Biology Bootcamp

All University of West Florida (UWF) first-year students who will be enrolled in BSC 2010 for the Fall 2021 semester are eligible for Biology Bootcamp participation.

Requirements for Biology Bootcamp participation:

• Must have completed New Student Orientation and be registered for BSC 2010 prior to Bootcamp kickoff.

Unfortunately, space is limited and we must cap the number of participants at 50. The selection of participants will not be based on academic achievements, but by a process that reflects our student body composition.  We assume that all students who are admitted into this University have the potential to be highly successful college students and that all students will benefit from Biology Bootcamp.

Students who register will be informed whether or not we are able to accommodate them no later than July 30. The remaining applicants will be placed on a waitlist.

We will have a special session for parents that addresses some of the questions about Biology Bootcamp and first-year experiences in general. This program will be held from 12:00 - 2:00pm on the Sunday of Biology Bootcamp check-in.

We aim to:

• Tell you what will happen during Biology Bootcamp
• Answer questions about how you can help your student during their first semester at UWF
• Discuss what you can do if your student has problems while at UWF

We will send more information about this program to parents of registered students.

Below is an example of the Bootcamp schedule. The schedule is subject to change based on program logistics and Argo Arrival participation. A final schedule will be e-mailed to you two weeks prior to the start of Bio Bootcamp. 

Itinerary	Details
Sunday (Move-In Day and Start of Bootcamp)
9:00am-12:00pm	Move in (Multipurpose room of President's Hall, UWF Campus)
12:00pm-2:00pm	Grab lunch in Building 4 lobby and head to:  Student Orientation & Lunch with Dr. Alexis Janosik & Dr. Erica Taylor- Building 4, room 310 Parent Orientation with Dr. Peter Cavnar & Mrs. Patrice Moorer & Lunch- Building 4, room 102
2:00pm-3:00pm	Parent and Student Trip to Bookstore - Building 22
3:00pm - 4:00pm	Becoming a College Student Session 1 “Metacognition” with Dr. Peter Cavnar - Building 58A, room 105
4:00pm-5:00pm	Introduction to Biology, First Content lecture, “Biological Chemistry” with Dr. Erica Taylor - Building 58A, room 105
5:30pm-7:30pm	Pizza Party Social, Building 58A, room 105
7:30pm	Study/Free Time
Monday
8:00am-9:00am	Breakfast, Nautilus Market, Building 22
9:00am-10:30am	Content lecture 2 “Water and Carbon” with Dr. Erica Taylor, Building 58A, room 105
10:30am-11:30am	Biology Building Tours with Dr. Alexis Janosik
11:30am-1:00pm	Lunch, Nautilus Market, Building 22
1:00pm-2:00pm	Office of Undergraduate Research overview with Dr. Allison Schwartz, Building 58A, room 105
2:00pm-3:00pm	Becoming a College Student Session 2: "Note-taking and Summary Exercise" with Dr. Alexis Janosik, Building 58A, room 105
3:00pm-4:15pm	Content lecture 3 “Macromolecules” - Building 58A, room 105
4:30pm-6:30pm	Free Time and Dinner, Nautilus Market, Building 22
6:30-8:00pm	Group Activity 1: Biological Chemistry, Building 58A, room 105
8:00pm	Study/ Free Time
Tuesday
8:00am-9:00am	Breakfast, Nautilus Market, Building 22
9:10am-10:00am	Exam 1, Building 58A, room 105
10:ooam-12:00pm	Content lecture 4: Cell Structure and Function” with Dr. Peter Cavnar, Building 58A, room 105
12:00pm-1:00pm	Lunch, Nautilus Market, Building 22
1:00pm-2:00pm	Becoming a College Student Session 3 “Study Skills” with Dr. Alexis Janosik, Building 58A, room 105
2:00pm-3:30pm	Exam 1 discussion
3:30pm-5:00pm	Content Lecture 5 “Biological Membranes" by Dr. Erica Taylor, Building 58A, room 105
5:00pm-6:30pm	Dinner, Nautilus Market, Building 22
6:30-8:00pm	Group Activity 2 “Movement Across Membranes” - Building 58A, room 105
8:00pm	Study/ Free Time
Wednesday
8:00am-9:00am	Breakfast, Nautilus Market, Building 22
9:00am-12:00pm / Groups 1-3	Lab Exercise run by Ms. Ariel Egan, Building 58A, room 201
9:00am-12:00pm / Groups 4-6	9:00am-10:00am: Study Skills Assistance with Ms. Sarah Halstead- Building 58A, room 105 10:30am-12pm Content Lecture 6 “Mitosis and Meiosis” - Building 58A, room 105
12:00pm-1:00pm	Lunch, Nautilus Market, Building 22
1:00pm-4:00pm / Groups 4-6	Lab Exercise run by Ms. Ariel Egan, Building 58A, room 201
1:00pm-4:00pm / Groups 1-3	1:00pm-2:00pm: Study Skills Assistance with Ms. Sarah Halstead- Building 58A, room 105 2:30pm-4:00pm Content Lecture 6 “Mitosis and Meiosis” - Building 58A, room 105
4:00pm-6:00pm	Free Time/ Dinner, Nautilus Market, Building 22
6:00pm-7:30pm	Group Activity 3: “Mitosis” - Building 58A, room 105
7:30pm	Study/ Free Time
Thursday
8:00am-9:00am	Breakfast, Nautilus Market, Building 22
9:10am-10:00am	Exam 2, Building 58A, room 105
10:00am-11:30am	Content lecture 7 "Cellular Respiration” with Dr. Kari Clifton, Building 58A, room 105
11:33am-1:00pm	Lunch, Nautilus Market, Building 22 LLC students go with Dr. Erica Taylor to Building 4
1:00pm-2:30pm	Advising with Ms. April Kocher and Ms. Afiya Brandon, Building 58A, room 105
2:30pm-4:00pm	Exam 2 discussion, Building 58A, room 105
4:00pm-5:00pm	Content Lecture 8 “Photosynthesis" by Dr. Peter Cavnar, Building 58A, room 105
5:00pm-6:30pm	Dinner, Nautilus Market, Building 22 6:00 pm - LLC Students go with Dr. Erica Taylor
6:30-8:00pm	Group Activity 4 “Cellular Respiration and Photosynthesis” - Building 58A, room 105
8:00pm	Study/ Free Time
Friday
8:00am-9:00am	Breakfast, Nautilus Market, Building 22
9:00am-10:00am	Final Exam, Building 58A, room 105
10:00am-11:00am	Becoming a College Student Session 4 “Growth Mindset” with Dr. Alexis Janosik, Building 58A, room 105
11:00am-12:00pm	Final Exam Discussion and final tips, Building 58A, room 105
12:00pm-1:30pm	Lunch and Awards Ceremony, Building 4, First floor lobby
1:30 pm	Release to Orientation Activities

