Statement of Mission

The University of North Florida’s primary focus is on instruction, with scholarship and community involvement playing vital roles. The University provides a comprehensive array of degree programs, with targeted focus on select programs where the University is a national leader.

In fulfilling this mission, the University of North Florida has pledged to follow four guiding principles. These principles are an overarching commitment to excellence, as well as a commitment to focus, to relevance, and to accountability. The first of these principles, a commitment to excellence, is founded on a clear understanding of the University’s responsibility to its students, who deserve nothing less. It also acknowledges that the social, cultural, economic, and civic development of Northeast Florida and the state are linked to the development of this institution.

The University’s focus on student instruction requires students to engage in learning experiences which a) foster critical thinking, thoughtful decision making, and effective communication; b) build strong general and disciplinary/professional knowledge bases; and c) engender integrity, ethical development, a global perspective, and a sense of civic responsibility.   The University’s focus on building strong academic programs reflects the fact that the value of a student’s experience at the University of North Florida must be greater than the sum of the individual courses that the student completes, and that academic programs must prepare students who are well-grounded in their academic specialty, capable of meeting the demands of their professional and societal responsibilities, and able to adapt to the changing global environment. In their academic programs, students are introduced to the central theoretical concerns of their discipline, as well as to practical skills suitable to the work force. The acquisition of these skills and aforementioned bodies of knowledge serves as an indicator for measuring the quality of the graduates who earn degrees at UNF and the strength of the institution’s programs.
 
As a guiding principle, UNF’s commitment to relevance requires that each decision made or action taken by the University supports its mission and focus, while furthering the attainment of excellence. Relevance must be evidenced in the significance of the institution’s contribution to the lives of UNF’s students and alumni, the region, and the world, as well as in its research and community involvement.

Through accountability, the University is committing to improve the quality of the institution in a measurable way. UNF’s students, the taxpayers who support the institution, and its employees deserve an understanding of the University’s progress in comparison to its definition of excellence, commitments to focus and relevance, and the goals set for the institution.

Statement of Purpose

The University of North Florida is one of eleven publicly assisted institutions in Florida. Located in Jacksonville, this comprehensive urban university primarily serves Florida residents, especially those of the state’s northeastern region. At the same time, UNF serves an increasing number of students from across and beyond the nation.

In fulfilling the University’s commitment to excellence, the institution seeks to recruit and admit high quality students. Students entering UNF must have demonstrated competence in basic skills, as well as the intellectual capacity to succeed in college. These students should also demonstrate good character, commitment to learning, and a predisposition toward hard work. Significant numbers of these students should have meritorious academic records and exhibit special talents.

The academic programs at the University are coordinated through five colleges: Arts and Sciences; Coggin College of Business; Computing, Engineering, and Construction; Education and Human Services; and Health. Credit and non-credit learning opportunities are also provided through the Division of Continuing Education. These academic enterprises are supported by strong units providing library resources, student services, physical facilities, health and safety, and institutional advancement.

Undergraduate and graduate programs offer students opportunities for general education and specialization within the University’s five colleges and reflect UNF’s commitment to the highest intellectual and scholarly standards. Instructional quality is maintained by striving for relatively small classes and low student/faculty ratios. Students at UNF receive personal attention and caring service within the University community.

The University’s academic programs, those that are long-standing and those that are newly developed, respond to and support regional needs and priorities in accordance with the institution’s guiding principles of relevance. In the institution’s commitments to excellence and focus, UNF also acknowledges its capacity for national prominence. Seeking the institutional and student benefits that come from such prominence, an important part of the University’s strategic plan is the selection and development of a set of flagship programs.

Research and other forms of scholarship are critical to UNF’s commitments to excellence and to relevance, and serve to inform and energize faculty’s teaching. Through their scholarship, faculty members engage with the larger academic community. Student involvement in research and other forms of scholarship adds depth to their educational experiences, helping them to understand the nature of scholarly inquiry. The University’s scholarship efforts also address the critical concerns of the community, the region, and the world-at-large.

Distance learning initiatives, predicated upon available technologies, commit the University to participate with local, regional, and state organizations in serving as a clearinghouse for information concerning available instructional delivery options for students, employees, and residents of the community.

Support Services: The University’s caring environment fosters excellence in instructional, administrative, and student support services. This environment is dependent upon the strength and competence of UNF’s employees, who consistently demonstrate a caring and respectful attitude toward others. The focused attention provided by these employees helps to ensure that students maintain uninterrupted university attendance, make suitable course selections, successfully complete degree requirements, and achieve timely graduation or successful accomplishment of other academically related career goals.

The University’s programs and services encourage the retention and success of all students. The University also strives to provide a full and rich campus life for its students, recognizing that learning occurs both in and outside the classroom. Special organizational structures attend to the needs of individuals from diverse backgrounds. These students are served through activities that contribute to their academic, social, cultural, and personal development. The campus community is made cognizant and appreciative of their differences by activities that promote the understanding of cultural and international diversity.

In addition to funding from the state and student tuition and fees, the University receives private-sector support for its students, faculty, programs, and facilities through the UNF Foundation, which is composed of business and civic leaders.

Physical Environment: Students and faculty are more productive in a safe, clean, healthy, and aesthetically pleasing campus environment, and the University values its designation as a “well campus” site. The UNF campus is unique in that it is also a designated bird sanctuary. The University places a high priority on care of and respect for the ecosystem as well as timely and responsible operation and maintenance of physical facilities.

Evaluation: Continuous academic program improvement is accomplished through the coordinated use of program reviews and voluntary professional accreditation evaluations. The University’s commitment to continuous improvement also extends to its administrative services and support areas. Recognizing that a strong infrastructure is essential to academic program quality, the University maintains longitudinal databases suitable for required state resource planning, accountability reporting, and external reviews. These data and special analyses and studies provide for ongoing academic institutional planning and management.

Relations to the External Community: The University community is a significant participant in the economic, social, and cultural development of the northeast Florida region. It prepares students for the workforce through cooperative education programs, internships, and other partnerships with urban schools, industries, and civic agencies. These partnerships are dedicated to promoting the development of teaching, research, and UNF’s community involvement. These partnerships also provide students with opportunities for training in their planned careers. The University seeks to enrich the lives of residents through cultural and educational programs and services offered on its campus, as well as through a variety of outreach programs designed to enhance the current and future well-being of area residents.