University of West Florida
| Location: | Pensacola, Florida |
| President: | Dr. Judith A. Bense |
| Founded: | 1967 |
| Information: | 850.474.3360 |
| Web site: | www.uwf.edu |
The University of West Florida began September 1967 as upper-level institution enrolling juniors, seniors, and graduate students. With an initial enrollment of 1,422 students and only a handful of buildings, UWF graduated its first 58 students in June 1968.
The move toward a traditional college structure started in 1979 with the establishment of three colleges, and the approval for a lower division was received, UWF admitted freshmen students in 1983.
Today, enrollment exceeds 10,000 and UWF's campus is the second largest main campus in the state university system. In addition to the main campus, UWF owns beach property on Santa Rosa Island which is used for instruction, research and recreation. Nationally recognized research centers include the Archaeology Institute, Center for Environmental Diagnostics and Bioremediation, Haas Center for Business Research and Economic Development, and the Small Business Development Center.
