DeSantis and New College: Florida governor aims to overhaul progressive college
transformed earlier this year.
The school has been too focused on racial and “gender ideology,” DeSantis said, and it will be reformed by a new board he put in place, which will get big money to recruit new faculty.
DeSantis announced during an event in Bradenton that he wants $15 million “immediately” for faculty recruitment and scholarships at New College, with $10 million of that as recurring funds every year.
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his makeover of New College, which began when he appointed six new board members. The governor’s funding plan came a few hours before New College’s first Board of Trustees meeting since DeSantis reshaped the board.
“They have a board meeting today later in Sarasota which should be very, very interesting,” DeSantis said.
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A new president, board chair and legal counsel for the board all will be up for discussion, along with the possibility of ending faculty tenure.
The move would lead to the termination of all employee contracts and the rehiring of anyone who fits into the school’s “new financial and business model.” These are all ideas floated by new board member Eddie Speir in a recent Substack post.
Carlos Guillermo Smith, a former Democratic state representative from Orlando, linked Speir’s proposal to the governor’s funding announcement.
“After DeSantis-controlled board members of (New College) fire all faculty who fail to pledge allegiance to his agenda, the state will spend $15 million to import right-wing professors to Florida to replace them,” Smith wrote on Twitter.
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DeSantis predicted a surge in new faculty applying to teach at New College.
“Professors are asking, ‘how am I able to come join?’ because they want to get out of the stuffy environment that pervades so many university campuses,” he said.
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The governor said Tuesday that legislative leaders have agreed to give $15 million to New College immediately, saying the Legislative Budget Commission will approve the proposal in the next few weeks.
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‘Diversity, equity, inclusion’ initiatives in the crosshairs
DeSantis blasted Florida universities, and New College in particular, for their DEI initiatives. He also accused New College of teaching theories that have become major conservative talking points in recent years, including critical race theory and gender theories.
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DeSantis said his funding plan shows he’s committed to making New College a success.
“Think about it, how many times have (you) had $15 million dollars going into the kitty so that you’re going to be able to recruit faculty immediately … you’re going to be able to offer scholarships for students who are high performing?” he said. “We want the institution to succeed; if we didn’t we would just starve it of funding.”
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