Former names | Edison Junior College (1962–1972) Edison Community College (1972–2004) Edison College (2004–2008) Edison State College (2008–2014) |
---|---|
Type | Public college |
Established | 1962 |
Parent institution | Florida College System |
Accreditation | SACS |
Endowment | $49.5 million (2024) [1] |
Budget | $96.6 million (2024) [2] |
President | Jeffery Allbritten |
Academic staff | 194 (full-time) [3] 338 (part-time) [3] |
Undergraduates | 14,326 (fall 2022) [3] |
Location | , , United States 26°33′05″N81°53′14″W / 26.5513°N 81.8872°W |
Campus | Large suburb [3] |
Colors | Purple and aqua |
Nickname | Buccaneers |
Sporting affiliations | NJCAA Region 8 – Suncoast Conference |
Mascot | Captain Blackbeard |
Website | www |
Florida SouthWestern State College (FSW) is a public college in Fort Myers, Florida. It is a member of the Florida College System.
FSW was established in 1962 as Edison Junior College, named after Thomas Edison, who spent winter months in Fort Myers. Its first campus opened in 1965. The school rebranded several times, reflecting changes in its mission and academic offerings. It became a baccalaureate-granting institution in 2008, when it was renamed Edison State College. In 2014, the college adopted its current name, cutting ties to Edison and aligning with its expanded geographic reach. [4]
FSW offers both associate and baccalaureate degrees, and several vocational certificate programs, focusing on healthcare, business, technology, and education. FSW is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.
The main campus is located in Fort Myers, and covers 140 acres (57 ha). The college also has additional campuses, including the Charlotte Campus in Punta Gorda, which opened in 1997 and is the largest campus at 204 acres (83 ha). The Collier Campus, located in Naples, opened in 1992 on a 50-acre (20 ha) site. Additionally, the Hendry/Glades Curtis Center in LaBelle serves as a hub for outreach programs.
FSW reestablished its athletics program in 2014 under the "Buccaneers" moniker. [4] Teams participate in the Suncoast Conference of the Florida State College Activities Association and the National Junior College Athletic Association. The 3,500-seat Suncoast Credit Union Arena opened in 2016 and is home to the basketball and volleyball teams, as well as the City of Palms Classic high school basketball tournament. [5] Baseball and softball teams play at City of Palms Park.
Hendry County is a county in the Florida Heartland region of the U.S. state of Florida. As of the 2020 census, the population was 39,619, a 1.2% increase from 39,140 at the 2010 census. Its county seat is LaBelle.
Lee County is a county located in southwestern Florida, United States, on the Gulf Coast. As of the 2020 census, its population was 760,822. In 2022, the population was 822,453, making it the eighth-most populous county in the state. The county seat is Fort Myers, with a population of 86,395 as of the 2020 census, and the largest city is Cape Coral, with an estimated 2020 population of 194,016.
Fort Myers is a city in and the county seat of Lee County, Florida, United States. As of the 2020 census, the population was 86,395; it was estimated to have grown to 95,949 in 2022, making it the 25th-most populous city in Florida. Together with the larger and more residential city of Cape Coral, it anchors the Cape Coral–Fort Myers metropolitan statistical area, which encompasses Lee County and has a population of 834,573 as of 2023.
Suncoast Community High School is a public magnet high school in Riviera Beach, Florida. The school's campus was built in 1955 as Riviera Beach High School. It was desegregated in the 1960s and renamed in 1970. It became a magnet school in 1989 and has selective admissions.
Florida Atlantic University is a public research university with its main campus in Boca Raton, Florida and satellite campuses in Dania Beach, Davie, Fort Lauderdale, Jupiter, and Fort Pierce. The university is a member of the State University System of Florida. FAU was established as Florida's fifth public university and is classified among "R2: Doctoral Universities – High research activity".
Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU) is a public university in Lee County, Florida, near Fort Myers. It is part of the State University System of Florida and is its second-youngest member. The university was established on May 3, 1991, and is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS). It offers 58 bachelor's degree programs, 25 master's degree programs, 6 doctoral degree programs, and 12 graduate certificates.
