Students are flocking back in record numbers to the Sarasota-Manatee area this semester with the ability to gain new post-secondary opportunities presented by a collaborative effort between area colleges and universities. The Consortium of Colleges on the Creative Coast, or C4, connects with local colleges on a mission to maximize student and community benefits presented by the mix of colleges in the area, including New College of Florida, Ringling College of Art and Design, State College of Florida, the University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee (USFSM) and Eckerd College in St. Petersburg. The academic year promises to be big, showing record-shattering numbers across many campuses in the local area. The USFSM campus boasts more than 1,900 students this semester, Ringling College, with 1,400 students, has a record 450 new incoming freshmen, while the State College of Florida hosts nearly 9,300 students this semester.