Chipola College is a public, open-admissions institution in Marianna, Florida, serving Calhoun, Holmes, Jackson, Liberty, and Washington counties in the Florida Panhandle. Located in Northwest Florida, 70 miles west of Tallahassee, 60 miles from the Gulf of Mexico, and 30 miles from the Alabama state line, Chipola is the third oldest of Florida’s 28 state-supported community colleges. Programs in workforce development began in 1967-1968 and in 2003, the Florida Legislature granted the college permission to offer selected baccalaureate degrees that address documented workforce needs in its region. Chipola opened its doors in 1946 as a private institution with six full-time teachers and 65 students. The college served 3,011 students in its degree and certificate programs in 2025-2026.

Chipola was brought under state control and financing in 1947 when Florida’s Minimum Foundation Law initiated a plan to place two years of college education within commuting distance of every Florida citizen. The original district of Calhoun, Jackson and Washington Counties was expanded later to include Holmes and Liberty Counties.

A milestone in the college’s history occurred in 1953 when the college moved from its original location at the former Graham Army Air Base to its present location near the banks of the Chipola River. The first permanent buildings were completed and occupied in 1954. Additions through the years have created a complex of 35 buildings arranged on a wooded campus of about 75 acres in a 120-acre tract. The remaining acreage is in its natural state of pines, cedars and hardwoods. The campus also includes outdoor athletic fields and a pool. There are six off-campus buildings used for specialized training activities in public service programs.

Chipola College is governed by a nine-member District Board of Trustees appointed by the governor for four-year terms and by the State Board of Education. The college operates under rules of the Florida Department of Education and policies set forth by the District Board of Trustees. The college was accredited in 1957 by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACSCOC) and has maintained continuous accreditation since that time. The most recent reaffirmation of accreditation occurred in 2018.

In 2003, the Florida Legislature authorized Chipola College to award bachelor degrees, which means that more students in the college district are now able to access bachelor degree programs in fields where there is a demand for trained workers. Chipola’s School of Education offers seven bachelor degree programs, the first being approved in 2003. These programs prepare math, science and English teachers for area middle and high schools. Elementary Education and Exceptional Student Education degree programs were added in 2006. The college initiated the Bachelor of Applied Science in Business Management in 2007 and the Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 2008. In December 2010, Chipola was approved to offer the Bachelor of Science in English Education. In May 2011, Chipola was approved to offer the Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with concentrations in Accounting and Management; an Information Technology concentration was added in 2016 and an Engineering Management concentration was added in 2017. After 70 years, Chipola continues to meet the challenge of its mission by addressing the postsecondary educational needs of local citizens.

Chipola Named a State College

In June 2008, Chipola officially became a state college and part of the Florida College System, which consists of institutions awarding 2-year and 4-year academic degrees. It was at this time that its name changed from Chipola Junior College to Chipola College.

Chipola’s programs are more affordable and cost-effective than those at the state university level—another benefit to both taxpayers and students.

Nine Bachelor’s Degrees Offered at Chipola College

• Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education (grades K-6)
• Bachelor of Science in Exceptional Student Education (grades K-12)
• Bachelor of Science in English Education (grades 6-12)
• Bachelor of Science in Middle School Mathematics Education (grades 5-9)
• Bachelor of Science in Secondary Mathematics Education (grades 6-12)
• Bachelor of Science in Middle School Science Education (grades 5-9)
• Bachelor of Science in Biology Education (grades 6-12)
• Bachelor of Science in Nursing (RN-BSN)
• Bachelor of Science in Business Administration
  (Four concentrations: Accounting, Management, Information Systems, Engineering Management)

Bachelor of Science Degrees in Education

Chipola initiated the School of Education to offer bachelor of science degrees in education. The first degree programs prepared students as middle school and high school teachers to address the critical shortage of qualified math and science teachers. The Florida State Board of Education later approved three additional bachelor degree programs in the School of Education: Elementary Education, Exceptional Student Education, and English Education.

Bachelor of Science in Nursing (RN-BSN)

The RN-BSN degree program began in Fall 2008. Applicants for the BS in Nursing must have earned the AS degree in Nursing, be licensed Registered Nurses, and have completed all required prerequisite courses. Chipola’s nursing programs are accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN).

