Is Acceptance into the Innovation Academy (IA) Binding?

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Florida
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My admissions decision proclaimed the following:

"Congratulations! After a careful and thorough review of your application, we are pleased to offer you admission to the University of Florida Innovation Academy beginning 2016 Spring semester.

Your official notification and additional materials will be mailed to you in the next few days. On behalf of the Office of Admissions and the University of Florida, welcome to the Gator Nation!

For more information about UFs Innovation Academy please visit: www.innovationacademy.ufl.edu."

Yes, I unknowingly checked the box on the application asking me whether or not I wanted to express interest in joining the IA. No where on the application or check box did it mention that I would only be considered for IA or be bind to IA if I checked the check box.

My question is, what are my options if I know that I do not want to attend the IA, but would like to attend UF? Can this be resolved through someone at Admissions?

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no

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@fifalover12‌ - You didn’t just check a box, you also had to pick a major and write an essay and then check a box that said you understand what you are applying for - you were considered for all of the options and offered IA. This is what you are eligible for if you want to attend UF.

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@Melissa96‌ - It wasn’t actually an essay, it was simply a response as to why I was interested in it. No where on the application did it mention that if I “expressed interest” in the program that that would be the only thing I would be considered for. I do not believe I was considered for all possible admissions as I applied for Fall semester and chose a major separate from IA. So before mindlessly replying and telling me what “I” did, consider asking a question to further understand the parameters as to what it is going on.

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OK, sure but you were considered for all the terms and then offered IA. I was surprised because the few years you just checked a box to express interest but the application is much more intentional about makiing sure you know what you are checking with the extra prompt and major selection. I’m just wondering why you checked the box and did the additional steps if you have no interest in the program?

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This is how admission works if you check that IA box:

  1. You were ‘internally’ accepted to a traditional Fall/SummerB seat.
  2. They noticed you checked the IA box, which means you were okay with IA rather than traditional.
  3. They ‘officially’ accepted you for IA
  4. They ‘officially’ accepted someone else for the seat (what would have been yours) that you were okay with giving up since you checked that box.

In simpler words, you would have been admitted traditionally, but when you checked that box, you allowed someone else to take it because you were okay for IA anyways.

This process was explicitly implied in the application.

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@Melissa96‌ It’s not that I have “NO” interest, I just checked the box because I wanted to “express interest,” which is exactly the phrasing used on the application. There is no explicit implication on the application that that was the process in which I would be considered @HectorSalamanca‌ So please, refrain from the mindless comments such as that which hold no merit.

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@fifalover12 - you are not alone.

My son received the EXACT same admissions response from UF as you did. Like you, he checked the box “indicating interest” and received the same admissions letter as you received. He was not given an admit/deny decision as to the “traditional” school year (as the online application promised that he would), nor is it that he is a weaker student: straight-A’s, graduated high school in 3 years #1 in his class, 33 ACT, extracurriculars and community service hours out the wazoo, etc.

The UF application makes the process of applying to the IA program seem like just an option for highly-motivated and well-qualified students; in fact, the application states that you will be considered FIRST for the term of your preference and THEN also for the Innovation Academy. When the admission arrives, we were NOT given the option of the traditional year or IA as promised.

The University of Florida’s Innovation Academy website is GROSSLY MISLEADING by not disclosing that Innovation Academy students cannot attend in any subsequent-to-Freshman year fall semesters. It’s one thing for this UF program to shift its academic calendar to Spring-Summer in order to offset academic loads for incoming freshmen; it’s quite another to withhold material information that IA students CANNOT ATTEND IN FALL in any subsequent year. The an Innovation Academy website speaks glowingly of the “flexibility” and “options” you have in fall for travel abroad, for online courses, and so forth, but they DO NOT tell you that you are prohibited from subsequent FALL campus housing or on-campus classes EVER. In fact, as an IA student, you are a second-class citizen (though they will strenuously assure you that you were subject to the same admissions standards as every other UF student). Classes offered during summer are different and far fewer than those offered in fall (professors like the summer off, too). Scheduling conflicts will occur and some students on other threads report having lost a year of college because they can’t get into the prerequisites they need in Spring so that they have to wait for the subsequent year to take online courses in fall. In private business, this would be called fraudulent advertising.

If your and our experiences are any indication, would you really want to attend a school that is willing to capriciously foreclose student options with misleading information?

As for my son, he will attend the Burnett Honors College at the University of Central Florida on a full ride scholarship.

UF doesn’t care, and it shows: the Gators to us are now all that and a bag of beans. Go UCF Knights!

1 Like
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@OrlandoDad‌
I am sorry, that this happened to your son and I understand your frustration, but don’t you think it’s kind of odd to rant to mostly happy UF students by talking about UCF for the last part?

Contrary to this, I can say that UCF is the one university I have been accepted to I don’t even consider anymore, just because their service is terrible and some other issues…

But back to the topic so maybe less people make the mistake of accidentally applying to the IA without actually wanting to.

Here is the official FAQ from the IA website which is located under Resources > FAQS:
http://innovationacademy.ufl.edu/faq/

“[…]Innovation Academy students cannot attend in any subsequent-to-Freshman year fall semesters.”

From the Website:
"Incoming IA students may enroll in Fall Connection online courses during their pre-enrollment fall semester.

[…]

IA students cannot enroll in on-campus courses during fall semesters"

“[…]but they DO NOT tell you that you are prohibited from subsequent FALL campus housing or on-campus classes EVER.”

From the Website:
“Beginning fall 2015, incoming IA students are eligible to live on campus during their pre-enrollment fall semester if they are enrolled in online fall connection courses. Subsequent fall semesters IA students are eligible to live on campus. Students interested in living on campus should contact the UF Department of Housing and Residence Education as early as possible, as housing contracts often fill up quickly and details sometimes change (number of credits required to live on campus, availability of space, etc.).”

" In fact, as an IA student, you are a second-class citizen […]"

I have read some reviews of people actually being very excited and happy about being in the IA… If you look past the “misguidance” (if you agree or not) it is still a viable academic program with many options.

Anyways, I wish you and your son the best of luck and a great experience at UCF. :slight_smile:

Counter Go UF Gators! :wink: