The board extended the tuition reduction, which started this spring, through the spring 2019 semester for students from Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The reduction applies to students who fled Puerto Rico due to the hurricane, as well as students whose home residence is Puerto Rico and who were already enrolled at UCF.

The Board of Trustees accelerated approval of the extended tuition rate for a full academic year in order to provide students with sufficient time to apply for the summer semester.

“We should view this as an opportunity to serve,” said UCF President John C. Hitt.

“UCF has done great things for the Puerto Rican students, and many students have come, thanks to that help,” said Jose Rivera, a junior economics student and president of UCF’s Puerto Rican Student Association. “The extended in-state tuition gives (students) the support they need to actually become productive and successful members of society and get that help they needed.”

Rivera previously expressed concerns about the future for displaced students to Student Government Association president and Trustee Nick Larkins. Rivera and Larkins addressed the board today to express gratitude for the support so far and to request extended tuition reduction.

The board acknowledged how far many of the students traveled from their home country and the financial hardships the hurricane has created on their families. Many of the displaced students are working full-time in addition to attending classes.

“I’m very proud of the action that our board took today. This is very meaningful to folks that are in need,” said UCF Board of Trustees Chairman Marcos Marchena. “I know some of these students are struggling to make decisions as they go. I thought giving them this certainty, this early on, was very important for their peace of mind, knowing that they’re going to be treated as in-state students and have that financial burden minimized while they are here for the length of time that they may be here.”

An additional 200 Puerto Rican students have enrolled at UCF since Hurricane Maria, and a welcome reception was thrown in their honor earlier this week.

A university-wide effort has been underway to identify Spanish-speaking faculty and staff and to pair students from Puerto Rico with a UCF mentor. Members of the Puerto Rican Student Association also are serving as peer mentors to help students navigate UCF and become acclimated with Orlando. Intensive English classes are being offered, and students are being assisted with housing and scholarship opportunities.

UCF created to assist current and prospective students.

The UCF Board of Trustees voted unanimously Wednesday morning to allow these students to be eligible for in-state tuition.

“This is a compassionate way to help our students, and I fully support it,” UCF President John C. Hitt said.

UCF is supporting Gov. Rick Scott’s commitment to help Puerto Rico recover from Maria. In a Sept. 26 letter, Gov. Scott encouraged Florida universities and state colleges to “allow any student who has been displaced from their home in Puerto Rico by Hurricane Maria to be eligible for in-state tuition.”

As of Sept. 27, about 120 UCF students list their residencies as being in Puerto Rico and are eligible for in-state tuition rates.

Said UCF Board of Trustees Chairman Marcos Marchena: “This sends a very strong message about the governor’s commitment and this board’s commitment to assist our fellow citizens in Puerto Rico.”

UCF will soon contact eligible students about this new option. Students with questions can call the UCF Registrar’s Office at 407-823-5510.

UCF Lake Nona Medical Center, which will be built adjacent to the UCF College of Medicine, is a public-private partnership with UCF Academic Health, a direct support organization to the university, and the North Florida Division of Hospital Corporation of America (HCA), the nation’s largest hospital company.

Focused on providing healthcare services to the community as well as education and research, the hospital will help the College of Medicine increase residencies and clinically based research, and ultimately help build Medical City into more of a healthcare destination providing first-class health care.

The hospital “will fulfill our promise to become a hub of innovation and a healthier Orlando,” said UCF Board of Trustees Chairman Marcos Marchena.

“The aspirations that we have worked on from day one are that we would have a first-rate, top-tier medical school. It is clear to me that we need a hospital if we are going to achieve our highest ambitions for the medical college,” said UCF President John C. Hitt.

Under the agreement, HCA will spend $175 million in cash to build and begin operations of a 100-bed hospital. No state money will be used and UCF will not incur any debt. UCF and HCA will share governance, each appointing four members to the hospital board.

Dr. Deborah German, vice president for medical affairs and founding dean of the College of Medicine, said the hospital is necessary for UCF to deliver on the economic development promises it made when the college was approved more than 10 years ago. “In the United States and around the world, the best health systems have an academic component at their heart and the best medical schools have hospitals,” she said.

