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University of Central Florida

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University of Central Florida



 
 
The University of Central Florida (commonly referred to as UCF) is a space-grant
Space grant colleges

The space-grant colleges compose a network of 52 consortium, based at university across the United States, for space-related research. Each consortium is based in one of the U.S....
 university
University

A university is an institution of higher education and research, which grants academic degrees in a variety of subjects. A university provides both undergraduate education and postgraduate education....
 located in Orlando
Orlando, Florida

Orlando is a major city in Central Florida, United States and is the county seat of Orange County, Florida, Florida. It is also the principal city of Orlando-Kissimmee, Florida, Metropolitan Statistical Area....
, Florida
Florida

Florida is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States of the United States, bordering Alabama to the northwest and Georgia to the northeast....
. UCF is the second largest overall in the state of Florida, and the fifth-largest university in the nation.

UCF is a member institution of the State University System of Florida
State University System of Florida

The State University System of Florida is a system of university governed by the Florida Board of Governors. Prior to 1905, the system was governed by a Board of Education and even earlier variations thereof, reaching back to the Florida Constitution of 1838 wherein a system of higher and normal education was established, based on grants of...
. It was founded in 1963 as Florida Technological University with the goal of providing highly trained personnel to support the Kennedy Space Center
Kennedy Space Center

The John F. Kennedy Space Center is the NASA space vehicle launch facility and Launch Control Center on Merritt Island, Florida, Brevard County, Florida, United States....
, located only to the east, and to this day maintains a satellite campus at the Space Center.






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Encyclopedia


The University of Central Florida (commonly referred to as UCF) is a space-grant
Space grant colleges

The space-grant colleges compose a network of 52 consortium, based at university across the United States, for space-related research. Each consortium is based in one of the U.S....
 university
University

A university is an institution of higher education and research, which grants academic degrees in a variety of subjects. A university provides both undergraduate education and postgraduate education....
 located in Orlando
Orlando, Florida

Orlando is a major city in Central Florida, United States and is the county seat of Orange County, Florida, Florida. It is also the principal city of Orlando-Kissimmee, Florida, Metropolitan Statistical Area....
, Florida
Florida

Florida is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States of the United States, bordering Alabama to the northwest and Georgia to the northeast....
. UCF is the second largest overall in the state of Florida, and the fifth-largest university in the nation.

UCF is a member institution of the State University System of Florida
State University System of Florida

The State University System of Florida is a system of university governed by the Florida Board of Governors. Prior to 1905, the system was governed by a Board of Education and even earlier variations thereof, reaching back to the Florida Constitution of 1838 wherein a system of higher and normal education was established, based on grants of...
. It was founded in 1963 as Florida Technological University with the goal of providing highly trained personnel to support the Kennedy Space Center
Kennedy Space Center

The John F. Kennedy Space Center is the NASA space vehicle launch facility and Launch Control Center on Merritt Island, Florida, Brevard County, Florida, United States....
, located only to the east, and to this day maintains a satellite campus at the Space Center. In 1978 the school was renamed the University of Central Florida as its academic scope had expanded to encompass all academic fields. In 1990, the University of Central Florida founded the Space Education and Research Center.

As of 2008, total enrollment consists of a 50,000 student body seeking bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree

A bachelor's degree is usually an undergraduate academic degree awarded for a course or major that generally lasts for three, four, or in some cases and countries, five or six years....
s through doctorate
Doctorate

A doctorate is an academic degree that in most countries represents the highest level of formal study or research in a given field. In some countries it also refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder to practice in a specific profession ....
s, as well as certificates and specialist degree
Specialist degree

The Specialist degree in the English-speaking worldThe Specialist degree is found in some programs of education or psychology and is awarded for study beyond the Master's degree but below the doctorate....
s. The university is organized into twelve colleges providing nearly 100 separate courses of study with the majority of the population located at the main campus, approximately east of downtown Orlando and south of Daytona Beach
Daytona Beach, Florida

Daytona Beach is a city in Volusia County, Florida, Florida, United States. According to 2006 U.S. Census Bureau estimates, the city has a population of 64,421....
. Since its rapid growth starting in the late 1990s UCF has expanded its influence throughout Florida and now consists of twelve satellite campus
Satellite campus

A satellite campus is a campus of a college or university that is physically detached from the main university or college area....
es in eastern central Florida. In the Fall of 2006, UCF's admission rate declined drastically from 61% of prospective students admitted to only 46%, as a result of more and more students applying to the university each year. The acceptance rate continued to decline for Fall 2008 when there was a 38% acceptance rate for 25,000 first time in college applications. Freshmen admitted in Fall 2008 posted average SAT
SAT

The SAT Reasoning Test is a standardized testing for college admissions in the Education in the United States. The SAT is owned, published, and developed by the College Board, a non-profit organization in the United States, and was once developed, published, and scored by the Educational Testing Service ....
 scores of 1219, ACT
ACT (examination)

The ACT is a standardized test Achievement test examination for University and college admissionss in the Education in the United States produced by ACT, Inc....
 scores of 26 and average high school GPAs of 3.76.

UCF's official colors are black
Black

Black is the color of objects that do not emit or reflection light in any part of the visible spectrum; they absorb all such frequencies of light....
 and gold
Gold (color)

Gold, also called golden, is an orange -yellow color which is a representation of the color of the chemical element gold. Metallic gold, such as in paint, is often called goldtone or gold-tone....
, the various sports teams go by the name of Knights
UCF Knights

The University of Central Florida in Orlando, Florida features a large variety of intercollegiate athletics teams known as the UCF Knights that competes in National Collegiate Athletic Association's Division I....
 and the official mascot is a male gold-armored black knight named Knightro
Knightro

Knightro is the mascot for the University of Central Florida UCF Knights. Knightro is sometimes seen riding a horse around campus and during football games....
. The UCF academic logo is a Pegasus
Pegasus

In Greek mythology, Pegasus was a winged horse sired by Poseidon, in his role as horse-god, and foaled by the Gorgon Medusa....
.

History

The university was established on June 11,1963 when the Florida State Legislature passed Bill No. 125, and it was signed into law by Governor Farris Bryant. The first classes began on October 7, 1968 at a total enrollment of 1,948 students. UCF was known as Florida Technological University, nicknamed Florida Tech, from its establishment until December 6, 1978, when it was renamed to University of Central Florida by the State House. FTU's former rival, the Florida Institute of Technology
Florida Institute of Technology

Florida Institute of Technology, also known as Florida Tech, is a private, independent institute of technology located in Melbourne, Florida....
, has since been known as Florida Tech. In 2003, UCF had the distinction of being the fastest-growing university in the United States
United States

The United States of America is a Federal government constitutional republic comprising U.S. state and a federal district. The country is situated mostly in central North America, where its Contiguous United States and Washington, D.C., the Capital districts and territories, lie between the Pacific Ocean and Atlantic Oceans, Borders of the U...
 in terms of undergraduate enrollment. On August 2, 2005 the University of Central Florida awarded its 150,000th degree.

One of the founding goals of the university was to act as a support system for the Kennedy Space Center
Kennedy Space Center

The John F. Kennedy Space Center is the NASA space vehicle launch facility and Launch Control Center on Merritt Island, Florida, Brevard County, Florida, United States....
, which is located about 35 miles (56 km) away. Additionally, the nearby Central Florida Research Park
Central Florida Research Park

The Central Florida Research Park, abutting the main University of Central Florida campus in Orlando, Florida, is a university-related research park established as a result of legislation passed by the Florida Legislature in 1978....
, which infuses research funds into the university and draws many interns and graduates from it, has a major focus of simulation
Simulation

Simulation is the imitation of some real thing, state of affairs, or process. The act of simulating something generally entails representing certain key characteristics or behaviors of a selected physical or abstract system....
 as well as space
Outer space

Outer space comprises the relatively empty regions of the universe outside the atmospheres of celestial bodies. Outer space is used to distinguish it from airspace and terrestrial locations....
- and defense
Defense (military)

Defence has several uses in the sphere of military application.Personal defence implies measures taken by individual soldiers in protecting themselves whether by use of protective materials such as armour, or field construction of trenches or a bunker, or by using weapons that prevent the enemy approaching them to initiate close combat....
-related research.

