My brother who graduated from Florida Tech back in the 70's referred to a time when UCF stood for U Can't Finish (as in graduate when you planned to) because the administration kept changing courses or not offer courses when students needed them. Are any of you familiar with that time? You'd have to be pretty old to know about this.

They still use U Can't Finish but now more commonly heard is Under Construction Forever due to the seemingly non-stop growth of our beautiful campus.

U Can't Finish was coined because classes needed to graduate would get full forcing students to take electives until the class became available again. You now get preferential treatment if you're a graduating senior to register for the classes you need before the general student population.

Under Construction Forever sounds like I40 from Raleigh to Greensboro.

There's also a yearly 5K on campus called the U Can Finish race. Some say it's a play on the old UCF moniker.

I've had always heard u can't finish was due to the abundance of partying people do that keeps them from graduating.

No, It would be a real challenge to find someone from that era. Most of our fan base is composed of Millennials. Our fan base really boomed around 2005, in my opinion.

As an alumni of one of the oldest greek houses at UCF. I've met maybe a handful of people from FTU to U Can't Finish era. It's rare. I've heard really interesting stories from back in the day...

You would think there were a lot of older fans based on our Citronaut love.

(08-30-2016 02:07 PM)PirateJim Wrote:  My brother who graduated from Florida Tech back in the 70's referred to a time when UCF stood for U Can't Finish (as in graduate when you planned to) because the administration kept changing courses or not offer courses when students needed them. Are any of you familiar with that time? You'd have to be pretty old to know about this.

FTU in the 70's was a small school...and unlike when UCF exploded in enrollment some 20-25 years ago or so...it wasn't too hard to find the classes you needed, at the times you needed.

Only thing that might have stopped some in the 70's to graduate on time is that many worked part or full time...as there were not that many available funds or financing options...as many students paid cash for tuition...something I did in the 80's (paid cash by working).

(08-30-2016 09:28 PM)KnightLight Wrote:  

(08-30-2016 02:07 PM)PirateJim Wrote:  My brother who graduated from Florida Tech back in the 70's referred to a time when UCF stood for U Can't Finish (as in graduate when you planned to) because the administration kept changing courses or not offer courses when students needed them. Are any of you familiar with that time? You'd have to be pretty old to know about this.

FTU in the 70's was a small school...and unlike when UCF exploded in enrollment some 20-25 years ago or so...it wasn't too hard to find the classes you needed, at the times you needed.

Only thing that might have stopped some in the 70's to graduate on time is that many worked part or full time...as there were not that many available funds or financing options...as many students paid cash for tuition...something I did in the 80's (paid cash by working).

You consider the boom to be the Culpepper Era?
I guess thats fair.

I think its more around 2007 when the student population boomed and we unveiled the on campus stadium.

(08-31-2016 06:35 AM)ArmoredUpKnight Wrote:  

(08-30-2016 09:28 PM)KnightLight Wrote:  

(08-30-2016 02:07 PM)PirateJim Wrote:  My brother who graduated from Florida Tech back in the 70's referred to a time when UCF stood for U Can't Finish (as in graduate when you planned to) because the administration kept changing courses or not offer courses when students needed them. Are any of you familiar with that time? You'd have to be pretty old to know about this.

FTU in the 70's was a small school...and unlike when UCF exploded in enrollment some 20-25 years ago or so...it wasn't too hard to find the classes you needed, at the times you needed.

Only thing that might have stopped some in the 70's to graduate on time is that many worked part or full time...as there were not that many available funds or financing options...as many students paid cash for tuition...something I did in the 80's (paid cash by working).

You consider the boom to be the Culpepper Era?
I guess thats fair.

I think its more around 2007 when the student population boomed and we unveiled the on campus stadium.

Not really...as UCF enrollment (and quality of student) has improved greatly thru the decades...and one thing that helped UCF "take off" was when then Gov Jeb Bush took away power from the UF/FSU Dominated State Board of Trustees and gave some power/decision making choices BACK to individual Universities some 16 years ago or so...as that is when Dr Hitt knew state funds would start to dry up but UCF could increase their budget by increasing students...but Dr Hitt would only allow it if student quality would improve...and that was done with major investment in on-campus dorms, campus life, facilities, etc...

And now over the last few years, with the explosion of online classes being offered at virtuallyFall every major Univ in the country, more students can be added without the need of more parking lots/classroom space needed, etc...

Here's a look at some UCF Historical & Milestone Enrollment Numbers:

Year 1 (1968): 2,000

Year 2 (1969): 5,800

Fall 1975: 10,545

Fall 1983: 15,648

Fall 1990: 20,084

Fall 1994: 25,363

Fall 1998: 30,009

Fall 2001: 36,013

Fall 2003: 41,685

Fall 2006: 46,907

Fall 2008: 50,275

Fall 2010: 56,337

Fall 2014: 60,821