Valencia College - Economic Impact Brochure

Together, We’re Better.

Since 1967, Valencia College has been committed to helping students succeed. Last year alone, more than 71,000 students were enrolled at Valencia. Add to that faculty, staff and 45 years of alumni and you’ll start to see just how many lives are impacted by the college. But every resident in the region benefits from Valencia’s presence, even if they’ve never stepped foot on campus.

How? Let’s take a closer look and find out.

When you add up alumni earnings, student spending and expenditures related to college operations, Valencia has a huge economic impact on Orange and Osceola counties.

• Valencia’s alumni alone contribute $781.7 million in spending power to the region’s economy each year.

• As the 17th largest employer in the region, Valencia has become an economic engine for Central Florida, generating close to 3,000 jobs and spending $231 million a year on buildings, salaries, services and supplies.

Florida taxpayers see an annual rate of return of 8.9 percent on their support for Valencia, versus the 3 percent average rate of return for state funding.

Valencia stands out as a model of efficiency compared to other community colleges around the state. We receive lower funding per student, yet we graduate more associate degree and certificate holders than almost any college in America.

11,000 VOLUNTEER H URS. Valencia students contribute not only to the economy, but in other ways as well. This year alone, Valencia students volunteered 11,000 hours of their time between 112 non-profit organizations. That amounts to about a year of continuous work and a contribution to the community of more than $205,000.

Nearly twice as many local high school graduates start college at Valencia than at all state universities combined.

HALF THE CO$T With tuition that’s nearly half the cost of a state university’s, it’s no wonder more students choose Valencia.

But those savings don’t just benefit students. When more people can afford college and attain degrees, our whole society benefits. Education is statistically correlated with improved lifestyle behaviors, including reduced incidences of absenteeism, alcohol abuse and smoking, lower probability of committing crime, and fewer welfare and unemployment claims.

It is estimated that Valencia’s 2010 student population will generate social savings to the Florida public equal to $11.3 million a year.

1.00 = 5.60

$

INVESTED IN TUITION

$

INCOME INCREASE

For every dollar spent on tuition, students see a $5.60 increase in their lifetime income. When you consider the collective income boost from all Valencia students, it really adds up for our local economy.

Our graduation rate is nearly triple the national average for comparable community colleges.

More graduates mean more well-qualified job candidates—a definite plus for the economy.

Out of 1,200 community colleges in the nation, in 2011 we ranked: FIRST in the number of associate degrees awarded.

SECOND in the number of associate degrees awarded to Hispanics.

THIRD in the number of associate degrees awarded to African Americans.

ONE PERSON’S IMPACT Valencia’s graduation rate is so high because our professors are focused on doing whatever it takes to best help students learn. Take Professor James May, for example. He teaches English to non-native speakers and has developed his own style to break down language barriers—using technology such as social networking sites, blogs, wikis, video-sharing sites and smart technology to interact with students. Not only does his technique help keep students’ interest, it also helps them to read and write better. So, while Dr. May was named Professor of the Year, his impact on students’ lives will last for years to come.

Dr. James May, named 2011 Florida Professor of the Year by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching

400 AREA BUSINESSES Valencia doesn’t just help students graduate. We make sure they’re prepared to enter the workforce when they do. That’s why we work closely with nearly 400 area businesses to ensure that our A.S. (Associate in Science) career programs are up-to-date and in line with industry standards. In fact, our A.S. students are so well equipped with relevant job skills that 95 percent of them land a job right out of college.

That’s a higher placement rate than any of the nation’s top community colleges.

Valencia’s A.S. and A.A.S. graduates earn an average annual salary of $43,000—nearly double that of a high school graduate.

ONE PERSON’S IMPACT Pamela Garcia graduated from Valencia in 2009 with two degrees: an A.S. in Electronics Engineering Technology and an A.S. in Laser and Photonics. She now works as a laser technician with Northrop Grumman, where she started as an intern. She’s currently improving her skillset and employability even further by working toward a bachelor’s degree in engineering at UCF. She’s just one example of how Valencia serves as a stepping-stone to advanced degrees and careers.

Pamela Garcia, A.S. graduate and Northrop Grumman laser technician

Valencia contributes to a large portion of UCF’s student body. And we also play a significant role in making it more diverse. Half of the incoming undergrad minority students at UCF in 2010 were Valencia transfer students.

Since 2006, more than 16,000 Valencia students have transferred to UCF thanks to DirectConnect to UCF, a partnership that guarantees Valencia graduates admission and a smooth transition.

ONE PERSON’S IMPACT A high school mentor helped Kwame Walker realize that education was the key to changing his circumstances.

Growing up poor in inner-city Orlando, Kwame was the first in his family to finish high school and attend college.

His mentor helped him turn a 0.9 GPA into a 3.0. In 2007, he received a scholarship to Valencia and participated in the Bridges to Success program. Like many, he was required to take remedial math and reading before progressing to college-level work. He struggled at first but eventually passed, going on to graduate with an associate degree and transferring to UCF. In 2012, Kwame graduated from UCF with a double major in management and marketing and has already accepted a district-manager position with Save-A-Lot, an inner-city grocery store chain. In addition, Kwame gives back to the community by speaking to at-risk kids in the Orange County Public School System and was named one of the top three speakers by the Compaq Mentoring Program of Orange County.

Kwame Walker, Valencia graduate, UCF graduate, Orange County Public Schools mentor

Valencia’s record for high graduation and job placement rates makes the college second to none. Literally. Valencia was recognized as the best community college in the nation as the winner of the 2012 Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence.

Together, We’re Better.

Forty-five years of dedication, innovation and—above all— generous community support have helped make Valencia College the best in the nation. And we can do better yet.

Together, we can continue to make a tremendous difference for students, employers and the economy as a whole.

Find out how you can work together with Valencia.

Data included is from 2011-2012 unless otherwise noted. Sources: Valencia Economic Impact Study by Economic Modeling Specialists Inc. (based on 2010-2011 data); Orlando Business Journal 2011 Book of Lists; Florida Department of Education High School Feedback Report (2008); IPEDS Data Feedback Report (2010); Aspen Institute; Community College Times; Florida Education, Training and Placement Information Program (FETPIP) Labor Market Statistics; UCF Office of University Analysis and Planning Support; Valencia Office of Student Development; and Valencia Office of Institutional Research.

Š 2012 Valencia College | MSC022312-02

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