Daytona State joins DirectConnect to UCF partnership

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (March 24, 2015) - Daytona State College (DSC) students now have a clear path to transfer to the University of Central Florida (UCF) through the university’s 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 DSC entering the partnership.

“DirectConnect presents a tremendous opportunity for our local students,” said LoBasso. “We 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.”

“As 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,” Hitt said. “We also are providing unprecedented access to UCF to first-generation students and minority students.”

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’s 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 DSC AA students transfer to a Florida public university, with the majority enrolling as juniors at UCF, the nation’s second-largest public university.

For over 20 years, UCF has operated a regional campus on DSC’s Daytona Beach Campus, where currently it offers 16 baccalaureate degree options.

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Caption: Far right to left – Dr. John Hitt/UCF President, Lloyd Freckleton/DSC Board Chair, Forough Hosseini/DSC Board Vice-Chair, Stan Escudero/DSC Trustee, Dr. Tom LoBasso/Interim DSC President, Garry Lubi/DSC Trustee, Mori Hosseini/Florida University System Board of Governors Chair, Betty Holness/DSC Trustee

Caption: Dr. Tom LoBasso, Interim DSC President, speaks to TV-13 News reporter Saul Saenz during the DirectConnect to UCF press conference.

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