Across the University of Florida, our 16 colleges, numerous institutes, and health care facilities embrace our shared mission of outreach and service to improve and enrich our community, nation, and the world. UF in the Community spotlights the impact of UF in our region.

Although UF has students and employees throughout the state, North Central Florida is home to much of our faculty and staff and to our 50,000+ students. Like all area residents, we want a vibrant, safe, healthy, and equitable place in which to live and thrive. Here are some of the ways in which we are enhancing our shared community.​

The Gator Engineering at Santa Fe program, a collaboration between the University of Florida (UF), the Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering (HWCOE), and Santa Fe College (SF), is an innovative B.S. engineering degree program. This program allows a cohort of students to begin their coursework at SF, gain admission to UF as early as their first spring semester, continue coursework at SF for two more semesters (or until completion of all math and science critical tracking courses), and then matriculate to UF campus to complete their courses in their major.

It’s the kind of maddening conundrum that often faces people with peripheral artery disease, or PAD, a condition involving a narrowing of arteries that restricts blood flow to the limbs.

Rigorous walking is usually recommended as the only useful therapy to maintain and improve mobility for those with PAD. But a stroll often causes severe leg pain and discomfort, which leads to less walking. Might people with PAD ease off a little bit and walk at a slower, painless pace while still benefiting from the exercise?

If you’re not familiar with it yet, UF in July announced a $100-million public-private partnership with NVIDIA that will catapult UF’s research strength to address some of the world’s most formidable challenges, create unprecedented access to AI training and tools for under-represented communities, and build momentum for transforming the future of the workforce.

About 40% of food produced is wasted. A significant proportion of that waste and loss occurs between the time the produce is harvested and when it gets to the consumer. The FreshID project aims to help make sure that food gets to the consumer at the right time.

The ability to operate a vehicle can be integral to a person's ability to maintain independence and mobility. UF SmartDriver Rehab provides driver rehabilitation services for clients in the greater Gainesville area and throughout north-central Florida.

Clients will be evaluated by a certified driver rehabilitation specialist who is skilled in addressing driving-related challenges, caused by the onset of a medical condition, functional decline, or due to normal aging.

The UF IFAS Florida Master Gardener Volunteer Program is a volunteer-driven program benefiting UF/IFAS Extension and the citizens of Florida. The program relies on dedicated volunteers who have an interest in gardening and giving back to their communities. With training from UF/IFAS Extension, Master Gardener Volunteers are active in their communities, offering leadership and guidance in gardening projects of all types and sizes. The 60+ hour training period is September 2021 through October 2021. The cost is approximately $165.00 (subject to change). Enrollment in the program is limited and can be highly competitive.