University of Florida

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With the turn of the calendar to a new millennium, the University of Florida Faculty Senate crafted the following academic mission statement for the campus master plan:

The University of Florida faculty renews its commitment to serve the citizens of Florida and educate students so they are prepared to make significant contributions within an increasingly global community. In affirming the university's academic mission, we honor the human component of our mission: our students, faculty, staff and administrators; and recognize the importance of these human resources to the university's success. Towards this affirmation, the University of Florida faculty specifically encourages a campus-wide culture of caring.

It is the mission of the University of Florida to offer broad-based, inclusive public education, leading-edge research and service to the citizens of Florida and the nation. The fusion of these three endeavors stimulates a remarkable intellectual vitality and generates a synthesis that promises to be the university's greatest strength.

The university intends to renew its dedication to excellent teaching and researching by creating a strong and flexible foundation for higher education in the 21st century. While the faculty remains committed to key aspects to the university's original mission, changing times will require that we continually expand and evaluate our academic aspirations. We do this in order to assure that quality education at the University of Florida remains the highest goal and most valued contribution to society.

The University of Florida belongs to a tradition of great universities. It is one of the nation's largest public, land-grant research institutions, one of the most comprehensive universities in the United States, and it encompasses virtually all academic and professional disciplines. The faculty and staff of the university are dedicated to the common pursuit of its mission of education, research and service. Together with our undergraduate and graduate students we participate in an educational process that links the history of Western Europe with the traditions and cultures of all societies, that explores the physical and biological universes, and that nurtures generations of young people from diverse backgrounds to address the needs of our societies. The university welcomes the full exploration of our intellectual boundaries and supports our faculty and students in the creation of new knowledge and the pursuit of new ideas.

Teaching is a fundamental purpose of this university at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. Research and scholarship are integral to the education process and to the expansion of our understanding of the natural world, the intellect and the senses. Service reflects the university's obligation to share the benefits of its research and knowledge for the public good.

These three interlocking elements span all of the university's academic disciplines and represent the university's commitment to lead and serve the State of Florida and the nation by pursuing and disseminating new knowledge while building upon the experiences of the past. The University of Florida aspires to advance the state, nation, and the international community by strengthening the human condition and improving the quality of life.