ORLANDO, Fla. — University of Central Florida President John Hitt announced Tuesday that the university will move forward with plans for an expanded downtown campus.
Hitt said the move is to "enhance educational opportunities for students and stimulate downtown Orlando." Hitt described UCF's plans as a "game changer" for downtown.
Valencia College will be a partner in the expansion, and approximately 10,000 students from the two schools could study downtown, said officials.
"Today, through another bold collaboration, we explore a vision for UCF in Orlando that could energize downtown and redefine its future," Hitt said.
Plans for UCF downtown require the necessary state funding and also approvals from UCF's Board of Trustees and the Florida Board of Governors, which oversees the state's 12 public universities.
"The earliest that would happen would be next May, and then you've got a year or so for planning. So, we're several years away from having buildings actually out of the ground," Hitt said.
Hitt said UCF is assessing which academic programs would benefit from moving downtown, and the university will continue conversations with staff and faculty members as part of that process.
UCF officials said they are considering the creative village area of downtown Orlando, and that UCF and Valencia pledge to work closely with the Parramore community and the new kindergarten through eighth grade school that will be built there.
"Valencia and UCF desire to be vital forces for improving the lives and livelihoods of the residents who live nearby," Hitt said.
President of Valencia College, Sanford Shugart, said "We are just delighted to be a part of this exciting new project in downtown Orlando. Our results, working together in partnership, UCF, Valencia and Orange County Public Schools, have been recognized around the country. On this foundation, we hope to build the future economy of Orlando and greater central Florida."
UCF downtown also presents potential opportunities for new academic programs, such as, a new program for young men and women with disabilities to allow them to attend classes and participate fully in college life.
One student at UCF's downtown emerging media center said he'd love to have more classes downtown.
"I would love to be downtown. So much more to do in the night life. I think students will love it," he said.
UCF would use a bus service to shuttle students between campuses, but downtown would have its own housing, food services and other support facilities to handle about 10,000 of its own students.
Mayor Buddy Dyer expects the funding phase to go smoothly.
"We’re in pretty good position with the senate president being from Orlando and the house speaker being from central Florida and a UCF grad, so, I can't think of a better situation to be in," Dyer said.
The most likely courses offered downtown would be in technology, media and public services.
The campus will be complete in five to 10 years at a cost of between $150 million to $200 million.
As part of the planning process, city and university leaders visited Phoenix, Arizona, where Arizona State University has already built a downtown campus.
WFTV