The official colors of the university were chosen by Charles N. Millican
Charles N. Millican

Charles N. Millican was the founding President for the University of Central Florida .Charles Norman Millican was born October 9, 1915 in Wilson, Arkansas....
, UCF's Founding President. When the first student handbook was being drafted, the university had no mascot. The student newspaper, the Future, drafted up their ideas of what the mascot should look like. The night nurse at the Health Center, Judy Hines, proposed a mascot with these criteria, along with a graphic representation drawn by her husband Gene, to SGA. "Vincent the Vulture" remained the schools unofficial mascot for over a year. Eventually, the students voted and selected the "Knight of Pegasus" as their official mascot. Until 1994, the Knights were represented by a jouster from the Medieval Times
Medieval Times

File:2006-07-25 - United States - Illinois - Chicago - Medieval Times Dinner Tournament - American Castle.jpgMedieval Times Dinner & Tournament is a chain of dinner theaters which host "royal" feasts and tournaments featuring medieval games, sword-fighting and jousting....
 dinner show located in nearby Kissimmee
Kissimmee

Kissimmee is the name of several things in the U.S. state of Florida:*Kissimmee, Florida *Kissimmee River*Lake Kissimmee...
, Florida. That year, Knightro
Knightro

Knightro is the mascot for the University of Central Florida UCF Knights. Knightro is sometimes seen riding a horse around campus and during football games....
 was introduced at the homecoming event, the "Spirit Splash". Two years later, UCF students were introduced to Knightro's girlfriend, Glycerin.

Academics


Rankings

The University of Central Florida is listed in “The Best 361 Colleges: 2006 Edition” by The Princeton Review
The Princeton Review

The Princeton Review is an United States educational preparation company. It offers test preparation for standardized aptitude tests such as the SAT and advice regarding college admissions....
. The Princeton Review’s recognition comes as the academic quality of UCF students continues to rise. In the 2008 edition of US News, it is ranked as a Tier 3 National University and the 7th best up and coming university. UCF has been very successful in recruiting National Merit Scholars
PSAT/NMSQT

The Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test is a multiple choice standardized test administered by the College Board and National Merit Scholarship Corporation in the United States....
 and is one of the Top 35 schools in the country by enrollment with 63 scholars. UCF also offers both Army and Air Force ROTC programs which are rated among the best in the nation. UCF has also been ranked 8th out of 122 universities on the 2008 Patent Scorecard, ahead of University of Wisconsin and Harvard University in the Top 10 list.

Admissions


According to a report released by the university in 2008, UCF is second only to the University of Florida in National Merit Scholar enrollment in the state of Florida.

The acceptance rate of the 2008 incoming freshmen class was 38%, making UCF the third-most selective public university
University

A university is an institution of higher education and research, which grants academic degrees in a variety of subjects. A university provides both undergraduate education and postgraduate education....
 in the state of Florida
Florida

Florida is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States of the United States, bordering Alabama to the northwest and Georgia to the northeast....
 after Florida International University
Florida International University

Florida International University, commonly referred to as FIU or Florida International, is a public university research university located in Miami, Florida, Florida, in the United States, with its main campus at University Park, Florida....
 and the University of Florida
University of Florida

The University of Florida is a Public university land-grant university, sea grant colleges, Space grant colleges major research university located on a campus in Gainesville, Florida, in the United States....
. Of the 9,500 FTIC students accepted for fall 2008, 3,915 enrolled in the university. The retention rate of the 2008 freshman class was 86%.

UCF College of Medicine at Lake Nona

For the initial charter class entering in the fall of 2009, there have been over 4,300 applications received for only 40 spots.

Colleges


The university currently houses twelve colleges to offer 95 baccalaureate
Bachelor's degree

A bachelor's degree is usually an undergraduate academic degree awarded for a course or major that generally lasts for three, four, or in some cases and countries, five or six years....
 programs, 97 master's
Master's degree

A master's degree provides a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of profession. Within the area studied, graduates possess advanced knowledge of a specialized body of theory and applied topics; high order skills in analysis, Critical thinking and/or professional application; and the ability to problem solving a...
 programs, three specialist programs, and 28 doctoral
Doctorate

A doctorate is an academic degree that in most countries represents the highest level of formal study or research in a given field. In some countries it also refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder to practice in a specific profession ....
 programs. In addition, 70% of the faculty have doctorates, and 42% currently have tenure at the university.

Colleges at UCF include:

Online@UCF

UCF offers many classes and several degree and graduate certificate programs online. Students enrolling in Web-based classes and programs are subject to the same policies, procedures and tuition rates as campus-based students. The University of Central Florida is the only major university in the state to recognize the expanding need for insurance pre-licensing and offers online insurance training and continuing education at: www.ce.ucf.edu/pc_course.asp?prog=517

Some programs include required internships, practicum or clinical experiences that are not completed online.

Online Undergraduate Degree Completion Programs
  • Health Services Administration, B.S.
  • Interdisciplinary Studies, B.A. or B.S.
  • Nursing R.N. to B.S.N.
  • Radiologic Sciences A.S. to B.S.
  • Technical Education and Industry Training, B.S.
  • Information Systems Technology, B.S.
Online Graduate Programs
  • Exceptional Education, MA or M. Ed
  • Forensic Science, M.S.
  • Instruction Technology/Media, M.A. or M.Ed.
  • Nonprofit Management, M.N.M.
  • Nursing, M.S.N., only leadership and management track
  • Vocational Education, M.A.




Online Graduate Certificate Programs
  • Community College Education
  • e-Learning Professional Development
  • Gifted Education
  • Initial Teacher Professional Preparation
  • Instructional Design for Simulation
  • Instructional/Educational Technology
  • Nonprofit Management
  • Nursing Education
  • Online Educational Media
  • Pre-kindergarten Handicapped Endorsement
  • Professional Writing
  • Special Education


Campus

The University of Central Florida has a unique campus layout that has become a model for other universities, reminiscent of the plans by Walt Disney
Walt Disney

Walter Elias Disney was a multiple Academy Award-winning American film producer, film director, screenwriter, voice actor, animator, entrepreneur and philanthropist....
 for his Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow (EPCOT)
Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow (concept)

The Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow was a concept developed by Walt Disney near the end of his lifetime. It was his intended purpose for the property purchased near Orlando, Florida that eventually became the Walt Disney World Resort, including Epcot , to be a "community of the future" designed to stimulate American corporation...
. The campus was designed to be a pedestrian oriented campus, with a series of concentric circles. The outermost circle is Gemini Blvd, which is also the main road for vehicular traffic on campus. Inside of Gemini, there is Apollo Circle, Mercury Circle, and finally Pegasus Circle as the innermost circle. Pegasus Circle contains the student union, which is the center of the campus, with the library located directly to the south of it. All academic buildings are located inside of Gemini, with the circle divided up into pie-shaped sections for each college. As there are very few roads inside of Gemini, many buildings' loading docks are accessible only by sidewalks and thus receive most deliveries at night. The University of Central Florida campus is one of only two in the nation with a concentric circle design. The other is the University of California at Irvine, Orange County, California
Orange County, California

Orange County is a county in Southern California California, United States. Its county seat is Santa Ana, California. The state of California estimates its population as of 2008 to be 3,121,251, making it the third most populous county in California, behind Los Angeles County, California and San Diego County, California....
.

Student housing is provided along the perimeter of the campus. Outside of Gemini, the campus is divided up into different themed sections. The northwest side of campus includes Greek communities, the north side contains an athletic village, the east side contains the Arboretum of the University of Central Florida
Arboretum of the University of Central Florida

The Arboretum of the University of Central Florida is an arboretum and botanical garden in Orlando, Florida, Florida, United States. Covering 80 acres , it contains more than 600 species of plants, including more than 100 bromeliads, in cultivated gardens....
, and the south side contains student recreation and wellness facilities.

