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Financial Aid

We are here to help!The Office of Financial Aid and Cashier Services is committed to assisting all students in meeting their educational goals. The Office of Financial Aid and Cashier Services has dedicated Financial Aid Specialists to help you through the financial aid process.Chat With UsOnce you click the chat window in the bottom corner of this page, you will be directed to ViKi, your virtual kiosk! She can answer most questions. If you want to live chat with a Financial Aid Specialist, just type "live chat" to be connected. The Office of Financial Aid and Cashier Services Call BackDon't wait on hold! Join our call back queue and receive a call when our of our representatives is available to assist you.Email UsSend us a message at financialaid@fsw.edu and we will be happy to assist you via email!Visit In-PersonPlease feel free to come to your preferred FSW location to meet with a staff member. Please Note: Appointments required beyond regular hours at the Hendry/Glades Curtis Center.Lee Campus, Building S, 2nd FloorCharlotte Campus, Building J, Room 105Collier Campus, Building M, 2nd floorHendry/Glades Curtis Center, Building A

Financial Aid Status

Do you need to check your financial aid offer and account status immediately? Please review this quick video for step-by-step instructions on navigating your “Student Financials” card.

Welcome!

FSW's Dedicate to Graduate Initiative

Florida SouthWestern State College is dedicated to providing you the tools and assistance you need to graduate! We encourage you to learn more about the campus resources that will keep you on the path to becoming an FSW graduate. Visit our department webpages or stop in to talk to an FSW faculty or staff member to find out how we can assist you.Get the Help You Need to Succeed! Academic Advising One on one support from Student Success Advisors. Guidance to register for 15 credits each semester to graduate in 2 years. Transfer advising to ensure smooth transfer and prerequisite completion. Career exploration to determine the right major. Academic & Career Pathways FSW's Academic & Career Pathways provide structured guidance to help students select the right degree and streamline their course planning for successful graduation. Adaptive Services By providing reasonable accommodations to students with documented disabilities and empowering them with tools to become confident learners and problem solvers, Adaptive Services supports student success while ensuring equal access and opportunity across the college. Career Connection Center FSW’s Career Connection Center (C3) is your dedicated career development hub, empowering students and alumni to transform their academic achievements into thriving careers through comprehensive support and innovative programming. Career Coaching Career Connection Lecture Series & C3 Workshops Internship Opportunities Job and Career Fairs Care Services FSW Care Services proactively connects students with campus and community resources to support their well-being, foster resilience, and empower them to overcome challenges. By promoting mental health, academic success, and personal growth, Care Services aligns with FSW’s mission to ensure a successful academic and social experience for all students. Care Pantry The Care Pantry provides free access to essential resources like food, kitchen staples, and personal care items, addressing the challenges of limited resources and food insecurity so that students can focus on their academics. College Tutoring Services Supports all FSW students in reaching their academic goals, assisting them in developing the tools necessary to achieve academic success. Access tutoring services through the following centers: Math Center Writing Center Peer Tutoring Center BrainFuse 24/7 online tutoring service that provides personalized expert guidance, helping students better understand complex concepts and improve academic performance. Financial Aid FAFSA, student loan, and scholarship assistance to help you fund your education through graduation. Guidance to ensure completion of graduation requirements responsibly and affordably. Scholarship Information Grants Loans Veteran Services The Office of Veteran Services supports student veterans and dependents in transitioning from military to college life by providing resources, assistance with using veteran benefits to cover tuition and related expenses, and opportunities to connect with fellow veterans. Library The FSW Library provides access to high-quality resources, study spaces, workshops, and personalized research instruction, enabling students to develop essential academic skills and strategies. Office of the Registrar The Registrar's Office supports students by maintaining academic records, assisting with registration, evaluating transcripts, facilitating graduation, and ensuring privacy of student records Registration How-To Videos Common Forms Technology Support FSW provides free technical support, including computer help, laptop and webcam checkouts, campus computer access, and wi-fi hotspots, with assistance available via phone or our website. Student FAQs - Knowledge Base Computer Labs Student Technology Check-Out Request Online Exam Proctoring Locations Wi-Fi Support Canvas Support Assistive Technology Services Student Life Getting involved on campus enhances your college experience, helps build a sense of community, improves academic performance, and fosters valuable connections with peers and faculty, ultimately leading to higher levels of success and graduation. Student Involvement Student Involvement fosters learning and life skills through co-curricular programs, enabling students to lead, connect with peers, create/join registered student organizations, plan events, maintain wellness, and more. Student Transitions Student Transitions provides support and guidance for students through their college journey, assisting families during enrollment, enhancing support for first-generation and low-income students, and engaging with the community to improve educational access. Student Leadership Student Leadership aims to empower and equip students to identify their leadership capacities through self-awareness, effectively and inclusively collaborate, and demonstrate service to their communities.

