New College:  A Brief History

The history of New College began in the late 1950s, when a group of Sarasota civic leaders came to the conclusion that their community was an ideal site for a college. In 1960, with assistance from the national Congregational and Christian Church, those civic leaders created the framework for a small liberal arts college whose students would come from all parts of the nation and whose faculty and curriculum would reflect the highest standards of academic excellence.

With this in mind, a board of trustees was organized and the charter for the college was created.  It was to be named New College--as new as the future, yet based on timeless values.

During the next four years, a president was selected, the essential fund-raising was carried out, land for the campus was acquired, and a faculty was assembled. In the fall of 1964 New College opened with a first class of 101 students.

What made New College not only new but also different was that it brought together a faculty primarily committed to teaching--to new ways of teaching and new kinds of courses--and a student body motivated to intensive work, unimpeded by obsolete curricular designs.

The first class graduated in 1967. Most of its members went on to graduate schools, many of them recipients of graduate scholarships and fellowships. In that same year, New College was accredited, in record time, by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

During the 1960s, New College enjoyed increasing recognition in the academic world as its students came to be known in the graduate and professional schools. By 1972 the enrollment had reached 500 and a handsome complex of buildings, designed by noted architect I. M. Pei, had arisen to complement the original buildings--the landmark mansions of the Ringling families.

As New College entered the 1970s, its academic program matured but financial difficulties threatened its economic existence. In 1974, the trustees, acting on the initiative of the college president, proposed a novel solution in the interest of preserving the institution. Aware that the University of South Florida, in Tampa, had some interest in establishing a regional branch in the Sarasota area, the trustees offered the New College campus to the State University System as the site for such a branch. In return, the State University System agreed to provide funds for New College at the same per-student level as for the state universities. The New College trustees, changing their corporate name to "New College Foundation, Inc." would provide the supplemental funds needed to support the distinctive New College program. A unique combination of public and private funding for higher education was thereby created.

For about 25 years, the arrangement flourished. New College operated as a distinctive college of the University of South Florida, with its own faculty, curriculum and student body, admissions office, and commencement, even its own diploma. New College shared some facilities with USF's Regional Campus at Sarasota-Manatee, which offers junior, senior and graduate course work to commuting area residents.

In May of 2001, a group of lawmakers in the Florida legislature passed a bill to upgrade the status of New College in the State University System.  On July 1, 2001, New College of USF became New College of Florida, the 11th member of the State University System.  No longer a part of USF, New College now has its own Governor-appointed Board of Trustees.  The College continues to share some campus facilities and services with USF Sarasota-Manatee.

New College students pay the relatively low state tuition rates. The Foundation continues to provide the extra support, through its endowment and fund-raising efforts, that enables New College to maintain a highly favorable student/faculty ratio. In addition, many students receive scholarships funded by the New College Foundation.

New College alumnae/i make their presence known in many fields. They are faculty members at colleges and universities, physicians, attorneys, corporate executives, ministers, musicians, journalists, entrepreneurs, and authors. They run government agencies, design buildings, market real estate, conceive advertising campaigns, perform in symphony orchestras and jazz combos, and manage libraries and hospitals.

As the honors college of the State University System of Florida, New College is a unique institution-- a small liberal arts college within a large state university, with national recognition for its excellence.