Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/297333
18 florida.HIGH.TECH 2014 FROM THE PRESIDENT Who knew that turning 50 could be so much fun? Last year in this space, I wrote that UCF would embark on a 50th anniversary celebration in 2013. Little did we know what a momentous occasion it would be, providing our young institution with recog- nition in the laboratory, in the classroom and on the athletic field. We landed the largest research grant in school history and we graduated our charter class from the UCF College of Medi- cine. The university also set a new Florida record for enrollment in reaching the 60,000-student mark. Our student minority population increased to 40 percent—also a new school record—and our total enrollment of National Merit Scholars reached an all-time high of 247, ranking UCF 12th nationally among public institutions. Interestingly, all universities ranking ahead of UCF were founded in the 18th or 19th centuries. And, oh yes, our football team won its first-ever BCS bowl game and finished No. 10 in the AP Football Poll. We are equally proud that among those top 10 football schools, UCF ranked first in the graduation rate of our football players. All this achievement focuses great attention on an institution, and it enables us to attract top-notch faculty members and students who seek world-class academic excellence in such fields as simulation and training, photonics and lasers, digital media, and hospitality management. And, our researchers are working on breakthroughs for diseases, clean energy and nanoparticles. UCF really does stand for opportunity. Our partnership through the Florida High Tech Corridor Council with the University of South Florida and the University of Florida in attracting, retain- ing and growing high tech industry and the workforce to support that industry is a unique initiative that continues to pay invaluable dividends to the region. Together, we send one concise message: We are ready to be your partners. Dr. John C. Hitt President, University of Central Florida 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 2013) Baccalaureate Programs ........................... 91 Master's Programs .................................... 86 Specialist Programs .....................................3 Doctoral Programs .................................... 30 Professional (Medicine) .............................. 1 NUMBER OF DEGREES AWARDED (as of Summer 2013) Baccalaureate ................................... 205,531 Master's ............................................... 41,394 Specialist .................................................. 562 Doctoral ................................................. 3,279 PERSONNEL (Fall 2013) Teaching Faculty and Adjuncts ...........1,965 Executive/Administrative/ Managerial ................................................ 332 Other Professionals ...............................1,612 Support Personnel ............................... 1,504 FALL 2013 ENROLLMENT: 59,770 UCF AT A GLANCE The University of Central Florida (UCF), the nation's second-largest university with an enrollment of nearly 60,000 students, is a dynamic and entrepreneur- ial institution. Offering more than 200 degree programs, UCF is an academic and research leader in optics, modeling and simulation, engineering and com- puter science, education, hospitality management and digital media. It is ranked among the nation's top up-and-coming institutions by U.S. News & World Report and among the nation's best values by Kiplinger and The Princeton Review. 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 commit- ments in Curricular Engagement and Outreach & Partnership. A national study released by the New America Foundation concluded that with UCF's many partnerships and emphasis on expanding access to a