Professional Judgment

The Higher Education Act of 1965 (HEA), as amended, combined with the FAFSA Simplification Act provides the authority for administrators in the Office of Financial Aid and Cashier Services to exercise discretion in a number of areas when a student has special or unusual circumstances. The authority is known as Professional Judgment (PJ) and may be exercised on a case-by-case basis to different categories as described below:Special Circumstances refer to the financial situations (loss of a job, etc.) that justify an aid administrator adjusting data elements in the Cost of Attendance (COA) or in the Student Aid Index (SAI) calculation.Unusual Circumstances refer to the conditions that justify an aid administrator making an adjustment to a student’s dependency status based on a unique situation (e.g., human trafficking, refugee or asylee status, parental abuse or abandonment, incarceration), more commonly referred to as a dependency override.A student may have both a special circumstance and an unusual circumstance. Financial aid administrators (FAAs) may make adjustments that are appropriate to each student’s situation with appropriate documentation. Providing relevant documentation, preferably from an unrelated third party, is critical to the special or unusual circumstance appeal’s success. Below are some examples of special circumstances that may be considered:Change in employment status, income, or assetsChange in housing status (e.g., homelessness)Medical, dental, or nursing home expenses not covered by insuranceChild or dependent care expensesSever disability of the student or other member of the student's householdOther documented changes or adjustments that impact the student's costs or ability to pay for collegeUnusual circumstances (dependency override) do include:Human trafficking, as described in the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 (22 U.S.C. 7101 et seq.)Legally granted refugee or asylum statusParental abandonment or estrangementStudent or parental incarcerationUnusual Circumstances do not include:Parents refuse to contribute to the student's educationParents will not provide information for the FAFSA or verificationParents do not claim the student as a dependent for income tax purposesStudent demonstrates total self-sufficiencyPlease be aware, an aid administrator may override a student from dependent to independent.Unable to Provide Parent DataStudents who are unable to provide parent data and have a FAFSA that was rejected due to an unusual or special circumstance should also reach out to our office immediately. The reasons may be:you are unaccompanied and homeless, or at risk of homelessnessunsure if a dependency override is warrantedyou may have to provide parental datayou may be permitted to borrow only unsubsidized loans because you can document that your parents have refused support and will not provide their information on the FAFSAIf you feel that any of the mentioned circumstances apply to you, select the relevant appeal found at https://fsw.studentforms.com/ by selecting the “Manage Requests” icon. Correctly completed and documented appeals will be reviewed within two weeks of the submission date.

What is attendance verification?

Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 governs the administration of federal financial aid funds. These federal financial aid regulations require that students who receive federal Title IV aid must complete an academically related activity in each course in which they are enrolled to show their academic engagement in the course prior to the disbursement of their financial aid. In compliance with federal regulations, FSW financial aid and scholarships will be disbursed only after all attendance (in every course) has been confirmed for the term of enrollment.In order to accomplish this, students must initiate attendance by completing the academically related activity (assignment) via Canvas. The assignment is due by the end of the first week of classes and will remain open through the “attendance verification due date” published in the FSW academic calendar. The exact date can be found in Canvas for your specific class. The Office of Financial Aid and Cashier Services will then disburse funds for the classes with verified attendance. The confirmation of attendance via an academically related activity is required for all students, not only those receiving financial aid.How do I complete my attendance verification?Login to Canvas and navigate to your course.Identify if an academic activity (assignment) is available for you to complete by clicking on the Attendance Verification link on the menu of the course homepage. Complete all activities listed.Do this for each of your registered courses.These activities should be completed as soon as possible in order to prevent a delay in the disbursement of your financial aid and/or scholarships.What if I can’t find the attendance verification link in my Canvas course on my phone? At this time the menu links do not display on the Canvas mobile app. To complete the assignment students will need to log into Canvas from a web browser. Why do I have an attendance hold? If you have attendance hold(s) it means that you have not completed the attendance verification assignment assigned in one or more of your courses. The easiest way to fix this is to complete the verification assignment as soon as possible by clicking on the Attendance Verification link in your Canvas course and following the assignment instructions. If the assignment is locked you have missed the required “attendance initiation” deadline. Any exceptions to this deadline can be discussed with your professor. No exceptions will be accepted after the 60% date of the semester as published in the FSW Academic Calendar. The Office of Financial Aid and Cashier Services will review these holds after grades post at the end of the semester and disburse financial aid funds for courses meeting eligibility at that time.

