DeSantis to transform New College of Florida into "Hillsdale of the South"

[kaysixteen]

Do they actually use the term 'Christian' for their school?   On their website?  In their literature?   It was not my impression when I interviewed for a position teaching at their Hillsdale Academy prep school, back in '02.  No one asked me the slightest religious oriented-question, no documents I saw did either.   I even interviewed with Dr. Arrn, now a Trumpanzee, who seemed to be one of the generic Anglican-style guys then (I infer this).  Also, the very presence of all these religious groups on campus, including Mormons, Catholics, and Jews, demonstrate that this is certainly not an evangelical redoubt.

[apl68]

Do they actually use the term 'Christian' for their school?   On their website?  In their literature?   It was not my impression when I interviewed for a position teaching at their Hillsdale Academy prep school, back in '02.  No one asked me the slightest religious oriented-question, no documents I saw did either.   I even interviewed with Dr. Arrn, now a Trumpanzee, who seemed to be one of the generic Anglican-style guys then (I infer this).  Also, the very presence of all these religious groups on campus, including Mormons, Catholics, and Jews, demonstrate that this is certainly not an evangelical redoubt.

They make the claim of being a "Christian" school repeatedly on their web site.  Looks like they consider it a significant part of their "brand."  They may have decided to put more emphasis on it now than they did 20 years ago.  Which would be bucking a general trend in the opposite direction.  Again, they seem to be trying to brand themselves as generically Christian, non-secular, and Jewish-friendly.

[kaysixteen]

I can see why they might well choose to brand it this way, because it sells, at least in their target demo.  That said, if they do not actually, ahem, require Christian faith professions or any sort of Christian religious observances or course selection, I am at pains to ask exactly what it means for them to actually be 'Christian'?

[Hegemony]

They require courses in theology, by which they mean Christian theology.

[kaysixteen]

Are these courses strictly Christian, or do students have alternatives they could select?   It would be hard to convince many Jewish, Mormon, even Roman Catholic kids (or their parents) to go to a school where they would have to take Evangelical Systematic Theology 101.   Have you or anyone else looked at their course requirements?  IOW, how do we know what the nature of these reqs is?

[Wahoo Redux]

Are these courses strictly Christian, or do students have alternatives they could select?   It would be hard to convince many Jewish, Mormon, even Roman Catholic kids (or their parents) to go to a school where they would have to take Evangelical Systematic Theology 101.   Have you or anyone else looked at their course requirements?  IOW, how do we know what the nature of these reqs is?

Have you looked, kay?

[Ruralguy]

Oh sheesh, this is so easily found on the internet, so lets not prolong the pain. The course is called Western Theological Tradition, and in the course description, it specifically says that the focus is on the "Christian traditions," by which I guess they mean Catholicism, and the original Protestant branches of 16th century Europe, but though I doubt they discuss modern Judaism at all, its hard to completely eschew it if you discuss the historical "family tree" of Christianity. Also, since modern US evangelicalism is "Western," it might be discussed. They do of course have other religion courses, and those courses cover the gamut.

We can take the discussion from here, but lets not pretend that the course is what it isn't or isn't what it is. 

Perhaps a Hillsdale grad or current professor could enlighten us?

[Ruralguy]

Sorry to post again so soon, but I wanted to clarify: It is only Western Theological Traditions (among their religion courses) that is in their core.  But they have  a big core and it includes the sciences and arts as well.

[jimbogumbo]

A more in-depth analysis: https://newrepublic.com/article/169937/new-college-desantis-rufo-crackdown

[secundem_artem]

So.... a University of Chicago for applicants with an 1100 SAT then.  Got it.

[Hegemony]

Here's the syllabus. It includes this statement:

'Theology is literally "the study of God." Three implications follow.

Theology is the most important course on campus, for what is more significant to study than God?

Theology is the most relevant course on campus, for as Maker and Ruler of all things, God is the context for everything, and context is critical for understanding. ...

Interestingly, Christian theology appears among the articles of association in the constitution for Hillsdale College:

Religious culture in particular shall be conserved by the College, and by the selection of instructors and other practicable expedients,
it shall be a conspicuous aim to teach by precept and example the essentials of the Christian faith and religion.
—Article 6, "Articles of Association"'

[This part about "Interestingly, Christian theology..." is in the syllabus, not my own statement.)

The Course Objectives include:

5. Describe and assess the fact/value split between science and religion in contemporary culture.
6. Make a personal assessment about theology in general, and about Jesus Christ in particular.

I think we can guess what the right answers to these would be.

https://springbranchacademy.files.wordpress.com/2021/06/rel-105-course-syllabus-1.pdf

[Ruralguy]

Thank you, Hegemony. That is edifying. That's even *more* Christian leaning than I expected, though it doesn't surprise me!

Though their core might look superficially like, say Chicago or Columbia (well, more like them in the 1980's, at least in terms of the exclusiveness of the West), its pretty clear that they (Hillsdale) have one dominant theme in mind. Although, I wouldn't be surprised to hear that in some circles they likely try to sell themselves as a non-woke Chicago or Columbia (in terms of the core, that is). If they do that, I hope it doesn't work, because any students who buy that would be shortchanged. Though  I am sure its a great place for people who are comfortable with their underlying attitude.

[mythbuster]

There is one element here that reporters keep getting wrong. They all say that it will be hard /impossible to fire tenured faculty. They have not accounted for Florida Bill SB7044 https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2022/7044. This bill was passed at the same time as STOP WOKE etc. This bill institutes board of trustee level post-tenure review. It's currently being hashed out with the relevant unions, but it's likely that the BOT will have the ability to fire faculty if they "fail" the review. Biased teaching and "indoctrination" is currently a criteria in the review.

So New College could, actually be a very different institution in a rapid time span.

[Ruralguy]

That's a good point. And/or they can replace retiring or leaving tenure track faculty with contingent faculty.

[jimbogumbo]

I think changing the faculty and student body is his entire point. New University is considered to be "woke", and must be purged. In the newrepublic article students pointed out that it is already a university which is heavy into Classics, and is a liberal in the classic sense (like Hillsdale) institution.