
Thanks to an anonymous donor, Florida Southern College is establishing Polk County’s first School of Architecture. It will offer a Bachelor of Architecture degree in 2025, then add a master’s program in 2028. “The college recognizes that this new architectural program is a natural fit for our campus. It features the largest single-site collection of […]

With demand for Respiratory Therapists growing, Polk State College is being recognized for excellence in its respiratory therapy program, which graduates students who often stay in Polk County to work. Respiratory therapists may be the unsung heroes in healthcare facilities, working with doctors and nurses to provide oxygen and breathing treatments, intubate patients, manage ventilators, […]

Florida Southern College has landed on The Princeton Review’s 2024 guide of The Best 389 Colleges, selected for its engaged learning environment, beautiful campus, the expertise its professors possess, its theater program and career services. “I am always happy when the college is recognized nationally for the excellence that is a hallmark of our living-learning […]

As the 2023-2024 academic year begins, Florida Polytechnic University once again plays a role globally, welcoming six international students and researchers and sending one of its students to Canada. Such exchanges are critical to Polk County’s place in a growing global marketplace. “Florida Poly is a powerful economic engine within the state of Florida. By […]

The Central Florida Aerospace Academy (CFAA) at Lakeland Linder International Airport has been so important to talent development that it’s being replicated in Winter Haven. Essentially an expansion of the CFAA that’s part of Kathleen High in Lakeland, the newest academy will be an option on the east side of the county for students interested […]

Polk County’s institutions of higher education contribute to business services here, training the next generation of workers and preparing them to be successful in their careers. Five of those institutions offer extensive business classes and various degrees, all of which contribute to the economic engine of Polk County. “Jannetides helps economic development in Polk County […]

As Polk County remains a hotbed for growth in the medical and health sciences fields, our local institutions of higher education continue to adapt their current programs and add new ones to ensure a strong and talented health sciences workforce to support the industry. Lakeland Regional Health is building new facilities in North and South […]

The $47 million cutting-edge Applied Research Center (ARC) on Florida Polytechnic University’s campus has opened, providing the only state college devoted to STEM degrees more academic and research space as it plays an increasingly critical role as an engine for economic development. “This striking new building will significantly expand our research capabilities and advance our […]

Local, state and national companies look forward to this time of year. Students are graduating from college and are ready to enter the workforce. In Polk County, seven institutions of higher education contribute to the talent pipeline. Those colleges and universities award about 6,000 degrees and certificates to graduates annually. This includes about 1,000 students […]

Three local institutions of higher education are preparing students to enter the fast-growing field of logistics and supply chain management, a critical industry in Polk County. Polk State College President Angela Garcia Falconetti said the percentage of Polk County’s workforce involved in the logistics and supply chain field is: Transportation & Warehousing – 10% Production […]