UF is a major, public, comprehensive, land-grant, research university. The state's oldest, largest and most comprehensive university, Florida is among the nation's most academically diverse public universities. Florida has a long history of established programs in international education, research and service. It is one of only 17 public, land-grant universities that belongs to the Association of American Universities.
History
In 1853, the state-funded East Florida Seminary took over the Kingsbury Academy in Ocala. The seminary moved to Gainesville in the 1860s and later was consolidated with the state's land-grant Florida Agricultural College, then in Lake City. In 1905, by legislative action, the college became a university and was moved to Gainesville. Classes first met with 102 students on the present site on Sept. 26, 1906. UF officially opened its doors to women in 1947. With more than 46,000 students, Florida is now one of the five largest universities in the nation.
Facilities
Florida has a 2,000-acre campus and more than 900 buildings (including 170 with classrooms and laboratories). The northeast corner of campus is listed as a Historic District on the National Register of Historic Places. The UF residence halls have a total capacity of some 7,000 students and the five family housing villages house more than 2,200 married and graduate students.
UF's extensive capital improvement program has resulted in facilities ideal for 21st century research including the McKnight Brain Institute, the new Health Professions, Nursing and Pharmacy Building, the Genetics and Cancer Research Center now being built, and the Proton-beam Therapy Center that will be located in Jacksonville. Overall, the university's current facilities have a book value of more than $1 billion and a replacement value of $2 billion.
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Academic Programs
Florida has 16 colleges and more than 100 research, service and education centers, bureaus and institutes. More than 100 undergraduate majors are offered. Nearly 2,000 freshmen and sophomores participate in the honors program, which offers 90-100 honors courses per semester.
Most classes are limited to no more than 25 students. The University Scholars Program introduces UF undergrads to the exciting world of academic research by allowing them to work one-on-one with Florida faculty on selected research projects. The Graduate School coordinates almost 200 graduate programs. Professional degree programs include dentistry, law, medicine, pharmacy and veterinary medicine.
Libraries
The university libraries form the largest information resource system in the state of Florida, containing more than 4 million volumes, more than 7 million microfilms and thousands of full-text electronic journals. The extensive collections include formats ranging from manuscripts to electronic texts and are distributed in libraries across campus close to the colleges and departments they serve. Library collections are accessed through the online catalog.
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Why Choose UF?
UF offers more than 100 undergraduate majors, combined bachelor's/master's degree programs in 65 departments and more than 200 graduate degree programs. Tour UF on a visit to UF's beautiful Gainesville campus or take a virtual tour online.
Undergraduate Admissions
Outstanding students, faculty, programs, facilities and scholarship opportunities have made UF one of the nation's best universities, public or private, and one of the best deals.
The Office of Admissions provides information to high school students preparing for college, freshman candidates applying to UF and students who want to transfer to UF. To apply online, complete the application for undergraduate admission.
Graduate Admissions
The graduate admission process is coordinated by the graduate departments and the admissions office. Graduate application instructions and graduate resources provide the information needed to choose a degree program. To apply online, complete the application for graduate admission.
Already Applied?
Undergraduates can check their application status online; graduate applicants should contact their graduate departments.
While waiting for an admission decision, learn more about housing on campus, meal plans, computer requirements and scholarships and financial aid.
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The Arts
UF consistently attracts world-class symphony orchestras, Broadway plays, opera and large-scale ballet performances. Among UF's artistic venues are housed a permanent collection of more than 6,000 original works, the largest natural history museum in the Southeast, musical and theatrical centers, two television stations and four radio stations.
Athletics
UF has ranked among the nation's 10 best athletic programs in each of the last 20 years. Florida couples its strong intercollegiate sports program with more than 60 intramural and club sports ranging from archery to weightlifting. More than 90 percent take advantage of the numerous outdoor courts and playing fields on campus, and in the O'Connell Center, the Student Recreation and Fitness Center, the Southwest Rec Center and the Florida Gymnasium for indoor sports.
