University of West Florida facts for kids
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| Motto | "No Limit" |
|---|---|
| Type | Public university |
| Established | 1963 |
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Parent institution
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State University System of Florida |
| Accreditation | SACS |
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Academic affiliations
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Space-grant |
| Endowment | $74.6 million (2020) |
| President | Martha Dunagin Saunders |
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Academic staff
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374 |
| Students | 14,343 |
| Undergraduates | 9,646 |
| Postgraduates | 4,697 |
| Location |
,
,
United States
30°32′58″N 87°13′05″W / 30.5495°N 87.2181°W |
| Campus | Small city, 1,600 acres (6.5 km2) |
| Other campuses |
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| Newspaper | The Voyager |
| Colors | Blue and green |
| Nickname |
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Sporting affiliations
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NCAA Division II – Gulf South |
| Mascot | Argie the Argonaut |
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The University of West Florida (also called West Florida or UWF) is a public university in Pensacola, Florida, United States. It was started in 1963. UWF is part of the State University System of Florida. It is a large university that focuses on research. It has a huge campus, covering 1,600 acres, which is the third largest in Florida's state university system. The university's mascot is Argie the Argonaut. Its special symbol is the chambered nautilus.
Contents
History of UWF
In 1962, Florida's government decided to open a new state university. It would be located in Escambia County. Harold Crosby became the first president in 1964. UWF was the sixth university to join the State University System of Florida. Today, this system has twelve public universities.
Construction on the campus began on April 16, 1965. In the same year, the chambered nautilus became UWF's official symbol. At first, UWF only accepted students who were in their third or fourth year of college. It also accepted students working on advanced degrees. The first students started classes in the fall of 1967. In June 1968, 58 students were the first to graduate.
Over the years, UWF changed how its different study areas were organized. In 1979, it created three main colleges: Arts and Sciences, Business, and Education. Today, the university has four main colleges. These are the College of Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities, the College of Business, the Hal Marcus College of Science and Engineering, and the Usha Kundu, MD College of Health. UWF also has a School of Education.
The Chambered Nautilus Symbol
Harold Crosby, UWF's first president, chose the chambered nautilus as the university's symbol. He was inspired by a poem called "The Chambered Nautilus." The poem was written by Oliver Wendell Holmes. The nautilus is a symbol of growth, change, and achieving goals.
About UWF's Programs
The University of West Florida is a public school. This means it gets most of its money from the state and from student tuition. A group of 13 people called the Board of Trustees helps run the university. They make important decisions about the school.
UWF offers many different study programs. These programs are split into four main colleges. They are the College of Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities, the College of Business, the Hal Marcus College of Science and Engineering, and the Usha Kundu, MD College of Health.
UWF Campuses
Pensacola Main Campus
The main campus is very large, covering 1,600 acres (about 6.5 square kilometers). It has rolling hills and natural woodlands. The campus is about ten miles (16 kilometers) north of downtown Pensacola. The buildings are designed to fit in with the natural forest and rivers.
UWF's John C. Pace Library is the biggest library in the Northwest Florida area. It has many books, old documents, and online journals. There is also a smaller branch library in Fort Walton Beach, Florida.
Historic Pensacola Village
In 2001, UWF took over managing the Historic Pensacola Village. This is a special area that protects old buildings and tells the history of Pensacola. The university now offers classes that work with the staff at Historic Pensacola.
UWF Historic Trust
The UWF Historic Trust helps collect and save the history of northwest Florida. They also help people learn about it.
Arcadia Mill Complex
The Arcadia Mill complex is a very old and important historical site. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It was the first factory complex in Florida that used water power. It had shops, mills, and even a railroad pulled by mules. It was open from 1817 to 1855. The University of West Florida helps take care of this important site.
Student Life at UWF
UWF has more than 14,000 students. These students are studying for their first college degrees or for advanced degrees. UWF has given out over 100,000 degrees since it started.
There are many ways for students to get involved at UWF. Students can join many different clubs and groups. These include clubs for different school subjects, social groups, and special interest groups. UWF also owns land on Pensacola Beach. Students often use this for research and fun. The campus also has mountain bike trails for students to use for free.
Student Housing
UWF offers different places for students to live on campus. There are traditional dorms and smaller community dorms. The university also has apartment complexes for students. Some housing options offer special programs and extra help with schoolwork.
Greek Life
UWF has sixteen different fraternities and sororities. These groups have over 500 student members.
Getting Around Campus
UWF has a trolley service that helps students travel around campus. They also have "yellow bikes" that students can use for free. There is parking available for everyone on campus. Students can also get a discount on the local bus system.
UWF Sports Teams
The sports teams at West Florida are called the Argonauts. The university is part of the NCAA Division II level of college sports. They mostly play in the Gulf South Conference (GSC). UWF has 15 different sports teams for men and women. Men's sports include baseball, basketball, football, golf, soccer, and tennis. Women's sports include basketball, golf, soccer, softball, swimming, tennis, and volleyball.
Sports Accomplishments
UWF's sports teams have won ten national championships! The football team won the NCAA Division II Football Championship in 2019. The women's tennis team has won their conference championship 19 times. This was the university's 100th conference championship in school history.
Football Team
The university started its first football team in 2015. In 2016, UWF played its first official season. They won their first game 45-0!
In 2017, the football team made it to the NCAA Division II playoffs in only their second season. They even reached the championship game! In 2019, UWF's football team won the NCAA Division II national championship. They beat Minnesota State University 48-40.
Notable People from UWF
Images for kids
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Julee Cottage, built around 1805
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Tivoli House, built in 1805
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Clara Barkley Dorr House, built in 1871, now the home of the UWF president
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Lear Rocheblave House, built in 1890
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Old Christ Church, built around 1835
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Pensacola Museum of History
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Museum of Commerce
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Museum of Industry
See also
- John C. Pace Library
