Valencia Junior College was founded in February 1967 by the Orange County Board of Public Instruction and the State Board of Education under authority granted by the 1961 session of the Florida Legislature.
In July 1967, the College Advisory Committee became the Valencia Junior College Board of Trustees and replaced the Orange County Board of Public Instruction as the governing body of the College.
In Fall 1967, the charter class, limited to freshmen, began classes in temporary facilities on West Oak Ridge Road in Orlando.
In 2011, Valencia College won the inaugural Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence, the only national competitive award recognizing top achievement in student academic performance and workforce preparedness.
The following have been landmark events in the history of the College:
- 1969 – Granted full accreditation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
- 1971 – Changed its name from Valencia Junior College to Valencia Community College
- 1971 – Moved to a first permanent campus, West Campus
- 1974 – Added Osceola County to the college district
- 1975 – Opened East Campus
- 1997 – Opened Osceola Campus
- 1998 – Opened Winter Park Campus
- 2004 – Opened Sand Lake Center (Continuing Education facility)
- 2005 – Co-founded DirectConnect to UCF, to provide Valencia students with guaranteed admission to the University of Central Florida
- 2011 – Changed its name from Valencia Community College to Valencia College
- 2011 – Valencia College began offering bachelor's degrees
- 2011 – Received the inaugural Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence
- 2012 – Opened Lake Nona Campus
- 2012 – Established a smoke-free policy collegewide
- 2017 – Opened Poinciana Campus and celebrated 50-years of service to Orange and Osceola counties
- 2019 – Opened Downtown Campus and celebrated 50th commencement ceremony graduates of the Orange and Osceola counties
For further information about the college visit https://valenciacollege.edu/about/.
Accreditation
Valencia College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award associate and baccalaureate degrees. Valencia College also may offer credentials such as certificates and diplomas at approved degree levels. Questions about the accreditation of Valencia College may be directed in writing to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, GA 30033-4097, by calling (404) 679-4500, or by using information available on SACSCOC’s website (www.sacscoc.org).
Administration and Faculty
To view our Administration listing please visit https://valenciacollege.edu/administration/. To view our complete faculty roster, please visit https://valenciacollege.edu/roster.
