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. Its origins date back to 1853, and it has been operating on its Gainesville campus continuously since September 1906. As a major research institution, it plays a significant role in education and innovation.

1903: Name Change to "University of Florida"

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

1904: University of Florida Name

In 1904, the name "University of Florida" was in use for two years.

July 6, 1905: Gainesville Chosen as Site

On July 6, 1905, the Board of Control selected Gainesville as the site for the new University of the State of Florida.

1905: Buckman Act Reorganized Higher Education

In 1905, the Florida Legislature passed the Buckman Act, reorganizing the state's publicly supported institutions of higher education.

1905: ROTC Program Founded

In 1905, the University of Florida Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) was officially founded.

September 1906: Continuous Operation on Gainesville Campus

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

September 26, 1906: First Semester in Gainesville

On September 26, 1906, the University of the State of Florida's first semester in Gainesville began with 102 students.

1906: Housed in Lake City

In 1906, the new university was housed in the former campus of Florida Agricultural College in Lake City.

1906: First Varsity Football Team

In the fall of 1906, the University of Florida fielded its first official varsity football team.

1909: Albert Murphree Named Second President

In 1909, Albert Murphree was named UF's second president.

1909: Andrew Sledd Resigned

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

1909: Student Government Established

In 1909, the student government was established.

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: Mascot and Colors Established

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 1924, the Florida Legislature mandated that women of a "mature age" be allowed to enroll during regular semesters at the University of Florida in programs that were unavailable at Florida State College for Women.

1925: First Woman Enrolls

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

1925: Alma Mater Composed

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

1928: John J. Tigert Named Third President

In 1928, John J. Tigert was named UF's third president.

1930: Florida Field at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium

Since 1930, the Gators' home field has been Florida Field at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.

1946: Tallahassee Branch Opened

In 1946, due to increased interest among male applicants, the Florida Board of Control opened the Tallahassee Branch of the University of Florida.

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.

1958: Shands Hospital Opened

In 1958 Shands Hospital opened along with the University of Florida College of Medicine.

1958: First Black Student

In 1958, George H. Starke became the first Black student.

1965: Gatorade Invented

In 1965, Robert Cade's research team invented the sports drink Gatorade for the Florida Gators football team.

1967: Constans Theatre Founded

In 1967, Constans Theatre was founded as a performing arts venue next to the J. Wayne Reitz Union.

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.

1968: First Olympic Representation

Since 1968, Gator athletes and coaches have represented various countries in the Olympic Games.

1980: Completion of the O'Connell Center

In 1980, The 10,133-seat multi-purpose indoor arena was completed in 1980

1985: Joined Association of American Universities

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

1987: SEC All-Sports Trophies Won

Since 1987, the Gators have won twenty-three of the last twenty-six SEC All-Sports Trophies.

1990: Spurrier Returns as Head Coach

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

1990: Harn Museum of Art Established

In 1990, the Samuel P. Harn Museum of Art was established at the University of Florida.

1992: Phillips Center for the Performing Arts Founded

In 1992, the Phillips Center for the Performing Arts was founded as a performing arts theatre on the western side of campus.

1994: Final Four of the 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, which is given annually to international students for their academic excellence and outstanding contribution to the university and community.

1996: National Championship in Football

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

1997: Creation of the J. Wayne Reitz Scholars Program

In 1997, the J. Wayne Reitz Scholars Program was created at the University of Florida, named after J. Wayne Reitz.

2000: NCAA Final Four Appearance

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

2000: Baughman Center Founded

In 2000, the Baughman Center was founded as a venue for small musical and performing arts events.

2000: Opening of the McGuire Center

In 2000, the McGuire Center for Lepidoptera and Biodiversity was opened at the University of Florida.

2002: Creation of the Lombardi Scholars Program

In 2002, the Lombardi Scholars Program was created at the University of Florida, named after John V. Lombardi.

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.

2004: Warrington College of Business Established Programs

In 2004, the university's Warrington College of Business established programs in South Florida.

October 2005: Harn Museum Expansion

In October 2005, the Harn Museum expanded by more than 18,000 square feet with the opening of the Mary Ann Harn Cofrin Pavilion.

2005: First SEC Tournament Championship

In 2005, 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 at the University of Florida to help low-income students.

2005: University of Florida Audubon Certification

In 2005, the University of Florida became a Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary.

2005: Beijing Center for International Studies Established

In 2005, the university established the Beijing Center for International Studies in Beijing.

2006: Library West Renovation

In 2006, Library West at the University of Florida underwent a $30 million renovation.

2006: National Championship Win

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 for the BCS National Championship.

2006: National Championship in Football and Basketball

In 2006, the Florida Gators won national championships in both football and men's basketball.

2006: First Basketball National Championship

In 2006, the Gators won their first basketball national championship, defeating the UCLA Bruins.

2006: Office of Sustainability Created

In 2006, the University of Florida created an Office of Sustainability to improve environmental sustainability on campus.

2007: National Championship in Basketball

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

2007: Third Consecutive SEC Tournament Title and NCAA Championship

In 2007, the Gators won their third consecutive SEC tournament title and defeated Ohio State to win the NCAA basketball tournament championship.

2007: Discontinuation of early decision admissions

In 2007, the University of Florida discontinued early decision admissions to promote economic diversity.

