Updated New College Plan Gets Thumbs Up

TALLAHASSEE — The New College of Florida Board of Trustees on Thursday approved a revamped five-year business plan, setting up the release of tens of millions of dollars earmarked for the school in the state budget.

Lawmakers included a collective $25 million for New College in the budget for the fiscal year that starts July 1. Gov. Ron DeSantis approved the $116.5 billion state budget on Wednesday.

The school is in line to get $10 million for “operational enhancements,” with New College President Richard Corcoran and the trustees board — dominated by appointees of DeSantis — largely given discretion on how to spend it. But $5 million would have to go toward providing scholarships to students.

An additional $15 million would have to be used for specific expenditures, including temporary student housing, additional scholarships for students, campus security and technology updates.