History of University of Florida in Timeline

The University of Florida, a public land-grant research university located in Gainesville, Florida, is a senior member of the State University System of Florida. Founded in 1853, it has been operating continuously on its Gainesville campus since 1906. It is a major institution of higher education in the state.

1903: Florida Agricultural College Renamed

In 1903, the Florida Legislature renamed Florida Agricultural College to the "University of Florida" to expand its curriculum beyond agricultural and engineering offerings.

1904: Continuation of the University of Florida Name

In 1904, the name "University of Florida" continued to be used for the Florida Agricultural College, marking the second year of this designation.

July 6, 1905: Gainesville Selected as Site for New University

On July 6, 1905, the Board of Control selected Gainesville as the location for the new University of the State of Florida, after lobbying efforts led by Mayor William Reuben Thomas.

1905: Buckman Act Reorganizes Higher Education

In 1905, the Florida Legislature passed the Buckman Act, reorganizing the state's publicly supported higher education institutions and merging four institutions to create a new "University of the State of Florida" for white men.

1905: Official Founding of ROTC Program

In 1905, the University of Florida Reserve Officer Training Corps was officially founded, making it one of the oldest programs in the nation.

September 1906: University of Florida operates on Gainesville campus

In September 1906, the University of Florida began operating continuously on its Gainesville campus.

September 26, 1906: First Semester Begins in Gainesville

On September 26, 1906, the University of the State of Florida's first semester began in Gainesville with 102 students and two completed buildings: Buckman Hall and Thomas Hall.

1906: First Varsity Football Team

In 1906, the University of Florida fielded its first official varsity football team when the university held its first classes on its new Gainesville campus.

1906: University Housed in Lake City

In 1906, the new university was temporarily housed at the former Florida Agricultural College campus in Lake City as the Gainesville facilities were not yet ready.

1909: Albert Murphree Named UF's Second President

In 1909, Albert Murphree was named the second president of UF.

1909: Andrew Sledd Resigns as President

In 1909, Andrew Sledd resigned as the first university president due to clashes with the Board of Control over rigorous admissions requirements.

1909: Establishment of Student Government

In 1909, the University of Florida's student government was established, consisting of executive, judicial and unicameral legislative branches.

1910: Name Simplified and Colleges Established

In 1910, the school's name was simplified to the "University of Florida," and colleges of law, engineering, and liberal arts and sciences were established.

1911: Gator Nickname and School Colors Adopted

In 1911, the alligator became the school's informal mascot, and the school colors of orange and blue were officially established.

1924: Women Allowed to Enroll in Certain Programs

In 1924, the Florida Legislature mandated that women of "mature age" with sixty semester hours from a "reputable educational institution" be allowed to enroll at the University of Florida in programs not available at Florida State College for Women.

1925: First Woman Enrolls at UF

In 1925, Lassie Goodbread-Black became the first woman to enroll at the University of Florida, in the College of Agriculture.

1925: Alma Mater Composition

In 1925, Milton Yeats composed the University of Florida's alma mater.

1928: John J. Tigert Named UF's Third President

In 1928, John J. Tigert was named the third president of UF after the death of Murphree.

1946: Tallahassee Branch Opened

In 1946, due to increased interest from male applicants after World War II, the Florida Board of Control opened the Tallahassee Branch of the University of Florida on the campus of Florida State College for Women.

January 1, 1953: First Post-Season Game Win

On January 1, 1953, the Gators won their first post-season game, beating Tulsa 14–13 in Jacksonville, Florida.

1955: J. Wayne Reitz Becomes President

In 1955, J. Wayne Reitz became the fifth president of the University of Florida, serving until 1967.

1958: First Black Student Enrolls

In 1958, George H. Starke became the first Black student allowed to study at the University of Florida.

1958: Shands Hospital Opens

In 1958, Shands Hospital and the University of Florida College of Medicine opened, joining the established College of Pharmacy.