July 2008: Partnership with Zhejiang University

In July 2008, the University of Florida partnered with Zhejiang University to research sustainable solutions to energy issues.

2008: Second BCS Championship Game Victory

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

2008: National Championship in Football

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

2009: Sustainability Report Card Grade

In 2009, 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, a significant policy shift was announced, reducing undergraduate students and reallocating resources toward graduate education and research.

2010: Partnership between Orlando Health and UF Health

In 2010, Orlando Health and UF Health partnered to form joint clinical programs in several areas of medicine.

2010: Princeton Review ranks Career Resource Center #1

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: Princeton Review ranks Career Resource Center #4

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: Construction of new research facilities

As of 2012, the University of Florida had more than $750 million in new research facilities recently completed or under construction.

2012: Olympic Medals Through Summer Olympics

Through the 2012 Summer Olympics, Gator athletes have won numerous Olympic medals.

2013: Designated as a "preeminent university"

In 2013, after the Florida state legislature created 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.

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: Number one vegan-friendly school

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

2014: Social mobility report

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 percentile.

2015: PaCE Program Launched

In the fall of 2015, UF launched the PaCE program, providing an alternative enrollment pathway for students.

2015: Goal to Produce Zero Waste

The Office of Sustainability set a goal to produce zero waste by 2015.

February 1, 2016: Reopening of the Reitz Union

On February 1, 2016, the Reitz Union at the University of Florida reopened after an extensive renovation and expansion.

2016: O'Connell Center Renovations

In 2016, The arena underwent massive renovations during the 2016–17 season.

2016: International student population

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

2016: Forbes rankings

On Forbes' 2016 list of Best Value Public Colleges, UF was ranked second.

2017: University contributions to Florida economy

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

2017: Record Raised by Dance Marathon at UF

In 2017, Dance Marathon at UF raised a record total of $2,724,324 for UF Health Shands Children's Hospital.

2017: Washington Monthly ranking

In 2017, Washington Monthly ranked the University of Florida 18th among national universities.

2017: Ranked Among Top Ten Public Universities

In 2017, the University of Florida ranked among the top ten best public universities according to U.S. News.

August 2018: Alumni Count

As of August 2018 the University of Florida has 545,165 alumni.

December 2018: Expertscape recognizes UF Health expertise in Diabetes Mellitus Type 1

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

2018: Tuition and fees for 2018-19 academic year

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

2018: Faculty Hires

In 2018, 230 faculty members were hired.

2018: Academic Ranking of World Universities list

In 2018, the Academic Ranking of World Universities list assessed the University of Florida as 86th among global universities.

2019: Economic contribution to Florida

According to a 2019 study, the University of Florida contributed $16.9 billion to Florida's economy.

2019: Percentage of freshmen from outside Florida

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

2019: Faculty Hires

In 2019, remaining faculty positions were expected to be filled.

2020: Graduate program rankings by USN&WR

In 2020, Florida's graduate programs were ranked in the nation's top 50 by USN&WR in various disciplines including audiology, analytical chemistry, clinical psychology, computer science, criminology, health care management, nursing-midwifery, occupational therapy, pharmacy, physical therapy, physician assistant, physics, psychology, public health, speech-language pathology, statistics, and veterinary medicine.

2020: UF sponsored National Merit Scholarship awards

In 2020, the University of Florida sponsored 288 National Merit Scholarship awards.

2020: Princeton Review rankings

In The Princeton Review's 2020 Best 380 Colleges Rankings, the University of Florida was ranked 13th for Best Value Colleges without Aid, 18th for Lots of Beer, and 42nd for Best Value Colleges.

2020: Graduate school rankings

In the 2020 rankings, many of the University of Florida's graduate schools received top-50 national rankings from U.S. News & World Report including the school of education, Hough School of Business, Medical School (research), the Engineering School, the Levin College of Law, and the Nursing School.

October 2021: Professors Barred from Testifying

In October 2021, three professors filed a federal lawsuit claiming they were barred from testifying in a voting rights lawsuit, igniting controversy.

November 2021: Task Force Appointed, Decision Reversed

In November 2021, in response to allegations, UF's administration appointed a task force to review conflict of interest policy and reversed its decision to bar professors from testifying.

November 2021: More Professors Prohibited from Offering Expertise

In November 2021, reports revealed that the university had prohibited at least five more professors from offering expertise in legal cases.

December 2021: Faculty Senate Report Deepened Controversy

In December 2021, a report from the UF Faculty Senate deepened the controversy, citing external pressure and a widespread fear of reprisal.

2021: Olympic Medals Won

As of 2021, University of Florida students and alumni have won 143 Olympic medals.

2021: National Merit Scholars in freshman class

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

2021: U.S. News & World Report Ranking

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: Students Admitted to PaCE

The University of Florida admitted 2,420 students for PaCE for the class of 2021.

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

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

2022: Ranked among The Best Colleges in America

In 2022, the University of Florida is ranked among The Best Colleges in America 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 operated on a yearly $22.5 million budget (2023-2024 fiscal year).

2023: TikTok Banned

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

2023: Incoming freshman class profile

In Fall 2023, the incoming freshman class at the University of Florida had an average SAT score of 1390 and an average ACT score of 31. The class was composed of 3% foreign nationals, 49% White Americans, 22% Hispanic Americans, 14% Asian Americans, and 6% Black Americans.