Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/110509
From the President In the coming months, the University of Central Florida will celebrate its 50th birthday, and I am privileged and proud to reflect on all that our university has accomplished on its journey from promise to prominence. I have been UCF���s president for 20 of those 50 years. Of our many achievements over those years, it is our success through partnerships that has perhaps made the biggest impact on the economic growth of our region. A tremendous example of our rewarding partnerships is the collaboration that has furthered the work of the UCF Center for Research and Education in Optics and Lasers (CREOL), which this year celebrated a special milestone anniversary, as well. When it was established 25 years ago, the founders set forth a mandate for CREOL to act as an intellectual, scientific and technical resource to the optics and photonics industry. What evolved through this goal was a longstanding partnership designed to actively involve corporations in the college by engaging with students and faculty members for research projects, equipment testing and hiring opportunities. That partnership, named the CREOL Industrial Affiliates Program when it was formalized in 1989, has grown to include nearly 65 individual and corporate affiliates around the world with most of them in Central Florida. The Florida High Tech Corridor Council is in many ways modeled on that Industrial Affiliates Program, and the Council continues to advance our regional economy by connecting skilled talent with innovative companies that produce tomorrow���s technologies. One can only wonder what partnerships the future will bring. Colleges Burnett Honors College College of Arts and Humanities College of Business Administration College of Education College of Engineering and Computer Science College of Graduate Studies College of Health and Public Affairs College of Medicine College of Nursing College of Optics and Photonics College of Sciences Rosen College of Hospitality Management Academic Degree Programs (Fall 2012) Baccalaureate Programs........................... 90 Master���s Programs......................................87 Specialist Programs......................................3 Doctoral Programs. .................................... 31 . Professional (Medicine)............................... 1 Number of Degrees Awarded (as of Summer 2012) Baccalaureate.................................... 192,969 Master���s................................................ 38,937 Specialist.................................................... 541 Doctoral. ................................................2,960 . Personnel (Fall 2012) Teaching Faculty and Adjuncts. ..........1,959 . Executive/Administrative/ Managerial................................................ 324 . Other Professionals.............................. 1,300 Support Personnel................................ 1,494 Dr. John C. Hitt President, University of Central Florida Fall 2012 Enrollment: 59,767 UCF at a Glance The University of Central Florida, the nation���s second-largest university with an enrollment of nearly 60,000 students, is a dynamic and entrepreneurial institution. Offering more than 200 degree programs, UCF is an academic and research leader in optics, modeling and simulation, engineering and computer science, education, hospitality management, and digital media. It is ranked among the nation���s top five up-and-coming institutions by U.S. News & World Report. The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching has designated UCF as a university with ���very high research activity,��� a category that features the nation���s top research institutions, and has recognized UCF���s substantial commitments in Curricular Engagement and Outreach & Partnership. Students attend classes on UCF���s main campus in East Orlando and at 15 satellite facilities throughout Central Florida. The College of Medicine and our medical city partners at Lake Nona will potentially create 30,000 jobs and more than $7.6 billion in annual economic impact beginning in 2017. UCF is one of Central Florida���s largest employers, with approximately 2,000 faculty members and 8,750 staff members. The university affects more than 112,000 additional jobs and adds $7.73 billion of value to the economy, a 2009-10 study found. UCF researchers have earned more than $1 billion in external grants during the past decade. UCF���s internationally recognized Institute for Simulation and Training is an anchor of the Metro Orlando region���s $3 billion modeling and simulation industry. UCF awarded 14,369 degrees in 2011-12. The number of degrees awarded in STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) fields has increased substantially, and eight of the 10 most popular freshman majors in fall 2012 were in STEM fields. 14 florida.HIGH.TECH 2013 fht_univ_research_2013.indd 14 2/11/13 2:07 PM