Programs & Enrichment
Every program offered by the New College Foundation is fully funded, evidence-based, and designed to cultivate the academic skills, professional competencies, and civic awareness students need to succeed in college and beyond.
The New College Foundation administers a diverse portfolio of academic programs spanning five strategic areas: College Readiness, STEM and Research, Leadership Development, Arts and Humanities, and Academic Support Services. Each program is developed in consultation with faculty advisors, K-12 education partners, and workforce development experts to ensure alignment with the evolving demands of higher education and the regional economy. Since the Foundation's inaugural programming year in 2005, over 6,200 students have participated in at least one Foundation-sponsored program.
All programs are open to students residing in Sarasota, Manatee, Charlotte, DeSoto, and Hardee counties. There is no cost to participants; funding is provided through the Foundation's operating endowment, annual donor contributions, and competitive grants from state and federal agencies. Program selection is merit-based and holistic, taking into account academic achievement, financial need, leadership potential, and community involvement.
Find Your Program
Browse our academic enrichment and college readiness programs by category. Each program is designed around evidence-based pedagogical methods and is fully funded through the Foundation.
College Bridge Intensive
A six-week summer residential program for rising high school seniors. Participants complete college-level coursework in expository writing, quantitative reasoning, and laboratory science. The program includes campus living experience, financial literacy workshops, and one-on-one admissions counseling. Students earn three transferable credits upon successful completion of the capstone research project.
College ReadinessCoastal Science Research Fellowship
A year-long mentored research experience pairing undergraduate scholars with faculty investigators studying marine ecology, environmental chemistry, and coastal resilience. Fellows receive a $3,200 annual stipend, present at the Gulf Coast Undergraduate Research Symposium, and co-author findings in the Foundation Research Quarterly. Laboratory equipment and field station access are provided at no cost.
STEM & ResearchCivic Engagement Leadership Academy
A semester-long immersive cohort for students interested in public policy, community organizing, and non-profit management. The academy includes structured mentorship with local elected officials and civic leaders, a service-learning practicum with a Sarasota-area non-profit partner, and weekly seminars on ethical governance, public budgeting, and deliberative democracy.
LeadershipCreative Expression Workshop Series
Open-enrollment studio workshops in creative writing, documentary filmmaking, ceramics, and digital illustration. Led by visiting artists and faculty, the series culminates in a juried public exhibition and literary reading at the Foundation Gallery. Participants develop professional portfolios suitable for graduate school applications or career entry. All materials and studio time are covered by a generous endowment.
Arts & HumanitiesAcademic Success Center
Free drop-in tutoring, structured study groups, and academic coaching sessions available year-round. Our trained peer mentors and professional staff specialize in gateway courses including introductory calculus, general chemistry, composition, and statistics. Students who participate in three or more sessions per semester show an average 0.4 GPA increase. Evening and weekend hours accommodate working students.
Academic SupportSAT/ACT Preparation Clinic
An eight-week diagnostic-driven test preparation program covering reading comprehension, evidence-based writing, algebra, and advanced mathematics. Each student receives a personalized study plan based on an initial diagnostic assessment, access to a proprietary question bank with over 2,400 practice items, and two full-length proctored simulations. Average score improvements exceed 140 points on the SAT combined scale.
College ReadinessData Science & Computing Bootcamp
An intensive twelve-week program introducing students to Python programming, statistical analysis, machine learning fundamentals, and data visualization. Students build portfolio projects using real-world datasets from public health, environmental monitoring, and economic research. Industry mentors from regional technology firms provide career guidance and internship placement assistance. No prior coding experience is required.
STEM & ResearchGlobal Perspectives Exchange
A short-term study abroad opportunity providing students with cross-cultural immersion in partner institutions across Costa Rica, Germany, and South Korea. The program covers airfare, housing, and tuition. Participants engage in comparative education seminars, community development projects, and language learning. Exchange scholars present their findings at the annual Foundation International Symposium upon return.
LeadershipIn-Depth Program Descriptions
Comprehensive information about eligibility, structure, outcomes, and application timelines for each Foundation program.
