University of Central Florida Downtown Campus: A 21st-Century Learning Hub

The University of Central Florida (UCF) has expanded its reach with a vibrant downtown campus, creating a game-changing educational environment in the heart of Orlando. In partnership with Valencia College, UCF Downtown serves over 7,000 students, offering a unique college experience integrated with the city's dynamic urban core. This campus is more than just a place to attend classes; it's a hub where students live, learn, and work, contributing to the growth and innovation of downtown Orlando.

A Vision for Urban Education

UCF Downtown embodies a vision for 21st-century education, fostering new ideas and building on a foundation of innovation. The campus aims to stimulate downtown Orlando and provide a true college experience by creating a critical mass of students in the area. The UCF Downtown committees carefully considered which programs would offer students the best educational opportunities, such as internships and research partnerships with businesses, nonprofit organizations, and government entities in the downtown area.

History and Development

The development of UCF Downtown was a carefully planned endeavor. In 2016, the project received approval from the Florida Board of Governors, and design and build teams were selected that summer. Construction began in downtown Orlando in the summer of 2017. The university created the UCF Downtown committees, which spent more than a year exploring various aspects, from student services and educational programs to transportation and facilities.

Academic Programs and Opportunities

More than 20 academic programs are offered at UCF Downtown, providing students with a wide range of educational opportunities. Lower-level courses are available both downtown and on the main campus, allowing students to tailor their learning experience.

UCF Downtown is committed to providing students with access to resources and support that will help them succeed. The campus offers a variety of services, including academic advising, career counseling, and financial aid. UCF Downtown also has a dedicated police force at the campus, available 24/7, located in a sub-station on Amelia Street. The campus includes uniformed patrols, video surveillance, blue light phones, and emergency alert systems.

State-of-the-Art Facilities and Technology

UCF Downtown features modern facilities and state-of-the-art technology throughout its classrooms, meeting spaces, and large event rooms. The campus is designed to facilitate active learning, with mobile furniture and technology that supports collaborative and engaging teaching methods.

Active Learning Classrooms

Led by the Office of Instructional Resources, the furniture and technology in downtown campus classrooms helps facilitate active learning. UCF is moving to a model where all classrooms can better support active learning methods of teaching. The furniture is all mobile, including the instructor podium. An optional wireless collaboration system called Intel Unite is available at UCF Downtown, allowing students to mirror their personal devices (phones, tablets, or laptops) to the computer in the room. Each room also has a projector, and some rooms have additional monitors that mirror the content on the projector.

Dr. Phillips Academic Commons

The Dr. Phillips Academic Commons (DPAC) is a central hub for academic activity on campus. This four-story building features active learning spaces, including classrooms, a downtown library, study and tutor spaces, a moot court, and academic offices. Primarily located on the first floor of the Dr. Phillips Academic Commons (DPAC) East Wing, group study rooms can accommodate up to five people. Rooms have tables, chairs and a flat-screen monitor.

UnionWest at Creative Village

UnionWest at Creative Village is a privately developed, 15-story building that provides student housing on the top floors. The lower levels feature retail and academic learning spaces, including Valencia College’s Walt Disney School of Culinary Arts and Hospitality. The first floor of UnionWest includes quick-service food options, including Subway, Qdoba and Dunkin.

Campus Life and Amenities

UCF Downtown offers a vibrant campus life with a range of amenities and resources for students.

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Wi-Fi Access

UCF and Valencia College students, faculty, and staff have access to fast and convenient Wi-Fi at the downtown campus.

Room Reservations

Classrooms come in different sizes and setups, all equipped with a computer, projector, and HDMI connections for laptops or devices. Students, faculty, staff, and community members can request a space using the Special Request Form. Room rates may apply to non-UCF affiliated businesses and organizations.

IT Support

UCF IT provides technology solutions and reliable support so students, faculty and staff can focus on their work without tech distractions. They manage phone services, networks, online learning tools, research computing and more.

Parking and Transportation

The first level of the Parramore Garage offers daily virtual permit parking only. Overflow parking for daily virtual permits is available on the 4th floor of the Parramore Garage or on any level of the Amelia Garage. The UnionWest garage also has hourly parking available for visitors.

Visiting UCF Downtown

UCF offers several ways for prospective students and visitors to experience the downtown campus.

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Campus Tours

Tours are offered each month on select Friday mornings. UCF Downtown campus tours begin at UnionWest in Creative Village with a 30-minute information session, followed by a 60-minute walking tour of the campus led by a downtown student ambassador. This tour does not include a preview of UnionWest Student Living.

The information session covers the unique aspects of the urban campus environment, the application and admissions process, tuition and scholarship information, and housing. The walking tour includes stops in UnionWest at Creative Village (including academic and recreation spaces), the Dr. Phillips Academic Commons, and the Communication and Media Building.

