University of West Florida
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| University of West Florida | |
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| Established: | 1963 |
| Type: | Public |
| Endowment: | 64 Million |
| President: | Dr. John Cavanaugh |
| Faculty: | 374 |
| Students: | 10,358 |
| Undergraduates: | 8,700 |
| Postgraduates: | 1,658 |
| Location: | Pensacola, Florida, United States |
| Campus: | 1,600 acres (6.47 km²) |
| Athletics: | 14 Sports, (NCAA Division II) |
| Colors: | Blue and Green |
| Nickname: | UWF |
| Mascot: | Argonauts |
| Website: | http://www.uwf.edu |
The University of West Florida (also known as West Florida, UWF, or U-Dubb) is a public land-grant doctoral/research university located in Pensacola, Florida, United States of America. The mascot is an Argonaut, and the school's logo is the chambered nautilus.
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[edit] Timeline
- In 1955, the Florida Legislature authorized the State Board of Education to locate a state university in Escambia County. Following a feasibility study which demonstrated the need for an institution of higher education in Northwest Florida, funds were allocated for the development of the University of West Florida. The founding President was Harold Crosby. UWF became the sixth state university of the State University System of Florida, which today consists of eleven institutions of higher learning.
- Ground was broken on April 16, 1965, and in the same year the Chambered Nautilus was adopted as the official UWF emblem. The initial building program, consisted of an administration classroom complex, library, Commons building, science complex, humanities building, audiovisual facility, utilities building and 15 student housing buildings accommodating approximately 500 resident students. Current facilities at UWF include: 35 academic buildings, 21 student services facilities, 25 dormitories, two university village student apartment complexes and 20 plant support facilities. In 1997, 600 additional acres were acquired which brought the Pensacola campus to 1,600 acres (6.5 km²), the second largest main campus in the State University System.
- Initially, the university was organized in three resident or cluster colleges: Alpha, Gamma and Omega. Not only were academic disciplines assigned to these colleges, but student government, cultural programs and other activities were conducted within the colleges. UWF was originally an upper-level institution enrolling juniors, seniors, and graduate students. The first students began classes in the fall of 1967, and the first commencement exercises were held in June 1968 where 58 students received degrees. In 1969, the university undergraduate programs were accredited by Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) and the first master's degree programs were established.
- In July 1979, the university organized in a more traditional structure by establishing three colleges: Arts and Sciences, Business and Education. Following authorization by the Florida Legislature, a lower division was established, and freshmen attended the university for the first time in the fall semester of 1983, boosting enrollment from 5,200 students to 5,920 students.
- In July 1988, Computer Science, a department within the College of Business, was identified as the Division of Computer Science as a stand alone and was later incorporated into a fourth college, the College of Science and Technology. During the fall term of 1999, the colleges reorganized as the College of Arts and Sciences, the College of Business and the College of Professional Studies.
[edit] Quick Facts
As of 2008:
- Student population, 10,358
- Representing 48 states and 85 countries
- 61% women, 39% men
- 21% ethnic
- 1,456 students live on campus
- 68% of UWF students receive some financial assistance
- Active student organizations include, academic, recreation, greek and special interest
- 332 distinguished faculty members
- 83.7% of faculty have the highest degree granted
- Student to faculty ratio - 19 to 1
- Average class enrollment for freshman lecture courses: 34.1
- Average class enrollment for upper-level lecture courses: 23.1
[edit] Academics
[edit] Organization
The University of West Florida is a public institution, receiving most of its funding through state funds and tuition. A 13-member Board of Trustees governs the University.[1] The undergraduate and graduate programs are divided into three Colleges, with the College of Arts and Sciences being the largest and most complex.
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Undergraduate
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Graduate and professional
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[edit] Ranking
The US News and World Report currently (2008) ranks UWF as a fourth tier postsecondary institution in the National Universities category. In 2007 UWF was ranked 56th best in the category Masters Universities - South. In 2006 The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching changed UWF's classification from Master's University to Doctoral/Research University. [2]
The university was voted a "Best Southeastern College" by The Princeton Review.[3]
The Universtiy of West Florida's Logistics team placed 1st in the Operation Stimulus National Logistics Case Competition on January 24th and 25th. UWF's team consisting of five marketing students, won the nationally recognized award for the first time by overcoming teams from nine other universities.
[edit] Student demographics
Currently, UWF enrolls roughly 10,500 students (2007 head count) in its three colleges, and has conferred more than 59,000 associate, bachelor's, master's, specialist, and doctoral degrees.[4] 40% of students are male, and 60% are female. 20% of UWF students are a minority, and 1.6% are international students. 89% of students are Florida residents, and 11% of students are non-Florida residents.
