THE UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL FLORIDA
Orlando, Florida

This page had been developed to provide partners and interested parties with an overview of the UCF housing operation, both on and off-campus. Please select a link below to jump to a specific section. Additional information can be found in the additional resources section.

Introduction to UCF History of UCF Introduction to Housing Housing Facilities Capital Improvement Plan Historical Bond Issue Information Fall Semester Occupancy Statistics

Payment and Collection Historical Collection rates Housing Rental Rates Other On Campus Housing Off Campus Student Housing Additional Off-Campus Housing Facilities Other Resources

Introduction to UCF

The University of Central Florida (the "University"), a member of the State University System of Florida, was authorized by the Florida Legislature in 1963 and began operations in 1968 as Florida Technological University. The name was subsequently changed by action of the Legislature on December 6, 1978. The University has become one of the fastest growing schools in the State University System of Florida due to the rapid growth of the Orlando area.

The University is a comprehensive, metropolitan university with an enrollment of approximately 47,000 students, offering more than 219 bachelor and advanced degree programs through the colleges of Arts and Sciences, Business Administration, Education, Engineering and Computer Science, Health and Public Affairs, College of Optics and Photonics, and Rosen College of Hospitality Management, Burnett Honors College and Burnett College of Biomedical Sciences. The institution serves central Florida and other regions within the State from its main Orlando campus and area campuses in Cocoa , Daytona Beach , South Orlando , and Clermont. The University also operates an academic center located in downtown Orlando .

The University is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees in various academic disciplines. The University offers educational and research programs in diverse fields including engineering, business, education, humanities and natural and social sciences, health, and tourism. The University of Central Florida 's programs in communications and the fine arts help to meet the cultural and entertainment needs of a growing metropolitan area.

History

During the early 1960's, central Florida was on the brink of major growth. President John F. Kennedy's objective of landing Americans on the moon resulted in a greatly increased work force at the nearby space center. The Martin Company and other major firms in the area requested additional educational facilities to provide a variety of courses for their employees. Educators, legislators and private citizens actively worked for a new university to serve the expanding central Florida area. On July 10, 1963, Governor Farris Bryant signed a bill to establish a State university in the east central part of Florida . In early 1964, following tours of prospective sites, it was decided to locate the institution on 1,227 acres northeast of Orlando . Classes began on October 7, 1968 with an enrollment of 1,948 students. Within a decade, the scope and mission of the University had expanded, and a new name was sought to more accurately reflect the changing role of the University in the central Florida area. As a result, Florida Technological University became the University of Central Florida .

During the next ten years, central Florida 's growth mushroomed with a continual influx of new residents and new industry. New academic programs were added at the University and the first doctorate program (in computer science) was approved in 1981. Financial support from the community continued to increase and the first $1 million endowed chair became reality in November 1980. The Phillips-Schenck Chair in American Private Enterprise was followed in early 1983 by the Charles N. Millican Chair in Computer Science and the Alice and William Jenkins Chair in Community Arts in 1986. There have been commitments to fund additional endowed chairs in optical science and engineering, business administration, banking, accounting, restaurant management, nursing education, and science and math education.

In 1981, the University participated in the acquisition and initial development of 1,400 acres contiguous to the campus for the Central Florida Research Park (hereinafter referred to as the "Research Park"). The first of its kind in the State, the Research Park is a cooperative effort between the University of Central Florida and Orange County . The objective of the Research Park is to encourage and promote the establishment of research and development activity while combining the resources of institutions of higher learning, private sector enterprise involved in pure or applied research and State or federal governmental agency research.

The Central Florida Research Park has become the nucleus of a strong partnership between applied science and University researchers. Currently, companies located in the Research Park are pursuing activities that include simulation and training, lasers, optical fibers, behavioral sciences, diagnostic test equipment and cancer research. Over 9,000 people, including employees of private companies and students and faculty from the University, work in the Research Park , generating an annual payroll of $520 million.

Today, the University is a self-contained city with its own utility plant, dining facilities, retail stores, residence halls, police department and zip code. The campus and its buildings are valued at approximately $810 million on a replacement cost basis. Numerous construction projects are scheduled to be completed within the next six years and include the Brighthouse networks stadium, the psychology building, a physical sciences building, a VCC/UCF joint facility, the Arts II Complex, Engineering Bldg. I Renovation, Humanities and Social Science, Education III and Business Admin III.

