/go.