Five years ago today, students stepped onto the newly constructed UCF Downtown campus for the first time in downtown Orlando. Since then, UCF has awarded over 10,300 degrees to downtown students, strengthening Central Florida’s talent pipeline and contributing to the region’s economic vitality. UCF Downtown is home to students in select majors across the university’s College of Business, College of Community Innovation and Education, and College of Sciences, as well as students at Valencia College.
Philanthropy has played a major role in UCF Downtown’s success. The Dr. Phillips Academic Commons, supported by the generosity of Dr. Phillips Charities, is the campus’ academic centerpiece. Other leading contributors and partners include the City of Orlando, Orange County Government, AdventHealth, the Orlando Magic, Addition Financial, the Helios Foundation, James Seneff, Creative Village and Truist. The State of Florida also provided $20 million to support construction of the campus.
“Our downtown campus exemplifies what can be achieved when education, community and industry come together,” says Ross Wolf ’88 ’91MPA ’98EdD, professor and associate provost for UCF Downtown. “We’ve created a space where students are thriving academically. Our faculty are partnering with industry leaders to create once-in-a-lifetime opportunities for students to learn and grow, and we’re working tirelessly with our local governments and communities to solve complex issues facing our region. When you take stock of everything we’re doing downtown, it’s nothing short of building a brighter future for Central Florida and beyond.”
Academic Excellence Fueled by Industry Partnerships
For Hillarie Burgess ’23, the downtown location made taking classes easy.
“I was looking at UCF, but before [UCF Downtown] opened, there really wasn’t a way for me to make it work with where I was living,” says Burgess, who earned a degree in public administration and a minor in emergency management. “When I saw that they were opening the campus and bringing emergency management in as one of the programs there, it was perfect.”
UCF Downtown is home to over 20 academic programs specifically chosen for their strong ties to downtown industries. The Florida Interactive Entertainment Academy has ranked No. 1 in the world for four of the past five years and the emergency management graduate program has also earned a No. 1 ranking from U.S. News & World Report. Nearby industry partners like Electronic Arts, who bring real-world expertise into the classroom, have further strengthened academics and ensured students are well-prepared to excel in the workforce.
“My coursework exposed me to the basic concepts and ideas that helped me succeed here, where I was really able to learn how all the pieces fit together in the real world,” Burgess says. “I had a lot of information, but my internship [with the Lake County Office of Emergency Management] showed me how it all works.”
The proximity to downtown industries gives thousands of downtown students easy access to internships, career opportunities and hands-on learning experiences. In fact, 91% of UCF Downtown undergraduate students engage in activities like internships, research projects and service learning, which enhances their academic journey and better prepares them for their professional careers.
Unleashing Potential in Local Youth
From an annual Book Character Parade to engagement plans with area elementary schools and high schools, downtown campus leadership works regularly with community partners to create frequent positive experiences for local youth.
“Engaging with local schools and community organizations is vital to our mission,” says Chanda Torres ’98 ’00MA ’08EdD, assistant vice president of student success, academic support services and partnerships for UCF Downtown. “By connecting with youth early, we help them see that a college degree is not a distant dream — it’s an achievable goal right here in their own backyard at UCF. Strengthening these partnerships ensures that every young person in our community knows that opportunity is within reach, and we are here to support them every step of the way.”
With more than $3.44 million in grants and donations already invested, engagement efforts focus on getting students to see the benefits of a college degree and encouraging them to apply.
The Downtown Scholars Initiative (DSI) has seen huge success, citing a 100% average increase in Jones High School students enrolled at UCF since the program’s inception in 2021. The initiative is currently in its fourth year at Jones High School, completed its first year at Evans High School and plans to expand to Oak Ridge High school this fall.
“Our campus is a key part of ensuring that every child in Orlando has the opportunity to pursue higher education,” Torres says. “By expanding scholarships and enhancing support services, we’re providing students with the tools they need for economic mobility, career success and long, fulfilling lives.”
Community-Engaged Research Drives Positive Change in Communities
Across three colleges, UCF Downtown faculty collaborate with community members, government agencies, and private sector partners to address significant challenges and drive positive change through research and innovation. Mainly focused on outreach and social impact, these community-engaged research projects span community and social connection, economic stability, education, good governance, healthcare and livability —aligning with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations. To date, UCF has awarded more than $250,000 for community-engaged research in downtown Orlando alone.
One example is a collaboration between UCF and the City of Orlando aimed at improving community preparedness and response capabilities during natural disasters and other emergencies. The research led to the creation of mobile units that can be deployed into neighborhoods without power or service access. The Resilience, Education, and Advocacy Center for Hazard Preparedness (REACH) hubs will provide residents with several appliances and services to charge their devices, cool off, access the internet and more during disasters. UCF was awarded more than $1 million in grants through the U.S. National Science Foundation and the U.S. Department of Energy to make the hubs a reality.
Other recent research projects include evaluating walkability in downtown Orlando, pathways to end homelessness, developing strategies to engage students in public service, and increasing student knowledge and understanding of death, dying and bereavement through a “Death Café” event.
Big Impact from a Small Campus Footprint
Spanning just 15-acres in the heart of downtown Orlando, UCF Downtown offers a comprehensive campus experience. The campus is shared with Valencia College, offering students access to associate, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral programs, as well as graduate certificates. Downtown students have dedicated student housing, several dining options, a library, health and recreation facilities, and numerous student organizations on campus. Within a 15-minute walk, students can experience all that downtown Orlando has to offer — creating a living laboratory for research, learning and inspiration.
UCF Downtown serves as the intellectual anchor of Orlando’s Creative Village, an innovation district with over $700 million invested in development to date. The campus and its surrounding neighborhood offer a unique blend of educational, professional and recreational opportunities for students, faculty, and staff.
Prior to the campus opening in 2019, UCF began important conversations with community leaders in Parramore, the neighborhood where UCF Downtown was built, to understand the needs and concerns of residents and business owners. Since then, the group formally established the Parramore Community Engagement Council, where UCF and Valencia serve as conduits to increase partnerships in Parramore, volunteer time with the residents, and support community priorities. The partnership is a testament to UCF’s commitment to be of the community.
In 2020, UCF unveiled the Parramore Room on campus, which pays homage to the community and its rich history. Faculty serve as subject matter experts on the Council and staff from the campus regularly volunteer at community events and fundraisers. Most recently, the campus served as the backdrop for the Council’s inaugural conference, earning high praise from its attendees.
“We’ve already seen great success in the five short years we’ve been downtown,” Wolf says. “We’re looking forward to the future and continuing to make UCF Downtown the place in downtown Orlando where people come to achieve their dreams. Each day we see our students and faculty walk onto this campus and we know that each and every one of them will have a positive impact on our community. From the next generation of video game designers to public servants, healthcare administrators and more, we know the campus is just the beginning of the ripple effect our students will have on the world.”
