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Inside ‘Swoop’ on what’s new and upcoming for 2025-26 academic year

August 18, 2025

As UNF soars into the fall semester, students and visitors will spot notable upgrades across campus, including major building renovation projects, new academic programs, fresh dining options and exciting events. There will be opportunities for campus engagement and academic and personal growth for all Ospreys joining The Nest this academic year.   

Here is a closer look at what’s new and upcoming at UNF: 

  • Campus Upgrades 
  • Parking and Transportation 
  • Academic Updates 
  • New Faculty 
  • Fresh Dining Choices 
  • Carpenter Library 
  • Athletics 
  • Arts & Culture 
  • Upcoming Events 

Campus upgrades - What’s new 

Over the summer, UNF continued to grow with exciting renovation projects across campus.  

  • Osprey Ridge: The first major housing expansion since 2009, this new four-story residence hall on Osprey Ridge Road offers over 165,000 square feet of modern housing for approximately 520 students from any program. It also features a living-learning community for Hicks Honors College students to connect with peers who share their academic goals and interests. 
  • Osprey Print and Ship store: The newly updated Osprey Print and Ship store, conveniently located in the heart of campus, offers printing services, shipping and passport photos. For more information on location and hours, visit the Business Services website.  

Campus upgrades – What's coming soon  

  • Hicks Hall: Several spaces on the first floor of Hicks Hall are being remodeled to accommodate the Human Resources department and the Office of Title IX and Civil Rights, which will be moving from Building 1. The project will be completed fall 2025.  
  • Brooks Brown Hall: The Brooks College of Health project received funding from the State for several lab interior renovations. The project has just begun and aims to be completed by spring 2026. 
  • Student Support and Academic Building: The Student Support and Academic Building was funded by the State last year. The 50,000-square foot project will provide student-facing support services on the northeast side of the green behind the Carpenter Library. The new building will be three stories tall and will house new dining areas, student lounge, study areas and academic support labs. The project will break ground in spring 2026. 
  • Esports Venue: Construction has begun on the new Flight Deck esports venue at the Delaney Student Union. This project will bring state of the art competitive gaming to UNF and aims to be completed by spring 2026. 
  • Osprey Landing: Two projects are just beginning that will renovate the exterior stairs for buildings T, U, V, W, X and Y at Osprey Landing and Osprey Cove. At the same time, buildings W, X and Y will have mechanical renovations. These improvements are set to be completed prior to fall 2026. 
  • Coggin College of Business: The Coggin College of Business (Building 42) and the second story of Building 10 is currently under construction. This project involves the construction of a new three-story complex and a bridge connecting the buildings. The completion is projected for fall 2026. 
  • Honors College Academic Building: A new multi-story academic building will be constructed just north of the new Osprey Ridge housing project. Construction will begin in fall 2026.  
  • Academic and Student Affairs (A&SA) Suite Remodel: This project will begin over winter break to renovate A&SA as well as some of the common areas of the second floor of Building 1. A&AS will move to the first floor of the building in the old HR space for the duration of the project. This project is scheduled to be completed in fall 2026. 
  • Apartment Complex: This new apartment project will break ground this fall on land just to the south of the Flats Residential Complex. The land has been leased to a developer who will build a 700-bed apartment complex to be completed by fall 2027. 

Parking and Transportation  

Flowbird and kiosk services have been replaced with AIMS Mobile Pay (AMP) systems, available via the AMP Park app or at aimsmobilepay.com. The app allows repeat visitors to store vehicle and payment information for added convenience, and a faster, simpler checkout for daily parking passes. Daily pass rates remain unchanged. For more information, visit Parking for Visitors or Event and Validation Code Requests. 

Academic updates for this semester 

Academic updates coming spring 2026 

  • New accelerated pathways: The BS in engineering physics to the MS in materials science and engineering will be offered as an accelerated pathway.  
  • New majors: New majors will be added under the BS in communications, including public relations, multimedia journalism, advertising and digital video production.  
  • New concentrations: Several new concentrations will be introduced including sport analytics under the BS in sport management, and the Bachelor of General Studies in integrative studies will add concentrations in humanities and arts, education studies, social and behavioral science and STEM. 

New faculty 

UNF welcomes more than 50 new faculty members this fall. The group expands UNF’s academic excellence in fields including data science, cybersecurity, engineering, healthcare, coastal resilience, biochemistry and transportation and logistics, joining the University’s over 720 esteemed faculty members. Read more about some of the new additions to UNF’s faculty. 

Fresh dining choices 

  • The Halal Shack: This new dining option offers a build-your-own meal experience featuring a blend of Mediterranean and Middle Eastern flavors with a classic American spin. It opens the first week of the fall semester in the Student Union food court between Einstein Bros. Bagels and Panda Express. The menu caters to a variety of dietary preferences, including vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options, offering students fresh, globally inspired dining options.  
  • New vending options: For added convenience, students can grab hot meals 24/7 from the Just Baked Smart Bistro vending machines, located in the new Osprey Ridge residence hall and Roy Lassiter Hall (Building 8, Room 1101). These machines offer a variety of warm, ready-to-eat meals and snacks, with advance ordering available through the Just Baked mobile app. Plus, Osprey Ridge Market, located inside the new residence hall, ensures easy access to everyday essentials for residents. 
  • Supper Club series returns: Dining Services will bring back the Supper Club series, a themed dining event featuring a chef-curated menu focused on global flavors, seasonal ingredients or cultural celebrations, often paired with decor and music to match the theme. These events will be hosted once a month, typically in Osprey Cafe, starting this September. 

