Strategic Plan FY 2015-2020

The University of Florida

STUDENT AFFAIRS Strategic Plan for FY 2015-2020

WELCOME The Division of Student Affairs’ five-year strategic plan is a collaborative effort across all departments within the Division. We are intentional about the services and programs we provide students in order to maximize their experiences at the University of Florida.

In harmony with UF’s Preeminence initiative, we are committed to ensuring UF Student Affairs is considered one of the best in the nation.

By optimizing our staff’s tremendous strengths, we are expanding the breadth and depth of our services to have even more impact in shaping and preparing all students for their futures.

Student Affairs contributes directly to the academic mission of the University of Florida with programs such as the New Student Convocation, Gator Global Initiative and the Common Reading Program in order to send a consistent message to students about the value of being actively involved in their education, whether it is in or out of the classroom.

In the following pages, we have identified the Division’s plan to guide our work over the next five years. Five key strategic areas provide guidelines for our goals and objectives. We are confident we can achieve our mission when we work together, exemplifying what it means to be part of The Gator Nation. We strive to have the actions we take be consistent with our vision, mission, goals and values.

VISION The Division of Student Affairs will exemplify the professional hallmarks of student affairs’ best practices for creating educational environments where students develop as leaders, embrace diversity and become life-long contributors in a global society.

MISSION Student Affairs actively contributes to the university’s academic mission, provides comprehensive student services, and educates all UF students. Student Affairs enriches student learning through leadership, service, engagement, and self-discovery resulting in a well-qualified, healthy, and broadly diverse citizenry and workforce.

VALUES As members of an inclusive community, we value: • Excellence

• Leadership & Service

• Exploration & Creativity

• Respect for Self & Others

• Diversity • Well-being

DAVE KRATZER Vice President for Student Affairs

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Our Key

STRATEGIC AREAS In pursuit of our vision and mission, the Division of Student Affairs has identified five key strategic areas.

We must excel in the following areas: • Student Learning & Engagement • Global Understanding & Diversity • Service Delivery • Communication & Collaboration • Resources: People, Finances, Technology, & Facilities

Our commitment to excellence in each of the Key Strategic Areas allows us to enrich student learning through leadership, service, engagement and self-discovery.

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We believe each Key Strategic Area is: • Consistent with the mission, vision and values of the University of Florida • Essential to our success as a Division of Student Affairs and members of the university community • Broad and inclusive enough for every department within the Division to make a meaningful contribution to many, if not all, Key Strategic Areas • Fundamental to our work as Sudent Affairs professionals • Based on the interest and best practices of our students and staff

STUDENT LEARNING & ENGAGEMENT Student engagement, defined as meaningful interactions by students, is one of the key factors in retaining and graduating college students second only to academic preparation and motivation.

Some of the widely known student engagement indicators include faculty and staff contact, active learning, feedback and high expectations.

The Division of Student Affairs will: • Define learning as a comprehensive, holistic, transformative activity that integrates academic learning and student development • Intentionally create and measure outcomes, including student learning outcomes, for our programs and services • Engage students in enriching learning opportunities outside the classroom • Involve the creation of opportunities to encourage active learning, involvement

and discovery to foster engagement and a seamless educational environment.

GLOBAL UNDERSTANDING & DIVERSITY Global competency exists when students: • Are aware of their own cultural values and beliefs • Are knowledgeable about history and current world events • Respect the existence of different cultural values and beliefs • Understand peoples’ interconnectedness and global interdependence • Communicate and collaborate effectively • Accept responsibility for world citizenship The Division of Student Affairs will facilitate opportunities for students to increase their knowledge and understanding of globalization and diversity issues.

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SERVICE DELIVERY The backbone of providing services to students remains one of the significant responsibilities of Student Affairs.

The Division of Student Affairs will: • Provide high quality customer service in our services, programs and opportunities • Maximize the use of technology to provide services and support when appropriate

COMMUNICATION & COLLABORATION It is our expectation for departments and units to make every effort to communicate among one another with students and external stakeholders. The key is to keep the university informed and included in the conversation.

Additionally, our departments will work to collaborate with one another to deliver consistent messages to students and to strengthen the effectiveness of our programs and services.

The Division of Student Affairs will: • Build community within the Division of Student Affairs • Continue to enhance communication and collaboration within departments of the Division and with local and global communities to enhance the lives of our students

Alumni - Our UF alumni are a robust resource for telling the story of the impact Student Affairs had on their lives as college students. We work to use this resource to better our current students’ leadership experiences and provide them with superb networking opportunities. Our alumni are also a tremendous resource in helping to financially support Student Affairs. Working hand in hand with our external relations efforts, our alumni focus on finding ways to expand the support of Student Affairs.

