UF Services & Facilities
Gator 1 Card- Student Identification Card top>>
The Gator 1 card is the official University of Florida picture ID card. It is required for all students, faculty, and staff.
You must present your Gator 1 card in order to:
- Use the computer labs.
- Ride the RTS buses for free.
- Use the Infirmary.
- Use all campus libraries.
- Use the Student Recreation & Fitness Center and Southwest Recreation Center.
- Play intramural sports.
- Buy football and other sports tickets.
- Enter Lake Wauberg.
- Obtain information on your student financial account.
- Get discounts at movie theatres and various Florida attractions.
How to get your Gator 1 Card
You will receive directions to ID Card Services when you arrive at the International Center for check in. See the Arrival Checklist for items to bring with you to get the card.
Computers top>>
CIRCA, the Center for Instructional and Research Activities, maintains the university's computer laboratories. These computer labs are well equipped and available to all UF students, faculty and staff. The first step to use UF computer labs is to establish your free UF email/computer account called GatorLink.
Why you need a GatorLink account
GatorLink is an individual's computer identity at UF. All official UF email will be sent to this email address. You will use GatorLink to log in at the computer lab computers. You will also use your GatorLink username and passord to access UF's online registration and student information system ISIS (http://www.isis.ufl.edu/).
Setting up your GatorLink account
You can establish your GatorLink account from any computer with internet access. The International Center has four public computers for you to use. There are also computers in the main computer lab located in the Computer Science & Engineering Building (CSE) and in Library West.
To set up your GatorLink online:
- From the GatorLink home page http://www.gatorlink.ufl.edu/, click "Create New Account."
- You will need your UFID. Enter your UFID, last name, and date of birth. Click "continue."
- Read the policies for GatorLink accounts and click "continue."
- Choose a username and click "continue."
- Once a username has been selected, select your password (at least 8 characters long).
- Notify the Exchange Program Advisor at the International Center of your Gatorlink email. You may forward your Gatorlink email account to any other e-mail address, but you must be able to access mail sent to your Gatorlink account.
*If you experience problems setting up your account online, call the UF Computing help desk at 392-4357. You can also go to any computer lab's "Account Creation Stations" or go in person to the Help desk located in Computer Science Engineering room E214 or E520.
How to check your GatorLink email account
You can check your email from any computer with internet access at http://webmail.ufl.edu/.
Other GatorLink Services:
- Forward your GatorLink to another email account.
- Create your own webpage with up to 20MB of space.
- More information available at http://www.gatorlink.ufl.edu/
Computing from home
If you would like to establish an internet connection from a computer in your apartment, you can purchase a UF Software CD-ROM. This CD-ROM costs a nominal fee and can be purchased at the UF Technology Hub.
Computer Labs
CIRCA provides computer labs in CSE 211, Architecture 118, Weil Hall 408, Bryan Hall 232 and Norman Hall G514. You must have a GatorLink account to use the computers in the labs. Check http://labs.circa.ufl.edu/hours.html for the current hours for each lab. The Architecture lab is open 24 hours, 7 days a week.
Libraries top>>
From the Student Guide:
The libraries of the University of Florida include eight libraries and a reading room. Built to support the academic programs of UF, all of the libraries serve all of the university's students and faculty, but each has a special mission to be the primary support of specific colleges and degree programs. As a result, library materials are housed according to discipline in different locations close to the people they serve. The three largest libraries cover an extensive range of disciplines while the smaller libraries focus on specialized collections.
- Library West: humanities and social sciences (closed for renovation; resources available in Library East or by request)
- Smathers Library (Library East): Latin American Collection, Special Collections, University Archives
- Marston Science Library: astronomy, botany, biology, chemistry, engineering, food and agricultural sciences, geology, physics and zoology collections.
Other Libraries Include:
Architecture and Fine Arts Library, Education Library, Health Science Center Library, Legal Information Center, the Music Library, the Judaica Library, and the Journalism library.
Reitz Union Student Union top>>
The J. Wayne Reitz Union is the community center of UF. It serves the non-academic needs of students while providing a facility for many activities and services for the entire UF community. The six-story building is located just north of Museum Road and within walking distance from most class buildings. The Reitz union now includes the Welcome Center, UF Bookstore and ID Card Services. Facilities within the Reitz include:
- Basement: Arts & Crafts Center
- Ground floor: Game room with bowling lanes, billiards and arcade games, STA Travel agency, Bank of America, the Outfitter for camping equipment rentals and sales, Union Station hairstyling, Freshens Yogurt, Taco Bell, and the Orange and Brew restaurant.
- First floor: a Food Court with Wendy's®, Subway®, and other eateries and a coffee lounge.
- Second floor: Reitz Union Cinema/Auditorium, an art gallery, conference rooms and the Retiz Union Grand Ballroom.
- Third floor: Student Government offices and Student Activities Center.
- Fourth floor: the Arredondo Room offers buffet-style lunches.
- Fifth and Sixth floors: the Reitz Union Hotel, www.union.ufl.edu/hotel, is a 36-room hotel with reasonable rates.
Leisure Courses top>>
The Reitz Union Leisure Course Program offers a wide range of workshops and non-credit classes in subjects such as website design, home bartending, dance, arts, and photography. Most leisure courses meet for several sessions once or twice a week. Registration is held during the first week of UF classes.
International Student Clubs top>>
With more than 2,700 international students representing more than 100 countries, there are many student organizations that represent these interests. VISA, Volunteers for International Student Affairs, is the university's largest international student club. VISA is a very active organization that oversees smaller international clubs. The VISA website (http://grove.ufl.edu/~visa/) lists all active international student clubs. VISA also hosts International Month with many interesting cultural awareness activities.
Student Organizations and Clubs top>>
University organizations and clubs exist for nearly every conceivable interest. Whatever your interests, there are probably people on campus who share them. The Student Activities Center has a list of the more than 300 clubs registered on their website at www.union.ufl.edu/sac.
Information for Disabled Students top>>
The University of Florida offers many services to disabled students. The Dean of Students Office offers individualized support services to students with disabilities. Some of these services include the Handi-Van transportation service, the Textbook Reading Project, and a Speech and Hearing Clinic.
Dining on Campus top>>
www.bsd.ufl.edu/Dining/default.asp
There are more than 25 locations to get something to eat on campus. Everything from fast food to a full meal is available. Visit the Gator Dining Services webpage for a listing of these places and a location map.
There are two full-scale dining facilities on campus that offer all-you-can eat meals. Gator Corner serves traditional homestyle meals along with the "usuals" of pizza, pasta, and hamburgers. Gator Corner has lots of healthy and vegetarian options as well. The newest dining facility is the Fresh Food Company. This dining center offers international and American cuisine with chefs who can prepare your order to your liking.
Students can purchase meal plans if they want to eat at the dining centers on a regular basis. These plans are offered for 10, 14, or 19 meals per week. You can also go to the dining centers and pay a set price for each meal. Check the website for updated cost information.
You can also create a Declining Balance account. With a Declining Balance account, you can use your Gator 1 card to pay for food at any of the 25 locations on campus. You decide how much money to put in this account. Declining Balance is convenient if you want to eat on campus frequently but do not you do not want to carry cash. There is no fee for setting this up and no minimum balance is required.