The Rise of SpaceU
Founded to help fuel talent for the nearby space industry, UCF continues to build its reputation as SpaceU. Here’s a look at the early days of UCF’s space ties and journey to new frontiers.
An Auditorium Class
In 1968, 90 instructors greeted students in person during the first day of classes at UCF (then Florida Technological University). Today, students have the option to take hybrid or fully online courses.
The Addition Financial Arena
UCF’s campus arena — which was first built in 1991 and upgraded in 2007 — has always housed basketball games and events like concerts and commencement ceremonies.
An Art Class
The university provided classes in the arts from the beginning and now offers more than 30 degree programs for creative explorations of every kind — from visual arts to animation to themed experience.
A Homecoming Celebration
Since UCF’s first celebration in 1971, Knight Nation has banded together to show their pride at special events, from the former Black & Gold parade to today’s Spirit Splash.
The John C. Hitt Library and Reflecting Pond
The library was one of the first seven buildings on UCF’s campus when it opened in 1968. The Reflecting Pond was completed two years later and remains one of the university’s most iconic sites.
The Student Union
After opening in 1997, the “Heart of Campus” was renovated in 2020 to add more space for Knights to study, enjoy meals, access resources, attend events and hang out with friends.
The View From Here
To promote awareness of lunar science and space exploration on International Observe the Moon Night, UCF invited the community to the Reflecting Pond on October 21. They enjoyed free access to telescopes and intriguing insight from Assistant Professor of Physics Adrienne Dove — who’s working on NASA’s Lunar-VISE mission — and Professor of Physics Yan Fernandez.
A Warm Welcome
The very first UCF students — all 1,948 of them — had a choice of 55 degree programs when they started classes on campus in 1968. This semester nearly 70,000 Knights, representing 156 countries, are pursuing degrees in more than 240 programs.