1964: Homosexuality and Citizenship in Florida Report Published

In 1964, The Johns Committee published a report called Homosexuality and Citizenship in Florida, which monitored and interrogated faculty and students.

1965: Gatorade creation and testing

In 1965, Gatorade was created by a team of scientists including Robert Cade, Dana Shires, Harry James Free, and Alejandro de Quesada at the University of Florida College of Medicine. Requested by Florida Gators football coach Ray Graves, it aimed to replace fluids lost during exertion. Ten players tested it during practices and games.

1965: Robert Cade invents Gatorade

In 1965, Robert Cade, a professor at the University of Florida's College of Medicine, led the research team that invented the sports drink Gatorade as a hydration supplement for the Florida Gators football team.

1967: Founding of Constans Theatre

In 1967, Constans Theatre was founded as a performing arts venue next to the J. Wayne Reitz Union. Constans Theatre serves as a venue for musical concerts, theater, dance, and lectures, and is a sub-venue of the Nadine McGuire Pavilion and Dance Pavilion.

1967: Gatorade credited with Orange Bowl win

In 1967, the Florida Gators football team credited Gatorade with contributing to their Orange Bowl win over the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, increasing the drink's popularity in the athletic community. Yellow Jackets coach Bobby Dodd attributed the loss to the absence of Gatorade for his team.

1967: First Major Bowl Win

In 1967, the Gators' first major bowl win was the Orange Bowl in which coach Ray Graves and Heisman Trophy quarterback Steve Spurrier led the Gators to a 27–12 victory over the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets.

1967: Completion of the J. Wayne Reitz Union

In 1967, the J. Wayne Reitz Union was originally completed. The building contains dining facilities, meeting rooms, offices, a computer lab, a game room, an outdoor amphitheater, retail stores, a movie theater and a hotel.

1967: J. Wayne Reitz Union Completed

In 1967, the J. Wayne Reitz Union, the student union of the University of Florida, was completed. Library West was also constructed and designated as the "Graduate Research Library."

1968: First Gator athletes and coaches represented in Olympic Games

Since 1968, Gator athletes and coaches have been representing countries in the Olympic Games.

1980: Completion of the Stephen C. O'Connell Center

In 1980, the 10,133-seat multi-purpose indoor arena at the University of Florida, now known as the Exactech Arena at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center, popularly called the "O'Dome", was completed, serving as the home for the Gators' athletic games.

1985: Invited to Join AAU

In 1985, the University of Florida was invited to join the Association of American Universities.

1987: SEC All-Sports Trophies

Since 1987, the Gators have won twenty-three of the last twenty-six SEC All-Sports Trophies, recognizing Florida as the best overall athletics program in the SEC.

1990: Steve Spurrier Returns as Head Coach

In 1990, Steve Spurrier returned to his alma mater as its new head coach, and spurred the Gators to their first six official SEC football championships.

1990: Establishment of the Samuel P. Harn Museum of Art

In 1990, the Samuel P. Harn Museum of Art was established at the University of Florida. This facility is one of the largest university art museums in the South, with more than 7,000 works in its permanent collection and an array of temporary exhibitions.

1992: Founding of the Phillips Center for the Performing Arts

In 1992, the Phillips Center for the Performing Arts was founded at the University of Florida. The Phillips Center hosts established and emerging national and international artists on the main stage, as well as the annual Miss University of Florida pageant and performances by the University of Florida's original student-run dance company, Floridance.

1994: Final Four NCAA Tournament

In 1994, the Gators went to the Final Four of the NCAA tournament under coach Lon Kruger.

1996: Establishment of the Alec Courtelis Award

In 1996, Louise Courtelis established the Alec Courtelis Award in honor of her husband, a successful businessman and former chairman of the Florida Board of Regents. The award is given annually at the International Student Academics Awards Ceremony to international students in recognition of their academic excellence and outstanding contribution to the university and community.

1996: Football National Championship Win

In 1996, the Florida Gators football team won a national championship.

