{"id":6560,"date":"2018-04-04T15:31:32","date_gmt":"2018-04-04T15:31:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/leadership\/president\/?page_id=6560"},"modified":"2025-03-05T16:22:48","modified_gmt":"2025-03-05T16:22:48","slug":"hitt","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/leadership\/president\/hitt\/","title":{"rendered":"President John C. Hitt"},"content":{"rendered":"<section class=\"py-2 pt-3 py-sm-0 pt-sm-3\">\t\t\t<div class=\"container\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"row\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"d-none d-sm-block col-sm-3\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\n<p class=\"text-center\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-fluid\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/16\/files\/2018\/04\/hitt-squad.jpg\" alt=\"Hitt Squad\" \/><\/p>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\" col-sm-8 offset-sm-1 col-lg-7\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\n<h2 class=\"font-slab-serif mb-3 mb-md-4 mb-lg-5\">From March 1, 1992, through June 30, 2018, John C. Hitt served as UCF\u2019s fourth president.<\/h2>\n<blockquote class=\"font-italic\"><p>&#8220;It is a special privilege to serve as president of a university. Society invests in universities not just its money, but something far more precious, the potential of enterprising men and women who seek to enrich their lives through higher education.&#8221;<\/p>\n<footer class=\"mt-4\"><cite><span class=\"font-weight-bold\">President John C. Hitt<\/span><br \/>\n<em>Inaugural Address Speech from 1992<\/em><\/cite><\/footer>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p class=\"d-sm-none mt-3\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-fluid\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/16\/files\/2018\/04\/hitt-squad.jpg\" alt=\"Hitt Squad\" \/><\/p>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n<\/section>\n<section class=\"bg-inverse py-4 py-sm-5\">\t\t\t<div class=\"container\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"row\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"pb-4 col-12\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\n<h2 class=\"h4 text-uppercase mb-4\">A Special Tribute to Dr. Hitt<\/h2>\n<div class=\"embed-responsive embed-responsive-16by9\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Video: We Can't Thank You Enough, Dr. Hitt\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/-sn-d9dWuDI?rel=0&amp;controls=0&amp;showinfo=0\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n<\/section>\n<section id=\"meaningful-impact\" class=\"py-4 py-sm-5 media-background-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/16\/files\/2017\/02\/UCF-Seal-Yellow.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\" media-background object-fit-cover\" style=\" object-position: center 80%;\" data-object-position=\"center 80%\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"container\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"row\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\" col-lg-6\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\n<h2 class=\"font-condensed text-uppercase mb-4 mt-lg-4\">Meaningful Impact<\/h2>\n<p>Of the <strong>318,205 degrees earned<\/strong> by students since UCF&#8217;s founding, <strong>Hitt awarded 262,858 &#8211; nearly 83 percent<\/strong>. He also conferred more degrees than any other president in State University System of Florida (SUS) history.<\/p>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"mt-3 mt-lg-0 col-lg-6\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\n<div class=\"fact-grid-wrap\">\n<div class=\"fact-grid\">\n<div class=\"fact-block\">\n<div class=\"font-condensed h3 count-up\" data-num=\"318205\">318,205<\/div>\n<p>Degrees awarded at UCF<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"fact-block\">\n<div class=\"font-condensed h3 count-up\" data-num=\"262858\">262,858<\/div>\n<p>Degrees conferred by Hitt<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"fact-block\">\n<div class=\"font-condensed h3\">83%<\/div>\n<p>UCF degrees conferred<br \/>\nby Hitt<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"fact-block\">\n<div class=\"font-condensed h3\">#1<\/div>\n<p>Hitt\u2019s rank in SUS based on number of degrees conferred<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n<\/section>\n<section class=\"media-background-container bg-inverse\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/16\/files\/2017\/02\/DH25-Office-BW-crop.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\" media-background object-fit-cover hidden-md-down\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"container py-4 py-sm-5\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"row\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\" col-lg-8\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\n<blockquote class=\"blockquote\">\n<p class=\"font-slab-serif\">&#8220;Having three degrees from UCF makes me extremely proud to be a Knight, and grateful to President Hitt for his tenure at the helm. Clearly, UCF has been transformed into a world-class institution due to his incredible leadership.&#8221;<\/p>\n<footer class=\"blockquote-footer\">\n<div class=\"media\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"quote-thumbnail d-flex mr-3 rounded-circle\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/16\/files\/2017\/02\/jenkins-crop-2.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"media-body align-self-center\">\n<p class=\"text-primary mb-0\">Barbara Jenkins &#8217;83 &#8217;86MEd &#8217;96EdD<\/p>\n<p class=\"h6 font-weight-normal mb-0\">Superintendent<br \/>\nOrange County Public Schools<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/footer>\n<\/blockquote>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n<\/section>\n<section class=\"section-plans media-background-container py-4 py-sm-5 bg-inverse\"><picture><source class=\"media-background object-fit-cover\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/16\/files\/2017\/02\/Hitt-Millican-Colbourn-Golden-EFX.jpg\" media=\"(min-width: 992px)\" \/><\/picture>\n<picture><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"media-background object-fit-cover\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/16\/files\/2017\/02\/Past-Presidents-DrHitt-Mobile.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/><\/picture>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"container\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"row\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\" col-md-6 push-md-6 col-lg-7 push-lg-5\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\n<p class=\"text-center\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-fluid\" style=\"border: 8px solid #fff;\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/16\/files\/2017\/02\/UCF-Presidents-BW.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/><\/p>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\" col-md-6 pull-md-6 col-lg-5 pull-lg-7\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\n<h2 class=\"font-condensed text-uppercase mb-3\">Big Plans<\/h2>\n<p class=\"mb-4\">Hitt established five key goals in 1992 that redefined the university&#8217;s course for the future.<\/p>\n<ol class=\"university-goals\">\n<li class=\"university-goal\">To offer the best undergraduate education available in Florida<\/li>\n<li class=\"university-goal\">To achieve international prominence in key programs of graduate study and research<\/li>\n<li class=\"university-goal\">To provide an international focus to our curricula and research programs<\/li>\n<li class=\"university-goal\">To be America&#8217;s leading partnership university<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"row\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\" col-12\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\n<blockquote class=\"blockquote font-slab-serif mt-sm-3\"><p>&#8220;I am convinced that if UCF achieves these goals, it will be America&#8217;s leading metropolitan university, and, even more importantly, we will be a vital force in Central Florida&#8217;s development as the nation&#8217;s most dynamic, vibrant regional economy.&#8221;<\/p>\n<footer class=\"blockquote-footer\"><cite title=\"Dr. Hitt\">\u2014 Dr. Hitt<\/cite><\/footer>\n<\/blockquote>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n<\/section>\n<section class=\"my-5 py-3\">\t\t\t<div class=\"container\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"row\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"media-background-container mt-lg-4 col-sm-7 col-md-8\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/16\/files\/2017\/02\/US-Map.png\" alt=\"\" class=\" media-background object-fit-contain\" style=\"height: auto;\">\n<div class=\"row\">\n<div class=\"col-8 offset-2 col-sm-8 offset-sm-2 col-md-6 offset-md-3 col-lg-4 offset-lg-0 px-5 px-lg-4\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"col-lg-8 mt-lg-5 pt-lg-5\">\n<h2 class=\"text-uppercase h5 font-weight-black mb-3 mt-4 mt-lg-5\">National Prominence<\/h2>\n<p>Hitt is recognized as being second nationally among public university presidents for number of degrees conferred at a single school.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"mt-sm-5 mt-md-0 col-sm-5 col-md-4\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\n<div class=\"text-center\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"center-block mb-3\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/16\/files\/2017\/02\/SUS-Logo.png\" alt=\"\" \/><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"text-uppercase h5 font-weight-black mb-3\">Living Legacy<\/h2>\n<p>Hitt ranks <strong>third among the longest-serving presidents in SUS history.<\/strong> In terms of longest service at one SUS institution, President Hitt is second behind Edward Conradi of FSU (1909-41) and <strong>leads the SUS since World War II.<\/strong><br \/>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n<\/section>\n<section class=\"bg-inverse media-background-container py-4 py-sm-5\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/16\/files\/2017\/02\/UCF-DH25-Millican-Sunset-crop.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\" media-background object-fit-cover hidden-md-down\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"container\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"row\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\" col-lg-8\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\n<blockquote class=\"blockquote\">\n<p class=\"font-slab-serif\">&#8220;Simply stated, I believe Walt Disney and John Hitt have done more to transform Central Florida into a vibrant, dynamic place than any two people.