In 2012, the university purchased the land in Medical City and began seeking partners. Last summer, UCF formally invited hospitals nationwide to submit partnership proposals. HCA, Florida Hospital and Orlando Health did. In September, UCF trustees approved a partnership with HCA, citing its nationwide hospital operations experience, financial strength and extensive research programs.

“We are grateful to the Board of Governors for their approval and very excited to move forward in building a community-based teaching facility,” said Michael P. Joyce, FACHE, President of HCA’s North Florida Division. “Today marks a milestone for all of us at HCA. This investment benefits the future physicians we’re privileged to train, as well as the entire Lake Nona community. It also allows us to expand our footprint in the Orlando area, making healthcare more accessible for Central Floridians.”

Lake Nona is one of the Top 10 fastest-selling master-planned communities in the United States and the fastest-selling in Orlando. More than 1,000 families are moving to Lake Nona every year.

The approval signals the board’s confidence in a plan that promises to bring greater academic and professional opportunities to students and serve as a catalyst for development in downtown Orlando.

“Twenty-four years ago yesterday, I became UCF’s president. In all the years since, few moments have been as important as today,” UCF President John C. Hitt said. “Today, we can plant a seed in downtown Orlando that will benefit our students, community and state for decades to come.”

UCF has earned $16 million in community support to help fund construction of a new academic building that will be the centerpiece of the downtown campus, which will serve about 7,700 UCF and Valencia College students. UCF intends to raise $20 million in community support to go along with $20 million from the state and $20 million in UCF resources.

The Board of Governors, which oversees Florida’s 12 public universities, approved the proposed campus during a meeting on UCF’s main campus. The board’s vote paves the way for the Legislature’s approval of the state’s $20 million share. Pending approvals, the campus will open in fall 2018.

“UCF has put forward a persuasive proposal, making the case that this project will create a pathway to success for our students and good return on investment for our state,” said Board of Governors Chair Tom Kuntz. “Our Board has asked good questions and done its due diligence, and UCF has responded to our concerns by making the project stronger.”

UCF Board of Trustees Chairman Marcos Marchena praised the campus’ impact on the quality of education through students’ proximity to internships and field-related work downtown, which he said gives them a “leg up” on job opportunities after graduation. He also lauded how the campus will bring higher education closer to students in a traditionally underserved area.

“I grow more convinced as I get older that education is one of the few real ways to change the life of an individual, of a family, and in fact of an entire community,” he said. “I believe this campus has the potential for creating that kind of change.”

Students will be able to take classes at Valencia College and UCF on the same campus, which can save them thousands of dollars compared with the cost of enrolling only at a state university.

“For me and many of my peers, every dollar matters – and this model is an exciting way to become a UCF Knight even more affordably, in a professionally focused environment. It’s a win-win,” said Student Government Association President Cait Zona, who also noted that many students already live, work and volunteer in downtown Orlando.

UCF Downtown will be built on a portion of the Creative Village, a 68-acre parcel in the Parramore community that was cleared for redevelopment when Orlando’s old NBA arena was torn down.

UCF Downtown will offer students an innovative learning environment within walking distance of a wide array of internship and job opportunities in fields such as digital media, communication, public service and health-related programs.

“This project best aligns academic offerings with industry needs and neighborhood synergies,” said UCF Provost and Executive Vice President Dale Whittaker. “And it provides our students with hands-on, high-impact learning experiences in a way that is just not possible on our main campus.”

During the past two months, several community partners have contributed to UCF Downtown.

On Tuesday, Dr. Phillips Charities announced a $3 million donation. The Orlando Magic, CFE Federal Credit Union and Florida Hospital each pledged $1.5 million. ����ֱ�� leaders and board members have made personal contributions totaling more than $1 million. Orange County commissioners voted unanimously to contribute $3 million, and Valencia College will contribute $2 million.

Other contributors to the campus include Creative Village Development, Orlando philanthropist Alan Ginsburg, Orlando City Soccer Club, CNL Financial Group, Universal Orlando Foundation and Universal Orlando Resort, Dr. Bruce Douglas of Winter Park, and Coca-Cola.

Additionally, the value of in-kind contributions of land and infrastructure by the City of Orlando and the developers of Creative Village is approximately $75 million.

UCF will share the campus with Valencia College, which will offer programs in digital media, health information technology and culinary and hospitality, including workforce training and other certificates to increase access to education in the immediate downtown area.

