Tallahassee Community College wants name change as school offers more four year degrees

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Tallahassee Community College leaders want to change its name to Tallahassee State College as their board of trustees voted to transition and rebrand the institution last week.

A spokesperson with the college confirmed that the last step needed is to get state approval for the action to be finalized.

Rep. Jason Shoaf, R-Blounstown, and Sen. Corey Simon, R-Tallahassee, filed the House and Senate version of the bill that would officially change the name of the school.

During the consideration process, the trustees were presented with two other options for the name change, including Tallahassee College and State College of Tallahassee.

The school argued the need to rebrand was justified after the college added three new baccalaureate degree in Business Administration, Elementary Education, and Exceptional Student Education. These additions were on top of the Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree that has been offered since 2014.

Additionally, the school explained how 60% of their student body was now coming from outside of the service district.

The college, originally founded in 1966, was named Tallahassee Junior College before it was rebranded in 1970 with the community college name.

Hillsborough Community College is the only other public higher education institution in the state of Florida that still uses the name style in their branding.