The University of North Florida, along with Florida’s 11 other public universities, is asking the state legislature to allocate additional funding to hire mental health counselors for more than 341,000 students across the state of Florida.
Today’s launch of the “Safer, Smarter, Stronger” initiative brought together State University System stakeholders from across Florida to promote the importance of hiring mental health counselors and other system-wide priorities.
UNF has a Counseling Center on campus that offers individual counseling, psychiatric services, nutrition services and group sessions, such as art therapy, to the campus community. The University hopes to secure funding to add two full-time psychologists, two full-time counselors, a full-time psychiatric nurse practitioner, a full-time crisis management counselor as well as a database that helps the University collect and track student behavior information.
“Due to the increase in student demand and no increase in funding resources, wait times for an initial appointment have gone from one to two weeks just a few years ago to three or four weeks currently,” said Dr. Andrew King, UNF Counseling Center director and licensed psychologist. “Additionally, students who were seen initially every week are now scheduled every two or three weeks. When dealing with the stresses of college and the potential for mental illness, time is of the essence.”
The literature on college success and the UNF Counseling Center’s own research, King noted, has made it clear that college students are more likely to remain in college after the first year, complete their degree and graduate on time than college students who don’t seek counseling. When mental health is ignored, opportunities for growth are lost and preventable suffering only serves to exacerbate existing stress.
The UNF Counseling Center, accredited by the International Association of Counseling Service, opened its doors on campus in 1975. Center staff had more than 7,700 student appointments between 2015 and 2016 and between May 1, 2016, and November 21, 2016, mental health staff saw nearly 14 percent more students and provided over 24 percent more appointments to students when compared to the same time frame during the previous year.
According to King, Counseling Center analysis shows that the severity of student symptoms has increased from year to year, while the utilization rate of services has gone up and academic stress remains stable from year to year.
“Students are demonstrating a need for these services, and our universities are working to make sure they’re safe and have the resources to be successful,” said Rep. Kathleen Peters, a mental health advocate who spoke at the rally. “We need to make sure the funding is there to help the students who really need it.”
Other speakers included Board of Governors Chair Tom Kuntz and Timothy Jones, a student veteran at the University of West Florida, who has used mental health counseling services on that campus. Jones said it’s only because of mental health counseling and community support that he’ll be graduating this spring.
The mission of the UNF Counseling Center is to enhance students’ total educational experience by providing a confidential and supportive environment, where student concerns can be shared and explored. Center services assist students with their personal development and enhance their potential for academic success.
The Board of Governors’ legislative budget request is here. Contact UNF PR Director Joanna Norris to set up an interview with the University’s Counseling Center director or Brittany Davis, BOG communication director, to arrange interviews with a rally participant.
UNF, a nationally ranked university located on an environmentally beautiful campus, offers students who are dedicated to enriching the lives of others the opportunity to build their own futures through a well-rounded education.
UNF
Media Advisory: State University System to Announce Campaign
Joined by university presidents, such as University of North Florida President John Delaney, police chiefs, counseling center directors, students and other stakeholders, the Board of Governors and Florida’s 12 public universities, including UNF, will announce their campaign to support student mental health and security, university research, and initiatives to promote student success.
When: Wednesday, March 29 at 12 p.m.
Where: 4th floor of the Capitol, Senate side
Who (in order of appearance): Board of Governors Chair Tom Kuntz, Senator Gary Farmer, Jr., UWF Student and Veteran Timothy Jones, UF Researcher Glenn Morris, M.D., M.P.H., T.M., FSU First Generation Student Genevieve Bell, Board of Governors Vice Chair Ned Lautenbach
Contact: Brittany Davis Wise, Florida Board of Governors, 850-323-0353
Brotman Lecture Series Speaker Discusses Experiences Crafting Science of ‘Nemo’ and ‘Dory’
Dr. Adam Summers, professor of biology in the School of Aquatic and Fisheries Sciences at the University of Washington, will discuss “From Finding Nemo to Finding Patents: Adventures in Marine Biomimetics” at 7 p.m. Thursday, April 6, in the Andrew A. Robinson Jr. Theater, Building 14A, on the UNF campus. Doors open at 6 p.m.
Summers is also the associate director of the University of Washington Friday Harbor Laboratories. His work focuses on the biomechanics of fish—he studies the morphology of fish bodies and how their morphology influences how fish move and function.
