USF Sarasota-Manatee

Democrats on the House subcommittee asked how the proposal would pan out for USF students and the local business and education community.

The bonus comes despite scrutiny about the college's spending, which nearly doubled from about $53 million in 2021 to about $93 million in 2025.

A couple of college challenges are in the spotlight. We get an update on the New College-USF controversy and learn about the growing concern of student food insecurity.

Student government representing all three USF campuses passed a resolution saying it should be involved in the decision-making after the idea appeared in Gov. Ron DeSantis's proposed budget.

Nathan Allen, who resigned as a vice president at New College in 2024, says it’s “nuts” to assume $53 million in debt against no added revenue, yet “that's what's happening.”

The proposed deal is in the hands of state lawmakers, who began their annual session this week.

Trustees voted to raise out-of-state tuition by 15% beginning in fall 2026. The school plans to sign the "compact," which would provide priority federal funding in exchange for adopting a range of policies, including a five-year tuition freeze.

The deal would have major implications for higher education in the Sarasota-Manatee area.

A backdoor plan to hand the USF Sarasota-Manatee campus to New College was revealed in public records last year and eventually dissolved. Observers have anticipated the issue could come up again.

Support for USF Sarasota-Manatee came from students, faculty, former leaders of the campus and members of the business community.

Last month, we learned the school uses about 10 times more in tax dollars per degree than other state universities. A comparison of graduates' median wages gives a little insight into the value of those sheepskins.

Said New College trustee Ron Christaldi, a prominent Tampa lawyer and GOP political donor: "New College’s vision is to continue to grow and expand … and it needs more space to do that.”