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Trustees approve Master of Education after faculty objections
Summary
The New College of Florida Board of Trustees voted to approve a Master of Education in Educational Leadership on April 9, 2025, despite vocal faculty opposition and concerns from the faculty representative that the program may not align with the college’s statutory mission. The motion passed by roll call (7–2).
The New College of Florida Board of Trustees approved a Master of Education in Educational Leadership on April 9, voting 7–2 after extended discussion about faculty concerns and program fit.
Trustee McDonald, the board’s faculty representative, told the board the proposal "doesn't actually contribute to our statutory mission," and said a recent extraordinary faculty meeting produced a strong negative sense vote among attendees. McDonald urged trustees to honor the faculty’s fiduciary concerns and said prior graduate programs were discussed at greater length before approval.
Provost David Rohrabacher and President Richard Corcoran defended the program. Rohrabacher said administration expects to fill a dean position through current on‑campus interviews and described plans for a pilot phase to integrate graduate and undergraduate resources. Corcoran said state funding and the program’s projected ability to be self‑sustaining were factors in the recommendation. "We believe we have the funding necessary," he said, adding the master’s program is expected to generate revenue that can support undergraduate priorities.
Trustees asked how the program would interact with undergraduate offerings. Trustee Bauerlein asked whether MA students would be involved with undergraduates; Rohrabacher described "extensive discussions" and a plan to launch a pilot that would use resources of both programs to benefit each other. Trustee McDonald and others argued the program was advanced too quickly, citing that relevant faculty committees had not fully vetted it to their satisfaction.
On the roll-call vote, Trustees Bauerlein, Jayco, Patterson, Rufo, Spalding, Chair Jenks, and Vice Chair Christaldi voted yes; Trustees McDonald and Mikkelsen voted no. The chair announced "motion passes" and the board moved on to other business.
The board’s approval comes with administrative plans to hire program leadership, conduct pilot integration with undergraduate offerings, and monitor financial projections and enrollment outcomes. The next procedural step is implementation planning by administration, including hiring and curriculum rollout.