[edit] Campuses
The main campus of 1,600 acres (6.5 km²) of rolling hills and natural woodland along the Escambia River is ten miles (16 km) north of downtown Pensacola, Florida. Its facilities have been designed to complement the natural forest and waterways. On the main campus can be found the John C. Pace Library. It is the largest library in the Northwest Florida area. In addition to the main library on the main campus north of Pensacola, Florida, there is a branch library in Fort Walton Beach, Florida. It has 628,000 printed volumes, 1 million microfilms and microfiches, 3,000 serial subscriptions and nearly 2,000 online journal subscriptions.[5]
UWF shares a branch campus in Fort Walton Beach, Fla., with Okaloosa-Walton College, and has several centers and sites where academic programs and/or courses are taught. In addition, the University of West Florida has waterfront property on Santa Rosa Island that is available for recreational, academic, and research pursuits. The University operates the OWC/UWF Fort Walton Beach Campus, the Eglin Air Force Base Center, and offices at Naval Air Station Pensacola, Hurlburt Field, and Whiting Field.
[edit] Historic Pensacola Village
In 2001, the university acquired West Florida Historic Preservation, Inc, the previously state-controlled group that manages the Historic Pensacola Village. A few years later, Dr. John C. Cavanaugh became the fourth president on July 15, 2002. Under his supervision the university has created several classes taught by and/or in conjunction with the staff at Historic Pensacola. The Clara Barkley Dorr House was also appropriated as a downtown home for the institute president.[6]
[edit] Student Life
UWF hosts many opportunities for involvement through student clubs and organizations. Registered student organizations, administered by the University Commons, include: academic clubs, Greek organizations, professional and honor societies, religious organizations and special interest groups.
[edit] Student Media
UWF has a student paper called The Voyager as well as a TV station and a radio station. WUWF 88.1 FM is the local air frequency.
[edit] Greek Life
NIC Fraternities:
Alpha Tau Omega (AΤΩ)
Kappa Alpha Order (ΚA)
Sigma Chi (ΣΧ)
Sigma Alpha Mu (ΣAM)
Tau Kappa Epsilon (TKE)
Sigma Alpha Epsilon (ΣAE)
NPC Sororities:
Alpha Gamma Delta (AΓΔ)
Alpha Delta Pi (AΔΠ)
Alpha Chi Omega (AΧΩ)
Phi Sigma Sigma (ΦΣΣ)
NPHC Greek Life:
Alpha Kappa Alpha (AKA)
Zeta Phi Beta (ZΦB)
Delta Sigma Theta (ΔΣθ)
Phi Beta Sigma (ФВΣ)
Local Sororities:
Zeta Psi Eta (ΖΨΗ)
[edit] Student Housing
Nearly 1,500 students choose to live on campus. UWF offers traditional residence halls, small community residence halls, and University-owned apartment complexes. Single-student housing is also available.[7]
Traditional residence halls:
- Argo Hall
- Martin Hall
- Pace Hall
Single-student housing:
- Southside Villages
Student apartments:
- University Village Student Apartments-East
- University Village Student Apartments-West
[edit] Athletics
[edit] Athletic Department
UWF intercollegiate athletics compete in the NCAA Division II Gulf South Conference.
Men's intercollegiate sports: Baseball, Soccer, Basketball, Tennis, Cross country, and Golf.
Women's intercollegiate sports: Basketball, Tennis, Cross country, Golf, Softball, Soccer, Volleyball, and Track.
[edit] Achievements
NCAA Division II National Championships:
- 2008 Men's Golf
- 2006 Men's Tennis
- 2005 Men's Tennis
- 2001 Men's Golf
Gulf South Conference All Sports Trophies:
- 2005-06 Women's
- 2003-04 Women's
- 2002-03 Men's
- 1998-99 Women's
- 1997-98 Men's
- 1997-98 Women's
Gulf South Conference Championships:
| Baseball | Men's Cross Country | Men's Golf | Men's Soccer | Men's Tennis | Women's Cross Country | Women's Golf | Women's Soccer | Women's Softball | Women's Tennis |
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| 2007 | 1996 1994 |
2007 2006 2003 2002 2001 1998 1997 1995 |
2006 2003 2001 1998 |
2006 2005 2003 2002 1999 1998 1997 1995 |
1996 | 2007 2006 |
2006 1999 1998 1996 |
2005 2004 1998 |
2007 2006 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1996 1995 |
[edit] School Songs
- Alma Mater:
Where learning's light sends forth its beam
Through darkness of our youth,
There you, West Florida, home of dreams
Prepare the way of truth.
You guide us toward tomorrow's shore
With knowledge of our past;
Your power in us rests secure,
And evermore will last.
Your stately mansions were our home
Where minds and hearts are free
And though we may far from you roam,
We will always honor thee.
- The Chambered Nautilus:
Build thee more stately mansions, O my soul,
As the swift seasons roll!
