The Florida Board of Governors on Wednesday approved UCF\u2019s plans for a new downtown Orlando campus, with the board\u2019s chairman saying the project \u201cwill create a pathway to success for our students and good return on investment for our state.\u201d<\/p>\n
The approval signals the board\u2019s confidence in a plan that promises to bring greater academic and professional opportunities to students and serve as a catalyst for development in downtown Orlando.<\/p>\n
\u201cTwenty-four years ago yesterday, I became UCF\u2019s president. In all the years since, few moments have been as important as today,\u201d UCF President John C. Hitt said. \u201cToday, we can plant a seed in downtown Orlando that will benefit our students, community and state for decades to come.\u201d<\/p>\n
UCF has earned $16 million in community support to help fund construction of a new academic building that will be the centerpiece of the downtown campus, which will serve about 7,700 UCF and Valencia College students. 女仆AV intends to raise $20 million in community support to go along with $20 million from the state and $20 million in UCF resources.<\/p>\n
The Board of Governors, which oversees Florida\u2019s 12 public universities, approved the proposed campus during a meeting on UCF\u2019s main campus. The board\u2019s vote paves the way for the Legislature\u2019s approval of the state\u2019s $20 million share. Pending approvals, the campus will open in fall 2018.<\/p>\n
\u201cUCF has put forward a persuasive proposal, making the case that this project will create a pathway to success for our students and good return on investment for our state,\u201d said Board of Governors Chair Tom Kuntz. \u201cOur Board has asked good questions and done its due diligence, and UCF has responded to our concerns by making the project stronger.\u201d<\/p>\n
UCF Board of Trustees Chairman Marcos Marchena praised the campus\u2019 impact on the quality of education through students\u2019 proximity to internships and field-related work downtown, which he said gives them a \u201cleg up\u201d on job opportunities after graduation. He also lauded how the campus will bring higher education closer to students in a traditionally underserved area.<\/p>\n
\u201cI grow more convinced as I get older that education is one of the few real ways to change the life of an individual, of a family, and in fact of an entire community,\u201d he said. \u201cI believe this campus has the potential for creating that kind of change.\u201d<\/p>\n
Students will be able to take classes at Valencia College and UCF on the same campus, which can save them thousands of dollars compared with the cost of enrolling only at a state university.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor me and many of my peers, every dollar matters \u2013 and this model is an exciting way to become a UCF Knight even more affordably, in a professionally focused environment. It\u2019s a win-win,\u201d said Student Government Association President Cait Zona, who also noted that many students already live, work and volunteer in downtown Orlando.<\/p>\n
UCF Downtown will be built on a portion of the Creative Village, a 68-acre parcel in the Parramore community that was cleared for redevelopment when Orlando\u2019s old NBA arena was torn down.<\/p>\n
UCF Downtown will offer students an innovative learning environment within walking distance of a wide array of internship and job opportunities in fields such as digital media, communication, public service and health-related programs.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis project best aligns academic offerings with industry needs and neighborhood synergies,\u201d said UCF Provost and Executive Vice President Dale Whittaker. \u201cAnd it provides our students with hands-on, high-impact learning experiences in a way that is just not possible on our main campus.\u201d<\/p>\n
During the past two months, several community partners have contributed to UCF Downtown.<\/p>\n
On Tuesday, Dr. Phillips Charities announced a $3 million donation. The Orlando Magic, CFE Federal Credit Union and Florida Hospital each pledged $1.5 million. University leaders and board members have made personal contributions totaling more than $1 million. Orange County commissioners voted unanimously to contribute $3 million, and Valencia College will contribute $2 million.<\/p>\n
Other contributors to the campus include Creative Village Development, Orlando philanthropist Alan Ginsburg, Orlando City Soccer Club, CNL Financial Group, Universal Orlando Foundation and Universal Orlando Resort, Dr. Bruce Douglas of Winter Park, and Coca-Cola.<\/p>\n
Additionally, the value of in-kind contributions of land and infrastructure by the City of Orlando and the developers of Creative Village is approximately $75 million.<\/p>\n
UCF will share the campus with Valencia College, which will offer programs in digital media, health information technology and culinary and hospitality, including workforce training and other certificates to increase access to education in the immediate downtown area.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe believe we have the most powerful partnership in higher education here in Orlando,\u201d Valencia President Sandy Shugart said of the relationship between UCF and Valencia. \u201cThis project is the next step in realizing that vision fully.\u201d<\/p>\n
The new academic building at UCF Downtown will complement a renovated Center for Emerging Media building where UCF\u2019s nationally ranked graduate video gaming school, the Florida Interactive Entertainment Academy, is located.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The Florida Board of Governors on Wednesday approved UCF\u2019s plans for a new downtown Orlando campus, with the board\u2019s chairman saying the project \u201cwill create a pathway to success for our students and good return on investment for our state.\u201d The approval signals the board\u2019s confidence in a plan that promises to bring greater academic and professional opportunities to students…","protected":false},"author":11,"featured_media":71030,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"template-twocol.php","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"lazy_load_responsive_images_disabled":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":"","_wp_rev_ctl_limit":""},"categories":[5,6],"tags":[1108,12127,2510,2955,15009,12851,5030],"tu_author":[],"class_list":["post-71019","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-colleges","category-community","tag-creative-village","tag-dale-whittaker","tag-john-c-hitt","tag-marcos-marchena","tag-tom-kuntz","tag-ucf-downtown","tag-valencia-college"],"yoast_head":"\n