UCF Tool Kit. The latest facts and figures about issues important to the UCF community

Transcription

1 UCF Tool Kit The latest facts and figures about issues important to the UCF community Prepared by News & Information and Institutional Knowledge Management Fall 2013

2 UCF as a Job Creator / Economic Impact By vigorously pursuing partnerships and aligning its resources with Central Florida s needs, UCF has fueled the region s innovation economy. UCF s innovations and programs help Central Florida add high-wage jobs by fostering start-up companies and the growth of existing businesses. Since its founding in 1999, the Business Incubation Program has generated 1,950 direct jobs and 2,250 indirect jobs. The average wage of employees at companies that have graduated from the program is estimated at $67,541, according to a 2013 review. The Business Incubation Program was named Incubator Network of the Year in 2013 by the National Business Incubation Association. With UCF as a founding partner, the Florida High Tech Corridor Council has created an estimated 4,000 jobs, served more than 375 companies and provided hands-on experience for 2,500 graduate and post-doctoral students. GrowFL, administered by UCF s Florida Economic Gardening Institute, has helped more than 400 Florida companies create more than 4,187 direct and indirect jobs since GrowFL has contributed more than $581.4 million to Florida s economy. Second-stage companies engaged with GrowFL have grown three times faster than their peers. By the end of 2017, the College of Medicine and our Medical City partners are projected to create 30,000 jobs and more than $7.6 billion in annual economic impact. UCF s internationally recognized Institute for Simulation & Training is an anchor of the region s $3 billion modeling and simulation industry. The Center for Research and Education in Optics and Lasers (CREOL) has worked with 175 companies to develop new optics and laser technologies, helping them expand their profitability, and factored in the creation of 23 start-up businesses. UCF is one of Central Florida s largest employers, with 1,725 faculty members and 9,800 staff members. The university impacts more than 112,000 additional jobs and adds $7.73 billion of value to the economy, according to a study by the Florida Board of Governors. UCF researchers have earned more than $1.1 billion in external grants during the past decade, and their work has created an additional 3,800 jobs annually. 2

3 Preparing Students for Workforce Particularly in STEM disciplines, UCF prepares students for high-paying jobs by focusing on vital and emerging economic sectors, strong partnerships with industry leaders and special programs dedicated to student learning. Central Florida employers count on UCF to fulfill their increasing workforce needs. UCF awarded more than 15,000 degrees, more than any other Florida state university, in For the first time, UCF awarded more than 1,000 bachelor s degrees in Engineering and Computer Science in UCF produces the second-largest number of STEM graduates in the State University System. 117 companies have hired more than 300 Florida Interactive Entertainment Academy (FIEA) graduates at an average salary of $50, percent of the approximately 750 Rosen College of Hospitality Management students who earn bachelor s degrees each year have secured a job when they graduate, and most of them work in the hospitality industry in Florida. A UCF education gives students the support and real-world experience they need to succeed. UCF tied for first among all state universities with the most performance funding earned based on objective criteria set by the Board of Governors. Two of the three criteria focused on whether students have a job (or are continuing their education) one year after graduation and also the students average wages. More than 20,800 students gained practical experience in through co-ops, internships and service-learning projects. The EXCEL program, which serves 400 freshmen and sophomores interested in STEM careers, features a research experience, tutoring center and living-learning community. FIEA provides students with an industry-based curriculum in a state-of-the-art environment that mimics the workplaces of successful gaming studios. 3

4 UCF s Affordability and Value UCF provides tens of thousands of students with access to an affordable, highquality education. Strong state support will enable UCF to expand access while keeping tuition and fees among the lowest in the nation. A UCF education remains one of the nation s best values. The only tuition increase in was a state-mandated 1.7 percent increase. almost all student fees remained the same, as did all of UCF s housing rents. In-state undergraduate students taking 30 credit hours a year pay $6, in tuition and fees in The national average in was $8, percent of UCF students graduate without any educational debt. Nationally, only 33 percent of students graduate debt-free. 73 percent of undergraduates received grant or scholarship aid. The average amount was $4,381. Kiplinger and The Princeton Review ranked a UCF education as one of the best values in the country in UCF is a model of academic and administrative efficiency. UCF tied for first among all state universities with the most performance funding earned based on objective criteria set by the Board of Governors. One of the three criteria was how much it costs an institution to educate an undergraduate. UCF spends nearly 40 percent less per student than the state average on administrative costs. UCF has the lowest undergraduate instructional expenses per student of any public university in Florida. DirectConnect to UCF is one of the least expensive ways to obtain a bachelor s degree in the United States. 4

