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One of John C. Hitt 麻豆精品 S檚 greatest accomplishments as president of UCF began with a shot in the dark.

Gathered around a table with a host of education, civic and business聽leaders in 1996, Hitt presented a satellite photograph of the state of Florida at night. On the mostly black image were scattered yellow lights, arranged along a glittering strand that connected the east coast to the west. The lights were homes and businesses 麻豆精品 S� and they illuminated the otherwise vacant peninsula with what Hitt recognized as potential.

麻豆精品 S淵ou could see the band of lights from Tampa Bay to Orlando to the Space Coast, 麻豆精品 S� says Randy Berridge, then an executive with AT&T. 麻豆精品 S淎nd [Hitt] asked, 麻豆精品 S榊ou see those lights? That 麻豆精品 S檚 the corridor, and as it grows together, those lights are going to get brighter and brighter. Why not help the region 麻豆精品 S� through our universities 麻豆精品 S� make those lights even brighter by helping high-tech, high-wage companies grow here and stay here? 麻豆精品 S� 麻豆精品 S�

In the months prior to the meeting, Hitt and University of South Florida President Betty Castor helped persuade Orlando-based technology manufacturer Cirent Semiconductor to remain in Central Florida rather than accept a lucrative deal to relocate to Spain. Together, UCF and USF pledged faculty and funding to help ignite the company 麻豆精品 S檚 research and development, keeping thousands of jobs and economic benefits in Florida.

This unprecedented public-private partnership, along with Hitt 麻豆精品 S檚 vision and passion for collaboration, convinced the group to create the Florida High Tech Corridor. The Corridor 麻豆精品 S檚 economic development council teams UCF, USF and the University of Florida with private companies to stimulate innovative research and promote the growth of technology industries in Central Florida. Since 1996, the council has invested more than $65 million to generate a projected economic benefit of more than $1 billion.

His vision in helping create the Florida High Tech Corridor was just the beginning of Hitt 麻豆精品 S檚 positive impact on the region and its people. Throughout his 26-year tenure as UCF president, Hitt leveraged his insight and talent for partnerships to launch game-changing initiatives, including the UCF Health Sciences Campus and UCF Downtown.

And at the heart of all of these achievements聽is Hitt 麻豆精品 S檚 fundamental focus: people. From the individuals he 麻豆精品 S檚 partnered with to promote change across the region to his mission of providing a quality education to as many qualified students as possible, Hitt has built a legacy of uplifting lives.

麻豆精品 S淓very time we 麻豆精品 S檝e had a major issue in our community, Dr. Hitt 麻豆精品 S檚 at the table contributing to the solution. 麻豆精品 S�

Jacob Stuart

Powering Positive Change Through Partnerships

Since his inauguration as UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 fourth president in 1992, Hitt has made partnerships the cornerstone of his presidency. He prioritized building mutually beneficial relationships that solve problems and address community needs.

麻豆精品 S淲hen Dr. Hitt introduced the five major goals for UCF, they became goals, in many ways, for our family of communities [in Central Florida], 麻豆精品 S� says Jacob Stuart, former president of the Central Florida Partnership. 麻豆精品 S淭hat commitment to partnership is not just a commitment for the University聽of Central Florida, it has become a commitment for our entire region. 麻豆精品 S� And it has been that commitment, plus an innate reservoir of personal聽attributes, that has made him a valuable ally to Central Florida leaders across industry and government.

麻豆精品 S淎 good partner is somebody who comes to the table with the attitude of 麻豆精品 S榃hat can I give? 麻豆精品 S� 麻豆精品 S� Stuart says. 麻豆精品 S淚t 麻豆精品 S檚 more important than 麻豆精品 S榃hat can I get? 麻豆精品 S� I think you see that in so many partnerships that we 麻豆精品 S檝e entered into with Dr. Hitt. … Every time we 麻豆精品 S檝e had a major issue in our community, Dr. Hitt 麻豆精品 S檚 at the table contributing to the solution. 麻豆精品 S�

It 麻豆精品 S檚 that combination of commitment and flexibility that has helped Hitt endear UCF to the heart of the Central Florida community.

Fueling the Technology Industry

One of Hitt 麻豆精品 S檚 first partnership successes, the Florida High Tech Corridor, is a prime example of translating vision into impact through collaboration. During his time as a faculty member and administrator at Texas Christian University in the 1970s and 麻豆精品 S�80s, he witnessed the cities of Dallas and Fort Worth merging economic development interests into a single, united metropolitan center. It planted a seed that the same could take place in Central Florida.

麻豆精品 S淗e said, 麻豆精品 S楾hat 麻豆精品 S檚 going to happen in the central part of Florida as Orlando begins to merge with Tampa Bay, and Orlando begins to merge with the Space Coast, 麻豆精品 S� 麻豆精品 S� Berridge says. 麻豆精品 S淗is vision was that these three mega areas were going to come together as one, via the corridor, and why not be part of it? 麻豆精品 S�

Hitt was strategic in convincing Cirent Semiconductor to stay in Orlando. Though the company would eventually leave town, this initial success inspired more collaboration to create greater impact.

