New College of Florida.

(1) MISSION AND GOALS.—New College of Florida with a campus in Sarasota County serves a distinctive mission as the residential liberal arts honors college of the State of Florida. To maintain this mission, New College of Florida has the following goals:

(a) To provide a quality education to students of high ability who, because of their ability, deserve a program of study that is both demanding and stimulating.

(b) To engage in educational reform by combining educational innovation with educational excellence.

(c) To provide programs of study that allow students to design their educational experience as much as possible in accordance with their individual interests, values, and abilities.

(d) To challenge students not only to master existing bodies of knowledge but also to extend the frontiers of knowledge through original research.

(2) ACCREDITATION.—As soon as possible, New College of Florida shall apply to the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools for separate accreditation.

(3) BOARD OF TRUSTEES.—The Governor shall appoint 12 members to the Board of Trustees, to serve 4-year staggered terms, as follows:

(a) Three residents of Sarasota County.

(b) Two residents of Manatee County.

(c) Until the expiration date of the terms of office of the members who are on the board June 30, 2001, seven members selected from the Board of Trustees of the New College Foundation.

In addition, the student body president of New College of Florida elected pursuant to s. 1004.26 shall serve ex officio as a voting member of the board of trustees.

(4) MASTER IN DATA SCIENCE AND ANALYTICS.—New College of Florida shall establish a 2-year master’s degree program in data science and analytics upon approval from the Board of Governors.