USF Trustees Approve Sarasota-Manatee Campus Transfer Plan to New College
The University of South Florida Board of Trustees has approved a facilities plan and joint transfer agreement outlining the transition of the USF Sarasota-Manatee campus to New College of Florida, clearing the way for the transfer of buildings, classrooms, and other campus assets beginning July 1, 2026.
The agreement transfers all USF Sarasota-Manatee real property interests, academic and administrative buildings, residential facilities, classroom furnishings, permanent fixtures, and related contracts, leases, obligations, and liabilities associated with the 32-acre campus. New College will also assume responsibility for operating, maintenance, repair, and renovation costs.
Several items are specifically excluded from the transfer, including USF students, employees, academic programs, institutional records, intellectual property, funds, computers assigned to USF personnel, and the Florida Center for Partnership in the Arts. Existing USF Sarasota-Manatee students who have already enrolled will be allowed to complete their degrees on campus under a teach-out arrangement, meaning some classrooms and faculty will remain on site during the transition period.
The transfer stems from decisions made during a recent legislative special session and was supported by Gov. Ron DeSantis and New College leadership. The move has generated opposition from some local business leaders, alumni, donors, students, and members of the USF Faculty Senate, who expressed concerns about the loss of the Sarasota-Manatee campus identity and its role in serving regional workforce needs.
USFSM Campus Board Chair Rick Piccolo acknowledged community concerns while supporting the agreement, noting that many residents believe both institutions play important roles in the region and that alternative collaborative approaches could have been explored. He also expressed appreciation that current students will be able to complete their education through USF.
Under the agreement, New College faculty and staff will move into available campus space after July 1, while USF continues to use areas necessary for students completing their degrees. Any campus rebranding by New College must avoid creating confusion for current USF students and employees and cannot permanently alter facilities being used during the teach-out process.
The agreement also includes financial safeguards. New College must begin making monthly payments of approximately $166,617 to USF on July 1 and assume responsibility for roughly $53 million in residence hall debt by Dec. 31, 2026. Failure to meet those obligations would nullify the transfer agreement.
The transition comes as New College faces financial challenges, including existing debt obligations and a significant reduction in state funding under the proposed state budget. Meanwhile, organizations operating on the campus, including WUSF, are preparing relocation plans as the ownership transition moves forward.