South of the campus is Central Florida Research Park
Central Florida Research Park

The Central Florida Research Park, abutting the main University of Central Florida campus in Orlando, Florida, is a university-related research park established as a result of legislation passed by the Florida Legislature in 1978....
, which is one of the largest research parks in the nation, providing jobs to more than 500 students and thousands of alumni.

In addition to the main campus in Orlando, The University of Central Florida also has several other campuses to service the central Florida region. In Orlando, there are three other campuses, located in Downtown, MetroWest, and South Orlando.

Outside Orlando, there are campuses in Daytona Beach
Daytona Beach, Florida

Daytona Beach is a city in Volusia County, Florida, Florida, United States. According to 2006 U.S. Census Bureau estimates, the city has a population of 64,421....
, Heathrow
Heathrow, Florida

Heathrow is a census-designated place and an Unincorporated area suburban community in Seminole County, Florida, Florida, United States. Heathrow is located on the I-4 Corridor in Central Florida, 19 miles Northeast of Orlando, Florida and 38 miles Southwest of Daytona Beach, Florida....
, Sanford
Sanford, Florida

Sanford is a city in and the county seat of Seminole County, Florida, Florida, United States. The population was 38,291 at the 2000 census. As of 2006, the population recorded by the U.S....
, Lake Mary
Lake Mary, Florida

Lake Mary is a city in Seminole County, Florida, United States. The population was 11,456 at the 2000 census. As of 2006, the population recorded by the U.S....
, Cocoa
Cocoa, Florida

Cocoa is a city in Brevard County, Florida, Florida, United States. The population was 16,412 at the 2000 census. According to the U.S Census estimates of 2005, the city had a population of 16,898....
, Palm Bay
Palm Bay, Florida

Palm Bay is a city in Brevard County, Florida, Florida, United States. The U.S. Census Bureau estimated the city's population as 100,116 on 1 July 2007; it is the most populous city in the county....
, South Lake, Florida, Ocala
Ocala, Florida

Ocala is a city in Marion County, Florida, Florida, United States. As of 2007, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau was 53,491....
, and Osceola County
Osceola County, Florida

Osceola County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida. As of 2000, the population was 172,493. The United States Census Bureau 2006 estimate for the county is 244,045 , making it the 17th fastest-growing county in the United States....
. In addition to having standard classes there, some classes offered at these campuses are offered via alternative methods, such as 2-way TV from the main campus, for convenience.

Library

Ucflibrary
From any location, at any time, University Libraries resources and services are available to the UCF community. The University of Central Florida Libraries supports the research, teaching, learning and service commitments of students and faculty through widely-available access to collections of library resources, and to services to assist in resource use. The collections of the Libraries serve as a resource for the entire Central Florida community. Access to collections is provided through services at the main campus library, the Curriculum Materials Center located in the UCF College of Education, and the Universal Orlando Foundation Library at UCF’s Rosen College of Hospitality Management, as well as at regional joint-use campuses at the Brevard Community College Cocoa and Palm Bay campuses, Daytona Beach Community College, the MetroWest campus of Valencia Community College, and South Lake campus of Lake Sumter Community College. Collections, services and library information are available to all students and faculty online.

UCF Libraries collections include over 1,800,000 print volumes, a base of 17,000 serial subscriptions, 60,000 e-books, 2.9 million microforms, 304,000 government documents, 40,000 media titles, special collections, university archives materials, and 9,200 full text electronic journal subscriptions. Most of the print and media collection is housed in the main campus library, which is open to the public 80 hours weekly. Materials can be searched and located, using the library's online public access catalog. UCF Libraries is a partner with Florida’s state universities in collaborative development of university collections, giving UCF students access to a growing, robust, statewide electronic collection.

Electronic holdings are available to students and faculty from on-campus, home, or classrooms at any time. Students have direct access to source materials that are part of several unique Special Collections at the main library. Notable collections include the Bryant West Indies collection, the Van Sickle Leftist Pamphlet collection, the Book Arts Collection, collections of materials on tourism and hospitality, and materials on the history of Central Florida. Books, manuscripts, and art can be examined and used by researchers in the Special Collections Department, assisted by staff. The University Archives collects and makes available official records, publications, and materials on the history of the University of Central Florida.

The main campus library
Library

A library is a collection of information, sources, resources, books, and services, and the structure in which it is housed: it is organized for use and maintained by a public body, an institution, or a private individual....
, located in a central location on the main campus, is 5 stories tall. Leonardo Nierman's sculpture, Flame of Hope, stands at the entrance to the building. Nierman's stained glass Genesis window is on the third floor of the library building. 40 wireless laptops are available to be checked out and used by students in the building, which has wireless access. Students may also check out the key to one of the 28 group study rooms.

A UCF legend holds that the library was UCF's first building; however, a UCF utility building was the first structure to be built (the library was the second). In the early and mid-1970s, the basement of the library had a closed-circuit radio station that broadcast by cable to the student center and the dorms. Students volunteered as unpaid disc jockeys and newscasters. The basement also housed a small, low-ceilinged television studio for television production classes. The campus newspaper, the Central Florida Future
Central Florida Future

The Central Florida Future is the student-run newspaper of the University of Central Florida in Orlando, Florida, Florida. The Future is published every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday during the Fall and Spring semesters, while during the summer it is published on Monday....
, had offices on an upper floor of the library. Classrooms and faculty offices continued to share floors of the library for many years. In 1984, renovation of the original library building was completed, as well as an addition to the building. The dedication took place in February, 1985.

The library's online system is Ex Libris Group's ALEPH. ALEPH has been deployed as part of a project by the Florida Center for Library Automation at all of the state universities in Florida. Infusion, an exciting learning space, is located near the library entrance, featuring computers, enhanced wireless connectivity, books, classrooms, and a Java City coffee shop.

Until a few years ago the transmitter tower for WUCF 89.9 FM was also on top of the library, but the tower was removed after they moved to a new tower on the southwestern edge of the main campus.

Athletics


The university's athletics teams are known as the UCF Knights. They are part of Conference USA
Conference USA

Conference USA, officially abbreviated C-USA, is a list of college athletic conferences whose member institutions are located within the Southern United States....
 in the NCAA
National Collegiate Athletic Association

The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a voluntary association of about 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and University in the United States ....
's Division I-A in the 17 active varsity sports teams.

UCF entered NCAA Division I for all sports in 1990. The football program was part of Division I-AA from 1990-1995, then moved to Division 1-A in 1996. The football program did not play in any conference at any level until 2002, when it played its first season in the Mid-American Conference (MAC). Most of the other varsity sports participated in the Trans America Athletic Conference (today known as the Atlantic Sun Conference) at that time. The football program then moved to Conference USA in time for the 2005-2006 season along with most of the university's other varsity sports. UCF is the first school to ever build and open a new stadium, the Bright House Networks Stadium
Bright House Networks Stadium

Bright House Networks Stadium is a 45,301-seat stadium in Orlando, Florida. Located in Knights Plaza on the campus of the University of Central Florida, it is primarily used for college football, and is the home of the UCF Knights football....
, and a new arena, the new UCF Arena
UCF Arena

The UCF Arena is a multi-purpose arena complex on the University of Central Florida campus in Orlando, Florida. It is the home to the University of Central Florida UCF Knights men's and women's Basketball and Volleyball teams....
, at the same time, for the 2007-08 season. In 2007, the UCF Football team won the C-USA Conference Championship for the first time in the school's history, securing a berth to the 49th Annual AutoZone Liberty Bowl. Many former UCF football players have gone on to have successful careers in the NFL, including quarterback Daunte Culpepper, wide receiver Shawn Jefferson, cornerback Asante Samuel, safety Atari Bigby, cornerback Travis Fisher, and running back Kevin Smith, just to name a few.

