New College to absorb USF Sarasota-Manatee July 1

New College of Florida is set to triple in size next week after acquiring the University of South Florida’s Sarasota-Manatee campus on July 1. The expansion is meant to grow New College beyond its current capacity of about 900 students, but critics call the pl

For months, New College of Florida has been talked about like a political project—an “anti-”woke” experiment that can be reshaped from the top down. Next week, the campus itself will change hands.

On July 1, New College is set to acquire the University of South Florida’s Sarasota-Manatee campus, a move that is expected to dramatically expand the liberal arts school’s footprint and enrollment.

The shift lands at a moment when the state’s higher-education battle lines look sharper than ever. New College, which is controlled by a board of trustees mostly appointed by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. can currently accommodate about 900 students—far fewer than the roughly 2. 000 students USF’s 32-acre Sarasota-Manatee campus serves each year. The Sarasota-Manatee site includes a new six-story residential hall and a $44 million student center.

State leaders say the purpose is not only to grow New College but to make better use of Florida’s higher education resources. DeSantis has promoted New College as the blueprint for his anti-”woke” agenda. arguing in 2024 that public institutions have an obligation to serve the best interests of the state.

“This is a public institution and we have, not only a right, we have an obligation to make sure that our public institutions are serving the best interests of the state of Florida,” DeSantis said in 2024.

Still, critics say the campus transfer is unnecessary and financially wasteful—and that it looks less like an educational strategy than a political payout.

A letter signed by education, healthcare and nonprofit officials argued that USF Sarasota-Manatee is the responsible financial choice. The letter said a Florida DOGE [Department of Governmental Efficiency] report shows USF spends about $72. 000 per degree. while New College spends nearly $500. 000 per degree. It also said USF-SM and New College have coexisted for 25 years with distinct missions and that “sacrificing USF-SM is totally unnecessary.”.

Fentrice Driskell. the leader of Florida’s House Democratic caucus. called the plan a “grift. ” arguing that DeSantis is trying to bend the higher-education system toward his political will. Driskell said New College is a vanity project and that the governor has been willing to spend whatever it takes to prop it up—adding that “the truth is that it’s a failure.”.

Those criticisms increasingly focus on New College President Richard Corcoran, a close DeSantis ally and former Florida House speaker. Critics point to Corcoran’s pay as evidence of what they see as a costly and self-serving makeover. His salary package is described as worth about $1.2 million annually—four times more than the school’s previous president. who was ousted by DeSantis’ board.

There are also cultural and community concerns. While Corcoran says the changes at the college are not political, critics argue that the school’s prominent LGBTQ+ community has been “destroyed” by changes made since DeSantis gained control.

The college’s moves have fueled that backlash. New College announced it is commissioning a statue of assassinated right-wing activist Charlie Kirk. And in 2024, the school threw away hundreds of library books after its diversity, equity and inclusion programs were terminated.

Under the deal, USF Sarasota-Manatee students and staff face a complicated transition.

USF officials said students enrolled at the Sarasota-Manatee campus before July 1 will receive “priority” use of classroom space. Current USF-SM students will be able to finish their degrees under USF faculty, but USF said new students will not be accepted to the campus under the USF name come July.

Classroom space not in use by USF will be available to New College. A USF spokesperson said the school is analyzing what it has available. USF Spokesperson Althea Johnson said the transition will involve “an ongoing analysis” and that New College will gradually begin using more space as it becomes available.

“We expect this will be an ongoing analysis and New College will gradually start to use more space over time as it becomes available,” Johnson said.

What New College will do with the space remains unclear. New College spokesperson Jamie Miller said the school is waiting for the governor to sign the state’s latest budget—where the deal will be finalized—before releasing additional details.

USF president Moez Limayem said taking care of the school’s faculty during the transition is a top priority. He said all employees will be retained and eventually have the option to transfer to different campuses in either St. Petersburg or Tampa. USF is also exploring a voluntary buyout program for faculty and staff who do not want to transfer to another campus. according to the Tampa Bay Times.

Officials say most of USF Sarasota-Manatee’s faculty will continue working at the Sarasota-Manatee campus at least until the newest class of students graduates.

On one side of the argument is a promise of growth and a claim of better stewardship over state higher education resources. On the other is a deep suspicion that the expansion is being driven less by students’ needs than by a political vision—one that critics say will cost far more than the state is willing to admit.

New College of Florida Ron DeSantis University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee USF-SM Richard Corcoran Florida politics higher education LGBTQ+ community Charlie Kirk statue state budget July 1 acquisition