5 Growth with Quality and Diversity UCF has enjoyed remarkable achievements in academic quality and student development in its first 50 years. UCF continues to grow in quality, size, diversity and reputation. The fall 2013 freshman class boasts a preliminary average high school GPA of 3.89 and an average SAT score of a university-record 247 National Merit Scholars are enrolled in fall 2013, double the number enrolled five years ago. Four of every 10 students in fall 2013 are minorities. a university-record 20 percent of fall 2013 students are Hispanic. Becoming more inclusive and diverse was one of the five goals President Hitt set for UCF when he arrived in Today, the number of minority students exceeds the total number of students when President Hitt arrived on campus. With an enrollment of about 60,100 in fall 2013, UCF is the secondlargest university in the nation. a national study released by the New America Foundation concluded that with UCF s many partnerships and emphasis on expanding access to a high-quality education, UCF is a Next Generation University and a national model. One in every 10 undergraduate students is an adult learner (older than 25). 5

6 Access: Online Learning and DirectConnect to UCF UCF s online learning and DirectConnect to UCF programs are national models that give students flexibility and convenience in their pursuit of affordable, highquality degrees. The flexibility of online classes helps students earn their degrees more quickly. UCF offers 69 totally Web-based degree, degree-completion and certificate programs. Nearly 30,000 students are taking at least one fully online course in fall percent of student credit hours were provided online in , and that has been increasing by about 2 percentage points each year. Online courses have saved tens of millions of dollars in facilities costs. UCF would have had to spend an additional $60 million on buildings if all of our current classes were conducted in a traditional, face-to-face manner. UCF s online learning program and its developers have received many national awards. Since DirectConnect to UCF began in 2006, more than 31,000 students have been admitted to UCF through this partnership with Eastern Florida State College, Lake Sumter State College, Seminole State College and Valencia College. Graduates from the DirectConnect to UCF partner institutions are guaranteed admission to UCF. Students receive comprehensive on-site advising from both the state college and UCF advisers, thereby helping students make a smooth transition to UCF. 36 percent of new undergraduates in were DirectConnect to UCF students. 6

7 UCF s Commitment to Sustainability Through UCF s operations, research, education and partnerships, the university saves students, taxpayers and consumers millions of dollars a year and reduces the campus impact on the environment. Increased energy efficiency has produced more than $9 million in total savings for the university during the past five years. UCF uses 42.8 percent less electricity per square foot than in The combined heat and power plant on Libra Drive reduced power costs by nearly $900,000 in its first six months of operation. The power plant generates a third of the main campus energy and is expected to reduce the campus environmental impact by 30 percent each year. UCF is the only university in Florida to invest in natural gas by building its own plant. a solar photovoltaic system across from the Recreation and Wellness Center helps to power Garage B lights, saving an average of more than $15,000 annually. Eight UCF buildings have earned Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) certifications, including four at the gold level. a new software platform allows UCF to better analyze how buildings, equipment and systems operate and to identify improvements that can reduce energy costs. Green research at UCF improves the energy efficiency of buildings, turbines, lighting and other products while saving consumers and businesses millions of dollars. Consumers save more than $40 million annually in energy costs by owning more than 2 million Gossamer Wind series fans developed at the Florida Solar Energy Center. Students take leadership roles in supporting UCF s commitment to sustainability, which includes an energy-saving competition among residence halls that saved UCF more than $37,000 in Nearly a third of UCF s 1,415 acres on the main campus is conservation land. The campus landscape focuses on Xeriscapes, native plants and sustainable designs. 7

8 The Urban University Advantage Urban research universities are an important national asset, as they serve as anchors in the 100 most populous regions in the United States. Their assets leadership, expertise, capital, land and resources for innovation provide unparalleled advantages to help develop metropolitan communities and regional and state economies. UCF, FIU and USF differ from other State University System of Florida institutions in that they conduct urban-solutions research and serve Florida s largest minority-population centers, in addition to directly serving the urban areas in which they are located. Combined, the three universities: Provide opportunities in areas that represent nearly two-thirds of Florida s overall population (Orlando, Miami and Tampa). Account for almost half of SUS total enrollment. are located in areas that are home to 70 percent of the state s minority population. Investing in urban universities has a strategic value. These universities create regional talent pools that attract employers and lift regional and state economies. Research contributes to solutions to problems related to health care, transportation, education, business and many other issues. an extended network of partnerships creates a better place to live, work, create and innovate in Florida. Community engagement is at the heart of urban public research universities. The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching has awarded UCF, FIU and USF the Community Engagement Classification, the institution s top award for community engagement. Students and staff and faculty members work closely with community and global partners to help solve important issues. 8

