An update from President J. Bernard Machen
Welcome to the 2008-2009 year at the University of Florida!
I know Tropical Storm Fay made the start of this school year challenging for many families and students traveling to campus. I appreciate your patience and positive attitudes during this time.
Despite the weather, there is a wonderful sense of excitement and optimism on campus. Within a very short period, students and faculty will be focused on their academic responsibilities and individual goals, but now is a time to appreciate the enormously rich academic and extracurricular experience possible here at the second largest public university in the nation.
I urge you to make the most of this moment. I think incoming freshmen, seasoned graduate students, faculty and staff can always find more at this enormously varied university to enrich their experience.
Members of The Gator Nation are understandably concerned about the economic downturn and its impact on the university. To be sure, we have had to make some painful adjustments. But we have sought to protect and nurture our core quality and diversity of offerings, and I think you will find that our campus remains thriving and vibrant.
With an average GPA of 4.18 and SAT of 1293, our incoming freshmen are more academically talented than ever. We expect to complete several new buildings before next fall, including the Biomedical Sciences Building and Shands at UF Cancer Hospital. Our Florida Tomorrow capital campaign has raised $700 million and is making steady progress toward its $1.5 billion goal. Economic downturns come and go, but these are among many lasting signs of progress at this university.
Have a terrific fall and Go Gators!
Sincerely,
J. Bernard Machen
President