Miami Dade College

Miami Dade College (MDC)^[8] is a public college located in Miami, Florida. Established in 1959, it operates eight campuses and numerous outreach centers throughout Miami-Dade County. It is the largest institution in the Florida College System. MDC serves a significant number of minority students, particularly Hispanic students, enrolling more than any other institution in Florida.^[9][10][11]

Miami Dade College

Former names	Dade County Junior College (1960–1973)[1] Miami-Dade Community College (1973–2003)[1]
Motto	Scientia est potentia (Latin)
Motto in English	"Knowledge is power"
Type	Public college
Established	1960; 64 years ago (1960)
Parent institution	Florida College System
Accreditation	SACS
Endowment	$272.8 million (2024)[2]
Budget	$376.5 million (2024)[3]
President	Madeline Pumariega[4][5]
Academic staff	703 (full-time)[6] 1814 (part-time)[6]
Undergraduates	47,245 (fall 2022)[6]
Location	Miami , Florida , United States 25°46′40″N 80°11′26″W
Campus	Large city[6]
Colors	Blue and gray
Nickname	Sharks
Sporting affiliations	NJCAA Region 8 – Southern Conference
Mascot	Finn the Shark[7]
Website	www.mdc.edu

History

Founded as Dade County Junior College in 1960, MDC began on a high school farm and became desegregated in 1962, opening its doors to students of all races.^[12] Over the decades, MDC expanded by launching several campuses, including Kendall, Wolfson, and Hialeah, and established a Medical Center to support students in health programs.^[13]

In 1973, the college changed its name to Miami-Dade Community College.

During the 1980s, outreach programs were developed to assist the increasing number of Cuban exiles and other immigrants. As state education budgets declined, MDC continued to grow and relied on its foundation to support operations. In the 1990s and 2000s, the college established its Honors College, offering rigorous academic programs across its largest campuses.^[14] In 2003, the college changed its name to "Miami Dade College" and began offering four-year degree programs.

Campuses

Miami Dade College operates eight campuses and two outreach centers throughout Miami-Dade County.^[15] The North Campus, established in 1960, focuses on emergency services and entertainment technology programs. Kendall Campus, opened in 1967, is home to MDC's athletic teams and offers community service programs.^[16][17][18] Wolfson Campus, in downtown Miami, hosts the Miami Book Fair and houses the Culinary Institute.^[19][20] The Medical Campus, opened in 1977, offers nursing and health programs with a simulation hospital.^[21][22][23] Homestead Campus, built in 1990, features an FAA-approved aviation program. Eduardo J. Padrón Campus specializes in bilingual education and community-focused programs. Hialeah Campus offers English programs and a Bachelor of Applied Science in Management. West Campus in Doral provides innovative programs like the Tesla START program.

Academics

MDC offers a wide variety of associate and baccalaureate degrees, as well as vocational and technical certificates. The college is known for its strong programs in liberal arts, nursing, business, allied health professions, and computer information systems. Students can also pursue degrees in newer fields like cybersecurity.^[24]

The Honors College provides scholarships and specialized curricula for high-achieving students, with opportunities for transfer to prestigious universities, including a partnership with the University of Miami. Dual-enrollment and virtual learning options are available for high school and home-educated students.

Athletics

MDC participates in the Southern Conference of the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) and competes in five sports: men's and women's basketball, baseball, softball, and volleyball, with soccer teams being added in 2024. MDC teams have won 35 NJCAA national titles, making it a hub for talented athletes and MLB scouts.

Arts and culture

MDC has an extensive art collection of over 1,600 works, including paintings, sculptures, and installations. The Wolfson Campus hosts the Miami Book Fair International, the largest literary festival in the U.S.

Notable achievements

In 2018, MDC was recognized by the Aspen Institute for its focus on economic and social mobility, winning the Aspen Prize.

