Communications

An update regarding USF Sarasota-Manatee

Dear USF community:

As you are aware, recent legislative action directs the transfer of the USF Sarasota-Manatee campus facilities to New College of Florida. While many details remain under development, I want to provide an update on our approach and the steps we are taking to support our students, faculty and staff.

I want to reiterate a statement made many times since these conversations began and again at last Friday’s meeting with faculty and staff: the people who comprise this university – the faculty, staff, and students – are our highest priority.

For our students, that means ensuring clear pathways to degree completion with the academic and support services they need to succeed. For our faculty and staff, it means providing timely information, meaningful opportunities for input and support as we move forward. To that end, this is the first in a series of communications about the transition.

USF is in touch with New College of Florida and we will begin collaborating with them to implement the requirements outlined in state law. To be clear, July 1 marks the date on which ownership of the land and buildings transfers to New College of Florida and we will no longer admit new students to USF Sarasota-Manatee. It does not mean that on July 1 the campus is shutting down, classes are ending or employees are losing access to their offices and equipment. Consistent with state law, USF's academic programs and student services will continue as we implement a thoughtful and structured teach-out plan designed to support our students and our team members.

Summer and fall classes and student services at the Sarasota-Manatee campus will continue as planned. When space is not being used by USF, such as if a classroom is unoccupied for a day or a period of time, we expect New College will begin to use those spaces in coordination with USF. We remain committed to minimizing disruption while we work through the requirements of the legislation and the associated accreditation and operational processes.

To guide this work, we are establishing three groups that will play distinct but complementary roles in the transition:

  • The Sarasota-Manatee Teach-Out Task Force will focus on academic continuity, student success, accreditation requirements and operational planning necessary to ensure students can complete their degrees and continue receiving the support services they need throughout the teach-out period. Kaushik Dutta and Cindy DeLuca will co-chair this task force.
  • The Sarasota-Manatee Transition Advisory Working Group will advise university leadership on faculty and staff transition planning, shared governance, communication, operational matters and cross-campus equity. Jess Grosholz and Jean Kabongo will serve as co-chairs for this working group.
  • An Operations Task Force will work on issues related to technology, facilities and other operational areas as assets are transitioned to New College of Florida. Jennifer Fleischman will lead this group.

All groups have representatives from a cross-section of the university. This will help ensure that the voices of those most affected by this transition are heard, that a variety of perspectives are considered and that recommendations are informed by those closest to the work.

We have asked all three groups to begin their work immediately and provide their first reports and recommendations within two weeks. We are committed to sharing their recommendations and keeping the campus informed as this work progresses. Their reports, as well as membership lists and charge letters, will be posted here to provide a central source of information.

We have added a timeline to the website and we will continue to update the FAQ page regularly. If you have a question that is not addressed, there is contact information for students and employees to reach out to at the top of the page. We will provide timely responses, recognizing that there are some questions for which answers are still being developed.

I know that uncertainty can be stressful. Even with our assurances that there will not be job losses or salary reductions, some of you are understandably concerned about what these changes may mean for your careers. I encourage you to take advantage of the resources available through our employee assistance program, services which are free, confidential, and available 24/7 through Magellan Healthcare. Taking care of ourselves and one another is vital as we work through this transition together.

This is a significant moment in the history of our university. While the legislative decision was outside of our control, how we respond is not. We will continue to focus on what we can control, work collaboratively, communicate openly and make decisions guided by our commitment to student success and the university’s values.

Thank you for your continued dedication to our students, to one another and to the University of South Florida. Together, we will navigate this transition in a way that reflects the resilience, professionalism, care and shared purpose that define our university community.

Moez Limayem, PhD
President