Student Life

The Office of Student Affairs works to provide students with opportunities to expand their education beyond classrooms, laboratories, and studios. In concert with our efforts to enhance the academic mission of the College, the Student Affairs staff offers students a variety of innovative and creative programs, activities, and educational initiatives to promote personal growth, leadership, and development.

In collaboration with the academic mission of New College, the Office of Student Affairs is committed to offering students opportunities to take responsibility for their co-curricular learning. The professional staff members are educators, programmers, counselors, and facilitators.

The principal goals of Student Affairs are:

1. To work with faculty, students, and staff to incorporate co-curricular learning and involvement into the overall academic mission of the College.
2. To maintain active involvement in the lives of our students as mentors and educators.
3. To celebrate and support the diversity of our community, and the uniqueness of each individual.
4. To create opportunities for learning that promote leadership, community engagement, and citizenship.

Student Affairs Services

Student Affairs at New College aims to provide a safe intellectual, physical, and emotional space for students to engage in their studies beyond the classroom. Their goal is to complement the classroom experiences, inspire students so that they become passionate about what they learn, and develop life skills so that they can become positive members of their community. Student Affairs offers a variety of innovative and creative programs, activities, and educational initiatives to promote personal growth, leadership, and development. They work with students, staff, the community, and faculty to incorporate co-curricular learning and involvement into the overall mission of the College.

Student Affairs oversees the student union (Hamilton Center) and the Residential Life office, which manages the undergraduate residential areas and food services. The Counseling and Wellness Center offers personal counseling, health services, wellness education and disabled student assistance and is also administered by counselors who are on the Student Affairs staff. Furthermore, Enrollment Services works closely with Student Affairs to support students.

Student Ombudsperson

The Student Ombudsperson operates as a resource and provides assistance with informal, impartial and non-adversarial alternatives for the resolution of conflict. A student’s use of the ombudsperson is voluntary and is not a required step in any grievance process.

The Student Ombudsperson directs students toward appropriate College resources. The role of the ombudsperson is not to advocate for any individual but to advocate for fair and equitably administered processes and to facilitate discussion to identify the best options to resolve problems. The ombudsperson is guided by recognized professional standards of practice for the role of the ombudsperson, including the principles of independence, neutrality, confidentiality, and informality, unless otherwise required by law. The ombudsperson reports directly to the President.

The Student Ombudsperson may be contacted at: ombuds@ncf.edu.

Title IX Coordinators for Sexual Discrimination, Sexual Harassment, and Sexual Battery

Title IX of the Education Amendment of 1972 is a federal law that prohibits sex discrimination in education. It states, “No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving federal financial assistance.” [Title IX of the Education Amendment of 1972, and its implementing regulation at 34 C.F.R. Part 106 (Title IX)].

Title IX applies to many programs at New College. Sexual discrimination includes sexual harassment and sexual battery. While compliance with the law is everyone’s responsibility at New College, listed below are the staff members who have primary responsibility for Title IX compliance, including training, education, communication, and administration of complaints.

To file a complaint against any student, staff, faculty, administrator, or other individual associated with NCF for sexual harassment, sexual discrimination or sexual misconduct, please contact any of the officers listed below, or simply email titleIX@ncf.edu. Sexual battery is a crime.

Title IX and ADA Coordinator: Taylor Parker, tparker@ncf.edu 941-487-4758, PMC 120/W Dorm

Chief Human Resources Officer: Erika Worthy, (941) 487-4417, eworthy@ncf.edu, PMC

Vice President of Legal Affairs: David Brickhouse, (941) 487-4106, dbrickhouse@ncf.edu, Cook Hall

Campus Police: police@ncf.edu, 941-487-4210, 501 College Drive. 

Residential Life

Graduate students may opt to live on-campus but it is not mandatory. New College has set aside several single rooms in B dorm for graduate students who choose to live on campus.

Food Service

Food is available for purchase in several campus locations. In Hamilton Center a full-service cafeteria provides brunch and dinner seven days a week. Cafeteria selections include a salad bar, and a vegetarian and vegan entree. A sub shop operated by the campus food service vendor complements the cafeteria hours. Undergraduate students participate in at least a partial dining plan based on the cafeteria service. The Four Winds Café provides a wide variety of coffee drinks as well as tea, pastries, sandwiches, and other fare. The Four Winds Café is a popular spot with students and staff alike, and occasionally hosts tutorials, poetry readings, and open mic nights.

