About

History

The idea of the UF Student Success collaboration began on November 12, 2019, during the first Student Success Summit. Around 200 campus community members gathered to discuss how to support our students best.

W. Kent Fuchs, UF's president at that time, said the following:

We are rightly dedicated to further improving on measures of student success, such as graduation rate or student retention. But these measures are the result of educational excellence, not the cause. The point is to successfully educate students while shepherding them through a period of incredible change and growth. And in that effort, what makes the difference is the strength of positive relationships – wherever and with whomever they form at UF. This UF Student Success collaboration strives to nurture meaningful relationships for our undergraduate students. 

Definition

Student Success is a unit in the Office of the Provost facilitating campus collaboration around advising, coaching, and prestigious awards readiness.

Philosophy

• Students are the most important people on campus. Without students, this institution is without purpose.
• Students are not a cold enrollment statistic. They’re flesh and blood human beings with emotions like our own.
• Students are not obstacles in the way of our goals. Supporting them is our goal.
• Students are not dependent on us. We are dependent on them.
• Students are not interrupting our work. They are the purpose of it.
• We are not doing students a favor by serving them. They are doing us a favor by allowing us to do so.

Gator Community

Student Success believes that no member of our Gator Community can thrive in isolation.

Success at the University of Florida is a shared responsibility. All members of the UF community are encouraged to inspire intellectual growth, engagement, holistic wellness, and a solution-focused disposition. Together, we catalyze student persistence, timely graduation, and personal achievement for societal benefit.