Polk State College Responds to Higher Education Call for Action

Polk State College is proud to join with the Florida College System in its joint response to the US Department of Education’s call to action for higher education institutions. Polk State College  President Kamoutsas joined fellow Florida College System leaders in signing the joint response, reaffirming the College’s commitment to institutional neutrality and to providing affordable, accessible, and high-quality higher education and workforce education and training opportunities for students.

Moreover, President Kamoutsas was the first president to put forth an institutional neutrality statement, which was adopted by the Polk State College District Board of Trustees in August 2026.

“Institutional neutrality allows the College to stay focused on its core mission: education,” Polk State President Kamoutsas said. “Our role is to create an environment where students, faculty, staff and community members with different viewpoints can learn from one another, engage in meaningful debate and freely express themselves. That kind of open exchange not only strengthens our College but also helps prepare our graduates to build a more informed, responsible and effective society.”

• Joint System Response to National Call to Action

• Institutional Neutrality Statement

An example of Polk State’s commitment to fostering civic engagement and education in democratic principles was the September 17, 2026 Constitution Day celebrations on the Lakeland and Winter Haven Campuses which featured US Congressman Byron Donalds (R) and Florida Senator Rosalind Osgood (D) as keynote speakers. Hundreds of students, faculty, staff, and community members gathered to learn about the importance of the US Constitution and the democratic process.