New College trustees approve Master of Education program after debate over statutory mission and faculty concerns

The New College of Florida Board of Trustees voted to approve a new Master of Education in Educational Leadership on Wednesday after an extended debate over whether the program fits the college’s statutory mission and concerns raised by faculty.

Trustee Karp moved to approve the program; the motion passed on a roll-call vote of eight in favor and two opposed. Trustees Christopher McDonald and Trustee Mikkelsen voted no, while Trustees Bauerlein, Jayco, Karp, Patterson, Rufo, Spalding, Chair Jenks and Vice Chair Christaldi voted yes.

The discussion focused on three issues the board said were central. Trustee McDonald, the faculty representative, said the program “doesn’t actually contribute to our statutory mission” and described a recent faculty meeting in which attendees voted in opposition as a nonbinding “sense of the faculty.” He told the board that those present “resoundingly rejected” the proposal and that the faculty’s concern centers on the program’s relationship to the undergraduate curriculum.

Provost David Rohrabacher said faculty and administrators are aware of the concerns and described the faculty-hiring process and search for leadership for the program. He said on-campus interviews for a dean were under way and that the administration expects to announce a hire “next week.” President Richard Corcoran said the administration believes the program will be “self sustaining the quickest” of the three proposed master’s degrees previously discussed and argued the degree could generate revenue to support undergraduate priorities.

Trustees asked about potential effects on undergraduate budgets and about integration between graduate and undergraduate programs. The administration acknowledged concerns but said the planned approach is to launch a pilot and then develop ways the graduate and undergraduate programs can “benefit each other.” Trustee Rufo and others argued the program advances the board’s statutory language on educational reform and innovation.

The board’s discussion also touched on timing and procedures. Trustee Mickelson had pulled the item from the consent agenda for separate consideration; Trustee Karp moved and the motion was seconded before debate. The board recorded the roll-call vote after discussion.

The motion to approve the Master of Education in Educational Leadership passed 8–2.

The board did not adopt any amendments to the proposal during the meeting, and trustees who voted in favor said remaining details—such as detailed implementation plans, hiring outcomes and program integration—will be addressed through normal administrative processes.