1997: Creation of the J. Wayne Reitz Scholars Program

In 1997, the J. Wayne Reitz Scholars Program was created and named in honor of the university's fifth president, J. Wayne Reitz. It offers a leadership and merit-based scholarship for Florida students.

2000: Enrollment Over 2000

By 2000, during Albert Murphree's time as president, the school built total enrollment from under 200 to over 2000.

2000: NCAA Final Four Appearance

In 2000, coach Billy Donovan led the Gators back to the NCAA Final Four, losing to the Michigan State Spartans in the final.

2000: Founding of the Baughman Center

In 2000, the Baughman Center was founded as a venue for small musical and performing arts events. The facility consists of two buildings next to Lake Alice on the western portion of campus.

2000: Opening of the McGuire Center for Lepidoptera and Biodiversity

In 2000, the McGuire Center for Lepidoptera and Biodiversity opened, housing a collection of more than six million butterfly and moth specimens.

2002: Creation of the Lombardi Scholars Program

In 2002, the Lombardi Scholars Program was created and named in honor of the university's ninth president, John V. Lombardi. It offers a merit scholarship for Florida students.

2002: NASA grant for space-related research

In 2002, the University of Florida began leading six other universities under a $15 million NASA grant to work on space-related research during a five-year period.

2004: Warrington College of Business establishes programs in South Florida

In 2004, the Warrington College of Business at the University of Florida established programs in South Florida.

October 2005: Harn Museum Expansion with Cofrin Pavilion Opening

In October 2005, the Harn Museum expanded by more than 18,000 square feet with the opening of the Mary Ann Harn Cofrin Pavilion, which includes new educational and meeting areas and the Camellia Court Cafe.

2005: First SEC Tournament Championship

In 2005, Under Donovan, the Gators won their first Southeastern Conference (SEC) tournament championship, beating the Kentucky Wildcats.

2005: Creation of the Machen Florida Opportunity Scholars Program

In 2005, the Machen Florida Opportunity Scholars Program was created. This is a full grant and scholarship financial aid package designed to help new, low-income UF students that are the first to attend college in their families.

2005: UF Becomes Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary

In 2005, the University of Florida became a Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary for environmental and wildlife management, resource conservation, environmental education, waste management, and outreach.

2005: Establishment of the Beijing Center for International Studies

In 2005, the University of Florida established the Beijing Center for International Studies in Beijing, offering research facilities, offices, and degree opportunities.

2006: Library West Renovation

In 2006, Library West underwent a $30 million renovation that doubled its capacity, better equipping it to handle the information technology students need. This included the state-of-the-art Information Commons with production studios, digital media computing areas, and a presentation area.

2006: BCS National Championship

In 2006, Urban Meyer coached the Gators to a 13–1 record, capturing their seventh SEC Championship, and defeating the top-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes 41–14 for the BCS National Championship.

2006: Men's Basketball and Football National Titles

In 2006, the Florida Gators won the men's basketball national championship and the football national championship.

2006: Creation of the Office of Sustainability

In 2006, the University of Florida created an Office of Sustainability with the mission to improve environmental sustainability in many areas on campus.

2007: Men's Basketball National Title

In 2007, the Florida Gators won the men's basketball national championship.

2007: Gators win SEC and NCAA basketball tournament

In 2007, the Florida Gators won their third consecutive SEC tournament title by defeating the Arkansas Razorbacks 77–56. They also defeated Ohio State 84–75 to win the NCAA basketball tournament championship.

2007: UF discontinues early decision admissions

In 2007, the University of Florida, along with other universities, announced the discontinuation of early decision admissions to foster economic diversity in their student bodies.

July 2008: Partnership with Zhejiang University for energy research

In July 2008, the University of Florida teamed up with Zhejiang University to research sustainable solutions to the Earth's energy issues, forming a Joint Research Center of Clean Sustainable Energy.

2008: Football National Championship Win

In 2008, the Florida Gators football team won a national championship.

