The Office of Student Affairs works to provide students with opportunities to expand their education beyond classrooms, laboratories, and studios.  In concert with our efforts to enhance the academic mission of the College, the student affairs staff offers students a variety of innovative and creative programs, activities, and educational initiatives to promote personal growth, leadership, and development.

In collaboration with the academic mission of New College, the Office of Student Affairs is committed to offering students opportunities to take responsibility for their living and for their co-curricular learning.  The professional staff members are educators, programmers, counselors, and facilitators, and are actively engaged in student learning and student development.

The principal goals of Student Affairs are:

1. To work with faculty, students, and staff to incorporate co-curricular learning and involvement into the overall academic mission of the College.

2. To maintain active involvement in the lives of our students as mentors and educators.

3. To celebrate and support the diversity of our community, and the uniqueness of each individual.

4. To create opportunities for learning that promote leadership, community engagement, and citizenship.

SERVICES OF THE OFFICE OF STUDENT AFFAIRS  

Student Affairs at New College embraces three basic goals: enhance the quality of student life; foster the personal growth of individual students; and provide well-managed services essential to residential and campus life.  The office works closely with the elected representatives of the New College student body and other offices that provide student services.  It coordinates co-curricular, social, cultural, and recreational programming on campus and provides a housing office to manage the residential areas and food services.  The Diversity and Gender Center, a division of Student Affairs, works with students and staff to arrange educational events celebrating different cultures.  Disabled student assistance and the student union (Hamilton Center) are also administered by the student affairs staff.  Furthermore, the registrar, the office of financial aid and the counseling center for personal counseling, health services, and wellness education work closely with student affairs staff to support students.

STUDENT OMBUDSMAN

The New College Dean of Students serves as Ombudsman to assist students with decisions related to their education.  A student aggrieved by a decision may informally mediate his or her grievance. If mediation is unsuccessful, the student has the right to appeal that decision at a hearing before the President of New College.  Information may be obtained by contacting the office of Student Affairs, HCL 001.

RESIDENCE LIFE

Currently, 75 percent of New College's students live in the residence halls.  First- and second-year students are required to live on campus. Non-residential students generally share houses and apartments near campus.  The first- and second-year residency requirement insures that beginning college students can be part of the living-learning experience that is central to New College’s mission.

The College completed, in 2007, five new residential halls.  V,W,X,Y provide apartment-style living for about 100 students, total.  Each apartment offers common space, a full bathroom, a small kitchenette and 3-4 single bedrooms.  A few studio singles are also available, mainly to offer more privacy and quiet for thesising students.  These halls feature some beautiful architecture, including high timbered roofs with arched windows and an abundance of natural light.  The fifth hall, The Rhoda Pritzker Residence Hall, provides housing for 90 students.  It is similar in design to VWXY with apartments, full bathrooms, small kitchenettes and 4 single bedrooms.  Residents share balconies, lounges, full kitchens and laundry facilities.  The hall also features a third story, open-air lounge, and a central courtyard. 

The cluster of residence halls, built around Palm Court near Hamilton Center, was designed by the internationally acclaimed American/Chinese architect I. M. Pei.  Each room accommodates two or three students and is climate-controlled.  All rooms have a private entrance and private bath.  Supplementing the Pei-designed cluster is B-Dorm, which houses 32 students in traditional residential-hall style.  Here, a more communal residential life develops around shared facilities. 

Finally, the Dallas and Elizabeth Dort and the Ann and Alfred Goldstein Residence Halls provide apartment-style accommodation.  Each apartment has four single bedrooms and two bathrooms that open to a shared living area and a partial kitchen.  These two halls, constructed in 1998 and 1999, house 142 students.

Supporting residential life is a staff that includes the Director of Residence Life, three Residential Directors, the Coordinator of Residential Facilities, and 15-20 student Resident Assistants. Other student affairs staff members work in support of the residence life program.

