Access to Study Space

Gerson Hall houses the Fisher School of Accounting administrative offices and its faculty. The 36,000 square foot, 9.3 million dollar structure was dedicated on April 10, 2004. The entire facility has wireless access. The building has five classrooms and a generous amount of study space for accounting students. Accounting students have access to four distinct areas in the building. Each area has a designated purpose, and access to these rooms is determined by class standing. Use of space is a privilege and requires adherence to the code of conduct described herein. Eligibility requirements for each room are listed below.

Rooms

Located on the ground floor of Gerson Hall, the J. Michael Cook/Deloitte Student Commons is an informal gathering area where accounting students can study, relax, and meet with their fellow accounting students. The 2,500 square foot room space has wireless access, ten study booths, four open tables, and 20 lounge chairs.

Eligibility and Terms of Use:

  1. Must meet one of the following:
    1. Be an accounting major, and earned a grade of B or better in ACG 2021.
    2. Be an undergraduate accounting major with junior standing* or higher (earned 60 credits or more), or be a Master of Accounting student.
  2. No food is permitted.
  3. Smoking is prohibited.
  4. Nonalcoholic beverages may be consumed in the Commons.
  5. Must abide by the code of conduct listed herein.

*class standing as determined by the Office of the University Registrar

Located behind Gerson Hall (adjoining the Student Commons) the Gina Babicz Memorial Terrace is a trellised terrace open to all students. The terrace has four picnic tables, and eight benches. Eating and nonalcoholic beverages are permitted on the terrace. Smoking is prohibited.

Located inside the Student Commons is the Graduate Student Printer Room. The room also has a copier/printer for graduate students to use for school-related assignments. The cost for printing and copying will be charged directly to the student’s account with the Bursar. Instructions and fees are posted near the machine.

Eligibility and Terms of Use:

  1. Must be a graduate accounting student.
  2. Must honor copyrighted materials (i.e., will not reproduce textbooks, software, study guides, etc.)
  3. Must abide by all rules of conduct listed herein.

Located on the second floor of Gerson Hall, the break out rooms are designed primarily to allow classes to divide into smaller groups to work on cases. When the rooms are not being used as part of a class in session, graduate students may use these rooms to study. There are five break out rooms. Depending upon the room, it can accommodate five to eight people. Each room is equipped with a conference-style table and a white board.

Eligibility and Terms of Use:

  1. Must be a graduate accounting student.
  2. Must leave immediately if a course needs access to the break out rooms.
  3. No food is permitted.
  4. Smoking is prohibited.
  5. Nonalcoholic beverages may be consumed in the break out rooms.
  6. Must abide by all rules of conduct listed herein.

Other Information

Once your current class standing meets or exceeds the minimum requirements for access to a room(s), you may enter the room(s) for which you are eligible by tapping your digital GATORONE credential via your smart phone or Apple Watch, on the reader attached to the wall outside each location. Once you tap your credential, you will have 5-10 seconds to gain access to the room. If you have a limitation that makes it difficult to access rooms in the time allotted, please report to Gerson 210 to have your access time extended. Note that class standing for undergraduates is based on the total credits posted to your transcripts.

Students who are transitioning from one class standing to a new class standing (e.g., a student who is currently an undergraduate student but has been admitted to graduate school for the following semester) will not have access to rooms until the beginning of the semester in which the new class standing become effective. Students who change their majors to accounting from other UF majors during the semester may need to wait one business day after the major change takes effect for access to be activated.

If you are unable to access a room, first be sure you meet the criteria listed above. Then, make sure you have attempted to hold your phone or watch up to the reader using a few different positions, including holding the phone flat against the reader. If you are still unable to access the room, report to Gerson 210 during normal business hours, 8:00 to 4:30 Monday through Friday, or email the FSOA (include your UFID number).

General hours of operation for all rooms are from 8:00 am to 8:00 pm, Monday through Friday (excluding holidays and breaks between semesters). The hours of operation are subject to change. Changes in hours of operation will be posted by the entry of room.

Access to Gerson Hall rooms is a privilege. Your continued use of space requires that you exercise good judgment and use common sense. Failure to comply with the code of conduct that follows will result in the removal of your access to all rooms and may result in disciplinary action.

  1. Will not prop open doors.
  2. Will not allow others access to the rooms.
  3. Food and smoking are not permitted in the commons area, the reading room, classrooms, or anywhere in Gerson Hall.
  4. Dispose of papers, cans, or other rubbish in the trash cans.
  5. Honor copyrighted materials (i.e., will not reproduce textbooks, software, study guides, etc.).
  6. Conduct yourself in a professional and courteous manner.
  7. Suspicious behavior, disputes, or other disruptive behavior is not to be confronted but instead reported to any staff member in the FSOA administrative office (210 Gerson) or by calling 273-0200.
  8. Provide identification (your GATORONE ID card or digital credential), to any FSOA staff or faculty member requesting your identification, and comply with their requests.
  9. Vacate all areas promptly at the close of the posted hours of operation.

Please report all equipment problems to Gerson 210 during normal business hours (8:00 to 4:30 Monday through Friday).