What is AFC?
Simply put, AFC is the most unique organization serving any community college system in the nation. The Association of Florida Colleges (AFC) was organized in 1949 as the Florida Association of Public Junior Colleges (FAPJC) by the presidents of Florida's first four public community colleges as a means of uniting the colleges for the purpose of helping the Florida Legislature understand the junior college and to advocate for Florida's public community colleges in the development of the state's long-range plan for higher education. In 1971, the Association became the Florida Association of Community Colleges; and in 2010 the Association became the The Association of Florida Colleges.
Since 1949, the Association's mission and purposes have grown in scope as has the Association itself. Today, all 28 of the state's public community colleges support the work of the Association through institutional dues, as do 7,000 individual community college employees through individual memberships and the sharing of their talents, time, and energy.
The Association is organized through an intricate network of Chapters, Commissions, Regions and a Board of Directors. Chapters represent the basic building block for the Association at the local level. Generally, each community college in the state has one AFC Chapter, though several larger colleges have elected to have more than one chapter. There are currently 31 AFC Chapters in the state representing all 28 community colleges.
Commissions provide an opportunity for community college employees with similar job responsibilities to enhance their professional skills and knowledge and to network, share and recognize exemplary practices with colleagues from other community colleges. Each commission has an elected board of directors to oversee and plan the commission's activities during the year, and the chair of each commission serves on the Association's Board of Directors. Currently there are 16 active commissions functioning within the Association.
Regions provide another opportunity for community college employees to network and share. However, regions are organized by job or professional responsibilities so that colleges that are within proximity of each other have a formal mechanism for networking and sharing. There are five Regions in the state, each coordinated by an elected Region Director.
The Board of Directors of the Association includes each Region Director, Commission Chair, and several appointed Committee Chairs as well as an Executive Committee elected by the Assembly of Delegates. The Executive Committee includes the President, the President-Elect, the Vice President for Regions and Chapters, the Vice President for Commissions, and the Immediate Past President. The Board of Directors is responsible for setting the goals and objectives of the Association and for employing the Association's Executive Director.
Since 1949, the mission of AFC has evolved from that of promoting the development and advancement of Florida's public community colleges to that of becoming the professional association for the colleges, the Division of Community Colleges, their boards, employees, retirees, and associates. The mission of the Association is to actively promote, democratically represent, support, and serve the individual members and institutions in their endeavors to provide their students and the citizens of Florida the best possible comprehensive community college educational system.
Association of Florida Colleges
113 East College Avenue
Tallahassee, FL 32301-7703
PH: 850-222-3222
FAX: 850-222-2327
Visit the State AFC site at myafchome.org