Bachelor of Science in Business Administration

• Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (Accounting Concentration)
• Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (Engineering Management Concentration)
• Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (Information Systems Concentration)
• Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (Management Concentration)

Chipola’s Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (BSBA) began in May of 2011 with concentrations in Accounting, Management, Information Technology and Engineering Management. To enter the BSBA program, students must complete 60 hours of lower level course work including Florida’s required 36 hours of general education and program pre-requisites.

Documented Performance of Chipola and Its Students

Chipola is respected among post-secondary institutions in Florida because of the success of its students. Below are highlights of success on a variety of indicators. Similar results have been achieved by Chipola each year since the identification of the college’s expected outcomes.

• Florida Bright Futures Scholars: State reports have ranked Chipola among the top performing Florida colleges for the high percentage of its students receiving the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship. Many of these students will transfer to professional schools in medicine, law, pharmacy, engineering, and business, but the fact that so many of these scholars receive their general education at Chipola speaks well for the college’s reputation for high standards and quality instruction.

• Outstanding Instruction at All Levels: There are many other indicators of instructional quality. State accountability reports consistently rank Chipola among the top colleges in Florida on reports of GPAs of transfers to state universities. Licensure passing rates and job placement rates in many programs are consistently above 90%.

• Chipola Honors Program: The Chipola Honors Program is a member of the National Collegiate Honors Council. The Honors Program offers weekly seminars for the brightest and best students from Chipola’s five-county district. Teachers of honors classes guide students through research projects beyond the regular course requirements. Honors students often serve as tutors in the Academic Center for Excellence (ACE).

Nationally Recognized Scholars, Brain Bowl Team, Phi Theta Kappa and FBLA Collegiate

The Chipola College chapter of Phi Theta Kappa (PTK), an honor society for students from two-year colleges, offers opportunities in scholarship, leadership, and service. Through service learning, students learn about commitment to community. Although membership is restricted by GPA, the organization involves non-members in campus and community events. The college holds PTK members in high esteem and has created an Academic Wall of Honor to recognize outstanding accomplishments earned by students throughout the chapter’s history. Phi Theta Kappa members have been named New Century Scholars and named to the All USA Academic Team. PTK members have also been recipients of the coveted Guistwhite Scholarship and the Coca Cola Scholarship. Among other awards, the chapter has been recognized as the Most Distinguished chapter in the state and nation.

The Chipola College Brain Bowl team has an outstanding record with 14 state titles (2008–2026) in the Florida College System Activities Association Brain Bowl State Tournament. The team has won the NAQT Community College National Championship Tournament six times, including two three-peat national championship runs (2011–2013 and 2024–2026). Chipola is consistently recognized as one of the nation's top-performing two-year colleges at the National Academic Quiz Tournaments (NAQT) Intercollegiate Championship.

Campus organizations reflect Chipola’s commitment to academic growth among students both inside and outside the classroom.  The college nurtures and guides students in these organizations, expanding their educational opportunities into regional and national arenas.  Student members are encouraged to interact and sometimes compete with their peers from colleges nationwide.  

Through membership, students are exposed to new experiences at conferences in Florida and in distant locations like Los Angeles, Dallas, Boston, Denver, Nashville, Minneapolis, and Seattle. 

Chipola’s business-centric organization, FBLA Collegiate (formerly Phi Beta Lambda), helps students build confidence, develop leadership skills and transition from school to work.  FLBA Collegiate is a top performer at state and national leadership conferences, typically placing in the Top-4 at state competition and in the Top-10 in the national competition. Chipola's School of Business and Technology and FBLA Collegiate host the annual Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) District 2 competition for high school and middle school students. The group's community service projects include the Jackson County Backpack for Kids Feeding Program, Partners for Pets, March of Dimes, and others. FBLA Collegiate is the Department of Education’s recommended student organization for students in accounting, business, and technology majors, but students from any major are welcome and encouraged to join.

