New College of Florida facts for kids
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| Latin: Novum Collegium Floridense MCMLX English: New College of Florida 1960 |
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Former names
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New College (1960–1975) New College of the University of South Florida (1975–2001) |
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| Type | Public liberal arts college |
| Established | October 11, 1960 |
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Parent institution
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State University System of Florida |
| Accreditation | SACS |
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Academic affiliations
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COPLAC |
| Endowment | $49.8 million (2023) |
| President | Richard Corcoran |
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Academic staff
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97 full time, 26 part time (fall 2022) |
| Students | 689 (fall 2022) |
| Undergraduates | 669 |
| Postgraduates | 20 |
| Location |
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United States
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| Campus | Small city, 144 acres (0.6 km2) |
| Newspaper | Catalyst |
| Colors | Blue and white |
| Nickname | Mighty Banyans |
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Sporting affiliations
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NAIA - Sun, ICSA - SAISA conference |
| Mascot | The Mighty Banyan |
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New College of Florida is a public liberal arts college in Sarasota, Florida. A liberal arts college focuses on teaching a wide range of subjects in areas like the arts, sciences, and humanities. New College is part of Florida's state university system but is the smallest school in the system.
The college was founded in 1960 as a private school. It later became part of the University of South Florida before becoming an independent public college in 2001. The state of Florida named it the official "residential liberal arts honors college of the State of Florida."
In 2023, the Florida government made major changes to the college's leadership. The goal was to turn the school into a more traditional, conservative institution, similar to Hillsdale College. After these changes, many professors decided to leave the college.
Contents
History of the College
Early Years
New College was created in 1960 as a private school for very smart students. It opened in 1964 with its first class of 101 students. The college welcomed students of all backgrounds. One of its first professors was the famous historian and philosopher Arnold J. Toynbee.
The school had a special way of teaching. It valued freedom and allowed students to be in charge of their own education. This meant students could explore subjects that interested them most.
Becoming a Public College
By the 1970s, the college began to have money problems. In 1975, it was deeply in debt. To save the school, it merged with the University of South Florida (USF). It became a special campus within USF.
The state of Florida agreed to pay off the college's debts. In return, the college gave its campus and property to the state. For the next 25 years, New College shared its campus with USF's Sarasota branch.
In 2001, New College became its own independent school again. It was now the 11th university in the State University System of Florida. The Florida government officially called it the state's honors college.
Big Changes in 2023
In January 2023, Florida's Governor Ron DeSantis appointed six new members to the college's board of trustees. A trustee is a person who helps manage a school. The governor's office said it hoped New College would become a "classical college," like Hillsdale College, a private conservative school.
The new board quickly made changes. They replaced the college's president with Richard Corcoran, a political figure. They also closed the office for diversity and inclusion and changed some school rules. One of the new trustees, Christopher Rufo, said they planned to shut down some academic departments and hire new teachers.
These actions caused a lot of discussion across the country. Many students and professors were worried about the changes. Some feared their classes would be changed or that their teachers would be fired.
Tenure and Departures
In April 2023, the board denied tenure to five professors. Tenure is a form of job security for experienced professors. This decision caused an outcry, and one trustee who was also a professor resigned in protest. The board said the college was moving in a new direction. A year later, four of the five professors were given tenure.
By the summer of 2023, more than a third of the faculty had left the college. Many said they were leaving because of the changes.
2024 Book Disposal
In August 2024, news reports said that the college had thrown away hundreds of books. The books came from the library and a center that had been closed. The college said this was a normal process for removing old books.
However, others disagreed. A former director at the college called the book removal a "violation of what a university is supposed to be doing." The event was criticized by groups like the ACLU of Florida, who called it censorship. The college's dean of the library was later fired.
Campus and Buildings
New College has a beautiful 144-acre (0.58 km2) campus next to Sarasota Bay. The campus is on the former estate of Edith and Charles Ringling, who were part of the famous circus family.
The campus has several historic buildings from the 1920s. These include College Hall, Cook Hall, and Caples Hall. These grand homes are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The campus also features modern buildings designed by the famous architect I. M. Pei. These include student dorms, a cafeteria, and a student center. The college also has a large library, a marine biology research center, and a new science building.
How Students Learn
New College is known for its unique academic system. Instead of getting traditional grades like A, B, or C, students receive written evaluations from their professors.
Students also sign a "contract" each semester. This is an agreement about how many classes they need to pass. This system encourages students to try new subjects without worrying about their GPA. To graduate, every student must complete a large final project, called a thesis, and defend it in front of a committee of professors.
Graduate Program
New College also offers a master's degree in Applied Data Science. This program teaches students how to work with large amounts of information. It is a two-year program, and students must complete a paid internship to graduate.
Student Life
The New College Student Alliance (NCSA) is the student government. It holds monthly "Towne Meetings" where students, teachers, and staff can discuss important issues.
Athletics
In 2023, New College started a new athletics program. The teams are called the Mighty Banyans. The school joined the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and plans to offer many new sports, including baseball, basketball, and soccer.
Before this, the school had smaller teams for sports like sailing and rowing. The sailing team is part of the South Atlantic Intercollegiate Sailing Association.
Notable Alumni
Many successful people have graduated from New College. These include:
- Mark Weiser, a computer scientist who came up with the idea of "ubiquitous computing," where technology is all around us.
- William Dudley, the former president of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.
- Anita L. Allen, a law professor at the University of Pennsylvania.
- William Thurston, a famous mathematician who won the Fields Medal, a top prize in math.
- José Díaz-Balart, a news anchor for MSNBC, NBC, and Telemundo.
- Robert Bilott, an attorney whose work was shown in the 2019 movie Dark Waters.
