Incoming Students
PaCE Program
UF Admissions holistically considers first-year applications and selects highly qualified students for the Pathway to Campus Enrollment (PaCE) Program—this is not a program that applicants explicitly apply for.
PaCE is a highly competitive program, where qualified students will begin their undergraduate degrees in a flexible, asynchronous format through UF Online. During the online portion of their undergraduate degrees, PaCE students will complete both general university and major specific transition requirements. Once PaCE students have completed their transition requirements, they will have the opportunity to transition to complete their remaining coursework in a learning modality of their choice. The transition options will be either transitioning to campus as a residential student or remaining with UF Online as an online student.
For more information about PaCE and its online advantages, please visit the UF Admissions website.
PaCE Majors
PaCE students choose from a select list of undergraduate majors. These majors have been intentionally selected by UF, as they can readily accommodate student demand both pre- and post-transition to campus. PaCE students may not switch to a non-PaCE major at any time in the future, even after transitioning to campus. The UF Admissions website has a comprehensive list of the available PaCE majors that our students may choose from.
If a PaCE student is not interested in the available PaCE majors, then this program may not be the best option for you academically, and you might consider the possibility of reapplying to UF in the future as an upper division transfer.
PaCE CJC
With respect to the College of Journalism and Communications (CJC), we proudly offer all our undergraduate majors and specialization areas through PaCE. This enables students to enjoy full access to our academic programs, providing ample opportunities for them to get involved with our college and to expand their professional networks.
- Advertising with a specialization in Agency or Persuasive Messaging
- Journalism with a specialization in Journalism or Sports and Media
- Media Production, Management, and Technology with a specialization in Digital Film and Television Production, or Management and Strategy, or Media and Society
- Public Relations with a specialization in Public Relations, Corporate, or Public Interest Communications
Transition Requirements
PaCE CJC students must complete all the following requirements before transitioning and completing their degrees in a learning modality of their choice:
- Complete 60 total credit hours (up to 45 hours may come from AP/IB/AICE credit, while additional hours may come from approved dual enrollment credit)
- Earn a critical tracking and cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher
- Complete a minimum of two semesters and 15 hours through UF Online
- Pass the critical tracking courses for your major with the appropriate grades. You can view the critical tracking requirements for your major and catalog year below:
Virtual Information Sessions
For our college, incoming students are encouraged to attend one of our virtual information sessions. During these sessions, our college advisors will provide a brief overview about the PaCE Program, share details regarding our college’s majors, and offer helpful tips for determining if this program is right for you.
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Tuesday, March 5, 2024 at 4 p.m. Eastern – register
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Thursday, March 28, 2024 at 4 p.m. Eastern – register
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Wednesday, April 17, 2024 at 4 p.m. Eastern – register
Student Experience
PaCE students have a unique opportunity to start their academic careers with UF Online. Once PaCE students have completed their transition requirements, then they will have the ability to decide on how they would like to complete their remaining coursework in the program. With this flexibility in mind, the PaCE program is full of possibilities, and students can be engaged with UF as much as they want. We strongly encourage for our students to make the most of this journey from day one by being bold, creative, and intentional with their learning experience.
To learn more about how PaCE students can leverage the flexibility of their programs, please explore the below videos.
Jennifer
Telecommunication
Former PaCE Student
Alexandra
Advertising
Former PaCE Student
Anneliese
Telecommunication
Former PaCE Student
PaCE Involvement
Across Campus
PaCE students cannot attend face-to-face classes or move into the residence halls during the online portion of their course work; however, PaCE students are UF Gators, and they can absolutely get involved with the University in other capacities, including engaging with university resources, attending on-campus events, or participating in extra-curricular activities.
All PaCE students are strongly encouraged to take full advantage of the University’s academic and professional development resources. These include the Teaching Center, Disability Resource Center, Career Connections Center, and UF Libraries, amongst other resources that remain available regardless of where you may be studying in the world.
In order to take full advantage of on-campus activities, PaCE students who live in the Gainesville area might want to consider enrolling into the Optional Fee Package, as this will expand their access to services that are offered exclusively on-campus. This includes access to Gator Nights, fitness and recreational facilities, transportation systems, and student health services.
Within the CJC
Additionally, PaCE students are highly encouraged to get involved with our college’s activities, which include opportunities with student organizations, research, advisory councils, and study abroad programs. Each of these engaging opportunities can help advance your knowledge of the journalism and communications industry, while also expanding your professional network and contributing to your career preparation.
Given these considerations, getting involved with the college is a great opportunity to enhance your professional skill sets, build your personal brand, and differentiate your resume from others in a competitive marketplace.
For more information on ways to get involved with our college, please view the immersion webpage.