Verification Information

FAFSA Verification ProcessStudents who have been selected for a FAFSA process called verification must verify information reported on their application. In order to do so, students must complete requested tasks at https://fsw.studentforms.com. Please monitor your student email account for updates and any additional tasks to complete the verification process.Verification of High School Diploma, G.E.D., or its EquivalentAll students must provide the Office of Admissions with a final, official high school or GED transcript for financial aid eligibility. Although you may have received a financial aid offer, funds will NOT disburse without an official, final high school or GED transcript on file. Additional copies of in-progress or unofficial transcripts will not satisfy this requirement. If you have any questions regarding your high school graduation status, please contact the Office of Admissions – admissions@fsw.eduBright Futures – Verify the School you are AttendingFlorida SouthWestern State College (Institution Code 362 for Bright Futures) must be selected as the school the student is attending in order for your Bright Futures offer to post and disburse. Please visit Bright Futures to verify your college choice, make changes, or check eligibility.Need Help? Live Chat Find our chat at the bottom of this page Click to use the QLESS app to get in line for in-person service.

Work Study Program

The Federal Work-Study Program (FWS) is a financial aid program which supports part-time employment for students on Florida SouthWestern State College campuses. The program affords the College opportunities to improve its service by utilizing and improving upon the skills and talents of its student employees in areas which might not be fully developed. Jobs are available on-campus at a maximum of 20 hours per week. The current hourly rate of pay is $14.00 per hour. Students must complete the FAFSA every year to determine eligibility for FWS.Students earnings are based on their annual award amount for the academic year.Students must be currently enrolled, or planning to enroll in the next enrollment period.Students must meet Satisfactory Academic Progress.Student must have financial need.A work study offer does not guarantee student employment.To apply for a "Student Assistant/Work Study" position, please visit https://www.fsw.edu/jobs.For more information please contact Erin Warner in the Office of Financial Aid and Cashier Services at financialaid@fsw.edu

Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)

What is SAP?Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) are a set of standards students must maintain to remain eligible for federal aid, state aid, certain types of institutional aid and some private educational loans.What are the SAP Standards?At Florida SouthWestern State College (FSW) students must meet the following requirements to continue receiving federal aid, state aid, or certain types of institutional aid: 2.00 overall grade point average (GPA), Successful completion of at least two-thirds of all attempted coursework, and Take no more than 150% of the credits required for degree completion (for example, an associate’s degree of 60 credit hours must be completed within 90 credit hours). The Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) policy is located in the FSW Catalog.When are SAP Standards measured? The SAP process runs after grades post at the end of every semester. If a student is not meeting SAP standards but have met these standards in the past, the student will be placed in a “financial aid warning” semester. The warning semester allows the student to maintain eligibility for one semester. If the minimum SAP requirements are not met after the warning period, the student is ineligible and will no longer receive financial aid.What if I don’t meet the minimum requirements after the “financial aid warning” period? If a student does not meet SAP standards during the financial aid warning period, the student will be placed on “financial aid suspension” and is ineligible for financial aid. The student will NOT receive financial aid for the next semester without an approved SAP appeal. Without an approved appeal, the student will remain on financial aid suspension until SAP standards are met. How can I submit a SAP Appeal?Students not meeting SAP standards due to extenuating circumstances that prevented successful completion of a semester have the opportunity to submit an appeal. The online appeal application can be found at https://fsw.studentforms.com and selecting the “Manage Requests” icon. Appeals must be accompanied by supporting documentation. Appeals are reviewed within two weeks of submission. A successful appeal allows a student to continue receiving aid on financial aid probation while they adhere to an approved academic plan.Priority Submission Deadlines:Fall 2026 07/29/2026Spring 2027 1/2/2027Summer 2027 04/20/2027If appeals are submitted after these deadlines, the appeal will be accepted through the end of the semester’s add/drop period. However, there is no guarantee that the review will be completed in time to secure the student’s classes. All appeals submitted after the add/drop deadline will be applied to the following semester.

