Key facts
- New College of Florida will absorb the University of South Florida's Sarasota-Manatee campus next month.
- The New College board of trustees was appointed by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.
- The expansion is criticized by students, faculty, and local leaders.
- Critics have referred to the move as a 'grift' and a 'vanity project'.
- The expansion aims to grow the conservative-leaning institution.
- This is part of Governor DeSantis's efforts to reshape Florida's higher education.
New College of Florida, a state-funded institution undergoing a conservative transformation under Governor Ron DeSantis, is set to significantly expand its footprint. The college's board of trustees, which DeSantis appointed, will absorb the University of South Florida's Sarasota-Manatee campus starting next month. This acquisition will merge the smaller New College with the larger USF Sarasota-Manatee, effectively doubling its student body and expanding its physical presence.
The move has drawn sharp criticism from various stakeholders, including students, faculty, and local leaders. Opponents have decried the expansion, with some labeling it a 'grift' and a 'vanity project' orchestrated by Governor DeSantis. Despite this opposition, the state-backed consolidation is proceeding, aiming to bolster the conservative-leaning academic environment that DeSantis has championed at New College.
This expansion is part of a broader effort by Governor DeSantis to inject conservative principles into Florida's higher education system. New College has been the focal point of these efforts, with the board making significant changes to curriculum and hiring since its appointment. The absorption of the USF campus is expected to further solidify New College's position as a flagship institution for DeSantis's 'anti-woke' agenda in higher education.