In the latest effect of Florida’s controversial 2023 higher education reform law, Valencia College has changed its general education courses. As a result, many fewer students will be able to take the college’s most popular course, and teachers will soon be leaving.
Valencia got a letter from the state in October saying that its “New Student Experience” course, which teaches students how to handle the demands of college, was no longer valid as a necessary general education credit.
The state letter did not say why the course would not qualify, but SB266 was a bill that tried to set “standards” for each subject in general education courses at Florida’s schools and universities.
New Student Experience was approved as a communication course, which means that it had to “give students the ability to communicate effectively,” which means that students had to be able to “write clearly and speak in public.”
At the board of trustees meeting on Monday, Valencia President Kathleen Plinske talked about changes to general education courses that will bring the college in line with the new state rules.
These changes include getting rid of the New Student Experience course and adding options like business, criminal justice, foreign language, and introduction to film.
The suggested changes were approved by the college’s board with a vote of 3-0. They will take effect in the Fall 2025 semester.
In the past few years, more than 10,000 Valencia students, or almost one in five, have taken the New Student Experience course. One reason they did this was to meet a general education requirement for communication credit.
Valencia will still offer the course as an option for students, but it is expected that many fewer will choose to take it in the future. This could put some of the teachers who have taught it in danger.
The college had until December 1 to give the state its new list of courses under the new law. Another course, a social science class called “Social Problems,” was thrown out by the state and will now be choice.
The state reform law not only sets rules for course types, but it also does not allow classes that “distort significant historical events” or teach identity politics or ideas that racism, sexism, oppression, and privilege are built into American institutions.
So far, there is no sign that either of the Valencia courses that the state is looking into had material that is illegal under SB266.
With the changes, Valencia now hopes to get final state approval before the school year of 2025.
Following his “yes” vote, John Davis, a trustee at the college, praised Plinske and Valencia’s management.
“I am always amazed when you know there are problems and challenges you may be facing and you keep taking a deep breath and looking for ways to move forward,” he said.
Davis’s words were repeated by Chris Borglum, President of Valencia’s Faculty Association.
He did say, though, that the contracts of 18 non-tenured staff members who teach the New Student Experience probably will not be renewed.
He said, “I do not think the state of Florida is fully aware of the effect that many of its policies have on college education in the state right now.”
“I hope that one day we can work with lawmakers to help them see how important our state colleges are and what opportunities they give students. That way, we can make the best choices for our students.”
Borglum said that the college is trying to find “soft landings” for as many of the faculty members as possible. However, some of them do not have credentials in the areas that will likely bring in more students after the changes to general education.
He said that professors who can not switch to a different field is likely to lose their jobs in the fall of 2025.
At the end of her presentation to the board, Plinske said that the college would figure out where it needed to focus on hiring teachers and start making changes to how students are aided over the next few weeks as the changes are put into place.