Particle.news
Download on the App Store
3 ARTICLES
·
2h ago

UCF Says It Has Hit Florida Preeminence Benchmarks, Paving Way for Certification

A 63.8% four-year graduation rate cleared the final metric as state certification remains pending.

President Alexander Cartwright arrives to announce that the University of Central Florida has been designated a Preeminent State Research University by the Florida Board of Governors, Monday, Sept. 22, 2025. Cartwright made the announcement during a UCF Board of Trustees meeting on campus at the Fairwinds Alumni Center. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)

Overview

  • President Alexander Cartwright announced the milestone at a UCF Board of Trustees meeting, citing multi‑year gains that lifted the four‑year graduation rate to 63.8%.
  • The university must have its data verified by trustees in April before seeking Florida Board of Governors certification in June.
  • Any new money tied to preeminence will be set during the 2026 legislative session, after previous cycles allocated $100 million and then $40 million to the program.
  • Cartwright said initial investments from any additional funding would prioritize faculty and staff pay, with expanded scholarships and experiential learning also planned.
  • Formal certification would place UCF alongside the University of Florida, Florida State, USF and FIU, building on its 2022 designation as an emerging preeminent university.