History of the UF Division of Student Affairs | Page 85

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Machen Florida
Opportunity Scholars
Program
In 2005, the State of Florida allocated funds for state universities to support
first generation students by creating the First Generation Match Grant.
Simultaneously, the UF recognized the growing need to support this student
population as academically-talented yet extremely financially-needy students
were being admitted to UF but were choosing not to attend because of the rising
costs of higher education and the pervasive fear of debt. As such, President Dr.
Bernie Machen tasked the Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs with
designing a new financial aid access and success program for first generation
college students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds. In early 2006,
President Machen approved a proposal to provide full grant and scholarship
financial aid packages to first generation freshmen who are Florida residents
and from families who made less than $40,000 per year. The program, which
was endorsed by the UF Board of Trustees, was named the Florida Opportunity
Scholars Program (FOS) and was available to 400 first-time-in-college students
enrolling for the first time in Summer 2006. In February 2013, the program was
officially renamed the Machen Florida Opportunity Scholars Program (MFOS)
after securing the program’s largest financial gift ($10 million) given by an
anonymous donor in honor of President Machen and his commitment to the
students and this program. The ultimate goal of the MFOS program is to support
students earning bachelor’s degrees without accruing student loan debt.
Because of the full-grant and scholarship support awarded to students, the
program is a costly endeavor. In the first year of the program, 400 first-year
students were supported for a total cost of $2 million. Annual program costs
have risen to $15 million to fund bot h returning students and a new first-year
class every year since 2006. Financial support comes from private donations
and the state match grant as well as university allocated funds. The current
endowment is $35 million.
The MFOS program continues to receive support from former President Machen,
Vice President for Student Affairs Dave Kratzer, Machen Florida Opportunity
Scholars Program Director Leslie Pendleton, and donors as well as campus
administrators, faculty, alumni, and students.
Depa rtment histor ies : machen flor ida opportun ity scholars progr am