State College of Florida history

2, 1958, in a former senior high school with 502 students.

In 1959 the first classes were held on the current southwest Manatee County campus with a full-fledged sophomore class and a large freshman class enrolled in university-parallel courses.

At Doctor Strozier's death in April of 1960, Doctor Milton W. Carothers became acting president to serve until Doctor Gordon Blackwell took over the duties of president on September 16, 1960.

On August 22, 1966, FJC held its first day of classes at two renovated, temporary facilities: the Southside Campus at South Jacksonville Elementary School on Flagler Street and the Cumberland Campus on Cumberland Road off Roosevelt Boulevard.

Two short years later, in May of 1968, the College held its first Commencement ceremony at the Civic Auditorium.

In 1973 classes were offered at Venice High School to provide higher education opportunities for the residents of south Sarasota County.

Doctor Bernard Francis Sliger became Interim President on Doctor Marshall's resignation, and on February 7, 1977, the Board of Regents named Doctor Sliger President.

It was not until 1983 that the college received an appropriation from the Florida Legislature to expand the Venice center into a full-service Venice campus.

During this period, the center's functions were funded by the donations of residents living in the surrounding communities which included Venice, North Port, and Englewood. It was dedicated on March 30, 1985, and the college's name was changed that year to Manatee Community College (MCC). The Venice campus lake is nicknamed Lake Jervey and dedicated to Bill Jervey Jr for his outstanding contributions to the college.

FJC reached a big milestone in 1986 as it registered its 500,000th student and changed its name from Florida Junior College to Florida Community College at Jacksonville (FCCJ) in response to community input and engagement.

On March 11, 1991, Doctor Dale W. Lick was designated to succeed Doctor Sliger as president on August 1, 1991.

After Doctor Lick's resignation on August 31, 1993, Doctor Sliger was again named Interim President.

At the beginning of 2003, MCC opened the 5-acre (2.0 ha) Lakewood Ranch campus.

The year 2005 saw the creation of the Office of National Fellowships, which had immediate success in increasing the numbers of undergraduates who received nationally and internationally prominent scholarships and fellowships.

In 2007, the Schroeder-Manatee Ranch donated an additional 5 acres (2.0 ha) to the Lakewood Ranch campus.

President Wetherell announced his retirement on June 17, 2009.

The first bachelor's degree to be offered at the college was a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (B.S.N.) which started in January 2010.

And In 2011, the college was awarded The United States Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Efficient Design (LEED) Gold certification for the construction of the Medical Technology & Simulation Center on its Lakewood Ranch campus.

The first class will graduate in spring 2014.