Notable alumni

Main article: List of Miami Dade College alumni

• 
  Ileana Ros-Lehtinen Former U.S. Representative
• 
  Manuel "Manny" Alberto Diaz^[25] Mayor of Miami 2001-2009
• 
  Elsa Murano^[26] President of Texas A&M University
• 
  Mireya Moscoso^[27] President of Panama from 1999 to 2004. First female President
• 
  John Mica
• 
  Sylvester Stallone American Actor
• 
  Steven Bauer American-Cuban Actor
• 
  Glenn Howerton American Actor
• 
  Oscar Isaac American Actor and Singer
• 
  Raul Ibanez Professional American Baseball Player
• 
  Mike Piazza Former American Professional Baseball Player
• 
  Steve Carlton Former American Professional Baseball Player
• 
  Plácido Polanco American-Dominican professional baseball player
• 
  Natalie Martinez American Actress and Model
• 
  Harry Wayne Casey American Musician

Notable faculty

• Joanna Falco-Leshin, professor of English and Humanities

Gallery

Photos of Miami Dade College

• 
  Miami Dade North Campus Science Complex.
• 
  Kendall Campus - Building R.
• 
  Building 6 that is located on the Eduardo J. Padron campus of Miami Dade College, minutes from downtown, Miami.
• 
  Night view of the Hialeah campus.
• 
  Outside Stair mural connections of the three floors of the Main building in the Hialeah Campus.

References

1. "History of MDC - Miami Dade College". Archived from the original on August 22, 2024. Retrieved September 8, 2024.
2. Marra, Andrew (February 12, 2024). "Two Florida universities have more than $1 billion in endowments to invest on campus". The Palm Beach Post. Retrieved September 8, 2024.
3. "Annual Budget Summary - Fiscal Year 2024-25 (Miami Dade College)". Florida Department of Education. Retrieved September 12, 2024.
4. Wright, Colleen (2020-11-17). "Miami Dade College's board unanimously selects Madeline Pumariega as next president". Miami Herald. Retrieved 2020-11-17.
5. Mendieta, Juan (November 17, 2020). "Miami Dade College's Board of Trustees Names Madeline Pumariega as Next President". MDC News (Press release). Miami, Fla. Retrieved 24 November 2020.
6. Miami Dade College. National Center for Education Statistics (College Navigator). Retrieved September 8, 2024.
7. "Finn Wins!". MDC News. 10 November 2015. Retrieved 2022-01-21.
8. "Eduardo J. Padrón, the college's president since 1995". A Community College in Florida Works to Attract the Poor and the Presidential.
9. "Miami-Dade College (U.S.)". FOTW "Flags of the world". Retrieved 22 February 2019.
10. Padrón, Eduardo J. (June 2013). "Increasing the Relevance of Curricular and Student Services in the Urban Community College". New Directions for Community Colleges. 2013 (162): 63–73. doi:10.1002/cc.20060.
11. St. Amour, Madeline. "A Community College Reopens. At What Cost?". Inside Higher Ed.
12. "LINCCWeb Catalog Search". www.linccweb.org. Retrieved 2020-02-18.
13. "Campuses | Miami Dade College". www.mdc.edu. Retrieved 2019-02-20.
14. Holloway, Alexandria (2010-09-16). "Chapter 3: The honors college in a two-year college setting: Miami Dade College.(Part II: Alternative Models)" (PDF). Appalachian State University. Retrieved 2024-04-24.
15. "Rolando Montoya: Interim college president sees tech courses demand soar". Miami Today. 2019-11-12. Retrieved 2019-12-04.
16. "Campus Information - Kendall Campus | Miami Dade College". www.mdc.edu. Retrieved 2019-02-08.
17. "Miami Dade College Kendall Campus". mdc.edu.
18. "Camps at college mean summertime fun, and, yes, some learning". Miami Herald.
19. "Miami Herald". Miami Herald.
20. "Programs | Miami Culinary Institute | Miami Dade College". www.mdc.edu. Retrieved 2019-10-14.
21. "Campus Information - Medical Campus | Miami Dade College". www.mdc.edu. Retrieved 2019-02-20.
22. "Bachelor's Degree Programs | Academics | Miami Dade College". www.mdc.edu. Retrieved 2019-02-08.
23. "Simulation Hospital - Medical Campus | Miami Dade College". www.mdc.edu. Retrieved 2021-02-04.
24. "Miami Herald". Miami Herald.
25. "2007 Outstanding American by Choice Recipients". USCIS. 2011-08-22. Retrieved 2019-12-12.
26. "HSF: HSF Stories Detail". www.hsf.net. Retrieved 2019-12-13.
27. "Mireya Moscoso". Council of Women World Leaders. Retrieved 2019-12-13.

External links

• Official website