“We believe we have the most powerful partnership in higher education here in Orlando,” Valencia President Sandy Shugart said of the relationship between UCF and Valencia. “This project is the next step in realizing that vision fully.”

The new academic building at UCF Downtown will complement a renovated Center for Emerging Media building where UCF’s nationally ranked graduate video gaming school, the Florida Interactive Entertainment Academy, is located.

The 12th annual list is made up of leaders in politics, business, education, sports, health, philanthropy and other fields.

UCF President John C. Hitt earned the No. 4 ranking, following Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer; attorney, businessman and philanthropist John Morgan; and Lars Houman, president and CEO of Florida Hospital and Florida Division Adventist Health System.

Under Hitt, who has been president since 1992, UCF has become the nation’s second largest university with about 61,000 students. The magazine praised Hitt for leading the effort in October of breaking ground with industry and government partners on the Florida Advanced Manufacturing Research Center in Osceola County, a $270 million project to develop sensors for assorted electronic devices. Hitt also received the Historical Society of Central Florida’s 2015 John Young History Maker Award for lifetime achievements making a historic impact on the community.

Others with UCF roles named to the list were:

In addition to alumni Martins and Marchena (College of Sciences, UCF Class of 1982) several other UCF graduates are on the top-50 list:

The 11th annual list in the magazine’s July edition represents the region’s political leaders, educators, business owners, tourism officials and others who lead and inspire.

UCF President John C. Hitt earned the No. 4 ranking. The top three names on the list are Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer, attorney and businessman John Morgan, and Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs.

Hitt, UCF’s president since 1992, leads the nation’s second-largest university with nearly 60,000 students. The magazine praised the development of high-tech and research areas at UCF, as well as the creation of the Blackstone LaunchPad to help students develop entrepreneurial ideas into successful businesses.

Others with UCF roles who were named to the list are:

In addition to Martins, Marchena (College of Sciences, UCF Class of 1982) and Atchison (College of Business Administration, ‘92), there are five other UCF alumni on the top-50 list:

A separate list in the Orlando article includes 12 people to watch in the coming years, including these UCF graduates:

Walt Disney World Resort President Meg Crofton, local attorney Marcos Marchena and veteran investment manager Robert A. Garvy are the newest members of the ����ֱ��’s Board of Trustees.

Crofton, Marchena and Garvy were appointed to UCF’s 13-member board by the Board of Governors of the State ����ֱ�� System.

In her 30 years at Disney, Crofton has held a wide range of executive leadership roles and led an international task force responsible for opening six resort hotels at Disneyland Resort Paris.

As resort president, Crofton oversees a workforce of more than 62,000 cast members. She also is a member of the Metro Orlando Economic Development Commission and served as its chair in 2009-2010.

Marchena is a UCF alumnus and vice chair of the UCF Foundation Board of Directors. A senior partner and president of the law firm of Marchena and Graham, P.A., he serves as general counsel for the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority.

Marchena was chair of the Florida Transportation Commission from 2004 to 2010.

Garvy has more than 40 years of experience in investment management. As chairman and co-CEO of INTECH Investment Management LLC, he helped build INTECH from a single product company into a multi-product global venture.

Garvy previously was a senior vice president at the investment technology firm Wilshire Associates, where he co-founded the company’s consulting division and helped it grow nationally.

Crofton, Marchena and Garvy will replace trustees Rick Walsh, Tom Yochum and Daniel Webster. Crofton and Marchena will serve five-year terms. Garvy is taking over Webster’s seat and will serve for four years.

Walsh, who has served as the Board of Trustees chair, is a charter member of the board. He earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from UCF. He is president of the Knob Hill Group, a private development and strategic investment company. He formerly served as senior vice president for Corporate Affairs of Darden Restaurants Inc.

Yochum, the former BOT vice chair, is a charter member of the board, and he serves on the UCF Foundation Board of Directors. He is chairman of the board for Seaside National Bank & Trust and serves as the director of Community Services and Business Strategy for the Lowndes, Drosdick, Doster, Kantor & Reed law firm.

Webster is a veteran political leader who currently represents the 8th district of Florida in Congress. He served in Florida’s Senate and House of Representatives for 28 years, retiring in 2008 as the Senate Majority Leader.