With a continuing emphasis on quality education, the University is attracting an increasing number of top high school students with its innovative and nationally recognized curriculum.

Introduction to Housing

The University's Housing System is run by the Department of Housing and Residence Life Limited on-campus housing is currently available at the University's main campus in Orlando. Approximately 12% of the students enrolled at the University can be accommodated in on-campus housing facilities, with an additional 400 students living in fraternity and sorority-owned housing and 13 students living in an on-campus scholarship house. The University owns 16 residence halls and 27 apartment buildings with a total of 6500 bed spaces for students. Additionally, accommodations are provided for almost 200 student staff members.

Housing Facilities

The current capacity of the on-campus housing facilities comprising the Housing System is approximately 3,582. The University's first housing project was opened in the fall of 1968. This project has a capacity of 419 student spaces and consists of four residence halls (Volusia, Lake, Osceola and Polk Halls) that are two-story structures with suite style living units. Each suite consists of two double rooms, a common living area and bath, and in some cases an additional single room.

The second housing project was built in 1980 with a capacity of 429 student spaces. It consists of three residence halls (Orange, Seminole and Brevard) and a commons building. Orange and Seminole Halls are four-story buildings with Brevard Hall being a three-story building. All rooms in this area are suite style with two double rooms sharing one bathroom. These facilities are used for temporary tripling in the fall.

In 1994, the on-campus housing options for students were further diversified by the opening of a student apartment facility, the Lake Claire Courtyard Apartments. This facility, which consists of 15 three-story buildings with a capacity of 682 student beds and a commons building, is designed to meet the needs of single, upper level undergraduates and graduate students. Aside from offering cooking facilities, which the residence halls do not have, each apartment has four single bedrooms, two bathrooms, and a living room.

In 1998, a project consisting of three four-story residence halls (Sumter, Flagler and Citrus) was constructed with a capacity of 580 student spaces. Sumter and Flagler Halls were opened in spring 1999 and Citrus in summer 1999. This project was designed to address the continued demand to house lower level undergraduates on campus and offers a suite style plan, configured around a common lounge/study space. All rooms are double occupancy with four students sharing a bathroom.

The most recently completed projects within the Housing System were built in 2001 and 2002. The Academic Village consists of six residence halls (double occupancy suite-style rooms) with a capacity of 904 student spaces, and eight apartment buildings (single occupancy rooms with shared kitchen and baths) with a capacity of 696 student spaces for a total capacity of 1,600 students. The Academic Village is adjacent to the recreational fields and the new Recreational and Wellness Center. It also has classroom space, multipurpose/activity rooms, vending areas, laundry rooms, and office space for hall government and housing support staff.

Outlined below is a description of the residence halls and apartments currently comprising the Housing System.

Facility Name	Year Opened	Square Footage	Student Capacity
Volusia Hall	1968	24,456	106
Lake Hall	1968	24,456	106
Osceola Hall	1968	24,456	101
Polk Hall	1968	24,456	106
Brevard Hall	1980	27,926	118
Orange Hall	1980	37,241	153
Seminole Hall	1980	37,241	158
Lake Claire Courtyard Apts. (15 units)	1994	219,780	682
Sumter Hall	1999	59,200	224
Flagler Hall	1999	59,200	224
Citrus Hall	1999	37,100	112
Academic Village Phase I	2001	239,006	800
Academic Village Phase II	2002	239,006	800

Capital Improvement Plan

The process for developing capital improvement plans for the housing system starts with an on-going awareness of demand for housing on the part of the Department staff. When the Department recognizes that demand for on-campus housing exists beyond the University's capacity, that demand is discussed with the President and the appropriate members of the President's staff. The discussions include the extent of the demand, an assessment of the long term nature of the demand, the availability of off- campus housing, the future growth of the University, the financial ramifications of building additional housing, and the impact of additional housing on academic programs, student development, retention rates, alumni development and land utilization on the campus. After these discussions take place, if the determination is made that additional housing is needed, then a program is developed and the requisite approval to proceed is sought.