Registration for Orientation

To register for a downtown orientation, students can complete the steps in their summer/fall task list on My.UCF.edu. An orientation date can be reserved after completing the prerequisite tasks.

Group Tours

Parties of 16 or more, or businesses and organizations interested in a campus tour must complete an online form.

UCF: A University on the Rise

The University of Central Florida has a rich history and a bright future. Founded on June 10, 1963, as Florida Technological University, UCF has grown into a major public research university with a global reach.

Historical Overview

Following President John F. Kennedy's 1962 speech about going to the Moon, the space program grew in importance in Central Florida because of its proximity to Cape Canaveral. Local leaders lobbied the Florida State Legislature to increase access to higher education on the Space Coast. The legislature authorized the creation of a new state university in East Central Florida.

The university was founded as a non-segregated and coeducational university, with the mission of educating students for space-age careers in engineering and other technological professions. The board of regents purchased 1,000 acres of land in northeast Orlando as the site of the new university. In December 1965, Charles Millican was appointed the first president of the new university. Millican chose the name Florida Technological University and co-designed the school's distinctive Pegasus seal. He is also responsible for the university's slogan, "Reach for the Stars," and for the campus's unique pedestrian-oriented concentric-circle layout.

In 1978, the university's second president, Trevor Colbourn, recognized the diversification and growth of UCF's academic programs. He established the university's honors program and started the university's first satellite campus. In addition, he was responsible for constructing the Central Florida Research Park adjacent to the UCF campus.

In March 1992, John C. Hitt became UCF's fourth president. UCF administrators began to increase its academic and research standing while also evolving into a more traditional research university.

Alexander Cartwright is the fifth and current president of UCF.

Main Campus

The main campus is designed to be pedestrian-oriented, with a series of concentric circles. The outermost circle is Gemini Blvd, which is also the main road for vehicular traffic on campus. Pegasus Circle contains the student union, with the John C. Hitt Library located directly to the south of it. Student housing is provided along the perimeter of the campus. The south side contains student recreation and wellness facilities, leisure pool, recreation park, and more student housing. Also located directly south of the main campus is Central Florida Research Park, which is the seventh largest research park in the nation and the largest in Florida, housing over 116 corporations.

Other Campuses

In addition to the main campus and the downtown campus, UCF has several other campuses and centers throughout Central Florida, including:

UCF Health Sciences Campus at Lake Nona: This 50-acre campus includes the UCF College of Medicine and the Burnett Biomedical Sciences Building.
Rosen College of Hospitality Management: Located near the Orange County Convention Center on Universal Boulevard in Downtown Orlando, this college is designed to imitate a resort-style feel.
UCF Cocoa: UCF also houses a satellite campus in Cocoa, FL, near Kennedy Space Center.

Academics and Rankings

UCF is a comprehensive research university offering a wide range of academic programs at the undergraduate and graduate levels.

Accreditation: The University of Central Florida is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.
Colleges and Schools: UCF has thirteen academic colleges and schools. By enrollment, the three largest undergraduate units are the College of Sciences, the College of Business Administration, and the Health Professions and Sciences. At the graduate level, the College of Graduate Studies serves as the central administrative unit of graduate education at the university.
Limited Access Programs: Among the colleges, a number of undergraduate academic programs are termed "limited access programs" which are programs where student demand exceeds available resources thus making admission to such program competitive. Examples include academic programs taught under the Nicholson School of Communication and the music, theatre, dance, and medical laboratory sciences schools or departments. Students must apply to join these programs separately from admission to the university. Criteria for admission varies but is generally very selective and includes factors such as indicators of ability, performance, creativity, and talent.

Research

The University of Central Florida fosters research among its thirteen academic colleges and schools, partnerships with corporations such as Lockheed Martin, Disney, Boeing, L3Harris, Siemens, SpaceX, and Universal. National Astronomy and Ionosphere Center is also managed by UCF.

Student Body

UCF's student body consists of undergraduates and graduate and professional students. UCF's enrollment has increased significantly this century. Of the more than students, a percentage are graduate and professional students, while women make up a percentage of the student body.

Tuition and Financial Aid

Due to budget decreases and increased demands on the university, the UCF board of trustees, with the approval of the board of governors and the Florida legislature, approved an increase in tuition for the academic year. UCF is committed to providing affordable access to higher education. A percentage of undergraduates receive financial aid.

Student Life

UCF has over registered student organizations, intramural sports, and an active Student Government. Spirit Splash is a homecoming tradition at UCF, and is traditionally the only time during the year that students are allowed into the Reflecting Pond.

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