New College of Florida is closely monitoring a bill in the Florida House of Representatives that proposes to merge New College into Florida State University and Florida Polytechnic University into the University of Florida. Representative Randy Fine introduced the legislation into the House Education Committee last week. It is now expected to go before the full House Appropriations Committee on Tuesday, February 25.
New College students, who are organizing a Save Our School rally on Thursday, February 20 at 1:00 p.m. in ACE Plaza., have been coordinating letter-writing campaigns to media outlets and the state legislature.
There will be a press conference in Tallahassee with the Sarasota-Bradenton legislative delegation and President O’Shea on Wednesday, February 19 at 10 am at the Florida Capitol. Alumni and parents in the Tallahassee area are encouraged to attend.
President Donal O’Shea is meeting with legislators in Tallahassee this week to advocate for New College’s continued independence as a member of the State University System. In an email statement to the campus community on Monday, he wrote: “I have reached out personally to our local legislative delegation, the Sarasota Chamber of Commerce, and our partners in the Cross-College Alliance to ask for their support of New College’s efforts to remain an independent institution within the State University System.”
Continuing updates about House Bill 7087 will be posted here.