Historical Bond Issue Information

• DRC (Dormitory Revenue Certificate), Series 1968 was issued to construct the Apollo Community. This bond issue was refinanced with the construction of the Lake Claire Courtyard Apartments. This bond issue has been retired.
• DRC, Series 1980 was issued to construct the first phase (Brevard, Orange, and Seminole Halls) in the Libra Community. This bond issue was refinanced with the construction of the Lake Claire Courtyard Apartments and will be retired in 2012.
• SAFRB (Student Apartment Facility Revenue Bonds), Series 1992 was issued to construct Lake Claire Courtyard Apartments. This bond issue was refinanced in 2002 with the issuance of HRRB (Housing Revenue Refunding Bonds), Series 2002. This issue will be retired in 2021.
• HRB (Housing Revenue Bonds), Series 1996 was issued to construct the second phase (Citrus, Sumter, and Flagler Halls) of the Libra Community. This issue will be retired in 2027.
• HRB, Series 1999 was issued to construct the first phase of the Academic Villages. This issue will be retired in 2030.
• HRB, Series 2000 was issued to construct the first phase of the Academic Villages. This issue will be retired in 2031.
• HRRB, Series 2002 was issued to refinance DRC, Series 1980 and SAFRB, Series 1992.

The chart below indicates the occupancy rates as compared to the capacity of University housing facilities for the past five years. The occupancy figures represent the fall occupancy numbers after accounting for individuals who failed to claim their housing reservation.

Fall Semester Occupancy Statistics

Year	Main Campus FTEs 1	Student Capacity 2	Student Occupancy 3	Occupancy as % of Capacity	Temporary Spaces 4	Fall Waiting List 5	Rejected Housing Applications 6	% of FTEs Residing On Campus
2001-02	22,865	2,890	2,919	101%	29	733	522	12.8%
2002-03	25,681	3,690	3,720	101%	30	355	406	14.5%
2003-04	27,057	3,690	3,634	98.4%	0	897	49	13.4%
2004-05	33,819	3,582	3,671	102.5%	89	772	68	10.9%
2005-06	35,112	3,582	3,619	101%	37	324	27	10.3%

1 Represents the full-time equivalent enrollment figures for the University of Central Florida's main campus located in Orlando, Florida.

2 Represents the number of permanent on-campus student housing beds that are available for use on the University's main campus. The Increase in capacity shown for Fiscal Year 2002-03 is due to the opening of Phase II of the Academic Village. The slight reduction in capacity in 2004-05 was due to the closure of one dormitory for renovations.

3 The altered capacity was achieved by the tripling of double rooms.

4 Represents students who were placed in temporary triple rooms. These students had requested a double occupancy room but chose to remain on campus in triple rooms.

5 Number of fall applications with a prepayment that were accepted beyond capacity and which were not canceled by the student or placed in housing.

6 Approximate number of fall applications that were returned to students unprocessed. These students were advised by letter that on-campus housing would not be available for the academic year.

Payment and Collection

Students pay a $100 application fee that is subsequently applied to their first semester's rent. The balance of the room charge for the fall semester is due by August 2nd. Spring and summer semester housing payments are due in full on December 6th and May 3rd of each year, respectively.

The Department works to assist students who receive financial aid, scholarships, or are having financial difficulty. After the $100 application fee is paid, students receiving financial aid and scholarships may defer their housing payment until receiving the financial aid award. Through the net-check system, the Department automatically receives payment for housing accommodations after tuition is paid from the financial aid disbursement. The following table provides information relating to the number of collections generated through the net-check system for the past five years.

  Historical Collection Rates

Year	Collection Rate
2001-02	99.9%
2002-03	99.9%
2003-04	99.9%
2004-05	99.9%
2005-06	99.9%

Housing Rental Rates

Rental rates are reviewed during the spring semester of each year to determine if they will generate sufficient revenue to provide for the operation of the Housing System. If there is a projected deficit, the rental rates will be adjusted accordingly. Once the proposed rental rates are established, the Director of the Department meets with student groups to discuss the proposed rental rates. Upon reaching an agreement, the proposed rental rates are submitted to the University President for review and to University Board of Trustees for final approval.