Grants & Loans

GrantsLoansGrantsGrants are financial aid that does not have to be repaid. Eligibility for Grants is determined by information obtained from the submission of the Free Application of Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).Pell Grant—The Federal Pell Grant is awarded to undergraduate students with demonstrated financial need, who have not previously earned a Bachelor’s or professional degree.The Pell Recalculation Date or Census Date establishes official enrollment for Pell Grant eligibility each semester. FSW’s census date is the first disbursement date, after the add/drop periods have ended for the Standard, Compact A and Express terms.Fall 2026 - September 16, 2026Spring 2027 - February 1, 2027Summer 2027 - May 18, 2027The above dates will “lock” Pell Grant credit hours for the entire semester, including compact B classes. Students must add their compact B classes before the census date. However, the above dates do not apply if you are only enrolling in compact B classes.The amount of the Pell offer is based on the student’s Student Aid Index (SAI) and their enrollment status. The Pell Grant amount is pro-rated based on enrollment intensity.FSEOG—Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant: FSEOG is a federal grant to assist students with high financial need. Eligibility requires that the student be a Pell Grant recipient, enrolled in at least 6 credit hours, and meet the Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) requirements. Due to limited funding, not all students who meet eligibility requirements will receive this grant. This grant is for one year only and is not guaranteed for renewal. For additional details and regulations, visit studentaid.gov/understand-aid/types/grants/fseog.FSAG—Florida Student Assistance Grant: FSAG is a grant awarded to Florida residents who are enrolled for at least 6 credit hours and meet the Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) requirements. Due to limited funding, not all students who meet eligibility requirements will receive this grant. This grant is for one year only and is not guaranteed for renewal. For additional details and regulations, visit floridastudentfinancialaid.org. Available state funds are contingent upon matching contributions from private sources on a dollar-for-dollar basis. The Office of Financial Aid and Cashier Services ranks all eligible applicants on the basis of financial need, determines the award amount for each recipient, and notifies each student of their award. Due to limited funding, not all students who meet eligibility requirements will receive this grant. This grant is for one year only and is not guaranteed for renewal.Florida Bright Futures Scholarship: Please note: For Florida Bright Futures Scholarship eligibility information can be found at floridastudentfinancialaid.org. Please contact your Financial Aid specialists for more information.LoansImportant:All Federal Loans borrowed will be submitted to the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS), and will be accessible by guaranty agencies, lenders, and schools determined to be authorized users of the data system. (Title IV of Higher Education Act, 1965).Federal Subsidized and Unsubsidized Direct LoansSubsidized loan is a need-based loan and the interest is paid by the government while you are actively enrolled in school and for a six-month grace period.Unsubsidized loan is NOT a need-based program and the student is responsible for all interest accrued from the date of disbursement.One Big Beautiful Bill Act UpdatesOn July 4, 2025, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) was signed into law, resulting in changes to federal student aid programs. Some of these changes went into effect immediately, while others will go into effect on July 1, 2026 and beyond. More information can be found here OBBA.Additionally, the new law requires annual loan amounts to be prorated in direct proportion to your enrollment status. This change is effective with all loans borrowed for the 2026-27 academic year and beyond. Your eligibility will be determined at the time of disbursement based on the number of credits a student is expected to take for the academic year.Federal Direct Plus Loans For ParentsParents apply for a loan for their dependent child.Private Loan OptionsPrivate student loans are not part of the Federal student loan program and they do require a credit check. You may borrow your private loan from any lender you choose.Default ManagementFlorida Southwestern State College has teamed up with Edamerica Services to help explain the student loan repayment process. Your loan history can be found at My Aid.Need Help? Live Chat Find our chat at the bottom of this page Click to use the QLESS app to get in line for in-person service.