In addition to his research, Summers was also the science consultant for Pixar Studios’ hit movies “Finding Nemo” and “Finding Dory.” During his lecture, he will give a presentation about his experiences in helping to craft the science behind both movies.
Summers will also discuss his recent, highly publicized efforts to attempt to scan and digitize the more than 25,000 fish species in the world. As a result of his work, each species will soon have a high-resolution, 3-D visual replica online, available to all and downloadable for free. Scientists, teachers, students and amateur ichthyologists will be able to look at the fine details of a smoothhead sculpin’s skeleton, or 3-D print an exact replica of an Arctic alligatorfish.
He uses a small computerized tomography scanner in his lab to churn out dozens of fish scans from specimens gathered around the world. The machine works like a standard CT scanner used in hospitals—a series of X-ray images is taken from different angles, then combined using computer processing to create 3-D images of the skeleton.
“The goal is to make it possible for scientists to examine the morphology of a particular species or try to understand why a group of fish all have similar physical characteristics, such as bony head armor or the ability to burrow into the sand,” said Summers.
This Distinguished Voices Lecture is sponsored by The Brotman Family Coastal Biology Lecture Series and the UNF Coastal and Marine Biology Flagship Program. All Distinguished Voices lectures are free and open to the public and require an e-ticket, however, seating is limited.
To get an e-ticket, visit http://www.unf.edu/lectures/. For more information, contact Michelle Davis, UNF Coastal and Marine Biology Program, at (904) 620-2830 or at [email protected].
UNF, a nationally ranked university located on an environmentally beautiful campus, offers students who are dedicated to enriching the lives of others the opportunity to build their own futures through a well-rounded education.
UNF’s Student Union Ranked Among ‘25 Best Student Union Centers’ in Nation
The University of North Florida’s Student Union has been recognized by College Rank as one of “The Best 25 Student Union Centers” in the nation and is one of only two Florida institutions to make the list.
In this ranking, UNF is included among several powerhouse institutions, such as Brigham Young University, Cornell University, University of Michigan, The Ohio State University and University of Wisconsin, to name a few.
The criteria used by College Rank includes aesthetic design and architecture, student offerings in campus life, events and traditions as well as proximity to other campus features.
In 2012, the Student Union, which hosts approximately 6,500 events annually, was named by the Florida Chapter of The American Institute of Architects as the best educational building and voted the top building in the state by architects’ votes. It was also voted by the public as the No. 4 building overall in the state.
Designed by Rink Design Partnership Inc., the 150,000-square-foot Student Union was completed in 2009. The $40.1 million facility was programmed to be the focal points for student activities and programs, dining facilities and offices for Student Government as well as the Division of Student and International Affairs.
The Student Union is in two parts, separated by a student plaza, called Osprey Plaza, with a sunshade feature, which along with the curvature of the building, creates a most distinctive visual effect. Both buildings are three stories and are comprised of a steel structure with brick and metal cladding.
The east building is mostly administrative and houses all Student Government functions, Student and International Affairs offices, a bank, Outtakes snack store, the game room and Spinnaker Media. The west building contains a food court with three fast-food outlets on the main floor, the UNF Bookstore (two stories), the Boathouse restaurant and various meeting rooms on the second level, four ballrooms on the third level, along with numerous student lounges and meeting rooms of various capacities.
One of the most unique elements of the Student Union is a 108,000-square-foot grass amphitheater with a permanent stage. Located behind the west building, the Coxwell Amphitheater, which can seat 6,000 spectators, is constructed with a nine-degree elevation for optimum viewing by crowds attending concerts, performances, fairs and other events.
The Student Union follows the University’s other new buildings on campus as a certified “green” building, meaning it uses energy-saving measures, recycled materials and natural light to improve the work environment.
UNF, a nationally ranked university located on an environmentally beautiful campus, offers students who are dedicated to enriching the lives of others the opportunity to build their own futures through a well-rounded education.
John Delaney Announces Retirement from UNF Presidency
University of North Florida President John A. Delaney announced today he will be retiring from his current position at the end of his contract, May 30, 2018. Delaney is the longest serving president in UNF’s history.
“Over the past 14 years, I’ve had the honor of working with a truly remarkable team of people committed to providing the highest quality education to our students and to making our region stronger,” said Delaney. “Every time a student crosses the stage at commencement and I hand them their diploma, I recognize the life-changing impact UNF has made on them and the lives they will touch. The personal pride I have for each and every one of these students runs deep.”
