How it Happened: the VP Promise

When Dr. Scott Angle became the Senior Vice President for Agriculture and Natural Resources at the University of Florida, he came to Gainesville with a vision for increasing opportunity to incorporate real-life experience into the education and development of undergraduate students.

The root of his conviction can be traced to his academic development as a Fulbright Scholar in England and cultivated through his career as an educator, working with students at both the University of Maryland and the University of Georgia. It was obvious to him that travel, exposure to new ideas and cultures, and the novel experience of being abroad provide depth of character and a form of education that can’t always be replicated in a teaching space.

“Students learn as much outside the classroom as they do in class,” says Dr. Angle.

Photo 1: A girl in rubber overalls stands in a stream. Photo 2: a group of students in business attire pose outside the US Capitol building.
Left: Amber Lopez conducted research in Ecuador on the effects of tourism on water quality. Right: Esther Fulford and Julia Heijkoop interned in Congresswoman Kat Camack’s office over the summer.

Experiential learning opportunities existed in the UF/IFAS College of Agricultural and Life Sciences (CALS) long before Dr. Angle began his tenure in UF/IFAS. CALS has always encouraged students to pursue off-campus learning opportunities, whether through internships, study abroad scholarships, or travel for research or leadership conferences. Now, students can apply through the CALS Dean’s Office for VP Promise financial assistance to defray anticipated costs with an upcoming experience.

Dr. Angle was the first to bring these funds and programs under one banner called the “VP Promise” and pledge to give all CALS undergraduate students access to an outside-the-classroom educational experience.

“All students need to participate in beyond-the-classroom learning, but sometimes finances prevent this from happening,” says Dr. Angle.  “The VP Promise goal is to reduce financial obstacles as much as possible, thus helping students achieve their full academic potential.”

 

Scott Angle and Kay Kelsey
Scott Angle and Kay Kelsey

Dr. Angle and his wife Dr. Kay Kelsey are active with—and committed to—the success of the VP Promise. Every year on Gator Nation Giving Day, they provide a personal challenge gift to encourage other donors to support and enhance the college’s ability to provide these outstanding activities.

Last year, the UF/IFAS CALS Student Enrichment Fund for the VP Promise raised more than $11,000 for these incredible opportunities, and there are now more than 19 individual funds under the VP Promise umbrella. Year by year, as more people are involved, more CALS undergraduate students are taking part in life-changing experiences and getting a better sense of how the world works beyond campus.

If you want to join Dr. Angle and Dr. Kelsey in their support of this program, please visit give.ifas.ufl.edu/vppromise or email us at advancement@ifas.ufl.edu.

 

Collage of student experiences funded by the VP Promise. One student is taking an ice core sample, one is in medical scrubs, one is holding a sturgeon, one is petting a cow.
Through VP Promise funding, CALS students are attending and presenting at national conferences; conducting research and service abroad; competing in academic judging teams; participating in research, Extension and industry internships; and more. Read about student experiences at blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/cals/tag/vp-promise.

 

The “How it Happened” series showcases the transformational gifts made by donors to UF/IFAS during the University of Florida’s Go Greater Campaign. To learn more about creating your own impact through UF/IFAS programs with a charitable gift, please visit our website at give.ifas.ufl.edu or call the UF/IFAS Advancement Office at 352-392-1975.

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Posted: September 18, 2024


Category: UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Teaching
Tags: CALS Student Experiences, Experiential Learning, How It Happened, Internships, Scott Angle, Service, Study Abroad, UF/IFAS, VP Promise


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