Broward College is a public college based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. It is a member of the Florida College System, and offers several associate and baccalaureate degree programs.
Nova Southeastern University (NSU) is a private research university with its main campus in Fort Lauderdale-Davie, Florida, United States, in the Miami metropolitan area. The university consists of 14 total colleges, offering over 150 programs of study. The university offers professional degrees in the social sciences, law, business, osteopathic medicine (DO), allopathic medicine (MD), health sciences, pharmacy, dentistry, optometry, physical therapy, education, occupational therapy, and nursing. As of 2019, 20,576 students were enrolled at Nova Southeastern University, with more than 210,000 alumni. With a main campus located on 314 acres in Davie, Florida, NSU operates additional campuses in Dania Beach and Tampa-Clearwater, and other locations throughout the state of Florida, as well as in San Juan, Puerto Rico and Denver, Colorado.
Seminole State College of Florida is a public college based in Sanford, Florida. It is part of the Florida College System.
The Edison and Ford Winter Estates contain a historical museum and 21 acre botanical garden on the adjacent sites of the winter homes of Thomas Edison and Henry Ford beside the Caloosahatchee River in Southwestern Florida. It is located at 2350 McGregor Boulevard, Fort Myers, Florida.
Southwest Florida is the region along the southwest Gulf coast of the U.S. state of Florida. The area is known for its beaches, subtropical landscape, and winter resort economy.
Palm Beach State College is a public college in Lake Worth, Florida. It is part of the Florida College System. Palm Beach State College enrolls nearly 25,000 students in over 100 programs of study including bachelor of applied science, associate in arts and associate in science degree programs, and short-term certificates, as well as continuing education and avocational courses. In 2009, the college started its first baccalaureate program, a Bachelor of Applied Science degree in Supervision & Management.
Fort Myers Senior High School is a public school in Fort Myers, Florida. It was opened October 19, 1911, making it one of the oldest schools in the state of Florida, and the oldest in Lee County. It is managed by the Lee County School District. The enrollment as of May 2021 is 1,944 students.
Santa Fe College is a public college located in Gainesville, Florida. As part of the Florida College System, it offers both associate and baccalaureate degree programs. Established in 1965 by the Florida Legislature as Santa Fe Junior College, the institution began classes in September 1966. It was renamed Santa Fe Community College in 1972 and became "Santa Fe College" in 2008 to highlight its baccalaureate programs.
The City of Palms Classic is an annual high school basketball tournament held in Fort Myers, Florida. It is generally recognized as the nation's best bracketed holiday event.
Northwest Florida State College (NWFSC) is a public college with its main campus in Niceville, Florida. It is part of the Florida College System, and is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, offering associate and baccalaureate degrees, and several certificate programs. NWFSC operates multiple campuses across Okaloosa and Walton counties.
Edison Mall is an enclosed, super-regional shopping mall in Fort Myers, Florida. The mall opened in 1965, and has been expanded three times since. Edison Mall is owned by Washington Prime Group, which took over the mall in 2014. The mall is named for inventor Thomas Edison, who owned a winter residence and laboratory in Fort Myers. The mall's anchors are Dillard's, JCPenney, and two Macy's stores, and also includes 133 stores and a lifestyle center section. The mall itself is situated on just one floor, but all of the anchor stores have two floors.
Suncoast Credit Union Arena is a 75,000 sq ft (7,000 m2) multipurpose arena on the campus of Florida SouthWestern State College (FSW) in Fort Myers, Florida. It is the home of the FSW Buccaneers men's and women's basketball and volleyball teams. It holds 3,500 people in basketball configuration. It also features six skyboxes, a hospitality event center, competition courts that convert into recreational courts, athletic office space, student, faculty and staff wellness, and an athletic center with a fitness pavilion, men's and women's locker rooms and a weight training area. It is also the home to the City of Palms Classic, an annual high school basketball tournament.
The Fort Myers Tip-Off is a two-day college basketball tournament held in Fort Myers, Florida at Suncoast Credit Union Arena during Thanksgiving week. The tournament started in 2018.