Missions, Visions, and Values
Mission of the University
The University of Florida is a comprehensive learning institution built on a land-grant foundation. We are The Gator Nation, a diverse community dedicated to excellence in education and research and shaping a better future for Florida, the nation and the world.
Our mission is to enable our students to lead and influence the next generation and beyond for economic, cultural and societal benefit.
The university welcomes the full exploration of its intellectual boundaries and supports its faculty and students in the creation of new knowledge and the pursuit of new ideas.
- Teaching is a fundamental purpose of this university at both the undergraduate and graduate levels.
- Research and scholarship are integral to the educational process and to the expansion of our understanding of the natural world, the intellect and the senses.
- Service reflects the university's obligation to share the benefits of its research and knowledge for the public good. The university serves the nation's and the state's critical needs by contributing to a well-qualified and broadly diverse citizenry, leadership and workforce.
The University of Florida must create the broadly diverse environment necessary to foster multi-cultural skills and perspectives in its teaching and research for its students to contribute and succeed in the world of the 21st century.
These three interlocking elements — teaching, research and scholarship, and service — span all the university's academic disciplines and represent the university's commitment to lead and serve the state of Florida, the nation and the world by pursuing and disseminating new knowledge while building upon the experiences of the past. The university aspires to advance by strengthening the human condition and improving the quality of life.
Vision, Mission, and Values of the Graduate School
Our Vision
To be a model of excellence for supporting and advancing graduate education worldwide
Our Mission
To ensure the integrity and value of graduate education and elevate the overall graduate student experience
Our Core Values
Integrity
Advocacy
Inclusion
Collaboration
Innovation
Graduate School Deans
Nicole LP Stedman
Ph.D. (University of Florida), Dean of the Graduate School, and Associate Provost
Tom Kelleher
Ph.D. (University of Florida), Associate Dean, Academic Affairs
Judy Traveis
Ph.D. (University of Florida), Associate Dean, Student Affairs
Please find information regarding UF's Deans and the History of the Graduate School below.
Organization
The Graduate School currently consists of the Dean, an Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, an Associate Dean for Student Affairs, the Graduate Council, the Graduate Faculty, and the Graduate School staff. The Graduate School is responsible for establishing, monitoring and enforcing minimum general standards of graduate study in the University and for coordinating the graduate programs of the various colleges and divisions of the University.
Responsibility for detailed operation of graduate programs is vested in individual colleges, schools, divisions, and academic units. In most colleges, an associate dean or other administrator is directly responsible for graduate studies in that college.
General policies and standards of the Graduate School are established by the Graduate Faculty as represented by the Graduate Council. Policy changes must be approved by the graduate dean(s) and the Graduate Council. The Graduate Council (chaired by the Graduate Dean) considers graduate education policy and policy changes, and the creation of or revisions to graduate degree programs, majors, concentrations, certificates, and other graduate education initiatives.
Appointment to the Graduate Faculty
All faculty members who serve on supervisory committees or who direct master’s theses and doctoral dissertations must first be appointed to the Graduate Faculty. University of Florida faculty members who are appointed to full-time faculty positions in tenured or tenure-accruing positions are appointed to the Graduate Faculty as a matter of course, shortly after the time of their appointment to the university faculty. For all others, a graduate degree program’s academic unit nominates faculty members for appointment to the Graduate Faculty. Nominations must be approved by the Department Chair/Director, the College Dean, and a vote of the current graduate faculty members in the nominating unit. The appointment is formally made by the Graduate Dean. The academic unit determines the level of duties for each Graduate Faculty member, though it is expected that all Graduate Faculty members should be available and willing to serve as external members of doctoral dissertation committees throughout the University of Florida.
The Graduate School Staff
The Graduate School is organized into the following units Administration, Data Management, Editorial, Graduate Records, and the Division of Graduate Student Affairs (DGSA), which contains the Offices of Graduate Diversity Initiatives (OGDI), Graduate International Outreach (OGIO), and the Office of Graduate Professional Development (OGPD). Visit http://graduateschool.ufl.edu/about-us/contacts/ for staff listings and contact information.
Graduate School Editorial Office
With staff located in Grinter Hall, the Graduate School Editorial Office provides editorial assistance to UF’s graduate students completing the thesis or dissertation process and to graduate faculty developing new graduate programs and courses within the graduate curriculum. The Editorial Office provides information about format requirements on the editorial page of the Graduate School website in order to help students prepare their manuscripts for submission to the Graduate School. The office facilitates the thesis and dissertation process, by providing clear guidelines and checklists, and by outlining the procedures to follow when completing the thesis or dissertation. In order to complete degree requirements, all thesis and dissertation students must gain final clearance status with the Editorial Office by each of the posted deadlines for the term in which they intend for the degree to be awarded.