UCF played its first intercollegiate basketball game before the team even had a nickname. In the Division II era, under Torchy Clark, UCF found great success, including a DII Final Four appearance. UCF has advanced to the NCAA tournament 4 times (94, 96, 04, 05) since its 1990 debut in Division I, all under head coach Kirk Speraw
Kirk Speraw

Kirk Speraw is the head basketball coach at the University of Central Florida, in Orlando, Florida. Speraw arrived at UCF in 1993 and during his tenure, he has taken the Knights to four NCAA tournament appearances....
. The 2008-2009 UCF men's team features senior Jermaine Taylor, who is one of the nation's top scorers averaging over 20 points per game.

UCF has also produced a number of soccer stars, including Michelle Akers
Michelle Akers

Michelle Akers was a leading United States soccer player and played on the historic FIFA Women's World Cup 1999 victory by the United States women's national soccer team....
. Akers went on to play in the Olympics and was a part of the 1999 USA National Team that won the World Cup.

The UCF cheerleading squad has captured two national titles at the College Cheerleading and Dance Team Nationals, in 2003 and 2007. They were followed by the WE tv
WE TV

We TV is the third TV channel from Malayalam Communications Ltd, in Kerala, India. The other two channels of this company are Kairali TV and People TV....
's hit cheerleading show, Cheerleader U, as the reigning national champions.

Fight Song

UCF Fight Song
UCF charge onto the field,
With our spirit we'll never yield.
Black and Gold - Charge right through the line
Victory is our cry: V-I-C-T-O-R-Y
Tonight our Knights will shine!
U-C-F Knights

Student Life

UCF has a highly active campus life, boasting over 400 registered student organizations, intramural sports
Intramural sports

Intramural sports or intramurals are recreational sports organized within a set geographic area. The term derives from the Latin words intra muros meaning within walls, and was used to indicate sports matches and contests that took place among teams from "within the walls" of an ancient city ....
, and a Student Government Association.

Student Health Services

All students have access to the UCF Health Services located on Apollo Circle on main campus. Enrollment in the on-campus health care service is mandatory regardless of the student's other health insurance and the fee is automatically included in tuition. UCF Health Services is intended to be a convenient source of primary health care, OB/GYN and STD screenings and fills students' prescriptions. The university requires all students to have health insurance and offers a more comprehensive student health plan.

Traditions


Spirit Splash
Spirit Splash is a homecoming
Homecoming

Homecoming, welcoming back of former residents and alumni, is a tradition in many university, colleges and high schools in North America. It usually includes activities for students and alumni, such as sports and culture events and a parade through the streets of the city or town....
 tradition at UCF. The Friday before the Homecoming game is reserved for a pep rally at the Reflection Pond, where students descend into the pond to demonstrate their school spirit. This began in 1995 when the Student Body President, Miguel Torregrossa, was rather unceremoniously tossed into the pond by Bryan Farris, one of his cabinet members and the students at the pep rally quickly followed. Knightro
Knightro

Knightro is the mascot for the University of Central Florida UCF Knights. Knightro is sometimes seen riding a horse around campus and during football games....
, the Marching Knights, cheerleaders, athletes
UCF Knights

The University of Central Florida in Orlando, Florida features a large variety of intercollegiate athletics teams known as the UCF Knights that competes in National Collegiate Athletic Association's Division I....
, and dancers come out to rally the crowd, and is followed by a concert.

Spirit Splash was made possible in part by weight testing done on the Reflection Pond in preparation for President
President

President is a title held by many leaders of organizations, company, trade unions, university, and country. Etymology, a "president" is one who Wiktionary:Preside, who sits in leadership ....
 Richard Nixon
Richard Nixon

Richard Milhous Nixon was the List of Presidents of the United States President of the United States and the only president to resign the office....
's visit to the university to speak at its 1973 commencement. It was determined that the best way to protect the president would be to hold commencement in the pond itself (after being drained), so that Secret Service
Secret service

Because of both the secrecy of secret services and the controversial nature of the issues involved, there is some difficulty in separating the definitions of secret service, secret police, intelligence agency etc....
 agents could be stationed on the roofs of the adjacent buildings.

Alma Mater
UCF Alma Mater
All hail to Alma Mater, whose banner black and gold,
will wave in fame and splendor as the passing years unfold.

May loyalty and friendship, within our hearts unite,
and light the star to guide us, ever upward in our flight.

With honor and affection, our friendship will renew;
we sing of thee our Alma Mater ever true.

Recreational Activities

Many different recreational organizations and facilities are available on the UCF campus. Lake Claire is an on-campus lake with free canoes, kayaks, and paddle boats available for rent to students. Students may also swim in the lake, which is the home to one shy, 4-foot gator, and the sunken wreck of a rowboat. In addition, UCF's Challenge Course is one of only five in the country to contain a high elements course. There are also tennis courts, sand volleyball courts, a disc golf course, numerous intramural sports fields, a leisure pool, and an outdoor lap pool. The recreation center also includes a climbing wall
Climbing wall

A climbing wall is an artificially constructed wall with grips for hands and feet, used for climbing. Some are brick or wooden constructions, but on most modern walls, the material most often used is a thick Plywood with holes drilled into it....
 with about 20 different routes.

Student Government Association

The University of Central Florida's Student Government is the leading advocacy group for the students who attend the University of Central Florida, representing the university's 50,000 undergraduate, graduate, and professional students. It the largest Student Government within the state of Florida and one of the largest in the United States. In addition, it also often places in the top 10 SGAs nationally for the services and outreach it provides for the students it serves. The student government association at UCF operates on an annual $13.6 - $13.7 million dollar budget. With its budget, SGA funds and owns two campus facilities (The Recreation and Wellness Center and the Student Union) while also providing upwards of $1.5 million dollars in funding to over 385 student organizations.

It was officially established in 1976 and consists of an executive, judicial, and legislative branch. The executive branch is headed by the Student Body President and Student Body Vice President. Within the executive branch are between 30 - 40 appointed and paid cabinet members that oversee everything from university policies to tracking the state's legislature. The Student Body President, by mandate of Florida law serves on the university's Board of Trustees for a period of 1 year. The Student Body President and Student Body Vice President are elected in annual elections held in the spring and both receive a paid salary that ranges from $18,000/yr to $21,000/yr. The legislative branch is composed of 52 senators, who serve one year terms. All senate seats are elected each spring semester. The senators elect a Speaker of the Senate who receives an annual salary between $17,000/yr to $20,000/yr and a Senate President Pro Tempore once a year in the fall to lead the Student Senate. The judicial branch consists of a paid Chief Justice and 10 associate Justices who preside over student conduct hearings and traffic appeals.

Student organizations

UCF has quickly developed a reputation for student activism. Some of the active groups on campus include College Democrats
College Democrats

The College Democrats of America is the official organization of the Democratic Party of the United States for college and university students....
, College Republicans
College Republicans

The College Republicans is a national organization for college and university students who support the Republican Party of the United States. The organization is known as an active recruiting tool for the Republican Party and has produced many prominent Republican and conservative activists and introduced more party members to the Republic...
, Campus Crusade for Christ
Campus Crusade for Christ

Campus Crusade for Christ is an interdenominational Christianity organization that promotes evangelism and discipleship in over 190 countriesaround the world....
, NORML, and Students for a Democratic Society
Students for a Democratic Society (2006 organization)

Students for a Democratic Society is a United States student organization. It takes its name and inspiration from the original Students for a Democratic Society of the 1960s, the largest radical student organization in US history, but the modern SDS is a distinct youth and student-led organization with over 120 chapters world wide....
. In 2006, High Times magazine ranked UCF one of the top five schools for student activism. There is also an independent student newspaper on campus known as the Central Florida Future
Central Florida Future

The Central Florida Future is the student-run newspaper of the University of Central Florida in Orlando, Florida, Florida. The Future is published every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday during the Fall and Spring semesters, while during the summer it is published on Monday....
.

