:University of West Florida

{{Short description|Public university in Pensacola, Florida, US}}

{{Infobox university

| name = University of West Florida

| image = University of West Florida seal.svg

| image_upright = 0.7

| motto = "No Limit"

| established = {{start date and age|1963}}

| accreditation = SACS

| type = Public university

| endowment = $74.6 million (2020)As of June 30, 2020. {{cite report |url=https://www.nacubo.org/-/media/Documents/Research/2020-NTSE-Public-Tables--Endowment-Market-Values--FINAL-FEBRUARY-19-2021.ashx |title=U.S. and Canadian Institutions Listed by Fiscal Year 2020 Endowment Market Value and Change in Endowment Market Value from FY19 to FY20 |publisher=National Association of College and University Business Officers and TIAA |date=February 19, 2021 |access-date=February 21, 2021}}

| president = Martha Dunagin Saunders

| students = 14,343{{Cite web| title = Facts and Figures|url=https://uwf.edu/about/facts-and-figures/|access-date = October 11, 2021}}

| undergrad = 9,646

| postgrad = 4,697

| city = Pensacola

| state = Florida

| country = United States

| coordinates = {{Coord|30.5495|-87.2181|source:dewiki_region:US-FL_type:landmark|display=inline,title}}

|campus = Small city{{Cite web|url=https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?q=Florida&s=all&pg=6&id=138354|title=College Navigator - The University of West Florida|website=nces.ed.gov}}

| campus_size = {{cvt|1,600|acre|km2}}

| sporting_affiliations = NCAA Division II – Gulf South

| sports_nickname = {{hlist|Argonauts|Argos}}

| mascot = Argie the Argonaut{{Cite web | url=https://goargos.com/sports/2014/11/14/GEN_1114145614.aspx | title=Argie the Argonaut}}

| website = {{URL|www.uwf.edu}}

| logo = University_of_West_Florida.svg

| faculty = 374

| academic_affiliations = Space-grant

| parent = State University System of Florida

| colors = Blue and green{{Cite web | url=https://uwf.edu/brand/color/ |title = Color | University of West Florida}}
{{color box|#0069AA}} {{color box|#008540}}

|free_label = Other campuses

|free = {{hlist|Fort Walton Beach|Ludwigshafen}}

|free_label2 = Newspaper

|free2 = The Voyager

}}

The University of West Florida (West Florida or UWF) is a public university in Pensacola, Florida, United States. Established in 1963 as a member institution of the State University System of Florida, the University of West Florida is a comprehensive research university without faculties of law or medicine, a designated space-grant institution, and sits on the third largest campus in the State University System, at {{cvt|1,600|acre}}. The university's mascot is Argie the Argonaut and its logo is the chambered nautilus.{{cite book|title=The College Sourcebook for Students with Learning & Developmental Differences|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZFprnj39Fs4C&pg=PA259|publisher=Wintergreen Orchard House|author=Midge Lipkin|year=2009|page=259|isbn=9781936035014}}

History

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File:PIMG0125.JPG

In 1962, the Florida Legislature authorized the State Board of Education to locate a state university in Escambia County. Harold Crosby was appointed the first president in July 1964. UWF became the sixth institution of the State University System of Florida, which today consists of twelve public universities.{{Cite web|title=History {{!}} University of West Florida|url=https://uwf.edu/about/at-a-glance/history/|access-date=2020-10-05|website=uwf.edu}}

Ground was broken on April 16, 1965, and in the same year the chambered nautilus was adopted as the official UWF emblem. UWF was originally an upper-level institution, enrolling juniors, seniors and graduate students. The first students began classes in the fall of 1967, and in June 1968, 58 students received degrees in the first commencement ceremony. In 1969, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools accredited the university undergraduate programs, and the first master's degree programs were established.

In July 1979, the university organized into a more traditional structure by establishing three colleges: Arts and Sciences, Business, and Education. In 1999, the colleges reorganized into the College of Arts and Sciences, the College of Business and the College of Professional Studies. In Aug. 2012, the former three-college structure transitioned into four academic colleges: College of Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities; College of Education and Professional Studies; College of Science, Engineering and Health; and the College of Business. The most recent reorganization took place in 2015, splitting the former College of Science, Engineering and Health in two.

Today, the university has four colleges: College of Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities; College of Business; Hal Marcus College of Science and Engineering; and Usha Kundu, MD College of Health. In addition, UWF has the School of Education.{{Cite web|title=Academics {{!}} University of West Florida|url=https://uwf.edu/academics/|access-date=2023-09-13|website=uwf.edu}}

=Chambered Nautilus=

Harold Crosby, the university's first president, selected the chambered nautilus to represent UWF because he was inspired by the poem "The Chambered Nautilus" by Oliver Wendell Holmes; it is "a symbol of growth, change and accomplishment."{{Cite web|title=Traditions {{!}} University of West Florida|url=https://uwf.edu/offices/presidents-office/presidential-inauguration/traditions/|access-date=2020-10-05|website=uwf.edu}}

Administration, academics and organization

{{Infobox US university ranking

| USNWR_REG = 26

| Forbes = 442{{cite web|title=University of West Florida Ranking|url=https://www.forbes.com/colleges/the-university-of-west-florida/?sh=1eed67f57352|website=Forbes}}

| Wamo_MASTERSU = 103

| THE_WSJ = 600

| THES_W =

| USNWR_W =

}}

class="wikitable floatright" style="width: 22em;"

|+2024–2025 USNWR Best Regional Colleges South Rankings{{cite magazine|url=https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/university-of-west-florida-3955/overall-rankings |title=University of West Florida Rankings |magazine=U.S. News & World Report |access-date=March 5, 2025}}

Regional Universities South (tie)

| 23

Top Public Schools (tie)

| 10

Top Performers on Social Mobility (tie)

| 37

Best Value School

| 48

Best Undergraduate Engineering (tie)

| 150

Nursing (tie)

| 254

Best colleges for Veterans (tie)

| 9

The University of West Florida is a public institution, receiving most of its funding through state funds and tuition. A 13-member Board of Trustees governs the university. The board is composed of six members appointed by the Governor of Florida, five appointed by the Board of Governors, the Faculty Senate president and the president of the Student Government Association.{{Cite web|title=Board of Trustees {{!}} University of West Florida|url=https://uwf.edu/offices/board-of-trustees/|access-date=2020-10-05|website=uwf.edu}}

The undergraduate and graduate programs are divided into four colleges: College of Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities; College of Business; Hal Marcus College of Science and Engineering; and Usha Kundu, MD College of Health.

The University of West Florida is composed of four divisions which manage the operations of the institution as well as its direct support organizations: Academic Affairs; Academic Engagement and Student Affairs; Finance and Administration; and University Advancement.{{Cite web|title=Divisions {{!}} University of West Florida|url=https://uwf.edu/about/divisions/|access-date=2023-09-29|website=uwf.edu}}

Campuses

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File:Pensacola HD Tivoli01.jpg

= Pensacola campus =

The main campus of {{convert|1,600|acre|km2|abbr=on}} of hills and natural woodland along the Escambia River is {{convert|10|mi|km|spell=in}} north of downtown Pensacola, in the Ferry Pass area.{{Cite web|title=The University of West Florida|url=http://map.uwf.edu/?id=1250|access-date=2020-10-08|website=map.uwf.edu|language=en}} Its facilities have been designed to complement the natural forest and waterways. UWF's John C. Pace Library is the largest library in the Northwest Florida area. In addition to the main library on the main campus north of Pensacola, Florida, there is a branch library in Fort Walton Beach, Florida. It has 628,000 printed volumes, 1 million microfilms and microfiches, 3,000 serial subscriptions and nearly 2,000 online journal subscriptions.{{Cite web|title=Office of the Dean of Libraries: Statistical Reports|url=https://libguides.uwf.edu/c.php?g=215171&p=1420662}} UWF has a second location, UWF on the Emerald Coast, in Fort Walton Beach, Florida.

=Historic Pensacola Village=

In 2001, the university acquired West Florida Historic Preservation, Inc, the previously state-controlled group that manages the Historic Pensacola Village. The university has created several classes taught by and/or in conjunction with the staff at Historic Pensacola.

