University of North Florida facts for kids

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University of North Florida

Motto	"No one like you. No place like this."
Type	Public research university
Established	1965; 60 years ago (1965)
Parent institution	State University System of Florida
Accreditation	SACS
Academic affiliations	CUMU Space-grant
Endowment	$141 million (2023)
President	Moez Limayem
Academic staff	679
Students	16,406 (fall 2022)
Undergraduates	14,662
Postgraduates	2,381
Location	Jacksonville , Florida , United States
Campus	Large city, 1,300 acres (5.3 km²)
Other campuses	Palm Coast
Newspaper	The Spinnaker
Colors	Blue and gray
Nickname	Ospreys
Sporting affiliations	NCAA Division I – ASUN CCSA
Mascot	Ozzie Osprey

The University of North Florida (UNF) is a public university in Jacksonville, Florida. It is part of the State University System of Florida. UNF is known for its research and offers many different degrees.

The university campus is very large, covering 1,300 acres. It is located within a natural preserve in Jacksonville. UNF is led by its president, Moez Limayem.

UNF was started in 1965. It first welcomed students in 1972. At first, only junior and senior college students could attend. But in 1984, freshmen were also allowed to join.

The university has six main colleges. Most of these colleges offer both undergraduate and graduate degrees. UNF is especially known for its programs in business, coastal biology, nursing, nutrition, and music.

Most students live off campus. However, there are six places to live on campus. UNF cares about the environment. Several buildings on campus are "green" buildings. This means they were built to be energy-efficient and eco-friendly.

Students at UNF can join over 200 clubs and groups. There is also an active student government. The student newspaper, The Spinnaker, is run by students. UNF's sports teams are called the Ospreys. They compete in NCAA Division I sports.

History of UNF

**UNF Presidents**
Thomas G. Carpenter	1969–1980
Andrew Robinson (interim)	1980–1982
Curtis L. McCray	1982–1988
Roy E. McTarnaghan (interim)	1988–1989
Adam W. Herbert	1989–1998
E. K. Fretwell (interim)	1998–1999
Anne H. Hopkins	1999–2002
A. David Kline (interim)	2002–2003
John A. Delaney	2003–2018
David Szymanski	2018–2021
Pamela S. Chally (interim)	2021–2022
Moez Limayem	2022-Present

UNF was founded in 1969. A large area of land was set aside for the campus. Part of this land was given by the Skinner family of Jacksonville. Before UNF, Florida Junior College was the only public college in the city.

Building classrooms and other facilities began in 1971. UNF officially opened in the fall of 1972. It started with over 2,000 students. These first students were mostly juniors, seniors, and graduate students.

UNF had its first graduating class of 35 students in 1973. The university grew quickly. It became officially recognized by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools in 1974.

In 1979, the school chose the osprey as its mascot. Other ideas included the armadillo and the manatee. The male and female mascots are named Ozzie and Harriet.

In 1984, UNF began accepting freshmen and sophomores. By 1995, more than 10,000 students were enrolled. In 2000, over 1,000 students graduated in one ceremony.

The 2000s were a time of big growth for the campus. Many new buildings were constructed. These included the Social Science building and the Science and Engineering building. The John A. Delaney Student Union and Osprey Fountains residence hall were also built.

In 2009, UNF's sports teams officially became part of NCAA Division I. This was a big step for the university's athletics.

UNF Campus Life

Social Sciences Building

UNF's campus is located near major highways in Jacksonville. The campus has 28 main buildings and six places for students to live. Many buildings are named after people who helped the university.

The Thomas G. Carpenter Library is named after UNF's first president. "The Green" is a large grassy area in the middle of campus. Students often gather there.

The Social Sciences building opened in 2006. It was the first building in Northeast Florida to be certified as "green." This means it was built using environmentally friendly methods. The campus also has a protected wildlife area. It features nature trails and lakes.

The campus has grown to 1,300 acres. In 2007, UNF started a shuttle service. This helps students travel between different parts of the campus.

New buildings have continued to open. A Biological Sciences building opened in 2012. A new Student Wellness Center also opened in 2012. These new buildings are also designed to be environmentally friendly.

Thomas G. Carpenter Library

The Thomas G. Carpenter Library is a central building on campus. It is named after the university's first president. Construction on the library began in 1978 and finished in 1980.

The library was expanded in 2004. A four-story addition was built. This made the library much larger. It can now hold up to 2,000 people. The expansion cost $22.5 million and opened in 2005.

The library has many computers for students to use. It also has study rooms and quiet areas. Students can find over 840,000 books and many online resources. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the building. Students can also check out laptops.

John A. Delaney Student Union

John A. Delaney Student Union

The John A. Delaney Student Union opened in 2009. It is a popular spot for students. It has a two-story bookstore and many restaurants. There is also a game room, an auditorium, and an art gallery.

The Student Union is home to many student groups. These include the Student Government and the student newspaper, The Spinnaker. It also houses Spinnaker Television and Spinnaker Radio.

The Student Union is made of two buildings. They are connected by a covered walkway called "Osprey Plaza." This building also has a "green" certification. It was one of the first Gold LEED-certified buildings in Jacksonville.

Museum of Contemporary Art Jacksonville

UNF took over the Museum of Contemporary Art Jacksonville in 2009. This museum is a cultural resource for the university. It helps UNF offer art classes and student art shows. This partnership helps both the museum and UNF's art programs.

