Polk Community College

 
999 Avenue H NE
Winter Haven, FL 33881-4299

Over 26,000 degrees have been awarded by Polk Community College and an even larger number of people have taken college courses for transfer or to obtain job entry skills. That's thousands and thousands of success stories that one of the Florida colleges, Polk Community College, has made happen, since 1964 -- the College's first year.

For the first four years, Polk Community College operated out of temporary quarters at the Bartow Municipal Air Base. The first academic year started with 1,107 students and 34 faculty members. Today, under the leadership of Dr. Eileen Holden, nearly 100 full-time faculty members serve the higher educational needs of some 9,000 credit and 11,000 non-credit students on two campuses.

Polk Community College's Associate in Arts (AA) programs are parallel and equal to those offered in the state university system. Approximately 65 percent of Polk Community College's graduates earn AA degrees and are guaranteed admission as juniors to Florida colleges and universities. The College also has Associate in Science (AS) degrees and Associate in Applied Science (AAS) degrees leading directly to employment. In addition, several certificate programs and continuing education classes are offered by Polk Community College.

Quick Facts:

Polk Community College, one of Florida colleges, started in 1964 at a temporary site. The 100- acre Winter Haven campus houses the district offices. It opened in 1968 on the site of a former golf course.

Over 60 percent of Polk County's college-bound seniors attend Polk Community College.

The majority of Polk Community College's students attend on a part time basis.

The Lakeland campus is a joint use facility with the University of South Florida. Approximately 90 percent of the students attending classes on the Lakeland campus are Polk Community College students.