News Release (July 22, 1967)

PAGE 1

COLLEGE NEWS RELEASE NEW COLLEGE, SARASOTA, FLORIDA FURMAN C ARTHUR INFORMATION FOR USE BEFORE SATURDAY, JULY 22, 1967 SARASOTA, Fla.--First graduating students of New College, which opened here in 1964, will receive their degrees in simple ceremonies Saturday morning (July 22, 1967) About 35 students are expected to be granted bachelor of arts degrees in the initial graduating class of the innovative college founded in 1960. Among this graduating class are 10 winners of 11 major national graduate a proportion thought to be without precedent at any college or university in the nation. All of the graduates enrolled as part of the college's three-year study plan, staying at their studies year in order to conserve a year in achieving their college degree. More than 80 per cent of the Nc.r College first graduating class will be going on into schools at leading universities in this country and abroad. One student lvill do a year of graduate l.rork at New College at Oxford University. Most of the university-bound students have obtained scholarships or fellowships for this advanced study. more

PAGE 2

NEW COLLEGE Page 2. At the students' request, the commencement address will be given by the college's president, Dr. John Elmendorf. Also at the students' request, the ceremonies will be without formal academic gowns. By action of the board of trustees, there will be no honorary degrees awarded. Among those graduating are student winners of the following major national awards: two Danforth fellowships, five Hoodrow Hilson fellowships, two National Science Foundation fellm-1ships, and Fulbright fellowships. One student two such awards. Represented in the graduating class are students from 21 different states plus France and Canada. The largest group of graduates, eight, is from Illinois; the next largest number, five, from Florida. All of the graduating students enrolled in the fall of 1964 when the college still had no dormitories. Since then, eight new buildings have been added on campus including three dormitories, a dining-student center, classroom building, science laboraties, administrative and faculty offices, and recreational facilities. Known for its determination to fix educational responsibility on its students, New College has no grades or credits, requires no class attendance, and allows considerable social freedom to ctudents. Entrance requirements, though. are severe and annual comprehensive examinations are difficult. 30 -