The following procedures apply to the Graduate School’s editorial services provided to graduate students:
Upon submission to the Graduate School Editorial Office, a thesis or dissertation should be near-final and must be completely formatted. It will not be accepted as meeting first submission requirements in draft form.
Additionally, master’s theses must be orally defended before making submission to the Graduate School Editorial Office. Therefore, the Final Exam data must be posted to SIS by the department, before the document can be submitted to the Editorial Office for review. Subsequently, a master’s student who does not defend the thesis prior to the first submission deadline will not be eligible for a degree award in the current term; nor is the student a clear-prior candidate to the following term, since they were unable to meet the first submission requirement.
The thesis or dissertation must be of publishable quality and must be in a form suitable for publication, using the Graduate School’s format requirements found here and within the Guide for Preparing Theses and Dissertations.
The student’s department is responsible for academic merit, quality, and scholarship.
Graduate Council requires the Graduate School Editorial Office, as agents of the Dean of the Graduate School, to briefly review theses and dissertations for acceptable format, and to make recommendations as needed.
Graduate School Editorial Office Resources
- Checklist for master’s theses: http://www.graduateschool.ufl.edu/media/graduate-school/pdf-files/Masters-Checklist-.pdf
- Checklist for doctoral dissertations: http://www.graduateschool.ufl.edu/media/graduate-school/pdf-files/Doctoral-Checklist.pdf
- Graduate School Editorial Office: http://www.graduateschool.ufl.edu/about-us/offices/editorial/
- Format requirements: http://graduateschool.ufl.edu/media/graduate-school/pdf-files/Guide-for-ETDs-2021.pdf
- Format templates: https://helpdesk.ufl.edu/application-support-center/etd-technical-support/
For more information, contact:
The UF Graduate School Editorial Office
http://graduateschool.ufl.edu/editorial
Phone: (352) 392-1282
Email: grad-edit@ufl.edu
Graduate Student Records Office
Graduate Student Records staff work with academic units to support students throughout their graduate careers including degree certification and graduation. The office is responsible for keeping official graduate student records and ensuring compliance with all Graduate Council and University policies.
Office of Graduate Diversity Initiatives
The Office of Graduate Diversity Initiatives (OGDI), within the Division of Graduate Student Affairs of the Graduate School, is a dedicated resource for underrepresented graduate students. OGDI provides graduate students with programs and services to assist and support the pursuit of a successful graduate education. OGDI provides students with social, informational, referral, and financial support. OGDI maintains partnerships across campus to assist and promote graduate education. OGDI hosts a variety of programs and activities as a part of its recruitment support, and degree completion initiatives.
Recruitment
OGDI assists colleges and academic units in recruiting underrepresented graduate students. OGDI coordinates several funding opportunities for incoming doctoral students. These include: Florida A&M University (FAMU) Feeder Program, McKnight Doctoral Fellowships, McNair Graduate Assistantship Program and the NSF Florida-Georgia Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation Bridge to the Doctorate Program as well as diversity enhancement awards.
In collaboration with the UF Career Connections Center, OGDI conducts UF’s annual Gator Graduate Programs Fair and Graduate Education Week. Additionally, OGDI represents the university at a variety of national and regional conferences, as well as visiting and seeking to establish relationships with institutions to attract prospective underrepresented students.
Support
OGDI conducts the Florida Board of Education (BOE) Summer Fellowship Program to assist entering underrepresented doctoral students to become more quickly acclimated to the university setting. OGDI supports social activities to facilitate student socialization and networking, and professional development activities such as dissertation and other writing groups are offered through OGDI.
Completion
OGDI coordinates several funding opportunities to assist underrepresented PhD students to successfully complete their programs. These opportunities include: the Supplemental Retention Scholarship Award, the Delores Auzenne Dissertation Award, and Doctoral Support Assistance. For additional information about the Office of Graduate Diversity Initiatives or any of its programs and funding opportunities, please visit OGDI’s website.
Office of Graduate International Outreach
The Office of Graduate International Outreach (OGIO) in the UF Graduate School serves as a catalyst for collaboration with regard to international outreach, recruitment, and student success within the university community. The office is a resource for information on international outreach opportunities and leverages existing structures and initiatives to advance international outreach and increase graduate student success. The OGIO also builds cooperative resources with partner units and offices within and outside UF to enhance international outreach/recruitment efforts at UF.
Office of Graduate Professional Development
The Office of Graduate Professional Development (OGPD) in the Division of Graduate Student Affairs provides resources and opportunities for graduate students to gain information, insights, and skills they can use in academia and the job market. Currently, OGPD initiatives include
- Professional Development Workshop series (fall/spring). These workshops are now offered as webinars to our online graduate students and cover topics such as effective time management, research strategies, preparing for examinations and final defenses, and publishing manuscripts. Video recordings of the previous workshops and webinars can be found in the Graduate Information Management System (GIMS).
