In 2023, the state government of Florida under Governor Ron DeSantis overhauled the New College board of trustees in an attempt to transform the honors college into a conservative institution modeled on Hillsdale College, a private, Christian school. Afterward, nearly 40% of the faculty resigned. There are currently 94 faculty members with student-faculty ratio of 8:1. The college has the smallest student enrollment in the State University System of Florida with 710 students as of early 2023.
The college is a member of the Council of Public Liberal Arts Colleges.
== History ==
New College was founded in 1960 as a private college for academically talented students. Financial assistance was provided by the United Church of Christ. George F. Baughman served as the first president from 1961 to 1965.
Open to students of all races, genders, and religious affiliations, New College opened its doors in 1964 to a premier class of 101 students. Faculty members included the historian and philosopher Arnold J. Toynbee, …
