The University of Central Florida (UCF) has announced that it has met all 12 metrics required to be designated a Preeminent State Research University by the Florida Board of Governors. This status is the highest designation for research universities in the state and highlights UCF’s achievements in student success, research, and innovation.
“From the very beginning, UCF has been a university that defies expectations, turning scrubland into a next-generation university built for discovery, innovation and opportunity,” President Alexander N. Cartwright said. “Reaching the 12 metrics necessary for Florida’s Preeminent State Research University designation reflects the grit and ambition of our students, faculty, and staff, and the power of this community to dream bigger and achieve more. Preeminence is not an arrival point but a launchpad for an even bolder future.”
Board of Trustees Chair Alex Martins stated: “This is an extraordinary accomplishment, and one that reflects the collective efforts of our faculty, staff, students, and leadership team — with this Board’s unwavering support. It is a milestone that belongs to the entire UCF community, and I am proud we have reached this point together.”
UCF introduced academic success coaches in 2023 as part of its efforts to improve student outcomes. Each student works with a coach who provides individualized guidance on academic planning and career development. The initiative has contributed to increasing UCF’s four-year graduation rate to 63.8%, up 14 percentage points over four years.
Hayley Ellis, a double major in health sciences as well as molecular and cellular biology who transferred from Daytona State College through DirectConnect to UCF, described her experience with her success coach: “When I got [Christian’s] email, I was like, ‘Someone here wants me to succeed and help me map out my classes.’ That was a huge relief. It felt good to have someone there for me.”
Senior academic success coach Christian Viau explained his motivation: “I think providing [a] support system from inside the institution is vital. As a success coach, that’s a driving factor for me — because in my undergrad, I would’ve loved to have someone I could lean on.”
In addition to coaching programs, faculty members are working on initiatives such as early progress reports in first-year composition courses within the College of Arts and Humanities. Shane Wood, associate professor and director of first-year composition at UCF said: “Serving more than 6,500 students a year, success in these [composition] courses plays a pivotal role in helping students persevere at UCF and ultimately graduate.” Professor Sherry Rankins-Robertson added: “We’re trying to make students feel like they belong here, and when they feel supported, they’re more likely to continue. Preeminence…highlights the dedication of our faculty and the intentional ways they approach the classroom in order to make a meaningful impact on students’ lives.”
UCF’s annual research expenditures now exceed $285 million across disciplines such as space exploration; engineering; optics; modeling; simulation; healthcare; cybersecurity; among others. The university ranks among the top 20 public universities nationally for patents issued.
“When the Office of Technology Transfer showcases UCF innovations, we not only generate interest in licensing intellectual property but also create pathways for industry partnerships that extend far beyond licensing alone,” said Svetlana Shtrom ’08MBA.
Shtrom further noted: “UCF’s Office of Technology Transfer is dedicated to serving the university research community by identifying innovative research that has commercial potential…with the goal of bringing promising research results to market for the betterment of society.” Assistant director Raju Nagaiah commented: “We are committed to supporting researchers…in turning ideas into impact….and get very excited when we learn about new inventions and opportunity to improve people’s lives through innovation.”
Student achievement was highlighted by Zackary Zuniga—a dual major undergraduate who founded ZuLeris Interactive after taking an entrepreneurship course at UCF—and credited mentorship opportunities at UCF for supporting his startup venture focused on electromagnetic defense training simulations.
For incoming first-year students entering Summer/Fall 2025 semesters at UCF—out of nearly 65,900 applicants—only about 8,100 were admitted; these new freshmen posted an average GPA above 4.2 along with average SAT scores near 1347.
The process toward preeminent status continues with verification by state authorities followed by reviews from both university trustees (April 2026) then certification from state boards (June).
President Cartwright indicated any additional funding associated with preeminence will prioritize investment in faculty/staff excellence as UCF seeks continued growth as an engineering/technology leader aiming toward recognition among America’s top public research universities.
