UF and Santa Fe College students seeking an online degree have a new UF resource available to them.
The grand opening of the UF @ Santa Fe Center, also known as the Gator Den, took place Wednesday morning.
Located in Building H of Santa Fe's Northwest campus at 3000 NW 83rd Street, the Gator Den is a partnership between UF and Santa Fe.
The goal of the facility is to provide easier access to online degree programs and help prepare transfer students for entrance into UF.
UF is currently offering online degree programs in business administration and sports management through Santa Fe, but more will be added as the new program expands.
Steve Dorman, dean of the UF College of Health and Human Performance, said only a small percentage of adults in Florida have a bachelor's degree.
Because of these statistics, Dorman said, it is important to make education more available to residents across the state of Florida.
"This is two government agencies getting it right for the betterment of Floridians," Dorman said.
UF paid for the building's renovation, which cost about $200,000, according to Santa Fe's website, sfcollege.edu. UF and Santa Fe will split the cost of a full-time adviser/recruiter, who will give information about UF's distance-learning programs and transferring to UF.
