An update from President Charles E. Young
We had the pleasure of being joined by 440 members of the University and Gainesville communities for the annual Joint Civic Club/University of Florida Luncheon at the Reitz Union on Wednesday, Aug. 20. Following are my State of the University remarks.
A Year of Achievement
As you know, we are celebrating our sesquicentennial, in what has certainly been a year of accomplishment for the University of Florida. This event, the Joint Civic Club luncheon, has been held for more than three decades. This is my fourth Joint Civic Club luncheon and each year, I am impressed with the turnout and the enthusiasm this community shows for its university. I'm going to tell you more about our academic accomplishments a little later. And Coach Zook will talk about this year's football Gators. Right now, I have the pleasure of sharing a few Gator athletic highlights from the past year.
- I am delighted to report that, once again, and for the 12th consecutive time, UF sports have won all three Southeastern Conference All-Sports titles.
- Both UF men's and women's programs were at the top of conference standings, marking the 7th time in 12 years both programs swept the rankings. For a conference as competitive as the SEC year in and year out, this is truly a remarkable achievement!
- Last year, the women's tennis team won its fourth NCAA title. This is quite an accomplishment.
- UF also won SEC titles in volleyball, men's and women's tennis, men's golf, and women's outdoor track and field.
- Little wonder why UF finished ranked 7th in the National All-Sports competition-formerly the Sears Cup. This marks the 20th consecutive time UF finished in the top ten in this all-sports ranking - one of only two universities earning that distinction.
- Also, UF leads SEC schools in Academic Honor Roll students, including an SEC-record 193 student-athlete honorees in 2002-2003.
Needless to say, commitment in the classroom and on the field makes Gator Athletics special.
- Our coaches make a difference in the lives of student-athletes. Men's golf coach, Buddy Alexander and Women's track and field coach, Tom Jones, were both named SEC Coach of the Year. It also is noteworthy to add that the women's track team was named All-Academic Team of the year by the U.S. Track Coaches Association. Indeed, it has been a year of great achievements for Gator athletics.
The University Athletic Association has contributed nearly $27 million dollars to fund UF academic endeavors. And we are very appreciative.
And the Gainesville community loves to support its Gators. Here's an indication of your support....
- Over the last decade, 10 million fans attended Gator sporting events.
- During the last academic year, more than 900-thousand fans came to 155 sporting events - that's 50 thousand more than the previous year.
- The University of Florida Gators and the Gainesville community are, and will continue to be, a winning combination.
The University of Florida began the new millennium preparing for its 150th anniversary. We are now at a point to look back and into the future. Much has changed during this century and a half, but we still hold steadfast to our missions of teaching, research and service.
Our first mission is to teach -- and the students being taught here are among the finest anywhere.
- UF is first among all public universities and 3rd overall in attracting National Achievement Scholars-recognition for outstanding African-American students
- UF is also 2nd among all publics in attracting National Merit Scholars-top academic achievers
- UF received more International Baccalaureate transcripts last year than any other institution in the world.
- 940 IB students asked to have their transcripts sent to UF - surpassing last year's total by nearly 130.
- That's compared to 216 IB student transcripts to University of Virginia and 167 to the University of North Carolina.
- Just last month, Black Issues in Higher Education named UF the #1 producer of African American Doctorate Degrees in the Health Sciences and Related Professions
- Our Summer B students came to us with a median SAT score of 1190. That's 10 points above 2002 numbers and 20 points above 2001. Students admitted for the upcoming Fall semester have a grade point average approaching 4.00. It doesn't get any better than that. Their median SAT score is 1280, or 10 points above 2002 numbers.
- In national competitions for prestigious scholarships and awards, a record number of UF students have been recognized. Our students have earned Goldwater, Truman and Udall scholarships. One student, Teresa Porter, is the only winner in the entire state of Florida, of a $30,000 Truman Scholarship
- Nine of our graduates also won National Science Foundation awards, which come with a stipend of $27,500.
- And, a record 59 UF students applied for Fullbright Scholarships last year, an international competition in which winners spend an academic year in any of 140 countries.
With outstanding students comes a heavy responsibility to provide them a challenging education. We believe we are meeting that challenge.
- Lombardi Scholars, students who exemplify commitment to academic excellence, community service, leadership, and public responsibility, are great examples. Eight winners were selected from 176 nominees - some 30 more nominees than last year. They spent the summer in Mexico, living with families, attending classes and developing an appreciation of other cultures.
- We offer more than 80 international programs - an increase of 12 percent over last year. Also UF attracts students from approximately 100 countries.
- We have a 92 % freshmen retention rate-one of the best in the country.
- Our graduation rate is increasing across the board. UF is 3rd among all AAU universities, both public and private, in awarding bachelor's degrees to Hispanic students and 3rdamong all AAU universities in awarding bachelor's degrees to African-American students.
