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President Corcoran highlights $33 million proposed increase, Ringling transfer and enrollment gains
Summary
President Richard Corcoran told trustees the governor’s proposed budget would add $33 million for New College, including recurring funding and startup money for a Freedom Institute; he also reported improving enrollment metrics and ongoing master-plan work and fundraising.
Sarasota, Fla. — President Richard Corcoran told the New College Board of Trustees that the governor’s recommended budget includes a proposed $33 million increase for the college — including recurring and nonrecurring funds and a $3 million startup allocation for a proposed Freedom Institute — and described several campus initiatives tied to enrollment and fundraising.
Corcoran said the governor’s recommendation would convert $15 million of prior nonrecurring funding to recurring support, add $5 million in recurring funds, provide $10 million in nonrecurring flexible funds and include $3 million for the Freedom Institute, totaling a $33 million increase in the proposed budget. “It’s one of the best,” Corcoran said of the recommended budget, adding that the proposal must still pass the legislature.
Corcoran also told trustees the governor included language to transfer management of the historic Ringling Museum from Florida State University to New College, a proposal that would still require legislative approval. He called the idea “an amazing partnership in the making” and said the college is maintaining “constant transparency and dialogue” with Florida State University and the Ringling Museum as the idea moves through the process.
On enrollment, Vice Provost and Vice President for Enrollment David Rancourt updated trustees that spring enrollment was reported in the meeting as roughly 757 earlier in discussion but later corrected by another participant to about 836 total enrolled students; Corcoran said applications are up and that the college is seeing higher SAT averages and GPA among admits. Corcoran said the college expects to be in the 350–400 range for an incoming class and projected total headcount near 950 in coming cycles as current students graduate and new classes matriculate.
Corcoran reported fundraising plans tied to public events, including the Socratic Stage lecture series and a planned visit by Alan Dershowitz, and noted ongoing capital projects such as greenhouses, the Pritzker Marine Biology building and athletic facilities. He also said the college is pursuing federal resiliency funding and expects a positive outcome for an approximate $3 million request for boardwalk and waterfront resiliency work.
Trustees asked about next steps for the Freedom Institute funding and timeline. Corcoran said legislative sponsors were identified and, if funded, the institute could begin hiring in July. Trustee Kessler asked about statutory language; Corcoran said statutory language has been drafted and modeled after other institutes and would be refined during the legislative session.
Corcoran also addressed master-plan timelines, waterfront landscaping including mangrove replanting, and campus improvements expected by August. Several trustees and staff said they expect more detailed master-plan materials to be released before summer hearings.
