SARASOTA, Fla. — Once known as a small, progressive public honors college with a fiercely independent academic culture, New College of Florida has undergone one of the most dramatic transformations in higher education in recent years — a shift driven largely by political intervention, rising costs, and growing controversy.
Founded as a public liberal arts college emphasizing individualized learning, narrative evaluations instead of traditional grades, and student-designed academic paths, New College long stood apart from Florida’s other state universities. Its reputation attracted a student body and faculty that leaned left politically and academically, reinforcing its image as a progressive outlier in the state system.
That identity began to change in early 2023, when Governor Ron DeSantis initiated a sweeping overhaul of the institution. The governor appointed a new slate of trustees aligned with his political agenda, quickly reshaping the college’s leadership and direction. The board removed the sitting president and installed Richard Corcoran, a former Florida House speaker and political ally of DeSantis, as president.
State leaders made clear the goal was ideological as well as structural: to remake New College into a conservative-leaning liberal arts institution, often described as Florida’s answer to Hillsdale College.
The impact was immediate and far-reaching.
In the months following the leadership change, nearly 40% of the faculty resigned or declined to renew contracts, citing concerns over academic freedom, governance, and the college’s future direction. Programs associated with gender studies were eliminated, and diversity and inclusion offices were reduced or dismantled.
The college also introduced changes to campus life that marked a sharp departure from its past, including the expansion of intercollegiate athletics, an area New College historically de-emphasized. Administrators said the move was aimed at boosting enrollment and reshaping campus culture.
At the same time, New College saw a surge in state funding and spending, with per-student operating costs climbing above those of other Florida public universities. The administration has argued the spending reflects a rebuilding phase and long-term investment.
Critics, including fiscal watchdogs, counter that the rising costs have not produced measurable improvements in enrollment stability, rankings, or student outcomes, raising concerns about sustainability and oversight.
Further controversy emerged with proposals tied to the governor’s long-term budget vision, including a plan for New College to take over the University of South Florida’s Sarasota-Manatee campus. Supporters say the move would expand New College’s footprint and influence, while opponents argue it risks destabilizing both institutions and stretching resources even thinner.
The idea has faced resistance in the Legislature and from local stakeholders, though it continues to surface in policy discussions.
Alumni and community members have increasingly pushed back against the changes, saying the college’s founding mission has been dismantled. Some critics — including individuals previously aligned with the new leadership — have gone as far as proposing that New College be removed from state control altogether, arguing that political influence has made effective governance impossible.
The college has also faced legal challenges over public records compliance, stemming from actions taken by the board after the 2023 overhaul. Those disputes were settled, with New College agreeing to reforms intended to improve transparency.
New College of Florida has become a national symbol in the broader debate over politics and higher education. Supporters of the overhaul say it represents a necessary correction to ideological imbalance and an effort to modernize a struggling institution. Critics argue it has eroded academic freedom, driven away experienced faculty, inflated costs, and erased the college’s unique identity.
As New College moves forward, questions remain about whether the transformation will deliver on its promises — or whether the costs, financial and cultural, will outweigh the intended gains.