STEM Events: Each fall, the Mathematics and Natural Sciences Departments host area high school students on the Chipola College campus for an annual Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) event. Attendees must be juniors and seniors from high schools in the Chipola five-county district. Past events have required students to build a machine, solve a murder, and conduct investigations.

Academic Center for Excellence (ACE): In 2006, Chipola received a coveted Title III - Strengthening Institutions Grant through the U. S. Department of Education. This grant provided funds to establish the ACE for instructional support. The ACE features a comfortable learning environment for on-demand tutoring, group study, “Exam Cram” sessions, and computer access to instructional software. Hundreds of students attend the ACE each week to receive free individual tutoring upon request and participate in study sessions. Over 800 students made thousands of visits to the ACE last year using the ACE lab on campus and the ACE@Home option through CANVAS for off campus and after-hours assistance. The Chipola College ACE was among the top 10 finalists for a Bellwether Award in both 2015 and 2014.

To aid in the ever-changing world of education, the ACE developed several online and after-hours services for students utilizing ACE Tutoring, a Canvas course that each Chipola College student can access. ACE @ Home allows students the opportunity to receive free online tutoring in select courses during the day and evening. Live, interactive tutoring is available for several math, science, and English courses through Canvas. Students can also submit questions at any time through the ACE Canvas course and will receive a short video or written response in return. During the 2026-2027 academic year, ACE will continue to offer expanded course offerings for online tutoring through multiple technologies such as Canvas Studio, Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and Screencast-O-Matic. ACE also facilitates the organization of online learning communities where students can work with classmates on assignments and test preparation. In alignment with courses being taught both in person and virtually, Chipola College remains committed to providing full academic support for all students.

Fine and Performing Arts: Chipola College is well known throughout the Southeast for its excellent arts education and programming in music, art, and theatre.  Classes and performance-based learning are offered in all three areas, and scholarships are available to increase accessibility for students. 

The 56,000 square foot Dr. Gene Prough Center for the Arts is one of Florida’s finest performing arts centers. The center opened in Fall 2012, and consists of a 650-seat state-of-the-art proscenium main theatre for performing arts; a 150-seat experimental theatre for intimate works, cutting-edge programs and recitals; an art gallery to serve the current and future needs of the Chipola College community.  Teaching spaces, meeting rooms, scenery and costume shops, and offices are designed to enrich the educational experiences of Chipola’s students and more than 6,000 K-12 school children in the five-county area. Some 10,000 guests visit the Center for the Arts each year.

Chipola’s four musical ensembles, College Chorus, Rock and Jazz Ensemble, Show Choir, and the President’s Ensemble perform throughout the Southeast.  The Show Choir and the President’s Ensemble are chosen by audition. The Show Choir performs in such venues as Disney World, Sea World, and aboard cruise ships. 

Chipola Theatre produces three student productions each year. The 2025-2026 season included The Three Musketeers, Anastasia: The Musical and A Year with Frog and Toad. 

Students attend the Florida College System Activities Association (FCSAA) Music Symposium, Florida Theatre Conference (FTC), the Southeastern Theatre Conference (SETC) and the United States Institute for Theatre Technology (USITT) for professional development opportunities.

The college also sponsors an Artist Series featuring national and international artists and provides deeply discounted tickets for Chipola students and staff. The 2025-2026 season hosted Emily Ann Thompson, Williamson Branch and Magic Shadows by Catapult.

The Center’s Art Gallery hosts the works of local and national artists.

The Chipola Regional Arts Association (CRAA) supports the arts in the Chipola district by funding programs for children, contributing to the Chipola Artist Series, providing grants for area music, art, and theatre teachers, and offering scholarships to Chipola students.  Their unwavering effort to support the cultural life in the Chipola district has enriched the lives of countless community members.

Emphasis on Instructional Programs and Student Outcomes: Throughout Florida, Chipola is recognized for the quality of its instructional programs, all of which undergo annual program assessments according to specific expected outcomes. A rigorous program assessment process helps deans, department chairs, and lead faculty determine program strengths and weaknesses and make improvements. All academic departments require common course syllabi, departmental final exams, and textbooks. Academic departments provide students with access to appropriate labs and instructional materials.

