Connecting Community with University Resources
This directory is designed to help individuals, families, organizations, and communities easily find and access the wide range of programs, services, and resources offered by the University of Florida. Whether you're looking for health clinics, youth programs, educational workshops, cultural events, professional development opportunities, or expert consultations, this comprehensive guide connects you to the many ways UF supports and engages with the public. As part of UF’s commitment to service and outreach, these offerings are open to the broader community and reflect the university’s mission to improve lives across Florida and beyond.
If you need assistance or would like more information about any of the programs or services listed below, please contact the Office of Community Relations. We’re here to help connect you with the resources you need.
K–12 & YOUTH EDUCATION
- UF COLLEGE OF EDUCATION
-
The University of Florida Literacy Institute (UFLI – pronounced “you fly”) is an ongoing effort by UF faculty and students to improve literacy outcomes for struggling students by addressing two key areas: reader development and teacher development. UFLI began in 1998 as a tutoring model for struggling beginning readers, but it now encompasses a variety of literacy projects, including tutoring and instructional models for struggling readers, assistance to schools and school districts, and teacher education and professional development.
Reader Development programs focus on assessment, instruction, and intervention for students.
Teacher Development programs prepare preservice teachers and practicing educators to use evidence-based instructional practices to serve struggling readers. These programs include graduate coursework, school-based supports, and online professional learning experiences to reach teachers worldwide.
The University of Florida Lastinger Center for Learning improves the quality of teaching, learning, and childcare. We research, develop, and scale educational innovations for adults and children that put all learners on trajectories for lifelong success.
Our team of over 100 associates combines research, practice, and policy to improve teaching and learning.
The Anita Zucker Center for Excellence in Early Childhood Studies is a transdisciplinary center at the University of Florida.
Our work is dedicated to advancing knowledge, policy and practices in early childhood studies. Early childhood studies is an interdisciplinary field focused on young children birth to age five, their families and the contexts that support their health, development, learning and well-being.
- UF CENTER FOR PRECOLLEGIATE EDUCATION AND TRAINING (CPET)
UF Center for Precollegiate Education and Training (CPET)
UF CPET programs are developed and coordinated to promote excellence in science, technology, engineering, and math; foster interdisciplinary science education across university research centers; build partnerships among researchers, schools, communities, and industries; integrate research processes and knowledge with national education goals and standards; and strengthen the ability of research students, graduate students, and faculty to share their work with the public.
- UF COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING - AI IN K-12 EDUCATION
-
With major investments from NVIDIA and the State of Florida, the University of Florida is leading the charge in building the AI-enabled workforce of the future by integrating artificial intelligence across the entire K–20 education system. In collaboration with school districts and industry partners, UF is launching initiatives focused on four key areas: developing new academic frameworks in data science and AI foundations for middle and high school students; expanding teacher professional development through the successful EQuIPD program and additional donor support; creating curriculum resources in partnership with educators and industry experts; and building experiential, community-based programs that offer hands-on, co-curricular learning to keep students engaged and reinforce classroom instruction.
- MACHEN FLORIDA OPPORTUNITY SCHOLARS
Machen Florida Opportunity Scholars
The Machen Florida Opportunity Scholars program boldly reimagines the first-generation student experience by providing transformative access, comprehensive scholarships, and elite support programs. Together, we are changing the trajectories of students and their families; ensuring that all of Florida’s brightest and most talented students have the opportunity to succeed in their lives and careers by earning degrees from the state’s premier university.
HEALTH, WELLNESS & CLINICAL SERVICES
- UF COLLEGE OF DENTISTRY - COMMUNITY PROGRAMS
Alachua County Community-Based Programs
The University of Florida College of Dentistry's Department of Community Dentistry and Behavioral Science offers several community-based programs in Alachua County to enhance oral health access and education. These initiatives focus on preventive care and serve diverse populations, including children and adults with special healthcare needs.
- UF COLLEGE OF MEDICINE
-
Equal Access is a network of student-run free healthcare clinics established by the University of Florida College of Medicine in Gainesville, Florida. Pre-medical and health professional student volunteers in collaboration with the University of Florida faculty and staff provide care for the medically underserved in the community. Clinics are held most Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays.
The UF Mobile Outreach Clinic (MOC) has been a cornerstone of health in North Central Florida since 2010, delivering free, high-quality medical care and service coordination. By operating a retrofitted bus that brings healthcare directly into neighborhoods, MOC eliminates traditional barriers to care, such as transportation and distance to medical facilities. The clinic’s work prioritizes low-barrier, community-centered access, focusing on improving the health of the community.
Center for Autism and Related Disabilities
The University of Florida Center for Autism and Related Disabilities (UF CARD) provides support and assistance with the goal of optimizing the potential of people with autism and related disabilities.
Counties Served by UF CARD Gainesville: Alachua, Bradford, Citrus, Columbia, Dixie, Gilchrist, Hamilton, Hernando, Lafayette, Levy, Marion, Putnam, Suwannee, Union If you live in a different county in Florida, find your CARD here.
Health Outcomes & Biomedical Informatics
The University of Florida's Department of Health Outcomes and Biomedical Informatics (HOBI) actively engages with the Gainesville community through various initiatives aimed at improving health outcomes. The Workplace and Community Engagement Committee organizes workshops, professional development training, and seminars with community organization leaders to foster a supportive and healthy work climate . HOBI also collaborates with the Ronald McDonald House's Visiting Chef Program, where volunteers prepare meals for families with seriously ill children . Additionally, the department supports food drives in partnership with local organizations like Food4Kids to provide resources to chronically hungry children .
- UF COLLEGE OF PHARMACY
-
Our clinical pharmacists are more than caregivers — they are innovators, leaders and trusted medical advisors. They are determined to lead the pharmacy profession forward while delivering compassionate, patient-centered care in hospitals, practices and pharmacies throughout Florida.
The University of Florida College of Pharmacy hosts a diverse array of research centers that drive innovation across multiple domains of pharmaceutical science. These centers include the Center for Drug Evaluation and Safety, which utilizes big data analytics to assess medication safety in real-world populations; the Center for Integrative Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disease, focusing on conditions like diabetes, obesity, and stroke; and the Center for Natural Products, Drug Discovery and Development (CNPD3), which supports early-stage drug discovery through chemical screening and target identification. Additionally, the Center for Pharmacogenomics and Precision Medicine leads in personalized medicine research, while the Center for Pharmacometrics and Systems Pharmacology applies quantitative modeling to optimize drug development and therapeutic strategies. The UF Translational Drug Development Core further bridges laboratory research and clinical application by providing expertise in bioanalytical drug metabolism and preclinical pharmacokinetics. Collectively, these centers underscore the college’s commitment to advancing pharmaceutical research and improving patient care.
