Edison State College is moving forward in the process of changing the institutions name.

Although Edison has been in the name of this institution for 51 years, this is the second time in five years that the name will be changing. Originally Edison College, they then changed the name to Edison State College. Now they are taking Edison out of the name completely. If all goes to plan, Edison State College will be Florida Southwestern State College by Summer 2014. 

In 2009, a committee asked to start the process of trade marking Edison State College’s name. The US Patent and Trades Office eventually rejected the trademark application due to an institution in New Jersey, Thomas Edison State College. The name was too similar and they had already completed the trademark process.  Joe Guzzardo, Communications Director at Thomas Edison State College, said, “Our institution first registered the trademark for Thomas Edison State College in 2003. We have been using the name for most of the 41 years we have been in operation.” Edison State College then reached out to TESC asking for concurrent use; however, the idea was rejected.  

Teresa Morgenstern, the Director of Communications at Edison State College, says, “Our options were to continue with the Edison State name and face legal entanglements due to such online presences as our website and online classes, or to change the institution’s name.”

After deciding changing the name of the institution would ultimately be a better option, Jeff Allbritten, President of State College, sent out a college-wide email asking for some name suggestions. He also held four Town Hall Meetings, one on each campus and center. All faculty, staff, students and community members were invited to attend. “Our geographic reach stretches across five counties and over 4,700 square miles. The new name needed to embrace the entire region,” Morgenstern says.

Although many suggestions were submitted, Florida Southwestern State College was selected as the best fitting name.

There are currently two bills regarding the name change going through the legislative process, one in the House and one in the Senate. One of the bills has to reach the Governor for the final signature of approval. Morgenstern says, “We anticipate officially changing our name to Florida Southwestern State College on July 1, 2014.”

Shannon Ring, a freshman at Edison State College, says, “When you type in Edison State College online, many schools with similar names pop up. I have met people who almost applied to the wrong college. Once the name is changed I feel there will be a lot less confusion.”

The institution is estimating a cost of $300,000 to change the name. “Which will come from auxiliary funds, not student fees,” said Morgenstern.

“We do have a statue of Thomas Edison on campus that is supposed to give us inspiration. Is it going to be taken down now just because the name is changing?” asks Ring.

According to Morgenstern, although there will be changes, Thomas Edison will always be a part of the spirit of this college. The Board of Trustees approved renaming Lee Campus (Fort Myers) to Thomas Edison Campus and the statue of Edison that is currently on the Lee campus is there to stay. “We wish Edison State College all the best with its future plans,” said Guzzardo.

“Our name will change, but the core of what we do, which is to continue working with our fellow institutions, business and community leaders remains steadfast,” says Morgenstern.