Written by Chloe Begey.
UCF has met 12 of the 13 metric goals required for preeminence, President Alexander N. Cartwright announced to the Board of Trustees on Monday. This makes UCF the fifth Preeminent State Research University, the highest designation for Florida’s public universities.
To be preeminent is to be highly distinguished. The Florida Preeminence Program was established in 2013 to support the top public research universities by providing additional funding to those who meet 12 of the 13 metric standards. Metric goals include benchmarks for total research expenditures, graduation rates, national rankings, and average high school GPAs, SAT scores, and retention rates for the freshman class. UCF met its final benchmark by exceeding a four-year graduation rate of 60% with a rate of 63.8% following the summer commencement.
With the overarching goal to achieve preeminence by 2027, The Unleashing Potential Strategic Plan was created by President Cartwright and Board of Trustees Chair Alex Martins in 2022. The plan emphasised student success and well-being, discovery and exploration, community and culture, and innovation and sustainability. These efforts drove student success, allowing UCF to achieve preeminence two years earlier than projected.
“[Our] goal was not just about checking boxes,” Chair Martins said. “It was about proving that a young university without centuries of tradition or vast resources could stand shoulder to shoulder with Florida’s most established institutions while staying true to our mission of access, innovation, and excellence.”
Cartwright plans to put the additional funding towards a raise program for faculty and staff first.
“Preeminence isn’t about a title, it’s about what we can do with it,” Cartwright said. “We must invest in our people.”
For students, preeminence is more than just a title for UCF. Additional state funding will open new doors to scholarships, research, and experiential learning opportunities. Cartwright hopes for UCF to become a top 25 public research university next.
“By growing our fundraising campaign, expanding industry and corporate partnerships, and investing in research and faculty hiring, we can propel UCF into a top tier nationally,” Cartwright said.
Upon the Board of Governor’s verification of the 12 metrics, the UCF Board of Trustees will approve the metrics in April 2026. UCF will then be set for official certification and designation the following June. UCF will join the ranks of the University of Florida, Florida State University, University of South Florida, and Florida International University.
“These [metrics] are not just numbers. They are lives changed, opportunities created, and futures shaped,” Cartwright said. “They are proof that when knights refuse to wait their turn, greatness follows. Because at UCF, the future is not something we wait for. It is something we are bold enough to invent together.”
