University of North Florida
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| University of North Florida | |
|---|---|
| Image:UNF seal.png | |
| Motto: | No one like you. No place like this. |
| Established | 1969 |
| Type: | Public |
| Endowment: | $63.8 million[1] |
| President: | John Delaney |
| Faculty: | 557 |
| Undergraduates: | 13,547 |
| Postgraduates: | 1,609 |
| Location | Jacksonville, Florida, USA |
| Campus: | 1,300 acres (5.3 km²) |
| Colors: | Navy blue and Gray |
| Nickname: | Ospreys |
| Mascot: | Ozzie and Harriet Osprey |
| Website: | www.unf.edu |
| Image:UNF logo.png | |
The University of North Florida (UNF) is a public university in Jacksonville, Florida. It currently has an enrollment of more than 16,000 students and employs over 500 full-time faculty. The current president is former Jacksonville mayor John Delaney.
In March 2006, The Princeton Review ranked UNF number five in their list of "America's Best Value Colleges,"[2] and also named UNF as a "Best Southeastern College"[3] The Princeton Review also chose UNF for the 2008 edition of their book, placing it among one of the nation's best value undergraduate institutions.[4]
Contents |
[edit] History
The university was founded in 1969 after one thousand acres (4 km²) midway between downtown Jacksonville and the Jacksonville Beaches was put aside for the campus. Originally UNF was designated as a "senior" college, meaning that it would enroll only upper classmen and graduate students. In 1984, freshmen and sophomores were admitted for the first time.
Construction on classrooms and buildings began in 1971 and classes were first held on campus in 1972. Initial enrollment was 2,027 students, and UNF graduated a total of thirty-five students in 1973. The school was quick to expand, and was given accreditation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools in 1974. In 1980, it was suggested that UNF merge with University of Florida and no longer be a self-sustained institution, but a bill proposing this was vetoed by Governor Bob Graham.
The school's mascot is the osprey and was officially adopted in November 1979 over other popular choices such as the armadillo, the manatee and the seagull.[5] The male and female versions of the mascot are known as Ozzie and Harriet.
In 1995 enrollment for the University broke 10,000, and in Spring 2000 the University broke its own graduation record, graduating over 1,000 students.[6]
[edit] Campus features
UNF has twenty-eight major buildings and five housing facilities on campus. Many of the buildings bear the names of individuals who have made significant donations to the university, whether it be monetary or otherwise. Some of these buildings include the Coggin College of Business, the John E. Mathews, Jr. Computer and Information Sciences Building, and J. J. Daniel Hall. In addition, the current library bears the name of the university's first president, Thomas G. Carpenter.[7] There is also a state-protected wildlife and bird sanctuary featuring miles of nature trails and numerous lakes and ponds with an abundance of wildlife on and around campus, from armadillos to alligators.
The first newspaper on campus for students began as The Halyard and ran from 1974-1976. It was followed by The Phoenix (1976-1977) and The Spinnaker (1977-present). In 2005 The Spinnaker won the Associated Collegiate Press's "Best of Show" award for the No. 1 weekly tabloid-size student newspaper in the U.S.
The size of the campus has grown to 1,300 acres. In the Fall of 2007, the University began offering a free shuttle service, which travels to various popular places on campus, including the dorms, UNF Hall, parking lots, and the UNF Arena.[8]
UNF's Greek life is the largest student entity on campus with approximately 1,500 students and has tripled in size in the past year. Fraternities include Alpha Phi Alpha, Delta Upsilon, Chi Phi, Kappa Alpha Order, Kappa Alpha Psi, Kappa Sigma, Pi Kappa Phi, Phi Beta Sigma, Phi Delta Theta, Sigma Alpha Epsilon,Omega Psi Phi, and Sigma Chi.
Sororities include Alpha Chi Omega, Alpha Kappa Alpha, Delta Gamma, Delta Sigma Theta, Gamma Eta, Kappa Alpha Theta, Kappa Delta, Zeta Phi Beta, Zeta Tau Alpha, and Sigma Gamma Rho.
[edit] Housing
The University of North Florida has five areas of on-campus housing, three of which offer similar, suite/efficiency-like rooms: "The Crossings," "Osprey Landing," and "Osprey Cove" each of these designed for triple occupancy. Additionally, "Osprey Hall" offers more a traditional, dorm-like environment with double occupancy along with communal bathrooms and showers. "Osprey Village" offers an apartment-like feel with either double or quadruple occupancy. "Osprey Hall," "The Crossings" and "Osprey Landing" are designated for freshmen. "Osprey Cove" and "Osprey Village" are upperclassmen residences. As part of a master plan for the school, new dorms (to be known as "Osprey Fountains") are planned for the east end of campus off of Kernan Blvd.
The majority of UNF students reside off campus. Many live in apartment complexes, such as Melrose, and condominium complexes close to the University. The bulk, however, reside at private residences in various parts of Jacksonville and the surrounding areas.
