SF2UF Bridge to Baccalaureate

Program Benefits

Eligibility

Eligible students must meet at least one of the following criteria:

• Be a member of a group that has been traditionally under-represented in the sciences. For this program, you must be one or both of the following:
  • A) from a racial or ethnic group shown to be underrepresented nationally (defined as Blacks or African Americans; Hispanics or Latinos; American Indians or Alaska Natives; Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders), and/or
  • B) have a disability, defined a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities.

Minority and underrepresented students in the sciences interested in becoming SF2UF Bridge Scholars are required to:

• Be enrolled full time in a biomedical or behavioral sciences degree track at SF.
• Maintain a minimum overall 2.0 GPA and a minimum 2.5 GPA in critical tracking courses.
• Plan to transfer to University of Florida and major in the biomedical or behavioral sciences.
• Be a first-time college student starting his/her college career at SF (dual enrollment credits are allowed).
• Be a U.S. citizen, noncitizen national, or permanent resident of the United States.
• Commit to participate in the X-Lab Institute at UF and be available to conduct research in a University of Florida campus laboratory for 10 weeks during the summer.

Application and Requirements

Interested minority and underrepresented students in the sciences who meet the eligibility criteria may apply as early as their first term at Santa Fe College. You must be a Santa Fe College student at the moment of your application. Students who plan to apply to the SF2UF Bridge Program are strongly advised to enroll in the Entering Research (ISC2931) course. Students are required to be enrolled full time in a biomedical or behavioral sciences-related degree program at Santa Fe College and maintain a minimum overall 2.0 GPA with a 2.5 GPA in critical tracking courses.

Each student’s application will consist of the following items:

1. A completed online application form
2. A recommendation form from a Santa Fe College instructor who can address the student’s academic potential

Note: Once your completed application has been received (both your online application form and the recommendation), you will receive an email confirmation acknowledging receipt of your application. Some students will be invited to an interview with at least one of the program directors, who will prepare a brief summary and possible recommendation for admission into the program. Completed applications, including the program directors recommendations, will be reviewed by the members of the Advisory Council, who will vote on acceptance into the program. 

Maintaining Participation in the Program

Once admitted into the program, students must remain in good academic standing and participate in the Entering Research course (ISC2931). For second-year students, attendance in the Entering Research course seminars and presentations will be required, though they do not need to enroll for credit in the class. SF2UF Bridges Program participants are expected to serve as ambassadors for the program, and therefore participate in a limited number of outreach activities. If students become academically ineligible, they will be given one fall/spring term to regain academic eligibility. If they fail to do so they will forfeit their space to other eligible candidates.

Entering Research Course

Careers in Biomedical Sciences (ISC2931) is a seminar course open to ALL Santa Fe College students that alternates between learning activities and presentations from University of Florida scientists. The learning activities in ISC2931 will focus on understanding the process and culture of scientific research in the biomedical and behavioral sciences fields. The course is one credit and there are no prerequisites. 

Course Description: A seminar course with learning activities focused on understanding the process and culture of scientific research, including examples presented by University of Florida research faculty and staff in the biomedical and behavioral sciences fields. The course will include training in the Responsible Conduct of Research and provides students with presentations from research-active University of Florida faculty illustrating opportunities for undergraduate student research.

Credit Hours: 1

Prerequisites and Co-requisites: NONE

Sample Syllabus

Some comments from the Student Opinion Surveys from students who have taken the course:

"This class is great for science majors to get a feel for the type of jobs they may encounter. We made a CV, and discussed different aspects that interviews have, as well as what kind of careers one can have. I highly recommend this class. Also, my professor was very helpful and informative."

"Very useful course, gave me additional opportunities and my professor was always willing to help."

"The resources, assignments, and guest speakers [...] were invaluable and will be immensely  helpful for my future. There should be more research classes like this!"

Lecture Series

The SF2UF Bridge to the Baccalaureate Program sponsors a lecture series where University of Florida scientists in the biomedical and behavioral sciences-related fields visit SF and share the myriad of research possibilities available at UF. The series runs parallel to the Entering Research course (ISC2931) during the fall and spring terms.

View Lecture Series here.

Contact

University of Florida Campus Contact

SF2UF Program Office
214 Bartram Hall
Department of Biology
University of Florida
Gainesville, FL  32611
352-273-0116