Richard Corcoran

New College of Florida took over the neighboring USF Sarasota-Manatee campus this year, adding significantly to its acreage and existing debt.

July 1, the beginning of the fiscal year, marks the day the 32-acre USF campus transfers to New College of Florida. However, NCF must take responsibility $53 million of USF debt by December or the deal is nullified.

The longtime St. Petersburg Democrat will serve as a presidential scholar and professor of trial litigation at the conservative-leaning Sarasota school.

Leaders in the House and Senate are in closed door negotiations on the budget, which could result in USF's 32-acre campus being given to New College, along with $53 million in debt from building dorms.

Four chambers of commerce, from Venice to Lakewood Ranch, warn of the fallout of losing a USF campus in the Sarasota-Manatee region.

On "Florida Matters Live & Local," we spoke with the makers of the film "First They Came for My College." It examines government influence at New College of Florida in Sarasota.

New College of Florida plans to divert $2.5 million from its auxiliary housing fund to help build a new baseball field, despite the campus facing an ongoing student housing shortage.

Richard Corcoran is among the highest-paid university presidents in Florida despite leading one of the smallest schools. Meanwhile, the Florida House approved a bill that would give the USF Sarasota-Manatee campus to New College.

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.

In addition to selecting the former UF and Ohio State coach, the governor reappointed Mark Bauerlein and Debra Jenks to the board of the Sarasota school. Appointments require state Senate confirmation.

The school failed to acquire part of the USF Sarasota-Manatee campus last year after public pushback. But a proposed state budget for 2026 shows that's back up for discussion.

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.