About UCF
The University of Central Florida is the nation's fifth-largest university and one of the most dynamic universities in the country. Offering more than 200 degree programs, UCF has become an academic and research leader in many fields, including optics and photonics, modeling and simulation, engineering and computer science, business administration, education, life sciences, hospitality management and digital media.
UCF's 1,415-acre main campus provides modern facilities, most of which have wireless capability, with 600 acres set aside for lakes, woods and an arboretum. UCF now has 12 colleges, including the newly established College of Medicine and College of Graduate Studies. More than 50,000 students attend classes on UCF's main campus and its 11 regional campuses located throughout Central Florida. UCF has granted more than 190,000 degrees since it began offering classes in 1968. Since President John Hitt's arrival in 1992, UCF's enrollment has more than doubled, research funding has more than tripled, and annual giving has grown tenfold.
Outstanding Students: UCF continues to attract the best and brightest students. The freshman class for the 2008-09 academic year posted an average SAT score of 1219 and a high school grade-point average of 3.76. UCF ranked 34th in the country with 62 National Merit Schools in its freshman class. The Burnett Honors College freshman class for 2008-09 had an average SAT score of 1373 and a 4.16 grade-point average.
Attractive Amenities: UCF has an 85,000-square-foot Recreation and Wellness Center complete with a three-story climbing wall, an indoor track and myriad fitness equipment. The Student Union offers computer labs, study lounges, ballrooms and meeting rooms, popular eating establishments and a small shopping mall. A new Health Center supports a full-service health clinic with on-site professionals, X-ray capabilities, a pharmacy, a medical laboratory and physical therapy services.
The 45,000-seat Bright House Networks Stadium and the 10,000-seat UCF Arena opened in September 2007 on the north end of UCF's campus. Anchored by the UCF Arena, Knights Plaza also includes four new student residence halls and various restaurants and shops that cater to students, visitors and community neighbors.
New College of Medicine: The UCF College of Medicine welcomes its charter class of 40 students this fall. Next year, the college will move into new buildings at Lake Nona, where it will be the cornerstone of a "medical city" bustling with scientists searching for cures for cancer and other diseases, future doctors learning about the latest advances in health care, and patients receiving high-quality care at new hospitals.
Black, Gold & "Green": Although UCF's school colors are black and gold, we're also committed to being "green." The first green roof to be installed at a Florida university sits atop the Student Union. UCF is constructing all new buildings to a minimum of "silver" of the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards. UCF has reduced its energy consumption by 22 percent per square foot in the past three years, and is constantly working toward even greater efficiency. UCF's Florida Solar Energy Center researchers are constantly pursuing new energy technologies that benefit consumers and the environment. A new, on campus Thermal Energy Storage Facility constructed just east of the Lake Claire community will allow UCF to purchase more electricity during off-peak hours at a much lower rate, thereby reducing the overall costs of cooling campus buildings.
Diverse and Inclusive: UCF promotes a highly diverse and inclusive campus environment. UCF students come from 67 Florida counties, 50 states and about 140 countries. International academic programs allow UCF students to study and conduct research in more than 40 disciplines in 21 countries.
Research Leaders: UCF professors received $122.8 million in research funding in 2007-08, topping $100 million for the fourth consecutive year. Research contracts and grants come from esteemed institutions such as the National Institutes of Health, National Science Foundation and NASA. UCF also ranked eighth in the country in the 2008 Patent Scorecard, which ranks technology innovations earning patents.
Boosting the economy: UCF and its neighbor, the Central Florida Research Park, provide an annual economic impact of about $3.5 billion and affect more than 45,000 jobs. The research park also is home to the award-winning UCF Technology Incubator which was created to provide fledgling businesses the support they need to be successful and contribute to the economic strength of the region. A recent study also projected that the new College of Medicine and other biomedical partners at Lake Nona will create more than 30,000 local jobs and have an annual economic impact of over $7 billion.
For more information about UCF, visit www.ucf.edu. For the latest news about UCF, visit www.news.ucf.edu.
