In 1960, a small liberal arts college was founded on the banks of Sarasota Bay.
It was a response to calls from local civic leaders who felt that Sarasota needed
a college to complement its state art museum, symphony orchestra, art school and
thriving artists’ and writers’ colonies. New College’s progressive
academic philosophy would be unique to colleges and universities in the country at that time.
Each student would be individually responsible for his or her education.
Students would have the freedom to study topics of their own choosing and be able to personalize
their curriculum by working directly with expert faculty who would guide their inquiry
in an academically challenging way. It would be a new standard of education for a New College.
Fifty years later, New College of Florida stands as a nationally recognized institution of
higher education known for its high academic standards, student-faculty collaboration and mentoring,
focus on independent research and student-centered curriculum. Our educational principles are
as relevant today as they were 50 years ago. As the state’s officially designated
Honors College for the arts and sciences, New College occupies a distinctive niche in Florida’s
public higher education system. At a time when Florida is trying to raise academic standards among
the state’s colleges and universities, New College is a shining example of success, producing
record numbers of Fulbright Scholars each year and excelling in sending its students on to the best
graduate and professional schools in the country.
Whether you graduated in 1967, 1977, 1987, 1997 or 2007 or are a current student, parent,
faculty member or friend of New College, you will find an anniversary event or activity of
interest throughout the 2010-11 academic year. There will be campus tours, history displays,
mini-classes, panel discussions, art exhibits, student performances, a tribute dinner and a
great big Celebration on the Bay in February that will include a concert and fireworks - all
open to the community. Be sure to visit the Anniversary Events tab often for the latest
schedule of activities.
Spotlight
David Allen, ’65
An internationally-recognized productivity expert, lecturer and New York Times bestselling author, David has been called one of the 50 most influential Americans in business by CNN. His first book, Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity (Viking, 2001), has sold over 1.5 million copies and has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, Business Week and Forbes. His latest book, Making It All Work: Winning at the Game of Work and the Business of Life, has just been released.
Celebrate the remarkable history of New College with a gift of $1,960 or more.