[edit] Academics
UNF is organized into five colleges which offer 52 undergraduate degree programs and 28 graduate-degree programs with a 2003 student-to-faculty ratio of 22:1:
- College of Arts and Sciences
- Coggin College of Business
- College of Computing, Engineering and Construction
- College of Education and Human Services
- Brooks College of Health
UNF also offers an honors program and a division of continuing education.
In 1990, UNF began its first doctoral program, the Ed.D - Doctorate of Education in Educational Leadership. In March 2007 it was announced that the university will be offering two additional health care doctoral programs in Nursing Practice and Physical Therapy beginning in fall 2007.[9]
The Department of Music is very well known for its Jazz Studies Program, founded by famed jazz euphonium player Rich Matteson and currently headed by legendary saxophonist Bunky Green. The UNF Jazz Ensemble I is internationally renowned, having performed at the North Sea Jazz Festival, the Montreux Jazz Festival, a two week tour of China, and was twice named the top collegiate jazz band in the nation by Down Beat Magazine.[10] A special component of the UNF Jazz Studies Program is the Great American Jazz Series, which regularly brings in stellar jazz artists as residents. This series, along with other opportunities, has enabled students to perform in concert with more than 100 esteemed artists, such as Herbie Hancock, the Count Basie Orchestra, Joe Henderson, Pat Metheny, Michael Brecker, Dave Brubeck, Joe Williams, Dianne Reeves, Louie Bellson, Billy Taylor, Arturo Sandoval, Jimmy Heath, Wynton Marsalis, and Branford Marsalis, among many others.[10]
Two of the Coggin College of Business flagship programs are Transportation and Logistics and International Business. The Transportation and Logistics program was ranked 13th in the nation by Supply Chain Management Review, paving the way for national prominence. The college came in ahead of the highly regarded programs at Stanford, Harvard, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania, and is the leading logistics program in the southeast.[11] Also the COB is one of 549 schools that is accredited by the AACSB which honors the best business schools in the world.[12]
[edit] Athletics
UNF competes at the NCAA Division I level. Sports such as volleyball and basketball are played on campus in the UNF Arena.The Ospreys are a member of the Atlantic Sun Conference. UNF competes in 17 sports and has won the Sunshine State Conference's all-sports title four times. In 2005 the Men's Baseball team competed for the Division II world series, capturing 2nd place overall. In addition the men's tennis team also was national Division II runners-up. UNF has captured the Peach Belt Conference Commissioner's Cup five consecutive times. The Ospreys have brought home four national titles—men's golf in 1991 and 1993, and women's tennis in 1986 and 1994. In 2004, UNF announced its move to NCAA Division I for all sports. The move began in Fall 2005 and will be complete in spring 2009. The Ospreys will be eligible for NCAA post season competition in all sports in the 2009-2010 academic year. Academy Award-winning actor Russell Crowe visited UNF to organize preparations for an international club rugby league game that will be played at the university. Crowe's South Sydney Rabbitohs will play against the Leeds Rhinos on January 26, 2008 at Hodges Stadium.
[edit] Presidents
The University of North Florida has had nine presidents:
- Dr. Thomas G. Carpenter (1969–1980)
- Dr. Andrew A. Robinson (1980–1982) (interim)
- Dr. Curtis L. McCray (1982–1988)
- Dr. Roy E. McTarnaghan (1988–1989) (interim)
- Dr. Adam W. Herbert (1989–1998)
- Dr. E. K. Fretwell (1998) (interim)
- Dr. Anne H. Hopkins (1998–2002)
- Dr. A. David Kline (2002–2003) (interim)
- Mr. John Delaney (2003–present)
[edit] References
- ^ UNF Audit, 2005
- ^ Press Release
- ^ Press Release
- ^ Princeton Review Names UNF A ‘Best Value’ College, Press Release For: April 24, 2007
- ^ Warner, Gary. How the Osprey Became UNF's Mascot. Retrieved on 2007-09-27.
- ^ UNF History: From Past to Present. Retrieved on 2007-09-27.
- ^ UNF From the Ground Up: Colleges, Buildings, and Sites. Retrieved on 2007-09-27.
- ^ Diener, Sarah. "On-campus shuttle routes open", The Spinnaker, 2007-08-22. Retrieved on 2007-09-27.
- ^ UNF Prescribes Two New Health Care Doctoral Programs, press release, March 29, 2007
- ^ a b UNF Department of Music Ensembles
- ^ Spring 2006 Coggin College of Business Newsletter
- ^ AACSB profile on UNF's Coggin College of Business
[edit] External links
- University of North Florida Official Website
- UNF Athletics Official Website
- The Spinnaker - UNF's student newspaper
- UNF History
- WOSP - UNF's student radio station
- Osprey Productions- Student-run organization that books and promotes most of the major concerts and entertainment at the university.
Atlantic Sun Conference |
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