For more information on locations and hours, visit the Dining Services website.    

Carpenter Library 

Updates at the Carpenter Library include the new Allen Lastinger Center for Florida History located on the second floor. The Center collects primary and secondary source material related to Florida’s transportation and economic industries and will be open Monday by appointment; Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; and Thursday from Noon to 7 p.m. Graduate Study Rooms on the fourth floor are now available for a one-week checkout, with one renewal. Graduate students may check out a room by visiting the Library’s first floor information desk. The Library Instruction for Transfer Success (LIFTS) is a student-centered initiative designed to support transfer students as they transition to UNF. This program creates a welcoming and inclusive environment while connecting students with essential library services and campus resources. 

Don’t miss upcoming events, including: 

  • Campus Canines Library Visit – Every other Tuesday beginning Aug. 26, 3 to 5 p.m. 
  • Allen Lastinger Center for Florida History Open House – Thursday, Sep. 18 and Thursday, Oct. 2, 1 to 7 p.m. 
  • LIFTS Fall Social Event - Thursday, Sep. 18, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. 
  • Tommy G’s Haunted Open House – Thursday, Oct. 30, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. 

Athletics 

All UNF home games are free for students. Schedules for cross country and swimming will be released soon. Here are some upcoming chances to cheer on the Ospreys: 

  • Women’s Soccer vs. FIU (Home Opener) – Aug. 21, 7 p.m. at Hodges Stadium 
  • Volleyball vs. Georgia Southern (Home Opener) – Aug. 29, 7 p.m. at UNF Arena 
  • Volleyball vs. Florida State – Aug. 30, 6 p.m. at UNF Arena 
  • Women’s Soccer vs. Georgia Southern (Home Soccer Doubleheader) – Sept. 4, 5 p.m. at Hodges Stadium 
  • Men’s Soccer vs. FAU (Home Soccer Doubleheader & Home Opener) – Sept. 4, 7 p.m. at Hodges Stadium 
  • Women’s Soccer vs. UCF – Sept. 11, 6 p.m. at Hodges Stadium 
  • Women’s Soccer vs. JU (River City Rumble) – Sept. 28, 7 p.m. at Hodges Stadium  
  • Women’s Soccer vs. Stetson (Senior Day) – Oct. 12, 1 p.m. at Hodges Stadium 
  • Men’s Soccer vs. JU (River City Rumble & Senior Night) – Oct. 25, 7 p.m. at Hodges Stadium  
  • Volleyball vs. JU (River City Rumble) – Oct. 30, 7 p.m. at UNF Arena 
  • Volleyball vs. FGCU (Senior Night) – Nov. 15, 6 p.m. at UNF Arena 

View scheduled game dates for all Osprey sports and stay informed about gameday protocols.  

Arts & Culture 

The UNF Department of Art, Art History and Design and Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) Jacksonville, a cultural institute of UNF, has a full season of programs and exhibitions lined up for the upcoming year. UNF students, faculty and staff get free admission to MOCA. Find details and a full list of programs by visiting MOCA’s website. 

Upcoming events and exhibitions include: 

  • The Armory South Exhibition – Aug. 18 through Nov. 23 at MOCA 
  • Jax Contemporary Exhibition – Aug. 18 through Nov. 29 at MOCA 
  • Art with a Heart in Healthcare: The Art of Music – Sep. 14, 2025, through Jan. 11, 2026, at MOCA 
  • Blocktoberfest Steamroller Printing – Oct. 31, Noon to 6:30 p.m. at FSCJ South Campus 
  • UNF Iron Pour – Nov. 15, 4 to 8 p.m. behind Building 6 
  • MOCA Winter Market – Nov. 29, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at MOCA 

Upcoming events 

Participate in market days, musical performances, wellness programs, public policy events, Distinguished Voices Lecture Series and other events happening throughout the semester. Be mindful that some dates, times and locations may change. Here are some highlighted events for students:  

  • Jacksonville Jaguars Season Ticket Sales – Aug. 18, 10 a.m. at Osprey Plaza 
  • Oktoberfest – Sept. 18, 6 p.m. at the Amphitheater 
  • Convocation – Sept. 12, 10 a.m. at UNF Arena   
  • 16th Annual Roar and Soar Tailgate – Sep. 7, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Everbank Stadium
  • 2025 Annual Ethics Conference – Oct. 14, 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at University Center 
  • International Healthcare Symposium – Oct. 23 and Oct. 24 at University Center 
  • Homecoming – Nov. 12 to Nov. 15 
  • Fall Commencement Ceremonies – Dec. 12 at the UNF Arena 
  • Swoop the Loop 5K – Feb. 7, 8 a.m. at the Amphitheater 
  • Spring Commencement Ceremonies – May 1 at the UNF Arena 

Tags

Coggin College of Business, Faculty and Staff, Arts and Culture, Community, College of Arts and Sciences, College of Computing, Engineering and Construction, Brooks College of Health, Student Life, Education, University News, Graduate School, Athletics, Silverfield College of Education and Human Services, Hicks Honors College