There was a feeling of overwhelming optimism on the Florida State University Panama City Campus Wednesday.

It was just eight months ago, when Florida State University President T.K. Wetherell proposed closing the FSU Panama City campus as part of his budget-cutting measures.

The suggestion was not well-received here in Bay County.

Community leaders objected and students protested.

Once the dust settled, Wetherell spared the campus, provided it become self-sustaining within the next three years.

Local campus administrators formed a Blue-Ribbon Committee of community leaders and business owners to come up with a plan.

"FSU-PC needed some cheerleaders, needed some folks to share that bay county and all of Northwest Florida supports it," says Elizabeth Walters a committee member.

For the last four months the 26 members put in countless hours.

"I would say hundreds and hundreds of hours have been spent," says Dr. Ken Shaw the FSU-PC Dean.

The end result comprehensive list of recommendations.

"Today is a great day we have truly come together as a community we rallied for the cause to grow our wonderful campus we have here," says Walters.

Most of the recommendations center around increased student enrollment at the local campus, and how to accomplish it.

The committee is also suggesting the branch seek independent accreditation.

"We do plan to go to the University of South Florida the Manatee and Sarasota Campus and take a look at what they've gone through on working on SACS accreditation and actually obtaining it," says Shaw.

The committee is also recommending the local campus continue to improve relations with Gulf Coast Community College, who's president sits on the committee.

"We want to work very closely with them in partnership with higher education," says Dr. Jim Kerley the GCCC President.

The recommendations will now go to the FSU-PC board of trustees for approval, then to the FSU trustee in Tallahassee.

But Dr. Shaw says the document will never leave his desk, as long as he is dean.

The FSU-PC campus now has an officials goal of 1,400 students by the year 2012.

The Blue Ribbon committee will continue to meet periodically to review the status of the plan.