Leave thy low-vaulted past!
Let each new temple, nobler than the last,
Shut thee from heaven with a dome more vast,
Till thou at length art free,
Leaving thine outgrown shell by life's unresting sea!
The Chambered Nautilus is a poem selected by UWF founding president Crosby. It is the reason for the school emblem, which is the Nautilus shell.
According to a March 2008 edition of the Voyager, UWF will have a fight song in the future once a vote by SGA is done.
[edit] Mascot
UWF's official mascot is the Argonaut, a mythical group of Greek sailors, who accompanied Jason to Colchis in his quest for the Golden Fleece. However, the official logo of the institution is the Chambered Nautilus; because of this, students jokingly refer to themselves as the UWF "Fighting Seashells."[8]
Dr. Harold Crosby, the university’s first president, selected the chambered nautilus to represent UWF because he was inspired by the poem The Chambered Nautilusby Oliver Wendell Holmes; it is "a symbol of growth, change and accomplishment."[9]
[edit] Notable Alumni and Faculty
| Alumni | Notability |
|---|---|
| Jim Buchili | Former NASA astronaut |
| Kenneth Cockrell | Former NASA astronaut |
| Lacey Collier | Senior United States District Judge |
| Katherine David Céspedes | Won the 2007 Miss Bolivia pageant. She will represent her country in the Miss Universe 2008 pageant. |
| Patricia Denkler | The first woman to land a jet on an aircraft carrier, and in 1982, she became the first woman to land a combat jet on an aircraft carrier. |
| James Ellis | Former U.S. Navy Admiral, and President & CEO of the Institute of Nuclear Power Operations at Lockheed Martin |
| Mark Fitzgerald | Vice Admiral and current Director of Navy Staff for the United States Navy. |
| Kenneth Ford | computer scientist, chairman of National Science Board Committee on Programs and Plans and founder of Florida Institute for Human and Machine Cognition. Earned M.S. at UWF. |
| Namrata Singh Gujral | Hollywood Actress from WB's 2008 release Americanizing Shelley; also Passions, The Agency |
| Suzanne Lewis | Superintendent for Yellowstone National Park. |
| Carmen Martinez | Current U.S. ambassador to Zambia (earned B.A. and M.A. at UWF). |
| Bruce Edward Melnick | Former NASA astronaut and current Vice President of Boeing Company's Integrated Defense Systems group |
| Dave Murzin | Current member of the Florida House of Representatives. |
| Moochie Norris | Former NBA Basketball player |
| Bryan Daniel O'Connor | Former NASA astronaut |
| John Phillips | Active NASA astronaut |
| Richard Richards | Former NASA astronaut |
| Keith Savage | Professional soccer player with Chivas USA of Major League Soccer |
| Hansel Tookes | CEO of Raytheon Aircraft |
| Richard Wetzel | Professor of the Virginia Institute of Marine Science and chairman of the Department of Biological Sciences at the College of William and Mary (earned B.S. and M.S. at UWF). |
- Judith Bense - Professor and Chair of the Department of Anthropology, renowned archaeologist of the Southeastern United States
- James Bezdek - Distinguished Professor of the Department of Computer Science, founding editor of the International Journal of Approximate Reasoning and IEEE Transactions on Fuzzy Systems, creator of the Fuzzy C-Means clustering algorithm, and recipient of the 2001 Fuzzy Systems Pioneer Award, the IEEE Third Millennium Medal, and the 2007 IEEE Frank Rosenblatt Award.
- Dallas Blanchard - Sociologist
- Patrick Moore - Distinguished Professor of Public History, selected Carnegie Foundation CASE U.S. Professor of the Year for the State of Florida in 2007
- Robert Yeager, Professor and Chair of English Department, writer on Medieval Studies who co-authored Who Mudered Chaucer?: A Medieval Mystery with Terry Jones
[edit] References
- ^ UWF Board of Trustees. Retrieved on 2007-07-15.
- ^ U.S. News and World Report: National Universities: Tier 4 (2008). Retrieved on 2007-11-07.
- ^ Best Southeastern Colleges by the Princeton Review. Retrieved on 2007-07-15.
- ^ Quick facts. Retrieved on 2007-07-15.
- ^ About the library. Retrieved on 2007-07-15.
- ^ Finance, Administration and Audit Committee Minutes - June 17, 2004. Retrieved on 2007-07-15.
- ^ UWF Housing. Retrieved on 2007-07-15.
- ^ UWF Article. Ricksblog (2008-05-23). Retrieved on 2008-05-24.
- ^ University of West Florida Logo. UWF Graphic Identity Standards. University of West Florida. Retrieved on 2007-11-10.
[edit] References
[edit] External links
- Official website
- UWF student newspaper, The Voyager
- University of West Florida is at coordinates Coordinates:
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