“John’s leadership has propelled UNF beyond all expectations,” said Joy Korman, chair of the UNF Board of Trustees. “His accomplishments are far and wide, ranging from academic enhancements to community outreach. He always puts students first.”
Since being selected president by the UNF Board of Trustees in the summer of 2003, Delaney has made huge improvements to the University’s academic programs and the quality of students who graduate from the school:
- The average high school GPA of incoming freshmen in fall 2003 was 3.6. This past fall, it was 4.17. The average high school SAT score of incoming freshmen in fall 2003 was 1145. This past fall, it was 1208. UNF is now the third most competitive among Florida public universities, attracting some of the brightest students from the state and beyond.
- Diversity in the student body is up 63 percent from 2003.
- The number of doctoral degrees awarded has increased 76 percent.
- There were only 37 accredited programs in 2003. Now there are 54, a 46 percent increase.
- Many of UNF’s signature programs are being nationally recognized including Nursing, International Business, Music, Transportation & Logistics, Coastal Biology and Nutrition & Dietetics.
- In 2009, UNF acquired MOCA, providing new opportunities for UNF students and giving UNF a strong downtown presence.
- Thanks to an increase in scholarships supporting global experiences, UNF students now study abroad at twice the national average.
- Since 2003, overall enrollment has increased 14 percent, to 15,985.
- When he retires from the presidency, Delaney will have awarded 55 percent (52,544) of the 95,459 total UNF degrees granted since the university opened in 1972.
- UNF’s graduation rate is 24 percent higher than the national average.
- UNF has the sixth highest graduation rate among public, urban regional universities in the entire nation.
- UNF tops the schools in the State University System when it comes to graduates being employed in Florida.
- A quarter of UNF alums earn more than $49,400 in their first year.
- The average salary of a UNF alum 10 years after graduation is 23 percent above the national average.
Under Delaney’s leadership, the campus has undergone the biggest expansion in its history:
- The building space on the campus is 168 percent larger than when Delaney first became president. That’s an increase of two million square feet of labs, classrooms and other spaces.
- The campus was 1,121 acres in 2003. Because of campus expansion and the donation of wetlands for research, the campus is now 2,431 acres, a 116 percent increase.
- Since 2003, 13 new or renovated buildings have received the prestigious LEED certification for green construction, including the Social Sciences Building, Osprey Fountains, Tom and Betty Petway Hall, the Biological Sciences Building, the Student Union and the Student Wellness Complex.
- Newly constructed buildings have won prestigious awards. The Biological Sciences Building is ranked No. 2 in the U.S. and No. 9 in the world for most impressive environmentally friendly university building.
- Since 2003, the University has acquired five major buildings from private companies, including those now known as Alumni Hall and Ann and David Hicks Hall.
- Since 2003, Delaney has secured $187 million in construction funding from the state.
Since 2003, President Delaney has also dramatically increased UNF’s regional and national recognition:
- In 2003, UNF had one national ranking. UNF now has 11 national rankings.
- Organizations such as U.S. News and World Report, Kiplinger’s Personal Finance and Princeton Review have cited UNF every year for nearly a decade for providing a quality education at an affordable price.
- UNF received the prestigious Community Engagement Classification from the Carnegie Foundation. The classification is given to institutions committed to providing leadership, resources and practices that support dynamic and noteworthy community engagement, as well as programs promoting civic engagement.
- An estimated 18 million viewers tuned in to watch UNF play host to the 2012 CNN Presidential Debate. In addition to the debate itself, the publicity before and after boosted UNF’s profile across the nation.
Delaney is UNF’s chief fundraiser:
- Nearly $250 million has been raised since 2003.
- The endowment has grown to $100 million, two and a half times what it was in 2003.
- Delaney secured 28 leadership gifts and commitments of $1 million or more, including significant donations from George Hodges, Brooks Rehabilitation and David and Ann Hicks, a UNF alumnae. These fundraising successes led to the naming of the Brooks College of Health and the creation of UNF’s sixth college, the Hicks Honors College.
- Delaney led the most successful capital campaign in Northeast Florida, the Power of Transformationcampaign, which exceeded its goal, raising more than $130 million for the University. The campaign was publicly launched in 2009, in the middle of the recession, with an ambitious goal of $110 million.
President Delaney has made UNF an economic driver in the region and been a leader in the state:
- UNF now has an annual economic impact of more than $1 billion.
- In 2015, Delaney served as chair of the Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce, the organization charged with leading economic growth in the region.
- He helped create and is a board member of the Jacksonville Civic Council, an organization focusing on defining Jacksonville’s future.
- Delaney is the past president of the Florida Association of Colleges and Universities, an organization representing 70 private and public institutions.
- He was tapped to serve as the interim chancellor of the State University System from 2008-09, while the State Board of Governors conducted a search.
President Delaney has created a student-focused campus:
- He led the smooth transition to NCAA Division I athletics beginning in 2005. North Florida advanced to the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament in 2015.
- Nearly 4,000 students now live on campus, transforming UNF into a traditional college setting.
- He created programs and services to assist special populations including the LGBT Resource Center, the Military and Veterans Resource Center and the Disability Resource Center.
President Delaney has worked hard to ensure hallmarks of a UNF education remain intact:
- In 2003, the student-to-faculty ratio was 22:1. It is currently 19:1, giving UNF students the advantage of individualized attention.
- The average class size at UNF is still only 32 students.
Delaney’s contract allows him to lead a center at UNF following his retirement as president. He has not yet decided if he will pursue that option or other opportunities.
This spring, the UNF Board of Trustees will discuss the search process for a new president.
Delaney served as mayor of Jacksonville from 1995 to 2003, leaving office due to term limits. During his time at City Hall, Delaney is credited with launching The Better Jacksonville Plan and the Preservation Project. His approval rating reached 90 percent, with support from both political parties.
Delaney received both a bachelor’s and law degree from the University of Florida. He and his wife Gena have four children and helped raise a niece and a nephew. In addition, they have three grandchildren.
The University of North Florida is a public university in Jacksonville, Florida. A member institution of the State University System of Florida, the University is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. UNF has six colleges, which offer 55 undergraduate degree programs and 35 graduate degree programs. The University is located on an environmentally beautiful campus, which includes a nature preserve.
Health Care Systems Donate Nearly $900,000 to UNF Mental Health Graduate Nursing Program
There’s a mental health professional shortage not only in Northeast Florida but also across the country. In order to address this critical shortage of psychiatric professionals, six Jacksonville health care systems have come together to collectively donate nearly $900,000, helping to alleviate this crisis by funding the Mental Health Graduate Nursing Program in the Brooks College of Health (BCH) School of Nursing at the University of North Florida. The program will educate mental health nurse practitioners with earned doctorate degrees in nursing practice.
Northeast Florida has higher rates of suicide across all age sectors than the entire state, according to a 2014 study by the Jacksonville Community Council Inc. Almost 270,000 of the 1.1 million adults in Northeast Florida are living with a mental illness. Roughly 4 percent, or about 42,000, of adults live with a severe mental illness, like schizophrenia, major depression, bipolar disorder or other psychotic disorders.
“This is a very meaningful gift, and we’re exceptionally grateful to all of the donors,” said Dr. Pam Chally, UNF BCH dean. “Local health care organizations are coming together to support a significant need in Northeast Florida—increasing access to mental health care. A lack of mental health care is a major public health concern.”
St. Vincent’s HealthCare, Baptist Health, Brooks Rehabilitation, Flagler Hospital, Mayo Clinic and Memorial Hospital have collectively and generously donated funds to support this critical mental health nursing program. St. Vincent’s HealthCare is taking the lead in this effort by establishing a non-endowed professorship in Mental Health Graduate Nursing for a five-year period, providing resources to pay the salary of an outstanding faculty member in the field of psychiatric/mental health nursing. UNF will pay the professor’s salary once this funding stream has been exhausted.
“Behavioral health is a top priority in our community, therefore it’s a top priority for our ministry at St. Vincent’s. Northeast Florida ranks as the second-lowest area in the state for mental health funding, which makes it even more imperative for us to invest in partnerships like these to grow capacity and add necessary resources to ensure all patients in need have access to the essential behavioral health care they need locally,” said Tom VanOsdol, interim CEO of St. Vincent’s HealthCare. “Supporting this program and professorship at UNF aligns perfectly with our regional strategy and our mission to provide compassionate, holistic care to everyone throughout the communities we serve.”
Currently, Brooks College offers a Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. This program is fully accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs and prepares mental health counselors to provide direct counseling services to individuals, groups and families. Program graduates not only directly counsel but also advocate for clients’ rights through participation in community, state and national organizational efforts, becoming leaders in community agencies and facilitating delivery of optimum mental health services.
With the addition of the Mental Health Graduate Nursing Program at UNF, BCH will prepare mental health professionals who will have a significant impact on the health of the First Coast. With additional attention in this health care field, specifically Northeast Florida, BCH is hopeful that mental health care will improve and that social issues, like homelessness and addiction, will decrease.
The Brooks College of Health prides itself as being a leader in the preparation of the highest quality health care professionals dedicated to serving the community. For this reason, the College is continually working to provide specialized programming in a wide range of health care fields. Currently, BCH offers a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and bachelor’s degrees in public health, exercise science, health administration, athletic training and nutrition.
Graduate programs include public health, health administration, clinical mental health counseling, exercise science and chronic disease and nutrition. BCH offers three doctoral degrees: a Doctorate of Nursing Practice and a Doctorate of Physical Therapy and a Doctorate in Clinical. The College also houses two flagship programs—nursing as well as nutrition and dietetics.
UNF, a nationally ranked university located on an environmentally beautiful campus, offers students who are dedicated to enriching the lives of others the opportunity to build their own futures through a well-rounded education.
Jacksonville Civic Council Leader Featured Speaker at UNF Leadership Speakers Bureau
The University of North Florida’s Taylor Leadership Institute will host its spring Leadership Speakers Bureau event, “Leading through Consensus Building,” featuring Jacksonville Civic Council (JCC) leader Jeanne Miller 6 p.m. Thursday, March 2, at Osprey Commons, Building 16, Talon Room, Fourth Floor.
An experienced executive and attorney, Miller has more than 20 years’ experience leading organizations and moving big ideas and projects forward. Since 2013, she has been exercising those skills as JCC president and CEO, a business advocacy organization that works with leaders of Northeast Florida’s largest companies to promote solutions to the region’s most complex business and public policy challenges.
In her presentation, Miller will engage participants on the challenging practice of consensus building, providing unique insight into this collaborative process. Sharing valuable advice on what is needed to facilitate this dynamic and cooperative approach to problem solving, she will inevitably draw upon her unique experience leading the JCC, an organization that has had great success in harnessing the collective knowledge, experience and influence of a wide range of local business and civic leaders to positively shape First Coast public policy.
“As the issues of our society become more complex and controversial, developing the ability to bridge that gap between different groups and ideas becomes all the more essential for today’s emerging leaders,” said Alison Noonan, outreach coordinator for UNF’s Taylor Leadership Institute. “When working among diverse groups with often conflicting interests, the ability to find common ground and identify mutually beneficial solutions is a valuable skill that, when developed, has the potential to benefit UNF students in countless ways.”
Participants are invited to attend a reception, catered by Chartwells, immediately following the presentation. This event is free and open to the public. Parking will be available in Parking Lot 9, in front of the UNF Annex, Building 6.
To register, visit the website. For more information, contact Korie Hilliard, Taylor Leadership Institute events planning coordinator, at [email protected].
The Leadership Speakers Bureau offers attendees a unique, face-to-face experience with leadership-centric speakers with esteemed backgrounds, motivating stories and illuminating question-and-answer segments about leadership.
UNF, a nationally ranked university located on an environmentally beautiful campus, offers students who are dedicated to enriching the lives of others the opportunity to build their own futures through a well-rounded education.
UNF Roy Lassiter Hall Building Dedication Honors Founding Faculty Member
The University of North Florida will dedicate English Hall, Building 8, as Roy Lassiter Hall, honoring Vice President Emeritus and founding faculty member Roy Lassiter Jr., at noon Tuesday, Feb. 7, at the Adam W. Herbert University Center, Building 43, Grand Banquet Hall, Room 1044, for his leadership to the campus community during its early development stages.
Building 8 is an academic and business center for students. It not only houses the Department of English, Writing Program and Language Computer Lab but also Business Services, Property Department, Ticket Box Office, UPS Store, Osprey 1Card and Chick-fil-A.
In 1970, Lassiter joined the University while the institution was still in its infancy. He was there as city and state leaders broke ground to build the first four buildings on campus, and he was there in 1972, when the University opened as an upper classman only-institution with merely 2,027 students.
During his time at UNF, Lassiter served as the University’s first vice president for Academic Affairs and also served as the dean of Faculties as well as a professor of economics. Throughout his seven years at UNF, Lassiter was instrumental in shaping and developing the University as he took part in the planning, staffing, development and operations of the institution.
