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Carmelos Brown was transitioning out of military service in 2022, setting a goal to pursue higher education but without a clear path.

At Santa Fe College in Gainesville, Brown discovered a passion for history and social justice. He joined the student group My Brother’s Keeper, where he also discovered a path to the University of Florida. Brown is on track to receive his bachelor’s degree from UF in African American studies next spring.

More students will soon be making that leap from Santa Fe College to UF through Going Gator, an initiative envisioned by Adrienne Provost, who was hired in 2023 into a new role as director of student strategic initiatives in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at UF. Santa Fe was the first partner to join Going Gator, which guarantees admission to a choice of 18 academic majors in CLAS for students who meet basic requirements.

For Brown, a disabled veteran, easing into academics at Santa Fe was the right start, but it could only take him so far. “I knew I wanted to pursue education but was still figuring out what path to take. Santa Fe provided the right environment to ease back into academics and explore different interests,” Brown said.

“I first learned about the Going Gator initiative through my advisors at Santa Fe College,” Brown said. “I had the opportunity to sit in on a class with Dr. Drew Brown, which became a transformative experience for me.”

Drew Brown, assistant professor of African American studies, is one of several UF faculty Provost has brought to the Santa Fe College campus to talk with students about opportunities in CLAS.

Now an assistant dean in CLAS, Provost points to statistics gathered by the Aspen Institute that document the challenges facing the 80% of community college graduates who aspire to earn a bachelor’s degree, required for most jobs that pay a sustaining wage. Only 14% achieve that goal of graduating within six years.

Provost said, historically, the inability to transfer credits, a confusing higher education bureaucracy, and feelings of alienation from campus life are just a few of the daunting hurdles facing transferring students. That resonates with Brown, the transfer student.

“As a veteran, one challenge was feeling a bit disconnected from traditional academic life after years of being in such a structured military environment,” he said. “There’s also the challenge of balancing education with life responsibilities. Going Gator connected me with student veteran services and organizations on campus that made the transition much smoother. It provided a community that understands both the academic and personal challenges of being a non-traditional student, and that sense of belonging was crucial.”

“Arriving at UF was definitely overwhelming at first, but several programs and communities quickly made a difference,” said Brown, who joined the Sankofa student group in the African American Studies Program.

Brown said David Canton, director of the African American Studies Program, has been a mentor from his first day on campus. He also credits Associate Professor Riché Barnes for assisting him with navigating class scheduling, “even staying after hours during the CLAS Preview to ensure everything was in place.”

“Without their guidance and encouragement, I may not have had the same confidence to pursue African American studies and certainly not with the same sense of purpose and direction,” Brown said.

Opportunity through programs often overlooked

The Going Gator program focuses on academic majors that traditionally haven’t seen as much competition for transfer enrollment, such as astronomy, geology, history, philosophy, physics and women’s studies.

“Some of these are majors that folks don’t necessarily think about, so this gives them some exposure to creatively think about how to make the best use of those majors from a career perspective,” said Andrea Evangelist, Ph.D., director of college-wide advising and career exploration at Santa Fe College.

“The faculty who Adrienne brings over will talk about, for instance, what you can do with geography or artificial intelligence with linguistics. It gives students options they may not have considered, along with a ticket to UF,” she said.

Evangelist said she has been working with Provost to help Santa Fe students who are in the Going Gator pipeline become more familiar with UF early on “to make the transfer as seamless as possible.”

“Mentoring is a good opportunity. Beyond120 offers experiential learning opportunities that also can be valuable. We need to ensure that students aren’t blocked off just because they arrive as a transfer,” Evangelist said. She also would like to see some scholarships created specifically for Going Gator transfer students.

Transfers join a vibrant campus

“With Going Gator, transfer students aren’t just finding their way — they are joining a vibrant Gator Nation dedicated to excellence and innovation. By blazing their own trails and illuminating paths for others, they help shape a brighter future for Florida, the nation, and the world,” Provost said.

She credits David Richardson, former CLAS dean; Gillian Lord, associate dean; and Sara Mock, director of transfer student admissions for CLAS; in providing critical support for Going Gator. Brown intends to continue his studies following his graduation in the spring.

“My goal is to work in higher education, particularly in roles focused on student success, diversity, and veteran support services. I want to help nontraditional students, especially veterans and students of color, navigate the challenges of higher education and find their own path to success,” he said.