OKALOOSA-WALTON COLLEGE HAS A NEW NAME: NORTHWEST FLORIDA STATE COLLEGE

In a move that solidifies Okaloosa-Walton College’s new role as one of Florida’s first state colleges, the OWC District Board of Trustees voted Tuesday, July 8, to officially rename the 44-year-old institution as Northwest Florida State College.

“This is truly a monumental moment in our college’s history,” noted trustee chairman Wesley Wilkerson who said the new name best reflects the college’s expanded mission to offer more baccalaureate programs that meet regional and statewide employment needs.

 Trustees initially considered a slate of more than 40 different names including retaining the O-W name and simply becoming Okaloosa-Walton State College.  “While there was discussion about keeping the current name, the trustees determined that Northwest Florida State College most accurately represents our new mission and expanded service district,” noted Dr. Bob Richburg, college president. “By maintaining the college’s scarlet and silver colors and the Raiders name for our sports programs – we think we’ve got a good balance between O-W tradition and our new state college role.”

 A new state law, signed by Governor Crist in mid June at a ceremony held at the college’s Mattie Kelly Art Center, named OWC as one of nine colleges included in the State College Pilot Project with the goal of expanding access to higher education throughout the state.

 “Under the law our mission is expanded, but we will also keep doing all the things we do best as a community college,” explained Richburg. “The college will maintain our commitment to open-door access, associate degree programs, adult education, short-term career training programs and low tuition,” said Richburg, “Our trustees remain committed to keeping the college affordable.  Our bachelor’s degree tuition is about 80 percent of the fees in the state university system.”

Richburg said the college will phase in the new name and use up current items such as catalogs and other materials printed with the OWC name until they have to be re-ordered in a normal cycle. “Other items such as our diplomas and official seal will have to change more quickly,” he said noting that December grads could count on the new name being on their diplomas.