&#8221;<\/p>\n<footer class=\"blockquote-footer\">\n<div class=\"media\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"quote-thumbnail d-flex mr-3 rounded-circle\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/16\/files\/2017\/02\/Hill-Quoter-BUSH.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"media-body align-self-center\">\n<p class=\"text-primary mb-0\">Jeb Bush<\/p>\n<p class=\"h6 font-weight-normal mb-0\">Florida governor<br \/>\n(1999-2007)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/footer>\n<\/blockquote>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n<\/section>\n<section class=\"section-growth my-5\">\n<div class=\"container\">\t\t\t<div class=\"row mb-5\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\" col-10 offset-1 col-sm-5 offset-sm-0 col-lg-4\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\n<p class=\"text-center mb-sm-0\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-fluid\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/16\/files\/2017\/02\/Graduate-FC-Cropped.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/><\/p>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"align-self-center col-sm-7 col-lg-6\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\n<h2 class=\"h1 font-condensed text-uppercase mb-3\">Remarkable Growth<\/h2>\n<p>Hitt has been at the helm of major changes at UCF. Over the course of his 26-year presidency, his leadership fueled increases in enrollment, degree programs and more.<\/p>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"row\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\" col-sm-8 col-md-6 col-lg-4\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\n<table class=\"remarkable-growth-table\">\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th class=\"text-uppercase font-weight-black pb-2\" colspan=\"2\">Enrollment<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<th class=\"font-weight-normal\">1991-92 \u2014<\/th>\n<td class=\"font-weight-bold\">21,267<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th class=\"font-weight-normal\">2017-18 \u2014<\/th>\n<td class=\"font-weight-bold\">66,180<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<td class=\"h5 pl-4 text-uppercase font-weight-bold\"><span class=\"d-block h5 mb-0\">211% <\/span>increase<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"pt-4 pt-md-0 remarkable-growth-tborder-md remarkable-growth-tborder-lg col-sm-8 col-md-6 col-lg-4\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\n<table class=\"remarkable-growth-table\">\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th class=\"text-uppercase font-weight-black pb-2\" colspan=\"2\">Degree Programs<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<th class=\"font-weight-normal\">1991-92 \u2014<\/th>\n<td class=\"font-weight-bold\">141<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th class=\"font-weight-normal\">2017-18 \u2014<\/th>\n<td class=\"font-weight-bold\">216<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<td class=\"h5 pl-4 text-uppercase font-weight-bold\"><span class=\"h5 d-block mb-0\">53% <\/span>increase<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"d-none d-md-block d-lg-none clearfix col-md-12\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\n<hr class=\"my-4 hr-black\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"pt-4 pt-md-0 remarkable-growth-tborder-lg col-sm-8 col-md-6 col-lg-4\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\n<table class=\"remarkable-growth-table\">\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th class=\"text-uppercase font-weight-black pb-2\" colspan=\"2\">Colleges<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<th class=\"font-weight-normal\">1992 \u2014<\/th>\n<td class=\"font-weight-bold\">5<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th class=\"font-weight-normal\">2018 \u2014<\/th>\n<td class=\"font-weight-bold\">13<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<td class=\"h5 pl-4 text-uppercase font-weight-bold\"><span class=\"h5 d-block mb-0\">160% <\/span>increase<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"d-none d-lg-block clearfix col-lg-12\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\n<hr class=\"my-4 hr-black\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"pt-4 pt-md-0 remarkable-growth-tborder-md col-sm-8 col-md-6 col-lg-4\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\n<table class=\"remarkable-growth-table\">\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th class=\"text-uppercase font-weight-black pb-2\" colspan=\"2\"><span class=\"sr-only\">Average<\/span>Avg. Freshman SAT Score*<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<th class=\"font-weight-normal\">1991-92 \u2014<\/th>\n<td class=\"font-weight-bold\">1011<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th class=\"font-weight-normal\">2017-18 \u2014<\/th>\n<td class=\"font-weight-bold\">1316<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<td class=\"h5 pl-4 text-uppercase font-weight-bold\"><span class=\"h5 d-block mb-0\">30% <\/span>increase<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"d-none d-md-block d-lg-none clearfix