Finances It is essential the Division of Student Affairs continues to find innovative ways of financing our activities.

Student Affairs will nurture relationships with alumni, parents and families, and other supporters to showcase the Division’s work and financial needs for future development.

Additionally, departments must consider innovative ways to enhance finances through generating funds in many capacities, including grant writing. Fundraising and entrepreneurial activities must be a component of the revenue generation for the Division.

The Division of Student Affairs will:

• Seek new opportunities to collaborate with others to achieve our common goals

• Continue to develop the skills and talents of staff in our Division

• Communicate information about the work of the Division to external audiences

• Make a commitment to recruit, retain and nurture talent at all levels

RESOURCES People Staff - Our greatest resource is the people who work in the Division. Our hardworking,

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committed and dedicated professionals consistently place students first by providing innovative technology, sustainable facilities and inspiring programming and opportunities to UF students. Collectively, we bring a wealth of knowledge, expertise and experience to the university and our jobs. We must work to support the professional development, recruitment and retention of our staff.

• Pursue sustainability within our daily practices

Facilities The Division will maintain, renovate and construct state-of-the-art facilities to enhance learning and encourage community, as well as supporting an appreciation for the aesthetics and sustainability of the campus. A key element to student life is the residential, recreational and programming spaces for which the Division of Students Affairs is responsible. The Division is dedicated to keeping our spaces clean and inviting to students while creating flexible and efficient learning environments that foster student engagement and community.

Departments within the Division should be intentional about collaborating with others, whether they are a part of the UF community or not, to maintain, renovate or construct student facilities to meet the growing student and staff demands. As we build new facilities, the Division will remain mindful of accessibility standards, sustainability initiatives and environmental priorities.

Technology The Division of Student Affairs must act strategically regarding the enormous capacity technology has to improve communication, enhance student learning and advance effective and efficient work practices. As a Division, we will support efforts to research and develop new products, discover new techniques to connect with students, reduce waste through the use of technology and improve efficiency.

The Division of Student Affairs will: • Discover innovative ways to use technology to improve delivery of student programs and services • Reduce use of paper and improve processes to support sustainability through technology

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Commitment to

CIVIC ENGAGEMENT, DIVERSITY, & SOCIAL JUSTICE 6

In harmony with our Key Strategic Areas, the Division of Student Affairs pledges to promote civic engagement, diversity and social justice to students through their interactions on campus.

CIVIC ENGAGEMENT The University of Florida’s Division of Student Affairs is committed to instilling civic values and a pride in civic engagement in our student body.

With the goal that our students become wellqualified citizens, socially responsible leaders, and part of a globally integrated workforce, our efforts offer students opportunities to develop their knowledge, skills, values and motivation to make a difference in their communities.

We want students participating in the university’s civic engagement initiatives to leave the university knowing they are members of a larger social fabric, and to possess the tools to intellectually process the world’s social problems in relation to their own actions and civic judgment.

Some opportunities for our students to develop their civic engagement skill set include: • Collaborations with the Graham Center for Public Service • Local public school mentoring programs, university-wide days of service, and academic break service trips through the Center for Leadership & Service • Large-scale philanthropic events such as Dance Marathon and Project Makeover, which are run entirely by students • Student Government’s Chomp the Vote and External Affairs Cabinet

DIVERSITY & SOCIAL JUSTICE The University of Florida’s Division of Student Affairs fosters a community that values and respects diversity. An inclusive definition of diversity recognizes the variety of personal and social experiences that make individuals and communities different from one another. These differences include race, creed, color, religion, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, size, marital status, national origin, political opinions or affiliations, genetic information, veteran status, and the many other ways one might identify.

The UF community has a shared responsibility to demonstrate integrity, respect, compassion and opportunity by: • Challenging biases within ourselves and others • Inspiring individuals to foster inclusion in their daily lives • Engaging others in spirited dialogue about differing opinions, perspectives and values • Respecting our community as a marketplace of free ideas • Creating a rich educational environment that is dedicated to social justice • Implementing conflict resolution practices for differences that impact our community • Maintaining a safe environment for civil and respectful communication The foundation of our commitment to lead and serve the global community is a just and equitable Gator Nation.

• The Gubernatorial Fellows Program, Teach for America, the Peace Corps, City Year, Americorps, and other civic-minded internships and job recruitment programs

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ASSESSMENT Assessment is paramount to everything we do in Student Affairs. In order to continually improve programming, services and initiatives, Student Affairs assesses satisfaction, effectiveness and outcomes. It is our gauge of quality and cost effectiveness, the basis for strategic and long-term planning, and the foundation for policy development and accreditation. We believe assessment should be the basis of sound decision making and continuous quality improvements.

