News

This year, the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences celebrated a successful Stand Up & Holler: Gator Nation Giving Day, highlighting the generosity of our donors who invested more than $1.5 million to support programs and initiatives benefitting students, faculty and staff throughout the college.

Gator Nation Giving Day brings together the UF community, including alumni, parents, students, donors, faculty, and staff, in a spirited 24-hour fundraising campaign. This year marked the university’s sixth event, held on Feb. 15, where supporters were encouraged to contribute to their preferred areas of interest within UF.

Dean David E. Richardson emphasized the importance of Giving Day in not only generating financial support for student success but also fostering a culture of philanthropy within the CLAS community around the college’s many outstanding programs.

“Giving Day unites our community in a shared mission of support and generosity,” he said. “It’s more than fundraising; it’s about cultivating a spirit of partnership with our alumni and friends.”

CLAS received over 1,000 gifts from 825 donors and successfully met three giving challenges.

These contributions will help the college in a variety of ways, from providing students with new learning opportunities to funding faculty research and projects across campus. Donor-supported initiatives included:

Enhanced experiential learning opportunities:

• The Department of Biology’s Experiential Learning Fund will support experimental teaching methods with an intensive Semester of Immersion program, offering hands-on learning through fieldwork, research, and intensive class sessions.
• Beyond120, the college’s flagship experiential learning program, received tremendous support which will transform learning opportunities outside of the classroom, including internships, excursions, and mentorship connections.

Outreach that makes a difference:

• The Department of Physics’ Unrestricted Fund, which raised over $2,500, will allow for expanded engagement in physics teaching and research with support for the recruitment of faculty and graduate students, group activities, and community engagement events.
• The Bud Shorstein Center for Jewish Studies will use funding to host public programs and to help create a warm environment for Jewish students, faculty, and staff at UF.
• The funds raised by the Department of Astronomy will support the enrichment of programming, including colloquia by noted astronomers, career talks by alumni, and recognition awards for outstanding student engagement.

Expanded student experiences:

• The Bob Graham Center for Public Service will use funding to cultivate civic leadership by immersing aspiring public service professionals in internship pipelines.
• The Center for African Studies will expand its student and community outreach efforts by engaging in extracurricular activities that promote community building and public programming.
• The Department of Gender, Sexuality, and Women’s Studies plans to support its student and faculty scholarship programs, creating more opportunities to host public events and travel for conferences.

Support for graduate student and faculty teaching:

• The Department of History’s Bridget Phillips Term Professor Fund saw over $22,000 raised toward the establishment of a term professorship.
• The Department of Economics encouraged support for one of their highest awards for doctoral students: the Lawrence Kenny Graduate Student Teaching Award. This award recognizes doctoral students for their impact on undergraduate education and teaching.

Financial support for students:

• The Sociology and Criminology & Law Lanza-Kaduce Scholarship Fund will provide scholarships to undergraduate or graduate students with financial need and preference to first-generation students who have worked in public service or whose families are public servants.
• The Geology Department Fund will enhance graduate student stipends with the funds raised on Giving Day, improve Department of Geological Sciences facilities, and sponsor distinguished seminar speakers.