Daytona State College

1200 W. International Speedway Blvd. Daytona Beach, Florida 32114

http://www.daytonastate.edu/

President’s Message

As we approach our 50th anniversary of service to the citizens of Volusia and Flagler counties, Daytona State College (DSC) has progressed in its ability to respond to community needs. At the same time, we hold true to our primary mission of providing affordable access to comprehensive higher education for all who desire it.

Our purpose is to shape our community – to change the lives of students, provide a road to personal success, and serve as an agent for progress and economic development. In doing so, we must strive to advance and grow our institution at every turn.

Every day, another citizen of this community walks through our doors in search of a better way of life through education. By doing so, they not only enhance the condition of their own lives, but also of their family’s lives, and ultimately of the entire region.

Daytona State College is committed to helping students of all ages, experiences, backgrounds and desires achieve success in the college classroom and beyond. In serving them, we are shaping our community.

Dr. D. Kent Sharples, President

History of the College

In 1957, the Florida Legislature authorized Daytona Beach Junior College as the state’s first comprehensive community college. The College was divided into three divisions: college credit, adult education and the Mary Karl Vocational School. Although one president administered to all divisions, they essentially functioned as separate entities under the Volusia County School System.

Volusia County Community College, also a separate entity under the school system, merged with DBJC in 1965. The 1968 Legislature combined the divisions into a single administrative unit under a District Board of Trustees independent of the county school system. In 1971, the official name of the College was changed from DBJC to Daytona Beach Community College.

A leader in the area’s workforce and economic development initiatives, DSC is continually developing new technological means to deliver educational services to the community. Leading the list is the Advanced Technology Center (ATC), an innovative educational partnership among the College, Flagler County Schools, Volusia County Schools and the business communities of Volusia and Flagler counties. The ATC offers opportunities for high school students and adult community college students to pursue technology-based fields.

DSC is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award associate of arts, associate of applied science, associate of science and bachelor of applied science degrees and is approved by the state of Florida. Numerous professional and academic organizations confer special accreditation to various College programs. DSC also is a member of the American Association of Community Colleges and an approved institution for higher education for veterans and war orphans.

Mission Statement

Daytona State College, a comprehensive public college, provides access to a range of flexible programs –– from community enrichment to the baccalaureate degree, emphasizing student success, embracing excellence and diversity, and fostering innovation to enhance teaching and learning.

Approved by the District Board of Trustees on June 15, 2005

Daytona State College Board of Trustees
Joseph C. Petrock, Chairperson
Pramila S. Desai, Vice Chairperson
Mary Bennett
William H. Davison
John Graham
Forough Hosseini
Peter E. Mallory
Gregory Smith

General Area Information

Volusia County

More than 400,000 people call Volusia County home. Situated on the east coast of Central Florida, our 47 miles of Atlantic Ocean beaches are a world class playground, with beachfront cities including Daytona Beach, Ormond Beach and New Smyrna Beach. Water sports are plentiful, but Volusia’s oceanfront communities are most famous for land sports. Early automotive pioneers such as Louis Chevrolet and Henry Ford enjoyed their leisure time in the sun and found that the hard packed sand, gentle slope and wide expanse of Volusia’s beach was the perfect proving ground for early auto racing. Ormond Beach, in fact, is known as the “Birthplace of Speed.” The racing tradition continues today at Daytona International Speedway, one of the world’s finest racing facilities and the home of the world-famous Daytona 500, an event larger than the Super Bowl.

The scenic St. Johns River, famed for its bass fishing, links magnificent parks with wildlife preserves along the County’s western border. True Southern charm can be found in DeLand, the County seat. This unique city features an award-winning downtown filled with antique shops and quaint restaurants, surrounded by stately historic homes and buildings. Volusia County also is the headquarters of the Ladies Professional Golf Association, the summer home of the London Symphony Orchestra and the winter refuge of the endangered Florida manatee. Volusia County is about an hour’s drive north of Disney World and the Kennedy Space Center. It’s also within a few hours drive of other major Florida communities, such as Tampa (139 miles), Miami (253 miles), or Jacksonville (89 miles).

Flagler County

Nestled between Daytona Beach and St. Augustine, Flagler County was passed by in the rush to develop Florida and is a haven from the pressures of the world. Come and enjoy our safe and majestic surroundings – steeped in a rich history there are corners of Flagler were it seems that time has been forgotten. Slow moving creeks shaded in a canopy of trees, salt marshes harboring birds and sea life and 19 miles of beaches with quaint beachside communities where you can still find solitude, all preserved for your enjoyment.

Leisure activities are in abundance in Flagler from canoeing, hiking, bird watching, tennis, bike riding, fresh and salt-water fishing and an amazing 165 holes of golf, Flagler County is the avid golfers paradise. Whether you choose to drink in the natural surroundings, surrender to the serenity of our beaches or enjoy a round of golf, it is time to relax on the quiet side of Florida.