(Sarasota, Fla.) – New College of Florida will now guarantee admission to students at five state colleges, upon the successful and timely completion of their Associate in Arts (AA) degrees.

New College President Patricia Okker, Ph.D. and Hillsborough Community College President Ken Atwater, Ph.D. will sign the articulation agreement between their two schools during a ceremony at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 15 in Cook Hall on the New College campus. During a second ceremony at 2 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 17 in Cook Hall, President Okker will be joined by Lake-Sumter State College President Stanley Sidor, Ph.D., and SouthWestern State College President Jeff Allbritten, Ph.D. to sign articulations agreements with their respective institutions. New College has entered into similar agreements with State College of Florida and Daytona State College.

“We are so grateful to be working with our colleagues at these colleges,” Okker said. “These partnerships provide opportunities for students across the state of Florida.”

Any non-high school student who completes an AA degree within eight semesters of enrolling at one of these five partner institutions and maintains a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher is eligible for guaranteed admission to New College.

In addition to the guaranteed admission program, the agreement currently contains academic pathways for Biology, Chemistry, Marine Biology, Psychology, Economics, and a general pathway, which allows students to complete their AA in the clearest and most efficient manner possible while ensuring that they will be positioned to be able to complete their BA within two years. Transfer students who are admitted to New College receive generous guaranteed scholarships, making New College an efficient and cost-effective option for Florida AA completers.

“The primary purpose of these agreements is to increase access for intellectually engaged, high-achieving students to enroll and complete degrees at both their state college and at New College,” said New College Interim Vice President for Enrollment Management David Boisvert. “Further, the agreements will allow for more students within the State of Florida to remain in the state to pursue higher degrees of education to positively impact the state economy.”

About New College of Florida

Founded in Sarasota in 1960, New College of Florida is the nation’s No. 5 public liberal arts college and the honors college of Florida. New College prepares intellectually curious students for lives of great achievement by providing a highly individualized education that integrates academic rigor with career-building experiences. New College offers 45 undergraduate majors in arts, humanities and sciences, and a master’s degree program in applied data science.

About Florida SouthWestern State College

Florida SouthWestern State College is Southwest Florida’s largest and most affordable institution of higher education. Annually serving nearly 20,000 students globally, FSW offers a variety of nationally-ranked, career-focused academic programs with two- and four-year degrees and professional certifications, several with 100 percent licensure pass and job placements rates. Visit www.FSW.edu for more information.

About Hillsborough Community College 

Founded in 1968 as a part of the 28-member Florida College System, Hillsborough Community College is dedicated to creating an engaging learning environment. HCC educates more than 42,000 students each year, and our more than 190 academic options are supported by more than 2,200 dedicated faculty and staff members wholly focused on student success.

About Lake-Sumter State College

Founded in 1962, Lake-Sumter State College is consistently ranked in the top 150 community colleges nationwide and among the best in the state of Florida. LSSC takes pride in providing a high-quality education at an affordable price, and has three locations in the rapidly expanding suburbs of the Orlando metropolitan area. The Leesburg Campus, South Lake Campus (Clermont) and the Sumter Center (Sumterville) collectively serve over 6,000 students annually. As a member of the Florida College System, LSSC is part of Florida’s workforce engine with programs and certificates designed to support and prepare students for today’s dynamic workforce.