New College of Florida faculty vote against college's online program with billionaire
New College of Florida faculty approved a resolution Wednesday afternoon expressing their disapproval of the recently announced online degree program in collaboration with billionaire GOP megadonor Joe Ricketts.
The faculty approved the resolution in an overwhelming 25-1 vote, sources told the Herald-Tribune, citing a lack of consultation from the administration on its decision to launch the program. The vote appears to hold no impact on whether the college launches the program, but formally shows the group's position on the issue.
"The proposed online program at New College did not arise from any vision or strategy to make the College thrive but from a process that lacked transparency, excluded the faculty, and acceded to the conditions of a donation from a self-interested outside party," the resolution read. "And the donated money could be better spent to improve New College's in-person experience."
In response to the resolution, New College spokesperson Nathan March pointed to other universities, including 10 in Florida, that already offer distance learning programs.
He said it was "illogical" to argue that New College should not pursue the same avenue as the college strives to make "great strides toward restoring its nature as America's top liberal arts institution".
"New College is starting the process by offering its existing degree program for the liberal arts in a distance learning format. We are appreciative of our faculty members that are actively involved with the program and are furthering New College by offering virtual instruction," March said. "Hard work was required to assemble and launch the first fully virtual degree program in New College’s history, and we will expand upon that work in the weeks and months ahead."
Amy Reid, who represents the faculty on the college’s Board of Trustees, was not immediately available for comment.
In an email chain, one faculty member said the faculty felt "excluded" by the administration and "marginalized."
"This is a program that has been established without the participation of the faculty, and should not claim the name of the faculty to promote itself, as it cannot truthfully claim to have the support or approval of the NCF faculty," one faculty member wrote.
New College President Richard Corcoran announced the program during a press conference at the college's campus on Jan. 11 with Ricketts in attendance. The courses, available worldwide, launch at the beginning of the 2024 spring semester with New College's classes starting on the same day, Jan. 29, according to a news release announcing the program.
The program will initially have three courses: Euclid’s Elements, Plato, and History of Ideas Part 1. The History of Ideas course will have eight parts. The courses also include live video seminars and discussion groups for the content spanning from ancient Greece to the modern day.
The program offers students the opportunity to earn a bachelor's degree, an associate's degree or a one-year certificate from New College. After earning an associate's degree, students have the option to finish their more advanced degrees at New College's campus or finish online, according to the release.
It wasn't immediately clear how many students would be in the program, but applicants must still be accepted through New College's admissions process, according to the program's website.
Follow Herald-Tribune Education Reporter Steven Walker on Twitter at @swalker_7. He can be reached at sbwalker@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: New College of Florida faculty opposes new online degree program
