Florida college seized by DeSantis in ‘anti-woke’ push to triple in size

New College of Florida will acquire the Sarasota-Manatee campus of the University of South Florida (USF) next month, effectively tripling its size. This move follows Florida Governor Ron DeSantis's takeover of New College, which he has been transforming into a model for conservative higher education. The acquisition of the USF Sarasota-Manatee campus, which is scheduled to occur in July, has been criticized by a leading Florida Democrat as "a grift." New College, a liberal arts institution, has been under the control of a board of trustees appointed by Governor DeSantis since his intervention in early 2023. The state Republicans engineered this expansion, which will significantly increase the student body and resources available to New College. The integration of the USF Sarasota-Manatee campus is expected to reshape the landscape of higher education in Florida, aligning with the governor's stated goals for the institution.