Florida college seizes USF Sarasota-Manatee campus in expansion push

Campus transfer set for next month

New College of Florida is set to acquire the University of South Florida’s Sarasota-Manatee campus next month, a move that would expand the state-run liberal arts college’s footprint and end USF’s campus operations there after a transition period.

The transfer was pushed through the state budget process and, at the time of the reporting, was still awaiting the governor’s final signature. If it takes effect as described, New College would take control of the 32-acre site, including dorms and classrooms, and add a campus that serves roughly 2,000 students.

USF president Moez Limayem said the change creates uncertainty and anxiety for faculty, staff and students. In an official budget update, he said current students will be able to finish their USF degrees in Sarasota-Manatee during a four-year teach-out period.

USF also said no new students would be admitted if the transfer proceeds. That would allow the campus to remain open for existing students for a limited time before USF’s presence there ends.

How the plan developed

The move caps months of discussion about transferring the campus from USF to New College, along with earlier opposition from students. In February, USF student government leaders said the proposal lacked transparency, shared governance and a clear benefit for students.

By June 21, new reporting said the acquisition would happen next month, turning what had been a proposal into an imminent change. That reporting also said the teach-out would allow current students to complete their degrees, but would not preserve USF’s long-term campus presence in Sarasota-Manatee.

The timeline marks a sharp change for a campus that has served the Sarasota area as part of the USF system. USF opened its current Sarasota-Manatee campus in 2006, and it has since expanded with student housing and a student center.

What New College says

New College president Richard Corcoran said the college is prepared to steward the transition and work with regional leaders and community partners.

Supporters of the move describe it as a strategic expansion for New College, which has been a central part of Gov. Ron DeSantis’s higher-education agenda in Florida. The transfer would substantially increase the college’s size and physical footprint.

Why local leaders object

Students and faculty have warned that the transfer would reduce affordable access for local residents who rely on the Sarasota-Manatee campus for commuting-friendly programs. They say the campus plays an important role for area employers and for students who want to stay near home.

That concern is especially acute for nursing, business and other workforce-oriented degrees offered there. Opponents say losing the USF campus would weaken a local pipeline for degree completion and job training.

USF student leaders argued that the campus should not be transferred without transparency and demonstrated student benefit. They also said the campus matters to local access and the regional economy.

What happens next

The immediate next step is the governor’s action on the budget item that contains the transfer. After that, USF and New College would need to issue formal guidance on timing, admissions and the structure of the teach-out.

Open questions remain about when USF will stop admitting new students, how specific programs will be handled and whether any legal or legislative challenge will try to reverse the transfer.

For now, the confirmed shift is clear: New College is slated to take over the Sarasota-Manatee campus, USF will wind down its presence there, and current students are expected to be able to finish their degrees on site during the transition.