Daring to Boldly Invent the Future: Florida’s Next-Generation Preeminent University

From world-class faculty and high-achieving students to dedicated academic success coaches and staff who excel at coordinating research grants, the UCF community contributes so much to creating a better future for our students and our state.

Their determined pursuit of excellence and transformation of knowledge into breakthroughs have catapulted UCF to become Florida's Next-Generation Preeminent University.

President Alexander N. Cartwright announced Monday that UCF has reached the 12 metrics required to earn the designation of Preeminent State Research University by the Florida Board of Governors. Qualifying for the state's highest designation highlights UCF's achievements in student success, research and more - and the talents and hard work of so many in the UCF community who made this happen.

"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 Cartwright says. "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."

"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," says Board of Trustees Chair Alex Martins '01MBA. "It is a milestone that belongs to the entire UCF community, and I am proud we have reached this point together."

A Community Dedicated to Student Success

UCF adopted a new model of student success support in 2023 with academic success coaches. Each student is paired with a success coach who works one-on-one with them, helping them develop their academic and career goals, and guiding them on the path to success. Success coaches help remove barriers for students and empower them to thrive on campus and beyond.

When DirectConnect to UCF student Hayley Ellis transferred from Daytona State College, she had to adjust to a much larger school in a new city. Mostly homeschooled growing up, Ellis is an aspiring pathologist double majoring in health sciences, and molecular and cellular biology.

Just as she began feeling overwhelmed in Organic Chemistry, senior academic success coach Christian Viau reached out to champion her success.

"When I got [Christian's] email, I was like, 'Someone here wants me to succeed and help me map out my classes,' " Ellis says. "That was a huge relief. It felt good to have someone there for me."

"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." - Christian Viau, senior academic success coach

Since then, they've met several times to build a manageable academic schedule and discuss how to get involved and connect with Knights across campus.

Every student Viau works with receives individualized support. That includes Ellis, whom he knew needed extra help due to the unique challenges double majors face. Now approaching graduation, she's stayed on track to finish in four years.

Thanks to the efforts of Viau and dozens of other academic success coaches across campus, along with caring faculty members who mentor students, and many other people, UCF has increased our four-year graduation rate to 63.8%, which is up 14 percentage points in four years.

Another example of efforts that have greatly benefited students is in the College of Arts and Humanities, where faculty in writing and rhetoric are strengthening student success in first-year composition courses. Shane Wood, associate professor and director of first-year composition and Professor Sherry Rankins-Robertson helped launch a progress report initiative that identifies at-risk students early in Composition I and II courses. Students are then connected to support and resources to help them succeed in these subjects, which nearly every UCF student takes, and which directly affect key preeminence metrics like freshman retention and four-year graduation rates.

"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." - Shane Wood, associate professor

What began as a small pilot program with about 10% faculty participation has grown to be embraced by nearly 90% of instructors today. That shift has contributed to a remarkable 96% persistence rate, which measures percentage of students who continue, in composition courses - helping bolster student success across the university.

"Serving more than 6,500 students a year, success in these courses plays a pivotal role in helping students persevere at UCF and ultimately graduate," Wood says.

Rankins-Robertson says the initiative also reflects the dedication of faculty who support students from their very first semester.

"We're trying to make students feel like they belong here, and when they feel supported, they're more likely to continue," Rankins-Robertson says. "Preeminence, to me, highlights the dedication of our faculty and the intentional ways they approach the classroom in order to make a meaningful impact on students' lives."

From Ingenuity to Impact: Boosting Research Funding and Technology Transfer

UCF's world-class faculty are bold innovators who drive over $285 million in annual research expenditures across fields like space exploration, engineering, optics and photonics, modeling and simulation, healthcare, cybersecurity and more. Their work has helped UCF become a National Academy of Inventors top 20 public university for patents in the U.S. - and meet preeminence metrics.

"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." - Svetlana Shtrom '08MBA, director of Technology Transfer

The Office of Technology Transfer, which oversees the filing and issuance of patents, is part of the university's Economic Development and Innovation division within the Office of Research. Technology Transfer plays an integral role in overseeing research commercialization, strengthening industry relationships and facilitating formation of new startup companies. Supporting the efforts of the Technology Transfer team are a host of other Office of Research staff who submit proposals, process funding awards and much more.

"UCF's Office of Technology Transfer is dedicated to serving the university research community by identifying innovative research that has commercial potential and attracts interest from industry partners, entrepreneurs, and investors with the goal of bringing promising research results to the market for the betterment of society," says Svetlana Shtrom '08MBA, director of Technology Transfer.

Being a strong producer of patents enhances UCF's national prominence, attracting more talented students and researchers who further fuel the cycle of innovation.

"We are committed to supporting researchers, entrepreneurs and stakeholders in turning ideas into impact," says Raju Nagaiah, Technology Transfer's assistant director of licensing. "We are passionateabout our work - we love science and technology, and get very excited when we learn about new inventions and the opportunity to improve people's lives through innovation."

Companies frequently approach the Technology Transfer to explore available technologies, and this often leads to deeper research collaborations and more funding opportunities for faculty, Shtrom says.

Driving Student Achievement and Innovation

Preeminence also acknowledges the many ways that students excel in the classroom and transform ideas into impact.

Zackary Zuniga, a dual major undergraduate student studying photonics science and engineering, and electrical engineering, founded ZuLeris Interactive in 2023 after taking UCF's Entrepreneurship for Defense course. The company, now part of the UCF Business Incubation Program, creates immersive simulations for electromagnetic defense training.

"At UCF, I found a community that supported me every step of the way," Zuniga says. "From mentors to the entrepreneurship ecosystem, I've never experienced this level of encouragement anywhere else."

Set to graduate in December, Zuniga and his team spent the summer on a national fellowship sponsored by the Defense Innovation Unit, which focuses on helping startup companies. He credits UCF for connecting him with opportunities that have shaped his startup, allowing it to make training more accessible and scalable.

Leading Florida's Future

As UCF attracts top talent, strengthens industry partnerships and drives innovation that benefits the state and nation, the university's impact is felt across key sectors - from healthcare and nursing to space and defense - positioning UCF as a vital contributor to Florida's prosperity.

For the 2025-26 academic year, UCF boasts its strongest class in years. The university received a record 65,900 applicants from first-year students for 8,100 spots in the Summer and Fall 2025 semesters. The average high school GPA for fall freshmen was 4.24 and the class posted a 1347 average SAT score.

What Comes Next

When it comes to preeminence, the Board of Governors must first verify the results of UCF's 12 metrics. Once verified, the 12 metrics will come before the UCF Board of Trustees for approval in April 2026, and would then move onto the Board of Governors for certification and official designation in June.

President Cartwright shared that his priority for any new dollars that come with the official preeminence designation is investment in the faculty and staff who propel the university's excellence.

From there, the sky is the limit as UCF continues to build on our innovations in student success at scale, grow as Florida's Premier University for Engineering, Technology and Innovation, and become a top 25 public research university.

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