While reading this Opinion piece in the NYT, keep in mind that Lepinski is not as much of a hero as it makes out (I’m sure he was under a LOT of pressure from other faculty members, and that also influenced his decision to resign), and that Rufo is not as influential as it makes out.
Chair Debra A. Jenks and President Corcoran are leading the change at NCF (with the other Trustees in support, including Rufo). If you watch the board meeting (see below) that is obvious.
You can watch a recording of the “live” board meeting on YouTube. I recommend starting at the President’s report at around 2:33:00.
There was a thread on this a while back. Hopefully the school will close or be sold soon.
One has to wonder how the former president could get away with his administration for so long-spending 5x the cost of other Florida public schools with worse results. Sadly, that will be grounds for further oversight of Florida higher ed.
Items to look out for over the next few months. First $, then Students, finally Faculty.
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State Funding. The advantage of hiring a very influential past Speaker of the Florida House, is his ability to lobby the current legislature (see John Thrasher’s successful tenor at FSU). It looks like NCF will be getting a significant infusion of up to $45M. The legislature session should be ending soon and we’ll know the final $.
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“Students, Students, Students”. As is clear from Corcoran comments, this is everyone’s number one priority (including the Trustees), even more than funding. Even with all of the drama, can NCF bring in their 2nd or largest class ever? Corcoran thinks so. We’ll get final (in class) numbers around September.
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Faculty. With the additional funding, NCF is will be adding new faculty. We also know that some # of current faculty will be leaving (like Lepinski). What will Faculty look like by the end of the year? By the end of next year? NCF (due to increase state funding) is position to recruit exceptional faculty. Will they be able to execute on that potential?
