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Dean's Note

As I reflect on the 2020-21 year and the many challenges it brought, the thought that keeps coming to me is: I am grateful to have thoughtful, innovative and dedicated colleagues. In the face of many obstacles brought upon us by COVID-19, Black Lives Matter protests, a heated national election and other stressful events, the faculty, staff and students of the UCF College of Arts and Humanities reminded me why we persist: for people.

That persistence has paid off. In the past year, we have seen success across the college. For instance:

  • We received approval to offer a new master's degree program in Themed Experience, a minor in Applied Linguistics and certificates in Interfaith Dialogue, Brazilian Studies and Russian as a Critical Language.
  • We welcomed speakers like Tayari Jones, April Baker-Bell, Guy Raffa and Danez Smith to our virtual campus.
  • We hosted a speaker series featuring arts and humanities faculty researchers.
  • One faculty member became a nationally syndicated columnist, another had his novel reviewed by the NY Times Book Review and one was awarded the Florida Prize in Contemporary Art.
  • We were even able to bring back UCF Celebrates the Arts — in person!

This year also marked the end of my first five-year term as dean of this college. I am pleased to report that the College of Arts and Humanities has made significant progress toward our goals over the last five years. Our students are achieving ever-higher levels of success, measured by our four-year graduation and retention rates. We have experienced record levels of fundraising and our plans for Phase Two of the Performing Arts Center have progressed to the point of hiring an architect for design. Research continues to grow, with this last year being the second highest award year in college history — during a pandemic, no less! Community-facing events and partnerships are flourishing. I am proud of the work we have accomplished and excited to continue in this role for a second term.

It is my wish that as we move forward, we remember the lessons we have learned this past year and incorporate them into our new routines. We have found new efficiencies, forged new relationships, and embraced new technologies. Let's take the best of what we’ve experienced and add it to the best of what we've always done, and above all, continue to take care of people.

Jeffrey Moore

Signature

Jeff Moore
Dean, UCF College of Arts and Humanities


Research

We will become the world’s leading public metropolitan research university, a top 50 public research university, determined to foster success for students of all backgrounds and to producing research and creative works that positively impacts lives in Central Florida and beyond.

Alexander Cartwright, UCF President
The College of Arts and Humanities greets President Cartwright’s challenge to be a top 50 public research university with a record of success. With awards from the National Endowment for the Humanities, National Endowment for the Arts, the National Science Foundation and more, arts and humanities faculty and staff are committed to deepening knowledge and understanding in their areas of expertise.

Creative activity is also flourishing. On average annually, the CAH faculty publishes approximately 25 books, 160 articles, 55 creative/editorial publications and 15 music compositions and participates in more than 200 conference proceedings, 80 art exhibitions and 190 concerts.

Award proposals, 2020-21: $6,095,257

Funded awards, 2020-21: $1,567,027

  • 2nd-highest year for research grants awarded in CAH history
  • 27% increase in proposals over 2019-20
  • 160% increase in awards from 2015-16

See a list of funded projects and CAH personnel


Academics 2020-21

Credit Hours: 235,641

Undergraduate: 235,641
Graduate/Thesis: 6,506
First time in college: 132,549
Transfer & other undergraduate: 96,397

Student Count (Fall 2020)

4,665 Total
4,238 Undergraduate
427 Graduate

Degrees Conferred

468 Bachelor’s
28 Master’s
2 Doctoral

College Quick Facts, 2020-21 (PDF)

Story Highlights

Advancement

2021 was another banner year for arts and humanities fundraising. The college raised $2,760,489 in private philanthropy (July 1, 2020 – June 30, 2021), exceeding its goal by 31%.

  • Third highest fundraising year in the last ten years:
    • 2020: $6,184,391
    • 2013: $2,955,151
    • 2021: $2,760,489
  • 934 new donors gave gifts between $1 and $24,000 for a total of $268,511
    • 72% increase in number of donors (from FY20)
    • 34% increase in amount of giving
  • 373 alumni donors
  • 185 scholarships totaling $109,080 were awarded for an average of $590 each
  • 455 donors gave $41,417 on UCF’s Day of Giving (the highest number across all colleges and
    50% increase from FY19)
  • 153 CAH employees contributed a total of $118,433 in the 2021 Faculty/Staff Campaign

New Funds

  • Patricia Angley Memorial Scholarship in English
  • Theatre/Women’s and Gender Studies Fund for Excellence

Administrative Updates

Employees By the Numbers

  • 52 Professors
  • 75 Associate professors
  • 61 Assistant professors
  • 27 Lecturers
  • 21 Associate lecturers
  • 8 Senior lecturers
  • 24 Instructors
  • 13 Associate instructors
  • 13 Senior Instructors
  • 1 Research associates
  • 1 Assistant in…
  • 2 Faculty administrators
  • 52 Administrative and Professional staff
  • 35 University Support and Personnel staff

Congratulations to our faculty who have been recognized by the university for their outstanding teaching, research and service.

Story Highlights

Spotlight is created by

  • Heather Gibson ’17MBA, Director of Marketing and Communications
  • Matthew Dunn ’03, Graphic Designer and Web Project Manager
  • Michael Quwade Bretch ’19, Design Assistant
  • Nicole Wills ’20, Marketing Coordinator

Photos and editorial content provided by Hannah Estes, Heaven Keller, Bella Miranda, Steven Risko, Brittany Ryder, staff of the CAH Communications Council and UCF Marketing and Communications.