History of FSCJ
Founded in 1965, Florida State College at Jacksonville (FSCJ), then known as Florida Junior College (FJC), opened its doors during the height of the nation’s community college movement to proudly serve the northeast Florida region as the first public, postsecondary educational institution in Duval or Nassau County to exist on an integrated basis.
On August 22, 1966, FJC held its first day of classes at two renovated, temporary facilities: the Southside Campus at South Jacksonville Elementary School on Flagler Street and the Cumberland Campus on Cumberland Road off Roosevelt Boulevard. Two short years later, in May of 1968, the College held its first Commencement Ceremony at the Civic Auditorium.
Over the next 20 years, the College would proceed to open the five campuses that are still occupied today and make up the current FSCJ. Beginning in August 1970, FJC opened North Campus, the first permanent campus of the College. One year later, South Campus opened on Beach Boulevard as the second permanent campus.
In 1975, the City of Jacksonville donated land on State Street to create the permanent Downtown Campus, which officially opened in 1977.
That same year, the original Cumberland Campus that had been renamed the Kent Center in 1974 was officially renamed the Fred H. Kent Campus.
FJC reached a big milestone in 1986 as it registered its 500,000th student and changed its name from Florida Junior College to Florida Community College at Jacksonville (FCCJ) in response to community input and engagement.
By 1988, FCCJ adopted its initial Strategic Plan, established the Center for the Advancement of Teaching and Learning and began operations for Open Campus.
During the next two decades, the College continued to grow exponentially and expanded the programs and courses it offered students. In 2007, the College received accreditation to offer baccalaureate degree programs.
In 2009, FCCJ announced the name by which it is known today – Florida State College at Jacksonville (FSCJ). From an initial enrollment of 2,610 students in Fall 1966 to the current enrollment of more than 45,000 students, the College has grown to offer 13 bachelor’s degrees, 50-plus associate degrees and more than 100 technical certificates and workforce certifications.
As we build upon our past and look forward to our future, FSCJ strives to provide an equitable, high quality, success-driven learning experience for our diverse community of students.
To see more of FSCJ's history, including theatrical programs, class photos and more, visit the College's digital archive.