2008: BCS Championship Victory

In 2008, the Gators' quarterback Tim Tebow, led them in a 24–14 BCS Championship Game victory over the Oklahoma Sooners for the team's third national championship.

2009: Sustainability Report Card Grade

In 2009, the University of Florida received a "B+" grade on the College Sustainability Report Card for its environmental and sustainability initiatives.

2009: Policy Shift Towards Graduate Education

In 2009, under President Bernie Machen, a policy shift was announced to reduce undergraduate students and reallocate resources toward graduate education and research.

2010: Partnership with Orlando Health

In 2010, Orlando Health and UF Health teamed up to form joint clinical programs in pediatrics, neuroscience, oncology, women's health, transplantation, and cardiovascular medicine. The partnership provides undergraduate and graduate medical residency and fellowship training opportunities at Orlando Health and will allow Orlando Health physicians and patients to be part of clinical trials through UF's clinical research program.

2010: Career Resource Center ranking by The Princeton Review

In 2010, The Princeton Review ranked the Career Resource Center at the University of Florida as the best among 368 ranked universities in career and job placement services.

2011: Career Resource Center ranking by The Princeton Review

In 2011, The Princeton Review ranked the Career Resource Center at the University of Florida as fourth overall in career and job placement services.

2012: Olympic medals won through the 2012 Summer Olympics

Through the 2012 Summer Olympics, 163 Gator athletes and 13 Florida coaches had represented various countries in the Olympic Games, winning a total of 50 gold, 28 silver, and 30 bronze medals.

2013: UF designated as a "preeminent university"

In 2013, after the Florida state legislature established performance standards, the Florida Board of Governors designated the University of Florida as a "preeminent university".

January 2014: Launch of UF Health Cancer Center at Orlando Health

In January 2014, the UF Health Cancer Center at Orlando Health was launched. The center focuses on developing safe, individualized molecular-based targeted oncology therapies to improve patient outcomes in Florida.

2014: Athletic Association Budget

For the 2014–15 school year, the University Athletic Association budgeted more $100 million for its sports teams and facilities.

2014: Social mobility report on UF undergraduate students

In 2014, a social mobility report by The New York Times found that 48% of UF undergraduate students came from families with incomes above the 80th percentile, while 6% came from families in the bottom 20th percentiles.

2014: UF named number one vegan-friendly school by PETA

In 2014, the University of Florida was named the number one vegan-friendly school, according to a survey conducted by PETA.

2015: Income percentiles related to 2014 social mobility report

In 2014, a social mobility report by The New York Times indicated that 48% of UF undergraduate students came from families with incomes above the 80th percentile (>$110,000 in 2015 USD), while 6% came from families in the bottom 20th percentiles (<$20,000 in 2015 USD).

2015: Goal to Produce Zero Waste

In 2015, the University of Florida aimed to produce zero waste, a goal set by its Office of Sustainability.

2015: Launch of Pathway to Campus Enrollment (PaCE) Program

In 2015, the University of Florida launched the Pathway to Campus Enrollment (PaCE) program, offering an alternative route for students who meet the standard freshman admission requirements.

February 1, 2016: Reopening of Reitz Union After Renovation

On February 1, 2016, the J. Wayne Reitz Union reopened after an extensive renovation and expansion. The 138,000 square feet of new space includes support space for student organizations, new lounges, study spaces, a game room, an arts and crafts center and dance studios.

2016: Renovation of the Stephen C. O'Connell Center

During the 2016-17 season, the Exactech Arena at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center, also known as the "O'Dome", underwent massive renovations, enhancing the facilities for the Gators' home games.

2016: International student population

In 2016, the University of Florida had 5,169 international students.

2016: Forbes ranking of UF as Best Value Public College

On Forbes' 2016 list of Best Value Public Colleges, the University of Florida (UF) was ranked second.

2017: Economic contribution to Florida

According to a 2019 study by the university's Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, the university was responsible for over 130,000 jobs in Florida during the 2017–18 fiscal year.