Beginning in 2014, the Divison of Student Affairs identified a centralized list of student learning outcomes using the framework of the CAS Standards and Learning Reconsidered.

Those learning domains are connected directly back to our Key Strategic Areas of Student Learning & Engagement or Global Understanding & Diversity in this strategic plan.

Departments in Student Affairs have mapped intended student learning outcomes to a sample of their programs or services, and will be measuring the learning gains of those activities on an annual basis.

Assessment initiatives are led by the Division’s Assessment Team where representatives from each department meet regularly. The Team provides extensive training to committee members and anyone in the Division who conducts assessment. The Team also guides Divisional efforts to report findings, tackle large-scale assessment projects and implement results.

The Division of Student Affairs will: • Measure the impact of our work in Student Affairs including learning outcomes • Align resource and management decisions based on assessment results • Use research findings to advance the university’s understanding of student issues • Share expertise about students with the campus community

ASSESSMENT CYCLE Provide learning experience

Determine intended student learning outcomes/ assessment methods

Identify/ administer measure(s) Develop goals

Mission/Purposes Objectives/ Goals Outcomes Review assessment results

Use results to inform decisions

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UF STUDENT AFFAIRS STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES

• Understanding knowledge from a range of disciplines

• Understanding and appreciation of cultural and human differences

• Connecting knowledge to other knowledge, ideas and experiences

• Global perspective

• Relating knowledge to daily life

• Critical thinking

• Social responsibility • Sense of civic responsibility

• Reflective thinking

• Realistic self-appraisal, selfunderstanding, and self-respect

• Effective reasoning

• Identity development

• Creativity

• Commitment to ethics and integrity • Spiritual awareness

• Pursuing goals • Communicating effectively • Technological competence • Managing personal affairs • Managing career development • Demonstrating professionalism

• Meaningful relationships • Interdependence • Collaboration • Effective leadership

• Maintaining health and wellness • Living a purposeful and satisfying life

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FINANCIAL RESOURCES The current annual budget for the Division is $95.5 million in FY 15. Funding is used to support personnel, programs, services and facilities in our departments.

In FY 15, Student Affairs will contribute and estimated $8.23 million to the university through the RCM model while receiving just $6.67 million in state funding, and contributed 60 percent of the total overhead collected from all of UF support units.

Many critical student services are funded through state dollars — the Career Resource Center, the Dean of Students Office, Multicultural & Diversity Affairs, the Center for Leadership & Service and Off Campus Life are examples.

Activity and Service fees support Student Activities & Involvement, the J. Wayne Reitz Union, Recreational Sports, Student Legal Services, and Student Government. Health fees support the Counseling & Wellness Center and GatorWell Health Promotion Services within the Division. Student fees go through an extensive approval process with significant student involvement ultimately being approved through the UF Board of Trustees.

Housing & Residence Education is a self-funded auxiliary operation. Other departments also support portions of their units with self-generated funds including the J. Wayne Reitz Union, the Career Resource Center, New Student & Family Programs, Off Campus Life and Recreational Sports.

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Auxillaries ($68.9M) State Funds ($6.6M) Fees ($19.4M) Gifts/Grants/Scholarships ($600K)

Student Affairs

VICE PRESIDENT’S COUNCIL The Division of Student Affairs’ leadership team consists of the Vice President’s Council, which is made up of the Vice President for Student Affairs, two Associate Vice Presidents for Student Affairs, two Assistant Vice Presidents for Student Affairs, and seven departmental directors. The Vice President’s Council makes recommendations to the Vice President for Student Affairs.

NORB DUNKEL

JEN DAY SHAW

Associate Vice President and Director of Housing & Residence Education

Associate Vice President and Dean of Students

DAVID BOWLES

NANCY CHRYSTAL-GREEN

Director of Recreational Sports

Director of Student Activities & Involvement

MARY KAY CARODINE Assistant Vice President

EDDIE DANIELS Executive Director of the J. Wayne Reitz Union

MYRA MORGAN

SHARI ROBINSON

HEATHER WHITE

Director of External Relations

Interim Director of the Counseling & Wellness Center

Director of the Career Resource Center

JEANNA MASTRODICASA Assistant Vice President

MAUREEN MILLER Director of GatorWell Health Promotion Services

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The Departments of

STUDENT AFFAIRS The Vice President for Student Affairs is responsible for the overall supervision and coordination of:

CAREER RESOURCE CENTER Students have access to career planning services and the opportunity to network with thousands of employers. The services range from in-person and online career planning sessions on various topics, workshops, campus interviewing and interview preparation. The CRC also hosts six career fairs each academic year to assist students with connecting to employers, graduate and professional programs and campus partners. crc.ufl.edu

CENTER FOR LEADERSHIP & SERVICE Enhances the education of students through meaningful experiences designed to prepare socially responsible individuals to create positive sustainable change. The Center hosts a variety of campus-wide programs on leadership development, community service and social justice. leadershipandservice.ufl.edu

COUNSELING & WELLNESS CENTER Students receive an initial evaluation and customized recommendations to meet their unique needs from a wide range of services offered to students. These services include online resources, biofeedback, individual counseling, couples counseling, group counseling and psychiatric services. We help students maximize their social and academic effectiveness while here at UF. counseling.ufl.edu

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DEAN OF STUDENTS OFFICE

comprehensive support by the Care Team.

Creates a culture of care for students, their families, faculty and staff by providing exemplary programs and services designed to enhance students’ academic and personal success. Responses to student emergencies and services for students in distress are coordinated through the Dean of Students Office.

dso.ufl.edu

The Disability Resource Center serves students with disabilities registered with their office through classroom accommodations, support groups, a testing center and one-to-one skills coaching.

New Student and Family Programs coordinates a variety of nationally recognized programs that serve to orient and help successfully transition new students to the university. These include Preview, which orients 20,000 students and family members annually; Convocation; the Common Reading Program; the Gator Parent & Family Association; Family Weekends; Weeks of Welcome; and the First Year Florida course, a one credit hour success course taken by more than 1,900 students each year. An online prearrival module for international students, an online distance learning orientation program, and an online graduate student orientation are also provided by NSFP. Student Conduct & Conflict Resolution facilitates the Student Code of Conduct and Honor Code processes which guides and holds students accountable for their behavior both in and outside of the classroom. In addition to traditional adjudication, the office provides conflict resolution services including mediation and restorative justice.

Collegiate Veterans Success Center serves the more than 800 student veterans with a facility that includes programming, resources and study areas.

U Matter, We Care is a university-wide program focused on serving Gators in distress through outreach and

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EXTERNAL RELATIONS Engages alumni and friends to support various fundraising initiatives which provide support for programs, services and facilities that enhance the UF student experience. ufsa.ufl.edu/alumni/

FIRST GENERATION STUDENT SUPPORT Serves students who are first in their families to attend college by providing academic support, financial planning strategies and access to professional development. By increasing campus awareness about first generation college students, faculty and staff, we provide an environment of inclusion and success at UF and in the Gainesville community. firstgeneration.ufsa.ufl.edu

FLORIDA OPPORTUNITY SCHOLARS PROGRAM The Machen Florida Opportunity Scholars Program (MFOS) helps ensure low-income students who are first in their families to attend college have the financial resources they need to be academically and personally successful at UF. Knowing that firstgeneration college students have unique needs, a number of support strategies are in place to support academic success, involvement within the university, financial and career planning, and a sense of belonging to the UF community. Approximately 300 freshmen qualify as MFOS scholarship recipients per year. mfos.ufsa.ufl.edu

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GATORWELL HEALTH PROMOTION SERVICES GatorWell Health Promotion Services supports student success by providing accessible, relevant, and credible health information, programs, and services on topics such as alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs; healthy eating; interpersonal violence prevention; sexual health; and stress, time, and sleep management. gatorwell.ufsa.ufl.edu

HOUSING & RESIDENCE EDUCATION Provides community, connections and leadership development for 7,600 residents in single student housing and nearly 2,000 residents and their families in Graduate & Family Housing. More than 343 full-time staff and 415 part-time student staff provide wellmaintained, community-oriented facilities where residents and staff are empowered to learn, innovate and succeed. More than 2.5 million square feet of campus housing facilities are maintained. housing.ufl.edu

J. WAYNE REITZ UNION The J. Wayne Reitz Union creates meaningful college experiences for students and enriches the campus community by providing dynamic learning opportunities, premier programs, quality services, and outstanding facilities. The Reitz Union enhances the student experience by creating purposeful, proactive, and unique opportunities for learning, leadership, and education through mentoring and by creating experiences to enhance their skills and competencies. union.ufl.edu

learn about themselves and diverse others, engage in meaningful intercultural dialogue, and enhance their leadership and commitment to social justice.

Asian and Pacific Islander Affairs creates awareness of issues and advocates for the needs of APIA students. They assist in the personal development of students by providing various services, resources and educational opportunities.

