“The University of North Florida fosters the intellectual and cultural growth and civic awareness of its students, preparing them to make significant contributions to their communities in the region and beyond. At UNF, students and faculty engage together and individually in the discovery and application of knowledge. UNF faculty and staff maintain an unreserved commitment to student success within a diverse, supportive campus culture.”
- UNF Mission Statement
UNF AT A GLANCE
History
>>The University of North Florida serves as one of 11 public universities in Florida. UNF opened in 1972 and began admitting freshmen in 1984. The university enrolls more than 16,000 students and is located in Jacksonville, a major metropolitan center of Northeast Florida.
Quality Education for Student-Athletes
>>The UNF Department of Athletics believes in total commitment to improving the lives of its student-athletes. All decisions are based on the idea that our athletes, who are the leaders of tomorrow, are students first. The commitment is providing student-athletes with the assistance necessary to balance athletic and academic participation.
>>UNF student-athletes are fortunate to have academic counseling, mentoring and tutoring service made available to them during their academic careers. These programs provide all students the support necessary to make the collegiate experience the most beneficial and fruitful it can be.
>>The UNF Athletics Study Hall program is designed to help student-athletes develop consistent and suitable study patterns by providing a structured setting to work on class assignments. Study Hall not only functions as a supervised study time in a student-athlete friendly environment but also serves as a way to help students organize their time more efficiently.
>>The only state university in Northeast Florida, UNF offers 52 undergraduate degree programs, 28 master’s degree programs and one doctoral program.
>>UNF School of Nursing was chosen as the university’s first flagship program in 2005. Because of its successful community-focused curriculum, outstanding student performance outcomes and excellent faculty, the Nursing Program is anticipated to attract national attention to UNF.
>>In 2005, UNF joined a consortium of universities across the country to participate in an $80 million fiber optic computer network known as Florida LamdaRail, allowing student and faculty researchers to transfer vast amounts of data in real-time.
>>Renovations to the Thomas G. Carpenter Library were completed in December 2005, including a 79,000 square foot addition and expansion of the existing building.
>>UNF’s Coggin College of Business partners with 29 countries in its study abroad and semester abroad programs.
Student Life
>>UNF’s student government plays an active role in student life, sponsoring such events as tailgate parties for Osprey fans, late night breakfast gatherings for all students and open meetings where students can express their concerns and opinions with their elected campus leaders.
>>The UNF campus is continually bustling with activities, many of which take place on the Green, a gathering place in the heart of campus. Some of the activities students routinely take part in include karaoke nights, free comedy shows, concerts and other special events such as 80s night.
>>Homecoming week is filled with activities that bring current UNF students together with alums. A UNF basketball doubleheader on Saturday afternoon is typically the athletics centerpiece of homecoming week, with events every day of the week leading up to the games, including Swoop the Loop – a charity race that precedes an annual homecoming parade. The events culminate with a comedy show on Friday night. Acts that have played UNF Arena in the past include John Stewart, Dave Chappelle and Carrot Top.
>>The UNF campus plays host to special events such as concerts by acts like Chingy, Flogging Molly, Less Than Jake and Stone Temple Pilots. In 2008, actor Russell Crowe brought his rugby team to UNF for an exhibition match on a day that was deemed Australia Day.
>>The Greek community is actively involved on the UNF campus, sponsoring such events as a luau during the campus’ Week of Welcome. Greek Week is another long-standing tradition at UNF, featuring a weeklong competition between every Greek organization on campus. Some of the events include chariot races, lip syncing contests and most importantly, a campus-wide community service project.
>>Whether it is one of the three campus media outlets (newspaper, radio station and television station), the volunteer center, student government or one of the hundreds of clubs on campus, there is ample opportunity for students to lead an involved life in the UNF community.
>>UNF will have a new campus hub beginning in the spring of 2009 when construction on the student union is finalized. Located just across the street from UNF Arena, the new student union will feature a game room, a restaurant, multiple fast foods outlets, abundant space for meetings and group gatherings as well as an amphitheater to house outdoor activities.
>>Five on-campus housing facilities are available for students, with a sixth facility being built in the fall of 2008. The living facilities include dormitory-style rooms in Osprey Hall, furnished apartments in Osprey Village and the new hotel-style rooms in Osprey Landing, Osprey Cove and The Crossings.
>>UNF serves a diverse student body with a myriad of cultural backgrounds. Of UNF's 16,000-plus students, 59 percent are women. The university serves a traditional student body with a minority population of 22 percent.
>>The University of North Florida is the nation’s fifth-best value public college, according to The Princeton Review. The New York-based education services company features UNF on its "Top 10 Best Value Public Colleges" ranking list and profiles the university in the 2007 edition of its book, “America’s Best Value Colleges.”
>>UNF is nestled among 1,300 acres that include a nature and wildlife area with lakes and trails. A portion of the campus is used for scientific research, and area school children visit for environmental lessons.
>>Every on-campus resident receives free high-speed Internet access, local phone service and cable TV service with an information channel programmed especially for students.
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Nationally Ranked Athletics
>>In 2008-09, UNF will enter its final year of its transition period to the NCAA Division I ranks and will be eligible for all postseason play on the NCAA Division I level beginning in 2009-10.
>>In 2005-06, all UNF teams – except swimming and diving – competed in their inaugural seasons in the Atlantic Sun Conference and posted impressive results. Six UNF teams finished in the top four in the conference standings (men's and women's cross country, men's golf, baseball, women's soccer and volleyball). Baseball and golf each posted runner-up finishes.
>>UNF has had at least six teams that would have been eligible for postseason play in its first three years in the Atlantic Sun Conference.
>>The UNF golf team captured the program’s first Atlantic Sun Conference title in 2008 winning the A-Sun Championship with a one-stroke win over defending league champion East Tennessee State.
>>The University of North Florida Athletics Department moved to the NCAA Division I ranks in fall 2005, but prior to the move, the Ospreys' athletics teams had a storied history of success. Three NAIA and one Division II national championship have given the UNF athletics program a history of success. UNF won the Sunshine State Conference's men's and women's All-Sports Trophies in 1993, its first year in Division II. After four years in the Sunshine State Conference, UNF moved into the Peach Belt Conference in 1997, becoming the 12th member school.
>>During the 2003-04 season, UNF won the PBC Commissioner's Cup for an unprecedented fifth consecutive year and captured four conference and two regional titles. In 2004-05, the Ospreys closed out their Division II membership by winning three conference titles, two regional crowns and advancing to NCAA postseason play in eight sports.
>>At UNF, you'll be part of a big family. Of North Florida's 17 intercollegiate sports, all but swimming and diving compete in the Atlantic Sun Conference. These include baseball, basketball (m&w), cross country (m&w), soccer (m&w), softball, tennis (m&w), indoor track (m&w) and outdoor track (m&w) and women's volleyball.