The following table shows historical and projected rental rates for the accommodations available to students in the Housing System. The projected rental rates are for illustration only, and management of the University makes no representation as to whether any rental rate increases will be made in the future. Rental rate increases are based on annual market surveys and needs analysis.

Semester Rental Rates Per Student

(Fall and Spring Semesters only)

	Historical Fall Semester Rates					Projected Fall Semester Rates*
Description	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007	2008	2009	2010	2011
Double Occupancy
Lake, Vousia, Osceola, Polk	1750	1850	1900	1960	2025	2085	2148	2212	2278	2347
Brevard, Orange, Seminole	1775	1900	1950	2150	2240	2300	2369	2440	2513	2589
Citrus, Sumter, Flagler	1975	2100	2150	2150	2240	2300	2369	2440	2513	2589
Academic Village	2025	2150	2200	2270	2375	2450	2524	2599	2677	2757
Single Occupancy
Lake, Vousia, Osceola, Polk	1950	2100	2150	2215	2300	2370	2441	2514	2590	2667
Lake Claire Apts.	2125	2250	2300	2370	2475	2575	2652	2732	2814	2898
Academic Village apts (4/2)	2225	2400	2450	2525	2625	2700	2781	2864	2950	3039
Academic Village Apts (2/1)	2450	2625	2675	2755	2850	2925	3013	3103	3196	3292
Towers at Golden Knights Plaza						3010	3100	3193	3289	3388
Rosen Student Apts.						2775	2858	2944	3032	3123
* Rates based on 3% increase per year

 

* Rates provided for 2007-08 have already been approved. Projections based on a 3% increase per year.

Other On-Campus Student Housing

In addition to the student resident facilities that comprise the Housing System, there are four new student resident facilities with a total student resident capacity of 2,000. These facilities (Towers at Golden Knight Plaza) are located on the northeast side of the Orlando Campus near the new convocation center and opened the first phase in August 2006, completing full opening in Fall 2007.. The revenues received from these facilities are not pledged to the Outstanding Bonds or the 2007A Bonds.

The apartment style beds at the Towers at Golden Knight Plaza (convocation center project) offer an annual contract (11.5 month) and serve many special groups at the University including the Honors Program and several athletic teams. The average annual cost for 1 bed space is $8400. Leasing, marketing and student life services are provided by the Department.

392 student apartment bed spaces were opened on the Rosen College of Hospitality Management campus located appx. 25 miles south west of the main campus. The department provides leasing, marketing and student life services.

The University expects that the effect of the relationship with these apartments on the occupancy and operation of the Housing System will be negligible, if any.

Off Campus Student Housing

The University has conducted a survey of comparable off-campus housing facilities. The current off-campus average annual rental rate for a single bedroom in a four person apartment with phone service is $6,645, including utilities, plus an average of $323 in additional fees and deposits. The current average rental rate for an on-campus four bedroom apartment for an academic year (fall and spring) is $5,282 with no additional fees. A full summer term cost is $1,980.

Facility	Capacity	Type	Monthly Cost*	Annual Cost*	Furnished Services	Local Phone	Add'l Fees	Current Occupancy
Boardwalk	480	4BR/4BA	$605	$7,260	Yes	Yes	$360	100%
College Station	405	4BR/4BA	$565	$6,780	Yes	Yes	$99	98%
Collegiate Village	655	Double	$525	$6,300	Yes	Yes	$150	100%
Gatherings	384	4BR/4BA	$500	$6,000	By Req	Yes	$375	95%
Pegasus Connection	930	4BR/2BA	$530	$6,360	Yes	Yes	$426	98%
Pegasus Pointe	1,224	4BR/2BA	$490	$5,880	Yes	Yes	$426	98%
Pegasus Landing	2,532	4BD/4BA	$525	$6,300	Yes	Yes	$426	99%
Northgate Lakes	710	4BD/4BA	$565	$6,780	Yes	Yes	$299	100%
Riverwind	440	4BD/4BA	$580	$6,960	Yes	Yes	$360	99%
University House	896	4BR/3+1/2BA	$565	$6,780	By Req	Yes	$100	96%
Village at Alafaya Club	840	4BD/4BA	$570	$6,840	Yes	Yes	$470	100%
Village at Science Dr.	732	4BD/4BA	$570	$6,840	Yes	Yes	$470	100%
The Lofts	730	4BD/4BA	$609	$7,308	Yes	Yes	245	99%