9 UCF s Funding: Support for Our Goals Strong state support, philanthropy and research grants are vital to ensuring that UCF can continue to provide access and a high-quality education to well-deserving students. Although the state increased UCF s budget in , UCF s funding has been cut by nearly $100 million since Tuition increases have only partially made up for the cuts. The UCF student-to-faculty ratio has gone from 28.8 to 1 in to 31.5 to 1 this year. With the additional funds this year, UCF is making targeted faculty hires with an emphasis on STEM disciplines. UCF is a model of administrative efficiency. The university spends nearly 40 percent less per student than the state average on administrative costs. Despite recent tuition increases, a UCF education remains one of the nation s best values. Kiplinger and The Princeton Review rank a UCF education as one of the best values in the country. The UCF Foundation has set a working goal of raising $500 million in a campaign that will support scholarships, endowed faculty positions, programs and facilities. A record 22,797 donors supported UCF during UCF received a record nine contributions of at least $1 million in UCF researchers received $113 million in research funding in in spite of severe federal budget cuts. a UCF-record $55 million grant from NASA awarded in 2013 will be received and counted in future years. 9

10 UCF is Competitive (Rankings) Analytical Conclusions UCF is increasingly competitive as shown by several national comparisons. Supporting Material UCF UF FSU USF FAU FIU U.S. News (out of 281) Tier 2 Tier 2 U.S. News (Public University) Carnegie Doctoral Very Very Very Very High High Research High High High High Forbes (out of 650) Kiplinger Best Value n/a n/a (In-state students) Kiplinger Best Value (Out-of-state students) n/a n/a Through a process involving rigorous analysis and feedback from key stakeholders, UCF has established a list of peer institutions that includes several prestigious and competitive institutions. Comparison Peers Florida Atlantic University Florida International University Georgia State University Kent State University Portland State University San Diego State University University of Akron University of Delaware University of Houston University of New Mexico University of Texas - Arlington University of North Carolina - Charlotte University of South Florida Virginia Commonwealth University Aspirational Peers Arizona State University - Tempe Auburn University North Carolina State University - Raleigh Oregon State University University of Cincinnati University of Colorado - Boulder University of Nebraska - Lincoln University of South Carolina - Columbia Metric Rank out of 22 peers Metric Rank out of 22 peers Number of doctoral degrees 15 Percent of full-time faculty 10 awarded (285) (71%) Expenses per student FTE ($13,614) Research expenditures ($113 milllion) Freshmen in top 10% of high school class (33%) Lowest Peer assessment score (31 on a point scale) -- Percent alumni giving (16%) 6 4 Graduate enrollment (8,656) 5 Acceptance rate (46%) 5 FTIC six-year graduation (64%) 7 FTIC one-year retention (88%) 6 10

11 Leading the State University System in Baccalaureate Degree Production Analytical Conclusions More than any other State University System institution, UCF has expanded rapidly to provide access to higher education to Florida students. Supporting Material UCF produces 13 percent of all baccalaureate degrees awarded in the state. The number of baccalaureate degrees awarded annually by UCF has more than doubled over the past 15 years. UCF produces 20 percent of all baccalaureate degrees awarded by the State University System. UCF produces 15 percent of all STEM baccalaureate degrees awarded by the State University System. 11

12 Leader in Distance Learning Analytical Conclusions UCF enrolls the largest volume of distance learners in Florida, accounting for 30 percent of all distance learning FTE in the State University System in Supporting Material UCF offers 69 fully online degree, degree-completion, and certificate programs. UCF provides educational access and flexibility through online, mixed hybrid, and video-based courses. Combined, they account for 34.5 percent of UCF s total credit hours in percent of increases in UCF s credit hour production in the past five years is attributable to growth in online learning. Student Credit Hours by Course Delivery Mode Online (web) Blended (web) Video Face-to-face 12

13 Students are Successful at UCF and Beyond Analytical Conclusions Students are successful at UCF, as demonstrated by favorable retention and graduation rates. The success continues for UCF alumni, with positive postgraduation employment rates and post-secondary enrollment rates. Supporting Material Favorable student success rates: an 88 percent freshmen retention rate ranks UCF 6th among its 22 peer institutions and 4th in the State University System (SUS). With a 65 percent six-year graduation rate, UCF ranks 7th among its 22 peer institutions and 4th in the SUS. Positive post-graduation employment rates (as per a study of grads): The post-graduation employment rate for UCF, 68 percent of bachelor s degree recipients achieving employment in Florida, ranks 4th among all SUS institutions. Success continues after graduation: Within one year of graduation, at least 26.4 percent of baccalaureate graduates and 12.5 percent of master s graduates from UCF continue enrollment at a four-year higher education institution. By year five after graduation from UCF, at least 49 percent of UCF baccalaureate grads have re-enrolled in higher education, and at least 25.1 percent have earned another degree or certificate from an institution of higher education. At least 24.6 percent of UCF master s grads re-enroll in higher education after five years, with 9.8 percent earning another degree or certificate. 13