SARASOTA, Fla. — At its Dec. 17 meeting the New College of Florida Board of Trustees approved several consent-agenda items after brief debate: an amendment to regulation 3‑1002 regarding tuition and fees (applying prospectively to new out‑of‑state students), an auxiliary transfer to support a New College athletics capital project, and a lease agreement for two renovated houses on 58th Street with an option to buy.

Public commenter Laura Hampton, speaking for the Novo Collegian Alliance, told trustees the college has a "severe lack of on campus housing" and urged them to "vote no on this $2,500,000 transfer until" housing needs are addressed. Trustees and administrators responded that the $2.5 million was identified as surplus auxiliary reserves used for bonding capacity, that the administration did not expect the transfer to affect the timing or capacity of planned student-housing projects, and that housing construction is planned to proceed via bond financing and other funding avenues.

Vice Chair Cristaldi moved approval of the auxiliary transfer after the finance and administration committee discussed the item; trustees debated whether the transfer would impede housing and whether short-term use of reserves was appropriate. President Corcoran and committee members said the funds would not change the university's bonding capacity or planned housing timeline, and that housing construction (including a planned 58th Street housing project) remains on the master plan and subject to city approvals and bond financing.

On the lease, administration said the two 58th Street houses are renovated, would provide immediate classroom and office space and could be used for faculty offices or other university needs; the packet included legal review and committee members reported unanimous committee support. The administration noted that listing prices for the houses had been above the proposed lease/buy deal and that the lease avoids immediate foundation cash expenditures.

Trustees voted in favor of the items; meeting minutes show no recorded oppositions for these consent-agenda approvals. The board then moved on to the master-plan item and adjourned after adoption of that plan.

Votes at a glance: the board approved the amended tuition regulation, the auxiliary transfer for athletics capital (described in public comment as $2.5 million from housing reserves) and the 58th Street lease agreement.