 

All rental rates shown above include local phone service and most include furnishings. Most properties require students to sign a 12-month individual lease at these off-campus apartment facilities, and damage deposit and additional fees are required. Since most freshmen go home for the summer, a 12-month lease represents three months of extra expense for many students. Pegasus Landing, Pegasus Pointe and Collegiate Village Inn are the only off-campus housing facilities that offers academic term leases.

University-owned housing facilities offer two types of accommodations that are comparable to off-campus facilities. The suite style double occupancy rooms are similar to those of the Collegiate Village Inn. There are also 11 privately owned apartment facilities that offer single room apartment style accommodations.

Collegiate Village Inn offers the same amenities as the University residence halls and is located approximately 1/4 mile from the main entrance of the University. The current rental rate is $2,520 per semester. The comparable average rental rate for a double occupancy room in university owned housing is $2,300.

The University affiliated with properties owned by the Capital Projects Finance Authority ("CPFA") in the fall of 2001. Pegasus Pointe (formerly Knight's Court) and Pegasus Landing (formerly Knight's Krossing) Apartments have a combined total of approximately 3,750 beds and encompass 80 acres of land. This transaction donated the land to the University of Central Florida Foundation, Inc. (the "Foundation"). The Foundation provides a ground lease to CPFA, a not-for-profit entity. Property management is provided by College Park Management, Inc. The University manages the student life aspects of the complexes. The residents are subject to the disciplinary code of the University and University student life activities take place at the complexes.

College Park Management, Inc. in conjunction with the University residence life staff, operates the property as an extension of the University's on-campus housing program. When the University's on-campus housing capacity is reached in a given year, or when students do not want to live on campus, students are referred to the Pegasus Pointe and Pegasus Landing properties. On an annual basis, property revenues in excess of expenses for operations and reserves are remitted to the Foundation. At the end of 30 years, the improvements on the properties will be gifted to the Foundation, unless the Foundation exercises an option to acquire the improvements at an earlier date.

Of the 3,750 beds in Pegasus Pointe and Pegasus Landing Apartments, approximately 85% are occupied by University students. The remaining 15% are occupied by students attending other schools. Housing at the two complexes will continue to be offered to students of other schools to the extent that it is not needed for University students.

The University expects that the effect of the affiliation with these apartments on the operation of the Housing System will be negligible, if any.

There are numerous other apartment facilities located within a ten mile radius of the campus; however, the ten facilities listed in the above table are the most frequently used by University students and were built to specifically target students of the University. The following is a survey of some of the other apartments located within ten miles of the University. Utilities, furnishings and local phone charges are not included in the rates shown. Seven or twelve-month leases are required at these facilities. 

Additional Off-Campus Housing Facilities

(Within Ten Miles of Campus)

Facility	Type of Accommodation	Monthly Cost
Addison Place	1 BR/1BA	$625
Alafaya Woods	2BR/2BA	$890
Arbour Village	2BR/2BA	$905
Chatham Landing	2BR/1BA & 2 BA	$925
Cranes Landing	2BR/2 BA	$925
Chickasaw Crossing	2BR/2BA	$935
Cypress Run	2BR/1BA & 2BA	$990-1010
Heather Glen	2BR/2BA	$920-970
Signal Pointe	2BR/2BA	$979
The Park	2BR/1BA & 2BA	990
Tivoli Apartments	1/1, 2/2, & 3/3	$1,000
University Walk Apts	2BR/2BA	$950
Valencia Forest	2BR/1BA & 2BA	$838

 

Other Resources:

UCF Assessment and Planning

http://uaps.ucf.edu/ - Enrollment projections and growth planning.

UCF Office of Institutional Research

http://iroffice.ucf.edu/ - Historical and current statistics about UCF.

UCF Purchasing Office

http://www.purchasing.ucf.edu/ - avenue through which all vendors enter the University.

UCF Finance and Accounting

http://www.fa.ucf.edu/ - University financial reports