UNF Arena

The UNF Arena is a large building on campus. It is used for many events. It is the home court for the North Florida Ospreys basketball and volleyball teams. The arena also hosts concerts and graduation ceremonies.

It opened in 1993 and can hold up to 6,300 people. In 2015, a record 6,155 fans watched the Ospreys win a basketball championship game there.

Academics at UNF

Admissions and Tuition

UNF accepts about 72% of students who apply. Students who get in usually have good grades in high school. The average high school GPA is 3.91.

For the 2021–2022 school year, tuition for Florida residents was about $213 per credit hour. For out-of-state students, it was about $693 per credit hour. UNF helps students pay for college. In 2020–2021, it gave over $60 million in scholarships and grants.

Faculty and Learning

In fall 2020, UNF had 679 teachers and professors. Most of them teach full-time. There is about one teacher for every 19 students. About half of the teachers are women.

University Rankings

UNF is recognized by several national rankings. U.S. News & World Report ranked UNF among the top national universities. It was also ranked highly for its online bachelor's programs.

UNF is known as a "military-friendly" school. Many veterans and military-affiliated students attend UNF. INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine has also given UNF an award for its commitment to diversity.

In 2024, Washington Monthly ranked UNF highly among national universities. This ranking looks at how universities help society. It considers things like helping students from all backgrounds and doing important research.

Colleges and Programs

Coggin College of Business

Brooks College of Health

College of Education

UNF has six main colleges. Five of them offer different degree programs. The sixth is an honors college for top students. In the 2019–2020 school year, UNF awarded many bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees.

College of Arts and Sciences: This is the largest college at UNF. It has over 6,500 students. You can study subjects like art, biology, chemistry, communications, English, history, music, and psychology here.
Coggin College of Business: This college is one of UNF's oldest. It offers programs in business.
College of Computing, Engineering, and Construction: This college includes schools for computing, engineering, and construction management.
Silverfield College of Education and Human Services: This college offers degrees in education and human services.
Brooks College of Health: This college focuses on health-related programs.
Hicks Honors College: This program offers special learning opportunities for high-achieving students.

Special Programs

Fine Arts Center and the Green

The UNF School of Music has a famous jazz studies program. It has been named the top college jazz band in the nation. Students in this program get to perform with famous jazz artists.

The Coggin College of Business is also highly regarded. It has strong programs in transportation and logistics, and international business. These programs help students prepare for careers in global trade and supply chains.

Other special programs include coastal biology and community nursing. These are important programs for the university.

Academic Centers

UNF also has several centers and institutes. These provide extra services to students and the community. Examples include the Environmental Center and the Small Business Development Center.

Student Life at UNF

Activities and Clubs

Osprey Plaza at the Student Union at night

UNF's Student Government manages money to provide services for students. They help fund over 200 student clubs. They also support the Lend-a-Wing Food Pantry and intramural sports.

UNF has many Greek-letter organizations, like fraternities and sororities. Students can also join intercollegiate club sports. These include rugby, lacrosse, and ice hockey. Intramural sports like soccer and volleyball are also popular.

Osprey Life and Productions plans fun events for students. These include concerts, comedy shows, and movie nights. The UNF Eco-Adventure Program lets students explore the campus's nature trails and lakes. Students can go canoeing, kayaking, and fishing in the lakes.

Student Population

In fall 2020, UNF had over 17,000 students. About 86% were undergraduate students. Women made up 59% of all students. Most students, about 93%, came from Florida. Many students were from Duval County, where Jacksonville is located.

Student Housing

Osprey Village

UNF has seven places for students to live on campus. These include Osprey Cove, Osprey Crossings, Osprey Hall, Osprey Landing, Osprey Village, Osprey Fountains, and The Flats at UNF.

Some housing options are designed for freshmen. Others are for upperclassmen. Osprey Fountains is a large building that houses 1,000 students. It has private rooms, a convenience store, and a swimming pool. It even has a lazy river!

Most UNF students choose to live off campus.

Dining Options

The University of North Florida has ten dining places on campus. There are also three convenience stores called "Outtakes." The "Osprey Cafe" is a main buffet-style restaurant.

Other popular choices include Starbucks, Chick-fil-A, and Jamba Juice. The Student Union has a food court with places like Panda Express and Qdoba. The Boathouse restaurant overlooks a lake and often has live music. It has been a UNF tradition since 1973.

Media and Publications

The Spinnaker is the student-run newspaper. Spinnaker Television is the student TV channel. It shows movies and UNF sports. Spinnaker Radio broadcasts music on 95.5 FM. The UNF Journal is for university alumni. Inside is a monthly newsletter for staff.

The university is also home to Fiction Fix. This is a literary journal that publishes stories from writers around the world.

Iconic Osprey Statue outside of UNF Arena

UNF Athletics

Men's basketball at UNF Arena

The University of North Florida's sports teams are called the North Florida Ospreys. They compete in NCAA Division I sports. UNF started its sports programs in 1983.

UNF competes in 17 different sports. The Ospreys have won four national titles. The men's golf team won in 1991 and 1993. The women's tennis team won in 1986 and 1994.

In 2015, the men's basketball team made history. They won the Atlantic Sun tournament. This earned them a spot in the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament. A record crowd of over 6,000 fans watched them win at the UNF Arena.