Greek life also thrives at the University of Central Florida, with 43 fraternities and sororities. In addition there are also many multicultural and honor Greek organizations. Alpha Delta Pi
Alpha Delta Pi

Alpha Delta Pi was founded May 15 1851 at Wesleyan College in Macon, Georgia making it the first female fraternal organization established. The Executive office for this sorority is located on Ponce de Leon Avenue in Atlanta, Georgia....
, Alpha Epsilon Phi
Alpha Epsilon Phi

Alpha Epsilon Phi is a Jewish-centered Fraternities and sororities and member of the National Panhellenic Conference. It was founded on October 24, 1909 at Barnard College in New York City by seven Jewish women; Helen Phillips Lipman, Ida Beck Carlin, Rose Gerstein Smolin, Augustina "Tina" Hess Solomon, Lee Reiss Leibert, Rose Salmowitz Marv...
, Alpha Xi Delta
Alpha Xi Delta

Alpha Xi Delta was founded on April 17, 1893 by ten women at Lombard College, Galesburg, Illinois, who shared a vision of an organization dedicated to the personal growth of women....
, Chi Omega
Chi Omega

Chi Omega is a women's Fraternities and sororities and the largest member of the National Panhellenic Conference. Chi Omega boasts 174 active collegiate chapters and hundreds of alumnae chapters....
, Delta Delta Delta
Delta Delta Delta

Delta Delta Delta , also known as Tri Delta, is an international collegiate women's fraternity founded on November 27, 1888. With 136 chapters in the United States and Canada it is one of the largest women's organizations in the world....
, Kappa Alpha Theta
Kappa Alpha Theta

Kappa Alpha Theta is an international women's fraternities and sororities founded on January 27, 1870 at DePauw University. Kappa Alpha Theta was the first Greek-letter women's fraternity....
, Kappa Delta
Kappa Delta

Kappa Delta was the first sorority founded at the Longwood University , in Farmville, Virginia. It is one of the "Farmville Four" sororities founded at the universities ....
, Kappa Kappa Gamma
Kappa Kappa Gamma

Kappa Kappa Gamma is a college Fraternities and sororities, founded at Monmouth College, Illinois. Although the groundwork of the organization was developed as early as 1869, the 1876 Convention voted on October 13, 1870 as Founders Day, because no earlier charter date could be determined....
, Pi Beta Phi
Pi Beta Phi

Pi Beta Phi is an international Fraternities and sororities founded as I.C. Sorosis on April 28, 1867, at Monmouth College in Monmouth, Illinois....
 and Zeta Tau Alpha
Zeta Tau Alpha

Zeta Tau Alpha is a women's Fraternities and sororities, founded October 15, 1898 at what used to be State Female Normal School but is now known as Longwood University in Farmville, Virginia....
 are the social Panhellenic sororities. The Interfraternity Council fraternities are Alpha Epsilon Pi
Alpha Epsilon Pi

Alpha Epsilon Pi is the only international Jewish college fraternities and sororities in North America, with 140 chapters in the United States and Canada, and over 7,000 active undergraduates....
, Alpha Tau Omega
Alpha Tau Omega

ATO is an American Leadership Fraternities and sororities that annually ranks among the top ten national fraternities for number of chapters and total number of members....
, Beta Theta Pi
Beta Theta Pi

Beta Theta Pi is a social collegiate fraternities and sororities that was founded at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, USA, where it is part of the Miami Triad which includes Phi Delta Theta and Sigma Chi....
, Delta Tau Delta
Delta Tau Delta

Delta Tau Delta is a United States-based international Fraternities and sororities.Delta Tau Delta was founded in 1858 at Bethany College , Bethany, West Virginia ....
, Delta Upsilon
Delta Upsilon

Delta Upsilon is the 6th oldest international, all-male, college, Greek alphabet social fraternities and sororities and is the first non-secret fraternity ever founded....
, Kappa Sigma
Kappa Sigma

?S is an international fraternities and sororities with currently 216 chapters and 29 colonies in North America. There have been more than 250,000 initiates, of which more than 182,500 are living and more than 12,000 are undergraduates....
, Lambda Chi Alpha
Lambda Chi Alpha

For a list of prominent members of Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity, see: List of notable members of Lambda Chi AlphaLambda Chi Alpha , headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana, is a member of the North-American Interfraternity Conference and one of the largest men's general Fraternities and sororities in North America, by its own count...
, Lambda Sigma Upsilon
Lambda Sigma Upsilon

Lambda Sigma Upsilon is a Latino oriented Greek alphabet intercollegiate fraternities and sororities founded on April 5, 1979 at Rutgers University in New Brunswick, New Jersey by 20 men who believed minority students at colleges and universities were not getting the attention needed to advance their academic successes....
, Lambda Theta Phi
Lambda Theta Phi

Lambda Theta Phi was founded on December 1, 1975 at Kean College in Union, New Jersey. Lambda Theta Phi is a non-profit Fraternities and sororities emphasizing Latin unity and the celebration of the Latin culture....
, Phi Delta Theta
Phi Delta Theta

Phi Delta Theta is an international Fraternities and sororities founded in 1848 and headquartered at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. Phi Delta Theta, Beta Theta Pi, and Sigma Chi form the Miami Triad....
, Phi Gamma Delta
Phi Gamma Delta

Phi Gamma Delta is a collegiate social Fraternities and sororities with 107 chapters and 7 colonies across the United States and Canada. It was founded at Washington & Jefferson College, Pennsylvania in 1848 and its headquarters are located in Lexington, Kentucky, Kentucky, USA....
 (FIJI),Sigma Chi
Sigma Chi

Sigma Chi is one of the largest and oldest all-male, college, greek alphabet social fraternities and sororities and a secret society. Sigma Chi was founded on June 28, 1855 at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio when members split from Delta Kappa Epsilon....
, Sigma Nu
Sigma Nu

SN is an undergraduate college fraternity with chapters in the United States and Canada. Sigma Nu was founded in 1869 by three cadets at the Virginia Military Institute in Lexington, Virginia, Virginia....
, Tau Kappa Epsilon
Tau Kappa Epsilon

Tau Kappa Epsilon is a college fraternities and sororities founded on January 10th, 1899 at Illinois Wesleyan University with chapters in the United States, and Canada, and affiliation with a German fraternity system known as the Corps of the Weinheimer Senioren Convent ....
, Theta Chi
Theta Chi

Theta Chi Fraternity is an international Fraternities and sororities. It was founded on April 10, 1856 as the Theta Chi Society, at Norwich University, Norwich, Vermont, United States, and was the 21st of the 71 North-American Interfraternity Conference men's fraternities ....
 and most recently added Zeta Beta Tau
Zeta Beta Tau

Zeta Beta Tau is a historically Judaism, presently nonsectarian international fraternities and sororities. Today the merged Zeta Beta Tau Brotherhood numbers over 130,000 initiated Brothers, and over 80 student chapter locations....
 along with a Sigma Pi
Sigma Pi

Sigma Pi is an international college social fraternities and sororities with chapters in the United States and Canada. Like most social fraternities, membership is by invitation and limited to men....
 colony. The Diversified Greek Council includes Chi Upsilon Sigma
Chi Upsilon Sigma

Chi Upsilon Sigma — official name is Corazones Unidos Siempre — is a Latino oriented Greek alphabet intercollegiate fraternities and sororities....
, Lambda Theta Alpha
Lambda Theta Alpha

Lambda Theta Alpha is a sorority founded in December 1975 at Kean University in Union, New Jersey and has since grown to over 100 chapters nationwide....
, Sigma Lambda Gamma
Sigma Lambda Gamma

'Sigma Lambda Gamma' is a sorority founded on April 9, 1990, at the University of Iowa....
, Mu Sigma Upsilon
Mu Sigma Upsilon

Mu Sigma Upsilon is a multicultural national sorority associated with the National Multicultural Greek Council.It is a non-profit Greek letter organization of college-educated women committed to academics, unification of all women and the services for their communities and universities....
, Sigma Lambda Beta
Sigma Lambda Beta

Sigma Lambda Beta is a Latino based social fraternity established on cultural understanding and wisdom. Founded on April 4, 1986 at the University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, the organization is committed to create and expand multicultural leadership, promote academic excellence, advance cultural awareness and service while influencing its mis...
, Delta Phi Lambda, and Pi Delta Psi
Pi Delta Psi