The Institute for Black Culture promotes and affirms Black culture, history, leadership and scholarship. IBC coordinates programs focused on the Black experience and functions as a resource for Black students by collaborating with stakeholders to support recruitment and retention of Black students.

The Institute of Hispanic-Latino Cultures advocates on behalf of Hispanic Latina/o populations and offers support through various programs, resources and networking opportunities in order to help facilitate cultural awareness, social justice and empowerment.

Through student-centered programming, outreach, community building and advocacy, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Affairs is committed to creating a safe and developmentally supportive and affirming campus-community environment for students, staff, faculty, and alumni of all sexual orientations, gender identities and expressions.

Intercultural Engagement provides opportunities that create awareness, safe and respectful spaces to learn more about oneself and others, and an opportunity for meaningful intercultural experiences. These dialogues embrace the uniqueness of the many cultural, religious and identity groups through our broad definition of diversity. multicultural.ufl.edu

MULTICULTURAL & DIVERSITY AFFAIRS Promotes an inclusive campus community by creating environments in which students

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OFF CAMPUS LIFE Advocates for and educates towards the development of students as great Gator neighbors within the Gainesville community.

Students living off campus have rights and responsibilities associated with their pursuit of an enjoyable and safe off campus living experience. OCL provides services and educational opportunities to promote the understanding of these rights and responsibilities throughout the off campus student population. offcampus.ufl.edu

RECREATIONAL SPORTS Offers experiences that enrich the lives of UF students through excellence in facilities, fitness, sport, adventure and play.

RecSports is committed to fostering leaders, encouraging life-long healthy lifestyles and maintaining welcoming and safe environments, including student activities and programs, campus recreation facilities, aquatics, Lake Wauburg and more. recsports.ufl.edu

STUDENT ACTIVITIES & INVOLVEMENT Provides the foundation for student organizations and their initiatives, facilitates activities and engagement opportunities, and advises, mentors, and educates students to maximize their UF experience.

SAI supports more than 975 registered student organizations by providing training, advisement, and programming and logistical assistance. The SAI Involvement Team (student ambassadors), educates the campus about the opportunities and value of getting involved through outreach and Individual Involvement Consultations. SAI also advises Student Government and supports its programs and initiatives.

Sorority and Fraternity Affairs provides

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leadership development, program planning and general advising to a thriving, diverse sorority and fraternity community.

Sixty-one chapters belong to one of four governing councils (Interfraternity Council, Multicultural Greek Council, National PanHellenic Council, and Panhellenic Council).

Our Florida Greek community is 21 percent of the undergraduate student body, and it strives to uphold the values of scholarship, leadership, service and community.

Travel and Recreation Program (TRiP), the outdoor recreation program, offers students the opportunity to participate in a variety of outdoor adventure programs including backpacking, whitewater rafting and rock climbing. These trips are student led and offer leadership development opportunities, teach Leave No Trace principles, and provide team building skills for participants. studentinvolvement.ufl.edu

STUDENT GOVERNMENT FINANCE Manages the Activity and Service Fee budget, supporting SG-funded student organizations and their projects. Through a checks and balances system, Student Government Finance assures that all bills are paid and that the A&S fees are allocated appropriately. sg.ufl.edu/GovernmentBranches/Executive/Finance

STUDENT LEGAL SERVICES Provides a pre-paid legal service for full-time UF students, with licensed attorneys available to offer students assistance in understanding and solving their legal problems. They educate students on their legal rights and responsibilities through lectures, workshops, presentations and the distribution of information and materials on a variety of legal issues. studentlegalservices.ufl.edu

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The University of Florida

STUDENT EXPERIENCE Recognized as national leaders in creating and orchestrating innovative programs and services, the University of Florida Division of Student Affairs staff is dedicated to optimizing the student experience. Whether inside the classroom or out, the staff engages students intentionally through structured activities, interpersonal relationships, leadership opportunities, education, service, awards and recognition.

Depicted through our Key Strategic Areas, here are samples of the ways the Division of Student Affairs connects with students:

STUDENT LEARNING & ENGAGEMENT • The Reitz Union Board (RUB) Entertainment provides educational and social programming typically every night of the week in the J. Wayne Reitz Union that attracts more than 20,000 students annually. As the 20122013’s student organization of the year, RUB prides itself on its commitment to the education of its student leaders through continuous training focusing on student leader and program improvement. RUB has continued to grow over the last five years to six committees; one of those now coordinates the weekly activities for GatorNights.

• The Center for Leadership & Service coordinates opportunities for students to participate in service throughout the academic year, including mentoring in Alachua County schools, week-long Florida Alternative Break (FAB) immersion trips during breaks, Gator Plunge, MLK Day of Service and weekly service projects.

• The department of Recreational Sports is the largest employer of UF students, employing more than 700 students annually in a wide variety of roles. The department demonstrates its commitment to ongoing development through its comprehensive “RecSports in Motion” staff training and development initiative, and encourages training through formal instruction, mentorship programs and abundant opportunities for engagement and growth.

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• Under the department of Student Activities & Involvement, Sorority & Fraternity Affairs began offering a for-credit Greek leadership class for more than sixty chapter and council presidents. The Fraternity & Sorority Communities and Leadership course explores leadership practices, risk management and anti-hazing initiatives.

• The Counseling & Wellness Center created Therapist Assisted Online, or TAO, an online psychotheraphy program. The program, designed for students experiencing anxiety, is the first program of its kind in the United States. Initial results show that students receiving treatment through TAO demonstrate more signs of success and improvement than traditional counseling via the Behavioral Health Measure-20.

• Students who are first in their families to attend college are receiving additional support through First Generation Student Support initiatives. Those initiatives include a comprehensive peer mentoring program, lunch and learn series, and the First Generation Student Organization that works to build community among first generation students.

• Landlord-tenant issues comprise most of Student Legal Services’ caseload. Common issues include maintenance and condition of the apartments, break lease situations, move-out charges and evictions. Student Legal Services provides full representation for tenants who are full-time UF students, including going to court for cases in Alachua County. The department reviews leases before students sign them and provides landlord-tenant presentations to student groups so they can make an informed decision on where to live, avoid legal problems and focus on their education. Additionally, staff host landlord-tenant presentations to student groups.

• Five UF faculty members reside in undergraduate and Graduate & Family Housing communities providing academic and career advising to campus residents in Housing & Residence Education. Facultyin-Residence learning communities are collaborations between Academic Affairs

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and Student Affairs, assisting residents in making connections with the university and Gainesville communities.

• “The Blueprint” is a 12-week program designed to aid African American males in various aspects of collegiate development through the Institute of Black Culture in Multicultural & Diversity Affairs. The program focuses on helping the young men achieve success in six identified areas: academics, peer/ professional etiquette, spiritual growth, physical, emotional and mental well-being. The incentive that drives their engagement in the program is a $1,000 scholarship and the purchase of a business suit. The scholarship is awarded to the individual male who demonstrates the most significant development during the course of the program.

• The department of Student Activities & Involvement supports students’ learning and engagement by providing regular training programs for new Student Senators and annual training sessions for student leaders of the more than 975 registered student organizations.

• The Career Resource Center hosts several diverse professional development programs each semester for undergraduate, graduate, transfer and international students alike.

Programs are conducted to support student career development and programmatic learning outcomes. In addition, the CRC hosts career panels and seminars featuring Gator alumni and families during Family Weekend and alumni reunion events each semester.

• Intercultural Engagement as part of Multicultural & Diversity Affairs offers a cultural issues series, community programs, dialogue and education. Some of the community programs include Intercultural Networks, cultural/ethnic studies fair, Holi Festival of Colors, Native American programming, and religious, spiritual and secular life. Some of the dialogues include intercultural dialogues, Gators Ask Big Questions, Casual Community Conversations, TweetChat initiative, and social engagement initiatives.

• The Institute of Hispanic-Latino Cultures in Multicultural & Diversity Affairs focuses on education, advocacy and empowerment.

A strong collaboration was developed with the English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) program at Gainesville High School.

The yearlong partnership culminated in ESOL Youth Empowerment Day. As part of their EMPOWERS ESOL Mentor Program, they organized a day where ESOL students from Gainesville High School visited UF, bringing speakers from UF’s and Santa Fe College’s admissions offices as well as partnering with UF Student Government to provide lunch.

• During the 2013-2014 academic year 1,916 first-year students completed the SLS1102: First Year Florida class produced by the Dean of Students Office. Data collected through a post-course assessment showed 84 percent of students agreed or strongly agreed that First Year Florida provided them with encouragement of independent, creative and critical thinking skills.

Additionally, 74 percent of students rated the course’s impact to help them develop skills for and an understanding of academic success as above average or excellent.

• Graduate & Family Housing in the department of Housing & Residence Education offers ongoing sustainability education programs and activities for residents. Recent education focus areas are solar energy through the Solar Dok and Solar Panel projects at Diamond Village; water conservation through the cistern and rain barrel projects at Diamond Village and the Shower Coach Challenge programs in all villages; and raised garden projects at Diamond and Tanglewood Villages.

