Dr. John C. Hitt President - 21st Year at UCF President John C. Hitt loves Knights football. But there is more to know about the team’s No. 1 fan who has helped the University of Central Florida become one of the great success stories in American higher education.
Twenty Remarkable Years
Dr. Hitt celebrated his 20th anniversary at UCF in 2012, and he is the longest-serving public university president in Florida. Under his leadership: -enrollment has nearly tripled to exceed 59,000 students -UCF rose from the fifth-largest university in Florida to the largest, and from the 115th-largest university in the country to No. 2 in the nation -UCF sets new school records each year for the quality of its students, the number of transfer students it accepts from community and state colleges, and the number of degrees it awards -UCF produces more graduates than any other university in Florida.
More on President Hitt
-He grew up in Texas, and he was the first in his family to graduate from college. -He came to UCF after 19 years of administrative experience and a distinguished academic career at Tulane University, Texas Christian University, Bradley University, and the University of Maine. -He met his wife, the former Martha Halsted, at Austin College in Texas, where he played football as an offensive lineman. -The Hitts celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary last year. -They have two children and two grandchildren.
His Five Key Goals
Much of UCF’s success during President Hitt’s tenure relates to the steady pursuit of the five key goals that he established in 1992. -Offer the best undergraduate education available in Florida. -Achieve international prominence in key programs of graduate study and research. -Provide international focus to our curricula and research programs. -Become more inclusive and diverse. -Be America’s leading partnership university.
A Winning Approach
Many of UCF’s signature achievements result from partnerships. UCF combines its resources with others in government, business, and philanthropy to create mutually beneficial facilities and programs. Those include: -the UCF College of Medicine at Lake Nona, which anchors a medical city projected to generate up to 30,000 jobs by the end of 2017 -the Florida Interactive Entertainment Academy, recognized as one of North America’s leading graduate video game programs -the UCF Institute for Simulation and Training, a world leader in developing simulation for training in the military, health care, and elsewhere -the Florida High Tech Corridor, which connects businesses with top student and faculty talent from UCF, the University of South Florida, and the University of Florida to drive high-tech jobs in 23 Central Florida counties.
Athletics Thrive
Dr. John C. Hitt
President Hitt’s years at UCF coincide with the great advances in Knights athletics, including: -completion of the 45,000-seat Bright House Networks Stadium, the 10,000-seat UCF Arena, and the Nicholson Fieldhouse, the only indoor practice facility for a Division 1 football program in Florida -graduation of UCF football from Division I-AA to Division 1 and Conference USA -ascent of all UCF athletic teams to the BIG EAST Conference starting in 2013-14, bringing unprecedented national exposure to the university and more marquee matchups to Knights fans.
Go Knights!
The president’s team approach to tackling opportunities, challenges, and problems has taken UCF from promise to prominence – and it has earned him and the university many accolades. -President Hitt has twice ranked No. 1 on Orlando Magazine’s list of Orlando’s 50 Most Powerful People, and he also earned the Orlando Sentinel’s Central Floridian of the Year award. -UCF is the No. 4 “up and coming” school in the country in the U.S. News & World Report 2012 best colleges ranking. -The Carnegie Foundation designated UCF as a “very high research activity” institution, Carnegie’s highest ranking. -Kiplinger and The Princeton Review have recognized a UCF education as one of the best values in the country.
John and Martha Hitt
2012 UCF Football Yearbook
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