All-online public university in Florida’s future?

Florida may become the first state in the nation to open an all-online public university, TBO.com reported. Nicknamed “Online U,” it would be the state’s 13th university and is one option under consideration by the state’s Board of Governors.

Christian Lemus, a college student who has taken two courses online at SPC, is quoted in the article. While enthusiastic about one-stop shopping for online offerings statewide, he did not approve of an all-online university. “I absolutely would not do that,” Lemus said in the article. “You need a sense of belonging and a support group. I would need guidance and a place that sees me as an individual, not as an account.”

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Medical district involving SPC Health Education Center moves forward

The development of a Pinellas Park medical district is moving toward an Aug. 9 launch date, TBNweekly.com reported. The development team for the district includes representatives from St. Petersburg College’s Caruth Health Education Center as well as the city of Pinellas Park and medical businesses surrounding the college health center.

The goals for the district include business growth and development in the medical field and possibly a city walk-in clinic. The team have been meeting monthly since January to discuss the possibility of a medical district, according to the article.

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State education task force meets at SPC

The Florida Blue Ribbon Task Force met at St. Petersburg College’s Collaborative Labs at the EpiCenter on July 26, the Tampa Bay Times reported. The panel was created earlier this year by Gov. Rick Scott and charged with reforming the state’s higher education system.

Florida’s higher education system should be the best value in the nation, should contribute to the state’s economic success and should be governed with a spirit of collaboration between its leaders, the article described the panel’s vision after the day-long series of workshops. The group is scheduled to present a list of recommendations to Scott by October.

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