FOOD SERVICE

The food service plan at New College combines the convenience and collegiality of the traditional college dining hall with opportunity for self-catering that allows students to pursue their own styles of cooking and dining.  In Hamilton Center a full-service cafeteria provides brunch and dinner seven days a week.  Cafeteria selections include a salad bar, and a vegetarian and vegan entree.  A sub shop operated by the campus food service vendor complements the cafeteria hours.  The Coordinator of Residential Facilities is the College’s liaison to the outside provider.  All students participate in at least a partial dining plan based on the cafeteria service.

Separate from the food service plan but also located on campus, the Four Winds Café is a student-run business that provides a wide variety of coffee drinks as well as tea, smoothies, bagel sandwiches, and other fare.  The Four Winds Café is a popular spot with students and staff alike, and occasionally hosts tutorials, poetry readings, and open-mic nights.

Many students choose to combine college dining with some self-catering.  A fish market is within walking distance of campus; supermarkets are within a mile-and-a-half radius.  In addition, the cafeteria service offers access to ordering food and supplies from a variety of catalogues.

STUDENT ACTIVITIES

Drawing on the "A & S" (Activity and Service) fees paid by all students with tuition, students organize and sponsor fine arts exhibits, plays, music performances, film series, an annual “semi-formal” dance, Palm Court Parties (a New College tradition), fitness courses, sports programs, and student publications.  Adding to student-funded and student-initiated activities are programs sponsored by Student Affairs, such as volunteer and community activities, gender awareness events, field trips to support out-of-classroom experiences and Family Weekend.  The President of the College and the academic divisions invite visiting scholars to campus and sponsor academic forums and community conferences.   The Campus Ministry and the Diversity and Gender Center also contribute to activities on campus.

In sum, a variety of campus organizations, groups, individuals, and offices create a range of activities of surprising depth and breadth for a small college.

RECREATION

Athletic recreation at New College emphasizes participation and spontaneity.  The campus has ample space for field sports, games, jogging, and cycling.  Facilities include a 25-meter swimming pool, professionally staffed indoor fitness center, basketball, and lighted tennis courts.  Other facilities include a softball diamond, a bike shop, sailing and kayaking vessels, a fitness path, and a multipurpose playing field.

Just as New College students design their own academic programs, they also design their own social world.  The students assume a large measure of responsibility and the accompanying accountability for their daily lives at New College.

New College Student Organizations currently include:

·         Alliance for On-Campus Justice & Equality

·         Aikido Dojo Club

·         Amnesty International

·         Ben and Jerry's Devotional Society

·         Best Buddies Colleges

·         Circle K / Volunteerism

·         Club Thespia

·         College Bowl

·         Dance Tutorial

·         Debate Club

·         FMLA (Feminist Majority Leadership Alliance)

·         Food Not Bombs

·         German Club

·         Governor's Opportunity Alliance (tutoring)

·         Hispanic Achievers  (tutoring)

·         Intervarsity Christian Fellowship

·         Keys to the Future (tutoring)

·         Math Clinic

·         Memoirs of Ibid:  nonfiction literary magazine

·         Multifaith Council

·         Muslim Student Association

·         New College Athletics Association

·         New College Crew

·         New College Democrats

·         New College Greens

·         Hillel

·         New College Republicans

·         New College Uglies, a women’s soccer team

·         Nice RAK (Random Acts of Kindness)

·         Origami Club

·         Organic Gardening

·         Photography Club

·         PRIDE

·         Psychology Club

·         Sailing Club

·         SCUBA Club

·         VOX: Voices for Planned Parenthood

·         Ultimate  Frisbee

If you don’t see an organization in this list that suits you, we invite you to come and get it started.

NEW STUDENT ORIENTATION

New students, including transfers, take part in an orientation program prior to the first week of classes in the fall semester.  This familiarizes students with New College's unique academic environment and introduces them to faculty, staff, and returning students.  A one-day orientation is held prior to the start of spring semester for students entering at mid-year.

DIVERSITY AND GENDER PROGRAMMING 

Located in Hamilton Center, the Diversity and Gender Center provides programming and services to the campus focused on issues of tolerance, understanding, multi-culturalism, and gender related issues.  The Resident Director of Diversity and Gender serves as the College’s resource person for any student, faculty, or staff wishing to explore related issues and topics.