Student Activities
The UF student body follows an honor code and is voluntarily committed to the highest standards of honesty and integrity. The learning experience at UF continues outside the classroom through the Center for Student Involvement, Athletics, and Student Government.
The Dean of Students' Office provides students with resources for the disabled, judicial affairs, new students (Preview) and multicultural affairs.
Other student services include Student Financial Affairs, Housing and Residence Life, the Reitz Union, Sorority and Fraternity Affairs, Counseling and Career Resources.
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UF's research enterprise plays an important role in the emergence of the State of Florida as a technological and economic leader in the 21st century.
UF attracts scholars whose curiosity about the world around them results in new inventions and procedures that benefit the citizens of Florida and beyond in countless ways.
A Leading Research Institution
Research awards have risen steadily over the decades to last year's record $518.8 million, placing UF among the nation's leading institutions. More than $270 million of that total was for health-related research, representing a significant portion of the state's intellectual and economic commitment to biotechnology. Researchers at the McKnight Brain Institute, Genetics Institute and throughout the six colleges of the Health Science Center study everything from adult stem cells to gene therapy.
From Laboratory to Marketplace
The new economy encourages the rapid progression of discoveries from the laboratory to the marketplace, and UF is a national leader in this area. The success of the sports drink Gatorade is well known, but it is just one of many UF products that have benefited countless people. Other important products include Trusopt, a leading treatment for glaucoma, and the Sentricon Termite Elimination System.
Student Research
Graduate education and research go hand-in-hand. The great discoveries of the 21st century will undoubtedly come from the creative efforts of university faculty working closely with bright and motivated graduate students. Graduate students, particular those pursuing the doctoral degree, broaden the knowledge base of their disciplines in countless ways. UF undergrads, through the University Scholars Program, work one-on-one with Florida faculty on selected research projects.
The university's graduate programs have produced generations of professionals in a wide variety of disciplines, many of whom have risen to positions of prominence in our state, the nation and the world.
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Business, Goods & Shopping
UF Bookstore locations include the UF Bookstore & Welcome Center facility next to the Reitz Union, the law school, Health Science Center and veterinary medicine. Official UF merchandise can also be purchased through the Gator Sportshop. Purchasing employees help UF departments acquire material goods and services in accordance with the Handbook on Business Procedures.
Computing & Communications
The Office of Information Technology (OIT) provides direction and strategic planning in information delivery and computing standards, resources, and management. OIT units include Academic Technology, UF Computing and Network Services, Web Administration and Data Infrastructure.
Health & Safety
Student Health Care Center maintains information relating to communicable disease and health and safety issues for students, faculty and staff. The SHCC is responsible for the influenza campaign on campus.
Healthy Gators 2010 is a coalition of faculty, staff and students dedicated to creating a campus environment supportive of health for all members of the UF community.
UF Police Department, an integral part of UF's dedication to maintaining a safe and secure campus, provides law enforcement, crime prevention, victim advocacy and game day security. Environmental Health and Safety handles inquiries related to biological safety, the UF Disaster Preparation Plan and the handling of suspicious mail.
The University of Florida Health Science Center (HSC) is closely affiliated with Shands HealthCare, part of the University of Florida Health System. Eight hospitals participate in this sytem including the academic hospitals Shands at UF with 630 beds in Gainesville and Shands Jacksonville with 696 beds in Jacksonville, Florida. Together with clinical programs and services across all HSC colleges, the UF&Shands partnership is dedicated to providing quality healthcare to the citizens of Florida and to advancing the practice of patient care.
Advertising, Marketing and Public Relations
The Office of University Relations provides the campus with a variety of creative services including advertising, graphic design, strategic marketing planning and public relations. University Relations also manages the university's branding campaign and identity program.
Production Services
University Relations provides full-service photography, which includes, but is not limited to, UF functions, in-studio work, large copy and medical photography. Video production is also available. Services and capabilities include recruitment videos, promotional spots and historical videos, among others.
The University Relations Publication group offers a variety of graphic design services including print and web production. Their capabilities include brochures, magazines, newsletters, booklets, posters and banners.
These amenities are available to all university faculty, staff, students and affiliates.
