What Polk State students should know for the Fall 2025 Semester

Posted on by Polk Newsroom

With Fall 2025 Semester classes set to begin on Aug. 11, it’s important for Polk State College students to know how to access resources and get the help they need to succeed in their classes.

Below is a list of some of the important services provided to students:

Wi-Fi

One of the first things students want to know is how to connect to the College’s Wi-Fi. The College offers free Wi-Fi at each of its seven locations.

Students can access Wi-Fi by connecting to POLKSTATE-CONNECT. No password is needed.

Polk State email and Polk Portal

For Polk State students, MyPolk email and the Polk Portal will be vital tools. The Polk Portal is a one-stop shop for Student Services and Financial Services.

Students will use the Polk Portal to:

  • View the semester’s course schedule
  • Register for classes
  • Check for any holds on your account
  • Make payments
  • View and accept financial aid awards

More information on the Polk Portal, email, and more can be found here. Those experiencing trouble accessing should call the Polk State Help Desk at 863.298.6839. Help desk hours are from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday, and from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday.

Payment deadline

Tuition and fees are due Friday, Aug. 8 for all Fall 2025 Semester classes and sessions.

Be sure to pay your balance using the Polk Portal. More information related to tuition and fees can be found here.

Canvas

Canvas is Polk State’s learning management system, students’ learning ecosystem. Access course syllabi, assignments, and other materials related to each course. Students should be sure to enable their course notifications to stay up to date. They will visit canvas.polk.edu and enter their my.polk.edu log in credentials to authenticate.

A tutorial video about accessing Canvas and other Polk State systems can be found here. More information about Canvas can be found here.

Bookstores

Polk State has bookstores on both the Winter Haven and Lakeland campuses, which are open Monday through Friday. For the first week of classes, Aug. 11 through 15, store hours will be from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. From Aug. 18 through the remainder of the Fall 2025 Semester, the bookstores will be open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. from Monday through Thursday and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Friday.

Contact the Lakeland Campus bookstore at 863.312.4182 or sm8125@bncollege.com. Contact the Winter Haven Campus bookstore at 863.312.4190 or sm8126@bncollege.com. More information, including how to download the bookstore app, placing online orders, and curbside pickup can be found here. Course textbooks are not available for checkout at the libraries.

Tutoring and library services

Tutoring and library services are available on campus and online for all Polk State students. The TLCCs (tutoring and testing centers) located on Polk State’s Winter Haven and Lakeland campuses and the JD Alexander Center in Lake Wales provide free tutoring for students by both peers and professional tutors. Tutoring includes assistance with writing, math, science, languages, accounting, and more. Contact the TLCC at O365-Tutoring@polk.edu. More information about tutoring can be found here.

Polk State’s libraries, also found on the Winter Haven and Lakeland campuses, provide professional reference and research assistance as well as print and online academic resources and interlibrary loan services. Information, including hours, about the resources offered at the TLCC and libraries can be found here.

Food

Campus cafes will return to Polk State’s Winter Haven and Lakeland campuses on Aug. 11. The cafes, operated by Canteen, offer affordable and convenient food options. They are open from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., Monday through Thursday, Friday 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. – Winter Haven, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. – Lakeland.

The cafes do not accept cash, but debit, credit, and BankMobile cards are accepted. Students can also make purchases through the Canteen Connect and Pay app. More information, including how to download and use the app is available here.

Security

Polk State offers a lost-and-found. If you’ve lost or found something, please visit the security offices: WMS 134 on the Winter Haven Campus or LME 102 on the Lakeland Campus.

Polk State offers 24-hour security on its Winter Haven and Lakeland campuses. To contact security, call 863.297.1059.

More information, including how to receive emergency alerts, lost-and-found, how to report a crime, and more can be found here.

Transportation

Through a partnership between Polk State and Citrus Connection, all students can ride the bus for free simply by showing their Polk State ID. Citrus Connection will make stops at the Lakeland and Winter Haven campuses as well as Airside Center-West and Polk State JD Alexander Center.

Click here for more on Citrus Connection routes and services.

Campus maps

For students new to Polk State College, navigating campus can be difficult. To ease that burden, the College has on-campus and online maps.

The Winter Haven Campus online map can be found here. The Lakeland Campus map is here.

Civic Literacy Exam

Passing the Florida Civic Literacy Exam is one of the newer requirements for Polk State College students to earn a degree.

For degree-seeking students who enrolled in a college program for the first time for the Fall 2021 Semester or after, the state requires them to pass National Government (POS2041) or American History (AMH1010 or AMH1020) with a C or greater and score at least 60% on the Civic Literacy Exam. The exam is an 80-question test broken into four parts of 20 questions each, requiring 48 total correct answers.

The requirement was implemented by the Florida Legislature to ensure that students “demonstrate competency in civic literacy.” According to the Florida Department of Education, this includes an understanding of basic principles of American democracy, the United States Constitution, landmark Supreme Court cases, and founding documents’ impact on law and society.

Click here for more information about the Civic Literacy Exam.

BayCare Student Assistance Program

Each day, students are faced with events that can affect them both personally and academically. Whether it’s childcare, financial, legal, health, or emotional issues, the effects of these concerns can be felt in all areas of life.

In order to better support students experiencing challenges, Polk State students have access to BayCare’s Personal Advantage, an online resource for help with everything from preparing for exams, to creating a personal budget, to managing stress. More information about the program can be found here.

Eagle outreach

For Polk State students in need of food assistance, there are options on both the Winter Haven and Lakeland campuses.

My Brother’s Keeper (MBK) is a multidisciplinary service-learning project designed to help Polk State College students who are in need stay in college and obtain a degree. MBK provides information about and referrals to community resources, snacks and beverages, and personal hygiene items. My Brother’s Keeper is open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. from Monday through Thursday.

It can be found on the Winter Haven Campus at WST 128 or on the Lakeland Campus at LAC 1290C. For more information, contact SALO@polk.edu or call 863.297.1000, ext. 3423.

Located at LLC-2155A on the Lakeland Campus, Polk State Pantry provides students with discreet and confidential assistance by offering food and personal hygiene items. It provides a variety of options for quick-prep items, pantry staples, and snacks. There is also a variety of baby items, bottled water, and frozen quick-cook items. To schedule a time to pick up resources, contact Kim DeRonda at kderonda@polk.edu or 863.669.2805.

Get involved

Polk State’s Student Government Associations (SGAs) and Student Activities and Leadership Office (SALO) provide ways for students to get involved, engaged, and make a difference. SGAs for the Winter Haven, Lakeland, and Lake Wales campuses will host a series of welcome week events. More information can be found here.

SALO houses more than 40 campus clubs and helps students get involved and find camaraderie through community service, intramural sports, educational and multicultural workshops, and more. Email SALO@polk.edu to get involved or to learn more. To join SALO online, visit the organization’s Canvas link.

Stay connected

To stay up to date on the latest happenings at Polk State, students are encouraged to follow the College on social media. Polk State College is on Facebook, X, and Instagram.

For the latest student news, visit www.polk.edu or to keep up to date on the latest on Polk State’s athletics teams, visit www.polkeagles.com.