Peter Schorsch
New leadership from New College of Florida visited Tallahassee on Tuesday, sharing their vision for the future of New College.
Interim President Richard Corcoran, Foundation executive director Sydney Gruters, and several Board of Trustees members were joined by alumni and current New College students on Tuesday for legislative meetings and a “New College Day” reception.
The Governor’s revamping of the New College Board of Trustees and the board’s subsequent hiring of Corcoran was met with skepticism or open hostility by large portions of the New College community. Students and alumni protested and are continuing to organize efforts to “save” the college from change.
But if we know anything about the former House Speaker, it’s that Corcoran doesn’t shy away from challenges. Beyond simply acknowledging the steep hill that he faces in garnering trust from the college he’s now leading, Corcoran is actively inviting feedback and engagement from the community.
The two issues at the heart of potential change relate to the school’s academic model, and the school’s political culture.
Disagreements about the college’s proper direction are many, and over the past few years, have manifested in existential threats to its independence or future. What’s certainly unprecedented in the college’s history, however, is the current level of national media attention and the level of investment promised by state leaders.
“It was great to be back in Tallahassee today to talk about the future of New College with my former legislative colleagues. With the commitment from Governor DeSantis to invest in New College’s future and the recruitment of students and faculty — the possibilities are endless,” Corcoran said.
Corcoran introduced Board of Trustees chair and New College alumni Debra A. Jenks and student body president Grace Keenan. Both expressed gratitude to lawmakers for their commitment to New College’s future, and excitement for the possibilities this investment will generate for the school.
“Beyond this push for public support, the New College Foundation will be initiating a major push for private investment and community engagement to support a revitalization of the college’s original mission,” said Gruters. “I’m thrilled to contribute to expanding the opportunities this will provide for students, current and future.”
Since becoming Interim President, Corcoran has increased the number of articulation agreements with colleges across the state, brought more food options to campus, initiated expanding athletics, is working to reauthorize the New College specialty plate, has expanded scholarships for students, and most centrally, is engaging with academic departments to assess needs and opportunities.
“To me, the beauty and promise of New College is a place that’s challenging, diverse, and pushes the limits of what’s possible,” said alumni Karen Cyphers, who brought her own daughter — a potential future student — to the reception. “It’s energizing to hear such a commitment for this vision from President Corcoran, board members, lawmakers, and students.”
One of these students, alumni Josh Ingram, is in New College’s graduate data science program and serves as the school’s graduate student representative.
“NCF Day at the Capitol was an exciting and influential opportunity for legislators to learn more about New College’s mission, our students, and the challenges we face,” Ingram said, “We are receiving immense support to take New College in the direction to rise to the top liberal arts college in Florida and the country.”
3 comments
William Anderson
April 20, 2023 at 9:59 am
NCF has been one of U.S. News and World Report’s top public liberal arts college in the country for years. Let’s see if they can hold on to that. It does not look good with the destruction that has taken place there at the hands of DeSantis and Corcoran. This article reports a big Public Relations effort by Corcoran and his team, but their glowing assessment of what they’ve done stands in stark contrast to the reports you’ll find if you gather all the news reports in the free press on the takeover by DeSantis and his team.
FLnative
April 21, 2023 at 12:11 pm
With all due respect for New College as it was recently, I can testify that the actual founding folks of that college were rock hard conservatives who would have been aghast at it’s pendulum swing left…
While WE, in this case the FL taxpayer WE can be aghast at the salary for Cork,,, clearly some sort of political pay off that should be investigated ASAP while the dems are dominant, at least at FED level, WE can also be at least a bit hopeful that New College becomes a place where young folks are taught ”HOW to think” as opposed to the dreadful brain washing going on these days at every level of ”public” education.
Bruce Benidt
April 24, 2023 at 12:15 am
As a Florida taxpayer and 1972 New College grad I’m appalled by these bullying conquistadors who are destroying a college that prepares students for the lifelong learning needed in an increasingly diverse and fast-changing world. All have shown complete disdain for alums and current students,faculty and parents. They are hurting Florida students by imposing their political ideology and their fear if critical thinking. Please pay more attention to what they do and how they do it and less to what they say.
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