{"id":149351,"date":"2025-10-20T13:28:09","date_gmt":"2025-10-20T17:28:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/news\/?p=149351"},"modified":"2025-10-21T09:27:29","modified_gmt":"2025-10-21T13:27:29","slug":"20-years-of-directconnect-to-ucf-making-college-possible-for-more-students","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/news\/20-years-of-directconnect-to-ucf-making-college-possible-for-more-students\/","title":{"rendered":"20 Years of DirectConnect to UCF: Making College Possible for More Students"},"content":{"rendered":"

When Hector Blanco Gavillan \u201918 \u201922MS<\/strong> first started thinking about college, he knew one thing for certain: he couldn\u2019t afford to leave home.<\/p>\n

\u201cI didn\u2019t apply to many schools because out-of-state or even dorm living just wasn\u2019t an option for me,\u201d says Blanco, a civil engineering<\/a> alum. \u201cI had to work, I had to stay close and I had to keep costs down.\u201d<\/p>\n

Blanco enrolled at Seminole State College in 2013. Like thousands of students before and after him, he discovered DirectConnect to UCF \u2014 a guaranteed admission pathway to the university for students who earn their associate degrees at partner state colleges. For Blanco, it was nothing short of a lifeline.<\/p>\n

\u201cDirectConnect to UCF gave me confidence,\u201d he says. \u201cI didn\u2019t have to worry if my credits would transfer or if I\u2019d be accepted. I knew I had a guaranteed pathway, and that let me focus on finishing my degree while balancing school and work.\u201d<\/p>\n

A National Model with Proven Impact<\/h2>\n

This year marks the 20th anniversary of DirectConnect to UCF, which began in 2005 with four partner colleges and has since expanded into a nationally recognized model for student success. In Fall 2025, Indian River State College became the seventh partner to join the consortium, which now includes College of Central Florida, Daytona State College, Eastern Florida State College, Lake-Sumter State College, Seminole State College and Valencia College.<\/p>\n

The premise is simple but powerful: earn your associate degree at one of the seven state colleges and you are guaranteed admission to UCF. Along the way, students benefit from cost savings by attending a state college \u2014 about 25% on average\u2014as well as personalized guidance from the DirectConnect to UCF Success Team.<\/p>\n

The impact is clear. Since its launch, more than 79,000 UCF degrees have been awarded to DirectConnect students. Each year, more than 5,000 more students take advantage of the program, improving access to higher education and fueling the region\u2019s workforce.<\/p>\n

“Opportunity should be within reach. DirectConnect to UCF provides students a guided path, dedicated support and the momentum they need to thrive at UCF,\u201d says Kim Hardy, assistant vice provost for UCF Connect.<\/p>\n

Kristina Lavallee \u201913<\/strong>, a Valencia transfer who went on to build a thriving business with her husband, Kirby, puts it this way: \u201cDirectConnect makes college possible for students who might not otherwise see it within reach. It takes away the unknowns.\u201d<\/p>\n

Many Students, One Path<\/h2>\n

The experiences of DirectConnect students are as varied as Central Florida itself. For Blanco Gavillan, the smaller class sizes at Seminole State provided the breathing room he needed to adjust to college life. For others, like Merritt Island, Florida, native Trevor Rigby \u201908<\/strong>, the program provided flexibility and options when his music career complicated his studies.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know if I ever would have graduated without DirectConnect,\u201d says Rigby, a music<\/a> alum. \u201cWith DirectConnect you can create a tangible plan. It\u2019s a map to see where you\u2019re going so you\u2019re not just wandering in the dark.\u201d<\/p>\n

For alumna Doris Vega Baez \u201909<\/strong>, DirectConnect\u2019s affordability and smooth transfer process made the difference between stopping at an associate degree and moving on to a career at a global firm.<\/p>\n

\u201cWithout it, I might have just done a certificate here or there,\u201d says Vega Baez, a management<\/a> grad. \u201cInstead, I have UCF on my resume and a career I love.\u201d<\/p>\n

A Promise for the Future<\/h2>\n

As the program celebrates 20 years, UCF and its partners see the addition of Indian River State College as a sign of what\u2019s to come: expanding access and opportunity with transfer student success.<\/p>\n

From first-generation students to working parents, from aspiring musicians to future business owners, DirectConnect to UCF has helped transform thousands of lives. And for students like Blanco, the message is simple.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you think college is out of reach, DirectConnect shows you it\u2019s not,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

As Knight Nation celebrates Transfer Student Success Week, the university also reaches a milestone with DirectConnect to UCF \u2014 a program that has empowered more than 79,000 students to earn high-quality degrees at a fraction of the cost.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":57,"featured_media":135968,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"lazy_load_responsive_images_disabled":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":"","_wp_rev_ctl_limit":""},"categories":[15992,5,6,27],"tags":[7309,973,1323,18102,202],"tu_author":[],"class_list":["post-149351","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-alumni","category-colleges","category-community","category-student-life","tag-college-of-business","tag-college-of-engineering-and-computer-science","tag-direct-connect-to-ucf","tag-student-success","tag-alumni"],"yoast_head":"\n20 Years of 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