About me
Samuel L. Ferguson has been the Executive Director of the Commission for Independent Education and its statutory predecessors since 1986. The Commission is authorized, under Chapter 1005 of the Florida Statutes to assure that nonpublic postsecondary educational institutions meet certain standards. In addition, it functions as a consumer protection agency for students who attend the institutions under its jurisdiction.
He oversees the licensure of almost 1000 institutions that offer over 8900 individual programs ranging from diplomas to PhD’s. The Commission is fully funded by fees collected from the institutions under its jurisdiction and receives no State Revenue.
Mr. Ferguson holds a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the University of North Carolina and a master’s degree in Public Administration from F.S.U.
Mr. Ferguson is also a veteran of the Vietnam War and has retired from the Florida National Guard with the rank of Colonel.