Sarah M. Clemmons

The discussion focused on celebrating February as CTE (Career and Technical Education) Month. The speaker noted that during a recent board of trustees meeting, it was announced that Florida achieved the status of the number one state in the nation for career education, five years ahead of the 2030 goal set in 2018-2019. The speaker expressed pride and thanked the attendees for their work in investing in workforce development and preparing students for employment quickly. Mention was made of the rapid implementation following funding reception in July, requiring quick curriculum updates and hiring.

The document outlines Chipola College's vision to promote learning and student achievement through excellence, opportunity, diversity, and progress. The mission is to provide accessible, affordable, quality educational opportunities to residents of Calhoun, Holmes, Jackson, Liberty, and Washington counties, fostering an environment of educational excellence and individual development. Key goals include providing quality instruction, effective marketing and recruitment, student retention and satisfaction, responsible resource management, staff and organizational development, community involvement, and promoting post-Chipola student success.

The Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP) for Chipola College, named GPS - Set Goals, Define Purpose, Achieve Success, aims to enable students to make informed decisions regarding their career goals and related educational pathways. The plan focuses on implementing a two-credit course, SLS 1401, Career and Life Planning, for first-time-in-college degree-seeking students during their initial semester of enrollment. The course includes self-assessments and career exploratory assignments to help students assess their skills, research career options, establish career goals, and formulate personal educational plans. The college anticipates a decrease in the number of students with undecided majors after completing the course. The QEP also involves faculty development and training to ensure effective implementation and assessment of student learning outcomes.

The 2024-2025 Chipola College Master Plan is designed to support the college's mission, Florida Department of Education goals, Florida College System accountability measures, accreditation agency standards, and college policies on institutional planning. It facilitates quality learning opportunities toward degrees and certificates and supports economic, social, and cultural development. The plan also addresses factors affecting college operations and responds to previous years' institutional outcomes.

The event was a Black History Month Celebration held in 2026. The program commenced with libations led by Miss Kaisha Ephraim, honoring the past, family, friends, and the departed, using water as a symbol of life's continuity. The event included acknowledgments of current and former Black Student Union (BSU) members. Following the libation, Miss Charlotte Franklin provided a welcome and noted the importance of celebrating black history year-round. The program continued with the performance of the Black National Anthem by the BSU Vice President, followed by an invocation by former BSU President, Mr. Chris Brochington. Miss Charlotte Franklin later presented a poem titled "Shrink," reflecting on the challenges of being mighty when one's greatness or size is not seen or understood by others, touching upon issues like microaggressions and historical oppression faced by Black individuals. The keynote presentation was delivered by William L. Bill McCrae, co-founder of the Florida African-American Student Association (FASA), who shared details about his extensive administrative career at Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University.