Many indicators confirm Chipola’s outstanding academic program. Just one example is that Chipola’s graduates in biology, chemistry, and physics are often recruited as lab assistants in state universities and engineering students consistently earn top honors in colleges of engineering.

College-Level Competencies: Faculty have identified college-level competencies taught in the general education core courses of associate degree programs. Multiple measures are used to evaluate how well students learn to do the following:

• Evaluate societal and ethical issues, problems, and values
• Explore the nature of science
• Demonstrate basic mathematical skills and knowledge
• Comprehend and articulate effectively in English: reading, writing, oral communication
• Interpret, evaluate, and appreciate works of human culture

Excellent Advising and Orientation: Chipola’s students get a good start during one-on-one advising sessions with faculty members and Student Affairs advisors. Academic pathways and other aids in educational planning are available on the college’s website. Entering freshmen learn college survival skills during an orientation course. Recent Graduating Student Surveys show that 93% of the graduates were satisfied with academic advising. 

Athletics: While Chipola is recognized for its outstanding academic programs, athletics have always been an important part of the college community. Chipola student-athletes compete in men's baseball, men's basketball, women's basketball, women's softball, women's cross country, and cheerleading.

Chipola athletes have played men's basketball and baseball since the college's inception and even fielded a football team for a brief period. Chipola has won eight national championships, including the 1967 National Championship in Golf. For 17 years, Chipola hosted the FCSAA Men's and Women's State Basketball Tournament, including the first-ever men's state tournament in 1961.

In 2025–2026, the Chipola men's basketball team won its sixth consecutive Panhandle Conference Championship, captured the FCSAA/Region VIII Championship, and advanced to the NJCAA National Tournament. Head Coach Donnie Tyndall was named Panhandle Conference Coach of the Year for the sixth consecutive season. The Indians have won 18 FCSAA/Region VIII championships and 29 Panhandle Conference championships, establishing one of the nation's premier junior college basketball programs.

The Chipola women's basketball team finished second in the Panhandle Conference, advanced to the FCSAA/Region VIII Tournament, and earned another appearance in the NJCAA National Tournament. The Lady Indians have won five Panhandle Conference championships, seven state championships, and the 2015 NJCAA National Championship. The program has made 11 appearances in the NJCAA National Tournament and continues to produce All-Americans and NCAA Division I student-athletes. This past season’s Taylor Rietveld was named Panhandle Player of the Year and FCSAA Player of the Year.

Chipola Baseball finished the 2026 season with a 45–13 record, advanced to the FCSAA State Tournament, and finished as the FCSAA Division I State Runner-Up. During Head Coach Jeff Johnson's 30-year tenure, more than 200 players have been selected in the Major League Baseball Draft, with 22 advancing to the major leagues. Johnson was inducted into the NJCAA Baseball Hall of Fame in 2022, the Florida Sports Hall of Fame in 2023 and earned his 1,000th career victory at Chipola in 2024. Chipola Baseball has won seven state championships and three national championships, including back-to-back national titles in 2017 and 2018, and remains one of the nation's most respected junior college baseball programs.

Chipola Softball continued its tradition of excellence in 2026 with a Panhandle Conference Runner-Up finish. The Lady Indians have appeared in 10 NJCAA National Championship Tournaments and have won three national championships (2007, 2015, 2019), along with six state championships and 11 Panhandle Conference championships. The program consistently develops all-conference, all-region, and All-American student-athletes who continue their careers at four-year institutions.

Chipola has an exceptional record of preparing student-athletes for success at the next level. Most student-athletes transfer to NCAA colleges and universities, while others advance to professional athletics. The college's athletic programs emphasize excellence both in competition and in the classroom.

Course Offerings

The most popular majors among AA/Transfer students are Business, Engineering, Education, Computer Science, Criminal Justice, Social Work, and Psychology. Popular AS degree majors are Business,  Nursing, Computer Science, and Sports, Fitness, and Recreation Management. Popular certificate programs are Master Automotive Technology, Corrections, Law Enforcement, and Welding. State of the art workforce programs include Automotive, HVAC-R, Plumbing, Electricity, Building Construction Technologies, Cosmetology, and Welding.

