Legislation & Regulation

The Florida Virtual Campus houses the statewide internet-based catalog of distance learning courses, degree programs and resources offered by Florida’s public colleges and universities. FLVC has developed operational procedures and technical guidelines for the catalog that are to be followed by all institutions. These procedures and guidelines address: specific information regarding each course or degree program including the course number and information on availability; the definition of the catalog’s search and retrieval options that allows users to search by academic term, course date and institution, and frequent reviews and updates to each institution’s catalog to ensure that distance learning programs and degree programs comply with operational procedures.

The Board of Governors and the Department of Education oversee the Florida Postsecondary Academic Library Network that delivers a multitude of services to all Florida College System and State University System institutions. Those services include:

Providing information and access to distance learning courses and degree programs offered by Florida’s public colleges and universities;
Coordination with the Florida College System and the State University System to identify and provide online academic support services and resources when the multi-institutional provision of those services and resources is more cost-effective or operationally effective;
Administering a single library automation system and associated resources and services that all public state colleges and universities use to support learning, teaching, and research needs and develop automated library management tools that include:
- A shared Internet-based catalog and discovery tool that allows a user to search and, if authorized, access the aggregate library holdings of the state’s public colleges and universities. The catalog and discovery tool allow a user to search the library holdings of any institution and includes an interlibrary loan function that ensures an authorized user can access the required library holding.
- An Internet-based searchable collection of electronic resources that include journals, articles, databases, and electronic books licensed pursuant to paragraph
- An integrated library management system and associated services that all state public college and universities’ academic libraries can use to acquire, catalog, circulate, and track library material.
- A statewide searchable database that includes an inventory of digital archives and collections held by state public colleges and universities.
In collaboration with library staff from Florida College System institutions and state universities, coordinate the negotiation of statewide licensing of electronic library resources and preferred pricing agreements, issue purchase orders, and enter into contracts for the acquisition of library support services, electronic resources, and other goods and services necessary to carry out its duties under this section.
Promote and provide recommendations concerning the use and distribution of low-cost, no-cost, or open-access textbooks and educational resources and innovative pricing techniques that comply with all applicable laws, regarding copyrighted material and statewide accessibility measures, as a method for reducing costs.
Provide appropriate help desk support, training, and consultation services to institutions and students.

Read the Statute

There are many online services and support functions available to students including a streamlined online admissions application process, which is used by all state public colleges and universities for undergraduate transient students currently enrolled and pursuing a degree at a public postsecondary education institution who enroll in a course offered by a public college or university that is not the student’s degree-granting institution.

Transient Student Admissions Application

The transient student admissions applications are available through the statewide computer-assisted student advising system. Students enrolled in a state college or university can request approval to take a course at another state college or university by completing and submitting the online application. A separate application must be completed and submitted for each institution. Students enrolled in a private college or university or an out-of-state school should check with their institution for information and instructions about taking a course at another college or university.

Student Advising System

The statewide computer-assisted student advising system supports the process of advising, registering, and capturing a student’s progression toward a degree and career and includes a degree audit and an articulation component. State public colleges and universities interface institutional advising systems with the statewide computer-assisted student advising system. The system:

Allows a student to access the system at any time.
Allows a student to search public postsecondary education institutions and identify course options that will meet the requirements of a selected path toward a degree.
Audits transcripts of students enrolled in a public postsecondary education institution to assess current academic standing, the requirements for a student to transfer to another institution, and all requirements necessary for graduation.
Serves as the official statewide repository for the common prerequisite manual, admissions information for transferring programs, foreign language requirements, residency requirements, and statewide articulation agreements.
Provides information relating to career descriptions and corresponding educational requirements, admissions requirements, and available sources of student financial assistance.
Provides the admissions application for transient students pursuant to state statute which must include the electronic transfer and receipt of information and records for, admissions and readmissions, financial aid, and transfer of credit awarded by the institution offering the course to the transient student’s degree-granting institution using the Florida Automated System for Transferring Educational Records.

Read the Statute