New College of Florida Undergoes Transformation and Faces Legal Challenges
New College of Florida, a small public school known for its unconventional nature, has recently undergone significant changes since Governor Ron DeSantis pledged to transform it into a conservative institution. The fall semester began with the introduction of new students, many of whom were recruited athletes donning T-shirts featuring the school’s new mascot, a muscled banyan tree. These newcomers stood out among the returning students, who were characterized by their bare feet and vividly dyed hair.
However, the influx of athletes is just one of the sweeping changes that have taken place at New College. Over one-third of the faculty from the previous year, approximately three dozen professors, have left the institution, along with around 125 students who chose not to return. Despite having a total student body of around 700 last year, the freshman class of 338 is the largest ever, with a higher proportion of Black, Hispanic, and male students.
The changes in the college climate have led to a series of legal challenges. Alumni, faculty, and students have filed lawsuits, alleging academic censorship and free-speech violations. The U.S. Department of Education is also investigating a complaint of discrimination against students with disabilities, while another federal complaint accuses the new leadership of creating a hostile environment that negatively impacted L.G.B.T.Q. students.
The board of trustees, controlled by DeSantis allies, and the interim president, Richard Corcoran, claim that the overhaul has been successful and dismiss the critics as a disgruntled few. State lawmakers have provided a significant increase in funding to the school, totaling around $50 million. New students have been offered scholarships and laptops, and moldy dorms have been closed. Additionally, an athletic department has been established with plans to field six teams.
Much of Governor DeSantis’s criticism of New College before the overhaul centered on what he described as “woke indoctrination” on college campuses. One of the first actions taken by the new leadership was the elimination of the college’s diversity office, resulting in the firing of the diversity chief and academic librarian, both of whom were members of the L.G.B.T.Q. community.
The reconfigured board of trustees voted to abolish New College’s gender studies program, citing it as more of an “ideological movement” than a legitimate academic discipline. The school’s only full-time gender studies professor resigned, criticizing the changes and referring to Florida as “the state where learning goes to die.”
Dormitories underwent changes as well, with the removal of gender-neutral bathrooms, hallway art that featured nudity, and student murals. Student orientation leaders were required to remove Black Lives Matter and Pride pins from their shirts. The student government election also reflected the divide, with a returning student running against a new student supported by a newly-formed chapter of the conservative organization, Turning Point USA.
Critics have raised concerns about the tactics used to grow the incoming class, indicating that the grade-point averages and standardized test scores of new students were lower than those of previous classes. The admissions process came under scrutiny, with one former admissions officer highlighting a questionable admissions essay that was accepted despite its poor grammar and spelling.
Administrators argue that they had limited time to recruit the desired incoming class, as many top athletes had already committed to other schools. Critics claim that New College heavily recruited students from Christian schools, as Governor DeSantis aims to model the institution after Hillsdale College, a private Christian college in Michigan.
Friction arose over the housing situation when many athletes were assigned to apartment-style dorms, displacing senior students. Other dorms were deemed unsafe due to mold, which President Corcoran blamed on previous administrations. As a result, many students were placed in nearby hotels.
Alongside housing concerns, there has been a notable change in the New College community’s culture. Students and parents reported last-minute class cancellations, which President Corcoran denied despite acknowledging faculty turnover. Visiting faculty have been hired for the current school year. Some students have chosen to transfer to Hampshire College, a private liberal arts institution in Massachusetts, which offered to match New College students’ tuition.
Legal disputes and changes to the school have created uncertainty and anxiety among students. Despite these challenges, some students, like Emma Curtis, have decided to stay at New College. However, Curtis expressed concerns about the changes and the removal of aspects that made the college unique. She is considering dropping her psychology concentration and hopes to graduate as soon as possible.
The transformation of New College of Florida continues to draw attention and criticism as it navigates a new path under conservative leadership.