University of Florida
PAE-10: Affordability and Access Programs

The TRIO programs at UF consist of Talent Search, Upward Bound, Student Support Services, and the Ronald E. McNair Scholars Program at the graduate student level.

The AIM program covers the cost of tuition and fees for student participants for Summer B. The AIM program is administered by OAS and should be considered as a comprehensive transitional and retention program. AIM students are first-year freshmen that are carefully selected by UF's Office of Admissions. These students are offered the benefits of a year-long learning plan featuring smaller classes developed to enhance mathematics and communications skills. Several university-wide offices including OAS work with AIM students to ensure that they are given a comprehensive opportunity to succeed at the University of Florida. These students are provided valuable support services and academic enrichment activities by OAS. Moreover, AIM students are encouraged from the start, to establish an on-going relationship with UF's helpful and knowledgeable staff in such areas as Academic Advising, Housing and Financial Affairs. All programs work together to make the AIM student's first-year exciting and rewarding.

faculty and staff participate in a number of mentoring, tutoring, and workshop programs designed for students from low-income backgrounds, including the AIM program and Florida Opportunity Scholars.

Approximately 600 incoming freshmen each year are selected by the Office of Admissions to participate in OAS’s summer and fall Transition Program. OAS is proud to serve as the initial greeting committee for these incoming freshmen and the primary source of academic support services. These new UF students are targeted because they are considered first generation and/or underrepresented and we recognize that they may require additional support to help them overcome class, social, and cultural barriers in higher education. Students are offered a thorough introduction and orientation to UF, ensuring that students are aware of the many resources that UF offers. OAS works in conjunction with several integral offices including the Office of Admissions, Dean of Students, the Office of Academic Technology, Student Financial Affairs, Housing and Residence Education, and the Academic Advisement Center to offer our Transition Program. Workshops and mentoring are offered throughout the year for these students.

The Florida Opportunity Scholars Program is an initiative to ensure first-generation students from low income families have the resources they need to be academically successful at the University of Florida. The goal of the program is to retain these students and have them graduate at rates equal to or greater than the undergraduate population at large. We know that students who are the first in their families to attend college have unique needs and challenges. The Florida Opportunity Scholars Program was developed to expand the opportunities for academically prepared first-generation students to attend UF without being overwhelmed with the additional costs (e.g., books and fees, meal and housing, transportation, miscellaneous expenses) of attending college. A number of support strategies are in place for this group to ensure their academic success, engagement at UF, social interaction, and a sense of belonging to the UF community. A number of other needs based scholarships are awarded through individual colleges and the Uf Financial Aid office.

The Office of Academic Support's Transition Program includes workshops and activities to help guide prospective and incoming Gator parents.

The Office of Admissions hosts a number of outreach and recruiting programs to attract a diverse student body. (http://admissions.ufl.edu/outreachmap.html)

The university's goal is not just to admit students to the University of Florida; our ultimate goal is an educational experience that culminates with a college degree from the University of Florida, and we are equally committed to both goals. -UF is third in the number of bachelor's degrees awarded, fourth in the number of master's degrees awarded and fifth in the number of Ph.Ds awarded to Hispanic students at public and private institutions that are members of the presitious Association of American Universities (AAU). -UF is third in the number of bachelor's degrees awarded, 11th in the number of master's degrees awarded and 23rd in the number of Ph.Ds awarded to African American students at public and private AAU institutions. -Approximately 26 percent of the UF student body are comprised of underrepresented populations. -UF's freshman retention rate is 94 percent, one of the highest in the country.

Student Financial Affairs (SFA) is committed to providing students with the resources and information they need to become fiscally responsible and to understand the rights and responsibilities incurred when they receive financial aid. -SFA believes that financial factors should not deny any student the opportunity to attend UF and successfully pursue their degree objectives. -SFA is committed to maximizing the resources available to its students. -SFA recognizes that each student’s financial situation is unique and makes every effort to develop policies and procedures that treat each student fairly and equitably while taking into account unusual circumstances.

UF offers a number of other resources at the college level, including The College of Education's Recruitment, Retention & Multicultural Affairs program (http://education.ufl.edu/RRMA)