Introduction to UCF’s Preeminent Status
The University of Central Florida has achieved “preeminent” status, a designation that comes after it boosted its four-year graduation rate and could mean increased money from the state, the school’s president announced Monday.
Florida’s preeminence program was established by the Florida Legislature in 2013 and offers extra money to state universities judged on a number of metrics, including graduation rates, national rankings and research dollars earned.
Background on the Preeminence Program
UCF has been seeking that status for years. President Alexander Cartwright’s announcement of the news prompted a standing ovation at Monday’s board of trustees meeting, held on campus. “This is not an ordinary day at UCF,” said Alex Martins, the board’s chair. UCF joins the University of Florida, Florida State University, University of South Florida and Florida International University, which had previously earned “preeminent” status.
Metrics for Preeminent Status
The program judges universities on 13 metrics, and universities must achieve 12 in order to be dubbed preeminent. UCF earned the status after topping the required 60% four-year graduation rate, which it had been chasing. The graduation rate was one of the final metrics the university needed to meet. After this summer’s graduations, Cartwright said UCF had achieved a 63.8% four-year graduation rate, representing a nearly 14% increase in the last four years.
Plans for Increased Funding
Cartwright said the university’s first investment with any increased funding increase would be to raise salaries for faculty and staff. “We must invest in our people,” he said. UCF also plans to spend on “expanded scholarships, purpose-driven spaces and experiential learning,” he added. UCF has historically had the highest student-to-faculty ratio of any university in Florida, at 28.3 students to one faculty member, which was also well above the national average.
Challenges and Improvements
The high ratio and large class sizes served as a barrier for some students to graduate. Many required courses have waitlists because of a lack of faculty to teach them, causing a longer road to graduate for some students. In an interview, Cartwright said he aims to bring the ratio down and keep recruiting more faculty. But UCF has still been able to grow its graduation rate despite the student-faculty rate, due in part to how “innovative” and “efficient” the university is, he said. “Our numbers may be different than other universities, but we’re also incredibly efficient at what we do,” he said.
Impact on Reputation and Recruitment
Ryan Goodwin, UCF’s senior assistant vice president for strategic initiatives, said the preeminence distinction will help the university’s reputation and improve recruitment. “It’s uncovering a truth that we’ve known about ourselves for a while, and that allows us to recruit great students, recruit great faculty members and recruit great staff members and keep them here,” he said. It is unclear just how much funding UCF would receive, since the money earmarked for the program will be determined during the 2026 legislative session.
Student Perspectives
Emma Clemmer, a UCF senior studying biology, said the university has deserved more recognition for a long time. She likes that the influx of state cash should help the school’s class sizes. “That whole memo of like, ‘U Can’t Finish,’ has definitely put a damper on things that people don’t think that we are as elite as we are. But I think we are,” Clemmer said. In 2016, UCF was named an “emerging preeminent research university” by the state and approved a five-year plan to achieve the distinction. However, it ended up taking nine years to reach that goal.
Conclusion
The University of Central Florida’s achievement of "preeminent" status is a significant milestone for the institution. With its improved four-year graduation rate and potential for increased state funding, UCF is poised to continue growing and improving. The university’s plans to invest in faculty and staff salaries, expanded scholarships, and experiential learning will likely have a positive impact on students and the broader community. As UCF looks to the future, it is clear that this designation will have a lasting impact on the university’s reputation and ability to recruit top talent.
FAQs
Q: What is the preeminence program in Florida?
A: The preeminence program is a state-funded initiative that provides extra money to universities that meet certain metrics, including graduation rates, national rankings, and research dollars earned.
Q: How did UCF achieve preeminent status?
A: UCF achieved preeminent status by topping the required 60% four-year graduation rate and meeting 12 of the 13 metrics set by the state.
Q: What are UCF’s plans for the increased funding?
A: UCF plans to invest in faculty and staff salaries, expanded scholarships, purpose-driven spaces, and experiential learning.
Q: How will the preeminence distinction impact UCF’s reputation and recruitment?
A: The preeminence distinction will help improve UCF’s reputation and recruitment efforts, allowing the university to attract top students, faculty, and staff.
Q: When will the Florida Board of Governors approve UCF’s preeminent status?
A: The Florida Board of Governors is set to approve UCF’s preeminent status at its meeting in June.
