New College of Florida

The Florida Board of Governors approved New College of Florida's accountability plan, which lowered performance expectations.

The state university system’s Board of Governors on Thursday gave Corcoran, who was tapped as interim president earlier this year, the final go-ahead for the presidential post.

Richard Corcoran is in line for a potential confirmation in November. Final steps in leadership changes at the University of Florida and the University of West Florida are also slated.

The challenge, filed by the group NCF Freedom and several New College professors and students, says restrictions in the law would strip away numerous course offerings from its students.

The five-year compensation package puts him on par with the state's highest-paid college president, at the University of Florida. UF has over 55,000 students. Less than 700 attend New College.

New College of Florida lost double the amount of students this year compared to the past two years. Interim Provost Brad Thiessen wrote in a report to faculty it was "by far" the lowest retention rate the Sarasota school has seen.

The Republican former state House speaker and Florida education commissioner has served as interim president since March.

Attorneys for New College of Florida, the traditionally progressive public liberal arts college that was taken over by allies of Gov. Ron DeSantis as part of his “war on woke,” is threatening to sue a group of former faculty members and students. It's because they have formed an alternative online institute named “Alt New College” after departing the school following the takeover.

The New College of Florida community has continued to push back against Gov. Ron DeSantis' overhaul of the institution.

Dean of Students David Rancourt said the New College Board of Trustees is expected to make a decision on the president during an Oct. 3 meeting.

New College of Florida interim president Richard Corcoran defended his leadership and the conservative direction the school has taken during a Tampa Tiger Bay Club event on Friday. The former state lawmaker is one of three finalists to become the new president at the Sarasota school.

Here's what students and faculty can expect as New College of Florida students and faculty begin their first new academic year following sweeping changes.