UWF Historic Trust

The UWF Historic Trust collects, preserves and interprets the history of northwest Florida.{{cite web|url=https://uwf.edu/university-advancement/departments/historic-trust/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220406215546/uwf.edu/university-advancement/departments/historic-trust/|archive-date=2022-04-06|title=Historic Trust|website=University of West Florida}}

=Arcadia Mill Complex=

The Arcadia Mill complex is on the National Register of Historic Places. It was the first industrial complex powered by water in Florida. It included shops, mills, a railroad drawn by mules and a 16-mile log flume.{{cite web|url=https://uwf.edu/cassh/departments/anthropology-and-archaeology/research/faculty-and-staff-projects/industrial/arcadia-mill-complex/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170325174053/uwf.edu/cassh/departments/anthropology-and-archaeology/research/faculty-and-staff-projects/industrial/arcadia-mill-complex/|archive-date=2017-03-25|title=Arcadia Mill Complex}} It operated from 1817 to 1855. It is curated by the University of West Florida.

Student life

class="wikitable floatright sortable collapsible"; text-align:right; font-size:80%;" \|+ style="font-size:90%" \|Student body composition as of May 2, 2022
Race and ethnicity{{cite web \|title=College Scorecard: University of West Florida\|url=https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/school/?138354-The-University-of-West-Florida \|publisher=United States Department of Education \|access-date=May 8, 2022}} ! colspan="2" data-sort-type=number \|Total
White \|align=right\| {{bartable\|65\|%\|2	background:gray}}
Black \|align=right\| {{bartable\|11\|%\|2	background:mediumblue}}
Hispanic \|align=right\| {{bartable\|10\|%\|2	background:green}}
Other{{efn\|Other consists of Multiracial Americans & those who prefer to not say.}} \|align=right\| {{bartable\|8\|%\|2	background:brown}}
Asian \|align=right\| {{bartable\|4\|%\|2	background:purple}}
Foreign national \|align=right\| {{bartable\|2\|%\|2	background:orange}}
colspan="4" data-sort-type=number \|Economic diversity
Low-income{{efn\|The percentage of students who received an income-based federal Pell grant intended for low-income students.}} \|align=right\| {{bartable\|32\|%\|2	background:red}}
Affluent{{efn\|The percentage of students who are a part of the American middle class at the bare minimum.}} \|align=right\| {{bartable\|68\|%\|2	background:black}}

class="wikitable floatright sortable collapsible"; text-align:right; font-size:80%;"

|+ style="font-size:90%" |Student body composition as of May 2, 2022

Race and ethnicity{{cite web |title=College Scorecard: University of West Florida|url=https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/school/?138354-The-University-of-West-Florida |publisher=United States Department of Education |access-date=May 8, 2022}}

! colspan="2" data-sort-type=number |Total

White

|align=right| {{bartable|65|%|2

background:gray}}

Black

|align=right| {{bartable|11|%|2

background:mediumblue}}

Hispanic

|align=right| {{bartable|10|%|2

background:green}}

Other{{efn|Other consists of Multiracial Americans & those who prefer to not say.}}

|align=right| {{bartable|8|%|2

background:brown}}

Asian

|align=right| {{bartable|4|%|2

background:purple}}

Foreign national

|align=right| {{bartable|2|%|2

background:orange}}

colspan="4" data-sort-type=number |Economic diversity

Low-income{{efn|The percentage of students who received an income-based federal Pell grant intended for low-income students.}}

|align=right| {{bartable|32|%|2

background:red}}

Affluent{{efn|The percentage of students who are a part of the American middle class at the bare minimum.}}

|align=right| {{bartable|68|%|2

background:black}}

File:UWFtrolley.jpg

File:Mhall09.jpg

Currently, UWF enrolls more than 14,000 students between undergraduate and graduate programs across its colleges.{{Cite web|date=2016-08-24|title=Facts and Figures|url=https://uwf.edu/about/facts-and-figures/|access-date=2020-10-08|website=University of West Florida Newsroom|language=en-US}} UWF has conferred more than 100,000 associate, bachelor's, master's, specialist and doctoral degrees.{{Cite web|title=Facts & Figures {{!}} University of West Florida|url=https://uwf.edu/about/at-a-glance/facts-and-figures/|access-date=2020-10-08|website=uwf.edu}}

UWF hosts many opportunities for involvement through student clubs and organizations. Registered student organizations, administered by Student Involvement, include academic clubs, Greek organizations, professional and honor societies, religious organizations and special interest groups.{{Cite web|title=Student Involvement {{!}} University of West Florida|url=https://uwf.edu/academic-engagement-and-student-affairs/departments/student-involvement/|access-date=2020-10-08|website=uwf.edu}} Additionally, UWF owns property on Pensacola Beach, frequently used by students for research and recreation. UWF also offers numerous on-campus mountain bike trails{{Cite web|title=UWF Trail Maps {{!}} University of West Florida|url=https://uwf.edu/academic-engagement-and-student-affairs/departments/recreation/facilities/uwf-trail-maps/|access-date=2020-10-08|website=uwf.edu}} to students free of charge, in addition to a wide variety of recreational activities.