2017: Dance Marathon at UF Record Fundraising

In 2017, Dance Marathon at UF raised a record total of $2,724,324 for UF Health Shands Children's Hospital, becoming the second most successful Dance Marathon in the nation.

2017: Washington Monthly ranking of the University of Florida

In 2017, Washington Monthly ranked the University of Florida 18th among national universities, with criteria based on research, community service, and social mobility.

2017: Ranked Among Top Ten Public Universities

In 2017, the University of Florida became the first university in the state to rank among the top ten best public universities according to U.S. News. A plan was also unveiled to recruit 500 new faculty members.

August 2018: University of Florida alumni count

As of August 2018, the University of Florida has 545,165 alumni, with over 57,000 dues-paying members of the University of Florida Alumni Association, residing in every state and over 100 foreign countries.

December 2018: Expertscape Recognition for Diabetes Mellitus Type 1

In December 2018, Expertscape recognized the University of Florida as #4 in the world for its expertise in Diabetes Mellitus Type 1.

2018: Tuition and fees for the 2018-19 academic year

For the 2018–19 academic year, tuition and fees at the University of Florida were $6,381 for in-state undergraduate students and $28,658 for out-of-state undergraduate students.

2018: Forbes ranking of the University of Florida

In 2018 Forbes ranked the University of Florida 68th in the nation, based mainly on net positive financial impact.

2018: Faculty Members Hired

In 2018, 230 faculty members were hired as part of the plan to elevate the university's ranking.

2018: Academic Ranking of World Universities assessment

In 2018, the Academic Ranking of World Universities list assessed the University of Florida as 86th among global universities, based on overall research output and faculty awards.

2019: Economic contribution to Florida

According to a 2019 study by the university's Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, the University of Florida contributed $16.9 billion to Florida's economy.

2019: Economic impact of University of Florida on Florida's economy

According to a 2019 study, the university's Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences found that the University of Florida contributed $16.9 billion to Florida's economy and was responsible for over 130,000 jobs in the 2017-18 fiscal year.

2019: Annual Admissions Report

According to the Annual Admissions Report conducted by UF in 2019, roughly 17% of the incoming freshman class was entering from outside of Florida.

2019: Remaining Faculty Positions Filled

By the fall of 2019, the remaining 270 faculty positions were expected to be filled, completing the plan to recruit 500 new faculty members.

2020: Rankings by The Princeton Review

In 2020, The Princeton Review ranked the University of Florida 13th for Best Value Colleges without Aid, 18th for Lots of Beer, and 42nd for Best Value Colleges.

2020: Graduate program rankings by USN&WR

In 2020, U.S. News & World Report (USN&WR) ranked Florida's graduate programs among the nation's top 50 in various fields, including audiology (tied for 26th), analytical chemistry (11th), clinical psychology (tied for 31st), computer science (tied for 49th), criminology (19th), health care management (tied for 33rd), nursing-midwifery (tied for 35th), occupational therapy (tied for 17th), pharmacy (tied for 9th), physical therapy (tied for 10th), physician assistant (tied for 21st), physics (tied for 37th), psychology (tied for 39th), public health (tied for 37th), speech-language pathology (tied for 28th), statistics (tied for 40th), and veterinary medicine (9th).

2020: Graduate school rankings by U.S. News & World Report

In 2020, U.S. News & World Report ranked many of the University of Florida's graduate schools in the top 50 nationally, including the school of education at 25th, Hough School of Business at 25th, Medical School (research) tied for 43rd, Engineering School tied for 45th, Levin College of Law tied for 31st, and Nursing School tied for 24th.

2020: UF sponsors National Merit Scholarship Program

In 2020, the University of Florida sponsored 288 Merit Scholarship awards as a college-sponsor of the National Merit Scholarship Program.

October 2021: Professors barred from testifying in voting rights lawsuit

In October 2021, three professors filed a federal lawsuit against UF, alleging they were prohibited from testifying in a voting rights lawsuit against Florida officials. The university justified this by stating that testifying against the state would be "adverse to the university’s interests as a state of Florida institution", leading to controversy over academic freedom and political influence.

