History of the University of Central Florida

1. History of the University of Central Florida June 10, 1963-the Governor of Florida signs a bill officially creating a new state university to be built in Orange County.

2. 1964 89 residents (here after known as “the Founders” put up $1 million dollars to guarantee a bank loan to secure the 1227 acre site for the university. This is what it looks like:

4. 1965 - Charles Millican is appointed the university’s first president. December 1, he begins work as the university’s first (and only) employee. Here’s his office: Located above a drugstore on the corner of Orange and Church Street.

5. February 1966 - the university is officially named:

6. October 7, 1968 Convocation and first day of classes for 1891 students. Everything is held in one building:

8. 1968 Students could choose from 55 bachelor’s Degree programs offered by five colleges: • Business Administration • Education • Engineering and Technology • Humanities and Social Sciences • Natural Sciences

9. 1969 • First graduate degrees are offered. • First athletic event – Men’s Basketball vs. Massey Institute • Student Newspaper, the FuTUre suggests a new campus mascot:

10. Meet Vincent

11. This is who the administration wanted:

12. 1970 • 5000 students are enrolled in courses; FTU is still primarily a commuter school • First Homecoming • The Knight becomes the mascot

13. This is what the campus looks like:

14. 1973 President Richard Nixon gives commencement speech

15. 1976 • Greek housing approved • Bicentennial time capsule buried (to be opened in 2026) • 10,000th degree awarded • FTU Homecoming Queen gets on national TV:

16. Rita Reutter was a 58 year old grad student... She got on the “Tonight Show “ with Johnny Carson

17. 1977 - 1978 • Charles Millican announces his retirement as President • Sit -ins averted on campus • Trevor Colbourn selected as FTU’s second President • Florida Technological University becomes:

19. 1978 - 1979 • Massive reorganization plan announced • Colleges of Humanities and Social Sciences, and Natural Sciences are combined to make the College of Arts and Sciences • Football comes to UCF – first game vs. St. Leo College

20. 1980 - 1981 • Research Park is planned • College of Education is reorganized • Health Center opens • $8 million Library expansion is announced • Students break world record for most people on a waterbed (106)

21. 1980’s • More undergraduate programs added • 25,000th degree awarded in 1984 • More research grants • 35, 000th degree awarded in 1987 • 25th Anniversary in 1988 • TV series “Superboy” filmed on campus • Second president, Trevor Colbourn, resigns • Site selected for Student Union • Steve Altman selected as third president 1989

22. 1990’s • UCF Arena set to open, November 1990 • Steve Altman resigns, June 1991 • Classes cut due to budget • John Hitt named UCF’s fourth president, 1991 • Student Union opens 1997 • UCF #26 of “Most Wired Colleges”

23. 1990’s • UCF students begin one of our more popular traditions: Spirit Splash!

24. 2001 • The UCF Creed is introduced: • Integrity, scholarship, community, creativity, and excellence are the core valuesthat guide our conduct, performance, and decisions. • Integrity • I will practice and defend academic and personal honesty. • Scholarship • I will cherish and honor learning as a fundamental purposeof my membership in the UCF community. • Community • I will promote an open and supportive campus environment byrespecting the rights and contributions of every individual. • Creativity • I will use my talents to enrich the human experience. • Excellence • I will strive toward the highest standards of performance in any endeavor I undertake.  

25. 2002 • Tyler Fisher is selected as UCF’s first Rhodes Scholar The Fort Myers senior was named one of 32 national Rhodes Scholars, and was the first student at UCF to be chosen for the scholarship, which pays for two years of study at Oxford University in England. UCF joins a football conference in 2002: The Mid-America Conference

26. 2004 • Ad/PR senior Ericka Dunlap is crowned Miss America • Rosen College of Hospitality Management opens new campus

27. 2005 • UCF moved to Conference-USA for all sports teams • 150,000th degree awarded in 2005 • UCF is now the second hardest state university to get into. • UCF also goes to its first Bowl Game…

28. In Hawaii! • UCF plays in the Sheraton Hawaii Bowl against Nevada • George O’Leary wins Coach of the Year for one of the best turnarounds in college football history

29. Still Growing… UCF opens a new Health Center, leisure pool, The Towers apartment housing, and the Fairwinds Alumni Center

30. More to come UCF approves new on-campus Stadium And a new Medical School.

31. UCF in 2006 • Colleges: • Arts and Humanities • Business Administration • Education • Engineering & Computer Science • Health and Public Affairs • Rosen College of Hospitality Management • Burnett College of Biomedical Sciences • Optics and Photonics • Sciences • Enrollment ~ 34,000 in 2000 38,500 in 2002 45,000 in 2005 46,863 in 2006 (projected)

32. UCF in the future • Where do we go from here?