The University of Florida provides a variety of complimentary services, subscriptions, and discounts to its faculty, staff, and students. These offerings range from free transportation and wellness applications to discounted merchandise and educational resources. The availability of these benefits varies based on employment status, student enrollment, and specific program eligibility requirements.
Free Subscriptions and Digital Resources
UF faculty and staff have access to several digital wellness and news subscriptions at no cost. Specifically, employees can sign up for a free subscription to Calm Health, a mindfulness application designed to assist with stress, anxiety, and insomnia management. This offer is available to the first 5,000 employees who register. Additionally, a free six-month subscription to the WeightWatchers app is available to the first 1,000 UF faculty and staff members who sign up, providing weight loss habits and free virtual coaching.
For news and academic resources, the University of Florida provides students, faculty, and staff with a free online subscription to the Wall Street Journal. Furthermore, the UF Software Licensing Services provide licenses for various software applications for use by UF departments, faculty, staff, and students, though the specific software titles are not detailed in the source material.
Discounts on Merchandise and Retail
The GatorPerks program offers exclusive discounts for UF faculty and staff at various businesses and retailers. Specific discounts available through this program include:
- UF Vending: Faculty, staff, and students can enjoy a 20% discount on snack (Canteen) and beverage (Pepsi) purchases by adding funds to a Gator Bucks account.
- UF/IFAS Bookstore: Exclusive discounts are available on books and merchandise. To access these discounts, users must log in to the UF/IFAS Bookstore website using their GatorLink credentials. The bookstore offers research-based educational and consumer resources developed by UF/IFAS faculty and Extension professionals.
- University Press of Florida: There is a 20% discount on all books published by the University Press of Florida (UPF) and UF Press. To receive this discount, orders can be placed at upress.ufl.edu or by calling 800-226-3822 and using the code 31STAFF.
- Apple Computer, Inc.: The University of Florida campus bookstore and the UF online Apple Store offer different types of discounts on Apple-branded hardware and software to faculty, staff, and students.
Additionally, UF RecSports offers faculty and staff free access to Lake Wauburg. They also have the opportunity to purchase a RecSports membership to access all programs and facilities.
Tuition Assistance and Educational Programs
The University of Florida offers several tuition assistance programs for eligible employees and their families. The Employee Education Program enables full-time UF Academic Personnel, TEAMS employees, and USPS employees who have been employed in good standing for at least six months to receive tuition assistance at the state university closest to their work location.
Other educational benefits include:
- Higher Education Opportunity Program: This program provides tuition assistance to children of full-time TEAMS employees seeking an undergraduate education at UF.
- Tuition Exchange Program: Dependent children of current full-time, permanent status employees are eligible to apply to UF’s Tuition Exchange Program, which allows them to attend other member universities throughout the country.
- UF Health Employees: Employees of at least 0.50 FTE or greater are eligible for tuition reimbursement after six months of employment in a benefits-eligible position.
Free Transportation and Local Services
The Regional Transit System (RTS), operated by the City of Gainesville, provides fare-free transportation for students, faculty, and staff. This service allows individuals to avoid parking hassles and save money while getting around the area.
UF Surplus offers services to UF departments, students, and the general public by selling surplus property, including electronics, furniture, and automobiles.
Campus Activities and Events
There are informal Saturday morning sessions available, though specific details regarding times and locations require contacting Ferreira at [email protected]. Santa Fe Community College students can take free classes between 5:00 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays in room V-16.
Members of Gainesville Health and Fitness or Orion Fitness are offered free classes at different times.
Astronomy enthusiasts can view the stars and planets through telescopes at the teaching observatory on the UF campus. This is available every clear Friday night when classes are in the session. The observatory is located near the new Physics building, which features hands-on science exhibits such as a whispering gallery, a plasma ball, and a chaotic pendulum. The Alachua Astronomy Club also sponsors Special Event Star Parties.
Outdoor Adventure
CORE provides outdoor adventure opportunities ranging from beginner-friendly day trips to extended overnight trips. CORE also offers rental resources to help prepare for outdoor activities.
Conclusion
The University of Florida offers a comprehensive suite of complimentary benefits and discounts to its community members. These include digital wellness subscriptions, retail discounts, tuition assistance, and free local transportation. Eligibility for these programs generally depends on employment status or student enrollment, and specific offers may have limited availability or require direct registration through university portals.