Admission Guidelines for the Honors Scholar Program

We use a holistic approach to identify and evaluate talented candidates so as not to exclude late-bloomers, non-traditional students, or students who may have met with substantial obstacles which prevented them from developing their full potential prior to their application to the College. This program is best suited for students seeking an AA degree who have not taken more than 30 credit hours. We have two application periods. The first is our priority application review deadline of March 1st. Any applications received between March 2nd and July 1st will be reviewed on a rolling basis as the applications are received. Apply NowBenefits include:Participation in a community of highly motivated, intellectually curious students and faculty who are committed to free inquiry, civilized debate, cultural creation, and community service.Funding to participate in state, regional, and national conferences.Access to the Honors capstone class in which students are paired with a faculty mentor to complete a directed individual research project. Students have access to funding to acquire materials or attend workshops and conferences related to their capstone researchFunding and academic guidance to support creative initiatives.Access to Honors seminars which emphasize hands-on, project-based, experiential learning.Smaller class sizes which facilitate personalized instruction from talented faculty and foster mentoring relationships.Access to a wide range of field trips and extracurricular events.Automatic admission into the Honors Colleges at USF and FGCU if you complete the certificate with a 3.5 overall GPA. Graduating High School StudentsIncoming Freshman can also apply directly to the Honors Scholar Program. They must meet the following criteria:Seeking an AA degree.Unweighted GPA of a 3.5 or higher at the time of the application and ONE of the following:SAT/PSAT combined score of 1100 or higher in Math and Critical Reading ACT/PreACT composite score of 25 or higherPERT score of 120 or above on both Writing, Reading, and Math sectionAccuplacer score of 270 in Writing, Reading, and Math sections 1.0 credit of advanced coursework (honors, AP, AICE, IB, or DE) with grades of B- or better.Dual-enrolled High School StudentsDE students who have already completed college coursework must have a 3.2 overall GPA and need to submit at least one letter of recommendation from college faculty. Their second letter may be from a high school teacher, counselor, or administrator.DE students who have not completed any college coursework meet the requirements of Incoming Freshman students and need to submit two letters of recommendation by people familiar with their academic achievements. Current FSW StudentsGPA of 3.2 on 12 hours of College coursework exclusive of College Prep coursesTwo faculty recommendationsTransfer StudentsGPA of 3.2 on 12 hours of College coursework exclusive of College prep coursesTwo faculty recommendations

Over Awards

A financial aid over-award occurs when the aid you receive from all sources is greater than your cost of attendance or your federally determined need eligibility. The Office of Financial Aid and Cashier Services takes care not to over-award a student initially. However, circumstances may change after the initial financial aid awards have been made, resulting in an over-award.Some examples of why an over-award may occur:additional financial aid from an outside source awarded to youa change in residency from out-of-state to Florida residenta change in housingenrollment from full-time to less than full-timetaking all on-line classesWhen over-awards occur, we are required to review your financial aid eligibility and may be required to adjust, reduce, or eliminate financial aid awarded to ensure that the total you receive is within federal guidelines. This may result in an accounts receivable in which you are responsible for paying.

Isabella Curtis Scholarship Fund

How to apply for the Isabella Curtis ScholarshipApply to FSW - Visit apply.FSW.edu and complete the admissions application as a degree seeking student. Students must be admitted to FSW and receive their student ID number before completing the FSW Online Scholarship Application.Submit your FAFSA - visit https://studentaid.gov to submit your FAFSA with FSW listed as a school selection, our federal school code is 001477Complete the FSW Scholarship Application at https://fsw.awardspring.com/. To be considered for the Isabella Curtis Scholarship, you must select Labelle High School on the “High School Attended” question on the application. Eligibility will be verified upon submission.Isabella Curtis Scholarship RequirementsStudents must:Graduate from LaBelle High School with a minimum high school GPA of 2.0 and attended LaBelle High School for at least two years. Be a Florida resident living in Western Hendry or Glades County Students must take advantage of the Curtis Scholarship during the academic year immediately following their graduation.Student must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) each academic year while attending FSW. Students selected for a FAFSA verification must complete requested tasks at https://fsw.studentforms.com. Please monitor your student email account for updates and any additional tasks to complete. Students with outstanding verification documents will not be awarded.Students who receive Federal Financial Aid are eligible for Curtis Scholarship funds to make up any difference in approved costs not covered by federal aid.Awards are made to full-time, degree seeking students for up to five semesters. A minimum of 12 credit hours per semester (some health degree program hours differ) is required except during the final semester.The Curtis Scholarship is available for up to 5 semesters provided the student maintains:A 67% completion rate, andA minimum overall GPA of 2.0 or aboveStudents may take classes at any FSW location, including FSW online.Eligible students who come to Florida SouthWestern State College with acceptable college credit hours via dual enrollment, CLEP, etc. may use Curtis funds to pay for classes beyond their Associate's Degree. All eligibility requirements must be met.Award InformationThe Isabella Curtis Memorial Scholarship will only be used to cover the difference in approved costs (tuition, fees—excluding multiple attempt fees—and one set of textbooks per semester) not covered by a Pell Grant (federal aid). The number of scholarships awarded each year will be limited to the funds allocated from the Isabella Curtis Scholarship Endowment. In the event that available funds are insufficient to award scholarships to all eligible applicants, funds will be allocated as follows based on the priority scholarship application submission date of June 1st: Qualifying second year students will be funded first.Qualifying first year applicants will be chosen according to high school GPA, beginning with the highest and descending until all available funds are disbursed.Students will receive an award notification via their Bucs (student) email with a link to view their award. Sometimes the email might be in your junk mail folder, so please add noreply@mail.awardspring.com to your safe senders list.What do I need to do next?Set up your student Portal - visit www.fsw.edu and click the “portal” button at the top right side of the page. The next screen will ask for your user name and password, under the login button is a “New User” link, click on this and set up your portal for the firsttime. Check your financial aid status - log into your student portal at a minimum of once a week. Additional information may be needed from you to process your financial aid awards, this is how our office will communicate with you. It is important that you familiarize yourself with and monitor both your BUC’s email and the financial aid section of your portal. To access the financial aid section of your portal follow the steps belowLog onto your MyFSW portal Find your "Student Financials" tileSelected the three dots to go to your Financial Aid DashboardThe next screen will be customized to your individual aid package.Please ensure you click all tabs available to make sure no additional worksheets or requirements have been posted.Appeal ProcessExemptions may be made to scholarship criterion if the student is unable to fulfill the requirements due to an extenuating circumstances. Determination of exemption to scholarship criterion will be made on a case by case basis. A formal request for exemption should be made, by email, to Foundation@fsw.edu and include a letter stating the reason for the extenuating circumstance. All requests for exemption must be substantiated with supporting documentation related to the extenuating circumstance.The Isabella Curtis scholarship was established through the generosity of Mr. Kenneth Curtis who was sincerely interested in providing students with the financial means to further their education.Have Questions? Please contact: Foundation@fsw.edu

