Finalized deal shifts USF Sarasota-Manatee to New College

Barring a last-minute budget rewrite, or an even less-likely line-item veto from the desk of Gov. Ron DeSantis, University of South Florida’s Sarasota-Manatee campus will be absorbed into the New College of Florida’s organization.

State lawmakers on Friday are scheduled to take a final vote on Florida’s $116 billion budget, a document that includes provisions to shift USF’s 32 acres, buildings and millions of dollars in debt to New College. A proposal in DeSantis’ 2025-2026 budget to transfer both the USFSM campus and the nearby John & Mable Ringling Museum of Art, run by Florida State University, to New College never came to fruition

In a social media post on X, New College president Richard Corcoran hailed the move as one of collaboration.

“As the end of the special legislation approaches, the potential transition represents a thoughtful and forward-looking opportunity to expand New College’s capacity while preserving continuity for the Sarasota-Manatee community, its students, faculty, and staff,” Corcoran wrote.

Photo by Janet Combs

Will Weatherford, chair of the USF Board of Trustees, said the transition is a prudent thing to do.

“I am confident we will be able to protect our exceptional students, faculty and staff, which has been our priority,” he wrote in an X post. “While we may no longer have the same physical footprint we do now, I know that USF can maintain a meaningful presence in the Sarasota-Manatee (area) with opportunities for our university to continue delivering world-class academic programming.”

The agreement requires USF students admitted before July 1 to keep access to the campus and its facilities. A list of questions and answers for USF students, posted on the university website, said the so-called teach-out will take years to complete. “Students who enrolled at USF will have the opportunity to finish their desired academic program as USF students taught by USF faculty.  The teach-out is expected to be a multi-year process,’’ the May 26 post says.

A letter to the editor published two weeks ago in the Observer, signed by more three dozen campus and community leaders, urged the status quo for the USF campus, saying its 50-year history in the region was never considered.

“For months, students, parents, business leaders, educators, veterans, and concerned residents have spoken with one unmistakable voice: do not close our hometown campus. Nearly 350 community members gathered at a public forum in March, delivering a resounding message — shutting down USFSM to pursue New College’s goals is unnecessary and unjustified,’’ they wrote.

The state budget customarily is locked for 72 hours preceding a final vote, which is scheduled on Friday. Once passed, DeSantis’ signature makes it official.