Greetings!
Our students regularly interact with a variety of programs and  services across the University of Florida campus. From the advising center to student government to recreational sports, each has something unique to contribute to student learning.
This issue highlights data and information from each of these areas and others.
You can also read about the continued success of our Florida Opportunity Scholars and see when some of these students knew that they became part of The Gator Nation.
As always if you have something to share about our students please consider submitting it to us.
Sincerely,
Dr. Patricia Telles-Irvin
Vice President for Student Affairs |
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Florida Opportunity Scholars Enrollment Retention Rate Exceeds UF Rate
The Florida Opportunity Scholarship provides low income first generation college students with a financial aid package consisting entirely of grants and scholarships so that these students may realize the dream of a college education.
Commitments are made to each student that the scholarship will be renewed each year for up to five years of undergraduate coursework provided the student enrolls full-time each term, reapplies for aid annually, continues to meet income requirements, and earns at least 24 credit hours each year with a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or greater.
Beginning in 2007-08, first-time recipients are also required to actively participate in the FOS peer mentorship program and attend two one-hour seminars in their first and second years that are specifically designed for the program. First-year seminars focus on financial literacy and the second-year programs, which was implemented this fall, focuses on career planning and resources.
These additional requirements are designed to address the unique challenges faced by first generation students.
To date recipients of the Florida Opportunity Scholarship have an enrollment retention rate at or above the UF rate for their cohort. Of the original 444 recipients who began in 2006, 92.6% (411 students) re-enrolled for 2008-09. This exceeds the university-wide average of 91% for first year to third year enrollment retention for the 2006 class.
354 of the 371 scholars in the 2007 cohort returned for the Fall 2008 term, a 95.4% retention rate. This is consistent with the university's overall first-year to second-year retention rate of 95%.
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Spirituality Information About UF Students 
Data from the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE) and the Cooperative Institutional Research Program (CIRP) Freshman Survey indicate that UF students are more engaged spirituality than their counterparts at peer institutions.
NSSE Data 2008
To what extent has your experience at this institution contributed to your knowledge, skills, and personal development in the following areas? 1= very little, 2 =some, 3=quite a bit, 4= very much Developing a deepened sense of spirituality UF AAUDE Carnegie class UF Peers FY 2.24 2.00 (.23)*** 2.00 (.24)*** 2.00 (.23)*** SR 1.80 1.77 (.03) 1.74 (.05) 1.80 (.00) During the school year about how often have you done each of the following? 1= never, 2= sometimes, 3= often, 4= very often Participated in activities to enhance your spirituality (worship, meditation, prayer, etc.)
UF AAUDE Carnegie class UF Peers FY 2.14 1.94 (.19)*** 1.96 (.18)** 1.98 (.15)** SR 2.04 1.91 (.13) 1.94 (.10)* 1.96 (.08) *p<.05 **p<.01 ***p<.001 CIRP data: incoming freshmen (high school seniors) 2007 Student rated self "above average" or "highest 10%" as compared with the average person of his/her age in spirituality:
Men Women Total UF students: 37.7% 42.9% 40.8%Peers [1]: 36.7% 39.9% 38.5% Sel. Public U [2]: 35.1% 36.5% 35.8%
All Public U: 35.2% 36.6% 35.9%
In the past year, I attended a religious service:
UF students: 74.7% 79.2% 77.4%
Peers: 73.0% 77.6% 75.6% Sel. Public U: 72.1% 76.5.% 74.4% All Public U: 72.9% 77.4% 75.3%
[1] UNC Chapel Hill, UCLA, U Illinois, UMich, and UVA[2] Highly selective public universities.
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Advising Center Student Traffic  In Spring 2008 the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Academic Advising Center received funding, through the tuition differential program, to hire five additional full time advisors. Preliminary year over year comparisons of student traffic demonstrate the impact of these additional advisors. Over a twelve week period begining the final week of the Summer B 2008 semester CLAS advisors met with 539 more students than they saw during the comparable time period the year before. This number is more remarkable when one considers that there were three fewer days for students to see advisors during this time period in 2008 due to closings for a tropical storm, a professional development day, and homecoming. Not only were more students able to see an advisor but the average wait time was reduced by 9 minutes.
In previous years students signed in to see an advisor, but due to the lengthy wait, left for class without being seen. This was a frustrating experience for students. The increase in advisors has helped signifcantly reduce the number of students who left without seeing an advisor.
Lynn O'Sickey, a CLAS Academic Advisor, finds that many of these students are more "intentional and engaged with their academics after meeting with an advisor - more likely to do an internship, consider overseas studies, a combined degree, etc."
The following chart provides a week by week comparison of the total number of students seen by the Advising Center.
The first day of Fall classes fell during the third week both years, accounting for the dramatic spike in students seen. In 2008 the first day of fall classes fell on a Monday, whereas in 2007 the first day of classes fell on a Thursday. This fact helps to explain the greater amount traffic in week four of 2007 as the drop add period carried over from week three to week four.
The following chart shows the decrease in the average wait time by week.
A complete comparison, including traffic and average wait by day is below.
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Student Government Satisfaction Survey
 From September 1 to September 13, 2008, the Student Government Research Cabinet conducted a SG satisfaction survey to understand how students feel about the role SG plays in their lives at the University of Florida. The survey was conducted at Turlington Plaza on a voluntary basis. 315 students completed the brief five survey. Of those surveyed, 91% were undergraduate students (53 Freshman, 74 Sophomores, 83 Juniors, 77 Seniors and 28 Graduate Students).
While freshmen and graduate student responses tended to be positive, overall responses tended towards ambilience, with many respondents indicating neutral or no opinion to the questions they were asked.
It is interesting to note that the survey respondents who are involved in SG had a less positive overall opinion of Student Government than those who are not involved with SG. The average scored response of a student involved in SG was a 2.97 while the averaged scored response of a student non involved in SG was a 3.42.
It is commendable that the SG Research Cabinet undertook this project which SG hopes to use to inform its decision making. | |
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If you have any comments, feedback, or are interested in submitting material to Alberta's Atlas, please contact the editor Dr. Jeanna Mastrodicasa at jmastro@ufl.edu. |
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The mission of the Division of Student Affairs is to provide opportunities for student engagement, learning and discovery in a diverse environment that will optimize their university experience and prepare them to serve a global community. |
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Alberta's Passport:
Educating Leaders to Serve in
a Global Community
One of the Key Strategic Areas for
the Division of Student Affairs is Global Understanding and Diversity.
Each issue of Alberta's Atlas will
showcase efforts related to
international issues for students.
GROUP FITNESS WITH AN
INTERNATIONAL TWIST
In an effort to diversify programs, the Department of Recreational Sports has incorporated new classes with an international twist into Group Fitness. New dance classes such as Afro-Caribbean Dance, Latin Rhythms, Salsa and Zumba provide insight to different cultures through music and dance while creating a dynamic workout. Kung Fu was also added to mind & body classes to explore the ancient tradition of Chinese martial art and the health benefits that are incorporated with the practice. These new classes diversify Group Fitness which already included Latin Spice, Urban Hip Hop, Capoeira and a variety of yoga classes. With over 130 classes a week, Group Fitness has something for everyone. Visit www.recsports.ufl.edu for more information.
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When Did You Know You Were a Florida Gator?
This question is at the heart of UF's new ad campaign. Check out how some of our students answered by clicking on the following photos.
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Alberta's Atlas