Pi Delta Psi is an Asian-American Cultural Interest Fraternity founded at Binghamton University on February 20 1994. The mission of Pi Delta Psi is to break down cultural barriers by fostering individual growth in the areas of "Academic Achievement, Cultural Awareness, Righteousness, Friendship and Loyalty"....
. There are 4 Greek organizations associated with music: Phi Mu Alpha, Kappa Kappa Psi
Kappa Kappa Psi

Kappa Kappa Psi is a national honorary band Fraternities and sororities dedicated to serving College#United States of America and University#United States band s....
, Tau Beta Sigma
Tau Beta Sigma

Tau Beta Sigma is a co-educational national honorary band sorority dedicated to serving College#United States of America and University#United States band s....
, and Sigma Alpha Iota
Sigma Alpha Iota

Sigma Alpha Iota , International Music Fraternity. Formed to "uphold the highest ideals of a music education" and "to further the development of music in America", it continues to provide musical and educational resources to its members and the general public....
. The Psi Omega chapter of the National Co-ed Service Fraternity, Alpha Phi Omega
Alpha Phi Omega

Alpha Phi Omega is the largest collegiate fraternity in the United States, with chapters at over 350 campuses, an active membership of approximately 17,000 students, and over 350,000 alumni members....
, is also located at UCF.

In what was probably the worst year for Greek Life in any academic institution, the 2006-2007 school calendar year at the University of Central Florida saw three of its fraternities' charters revoked; Sigma Alpha Epsilon
Sigma Alpha Epsilon

Sigma Alpha Epsilon was founded March 9, 1856 at the University of Alabama. SAE is the largest social college fraternity by total initiates with more than 288,000 initiated members....
, Pi Kappa Phi
Pi Kappa Phi

Pi Kappa Phi is an United States social Fraternities and sororities. It was founded by Andrew Alexander Kroeg, Jr., Lawrence Harry Mixson, and Simon Fogarty, Jr....
,and Sigma Phi Epsilon
Sigma Phi Epsilon

SF? , commonly nicknamed SigEp, is a secret letter, social college Fraternities and sororities for male college students in the United States....
 were kicked off campus. Other chapters that are no longer active at the University of Central Florida: Acacia
Acacia Fraternity

Acacia Fraternity is a Fraternities and sororities originally based out of freemasonry tradition. At its founding in 1904, membership was originally restricted to those who had taken the Masonic obligations, and the organization was built on those ideals and principles....
, Delta Gamma
Delta Gamma

Delta Gamma is one of the oldest, largest and prestigious women's fraternities and sororities in the United States and Canada, with its Executive Offices based in Columbus, Ohio, Ohio....
, Alpha Chi Omega
Alpha Chi Omega

Alpha Chi Omega is a women's Fraternities and sororities founded on October 15, 1885. Currently, there are over 135 chapters of Alpha Chi Omega at colleges and universities across the United States and over 200,000 lifetime members....
 and Pi Kappa Alpha
Pi Kappa Alpha

Pi Kappa Alpha International Fraternity is an international, secret, social, Greek alphabet, college fraternities and sororities. It was founded at 47 West The Range at the University of Virginia in the United States on Sunday evening, March 1 1868....
.

Filmography

UCF has been the location to many TV series and specials throughout its history. In the 1990s, Superboy
Superboy (TV series)

Superboy is a half-hour live-action television series based on the fictional DC Comics comic book character Kal-El 's early years as Superboy....
 prominently featured the Library and Phillips Hall. In 2004, the WB recorded and produced a reality television
Reality television

Reality television is a genre of television programming which presents purportedly unscripted dramatic or humorous situations, documents actual events, and usually features ordinary people instead of professional actors....
 series called Big Man on Campus featuring enrolled students. One special episode of Most Extreme Elimination Challenge
Takeshi's Castle

was a Japanese game show that aired from 1986 to 1989 on the Tokyo Broadcasting System. It featured the esteemed Japanese actor Takeshi Kitano as a count who owns a castle and sets up impossible challenges for players to get to him....
 (MXC) featured on Spike TV
Spike TV

Spike , a division of MTV Networks, is an United States cable television television network designed for an audience described demographically as "young adult males." The network began life as The Nashville Network , founded by WSM, Inc....
 was filmed at Universal Studios and showcased UCF students.

The film, The Blair Witch Project
The Blair Witch Project

The Blair Witch Project is a low-budget United States horror film released in 1999. Though the film is entirely fictional, the narrative is presented as a documentary film pieced together from amateur footage....
, was filmed by UCF students and became one of the most successful independent films ever made. UCF currently has one of the most distinguished graduate film programs in the world. Its Entrepreneurial Digital Cinema track allows filmmakers to develop and produce digital feature films. Recent graduates include directors Laura C. Lopez, Danny Daneau and Erin Kitzinger. UCF was also the film location for an Amanda Bynes
Amanda Bynes

'Amanda Laura Bynes' is an American actor, former show host on Nickelodeon , singer and Voice acting. After appearing in several successful television series on Nickelodeon in the mid-to late 1990s and early 2000s, Bynes transitioned to a film career, starring in several films aimed at teenage audiences, including She's the Man and Hair...
 movie called Sydney White
Sydney White

Sydney White is a 2007 in film film starring Amanda Bynes, Sara Paxton, and Matt Long, and based on the story of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs....
, which follows a college freshman as she pledges her late mother's once-dignified sorority. Actor James Best
James Best

James Best is an United States actor best known for his role as bumbling Sheriff Rosco P. Coltrane in the television series The Dukes of Hazzard....
 (best known as Sheriff Rosco P. Coltrane
Sheriff Rosco P. Coltrane

On the United States TV series The Dukes of Hazzard, Rosco Purvis Coltrane is the bumbling county sheriff of Hazzard County and right-hand man of its corrupt county commissioner, Boss Hogg ....
 from the Dukes of Hazzard
Dukes of Hazzard

The Dukes of Hazzard is an United States television series that originally aired on the CBS television network from 1979 in television to 1985 in television....
 TV Series) taught classes at UCF for several years. Actress Cheryl Hines (best known for her role as Cheryl David on Curb Your Enthusiasm) graduated from UCF with a degree in Communication. The horror film Bloody 27
Bloody 27

Bloody 27 can refer to* The nickname for a portion of Highway 27 U.S. Route 27 located near the Florida Everglades* The title of a Bloody 27 ...
 which starred Michael Winslow
Michael Winslow

Michael Winslow is an American actor and comedian known as the "Man of 10,000 Sound Effects" for his ability to make realistic sound effects using only his voice....
 and Tara Cardinal used several location on the UCF main campus.

Housing

The university currently has over 6,000 beds on-campus in eight different housing communities. Residence hall style suites are available in the Libra, Apollo, Hercules, and Nike communities. All of the residence hall suites have bathrooms shared between 2 or 3 rooms as opposed to communal bathrooms. Apartment
Apartment

An apartment is a self-contained House unit that occupies only part of a Apartment building. Apartments may be owned or rented .A common alternative term for apartment is flat....
 style housing is available in the Academic Village (Nike and Hercules) communities, the Towers at Knights Plaza (Tower I, II, III, and IV), and the Lake Claire Courtyard Apartments Community. UCF also has 400 beds at the Rosen College Apartments Community, located on the Rosen College of Hospitality Management campus. The majority of all on campus housing is occupied by freshman. The Towers at Knights Plaza house the majority of the upper-classmen who live on campus.

All communities have Resident Assistants, Graduate Assistants, and Area Coordinators in each community. There is at least one Resident Assistant per 40-70 residents. There are also at least one Graduate Assistant per community. Finally, there is an Area Coordinator. Graduate Assistants and Area Coordinators on duty. UCF has over 175 RA's, 17 GA's, and 11 Area Coordinators.

