History of the UF Division of Student Affairs | Page 29

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President Marston laid the groundwork for UF’s admittance to the Association
of American Universities (AAU) that occurred during President Marshall Criser’s
tenure in 1985. Marston created an Eminent Scholars program, increased
research programs and funding of research, and started other programs to
attract National Merit Scholars and prominent faculty to UF, all measurable
criteria for AAU membership. Membership in AAU is selective and limited to
universities with outstanding academic, scholarship, and research programs
per established criteria. This emphasis on academic excellence continues today
through the launch of the 2014 UF Preeminence Campaign and ongoing efforts
toward Top Ten public university status. Increasing academic excellence and the
admittance to AAU drove the increase in admission standards for UF students.
It was during this time period that UF began selectively admitting students with
very high academic standards in a manner that supported a commitment to
academic excellence within a diverse community that is part of the UF culture
today.
The NCAA football scandals involving high profile athletic programs came to a
head in the mid-1980s. Under President Criser’s and Sandeen’s leadership in
cooperation with University Athletic Association administrators, UF successfully
weathered these scandals and ensured ongoing NCAA compliance, strong
athletic programs, and academically successful UF student athletes. The overall
goal was to graduate student athletes in higher percentages and provide a
university experience for student athletes that was comparable and equitable
to non-athletes. To that end, at the 1991 Convention the NCAA adopted a ruling
eliminating all athletic residence halls on university campuses by August 1, 1996.
The Springs Residential Complex was built in part to assist with the reassignment
of male student athletes to residence facilities when Yon Hall athletic housing in
the football stadium was closed in 1995. Previously, the Department of Housing
and Residence Education housed overflow male athletes from Yon Hall and
women athletes in various residence halls. Today, student athletes are housed in
various residence halls campus-wide and are active members of their campus
communities.
Sandeen had a vision for a one-stop student services complex that would
bring several university departments providing student services together in
one location. This vision was realized in 1990 in a renovation to Peabody Hall
that added the Marshall Criser Student Services Center. The Office for Student
Financial Affairs, Office of Admissions, and the Registrar’s Office moved from

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