To meet the needs of employed students, commuting students, students with family responsibilities, and students with a variety of needs, departments schedule face-to-face, evening and online classes.

Training programs are changed or continued as dictated by documented need by needs assessments which precede all major program changes. Program assessments are based on indicators of student learning, cost effectiveness, faculty qualifications, and community impact. The college fosters training partnerships with area businesses and agencies. Responses to community training needs include: (1) establishing the Academic Center for Excellence (ACE) to provide tutoring; (2) offering high school Dual-Enrollment classes in district high schools at the request of parents, students, and school officials; (3) increasing enrollment for RN and CNA programs; (4) establishing the School of Education to help address Florida’s shortage of qualified teachers, (5) delivering a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration program with concentrations in Accounting, Management, Information Systems and Engineering Management; (6) delivering a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree, and (7) establishing an Engineering Technology program to address the need for skilled technicians by area employers.

Outstanding National Designations

Chipola College has been designated as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense (CAE-CD) by the National Security Agency (NSA) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). This prestigious designation recognizes the college's commitment to excellence in cybersecurity education and its role in preparing students to meet the nation's growing workforce needs in cybersecurity. Chipola's designation extends through the 2029–2030 academic year.

Chipola College has earned national recognition as one of the nation's top community colleges, being named to the Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence Top 200 every time the honor has been awarded. Chipola is one of only a select group of institutions nationwide to achieve this distinction nine consecutive times, reflecting the college's sustained excellence in student success, teaching and learning, workforce preparation, and transfer outcomes.

Chipola College has been recognized by the Carnegie Foundation as an Opportunity College, a distinction awarded to institutions that provide students with strong access to higher education while delivering outstanding post-graduation outcomes. This national recognition highlights Chipola's success in creating pathways to educational achievement, career advancement, and economic mobility for its students.

Professional Presentations and Appearances

Angela Dickson, Instructor, Fine Arts/Theater. Contributing author in Marquee Moments: Essays by Theatre Lovers, a new anthology collecting more than 80 stories from the stage, Fenetre Press, 2026.  Featured vocalist at the books launch at the TADA! Theatre in New York City in May 2026.  Featured in the Spanish Trail Playhouse Production of the musical Carousel. Presented workshop “Beginning Meisner Exercises”  for the Florida Theatre Conference, November 6-8, 2025 in Winter Haven, FL. Presentation "Fight Training for Fall Production The Three Musketeers", Chipola Regional Arts Association, October 2025.

Casey Dowgul, Assistant Professor, School of Education.  Dowgul, C. & Malisa, M. (2025) In the Twilight Zone: K-12 Educators and Educational Technology in the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Multidisciplinary International Journal of Research and Development, 5(2), 54 – 72. https://www.mijrd.com/papers/v5/i2/MIJRDV5I20007.pdf

Gina McAllister, Dean of School of Education.  Presentation "Using AI Technology in the Classroom", Delta Kappa Gamma, September 2025.

Local, Regional, State, and National Leadership

Allyson Howell, Director of Academic Center for Excellence (ACE). Delta Kappa Gamma (DG) State Scholarship committee member; Florida Teacher Lead Alumni member; FCLCA member

Evelyn Ward, Director of Fine and Performing Arts. Delta Kappa Gamma (DKG), President 2024-2026; Chipola Regional Arts Association, Executive Director.

Awards, Recognition, Professional Accomplishments

Kelly Brookins, Head Coach, Softball. 2025-2026 Panhandle Conference Runners Up.

Angela Dickson, Instructor, Fine Arts/Theatre. Received Superior ratings from the Florida College System Activities Association for the Chipola College productions of "The Three Musketeers" and "Anastasia: The Musical".

Donna Huff, Instructor, Mathematics. Kirkland Excellence in Teaching Award recipient 2025-2026

Jeff Johnson, Director of Athletics and Head Baseball Coach.  2025-2026 Region VIII Runners Up.

Mitchell Rolls, Head Coach, Women’s Basketball. 2025-2026 National Tournament appearance.