November 2021: Investigations and further reporting on prohibited expertise in legal cases

In November 2021, the U.S. House Subcommittee on Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, the UF Faculty Senate, and SACSCOC began investigating reports of prohibited expertise in legal cases. Further reporting in November 2021 revealed that the university had prohibited at least five more professors from offering expertise in legal cases.

November 2021: UF responds to allegations and reverses decision on professor testimony

In response to allegations of restricted academic freedom, UF appointed a task force to review its conflict of interest policy and reversed its decision to bar professors from testifying. In November 2021, they stated that professors were permitted to testify pro bono on their own time.

December 2021: UF Faculty Senate report deepens controversy

In December 2021, a report from the UF Faculty Senate deepened the controversy, citing external pressure and a widespread fear of reprisal if faculty promoted unpopular viewpoints. It was alleged that course titles on racial topics were edited, faculty were advised against criticizing Governor DeSantis, and medical researchers were compelled to destroy data related to the COVID pandemic.

2021: Olympic Medals Won as of 2021

As of 2021, University of Florida students and alumni had won 143 Olympic medals, including 69 gold medals.

2021: Student Enrollment and McKnight Brain Institute

In 2021, more than 7,000 students were enrolled in all six UF Health colleges. Additionally, the Evelyn F. and William L. McKnight Brain Institute, part of the Health Science Center, comprised 300 faculty members from 10 colleges and 51 departments campus-wide, making it the most comprehensive program of its kind.

2021: PaCE Program Admission Statistics

In 2021, the University of Florida admitted 2,420 students to the Pathway to Campus Enrollment (PaCE) program.

2021: UF ranked among top public universities by U.S. News & World Report

In its 2021 edition, U.S. News & World Report ranked the University of Florida as tied for the fifth-best public university in the United States, and tied for 28th overall among all national universities, public and private.

2021: National Merit Scholars in freshman class

In the 2020–2021 academic year, 342 freshman students were National Merit Scholars at the University of Florida.

2022: UF categorized as "most selective" by U.S. News & World Report

In 2022, the annual ranking of U.S. News & World Report categorized the University of Florida as "most selective."

2022: UF Ranked Among The Best Colleges in America

The University of Florida is ranked among The Best Colleges in America in 2022 and positioned #8 on Money.com’s list.

2023: Honors Program applications

In 2023, 14,089 students applied for 1,778 available seats in the University of Florida's Honors Program.

2023: Student Government Budget

In 2023, The University of Florida Student Government operates on a $22.5 million budget for the 2023-2024 fiscal year.

2023: TikTok Ban

In 2023, the social media app TikTok was banned from use across all Florida state universities.

2023: Student Enrollment in Fall 2023

In fall 2023, the University of Florida enrolled 54,814 students, making it the third largest U.S. public university by student population and the fifth largest single-campus university in the United States.

2023: Fall 2023 incoming freshman class demographics and scores

In the Fall of 2023, the incoming freshman class had an average SAT score of 1390 and an average ACT score of 31. 3% of these students were foreign nationals, while 49% were White Americans, 22% were Hispanic Americans, 14% were Asian Americans, and 6% were Black Americans.

2023: Enrollment statistics for the Class of 2027

In the fall of 2023, the Class of 2027 enrolled at the University of Florida. The acceptance rate was 24.0%, and 6,612 students enrolled, resulting in a yield rate of 43.1%.

2024: Student Government Budget

In 2024, The University of Florida Student Government operates on a $22.5 million budget for the 2023-2024 fiscal year.

2025: Football National Championship Win

In 2025, the Florida Gators football team won a national championship.

2025: Goal to Achieve Carbon Neutrality

In 2025, the University of Florida has set a goal to achieve Carbon Neutrality, as stated by the Office of Sustainability.

2025: Research and development spending

In 2025, the University of Florida spent over $1.33 billion on research and development, ranking it within the nation's Top 25 public and private universities.