News Release (April 23, 1968)

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April 23, 1968 7 For4 Foundation grant Releases sent to: Education Editors of Time, Newsweek, New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Miami Herald, National Observer, Christian Science Monitor, Sat. Review of Literature, Washington Post, Atlanta Constitution, Baltimore Sun, Minneapolis Tribune, Kansas City Star, Newark News, St. Post Dispatch, Cleveland Plain Dealer, Pittsburgh Post Gazette, Milwaukee Journal, United Press & Associated Press of Miami; Fred Hechinger, Educ.Ed. of New York Times; Miller of Chronicle of Higher Education; Joseph Michalak, Education News; Peter Binze, Edyc Ed. of Philadelphia Bulletin; Richard Duncan of Time Magazine in Miami; Oammings of Newsweek in Atlanta; Editor of Florida United Church News; Martin Bailey, Un.Ch.Herald; I) u l?_ft__

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also: FYI -C.E.Neubauer; Ann Rowe, St. Pete Sunda Floridian; Earl Dobert, Ed., Accent, Tampa fribune: Mrs. Tinka Nobbe, Pub. Broadcasting Laboratories Assn of Fundraising Counsel; Florida Trend; ACPRA Kiplinger Florida Letter; Philanthropic Digest; Florida News Service; Intercollegiate Press

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NEWS RELEASE FrLt: NEw CoLLEGE SARASOTA, FLORIDA 33578 813/ 355-713 1 1 168 Ref: Furman c. Arthur FOR RELEASE: AFTER 6:00p.m., TUESDAY, APRIL 23, 1968 PLEASE OBSERVE RELEASE DATE SARASOTA, FLA.--New College today received a $600,000 grant from the Ford Foundation. Purpose of the grant, foundation officials said, is to provide support at a critical time in the history of a college that is dedicated to combining excellence with innovation in the education of talented students. Dallas w. Dort, chairman of the New College board of trustees, said that the grant is virtually unrestricted. It can be used for operating expenses of the independent, co-educational liberal arts college but not for buildings or equipment. "This is a vote of confidence in the college, given by an institution that is seeking to encourage significance and excellence in higher education," Mr. Dort said. F. Champion Ward, vice president in charge of the foundation's Division of Education and Research, said that the foundation became interested in the development of New College well before the first students were admitted in 1964. more -

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Page 2 -New College "The innovative educational program, the impressive accomplishment of the first graduating class in winning national fellowship awards, and the solid record of accomplishment of the faculty are among the factors that led to the favorable decision on New College's proposal for financial help," Mr. Ward said. He also said the foundation considered it important to encourage the development in the South of an undergraduate institution of the highest quality, particularly in a cosmopolitan area that has demonstrated the capability of providing continuing financial support. Although the Ford Foundation grant to New College has no matching requirements, Mr. Dort said he believed it would stimulate giving to the college by other foundations, business concerns, and individuals. "It would be illusory to imagine that the Ford grant has solved New College's financial problems," said President John Elmendorf. But be agreed with Mr. Dort that the strong endorsement of the college implicit in the grant will lead directly to increased support by others. "At the beginning of the we knew that we would have to obtain well over a m illion dollars in new gifts and grants to meet our budget needs,11 Dr. Elmendorf explained. "Now we can be sure that we are going to reach this goal. The coming year, however, will be almost equally demanding, with about $800,000 in additional support, beyond the Ford grant, being needed to balance the budget. "Beyond that time," added Dr. Elmendorf, "the income gain from increased enrollment, combined with our strengthened support programs, more -

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Page 3 -New College should reduce the continuing fund raising job to more easily manageable proportions." He said that the college would practice the strictest economies possible short of sacrificing essential elements in its educational programs. Dr. Elmendorf said that the history of Ford Foundation interest in New College goes back to its beginnings. Dr. Alvin Eurich, then vice president of the foundation-supported Fund for the Advancement of Education, visited Sarasota several years ago to discuss the concept of the college with its founders. Educational Facilities Laboratories, Inc., an independent organization supported by the Ford Foundation, underwrote the experimental method for selection of an architect that resulted in the naming of I. M. Pei as designer of the East Campus facilities and later supported a campus planning conference at New College. In addition to Mr. Ward, New College has been visited recently by Robert Schmid, foundation program officer for Higher Education and Research. Both Mr. Ward and Mr. Schmid met with student and faculty groups as part of their detailed study of the college. Now nearing the end of its fourth academic year, New College currently has about 250 students, of whom approximately 220 are in residence. Most of the others are on academic leave under the option that allows students who decide to graduate in four years to be away from the campus for three terms more -

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Page 4 -New College during the four years. Students who wish to graduate in three years must be in residence all three terms of each year. Robert J. Norwine, dean of admissions, expects the new class that will be admitted next September to number between 125 and 150. It will probably be the largest in the college's history and will bring total enrollment above the 300 mark. A large increase in applications this year is attributed by Norwine to the growing reputation and to its achievement of full accreditation last November. National attention was focused on the college a year ago when it became known that 10 members of the first graduating class had won a total of 11 national fellowships for graduate study. The record of this year's slightly smaller class, with 10 national awards, has been equally impressive. New College held its first commencement last conferring the Bachelor of Arts degree on 46 members of the first charter class. Commencement for the second graduating class is scheduled for June 15. -30 -