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New College of Florida is a public liberal arts institution located in Sarasota, Florida. Established in 1960, New College of Florida is the state of Florida’s legislatively-designated “honors college for the liberal arts” and the only public institution in the state with the single intention and focus of providing an “undergraduate education of the highest caliber to leading students” from all around the state and country. Located on the Sarasota Bay, the College’s 110 acre campus provides an ideal learning environment for intellectually gifted students who thrive on active learning and rigorous coursework. Located just 10 minutes away by bus or bicycle from the downtown area, the city of Sarasota has been named one of the “best places to live” in the United States by Money magazine.
Academic Programs
New College of Florida’s mission is to offer a liberal arts education of the highest quality in the context of a small, residential public honors college with a distinctive academic program which develops the student’s intellectual and personal potential as fully as possible; [to encourage] the discovery of new knowledge and values while providing opportunities to acquire established knowledge and values; and [to foster] the individual’s effective relationship with society.” Built upon several core values, New College of Florida strives to provide students with an “an intellectually rigorous curriculum; an innovative academic program; a collaborative learning environment; [and] a place to chart one’s own course”New College of Florida is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and has been so since 2004. Operating under three divisions – the Division of Humanities, the Division of Natural Sciences, and the Division of Social Sciences, – New College of Florida awards a Bachelor of Arts degree and offers nearly 50 majors, which are referred to as “Areas of Concentration”, or AOCs, with an additional option to design a multi-disciplinary or special area of concentration.
Student Life
New College of Florida has a total enrollment figure of more than 850 students, all of whom are undergraduates. The majority of students are Florida natives (at least 85%), though a good percentage do come from out of state as well. New College’s Pei Campus serves as the center of residential life; eight of the College’s several residence halls are located there along with the College’s Hamilton “Ham” Center, Palm Court, Fitness Center and other recreational facilities. In addition to New College’s dorm and resident hall options, the College also offers Living Learning Communities which allow a small group of students who share a common interest to experience residence life together.New College of Florida recognizes several student-led clubs and organizations on campus which cater to a range of interests. These and other events and activities on campus provide valuable opportunities for students to interact with one another outside of the classroom and develop leadership skills. The College’s division of Student Affairs works hard for the purpose of enhancing student’s liberal arts experience “while supporting the development of the whole student, as individuals and as members of a safe, respectful environment, in which they strive for continued growth.”