Academic Support Programs
The Office of Academic Support (OAS) provides academic and personal enrichment services for all UF students who are interested and would benefit. A primary objective of OAS is to serve students who are first generation, low income, AIM or from underrepresented groups at UF, including but not limited to racial and ethnic minorities.
All UF students are welcome to participate in OAS activities. OAS supports the broad diversity of the student body, which is important to UF’s educational, research and service mission.
The Office of Academic Technology provides academic and technology resources and assistance to students. Testing services include the CLEP, GRE and other standardized tests. The Reading and Writing Center and Teaching Center provide individual instruction and tutoring for students.
Center for Instructional and Research Computing, CIRCA, provides student computing labs and work areas, connectivity and utility software, instructions on the UF Software CD, training in computer skills and consulting support for students’ computer accounts.
The University of Florida is a member of the National Name Exchange Consortium. This consortium matches undergraduate minority students interested in graduate study to graduate schools, increasing the number of qualified minority students accepted into graduate school.
The UF International Center (UFIC) supports and enhances international education and training throughout the university and provides valuable support resources for all international students and faculty at UF. International Student Services provides orientation and immigration services to international students studying at UF, from their arrival at the university until they return to their home country.
The center also coordinates study abroad, which offers spring break, summer, semester and academic-year programs. Students can live and study abroad while fulfilling UF degree requirements. Exchange programs allow students to pay UF tuition for study overseas. Scholarships and financial aid can help to finance the international academic experience. Program assistants advise applicants, tailoring the program to their individual needs.
Ronald E. McNair Scholars Achievement Program encourages undergraduate students to pursue their educational studies through graduate education. This intense academic research program, one of the most prestigious in the country, is designed for first-generation and low-income college students, as well as students from groups underrepresented at the graduate level.
New scholars begin the program in the summer with an intensive ten-week research program and attend weekly workshops on the nature of academic life, standardized test preparation, writing and researching skills, the graduate school application process and other topics related to graduate study at the doctoral level.
McNair scholars receive a research stipend of $2,800, paid throughout the program year. Application information.
The yearlong Minority Mentor Program is open to all first-year minority students. The program pairs each participant with a faculty mentor. Mentoring programs have a dramatic and positive effect on student retention, graduation rates and faculty-student relations. This program is administered by the Dean of Students Office and is assisted by a council of faculty and staff.
The Reading and Writing Center, part of the Teaching Center, provides free individual instruction in reading and writing and also offers workshops on GRE preparation. MCAT, LSAT, TOEFL and GMAT materials are available. The center is open 8:00 - 5:00 Monday through Friday.
The reading program is designed to improve comprehension, vocabulary and study skills. The writing program helps students with the organization and development of papers and with grammar and mechanics. Students can also receive limited help in writing papers through individual conferences.
Teaching Center, SW Broward Hall, ground level
The Academic Teaching Center offers free tutoring in a variety of subject areas: accounting, astronomy, biology, chemistry, computer science, engineering, economics, mathematics, physics, and statistics courses. Students may prepare for the mathematics portion of the GRE by working individually with a tutor, attending workshops or using the center’s computer/print resources. Study skills/learning strategies help is provided individually and through workshops. Videos on time management, learning strategies, test taking, etc., are also available.
The University Writing Program offers writing-intensive courses, workshops and support to students and faculty. Courses are based on the premise that writing is a transferable skill necessary for success in all academic and professional fields. Courses taught by Writing Program faculty include Introduction to College Writing (ENC 1101), Introduction to Argument and Persuasion (ENC 1102) and Writing in the Disciplines (ENC 3254).