Current Students
PaCE CJC Academics
With respect to the College of Journalism and Communications (CJC), we proudly offer all our undergraduate majors, minors, and certificates through PaCE. This enables students to enjoy full access to our academic programs, providing ample opportunities for them to get involved with our college and to expand their professional networks.
For more information about our undergraduate programs, please review the academic catalog.
PaCE Advisors
Welcome Message
Our college is delighted about your acceptance to UF, and we look forward to supporting your professional development in the program.
As your academic advisors, we will serve as your advocates by fostering your educational goals, recommending resources for support, and equipping you with the tools to make the most of your time at UF.
As you begin your college journey, please know that these next few years will be transformative. Not only will you discover more about your interests, abilities, and values but you will also gain new perspectives from diverse groups of people, including peers, faculty, staff, and alumni. We strongly encourage you to get involved and to proactively seek out meaningful experiences that align with your goals. Be brave enough to explore new learning opportunities and creative enough to forge your own pathway in life.
There will be challenges on the journey ahead but know that you are never alone. In addition to the friends and family you already have, you will soon have access to an incredible team of faculty, staff, and mentors who will assist you along the way. The Gator Nation is everywhere, and we are happy to welcome you as the newest member to our family.
Layne Weitzel and Jennifer Barrett
PaCE Advisors
Advisor Availability
Our college advisors are generally available to meet with currently enrolled students year-round by appointment.
Our appointment times are subject to change during exceptionally busy periods, such as during drop/add week or advance registration. Advisors will communicate any upcoming changes to their business hours to their students via UF email.
Academic Advisor: Layne Weitzel
Majors: PaCE Students (Pre-Transition) in Advertising, Public Relations, and Journalism
Advising Hours: By appointment: Mondays – Fridays, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Academic Advisor: Jennifer Barrett
Majors: PaCE Students (Pre-Transition) in Media Production, Management, and Technology
Advising Hours: By appointment: Mondays – Fridays, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Advising Appointments
Appointments are beneficial for students who are looking to have an in-depth conversation with an advisor regarding their academic coursework. This method is ideal for currently enrolled students who have questions about of the following topics:
- PaCE transition requirements
- Degree audit requirements
- Course sequencing plans
- Academic success coaching
- Changing majors within the college
Drop-In Advising
Drop-ins are a convenient way to briefly ask an advisor for support with a quick question. This method is ideal for currently enrolled students who are seeking a same-day, 5-10 minute exchange for help with any of the below topics during drop/add week or the advance registration period. If you need support with another question that calls for more time, please schedule an advising appointment.
- Adding a course
- Dropping a course
- Clarifying a requirement on the degree audit
- Reviewing an academic plan for one semester
- Obtaining an advisor’s signature on academic paperwork
PaCE Transitioning
A Few Considerations
PaCE students begin their coursework online, where they will complete both general university and major specific transition requirements. After they have completed their transition requirements, then they will have the opportunity to complete their undergraduate degrees in a learning modality of their choice, whether that is through an in-person learning environment or a fully online learning environment. Students will make this determination by considering their learning preferences, academic goals, professional lifestyles, and personal scheduling needs.
From an academic standpoint, we want to carefully note that UF has three student groups: PaCE, residential, and UF Online. Depending on your student group you will have access to certain academic programs. For example, our PaCE and residential students may pursue all our college’s majors, but at this time, our UF Online students will have a select list of programs to choose from. The comparison chart below indicates which programs are available across all three student groups, and we strongly encourage our PaCE students to review this list as they carefully consider how they would like to complete their undergraduate degrees.
| CJC Academic Programs | PaCE | Residential | UF Online |
|---|---|---|---|
| Advertising: Agency | X | X | |
| Advertising: Persuasive Messaging | X | X | X |
| Journalism | X | X | |
| Journalism: Sports and Media | X | X | X |
| MPMT: Digital Film and TV Production | X | X | |
| MPMT: Management and Strategy | X | X | |
| MPMT: Media and Society | X | X | X |
| Public Relations | X | X | X |
| Public Relations: Corporate | X | X | X |
| Public Relations: Public Interest Communications | X | X | X |
Transition Requirements
For our college specifically, PaCE students must complete all the following requirements before transitioning to a learning modality of their choice:
- Complete 60 total credit hours (up to 45 hours can come from AP/IB/AICE credit, while additional hours can come from approved dual enrollment credit)
- Earn a critical tracking and cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher
- Complete a minimum of two semesters and 15 hours through UF Online
- Pass the critical tracking courses for your major with the appropriate grades. You can view the critical tracking requirements for your major below, depending on the year you started at UF:
Once all the above requirements are fulfilled, the college will carefully review student records to assess eligibility for transitioning. At that time, students will receive an email from their advisor with detailed information regarding the PaCE transition process. This information will help students successfully transition as either a fully residential student or fully online student.