Post Date and Author: 
- by 



When people think of college towns in Florida, Gainesville and Tallahassee are normally among the first two to come to mind, with Miami and Orlando not far behind.
Higher-education officials in Sarasota and Manatee counties are making a push to get Sarasota and Bradenton on that list, too.
There are tens of thousands of students who attend college in Sarasota and Manatee counties every year, according to David Gulliver, New College of Florida spokesman, and talks of a partnership between local colleges and universities is expected to continue into 2015.
In addition to New College, University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee, State College of Florida Manatee-Sarasota, Ringling College, Florida State University at the Asolo Theater and Eckerd College in St. Petersburg will be moving forward for plans of the joint programs, shared services and cross-registration as the college presidents will meet in January.