col-md-12\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\n<hr class=\"my-4 hr-black\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"pt-4 pt-md-0 remarkable-growth-tborder-lg col-sm-8 col-md-6 col-lg-4\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\n<table class=\"remarkable-growth-table\">\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th class=\"text-uppercase font-weight-black pb-2\" colspan=\"2\">Research Funding<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<th class=\"font-weight-normal\">1991-92 \u2014<\/th>\n<td class=\"font-weight-bold\">$28.4M<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th class=\"font-weight-normal\">2017 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u2014<\/th>\n<td class=\"font-weight-bold\">$148.8M<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<td class=\"h5 pl-4 pl-lg-3 pl-xl-4 text-uppercase font-weight-bold\"><span class=\"h5 d-block mb-0\">424% <\/span>increase<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n<hr class=\"my-4 hr-black\" \/>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"row\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\" col-sm-10 col-md-9 col-lg-6\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\n<table class=\"remarkable-growth-table\">\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th class=\"text-uppercase font-weight-black pb-2\" colspan=\"2\">Degrees Awarded at UCF<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<th class=\"font-weight-normal\">Through December 1991 \u2014<\/th>\n<td class=\"font-weight-bold\">55,348<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th class=\"font-weight-normal\">Through December 2017 \u2014<\/th>\n<td class=\"font-weight-bold\">318,208<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<td class=\"h5 pl-4 text-uppercase font-weight-bold\"><span class=\"h5 d-block mb-0\">475% <\/span>increase<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"pt-4 pt-lg-0 remarkable-growth-tborder-lg col-sm-10 col-md-9 col-lg-6\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\n<table class=\"remarkable-growth-table\">\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th class=\"text-uppercase font-weight-black pb-2\" colspan=\"2\">Doctoral Degrees Awarded at UCF<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<th class=\"font-weight-normal\">Through December 1991 \u2014<\/th>\n<td class=\"font-weight-bold\">128<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th class=\"font-weight-normal\">Through December 2017 \u2014<\/th>\n<td class=\"font-weight-bold\">4,987<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<td class=\"h5 pl-4 text-uppercase font-weight-bold\"><span class=\"h5 d-block mb-0\">3,796% <\/span>increase<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n<p class=\"mt-3\"><small>*Note: 2017 scores are from the new SAT test which uses a different structure and an updated scoring scale.<\/small><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section class=\"media-background-container my-lg-5 py-4 py-sm-5\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/leadership\/president\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2018\/04\/Dr-Hitt-knightro-white-Bkg.jpg\" alt=\"Dr. Hitt with UCF's mascot Knightro.\" class=\" media-background object-fit-cover hidden-md-down\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"container\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"row\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\" col-lg-8\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\n<blockquote class=\"blockquote\">\n<p class=\"font-slab-serif\">&#8220;President Hitt has led UCF from a little-known school to one that has provided opportunities for hundreds of thousands of students to attain a quality education and pursue their dreams.&#8221;<\/p>\n<footer class=\"blockquote-footer\">\n<div class=\"media\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"quote-thumbnail d-flex mr-3 rounded-circle\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/16\/files\/2017\/02\/criser-crop-2.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"media-body align-self-center\">\n<p class=\"mb-0\">Marshall Criser III<\/p>\n<p class=\"h6 font-weight-normal mb-0\">Chancellor<br \/>\nState University System of Florida<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/footer>\n<\/blockquote>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n<\/section>\n<section class=\"my-4 my-sm-5\">\t\t\t<div class=\"container\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"row\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\" col-sm-6\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\n<h2 class=\"text-uppercase h5 font-weight-black mb-3\">History Lesson<\/h2>\n<ul class=\"font-slab-serif pl-4\">\n<li>Graduated cum laude from Austin College in Texas<\/li>\n<li>Earned M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in physiological psychology from Tulane University<\/li>\n<li>Held academic, administrative and executive positions at Tulane University, Texas Christian University, Bradley University and the University of Maine<\/li>\n<li>Married to Martha Hitt and has two children and two grandchildren<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\" col-sm-6\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\n<h2 class=\"text-uppercase h5 