Distinguished Florida College System Institution Program.

A collaborative partnership is established between the State Board of Education and the Legislature to recognize the excellence of Florida’s highest-performing Florida College System institutions.

(1) EXCELLENCE STANDARDS.—The following excellence standards are established for the program:

(a) A 150 percent-of-normal-time completion rate of 50 percent or higher, as calculated by the Division of Florida Colleges.

(b) A 150 percent-of-normal-time completion rate for Pell Grant recipients of 40 percent or higher, as calculated by the Division of Florida Colleges.

(c) A retention rate of 70 percent or higher, as calculated by the Division of Florida Colleges.

(d) A continuing education, or transfer, rate of 72 percent or higher for students graduating with an associate of arts degree, as reported by the Florida Education and Training Placement Information Program (FETPIP).

(e) A licensure passage rate on the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN) of 90 percent or higher for first-time exam takers, as reported by the Board of Nursing.

(f) A job placement or continuing education rate of 88 percent or higher for workforce programs, as reported by FETPIP.

(g) A time-to-degree for students graduating with an associate of arts degree of 2.25 years or less for first-time-in-college students with accelerated college credits, as reported by the Southern Regional Education Board.

(2) DISTINGUISHED COLLEGE DESIGNATION.—The State Board of Education shall designate each Florida College System institution that meets five of the seven standards identified in subsection (1) as a distinguished college.

(3) DISTINGUISHED COLLEGE SUPPORT.—A Florida College System institution designated as a distinguished college by the State Board of Education is eligible for funding as specified in the General Appropriations Act.