The University of Florida

With nearly 52,000 students, the University of Florida is one of the five largest institutes of higher learning in the United States. This top research university has 11 “colleges” (including Arts & Sciences, to Engineering, Fine Arts, Health Sciences and Law) which collectively offer over 100 undergraduate and 200 graduate (Masters, Doctorate, and professional) degrees. It also has over 700 campus organizations. With one of the highest rates of retention for Latino and African American at both the undergraduate and graduate levels, and one of the largest international student bodies of any US college, UF is also undoubtedly diverse. No wonder UF is considered a “Public Ivy” and ranks highly in publications like US News & World Report and Kiplinger’s.

Socializing at UF

The University of Florida is a party school, no doubt about it. Gator football games draw out the biggest crowds, but any excuse is good enough to get rowdy. With almost one in three students belonging to a fraternity or sorority, the Greeks heavily influence the local social scene. Gainesville itself is a small town, but has more than its share of restaurants, bars and pubs, and clubs – from country/western to Latin. With its balmy weather, UF is a good place for people who enjoy being outdoors 365 days a year.

Fun facts

• Gatorade was invented by researchers at UF in 1965 to help fuel UF’s Gator football players.
• Flying creatures love UF. The campus boasts the largest bat house in the world and the second largest collection of live butterflies.
• UF’s Microkelvin Research Lab achieved the coldest temperature ever reached in the world, -459.76 degrees Fahrenheit.
• If the hustle and bustle at the over 900 other buildings on campus becomes too much, students and visitors can head to the Baughman Meditation Center to find their inner peace.

Cool Program

A collaboration between the Romance Languages, Latin American Studies, and Business departments at UF; Foreign Language across the Curriculum (FLAC) features courses with an international theme augmented by one-credit discussion sessions in a wide variety of languages. Since launching as one course in 1996, FLAC has had 105 language courses, including 73 in Spanish. About a dozen FLAC courses are offered each year.

FLAC Director Greg Moreland says students who don’t want or need grammar courses really appreciate the program. Students feel the courses help prepare them for the ‘real world’, explains Moreland, “And they receive the added perspective of reading authentic texts in the target language.” Students’ one complaint? The courses should be worth three credits, not one.

University of Florida

The Gator Bowl

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