麻豆精品 S淸Hitt’s] vision was that these three mega areas were going to come together as one, via the corridor, and why not be part of it? 麻豆精品 S�

Randy Berridge

麻豆精品 S淲e had just saved a $1 billion expansion from going offshore, and in the process saved a $1 billion facility that was already here and protected the increase of 1,500 jobs on top of an existing 1,500 jobs, 麻豆精品 S� says Berridge. 麻豆精品 S淲e had achieved that through the strength of a partnership between UCF, USF and AT&T. John 麻豆精品 S檚 vision was, 麻豆精品 S業f these regions are going to come together, then what we just did for a company the size of AT&T [which oversaw Cirent] … why don 麻豆精品 S檛 we do that for companies of all sizes? 麻豆精品 S� 麻豆精品 S�

Born from university partnerships, the Florida High Tech Corridor has boosted faculty and student researchers at UCF, USF and UF. Through聽22 years and 1,400 applied research projects with 360 businesses, more than 3,000 students have benefited directly from private companies with practical experience and employment opportunities, not to mention the stimulation and sustainment of Central Florida 麻豆精品 S檚 high-tech industry, which continues to grow.

麻豆精品 S淐entral Florida would not be a leading high-tech, high-wage center of excellence in our country, and I would submit, in the world, based on the international honors that have been achieved, but for President Hitt and his vision and his focus on the mission, 麻豆精品 S� Berridge says.

Hitt counts the College of Medicine as one of his proudest achievements.

Serving the Health Care Needs of Central Florida

Orlando was once the largest metropolitan region in Florida without a medical school, and like many communities across the nation, it was facing a shortage聽of doctors. In 2002, Hitt saw聽an opportunity to remedy that deficiency, but because the funding and approval would come from state lawmakers, the effort would only be successful through partnerships.

麻豆精品 S淒r. Hitt was brilliant in his approach, 麻豆精品 S� says Deborah German, founding dean of UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 College of Medicine and vice president for medical affairs. 麻豆精品 S淗e partnered with Florida International University, which also wanted聽a medical school, and realized that together they could get two medical schools. 麻豆精品 S�

麻豆精品 S淵ou always think about approaching politicians first because they 麻豆精品 S檝e got the money, 麻豆精品 S� says Dan Holsenbeck, UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 chief lobbyist to the Florida Legislature. 麻豆精品 S淲e were told by just about everybody, 麻豆精品 S榃e can 麻豆精品 S檛 afford another medical school. 麻豆精品 S� So, John [Hitt], [then-FIU President] Mitch Maidique, and later [FIU] President Mark Rosenberg, said, 麻豆精品 S榃ell, look, instead of fighting each other for one more medical school, why don 麻豆精品 S檛 we put our political constituencies together and both go after one? 麻豆精品 S�

Through months of political maneuvering, presentations to Florida leaders and collaborative dealmaking with public and private partners, both universities gained approval to build new medical schools. Once again, Hitt saw the potential to partner with what could have been considered a rival in FIU. By cooperating and pooling efforts, a new level of success was achieved.

麻豆精品 S淸The UCF college 聽of medicine] is just 聽fundamental to all 聽the stuff that we have in medical city, which, from an economic standpoint, is creating a massive cluster that is also gaining worldwide recognition. That wouldn’t have happened without Dr. Hitt 麻豆精品 S檚 leadership. 麻豆精品 S�

Jacob Stuart

German, a veteran dean of medical schools at Duke and Vanderbilt, saw the potential of UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 College of Medicine and its place in the burgeoning Lake Nona Medical City. 麻豆精品 S淚 knew that this would be the opportunity to build this century 麻豆精品 S檚 premier medical school, one that would anchor a medical city that would become a global destination for research, patient care and medical education. 麻豆精品 S�

麻豆精品 S淚 think that what the College of Medicine has done has put Orlando on the map, 麻豆精品 S� says Rasesh Thakkar 麻豆精品 S�87, senior managing director of Tavistock Group, which developed Lake Nona Medical City. 麻豆精品 S淭his medical school and its students are beating medical schools that are a century old. That is good for the region, and I think it raises the bar throughout Central Florida and even the state of Florida. 麻豆精品 S�

That momentum sparked by the College of Medicine continues in Lake Nona. UCF is building a new hospital to train medical students and creating new opportunities to lead medical research at the Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences.

