Southeastern University history

Seventeen students received diplomas for the two-year academic program. It was renamed the South-Eastern Bible Institute (SEBI) in 1936.

Two years later, in May 1937, the first graduation exercises were held.

In 1939, the purpose of the college was expanded.

1940 – Campus moved to Atlanta and renamed Beulah Heights Southeastern Bible Institute

1942 – Relocated to Capitol Avenue in Atlanta and renamed South-Eastern Bible Institute

1946 – Campus moved to Lakeland, Florida, at the former site of Lodwick School of Aeronautics, located at the current Tiger Town/Joker Marchant Stadium facility

1952 – Relocated to the current campus site on Longfellow Boulevard between Lake Bonny and Lake Holloway in Lakeland

That prosperity would also be a driving force for Keokuk, where visionary leaders established Keokuk Community College (KCC) as part of the city’s public school system in 1953.

Nova Southeastern University was founded in 1964 as Nova University of Advanced Technology, a graduate research institution rooted in the physical and social sciences.

In 1965, the State of Iowa passed Senate File 550 establishing the current community college system.

On May 27, 1968, the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education designated Southeastern as an Area Community College.

In 1971, the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education requested that the state supported institutions of higher education review and evaluate their functions as members of the State System of Higher Education.

1973 – Bush Chapel dedicated and opened for worship

On August 15, 1974, the name of Southeastern State College was changed to Southeastern Oklahoma State University by an act of the Oklahoma State Legislature.

1977 – Renamed Southeastern College of the Assemblies of God

Now one of the nursing colleges in Florida, Southeastern College was founded in 1988 as Cruise Career Training Institute (C.C.T.I.) by recognized leaders in the cruise and travel industry.

In 1994, C.C.T.I. was acquired by Arthur and Belinda Keiser who have long-term involvement in developing and managing private colleges and schools.

By 1996, C.C.T.I. expanded its travel program offerings to meet the needs of the community and its students.

The Southeastern School of Neuromuscular and Massage Therapy of Columbia and the Southeastern School of Neuromuscular and Massage Therapy of Charleston were founded in 1997.

SCC helped develop the Iowa Community College Online Consortium (ICCOC). The Consortium was founded in 1999 to offer online courses and resources for seven participating Iowa community colleges.

2001 – Construction began on new residence halls, beginning with Aventura and followed by Esperanza and Destino

In 2002, the Cooper City campus moved its location to Pembroke Pines, Florida.

In 2003, the main Lake Worth campus moved its location to West Palm Beach, Florida.

In 2005, Keiser Career College opened a third branch campus in St Petersburg, Florida, and it was granted institutional accreditation with the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges.

In February of 2007, the schools were acquired by Doctor Arthur and Belinda Keiser who have long-term involvement in developing and managing private colleges and schools.

In October 2008, the Main Greenacres Campus opened a Branch Campus in New Port Richey, Florida with a satellite location in Spring Hill, Florida that was later moved to Tampa, Florida.

In 2009, the Southeastern School of Neuromuscular Massage changed their name to Southeastern Institute and expanded the program offerings beyond Professional Clinical Massage Therapy.

2010 – Longfellow Boulevard entrance renovation completed

In July of 2011, the Tampa Branch Campus expanded its facilities to include two additional classroom spaces also located in the same plaza.

Finally in May 2012, Keiser Career College changed its name to Southeastern College, and the college started to become the career-focused institution that is it today.

2013 – Construction began on our new football stadium (later named Victory Field) and the College of Natural & Health Sciences building

2014 – Football kicked off at Victory Field, earning the Fire a 31-7 win at our inaugural home game

In 2015, the Greenacres Main campus moved its location to where our West Palm Beach college is today.

2016 – Student Activities Center expansion completed, enabling SEU to add wrestling to our available athletics

In order to accommodate future growth, the Columbia campus moved to a new facility in January 2017 and the North Charleston campus moved to its new facility in June 2017.

In 2019, the college ranked 11th in total enrollment in the state with 3,797 students, 9th in the number of joint enrollment students and 10th in the percentage of students taking part in distance learning.

In the spring of 2020, the university began taking steps to respond to financial challenges, citing the COVID-19 pandemic as the reason for such financial hardships.