Student Activities

Student Affairs sponsors activities, such as volunteer and community activities, gender awareness events, and Family Weekend. The President of the College and the academic divisions invite visiting scholars to campus and sponsor academic forums and community conferences. In sum, a variety of campus organizations, groups, individuals, and offices create a range of activities of surprising depth and breadth for a small college. Graduate students are welcome to participate in these activities.

Recreation

The campus has ample space for field sports, games, jogging, and cycling. Facilities include a 25-meter swimming pool, spa, large and professionally staffed indoor fitness center, lighted basketball and tennis courts, softball diamond, bike shop, fitness path, multipurpose playing field, and waterfront facilities for sailing, kayaking, fishing, and other outdoor adventures.

New College recreation offers the best of both worlds in that students are encouraged to come up with their own clubs, yet staff help is available for the development of intramural and intercollegiate athletic and other fitness and sports-related activities.

Center for Diversity and Inclusion

Located in Hamilton Center, the Center for Diversity and Inclusion provides programming and services to the campus focused on issues of tolerance, understanding, multiculturalism, and gender related issues. The Director of the Center for Diversity and Inclusion serves as the College’s resource person for any student, faculty, or staff wishing to explore related issues and topics.

Counseling and Wellness Center

The Counseling and Wellness Center offers a wide range of services to aid in student development and achieve both personal and academic success. The Center offers comprehensive, professionally staffed programs including counseling services, health services, and disability services. The Counseling and Wellness Center strives to provide services related to the development of the whole person; emotional and physical well-being, as well as academic concerns. A Wellness philosophy is the foundation for all services and programs.

Counseling Services

The Center provides confidential individual therapy to current students. Counseling is designed to address a wide variety of student concerns ranging from time management, personal development, and on-going mental health needs. The Center utilizes a consulting psychiatrist for medication management with active on-going clients, if warranted. In addition to individual therapy, the Center also offers couples counseling, crisis intervention, psycho-education groups and outreach programming. For more detailed information regarding the process of counseling services, please visit our website at www.ncf.edu/cwc.

Health Services

Health Services address a wide range of medical needs including primary care, referral, and educational services. A Physician or Physician Assistant is available at specified times during the fall and spring semesters. Standard office visits at the Counseling and Wellness Center are free.

Specialized services such as gynecological visits and immunizations are also available at cost. For specific cost information or an appointment, call (941) 487-4254.

Students have the option to purchase health insurance through United Healthcare, and information can be found online or you can pick up a brochure at the Center.

Disability and Discrimination

New College of Florida strives to afford people with disabilities equal opportunity and full participation in all aspects of College life. To that end, it is the policy of New College of Florida to provide equal admission opportunity to make reasonable accommodation to employ and admit the disabled, and assist disabled students in independent living and self-sufficiency as required by law.

The Advocacy and Accessible Learning Center (AALC), located in Hamilton Classroom 3, determines the disability status of, arranges accommodations for, and, in conjunction with staff and faculty, identifies successful strategies for students who request services. The Director can be contacted at (941) 487-4847 or at jemeier@ncf.edu. Success strategies and accommodations include but are not limited to, extended time on examinations, alternate formats for printed materials, and the services of interpreters.

Students with disabilities are eligible to apply for annual financial awards from the Johnson Scholarship Foundation.

Religious Life/Interfaith

Activities

New College of Florida, a public institution, does not endorse any religious affiliation or practice, and does not offer religious services or doctrinal instruction. However, religion occupies an important place  in the lives of many New College students, and numerous local congregations and religious organizations welcome the participation and membership of New College students. Moreover, private organizations assist students in establishing relationships with local congregations, provide pastoral counseling, offer religious study groups, and conduct faith-based programs and activities. The Association for Campus Ministry, supported by local churches and denominational groups, provides a part-time campus minister. Hillel is available and is supported by an independent board based in Tampa and Sarasota.

Veterans Affairs

Questions or concerns regarding VA educational benefits may be directed to the New College VA liaison in the Office of the Registrar, at records@ncf.edu or (941) 487-4230. All veterans, veterans' dependents, and active duty military personnel may request assistance with pre-admission counseling, pre-registration advising, and veterans’ benefit resources.

Bookstore

The Campus Bookshop, operated by Follett, carries textbooks and related educational materials as well as general supplies, stationery, casual clothing, and sundry items.

Mail Service

The student mail service provides a mailbox in Hamilton Center for each New College student. Arrangements for package pick-up are available. Packages less than one pound can be mailed at the campus mailroom. Heavier packages can be mailed from the Tallevast Post Office, a few miles north and east of the airport.

Graduate Student Governance

Enrolled graduate students may form a Graduate Student Alliance. This will depend on the initiative of the graduate students.