Leaders from University of South Florida and New College of Florida Tuesday chimed in on a land handover following a weekend of budget negotiations that yielded the plan.<\/p>\n
According to language agreed to by House and Senate budget negotiators, but not voted on just yet, New College of Florida is set to take full liability for USF\u2019s Sarasota-Manatee campus, located less than a mile away, on Dec. 31, 2026.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cNew College is prepared to steward this transition with care and intentionality as we continue building a nationally distinctive public liberal arts institution focused on academic excellence, civic discourse, innovation, and student opportunity,\u201d New College of Florida President Richard Corcoran, a former House Speaker, said in a social media<\/a> post Tuesday.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cFlorida\u2019s higher education system is strongest when institutions work together with clarity of purpose, fiscal responsibility, and a shared commitment to students. As the end of the special legislation approaches, the potential transition represents a thoughtful and\u2026<\/p>\n \u2014 New College of Florida (@NewCollegeofFL) May 26, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n Gov. Ron DeSantis and the House proposed the swap, but the Senate was unwilling to go along until the last days of budget negotiations.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t think there\u2019s heartburn over the transfer; the heartburn is over the money,\u201d Senate Budget Chair Ed Hooper told reporters last week.\u00a0<\/p>\n The House eventually dropped its push to transfer $20 million budgeted to USF to New College for operation of the campus.<\/p>\n New College, located on 110 acres on Sarasota Bay, has been looking to grow its footprint. Last year, the governor proposed Florida State University hand over the Ringling Museum, which it operates, to New College<\/a>, located steps away, but that isn\u2019t happening. New College has also been working with the federal government<\/a> in attempt to access land owned by the Sarasota Bradenton International Airport.\u00a0<\/p>\n Under the deal set to be approved later this week, NCF owes debt payments to USF and USF-SM students have rights to dorm space until August 2027.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cUSF has been engaged in discussions on this issue with New College, the Board of Governors, Chancellor Ray Rodrigues, the Florida Legislature and Governor\u2019s Office since September 2024 when the BOG asked us to work together on a path forward for our two institutions. From our latest conversations, it is clear to me that this is in the best interests of USF, New College and our state,\u201d Former House Speaker and now USF trustee Will Weatherford posted to social media<\/a> Tuesday. He was chair of the board until recently.\u00a0<\/p>\n As the end of the special legislative session approaches, I want to share my support for the proposal to transfer facilities from our Sarasota-Manatee campus to @NewCollegeofFL<\/a> and @USouthFlorida<\/a>. USF has been engaged in discussions on this issue with New College, the Board of\u2026<\/p>\n \u2014 Will Weatherford (@willweatherford) May 26, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n New College since 2023 has been object of a conservative makeover led by DeSantis and Corcoran. It has been the topic of national attention regarding conservative higher education policy. Meanwhile, it has been criticized<\/a> for its spending, by far the most per student<\/a> in the state system.<\/p>\n