USF Sarasota-Manatee administrators say nothing is imminent. But one professor expresses her concern.
By Alex Lieberman
Original Air Date: April 9, 2025
Host: New College President Richard Corcoran produced an outline to take over the neighboring campus from USF Sarasota-Manatee. A recent open document request by local news station WUSF made that outline and interactions with USF administrators public. Those USF administrators are now telling their faculty that nothing is imminent, but WSLR News reporter Alex Lieberman talked to one USF professor who continues to worry.
Alex Lieberman: Among the higher education institutions nationwide facing new challenges is the Sarasota-Manatee campus of University of South Florida, or USF. In the past few weeks, New College released documents detailing a plan to take over USF’s local campus after local news station WUSF filed a public records request.
Senator Joe Gruters. Photo via flsenate.gov.
Senator Joe Gruters, whose wife is the executive director of the New College Foundation, briefly discussed the issue with the Florida Trident, saying that “the unification of the two or three campuses in that area makes sense.”
A USF Sarasota-Manatee professor who requested to remain anonymous and has been with the school for about fifteen years said that the majority of the information she knows has come from news sources.
Anonymous USF professor: To my knowledge, there was a proposal by New College that included a—I guess you could call it a takeover of the USF Sarasota-Manatee campus and possibly programs. From what I know, there’s been nothing official.
AL: For any change, there would have to be a bill passed in the Florida legislature. As of now, there is no bill pending, the USF administration tried to reassure its faculty. But that hasn’t stopped some professors from fretting.
USF’s Sarasota-Manatee campus.
AUP: I think many of us on the Sarasota-Manatee campus are very worried. This is not something that we would want to happen. We’re dedicated to our campus. We’ve put in a lot of work to develop our programs and develop the campus into what it is. It’s not something that we would want to change in that way.
AL: The school’s administrators have told professors that there isn’t much information about the subject. The USF Sarasota-Manatee communications department released a statement saying, “USF did not approve the proposal or communications drafted by New College, and there were no plans made to make any such announcement.”
The professor said that this was not comforting, and she isn’t sure what to think of Senator Gruters’ statement.
AUP: We’ve been told that, so far, this is just a rumor. Like I said, there’s no bill that’s been put forth. We don’t really know anything, but of course as somebody who is working and values my job—and I, you know, have a family to support—yes, I am worried about the possibilities. But there’s just so much uncertainty, it’s hard not to worry.
Rendering of USF Sarasota-Manatee, which has grown from a commuter school to a residential campus recently.
AL: She added that the USF administration has not participated in any of the drafts coming from New College. Included in one of those plans was a mention of USF Sarasota-Manatee staff members taking jobs at New College or shifting to the USF Tampa or St. Pete campuses in the case of a merger. The professor said she would be interested in a job with USF but would have to work out the details of commuting to one of the two other campuses. Both drives would be close to or over an hour from the USF Sarasota-Manatee location.
The professor doesn’t believe there are any benefits to New College acquiring USF.
AUP: They’re very, very different schools. They have very different missions. I have trouble seeing how the two may be combined.
AL: This sentiment has been echoed by other staff like history professor Scott Perry. Receiving little word from the school’s administration despite having the plans dismissed as rumors is a challenge for worried professors.
AUP: It’s a very stressful time now for our faculty and students with so much uncertainty, and we’re told that this is a rumor and nothing has been proposed or approved yet. Not knowing what could happen but the strength of these rumors and how much media attention they’ve received is concerning.
AL: Reporting for WSLR News, Alex Lieberman.
WSLR News aims to keep the local community informed with our 1/2 hour local news show, quarterly newspaper and social media feeds. The local news broadcast airs on Wednesdays and Fridays at 6pm.