<p>Florida's largest university - and the nation's fourth-largest - traces its beginnings to a small seminary in 1853.</p>
<p>Enrolling approximately 50,000 students annually, UF is home to 16 colleges and more than 150 research centers and institutes.</p>
<p>Since 1985, UF has been a member of the Association of American Universities, the prestigious higher-education organization comprised of the top 62 public and private institutions in North America.</p>
<p>Educational Excellence
Faculty</p>
<p>Awards include a Fields Medal, two Pulitzer Prizes, NASA's top award for research, and Smithsonian Institution's conservation award.</p>
<p>There are currently more than 60 Eminent Scholar chairs, and nearly 60 faculty elections to the National Academy of Sciences, Engineering, or Arts and Sciences, the Institute of Medicine or a counterpart in a foreign nation.</p>
<p>UF ranked 13th in the U.S. News and World Report "Top Public Universities" (2006); fourth in The Scientist magazine's "Best Places to Work in Academia" (2005); fifth among all universities in Kiplinger's magazine "Top 100 Public Colleges" (2003).</p>
<p>Student</p>
<p>UF's 2005 class had an average 4.06 GPA and 1306 SAT score.</p>
<p>The freshmen retention rate of 94 percent is among the highest in the U.S.</p>
<p>UF admitted 1,049 International Baccalaureate students for the 2004-2005 academic year - more than any other university in the world.</p>
<p>Research and Discoveries
Milken Institute named UF one of the top-five U.S. institutions in the transfer of biotechnology research to the marketplace (2006).</p>
<p>Some 50 biotechnology companies have resulted from faculty research programs.</p>
<p>UF consistently ranks among the top-10 universities in licensing. Royalty and licensing income includes the glaucoma drug Trusopt, the sports drink Gatorade, and the Sentricon termite elimination system.</p>
<p>UF was awarded $518.8 million - more than all other Florida universities combined - in sponsored research in 2005-2006. Research includes diverse areas such as health care and citrus production (the world's largest citrus research center).</p>
<p>In 2002, UF began leading six other universities under a $15 million NASA grant to work on a variety of space-related research during a five-year period.</p>
<p>UF began a partnership with Spain in 2000, to create the world's largest telescope in the Canary Islands. Completion is expected in 2007.</p>
<p>Plans are under way to construct a new 50,000-square-foot research facility in collaboration with the Burnham Institute in Orlando. Research will include the areas of diabetes, aging, genetics and cancer.</p>
<p>Economic Impact
For every dollar appropriated to the University of Florida, a total economic impact of eight dollars is spent within the state.</p>
<p>Student spending supports local and statewide businesses and tourism.</p>
<p>UF is a major employer, with more than 35,000 employees.</p>
<p>Sustainability Leadership
UF became the first university in the world to be designated a "Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary" (2005) for environmental and wildlife management, resource conservation, waste management, and outreach and education.</p>
<p>UF is one of three universities to be the first in the country to offer an Organic Agriculture undergraduate degree program (2006).</p>
<p>Fresh Food Co., located in the Broward Dining Center, serves local fruits and vegetables for the benefit of product freshness and to support local commerce, as well as reduce transportation, fuel and packaging costs.</p>
<p>Service Mission and Cultural Impact
Facilities and offerings include the Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences with 13 world-class research and education centers, as well as Cooperative Extension Offices in each of the state's 67 counties; the Cancer and Genetics Research Building; the Florida Museum of Natural History, including the world's second-largest butterfly and moth collection; artistic performances and exhibits from around the world; and award-winning institutes of documentary filming and digital media.</p>
<p>The Health Science Center serves as the major referral center for patients in the southeastern U.S. Health and dental services are provided in Gainesville, Leesburg, Hawthorne, Fanning Springs, Ocala, Jacksonville, St. Petersburg and Hialeah.</p>
<p>Athletics
Ten Gator athletic teams turned in top-10 finishes in 2005-2006, including a NCAA title by the men's basketball team. Those finishes propelled Florida to fifth in the 2005-06 NACDA Directors' Cup. Only Florida and UCLA appear in the top 10 in each of the last 23 national all-sports rankings.</p>
<p>Florida's 91 percent graduation success rate (GSR) of athletes reported by the NCAA in January of 2006 makes UF one of only four programs in the 2005-06 NACDA National All-Sports top 10 to post a GSR above 90 percent.</p>
<p>Alumni
More than 300,000 alumni are located throughout the world.</p>
<p>Famous alumni include two current NASA astronauts, several presidents of the American Bar Association (more ABA presidents have come from the Levin College of Law than any other U.S. law school), "Red" Barber (radio announcer), Faye Dunaway (actress), Buddy Ebsen (actor/dancer), Bob Graham (politician), Emmitt Smith (athlete), and Steve Spurrier (athlete/coach), Mel Tillis (singer), and Bob Vila (home improvement expert).</p>
<p>The University of Florida is in Gainesville. The Gator Nation is everywhere
The Gator Nation includes millions of people throughout the world - students, alumni, faculty, staff and administrators, as well as sports fans and anyone who wishes to affiliate with the values and spirit of the University of Florida.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.ufl.edu/facts/%5B/url%5D">http://www.ufl.edu/facts/</a></p>