Tanglewood Village student leaders were recognized as UF Office of Sustainability Champions of Change for their leadership in creating, maintaining and expanding the raised garden project.

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GLOBAL UNDERSTANDING & DIVERSITY • The Graduate & Family Housing in Housing & Residence Education community has more than 80 percent international students from approximately 90 different countries. Ongoing monthly programs showcase the ethnic and cultural backgrounds of residents in support of the internationalization of the UF campus and in support of international students transitioning to the UF and Gainesville communities.

• The Center for Leadership & Service offers students the opportunity to learn about global issues, develop leadership skills and define their own commitment to social change through the Gator Global Initiative, a two-day retreat modeled after the Clinton Global Initiative.

• The Collegiate Veterans Success Center, part of the Dean of Students Office, partnered with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs program to better serve veterans now in college. A counselor from the VetSuccess on Campus program now works out of the Center to help ease veterans’ transition to student life and assist them in achieving their educational and career goals.

• A select number of Resident Assistants in Housing & Residence Education will serve in specialized roles as Peer Advocates for Social Justice and Conflict Resolution in addition to their current RA roles. These Resident Assistants/ Peer Advocates will receive ongoing training and contribute to departmental initiatives as program presenters, workshop facilitators and mediators.

• The Career Resource Center offers specific programming to serve diverse markets. Gator Launch is a program for students in STEM fields who identify as under-represented. The students, who are selected through an application process, are paired with mentors in related fields. Similarly, Early Connections targets minority, first-year students and connects them with employers in a networking environment. The CRC also works with employers across the globe to provide employment connections for students who are interested in working locally and internationally to keep the Gator Nation everywhere.

• Housing & Residence Education in partnership with the Disability Resource Center in the Dean of Students Office has invested in the construction of Cypress Hall, a $22 million residence facility in the Yulee Area, which includes ADA student suites designed to support students with higher levels of physical disability support needs. Located adjacent to the Disability Resource Center, Cypress Hall is the first residence hall of its kind on campus, elevating our services for this population to national prominence. During FY 2013-2014, the Disability Resource Center proctored 6,269 exams and had 1,214 students registered with them to receive assistance.

• The department of Housing & Residence Education reclassified a position to Coordinator of Social Justice Education. The vision is to create, support and maintain an organization and community that welcomes people of all identities in the pursuit of a more socially just approach to learning, decisionmaking and daily action working towards the elimination of social injustice.

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SERVICE DELIVERY • Professionals in the Dean of Students Office work with students, their families and campus resources to: derive success plans and provide ongoing support for students in distress dealing with a variety of issues; help students complete the necessary medical petition paperwork for a medical withdrawal; and address a broad range of complaints either through directly assisting the student involved to resolve the issue or referring to other resources. The Care Area saw a 243 percent increase in the number of interactions with students compared to last year - now numbering 7,680.

• Student Affairs expanded our services to provide support of online students. These services include counseling, career support, orientation, and health and wellness resources. More services are currently in review and being adjusted to support distance students.

• The DHNet@Home Support Program, part of the department of Housing & Residence

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Education, manages computer help desks which provide walk-up computer help and Internet connection assistance for our more than 8,500 undergraduate and graduate residents who live on-campus. Help desks are staffed with highly trained student assistants and are located in Beaty East and Hume Complex.

• The department of Recreational Sports had more than 1 million visits to Southwest Recreation Center and Student Recreation & Fitness Center in FY 2013-2014, including more than 36,000 unique users with an average in excess of 4,000 visits each weekday. The department also reports sizable participation in its programs and additional facilities, including Lake Wauburg and Aquatics.

• The student health insurance requirement that begins summer B 2014 will enable new students with adequate parent plans to opt out of purchasing a UF sponsored plan.

Students who could not otherwise afford mental and physical health services will have funding for health insurance included in the cost of their Student Financial Aid package.

• Off Campus Life holds an annual College Park Rental Welcome, where they visit hundreds of off campus student apartments and houses with a welcome bag of information. OCL, in collaboration with Gainesville‘s Police Department, Code Enforcement and other city departments, partner to educate students on how to be greater Gator neighbors.

COMMUNICATION & COLLABORATION • Student Conduct & Conflict Resolution (SCCR) in the Dean of Students Office has a joint collaboration with University of Florida law students. Law students assist Student Conduct & Conflict Resolution with conflict resolution services, while gaining valuable, practical experience in mediation and conflict resolution. Law students are trained in mediation by a Florida Supreme Court Certified mediator and SCCR and Housing staff on conflict coaching, facilitated dialogues, restorative justice and conflict resolution workshops. These options can be used to resolve conduct cases where appropriate, but are also available to resolve conflicts when there is no conduct violation.