=Housing=

UWF offers traditional residence halls, small community residence halls and university-owned apartment complexes. The university also offers living learning communities, which provide signature programming and academic support to residents.{{Cite web|title=Living Learning Communities {{!}} University of West Florida|url=https://uwf.edu/academic-engagement-and-student-affairs/departments/housing-and-residence-life/living-learning-communities/|access-date=2020-10-05|website=uwf.edu}}

=Greek life=

There are sixteen fraternities and sororities on campus.{{Cite web|url=https://uwf.edu/academic-engagement-and-student-affairs/departments/fraternity-and-sorority-life/|title=Fraternity and Sorority Life | University of West Florida|website=uwf.edu}} These chapters include over 500 members.{{Cite web |title=Fraternity and Sorority Life {{!}} University of West Florida |url=https://uwf.edu/academic-engagement-and-student-affairs/departments/fraternity-and-sorority-life/ |access-date=2024-03-17 |website=uwf.edu}}

=Transportation=

UWF offers a trolley service and public bicycles around campus known as "yellow bikes". There is parking for all visitors, students and employees. The Escambia County Area Transit bus system also offers students a discount rate.

Athletics

West Florida athletic teams are the Argonauts. The university is a member of the Division II level of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), primarily competing in the Gulf South Conference (GSC) since the 1994–95 academic year. The Argonauts previously competed in the Southern States Conference of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) from 1974–75 to 1993–94, with a brief hiatus of dropping its athletics program from 1976–77 to 1979–80.

West Florida competes in 15 intercollegiate varsity sports: Men's sports include baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf, soccer and tennis; while women's sports include basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, softball, swimming and diving, tennis and volleyball.{{Cite web|title=University of West Florida Argonauts - University of West Florida|url=http://goargos.com/|access-date=2020-10-05|website=goargos.com}}

=Accomplishments=

UWF's athletic program has won ten national championships, with the most recent being football in the 2019 NCAA Division II Football Championship;{{Cite web|title=West Fla. vs Minn. St. Mankato DII Football Game Summary - December 21st, 2019 {{!}} NCAA.com|url=https://www.ncaa.com/game/3909055|access-date=2020-10-05|website=www.ncaa.com|language=en}} as well as winning a women's tennis GSC championship for the 19th time, making that its 100th conference championship in school history.{{Cite web | url=http://www.goargos.com/news/2019/5/4/west-florida-womens-tennis-wins-their-19th-gsc-championship-and-the-100th-conference-championship-in-uwf-history.aspx |title = UWF Their 19th GSC Championship and the 100th Conference Championship in UWF History}}

=Football=

In 2015, the university welcomed its first football team on campus and held intra-team scrimmages throughout the fall. In 2016, UWF hosted its inaugural season, kicking off with a 45–0 win against Ave Maria University.{{Cite web|last=Vilona|first=Bill|title=UWF football is 'phenomenal' in inaugural 45-0 win|url=https://www.pnj.com/story/sports/2016/09/03/uwf-opener-rain-delay-estimated-restart-scheduled/89839298/|access-date=2020-10-05|website=Pensacola News Journal|language=en-US}}

In 2017, the football program qualified for the NCAA Division II playoffs in just its second season. The team reached the championship game, losing to Texas A&M-Commerce, 37–27, in just the 26th game in school history.{{Cite web|date=2017-12-16|title=West Florida Loses to Texas A&M Commerce in National Championship|url=https://www.wkrg.com/news/west-florida-loses-to-texas-am-commerce-in-national-championship/|access-date=2020-10-05|website=WKRG News 5|language=en-US}}

In 2019, UWF's football program won the NCAA Division II national championship in its fourth season, winning against Minnesota State University, 48–40.{{Cite news | url=https://www.pnj.com/story/news/2019/12/21/uwf-football-wins-national-championship-over-minnesota-state/2721427001/ |title = UWF football wins national championship with historic offensive explosion| newspaper=Pensacola News Journal }}