- Our students give back to the community. UF students donated $1.4 million to local charities and provided 200-thousand hours of volunteer service, like our pilot program for community relations improvement with the Hibiscus Park Neighborhood Association.
The University of Florida benefits from some of the nation's leading academic authorities. We have a world-class faculty and staff committed to our missions.
- Dr. Robert Cousins, professor of nutrition in IFAS, was named winner of the 23rd annual Bristol-Myers Award for distinguished achievement in nutritional research;
- The USDA's highest recognition for outstanding contributions to agriculture and consumers in 2003 went to IFAS professors Dan Canfield, Chuck Cichra, Carol Lehtola and Jan Shearer.
- UF Engineering Professor Tom Sah received the 2003 Lifetime Achievement Award from the Asian-American Engineers.
- The Overseas Press Club of America presented its 2003 Feature Photography Award to UF professor John Kaplan for his photographic essays on social injustice in West Africa.
- In addition, during this year of achievement, UF faculty produced literally thousands of articles, book chapters, books, and conference papers-making major contributions to their respective disciplines.
- We applaud and sincerely appreciate the quality of our students and the efforts of our faculty and staff.
While our faculty and students shine each year, so does the campus itself. Construction is underway or completed on an array of campus sites.
- The impressive Stadium additions are just about finished and I hope many of you will have a chance to see it up close during this football season.
- As you came into the Reitz Union today, I trust you saw the new Bookstore & Visitors Welcome Center. A grand opening is planned for September 18. I know you agree that this is a gorgeous addition to the Union and this community.
- Other major projects recently completed and now open include the Health Professions, Nursing and Pharmacy Complex.
- We're breaking ground on the new Library West addition in November, and in January, will begin renovating the existing Library West building.
- We're now in the construction stage for the $85-million Genetics, Cancer and Biotechnology building. And funding has been acquired for the $110-million Proton-Beam Therapy Center in Jacksonville. These facilities should place UF at the leading edge of medical research.
- We will dedicate the new Rinker Building in October, which will house Building Construction programs.
- And, the new Gary Gersen Hall for accounting programs is near completion.
- Also noteworthy, the university will begin relocating some administrative offices to East.Gainesville. We hope to locate over 100 employees to that area, with more planned for the future.
There are a few other items of particular note this year
- As you might know, UF hired our first female police chief this year. Chief, Stump is already hard at work on the job
- We are working aggressively with the city to improve our neighborhoods that border the university
- And, our mass transit system-a wonderful example of the community and university working together-continues to set records for ridership. This has been accomplished with the strong leadership and help of the City.
Buildings and infrastructure only support the creative energies on this campus. It is the exceptional activities within these facilities that establish the worth of this university.
- Last year, our faculty members received research awards topping $458 million - a new record - with $20 million more than the previous high.
- The National Institutes of Health awarded UF researchers more than $104 million last year.
- While our total of health-related grants and awards exceeded $251 million, this figure was approximately equaled by other campus endeavors. For example, the National Science Foundation has continued its funding rate of $40 million in research grants.
- Overall, we rank in the top 15 among all public universities in total research expenditures and in the most recent figures collected, UF captured 44% -- or nearly half of all the research dollars granted to the 11 state universities in Florida.
- The Department of Education is forwarding nearly $1.4 million this year to UF for programs including a national resource center for transnational & global studies.
- The Ford Foundation provided more than ½ million dollars to conduct research concerning religion and politics within Florida's Latino communities.
- The Department of Defense has allocated $2.2 million to UF's McKnight Brain Institute along with the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research to help create better means to assess brain trauma severity.
Whether it's teaching, research or service, UF faculty, staff, students and alumni help shape the lives of others.
- When Zoology professor Karen Bjorndal was named UF's Teacher/Scholar of the year for 2003, it was in recognition of her ability to mentor students and engage in Sea Turtle research.
- When the College of Dentistry answers the call to commit its faculty, residents and students to provide care for the developmentally disabled, we see the ideal of community service.
- And when students enter any of UF's colleges and schools - they begin to realize the wonders of the universe are at their fingertips. It is this magic of discovery that makes the University of Florida the outstanding institution of our state.
It has been a year of record achievement for Florida's flagship academy during our 150th anniversary...but the celebration is not quite complete.
- Perhaps the top event will be the "Party on the Plaza" fundraiser for our Cultural Plaza programs on September 19th.
- Beginning at first home football game, and for every home game thereafter, the "Dream Machine" - a UF 3-D video program, will be open in the new Research, Education and Visualization Environment facility.
- Finally, the 150th events peak at Homecoming and end on December 7 at the 150th celebration closing party, also open to our Gainesville community.
As we continue to honor our past and plan for the future, the University of Florida will cherish all who come here to live, work and learn. Each one of you help make the University of Florida an exceptional center of learning.
May the partnership of this university and its community grows even stronger during the next 150 years. I have every confidence it will. I'm sure you'll agree -there has never been a better time to be a Florida Gator!
Thank you for coming this afternoon.