History of the College
60 years of discovering what's possible
In the mid-1960s the community came together to help create a college dedicated to both open access and high-quality higher education for residents of Alachua and Bradford counties. In 1965 the Florida legislature established Santa Fe Junior College (later named Santa Fe Community College), joining the growing movement of community colleges across the country. Today, two-year colleges serve more than half of all undergraduate college students.
In Florida, between 1957 and 1967, the legislature created a system of 28 community colleges throughout the state. These were located within commuting distance of 99 percent of the state's population, to ensure that most Floridians would have access to affordable higher education.
Since its founding, the college, now known as Santa Fe College, has pursued its mission of educational opportunity, responsiveness to the community, economic development and innovation in the public interest.
Enrollment has grown rapidly. Fewer than 1,000 students enrolled when classes were first offered in September 1966.
Today, more than 18,000 students take credit classes and 12,000 more take non-credit classes.
The College also now has six locations a robust online presence.
Campuses and centers
In response to community, workforce and student needs and with the support of the state legislature and donors to the Santa Fe College Foundation, the college continues to expand.
Northwest Campus, opened in 1972, into 5 buildings on 175 acres in Gainesville next to Interstate 75. It has continued to grow, expanding to more than 30 buildings and facilities. It’s newest building opened in Fall 2025, the Cellon Institute for Applied Technology and Advanced Manufacturing.
Andrews Center opened in 1985 in the renovated Bradford County Courthouse in Starke, and expanded in 1991 with the addition of the restored Cultural Building and again in 2003 with the addition of the Lillian Stump Education Building.
Blount Center opened in 1990 in downtown Gainesville in the renovated 6th Street railroad depot, expanded in 1993 with the addition of the renovated Gainesville Gas Co. Building, and again in 2006 with the new Blount Classroom Building. The newest building, Blount Hall, was opened in 2022. The Automotive Technology Training Center is expected to open in Fall 2027.
Davis Center in Archer opened in 2003, serving the community with general education and adult education programs.
Watson Center in Keystone Heights opened in 2005 with a second building added in 2006.
Perry Center for Emerging Technologies in Alachua opened in 2009 and expanded in 2010.
Kirkpatrick Center, Institute for Public Safety, in East Gainesville. The first police academy was established in 1971 moved into the George K. Kirkpatrick Jr Center when it opened in 1998. It expanded in 2016 with a fully operational small town “main street” scenario, used for realistic training exercises.
Leadership
SF has benefited from strong and stable leadership. The college has had only five presidents:
- Dr. Joseph W. Fordyce. 1965 to 1971
- Alan J. Robertson, 1971-1990
- Dr. Larry W. Tyree, 1990-2001
- Dr. Jackson N. Sasser, 2002-2020
- Dr. Paul Broadie II, began Feb. 1, 2020.
Further, the SF District Board of Trustees have played a critical role in encouraging and supporting the College’s mission and growth.
Expansion of programs and degree offerings
Historically and continuously dedicated to two-year degree transfer and career-based programs and shorter-term career and technical certificates, the College expanded its degree offerings when Florida's governor and legislature allowed baccalaureate degrees that meet demand for specific skills needed in the economy.
Also at this time, the college changed its name to Santa Fe College, from Santa Fe Community College.
SF now offers Bachelor of Applied Science (B.A.S.) degrees in Medical Laboratory Science (formerly Clinical Laboratory Science) and Health Services Administration, a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in Early Childhood Education, and a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing (B.S.N.). More programs will be added as specific needs are identified.
The college's educational offerings still are primarily the Associate in Arts (A.A.), Associate in Science (A.S.), Associate in Applied Science (A.A.S.), and community education programs. The Associate in Arts program consists generally of liberal arts courses. Many students in this program intend to transfer to four-year colleges or universities. SF sends more students to the University of Florida than does any other institution, averaging nearly 1,000 transfers each year.
Career and Technical Education consist generally of A.S., A.A.S. and certificate programs that prepare students for immediate entry into a career, although some programs are transferable to universities. Surveys show that more than 90 percent of students in these programs either enter a career or proceed to further higher education.
SF's Kirkpatrick Institute of Public Safety educates law enforcement and corrections officer recruits and offers programs to retrain sworn officers. IPS also trains Paramedics and Emergency Medical Technologists.
In addition to traditional degree and certificate programs, the offers non-credit leisure courses for personal growth.
It also supports business and non-profit development though the Center for Innovation and Economic Development (CIED), a small-business incubator that supports new and emerging entrepreneurs.
Student Support
The student-centered learning environment at SF is sustained by a network of counselors, advisors and helpful programs. Academic advisors give recommendations on classes to take. The student development offices help students decide upon a career or further higher education. Academic support programs offer tutoring and personal attention to help if students have difficulty in a subject. The college offers the Little School, an on-campus child care center.
Veterans are honored with active ROTC programs and the SF Veterans Affairs office that serves students at SF and UF. Santa Fe College has been recognized by Best for Vets and other veteran's programs.
Campus Life
Academic life is highlighted by an Honors Program, Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society, Brain Bowl, Ethics Bowl, a Model United Nations, Research in Undergraduate Education programs and festival, an International Program that features study abroad in multiple foreign countries each year, and domestic study program that has traveled to Arizona and Utah.
Campus life is rounded out with a student government, student clubs, activities and intramural athletics.
Arts and Sciences/Community events
SF offers many cultural activities to enrich the community's quality of life.
The Jackson N. Sasser Fine Arts Hall on the Northwest Campus is a state-of-the-art, 600-seat theater that hosts numerous performances both by student artists and professionals.
The Santa Fe Gallery features local and contemporary artists.
Concerts, plays and dance performances offer students experience in the performing arts and enrich the cultural life of the community. The Dance Theatre of Santa Fe College and Theatre SF hold numerous performances annually. Music SF sponsors workshops and performances in diverse musical traditions.
SF's annual Spring Arts Festival attracts thousands visitors to the Northwest Campus and is one of the community's largest economic events.
The college also presents sciences to the public. Adjoining each other in the "Circle of Science" on the SF Northwest Campus are the Kika Silva Pla Planetarium; the Jean Klein Rock Cycle Garden which is a series of large boulders arranged in geological order with interpretative plaques along a circular, park-like walkway; and a geological atrium in Building X that houses rocks, fossils and exhibits. Nearby is the SF North Woods nature preserve with a self -guided trail.
The Santa Fe College Teaching Zoo is the only nationally accredited zoo on a college campus and attracts nearly 30,000 visitors per year. The college offers to students and researchers its Geological Studies Field Station, a large network of caverns near Newberry in rural Alachua County.
Athletics
The Santa Fe College Saints compete in NJCAA-sanctioned events in Men’s and Women’s Basketball, Women’s Basketball, Men’s Baseball and Women’s Softball.
Community Impact
In its first 60 years, Santa Fe College has matured from a small community college into a leading institution offering a rich and wide variety of educational opportunities to more than 22,000 individuals each year on seven campus sites and online and creating a $413 million economic impact on the Alachua and Bradford County region.
In 2015, Santa Fe College was named the number one community college in the nation by winning the Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence. The college has been in the top 10 of U.S. community colleges since 2012.
It was recognized in 2025 by Carnegie Classifications as a “Opportunity College,” for its high rates of student success and the higher wages earned by SF graduates. Also, in 2025, the Association for Community College Trustees honored SF with the inaugural impact and Success Award for the Southern Region.