College Bridge Intensive
The College Bridge Intensive is the Foundation's flagship summer residential program for rising high school seniors who demonstrate strong academic promise but limited access to college preparatory resources. Participants live on campus for six weeks, engaging in rigorous college-level coursework across three disciplines: Expository Writing and Critical Analysis, Quantitative Reasoning and Applied Statistics, and Laboratory Science (rotating annually between biology, chemistry, and environmental science). Each course is taught by credentialed university instructors following syllabi approved by the Foundation's Academic Standards Committee.
Beyond the classroom, Bridge scholars participate in financial literacy workshops covering student loan management, budgeting, and credit building; admissions counseling sessions where they draft, revise, and finalize personal statements with experienced admissions reviewers; and college campus tours to at least three institutions. The program concludes with a capstone research presentation evaluated by a faculty panel. Successful completion awards three transferable college credits recognized by all Florida State University System institutions. In its most recent cohort, 97% of Bridge graduates enrolled in a four-year institution within twelve months of completing the program.
Eligibility: Rising 12th graders, minimum 2.8 GPA, demonstrated financial need, Gulf Coast region residency. Application Deadline: March 1 annually.
Coastal Science Research Fellowship
The Coastal Science Research Fellowship pairs undergraduate students with active faculty researchers conducting studies in marine biology, environmental chemistry, coastal geomorphology, and ecological restoration. Fellows are embedded in working laboratories and field stations along the Gulf Coast, contributing to data collection, statistical analysis, literature review, and manuscript preparation. Each fellow receives a $3,200 annual stipend to offset living expenses during research-intensive periods.
Over the course of twelve months, fellows attend a monthly Professional Development Seminar covering research ethics, scientific communication, grant writing, and graduate school preparation. The fellowship culminates in a formal poster presentation at the Gulf Coast Undergraduate Research Symposium and co-authorship on at least one publication in the Foundation Research Quarterly. Since its inception, 78% of fellowship alumni have gone on to pursue graduate degrees in STEM fields, with 34% earning doctoral degrees. Laboratory equipment, reagents, field transportation, and all conference registration fees are covered by the fellowship fund.
Eligibility: Enrolled undergraduates with at least 30 completed credits, minimum 3.2 GPA in STEM coursework, faculty letter of recommendation. Application Deadline: February 15 annually.
SAT/ACT Preparation Clinic
The Preparation Clinic provides diagnostic-driven standardized test coaching tailored to the individual learning needs of each participant. Upon enrollment, every student completes a full-length baseline diagnostic exam that generates a detailed skill profile across four domains: reading comprehension, evidence-based writing, algebraic reasoning, and advanced mathematics. Instructors use this profile to build a personalized eight-week study plan emphasizing the student's highest-leverage improvement areas.
Clinic sessions meet twice weekly (Tuesday and Thursday evenings, 6:00 to 8:00 PM) at the Foundation's downtown Sarasota learning center. Students also receive access to a proprietary online question bank containing more than 2,400 practice items with detailed explanations, two additional full-length proctored simulations administered under timed conditions, and a comprehensive vocabulary and formula reference guide. Average composite score improvements across the past five cohorts exceed 140 points on the SAT combined scale and 4 points on the ACT composite. Instruction materials, practice tests, and registration-fee waivers for one official exam sitting are included at no cost.
Eligibility: Current 10th, 11th, or 12th graders in the five-county service area. No minimum GPA requirement. Cycles: Fall (Sep–Nov), Winter (Jan–Mar), Spring (Apr–Jun).
Data Science & Computing Bootcamp
The Data Science and Computing Bootcamp introduces students with no prior programming experience to the foundations of computational thinking, Python programming, statistical modeling, and data visualization. Over twelve weeks, participants progress from basic syntax and control structures through exploratory data analysis to introductory machine learning algorithms including linear regression, decision trees, and clustering techniques.
Each module culminates in a hands-on project using real-world datasets drawn from public health surveillance, environmental monitoring, census demographics, and economic research. By the end of the bootcamp, each student has built a professional portfolio of at least four complete data analysis projects hosted on GitHub. Industry mentors from regional technology firms, including data engineers, product managers, and startup founders, provide career guidance sessions and internship placement assistance. The bootcamp is held on Saturdays from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM at the Foundation Technology Lab. Laptops are provided for students who need them.
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors, community college students, or returning adult learners. No prior coding experience required. Application Deadline: Rolling admission, cohorts begin in January and September.