COUNSELING AND WELLNESS CENTER

The Counseling and Wellness Center in the West Side Student Center offers a comprehensive, professionally-staffed program to help students achieve their personal development goals as well as to assist with mental health issues.  Services at the Center include educational and personal counseling, life planning, crisis intervention, testing, personal awareness counseling, and limited psychotherapy.  In addition to one-on-one counseling, the center sponsors support and discussion groups, workshops, and seminars, as well as other activities.

HEALTH SERVICES

Health services at Parkview House are provided by a nurse practitioner who holds office hours on campus each weekday.  A Sarasota physician can be consulted at his facility for those problems the nurse practitioner cannot treat and is also available for extended weekday hours.  The services are funded by a health fee that is included in the tuition and fee invoice.  Students can see the nurse practitioner or physician, without charge, for general medical care, screening, and consultation.  This includes antigen clinic, examinations, diagnosis, and referral to specialized medical facilities.  Any lab or X-ray, casting, etc. will be billed separately to the student at a discount.  Costs for prescription drugs and emergency services are the responsibility of the student.

DISABILITY AND DISCRIMINATION

New College of Florida strives to afford people with disabilities equal opportunity and full participation in all aspects of College life.  To that end, it is the policy of New College of Florida to provide equal admission opportunity for, and to make reasonable accommodation to employ and admit the disabled, and assist disabled students in independent living and self-sufficiency as required by law.

The office of Student Disability Services, located at the Counseling and Wellness Center, arranges accommodations for, determines the disability status of, and, in conjunction with staff and faculty, identifies successful strategies for disabled students.  The Coordinator can be contacted at the Counseling and Wellness Center.  Success strategies and accommodations include but are not limited to, extended time on examinations, alternate formats for printed materials, and the services of interpreters.

Students with disabilities are eligible to apply for annual financial awards from the Johnson Scholarship program.  Information and applications are also available at the office of Student Disability Services. 

RELIGIOUS LIFE/INTER-FAITH ACTIVITIES

New College of Florida, a public institution, does not endorse any religious affiliation or practice, and does not offer religious services or doctrinal instruction.  However, religion occupies an important place in the lives of many New College students, and numerous local congregations and religious organizations welcome the participation and membership of New College students.  Moreover, private organizations assist students in establishing relationships with local congregations, provide pastoral counseling, offer religious study groups, and conduct faith-based programs and activities.  The Association for Campus Ministry, supported by local churches and denominational groups, provides a part-time campus minister.  Hillel, supported by an independent board based in Tampa and Sarasota, operates from the Diversity and Gender Center.

VETERANS’ AFFAIRS

Veterans’ services are available during the academic year on the Sarasota campus.  All veterans, veterans' dependents, and active duty military personnel may use the services in pre-admissions counseling, pre-registration advising, and veterans’ benefits resources.

BOOK STORE

The Campus Bookshop, operated by Barnes and Noble, carries textbooks and related educational materials as well as general supplies, stationery, casual clothing, and sundry items.

MAIL SERVICE

The student mail service provides a mailbox in Hamilton Center for each New College student.  Arrangements for package pick-up are available.  Packages under one pound can be mailed at the campus mailroom.  Heavier packages can be mailed from the Tallevast Post Office, a few miles north and east of the airport.

STUDENT GOVERNANCE

Students are the primary focus at New College, and every student has access to any member of the faculty and staff.  But access alone does not insure an effective voice in governance.  The student body has a governance structure that results in considerable student input into student life, while also insuring a student voice in academic affairs.  The New College Student Alliance operates under its own constitution, and any student may call a Town Meeting to discuss issues of importance to the campus community.

Elected student representatives sit as voting members on the New College faculty and its constituent divisions (Humanities, Natural Sciences, and Social Sciences).  Elected student representatives also serve on standing committees of the faculty, helping the faculty frame academic policies in such areas as admissions, curriculum, and library services.  Moreover, all students are invited to comment on the strengths and weaknesses of professors; student input is a part of the formal record of performance on which the hiring, promotion, and retention of professors is based.

JUDICIAL PROCEDURES