In 2007, UCF constructed the Towers at Knights Plaza, commonly known as "The Towers", as part of an athletic village known as Knights Plaza
Knights Plaza

Knights Plaza is an athletic village and shopping center on the University of Central Florida main campus. The area holds hundreds of events every year, attracting people to the of retail and restaurant space....
, which includes the UCF Arena
UCF Arena

The UCF Arena is a multi-purpose arena complex on the University of Central Florida campus in Orlando, Florida. It is the home to the University of Central Florida UCF Knights men's and women's Basketball and Volleyball teams....
, Bright House Networks Stadium
Bright House Networks Stadium

Bright House Networks Stadium is a 45,301-seat stadium in Orlando, Florida. Located in Knights Plaza on the campus of the University of Central Florida, it is primarily used for college football, and is the home of the UCF Knights football....
, as well as of retail and restaurant space, to be built in three phases over the coming years. Some retailers and restaurants currently occupying Knights Plaza are Barnes & Noble
Barnes & Noble

Barnes & Noble, Inc. is the largest book retailing in the United States, operating mainly through its Barnes & Noble Booksellers chain of bookstores headquartered in lower Fifth Avenue in Manhattan....
, Papa John's, Subway
Subway (restaurant)

Subway Restaurants, commonly known as Subway, is a restaurant franchising that primarily sells Hoagies and salads. It is owned by Doctor's Associates, Inc. ....
, Maggie Moo's, Red Brick Pizza, Balagan Mediterranean Cafe, Jimmy John's
Jimmy John's

Jimmy John's is a franchised sandwich restaurant owned by Jimmy John Liautaud. The restaurant was founded in 1983 and has since grown to 850 stores, with many locations in college towns....
, Beach Scene, Starbucks
Starbucks

Starbucks Corporation is an international coffee and List of coffeehouse chains based in Seattle, Washington, United States. Starbucks is the largest coffeehouse company in the world, with 16,120 stores in 44 countries....
, Boba Tease, and "Knightros", an all-you care to eat restaurant. The complex also features a branch of the UCF Pharmacy called Knight Aide, a Princeton Review, and a secure mail room for students who live in the Towers. Apartments in the Towers are offered in various plans ranging from 1 bedroom/1 bathroom to 4 bedroom/4 bathroom, with the majority being 4 bedroom/2 bathroom. Each tower houses approximately 500 students. Tower III is a learning community
Learning community

A learning community is a group of people who share common values and beliefs, are actively engaged in learning together from each other. Such communities have become the template for a cohort-based, interdisciplinary approach to higher education....
 for students enrolled in the Burnett Honors College
Burnett Honors College

The Burnett Honors College is an academic college of University of Central Florida located in Orlando, Florida, Florida, USA. The dean of the college is Alvin Y....
. Most UCF athletes are housed in Tower IV.

All residents of the Towers Communities and Rosen College Apartments sign annual contracts to rent their apartments for a full academic year (fall, spring, and summer), whereas residents of all other standard housing communities on the main campus sign academic contracts to rent their rooms only for one or two semesters at a time.

Housing on the main campus typically fills to capacity well before the start of the Fall semester, and can not accommodate everyone who applies. In order to provide additional student housing to meet the demand, UCF is constructing a new learning community known as NorthView. It will contain 600 beds built around a faith-based community center, that will include a Hillel
Hillel

Hillel is a Hebrew language name of several prominent historical men and modern organizations....
 Jewish Student Center, a Catholic Student Center, and common space for other faith based organizations on campus to use. Like all other learning communities on campus, students must request to live specifically in this community, and the housing is not targeted at any specific faith.

Also, upwards of 3,750 beds are available at the University-affiliated housing communities of Pegasus Landing and Pegasus Pointe, which are off-campus apartment communities managed by American Campus Communities
American Campus Communities

American Campus Communities , is one of the largest Real estate development and Property management of private student housing in the United States....
, that contain many UCF services such as Resident Assistants and UCF Police service. Pegasus Landing was built in three stages. The communities are more commonly referred to as Pisces (Phase 1), Aries (Phase 2), Capricorn (Phase 3).

Communities

Below is a complete listing of all University-based housing communities, all of which are located on the UCF main campus unless otherwise noted:

Standard Housing Communities
  • Apollo Community - includes Lake Hall, Volusia Hall, Osceola Hall, and Polk Hall; which were built in 1967 make them the oldest residence halls on campus, located in the west side of campus by the Math & Physics building and the Marketplace dining area.
  • Libra Community - large resident hall buildings originally built in 1980 located in the southeast side of campus, near the Student Health Center & Marketplace dining area.
  • Lake Claire Courtyard Apartments Community - apartment-style resident halls built in 1993 on the north side of campus near the Lake Claire recreation area.
  • Academic Village
    • Nike Community (Academic Village 1) - the eastern half of the Academic Village located in the south of campus containing both suite and apartment style residences and was constructed in 2001.
    • Hercules Community (Academic Village 2) - the western half of the Academic Village located in the south of campus containing both suite and apartment style residences and was constructed in 2002.
  • Towers at Knights Plaza- these are apartment style residence halls with the majority being 4 bedroom/2 bath or 4 bedroom/4 bath.
    • (Towers I and II) - located on the north side of campus to the west of the UCF Arena
      UCF Arena

      The UCF Arena is a multi-purpose arena complex on the University of Central Florida campus in Orlando, Florida. It is the home to the University of Central Florida UCF Knights men's and women's Basketball and Volleyball teams....
    • (Towers III and IV) - located on the north side of campus adjacent to the Bright House Networks Stadium
      Bright House Networks Stadium

      Bright House Networks Stadium is a 45,301-seat stadium in Orlando, Florida. Located in Knights Plaza on the campus of the University of Central Florida, it is primarily used for college football, and is the home of the UCF Knights football....
       and the UCF Arena
  • Rosen College Apartments Community - on Rosen College of Hospitality Management
    Rosen College of Hospitality Management

    The University of Central Florida Rosen College of Hospitality Management is an academic college of the University of Central Florida located in Orlando, Florida, Florida, USA on International Drive#Universal Boulevard The college is renowned as one of the finest schools of hospitality in the United States....
     campus


Greek Park
Greek housing is also available on campus in the Greek Park community, which consists of over 400 beds. There are six sororities and three fraternities housed on campus, with some other fraternities having houses off campus. In addition, two houses are currently unoccupied with their future remaining unclear. There was a sixth fraternity house on campus. In January 2005 Pi Kappa Alpha
Pi Kappa Alpha

Pi Kappa Alpha International Fraternity is an international, secret, social, Greek alphabet, college fraternities and sororities. It was founded at 47 West The Range at the University of Virginia in the United States on Sunday evening, March 1 1868....
 had their charter revoked after a series of hazing and near non-exsistant up keep by the fraternity of their house, which led to the house being condemned by the fire marshall. In May 2008 the house was demolished, and plans for two new houses in its spot are currently under review.

On November 9,2006 Sigma Alpha Epsilon
Sigma Alpha Epsilon

Sigma Alpha Epsilon was founded March 9, 1856 at the University of Alabama. SAE is the largest social college fraternity by total initiates with more than 288,000 initiated members....
 fraternity was kicked off campus and their charter withdrawn after a series of hazing and drug related problems. Three months later, the Sigma Phi Epsilon
Sigma Phi Epsilon

SF? , commonly nicknamed SigEp, is a secret letter, social college Fraternities and sororities for male college students in the United States....
 fraternity was also kicked off campus for a hazing incident. The university plans on building another Greek housing community in the coming years, however it will have a much higher population density than that is currently in Greek Park.

