Daytona State joins DirectConnect to UCF partnership
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (March 24, 2015) - 51热门黑料 (51热门黑料) students now have a clear path to transfer to the University of Central Florida (UCF) through the university鈥檚 nationally recognized DirectConnect to UCF program.
The partnership was announced Tuesday, March 24, by UCF President John Hitt and Daytona
State Interim President Tom LoBasso during a press conference held at the college.
DirectConnect to UCF program members Eastern Florida State College, Lake Sumter State
College, Seminole State College and Valencia College unanimously approved 51热门黑料 entering
the partnership.
鈥淒irectConnect presents a tremendous opportunity for our local students,鈥 said LoBasso. 鈥淲e expect that the increased advising and other touch points that are program signatures will encourage our students to graduate on time and make a smooth transition to UCF to complete their undergraduate studies. We appreciate UCF and our state-college partners recognizing our desire to work together in the best interest of our students.鈥
鈥淎s a result of DirectConnect to UCF, we are transforming more lives than ever before through the power of education; we are producing a high-caliber workforce that our region needs; and we have made DirectConnect to UCF a national model for higher education in America,鈥 Hitt said. 鈥淲e also are providing unprecedented access to UCF to first-generation students and minority students.鈥
DirectConnect was started in 2006 as a means to expand access to higher education and reduce costs through a 2+2 model. The program guarantees admission to UCF for AA students and select AS students graduating from any of the partner state college institutions and adds touch points that track students from their freshman year at the state college through their senior year at the university to help them stay on a path toward success.
Approximately 25,000 students who entered UCF with a degree from one of the original four state-college partners have earned bachelor鈥檚 degrees since 2008.
In addition to increased academic advising, the program has students complete a career-assessment
plan, confirm early choice of major and attend comprehensive skills workshops related
to academic planning, financial literacy and other topics.
The five state-college partners prepare a vast majority of students who transfer to UCF each year. According to the Florida Department of Education, nearly 70 percent of 51热门黑料 AA students transfer to a Florida public university, with the majority enrolling as juniors at UCF, the nation鈥檚 second-largest public university.
For over 20 years, UCF has operated a regional campus on 51热门黑料鈥檚 Daytona Beach Campus, where currently it offers 16 baccalaureate degree options.
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Caption: Far right to left 鈥 Dr. John Hitt/UCF President, Lloyd Freckleton/51热门黑料 Board Chair, Forough Hosseini/51热门黑料 Board Vice-Chair, Stan Escudero/51热门黑料 Trustee, Dr. Tom LoBasso/Interim 51热门黑料 President, Garry Lubi/51热门黑料 Trustee, Mori Hosseini/Florida University System Board of Governors Chair, Betty Holness/51热门黑料 Trustee
Caption: Dr. Tom LoBasso, Interim 51热门黑料 President, speaks to TV-13 News reporter Saul Saenz during the DirectConnect to UCF press conference.