OCALA - Central Florida Community College is seeking input from the community as it begins the process of changing its name. A survey will be available at the CFCC Web site, www.CF.edu, until Oct. 31.

"Changing the name of the college is a significant decision," said Dr. Charles Dassance, CFCC president. "The basic, philosophical underpinning of the college will not change. The college is a community-based, locally governed institution providing open access and promoting learning in an open, caring, inclusive environment."

In 2009, the Florida Legislature adopted legislation to replace the Florida Community College System with the Florida College System, adopted a process for the approval of new baccalaureate degrees by institutions in the system, and established a process for how a community college would change its name.

The CFCC District Board of Trustees gave its approval to begin the process at its Tuesday meeting.

Once the survey has been completed, a task force will review the submissions. Several options will be presented to the board as early as December. The name change will not take effect until July 1.

This is not the first name change for the college, which was created as Central Florida Junior College in 1957 by action of the Florida Legislature. CFJC merged with Hampton Junior College in 1966 and the name was changed to Central Florida Community College in 1972.

Several state colleges have changed names in the past several months including Daytona State College, Northwest Florida State College, Santa Fe College and Seminole State College of Florida.