When I first walked onto the New College campus in 2023, I saw both its promise and its neglect. The lawns were brown, the dorms streaked with mold, and the historic bayfront mansions—once jewels of Sarasota’s architectural and cultural heritage—stood tired and forgotten. What should have been a flagship institution in Florida’s world-class university system had been allowed to decay into disrepair.

That decline wasn’t new. It was the result of years, decades, of chronic underfunding and complacency. The legislature’s own reports showed $60 to $70 million in deferred maintenance, leaving hundreds of dorm rooms and key facilities unusable. Enrollment had collapsed to historic lows. Buildings sat shuttered. The college’s spirit, once known nationally for academic rigor and intellectual independence, waned.

In short, when this administration arrived, New College was not simply struggling, it was on its knees.

A Historic Investment in Renewal

Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Florida Legislature made a bold decision: to invest in, rather than abandon, New College. They recognized that New College’s mission of providing a small, rigorous liberal arts education that teaches students how to think, not what to think, was too important to lose. The state’s decisive action, coupled with new leadership and vision, began the process of rebuilding not just a campus, but a legacy.

During the past two years, those investments have transformed New College inside and out. Roofs, HVAC systems, and electrical infrastructure have been replaced. Dormitories have been restored and reopened. College Hall and Cook Hall, icons of Sarasota’s history, have been returned to their original beauty. The lawns are green again, the classrooms alive again, and the dorms full again.

Student life has flourished with the addition of intercollegiate athletics, refurbished dining facilities, expanded campus events, and a renewed sense of belonging.

The Academic Turnaround

The academic progress has been equally dramatic. The incoming 2025–26 class represents the first full year in which the college’s revitalization efforts can truly be measured—and the results speak for themselves:

• Highest GPA in a decade: 3.97
• SAT scores up 4.5%
• ACT scores up 4.2%
• Enrollment above 900 students, a historic milestone and 150% increase since 2022.

Applications are up with an acceptance rate below 65% for the first time in years, signaling higher selectivity and stronger student preparedness.

These numbers confirm what can be felt across campus: a once-dormant institution is alive again, attracting talented students who want a rigorous, values-based education in a dynamic liberal arts setting.

David Brickhouse is the General Counsel of New College of Florida.