- OGPD also works closely with the Organization for Graduate Student Advancement and Professional Development (OGAP), a graduate student organization that focuses on providing more opportunities for graduate students with respect to teaching, mentoring, and ethics. OGAP signature events include Graduate Student Research Day (GSRD) in the spring and Three Minute Thesis© in the fall.
- Grants and Fellowship Conference (Spring) that provides information for both graduate and undergraduate students on funding options through grants and fellowships. This includes information regarding specific fellowships like the “National Science Foundation’s Graduate Research Fellowship Program,” “National Institute of Health Fellowships,” “Fellowships and Grants for the Arts and Humanities,” as well as more general information on “How to Find Funding Using Key Words and Proper Databases” and “How to Write a Proposal.”
Announcements of events hosted by DGSA and the deadlines for all award programs are made through the graduate student listserv.
For more information, visit the website at http://graduateschool.ufl.edu/about-us/offices/dgsa/ or send an email to gradschool@aa.ufl.edu.
Graduate Council (2022-2023)
The Graduate Council, chaired by the Dean, is a joint committee of the President and Faculty Senate. The Council establishes general policies and standards of the Graduate School and assists the dean of the Graduate School in the execution of policy related to graduate study and associated research. The Graduate School staff provide support to the council by reviewing and editing all proposals submitted by administrative and/or academic units to ensure they comply with Graduate Council policy.
The Graduate Council consists of twelve members of the Graduate Faculty, a graduate student elected by the Graduate Student Council, and the Dean of the Graduate School. Six of the twelve faculty members of the Graduate Council are elected by the Graduate Faculty for overlapping terms of three years.
Nicole LP Stedman, Chair
Dean of the Graduate School and Associate Provost
Members Appointed by the Provost:
Dr. Monika Ardelt
Department of Sociology, Criminology & Law
Dr. James "J.C." Bunch
Department of Agricultural Education and Communication
Dr. Hitomi Greenslet
Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
Dr. Timothy Murtha
Department of Landscape Architecture
Dr. K. Ramesh Reddy
Department of Soil and Water Science
Dr. Aner Sela
Department of Marketing
Members Elected by Graduate Faculty:
Dr. Linda Bloom
Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Dr. James Essegbey
Department of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures
Dr. Cynthia Griffin
School of Special Education, School Psychology, and Early Childhood Studies
Dr. Tanya Koropeckyj-Cox
Department of Sociology, Criminology, and Law
Dr. Corene Matyas
Department of Geography
Dr. Marta Wayne
Department of Biology
Graduate Student Council Representative:
Paul C. Wassel III
Department of Microbiology and Cell Science
History
Graduate study at UF existed while the University was still on its Lake City campus. However, the first graduate degrees, two Master of Arts with a major in English, were awarded on the Gainesville campus in 1906. The first Master of Science was awarded in 1908, with a major in entomology. The first programs leading to the Ph.D. were approved in 1930, and the first degrees were awarded in 1934, one with a major in chemistry and the other with a major in pharmacy. The first Ed.D. was awarded in 1948. Graduate study has grown phenomenally at UF. In 1930, 33 degrees were awarded in 12 fields. In 1940, 66 degrees were awarded in 16 fields. In 2020-2021, UF awarded 4,734 graduate degrees in more than 146 fields, including 710 Ph.D. degrees.
UF Graduate School Deans and Years of Service
| Years of Service | Graduate Deans |
|---|---|
| June 2021 to Present | Nicole Stedman, Dean |
| May 2007 to May 2021 | Henry T. Frierson, Dean |
| 2004-2007 | Kenneth J. Gerhardt, Interim Dean |
| 1999-2004 | Winfred M. Phillips, Dean |
| 1998-1999 | M. Jack Ohanian, Interim Dean |
| 1993-1998 | Karen A. Holbrook, Dean |
| July-September 1993 | Gene W. Hemp, Acting Dean |
| 1985-1993 | Madelyn M. Lockhart, Dean |
| 1983-1985 | Donald R. Price, Acting Dean |
| September 1982-January 1983 | Gene W. Hemp, Acting Dean |
| 1980-1982 | Francis G. Stehli, Dean |
| 1979-1980 | F. Michael Wahl, Acting Dean |
| 1973-1979 | Harry H. Sisler, Dean |
| 1971-1973 | Alex G. Smith, Acting Dean |
| 1969-1971 | Harold P. Hanson, Dean |
| 1952-1969 | L. E. Grinter, Dean |
| 1951-1952 | C. F. Byers, Acting Dean |
| 1938-1951 | T. M. Simpson, Dean |
| 1930-1938 | James N. Anderson, Dean |
Governance of the university
Florida State Board of Education
The Department of Education is here to increase the proficiency of all students within one seamless, efficient system, by providing them with the opportunity to expand their knowledge and skills through learning opportunities and research valued by students, parents, and communities, and to maintain an accountability system that measures student progress.