font-weight-black mb-3\">Honor Roll<\/h2>\n<ul class=\"font-slab-serif pl-4\">\n<li>Consistently listed among the <em>Orlando Sentinel&#8217;s<\/em> &#8220;25 Most Powerful People in Central Florida&#8221; and <em>Orlando Magazine&#8217;s<\/em> &#8220;50 Most Powerful People&#8221;<\/li>\n<li><em>Washington Monthly<\/em> magazine&#8217;s &#8220;10 Most Innovative College Presidents in America,&#8221; 2015<\/li>\n<li>John Young History Maker Award, Historical Society of Central Florida, 2015<\/li>\n<li>Central Floridian of the Year, <em>Orlando Sentinel,<\/em> 2005<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n<\/section>\n\t\t<section id=\"past-presidents\" class=\"ucf-section ucf-section-homepage-previous-presidents auto-section mt-3 bg-secondary\" style=\"\" data-section-link-title=\"Past Presidents\" aria-label=\"Past Presidents\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"row presidents-grid\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"presidents-grid-message bg-primary\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\n<h2 class=\"presidents-grid-heading\">A Foundation of Excellence<\/h2>\n<p class=\"presidents-grid-content mb-0\"><small>Since 1968, UCF has grown from a small, technological school to one of the nation\u2019s largest universities, constantly gaining in quality. Our legacy for excellence was built by leaders who believed in the power of education to transform lives, communities and our entire state.<\/small><\/p>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<a class=\"presidents-block media-background-container text-inverse hover-text-inverse text-decoration-none justify-content-end\"\n\t\t\thref=\"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/leadership\/president\/whittaker\/\"\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\" img-fluid size-medium wp-image-7432 media-background object-fit-cover filter-sepia hover-filter-none\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/leadership\/president\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/08\/dale-whittaker-grid.jpeg\" alt=\"dale whittaker\">\n<div class=\"presidents-block-text pointer-events-none font-condensed text-uppercase\">Dale Whittaker<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<a class=\"presidents-block media-background-container text-inverse hover-text-inverse text-decoration-none justify-content-end\"\n\t\t\thref=\"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/leadership\/president\/hitt\/\"\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/leadership\/president\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2018\/06\/ucf-president-hitt-grid.jpg\" alt=\"John C. Hitt\" class=\" media-background object-fit-cover filter-sepia hover-filter-none\">\n<div class=\"presidents-block-text pointer-events-none font-condensed text-uppercase\">John C. Hitt<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<a class=\"presidents-block media-background-container text-inverse hover-text-inverse text-decoration-none justify-content-end\"\n\t\t\thref=\"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/leadership\/president\/altman\/\"\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/leadership\/president\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2018\/06\/ucf-president-altman-grid.jpg\" alt=\"Steven Altman\" class=\" media-background object-fit-cover filter-sepia hover-filter-none\">\n<div class=\"presidents-block-text pointer-events-none font-condensed text-uppercase\">Steven Altman<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<a class=\"presidents-block media-background-container text-inverse hover-text-inverse text-decoration-none justify-content-end\"\n\t\t\thref=\"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/leadership\/president\/colbourn\/\"\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/leadership\/president\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2018\/06\/ucf-president-colbourn-grid.jpg\" alt=\"Trevor Colbourn\" class=\" media-background object-fit-cover filter-sepia hover-filter-none\">\n<div class=\"presidents-block-text pointer-events-none font-condensed text-uppercase\">Trevor Colbourn<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<a class=\"presidents-block media-background-container text-inverse hover-text-inverse text-decoration-none justify-content-end\"\n\t\t\thref=\"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/leadership\/president\/millican\/\"\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/leadership\/president\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2018\/06\/ucf-president-millican-grid.jpg\" alt=\"Charles N. Millican\" class=\" media-background object-fit-cover filter-sepia hover-filter-none\">\n<div class=\"presidents-block-text pointer-events-none font-condensed text-uppercase\">Charles N. Millican<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"*Note: 2017 scores are from the new SAT test which uses a different structure and an updated scoring scale.","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"template-fullscreen.php","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"class_list":["post-6560","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.3 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>President John C. 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