University of West Florida

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. The  in the State University System, at 1,600 acres (650 ha). The university’s mascot is Argie the Argonaut and its logo is the chambered nautilus.

University of West Florida is a large, 4-year, public university. This coed college is located in a city in a suburban setting and is primarily a commuter campus. It offers certificate, associate, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees. This college has an acceptance rate of 57% and a graduation rate of 53%.

University of West Florida

Motto	“No Limit”
Type	Public university
Established	1963; 61 years ago
Parent institution	State University System of Florida
Accreditation	SACS
Academic affiliations	Space-grant
Endowment	$74.6 million (2020)
President	Martha Dunagin Saunders
Academic staff	374
Students	14,343
Undergraduates	9,646
Postgraduates	4,697
Location	Pensacola , Florida , United States 30.5495°N 87.2181°W
Campus	Small city[3], 1,600 acres (6.5 km2)
Other campuses	Fort Walton Beach Ludwigshafen
Newspaper	The Voyager
Colors	Blue and green
Nickname	Argonauts Argos
Sporting affiliations	NCAA Division II – Gulf South
Mascot	Argie the Argonaut
Website	www.uwf.edu

History

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.

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.

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.”

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.

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.

The main campus of 1,600 acres (6.5 km2) of rolling hills and natural woodland along the Escambia River is ten miles (16 km) north of downtown Pensacola, in the Ferry Pass area. 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. UWF has a second location, UWF on the Emerald Coast, in Fort Walton Beach, Florida.

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.

The UWF Historic Trust collects, preserves and interprets the history of northwest Florida.

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. It operated from 1817 to 1855. It is curated by the University of West Florida.

Currently, UWF enrolls more than 14,000 students between undergraduate and graduate programs across its colleges. UWF has conferred more than 100,000 associate, bachelor’s, master’s, specialist and doctoral degrees.

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.

Additionally, UWF owns property on Pensacola Beach, frequently used by students for research and recreation. UWF also offers numerous on-campus mountain bike trails to students free of charge, in addition to a wide variety of recreational activities.

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.

There are sixteen fraternities and sororities on campus. These chapters include over 500 members.

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.

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.

UWF’s athletic program has won ten national championships, with the most recent being football in the 2019 NCAA Division II Football Championship; as well as winning a women’s tennis GSC championship for the 19th time, making that its 100th conference championship in school history.

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.

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.

In 2019, UWF’s football program won the NCAA Division II national championship in its fourth season, winning against Minnesota State University, 48–40.

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  Julee Cottage, c. 1805
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  Tivoli House, 1805
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  Clara Barkley Dorr House, 1871, residence of UWF president
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  Lear Rocheblave House, 1890
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  Old Christ Church, cir. 1835; corporate charter as an act of the Florida Territorial Legislative Council of the Territory of Florida, 1829
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  Pensacola Museum of History
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  Museum of Commerce
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  Museum of Industry