He was selected by the City of Jacksonville’s Human Relations Commission in 1974 to receive the individual award for development and direction of UNF’s outstanding affirmative action program. Lassiter’s commitment to affirmative action was demonstrated through his actions in staffing at the University and through his numerous publications on the subject.
A few of his publications include “Association of Income and Education for Males by Region, Race and Age,” “Structural Changes in Agricultural Finance in Southeastern Florida” and “Affirmative action at the University of North Florida.”
In the late 70s, Lassiter accepted the position of executive vice chancellor of the State University and Community College System of Tennessee, which was comprised of six universities, 10 community colleges and had more than 84,000 enrolled students.
He was very involved in the community, including serving as president of the Florida Association of Colleges and Universities, member of the Board of Trustees and vice president of the Jacksonville Hospitals Educational Program, Inc. and a member of the Governor’s Council on Criminal Justice, to name a few.
Lassiter is listed in the “American Men of Science,” “Who’s Who in the South and Southwest” and “Contemporary Authors.” Lassiter received both his Bachelor of Science in Agriculture, with honors, and a Doctor of Philosophy in Economics, Agricultural Economics and Statistics from the University of Florida.
UNF, a nationally ranked university located on an environmentally beautiful campus, offers students who are dedicated to enriching the lives of others the opportunity to build their own futures through a well-rounded education.
New Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office survey shows community supports police
The Public Opinion Research Laboratory (PORL) at the University of North Florida recently conducted a community survey on behalf of the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office that reveals the community overwhelmingly supports police on the First Coast.
The JSO Community Survey results show the vast majority—78—percent, of Jacksonville residents approve of the way the Sheriff’s Office is handling its job. Patrol Zone 2 had the highest level of overall approval at 83 percent, while Patrol Zone 5 had the lowest level of overall approval, with 73 percent.
“In a somewhat surprising finding, given the national narrative the last year or two, even the areas of town that face the highest crime rates are very supportive of the police,” said Dr. Michael Binder, PORL faculty director.
Most Jacksonville resident—88 percent—agreed they feel safe in their neighborhood. Patrol Zone 3 had the highest assessment of neighborhood safety, 93 percent. Patrol Zones 1 and 5 had the highest percentages of respondents who indicated they don’t feel safe in their neighborhoods, with 20 percent and 21 percent respectively.
Overall, 70 percent of residents agree that Jacksonville is a safe place to live. In Patrol Zone 1 (33 percent), Patrol Zone 4 (35 percent) and Patrol Zone 5 (32 percent), approximately a third of respondents don’t think Jacksonville is a safe place to live.
“In a lot of ways, this is analogous to the ‘I don’t like Congress, but I like my Congressman’ phenomena,” said Binder. “Residents feel safe where they live and work but are less optimistic about Jacksonville in general.”
When asked about specific encounters with JSO personnel, 79 percent agreed they found them to be courteous and competent. Patrol Zone 6 had the highest level of perceived courtesy and competence, with 84 percent. Patrol Zone 5 had the most respondents (19 percent) who disagreed that JSO personnel are courteous and competent. While white respondents strongly agree (61 percent), only 35 percent of black respondents strongly agree that JSO personnel are courteous and competent.
“While generally in agreement about courteousness and competency, the strength of agreement is one of the few findings that greatly differs among racial groups,” Binder noted. “If improving community relations is a goal of JSO’s leadership, this might be an area to focus on for the future.”
One of the most intriguing findings of the entire survey is the consistency in the responses of an open-ended question about what JSO could do for the respondent in their neighborhood, according to Binder. Across all patrol zones, approximately half of the responses wanted an increase in patrols, visibility or police presence.
Most Jacksonville residents—61 percent—think JSO does a good job investigating officer-involved shootings. However, there are meaningful differences across racial groups, with 71 percent of white respondents agreeing that JSO does a good job handling these occurrences, whereas only 44 percent of black respondents agreed.
“In light of recent media attention, this highlights one of the differences in opinion within Jacksonville’s diverse community,” said Binder.
Additionally, the survey revealed that at 93 percent, there is unequivocal support in Duval County for the use of body cameras for JSO officers.
“There is almost no variation across patrol zones,” noted Binder. “The stunning levels of support for the implementation of body cameras across all demographic groups, and I suspect likely for differing reasons, suggests that JSO should find a way to bring this initiative to life.”
For the complete report click here.
