University of Florida
PA-8: Affordability and Access

The Office of Academic Support (OAS) coordinates the University of Florida’s AIM and Student Support Services (UFSSS) programs that offer scholarship aid. The AIM Scholarship covers the cost of attendance for the incoming students’ first summer semester. The aid covers the living expenses for the students, which can reduce their overall cost of attending UF. Although AIM is not a need-based program, a significant number of students that this program targets are considered first generation or low-income. The UFSSS program is a federal grant award program that provides need-based scholarships to enrolled UF students that actively participate in the limited access program. Both AIM and UFSSS programs are meant to provide funds to minimize loan debt or reduce the overall cost of attending UF.

Faculty and staff are invited to participate in a faculty mentoring program that is designed to facilitate networking and mentorship between UF faculty, staff and students. All interested parties participate in cultural events, discussions and workshops that facilitate the campus engagement of UF students from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Approximately 600 incoming freshmen each year are selected by the Office of Admissions to participate in OAS’s summer and fall Transition Orientation Program (TOP). OAS is proud to serve as the UF program that focuses on transitioning incoming students to UF. TOP targets incoming UF students who are first-generation and from disadvantaged or low-income backgrounds. These targeted UF students have been shown to benefit from orientations that focus on campus engagement, acclimation to support services and social networking to assist in overcoming some initial barriers. OAS has shown that TOP effectively supports and helps students 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. Academic workshops and peer 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. The AIM Program and UF Student Support Services, as mentioned previously, also provide scholarship assistance to low-income students.

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 AIM is specifically designed to assist in making UF accessible to students that are from disadvantaged backgrounds. The program offers a one year learning program that assists students in developing both personal and academic skills. -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)

UF offers childcare services through its Baby Gator program. Baby Gator Centers enroll children who have at least one parent or guardian associated with any college or department of The University of Florida or UF Health. Undergraduate students are also eligible to enroll their child(ren), but must be a full-time student (12 or more credit hours for Fall and Spring semesters). (https://babygator.ufl.edu/)

UF currently offers 15 undergraduate majors, 5 minors, and a number of master's, specialist, and doctorate degrees that can be completed entirely through the UF Online program. UF also offers individual online courses for college credit, continuing education credit, and non-credit. Diplomas and transcripts obtained by UF Online students are indistinguishable from the diploma and transcript that students who complete all courses on-campus receive. Online students are also eligible for consideration for a wide range of federal, state and institutional aid as administered by the Office for Student Financial Affairs (SFA), which also administers a limited number of privately funded scholarships. These include grants, scholarships, student employment, loans and non-SFA administered aid. (http://ufonline.ufl.edu/)