There are also a number of Greek organizations with no housing including:
  • Alpha Epsilon Phi
    Alpha Epsilon Phi

    Alpha Epsilon Phi is a Jewish-centered Fraternities and sororities and member of the National Panhellenic Conference. It was founded on October 24, 1909 at Barnard College in New York City by seven Jewish women; Helen Phillips Lipman, Ida Beck Carlin, Rose Gerstein Smolin, Augustina "Tina" Hess Solomon, Lee Reiss Leibert, Rose Salmowitz Marv...
  • Alpha Epsilon Pi
    Alpha Epsilon Pi

    Alpha Epsilon Pi is the only international Jewish college fraternities and sororities in North America, with 140 chapters in the United States and Canada, and over 7,000 active undergraduates....
  • Alpha Kappa Psi
    Alpha Kappa Psi

    ??? is the oldest and largest Professional fraternity business Fraternities and sororities. The Alpha Kappa Psi Fraternity was founded on October 5, 1904 at New York University, and was incorporated on May 20, 1905....
  • Alpha Phi Omega
    Alpha Phi Omega

    Alpha Phi Omega is the largest collegiate fraternity in the United States, with chapters at over 350 campuses, an active membership of approximately 17,000 students, and over 350,000 alumni members....
  • Chi Omega
    Chi Omega

    Chi Omega is a women's Fraternities and sororities and the largest member of the National Panhellenic Conference. Chi Omega boasts 174 active collegiate chapters and hundreds of alumnae chapters....
  • Delta Upsilon
    Delta Upsilon

    Delta Upsilon is the 6th oldest international, all-male, college, Greek alphabet social fraternities and sororities and is the first non-secret fraternity ever founded....
  • Kappa Alpha Theta
    Kappa Alpha Theta

    Kappa Alpha Theta is an international women's fraternities and sororities founded on January 27, 1870 at DePauw University. Kappa Alpha Theta was the first Greek-letter women's fraternity....
  • Kappa Kappa Gamma
    Kappa Kappa Gamma

    Kappa Kappa Gamma is a college Fraternities and sororities, founded at Monmouth College, Illinois. Although the groundwork of the organization was developed as early as 1869, the 1876 Convention voted on October 13, 1870 as Founders Day, because no earlier charter date could be determined....
  • Lambda Chi Alpha
    Lambda Chi Alpha

    For a list of prominent members of Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity, see: List of notable members of Lambda Chi AlphaLambda Chi Alpha , headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana, is a member of the North-American Interfraternity Conference and one of the largest men's general Fraternities and sororities in North America, by its own count...
  • Pi Delta Psi
    Pi Delta Psi

    Pi Delta Psi is an Asian-American Cultural Interest Fraternity founded at Binghamton University on February 20 1994. The mission of Pi Delta Psi is to break down cultural barriers by fostering individual growth in the areas of "Academic Achievement, Cultural Awareness, Righteousness, Friendship and Loyalty"....
  • Sigma Lambda Gamma
    Sigma Lambda Gamma

    'Sigma Lambda Gamma' is a sorority founded on April 9, 1990, at the University of Iowa....
  • Sigma Nu
    Sigma Nu

    SN is an undergraduate college fraternity with chapters in the United States and Canada. Sigma Nu was founded in 1869 by three cadets at the Virginia Military Institute in Lexington, Virginia, Virginia....
  • Sigma Phi Lambda
    Sigma Phi Lambda

    Sigma Phi Lambda Sorority is the largest women's Fraternities and sororities for Christian women, or Christian sorority in the United States with 25 active chapters, and the third of its kind, behind Alpha Delta Chi, founded in 1925, and Sigma Alpha Omega, officially founded in 1988....
  • Sigma Pi
    Sigma Pi

    Sigma Pi is an international college social fraternities and sororities with chapters in the United States and Canada. Like most social fraternities, membership is by invitation and limited to men....
  • Theta Chi
    Theta Chi

    Theta Chi Fraternity is an international Fraternities and sororities. It was founded on April 10, 1856 as the Theta Chi Society, at Norwich University, Norwich, Vermont, United States, and was the 21st of the 71 North-American Interfraternity Conference men's fraternities ....
  • Zeta Beta Tau
    Zeta Beta Tau

    Zeta Beta Tau is a historically Judaism, presently nonsectarian international fraternities and sororities. Today the merged Zeta Beta Tau Brotherhood numbers over 130,000 initiated Brothers, and over 80 student chapter locations....


Current on campus Greek houses:
  • Alpha Delta Pi
    Alpha Delta Pi

    Alpha Delta Pi was founded May 15 1851 at Wesleyan College in Macon, Georgia making it the first female fraternal organization established. The Executive office for this sorority is located on Ponce de Leon Avenue in Atlanta, Georgia....
  • Alpha Tau Omega
    Alpha Tau Omega

    ATO is an American Leadership Fraternities and sororities that annually ranks among the top ten national fraternities for number of chapters and total number of members....
  • Alpha Xi Delta
    Alpha Xi Delta

    Alpha Xi Delta was founded on April 17, 1893 by ten women at Lombard College, Galesburg, Illinois, who shared a vision of an organization dedicated to the personal growth of women....
  • Delta Delta Delta
    Delta Delta Delta

    Delta Delta Delta , also known as Tri Delta, is an international collegiate women's fraternity founded on November 27, 1888. With 136 chapters in the United States and Canada it is one of the largest women's organizations in the world....
  • Kappa Delta
    Kappa Delta

    Kappa Delta was the first sorority founded at the Longwood University , in Farmville, Virginia. It is one of the "Farmville Four" sororities founded at the universities ....
  • Kappa Sigma
    Kappa Sigma

    ?S is an international fraternities and sororities with currently 216 chapters and 29 colonies in North America. There have been more than 250,000 initiates, of which more than 182,500 are living and more than 12,000 are undergraduates....
  • Pi Beta Phi
    Pi Beta Phi

    Pi Beta Phi is an international Fraternities and sororities founded as I.C. Sorosis on April 28, 1867, at Monmouth College in Monmouth, Illinois....
  • Sigma Chi
    Sigma Chi

    Sigma Chi is one of the largest and oldest all-male, college, greek alphabet social fraternities and sororities and a secret society. Sigma Chi was founded on June 28, 1855 at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio when members split from Delta Kappa Epsilon....
  • Zeta Tau Alpha
    Zeta Tau Alpha

    Zeta Tau Alpha is a women's Fraternities and sororities, founded October 15, 1898 at what used to be State Female Normal School but is now known as Longwood University in Farmville, Virginia....


There are also five fraternities known to have off campus housing options including:
  • Beta Theta Pi
    Beta Theta Pi

    Beta Theta Pi is a social collegiate fraternities and sororities that was founded at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, USA, where it is part of the Miami Triad which includes Phi Delta Theta and Sigma Chi....
  • Delta Tau Delta
    Delta Tau Delta

    Delta Tau Delta is a United States-based international Fraternities and sororities.Delta Tau Delta was founded in 1858 at Bethany College , Bethany, West Virginia ....
  • Phi Gamma Delta
    Phi Gamma Delta

    Phi Gamma Delta is a collegiate social Fraternities and sororities with 107 chapters and 7 colonies across the United States and Canada. It was founded at Washington & Jefferson College, Pennsylvania in 1848 and its headquarters are located in Lexington, Kentucky, Kentucky, USA....
  • Phi Delta Theta
    Phi Delta Theta

    Phi Delta Theta is an international Fraternities and sororities founded in 1848 and headquartered at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. Phi Delta Theta, Beta Theta Pi, and Sigma Chi form the Miami Triad....
  • Tau Kappa Epsilon
    Tau Kappa Epsilon

    Tau Kappa Epsilon is a college fraternities and sororities founded on January 10th, 1899 at Illinois Wesleyan University with chapters in the United States, and Canada, and affiliation with a German fraternity system known as the Corps of the Weinheimer Senioren Convent ....


Affiliated Housing (off-campus)
Affiliated housing is owned by the University of Central Florida, but is managed by an outside firm, currently being American Campus Communities
American Campus Communities

American Campus Communities , is one of the largest Real estate development and Property management of private student housing in the United States....
.

  • Pegasus Landing - apartment complex directly west of UCF's Lake Claire across Alafaya Trail.
  • Pegasus Pointe - apartment complex located south of UCF, off Alafaya Trail and just north of Colonial.


Notable Alumni

There are more than 169,000 alumni of UCF throughout the world.

External links