Methodology
The survey was sponsored and funded by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office and conducted November 14 through December 11, 2016, by the Public Opinion Research Laboratory (PORL) at the University of North Florida. The PORL has a 27-station telephone-polling laboratory that uses Computer Assisted Telephone Interviewing. A sample of the polling universe (Jacksonville, Florida, residents age 18 and older) was selected through the use of Random-Digit-Dialing methodology for both landlines and cell phones. Scientific Telephone Samples provided all of the telephone numbers used for the survey.
The total sample contained 1,711 adult Jacksonville, Florida, residents and had a response rate of 16.5 percent. AAPOR Response Rate 4 includes an estimate of what proportion of cases of unknown eligibility are actually eligible and includes partial interviews as completes. The margin of sampling error for the entire sample is +/- 2.4 percentage points. Margins of error for each patrol zone are larger.
Upon reaching individuals through the landline telephone sample, respondents were selected in the household by being the first qualified participant to be available to participate. The breakdown of completed responses on a cell phone to a landline phone was 81 percent to 18 percent, with less than 1 percent unknown. Cell phone sample respondents were selected by being the first qualified participant to answer the phone.
To ensure a representative sample, surveys were conducted in both English and Spanish. Calls were made from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. seven days a week (except for Thanksgiving weekend). Stratified sampling, using the six JSO police patrol zones was used for geographical representation. Quotas were placed on each subgroup to ensure a large enough sample of completed surveys from each patrol zone. Each JSO police patrol zone was weighted by age, gender and race to the estimated 2015 American Community Survey. This analysis produced sample data for demographic characteristics of people who are 18 years of age or older and live in Jacksonville, Florida (excluding the Beaches communities).
The PORL is a full-service survey research facility that provides tailored research to fulfill each client’s individual needs from political, economic, social and cultural projects. The PORL opened in 2001 and is an independent, non-partisan center, a charter member of the American Association for Public Opinion Research Transparency Initiative and a member of the Association of Academic Survey Research Organization. For more information about methodology, contact Binder at (904) 620-2784 or by email at [email protected].
UNF, a nationally ranked university located on an environmentally beautiful campus, offers students who are dedicated to enriching the lives of others the opportunity to build their own futures through a well-rounded education.
UNF School of Nursing Ranked Among 50 Best Nursing Programs in Florida
The University of North Florida’s School of Nursing in the Brooks College of Health ranked in the Top 20 among the 50 Best Registered Nursing Programs in the state. Over 130 RN programs in the state were reviewed for this ranking.
UNF, rated No. 18, outranked local private college, Jacksonville University, 33, and bested three Florida state universities, including Florida State University, 20; University of West Florida, 21; and University of South Florida, 25.
“At the UNF School of Nursing, we strive to excel in the education and preparation of our nursing students in order to assure the consistent passing of the graduate licensure exam and excellence in the care they provide to patients,” said Dr. Li Loriz, School of Nursing director.
The rankings are based on current and historical NCLEX-RN “pass rates,” meaning the percentage of graduates who pass the exam, out of the 131 RN programs in the state. UNF nursing graduates have a pass rate of 94.04, which is higher than the national pass rate of 85.26. It’ also higher than nursing graduate pass rates at University of Florida, Jacksonville University and Florida State College at Jacksonville.
Programs reviewed include schools that offer an Associate in Nursing, Bachelor of Science in Nursing or direct-entry Master of Science in Nursing degree. More than 700 students enroll in the UNF School of Nursing each academic year, and the School graduates around 140 prelicensure Bachelor of Science in Nursing students each year.
The School of Nursing was selected as the first flagship program at the University and offers a wide variety of programs at the undergraduate and graduate levels. The program has a community-based, population-focused curriculum corresponding to changes in healthcare delivery trends.
This latest recognition comes on the heels of UNF receiving several other national designations, including Kiplinger’s Personal Finance’s 2017, “Best Regional University” and “Best Online Bachelor’s Program” by U.S. News & World Report, “Best in the Southeast” by Princeton Review, “Best Bang for the Buck Southeast Colleges 2016” by Washington Monthly, 2017 “Best College” by College Factual and the national 2016 Higher Education Excellence in Diversity Award from Insight into Diversity magazine, to name a few.
UNF, a nationally ranked university located on an environmentally beautiful campus, offers students who are dedicated to enriching the lives of others the opportunity to build their own futures through a well-rounded education.