• In conjunction with Innovation Square planners, Housing & Residence Education entered into a creative service agreement with Signet Enterprises to design and build a residence hall specifically contructed to bring together students who are interested in business, startups and innovation. The $22 million facility, known as Infinity Hall, will be located in Innovation Square near the Florida Innovation Hub in Gainesville and will house approximately 300 students in suite-style rooms. Construction will begin summer 2014 and is projected to be complete by fall 2015.

• The Career Resource Center uses social media to communicate with students and employers. The CRC hosts the CRC Power Hour, an online chat held on Twitter, to communicate with brands about recruiting topics. Google Hangout is used to host panels and facilitate conversations between students and panelists. Further, the CRC produces a monthly newsletter ‘Career Buzz’ on Tumblr to communicate the Center’s news to campus liaisons and partners. Employer University,

a Webinar designed to educate employers, is held weekly during each semester and features a range of topics to assist employers with recruiting on the University of Florida campus.

• GatorWell Health Promotion Services creates and implements comprehensive health communication campaigns throughout the year addressing multiple health behaviors. Health topics include: time and stress management, cold and flu, sleep, sexual health, relationships and social health, sexual violence prevention, alcohol, body image, nutrition, sustainability, and spring break safety. The campaigns are widely disseminated throughout campus utilizing several channels including the GatorWell Health Hut, social media and print resources.

• Student Activities & Involvement conducted an assessment of incoming students, and focus groups with current student leaders, in order to develop a new definition of involvement for the campus community.

Using the students’ own words, fourteen areas for involvement, comprising six distinct themes, are being promoted as a means of connecting students to opportunities that will enhance their UF experience.

• In 2013-14, 39 Student Personnel in Higher Education graduate students provided 780 work hours per week in their graduate assistantships throughout the Division of Student Affairs. This is equivalent to almost 20 full-time staff.

• The department of Housing & Residence Education partners with the Alachua County School District to provide weekly low-cost, multi-level English classes in Graduate & Family Housing. Annually, hundreds of international students and family members increase their English proficiency and understanding of the U.S. culture, critical components of a successful transition to UF and the Gainesville communities.

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RESOURCES: PEOPLE, FINANCES, TECHNOLOGY, & FACILITIES

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• Every University of Florida student has an account in the Gator CareerLink (GCL) system, the Career Resource Center’s online resource to connect students and employers virtually for all essential career-related interactions. To date, there are more than 19,000 employers who post career opportunities in GCL. The portal, once a student has activated his/her account, grants access to several resources such as mock interview support, career planning appointments and a calendar featuring employer sessions, professional development events and much more.

• The J. Wayne Reitz Union renovation and new construction project progressed from design and planning to construction. This $75 million student-supported project will add a new 120,000 square foot multi-level structure and renovate up to 50,000 square feet of the existing facility. The Center for Leadership & Service, GatorWell Health Promotion Services and a new multicultural center will be added in the expansion to create a state-of-the-art student union that will be the hub of student activities at UF for decades to come.

Completion is projected to be in December 2015.

• The Institute of Black Culture (IBC) and the Institute of HispanicLatino Cultures (IHLC), part of Multicultural & Diversity Affairs, recently underwent significant renovations to improve the structure and utilities of the facility. Both institutes recently marked important milestones: 40 years for IBC in 2012 and 20 years for IHLC in 2014.

• Through the Career Resource Center and the Center for Leadership & Service, Gators annually contribute 1,516,050 hours of internship valued at $33 million and approximately 115,963 hours of community service valued at more than $2.5 million.

• Recreational Sports educates more than 700 student employees to serve their fellow students by providing programs and services.

More than 87 percent of the student body participate in RecSports.

Personal training and intramural officiating are just some of the activities performed by student employees.

• The Student Government Finance staff, in collaboration with the J. Wayne Reitz Union staff, developed Docutraq to streamline the processing of requests of funds from Student Government. Docutraq was recognized in 2014 with a Prudential Productivity Award.

• Student Activities & Involvement has implemented a searchable, Web-based student organization management system called Gator Connect. After its first full year of operation, Gator Connect has more than 25,000 unique student users associated with registered student organizations. Gator Connect allows for streamlined student organization registration and event permitting processes, and it provides easy access for students, faculty and staff, to the more than 975 registered student organizations at UF.

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155 Tigert Hall PO Box 113250 Gainesville, FL. 32611 352-392-1265 ufsa.ufl.edu