Open Door

The Open Door Grant is a funding opportunity offered by Florida SouthWestern State College through the Florida Department of Education for workforce education programs. The Open Door Grant is designed to help students earn workforce degrees and certificates for high-demand industry jobs. Students interested in this potential funding opportunity must be enrolled in one of the eligible programs of study, and meet the funding criteria. Funding CriteriaDeclared program of study in one of the eligible programs of study*.Florida Resident for tuition purposes. *The program must be listed on the Master Credential List (MCL) to be eligible for the Open Door Grant funding.AwardingStudents will not need to apply for Open Door Grant dollars. FSW will identify eligible students by their program of study, review residency status, and post the award to the identified and prioritized student’s account following the add/drop date for the term. FSW awards a stipend to identified eligible students. The stipend will be posted to the student's account by FSW’s Office of Financial Aid after the add/drop period has ended. Limited Funding Available Grant funds are limited, and not all eligible students will be awarded. Priority will be determined by the student’s program of study. FSW programs of study with high cost to attend or licensure/exam fees will be given priority for this funding. The stipend is intended to cover expenses related to the cost of attendance, industry, state, or national licensures, and exam fees.

Visit Financial Aid

Please select which Financial Aid Office you would like to visit in-person.Thomas Edison (Lee) CampusCharlotte CampusCollier CampusHendry/Glades Curtis Center

Quality Matters Certifications

Online courses that earn Quality Matters (QM) Certification have successfully met a rigorous set of standards for online course design after review by a team of QM certified peer-reviewers that includes a discipline expert and experienced online instructors. QM Standards and the faculty-centered review process are internationally recognized for being supported by research and based on best practices. Courses that meet QM standards are also recognized by the state's Florida Quality Initiative as "High Quality" online courses.Florida SouthWestern State College is the first Florida College System institution to receive the QM Online Teaching Support Certification. The Online Teaching Support Certification recognizes programs that require all online faculty to undergo training in best practices for online course delivery, provide faculty with ongoing pedagogical support, encourage faculty professional development to increase their knowledge and skill in online teaching, emphasize instructor availability and feedback to learners, and collect and use feedback from learners to improve online teaching.Florida SouthWestern State College is the first institution in the Florida College System to receive the Quality Matters (QM) Program Design Certification for its Associate in Science in Criminal Justice Technology. This prestigious certification recognizes programs that demonstrate a high level of excellence in online course structure across an entire program. The certification process evaluates consistent, aligned course design, use of QM-certified faculty and instructional designers, and an institutional commitment to quality assurance and continuous improvement. FSW's achievement marks the first Program Design Certification awarded in Florida and the only one in the nation for a Criminal Justice program, reflecting the College's dedication to delivering intentional, high-quality, and sustainable online education.Online faculty members interested in pursuing QM Certification can contact elearning@fsw.edu.