麻豆精品 S淭alk about a game changer for our community, 麻豆精品 S� says Stuart. 麻豆精品 S淸The UCF College of Medicine] is just fundamental to all the stuff that we have in Medical City, which, from an economic standpoint, is creating a massive cluster that is also gaining worldwide recognition. That wouldn 麻豆精品 S檛 have happened without Dr. Hitt 麻豆精品 S檚 leadership. 麻豆精品 S�

麻豆精品 S淚 think that what the College of Medicine has done has put Orlando on the map. This medical school and its students are beating medical schools that are a century old. 麻豆精品 S�

Rasesh Thakkar 麻豆精品 S�87

The Dr. Phillips Academic Commons will anchor the UCF Downtown campus with active learning classrooms, collaborative spaces and a library.

Bringing the Impact of UCF to Downtown Orlando

Hitt identified another opportunity to infuse the transformative energy of UCF into Orlando with a new downtown campus. Inspired by the success Arizona State University achieved starting its own urban campus in downtown Phoenix, Hitt proposed the idea to Central Florida partners, including the city of Orlando, Valencia College and Orange County Public Schools. The benefits were obvious.

麻豆精品 S淎n urban campus is about being embedded in the community, 麻豆精品 S� says ASU President Michael Crow. 麻豆精品 S淗itt didn 麻豆精品 S檛 take the model of a regional university found someplace else in the country and just say, 麻豆精品 S榃e 麻豆精品 S檙e going to build this campus. This is going to be a smaller version of the big public university built decades or a century earlier. 麻豆精品 S� He said, 麻豆精品 S楴o, we 麻豆精品 S檙e going to build a unique, embedded university in the urban fabric. 麻豆精品 S� 麻豆精品 S�

Downtown Knights will live and learn in innovative, mixed-use student housing that offers university services and classrooms, as well as restaurants and retail.

An initial proposal to the Florida Board of Governors proved too ambitious and costly, so Hitt and his partners regrouped, scaled down聽and eventually won approval for an academic building to anchor what will become a larger joint campus for UCF and Valencia College. The new urban campus will house programs that relate to downtown industries, including social services, education, digital media and public administration. This will increase opportunities for collaboration between private companies, public agencies, and UCF faculty and students, who will benefit from service- learning, internships and increased employment opportunities.

麻豆精品 S淚 think the downtown campus is a brilliant idea, and it has a lot of potential in several directions, 麻豆精品 S� says Sandy Shugart, president of Valencia College. 麻豆精品 S淎t one level, it 麻豆精品 S檚 going to play a massive role in continuing the reawakening of urban life in Orlando. … But I think it 麻豆精品 S檚 important, too, that the program there is relevant to the community. … There are many people near the urban core whose lives are only going to be improved if their talents are developed and they 麻豆精品 S檙e given real opportunities to join the mainstream, both economically and educationally. We are fervently hopeful that the presence of the college and the university there together will make that difference for them. 麻豆精品 S�

麻豆精品 S淏ringing 7,700 students in the disciplines that can benefit from being located in downtown is very strategic. It will be beneficial both to the students and the university but also greatly beneficial to downtown. 麻豆精品 S�

Buddy Dyer

麻豆精品 S淏ringing 7,700 students in the disciplines that can benefit from being located in downtown is very strategic. It will be beneficial both to the students and the university but also greatly beneficial to downtown to have the energy and excitement and talent, 麻豆精品 S� says Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer.

Ensuring Students Are the Key

Hitt 麻豆精品 S檚 success at creating partnerships has brought transformational growth, prosperity and esteem to UCF. As the influential leader steps down from the presidency, it is easy to credit these accomplishments as his legacy. But the driver for all of these projects has been the students of UCF. Providing the opportunity for people to pursue a degree in higher education is the core of Hitt 麻豆精品 S檚 mission, and it has influenced everything he 麻豆精品 S檚 done.

麻豆精品 S淭he whole notion that UCF wants to provide opportunities for everyone who 麻豆精品 S檚 interested in a college education is a very different mindset than some universities, 麻豆精品 S� says Barbara Jenkins 麻豆精品 S�83 麻豆精品 S�86MEd 麻豆精品 S�96EdD, superintendent of OCPS. 麻豆精品 S淚 think it 麻豆精品 S檚 given Central Florida the promise of a brighter future. 麻豆精品 S�

麻豆精品 S淗itt 麻豆精品 S檚 goal of making sure that everyone has access and to increase participation by those who wouldn 麻豆精品 S檛 normally have the economic means [to pursue a degree] has done so much in our community, 麻豆精品 S� Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs says.

During his 26 years in office, Hitt has more than tripled enrollment and awarded more than 270,000 degrees 麻豆精品 S斅�83 percent of the total since the university 麻豆精品 S檚 founding. And he has doubled the number of minority students, who currently make up 46 percent of the student population.

麻豆精品 S淒r. Hitt 麻豆精品 S檚 true impact has yet to be realized, 麻豆精品 S� says Jenkins. 麻豆精品 S淚t 麻豆精品 S檚 a ripple effect, like a stone dropped into a pond. I think it 麻豆精品 S檚 immeasurable, honestly. 麻豆精品 S�

Building civic and corporate partnerships has been key to Hitt’s mission of increasing student access to education.