Tom Grady, Chair
Ben Gibson, Vice Chair
Monesia Brown
Esther Byrd
Grazie P. Christie
Ryan Petty
Joe York
Florida Board of Governors
The Board of Governors is comprised of seventeen members, fourteen of whom are appointed by the Florida Governor and confirmed by the Florida Senate for a term of seven years. The remaining members include the Chair of the Advisory Council of Faculty Senates, the Commissioner of Education, and the Chair of the Florida Student Association. The Board oversees the operation and management of the Florida public university system’s twelve institutions.
Manny Diaz, Jr., Commissioner of Education
Appointed June 17, 2019
Brian Lamb, Chair
March 29, 2019 – January 6, 2026
Eric Silagy, Vice-Chair
March 29, 2019 – January 6, 2026
Members:
Timothy M. Cerio
Richard Corcoran
Aubrey Edge
Patricia Frost
Nimna Gabadage
Edward Haddock
Ken Jones
Darlene Luccio Jordan
Alan Levine
Charles H. Lydecker
Craig Mateer
Steven M. Scott
William Self
Kent Stermon
Contact a member of the Board of Governors:
Board of Governors
State University System of Florida
325 West Gaines Street, Suite 1614
Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0400
University of Florida Board of Trustees
The UF Board of Trustees is the public body corporate of the university. It sets policy for the institution, and serves as the institution's legal owner and final authority. The UF Board of Trustees holds the institution's resources in trust and is responsible for their efficient and effective use. The UF Board of Trustees consists of six citizen members appointed by the Governor and five citizen members appointed by the Board of Governors. The Chair of the Faculty Senate and the President of the Student Body are also voting members.
University of Florida President and Vice Presidents
W. Kent Fuchs, Ph.D., M.Div., M.S., and B.S.
President of the University
Joseph Glover, Ph.D.
Provost and Senior Vice President, Academic Affairs
Scott Angle, Ph.D.
Vice President for Agriculture and Natural Resources
Chris Cowen, M.B.A.
Senior Vice President and CFO
Elias G. Eldayrie, M.B.A.
Vice President and CIO
Amy M. Hass, J.D.
Vice President and General Counsel
Mark Kaplan, J.D.
Vice President for Government and Community Relations
James J. Kelly, Jr., Master of Accounting
Interim CEO, UF Health Shands
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, UF Health Shands
Charlie Lane, D.Sc.
Senior Vice President and COO
Marsha McGriff, Ed.D.
Chief Diversity Officer and Senior Advisor to the President
Tom Mitchell, M.Ed.
Vice President, Advancement
David R. Nelson, M.D.
Senior Vice President for Health Affairs
David Norton, Ph.D.
Vice President, Research
Mary Parker, Ed.D.
Vice President and Associate Provost, Enrollment Management
Nancy Paton, M.S.M.
Vice President for Strategic Communications and Marketing
Win Phillips, Ph.D.
Executive Chief of Staff, Office of the President
Curtis Reynolds, M.S.E.E and M.B.A
Vice President, Business Affairs
Heather White, Ed.D.
Vice President for Student Life and Dean of Students
University of Florida Deans
Cammy Abernathy, Ph.D.
Dean, Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering
Chimay Anumba, Ph.D., D.Sc., P.E.
Dean, College of Design, Construction and Planning
Hub Brown, M.A.
Dean, College of Journalism and Communications
A. Isabel Garcia, D.D.S., M.P.H.
Dean, College of Dentistry
Robert Gilbert, Ph.D.
Dean for Research, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences
Glenn Good, Ph.D.
Dean, College of Education
Julie A. Johnson, Pharm.D.
Dean, College of Pharmacy
Colleen Koch, M.D., M.S., M.B.A.
Dean, College of Medicine
Anna McDaniel, Ph.D., R.N., F.A.A.N
Dean, College of Nursing
Saby Mitra, D.B.A.
Dean, Warrington College of Business Administration
Onyekwere P. Ozuzu, M.F.A.
Dean, College of the Arts
Michael B. Reid, Ph.D.
Dean, College of Health and Human Performance
David E. Richardson, Ph.D.
Dean, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Laura A. Rosenbury, J.D.
Dean, Levin College of Law
Judith Russell, M.S.
Dean, University Libraries
Nicole Stedman, Ph.D.
Dean of the Graduate School and Associate Provost
Elaine Turner, Ph.D.
Dean, College of Agricultural and Life Sciences
Beth A. Virnig, Ph.D., M.P.H.
Dean, College of Public Health and Health Professions
Marta Wayne, Ph.D.
Dean of the International Center and Associate Provost
Dana N. Zimmel, D.V.M., D.A.C.V.I.M
Dean, College of Veterinary Medicine