Donnie Tyndall, Head Coach, Men’s Basketball. Voted 2025-2026 Panhandle Coach of the Year (6th time) and 2025-2026 Region I Coach of the Year

Kathy Hinson, Systems & Web Analyst, Information Technology. 2025-2026 Distinguished Service Award for Career Employee. 

Linda Morales, Instructor, Social & Behavior Sciences. 2025-2026 Distinguished Service Award for Faculty.

William Chomos, Student Advisor. 2025-2026 Distinguished Service Award for Other Professional.

Meri Mock, Public Information Officer. 2025-2026 Distinguished Service Award for Administrator. 

Employees of the Month and of the Year

Career Employee Award
Lillie Hamil, October 2025
Clayton Mitchell, November 2025
Catrica Corbin, December 2025
Shawn Keihn, February 2026
Robert Martin, March 2026
Stephanie Hughes, April 2026

Faculty/Administrator/Other Professional Award
Matt White, October 2025
Ashley Poole, November 2025
Karen Hall, December 2025
Kristen Hinson, February 2026
Christopher Parrish, March 2026
Arlene Davis, April 2026

Employee of the Year Award
Shawn Keihn - Career Employee of the Year
Brent Shelton - Faculty/Administrator/Other Professional of the Year

Growth of Facilities and Technology

Chipola College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award associate degrees, baccalaureate degrees, and certificates.  Questions about the accreditation of Chipola College may be directed in writing to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, GA 30033-4097, by calling (404) 679-4500, or by using information available on SACSCOC’s website (www.sacscoc.org). This accreditation was most recently reaffirmed in 2024.

The college is also a member of the American Association of Community Colleges, the Southern Association of Colleges with Associate Degrees, the Association of Florida Colleges, National Junior College Athletic Association, Florida College System Activities Association, Florida’s Great Northwest and other state and national professional organizations for institutions of higher learning. 

Chipola’s RN and BSN Nursing programs are accredited by the Accreditation Commission For Education In Nursing, Inc. (ACEN). 

The Chipola College Emergency Medical Services - Paramedic Program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) upon recommendation of the Committee on Accreditation of Educational Programs for the Emergency Medical Services Professions (CoAEMSP). 

College programs are also approved by the Florida Department of Health, Division of Medical Quality Assurance, Florida Board of Nursing, Bureau of Emergency Medical Services, Florida Department of Education, Florida Department of Children and Family Services, National Security Agency (NSA), National Centers of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity, Department of Corrections, Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE), Florida State Fire College, Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) Education Foundation, Florida Board of Cosmetology, National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER), and the American Welding Society (AWS).

Vision

Chipola College promotes learning and student achievement through excellence, opportunity, and progress.

Mission

Chipola College provides access to quality learning opportunities toward baccalaureate degrees, associate degrees, and certificates and facilitates the economic, social, and cultural development of the College’s service area. -Adopted February 2026

Institutional Goals and Objectives

Goal 1: Increase enrollment, retention, and completion
Objective 1.1 Ensure students have access to support services needed to be successful at college
Objective 1.2 Minimize barriers to enrollment, retention, and completion

Goal 2: Provide a high-quality distance learning program
Objective 2.1 Provide high-quality online courses
Objective 2.2 Ensure students taking online courses have access to high-quality academic support services

Goal 3: Prepare students for continued learning and careers
Objective 3.1 Provide students foundational competencies needed to successfully continue their education
Objective 3.2 Prepare students for employment

Goal 4: Provide a high-quality dual enrollment program
Objective 4.1 Provide high-quality dual enrollment courses in district high schools

Goal 5: Provide an appealing campus environment
Objective 5.1 Provide an aesthetically pleasing campus environment
Objective 5.2 Provide a safe, secure, and supportive learning environment

Goal 6: Manage resources responsibly
Objective 6.1 Use resources appropriately

Goal 7: Facilitate regional development
Objective 7.1 Contribute to the region’s economic development
Objective 7.2 Contribute to the region’s cultural and social development

Goal 8: Remain a leading institution in the Florida College System
Objective 8.1 Provide students a high-quality overall educational experience