 

Early Move-In for participants of Biology Boot Camp will be on Sunday, August 15, 2021 from 9am to 12pm.

Housing and Residential Communities will send you information about Move-In via UWF email with directions on move-in times. Note: if a participant completes registration but is unable to attend all camp programming, s/he will not be allowed to move in early or participate in Biology Bootcamp.

Your participation in Biology Bootcamp will give you preferential selection in STEM LLC. If you are a STEM LLC member for the 2021 - 2022 academic year, you will reside in Presidents Hall. If you do not have a confirmed housing contract for the 2020 - 2021 academic year, your housing assignment is Martin Hall during Biology Bootcamp (at no cost to you!).

Not interested in Biology Bootcamp but would like to reside in UWF’s STEM LLC?

Follow the link below to apply for STEM LLC in President’s Hall. Housing is still available. Assignments are made in a date-received order, so apply today to secure your spot on campus!

APPLY FOR HOUSING

There are no fees for participating in the program. You will be required to purchase your materials for BSC2010 (Biology I) and you will have an opportunity to purchase both during the first day of Bootcamp from the UWF Bookstore. 

First-year students living in the dorms at UWF for Biology Bootcamp will not incur the cost associated with meals.  If you will not be living on campus your first year, it is important that you notify us when you register for Biology Bootcamp and you will be covered with a meal plan at no additional cost to you.

August in Florida means high temperatures outside and in many buildings, very cool temperatures inside.  Bring a jacket or sweatshirt. You may also want a rain coat or umbrella. Also, there will be a laboratory session during which you will be required to wear close-toed shoes and long pants.

No! Part of the experience of Biology Bootcamp is to familiarize you with the campus. You will be learning, eating, and socializing all over campus. Choose your footwear wisely. It’s a very big campus!

No, you will be in small groups, each with a graduate student and an undergraduate student mentor, for the entire week.

Yes!  Your success at UWF can be helped significantly with your enthusiastic participation.

We recommend bringing a notebook and/or binder and writing materials (Pen, pencil, etc.). You will be required to purchase the course materials for BSC2010 (Biology I) and will have the opportunity to do so at the UWF bookstore on the first day of Bio Bootcamp. 

 

All lectures, laboratory exercises, and exams are intended to prepare you for your first semester at UWF. None of the work during the Bio-Bootcamp is intended to be for a grade, only for practice. However, participation in the Bio-Bootcamp will have a positive influence on your BSC2010 grade because it will give you a head start in that course.

Although the Bio-Bootcamp is mean to prepare you for BSC2010 it is not an official course and will not appear on your transcript. 

No, Biology Bootcamp is intended for first-year students to better prepare them for the college transition into the Biology major. However, transfer students are eligible to participate in the STEM LLC and starting in summer the Biology Department will be hosting a 4-week paid summer research program targeted to transfer students (Contact Dr. Peter Cavnar for more information).