UCF trustees approve dental school

The University of Central Florida (UCF) Board of Trustees has approved the creation of a new College of Dental Medicine.

The board voted unanimously to move ahead with plans to build the college at the university’s Health Sciences Campus at the “medical city” in Lake Nona. UCF is not seeking state funding for the project.

According to a press release, the college is expected to create at least 110 permanent local jobs as well as an initial economic impact of $73 million from construction.

The project still needs the state Board of Governors’ (BOG) approval to move forward. UCF is striving to open the school in 2014 with a charter class of 60 students. There are currently only two fully accredited schools with students in Florida.

UCF’s proposal comes after FAMU President James H. Ammons has spent more than a year educating state leaders about the need for the need for another public dental school. The FAMU Board of Trustees approved the university’s Strategic Plan on October 15, 2009, which included a College of Dental Medicine as a top goal.

FAMU has already submitted its dental school proposal to the Florida Board of Governors (BOG). The BOG has not taken any action on FAMU’s request. A bill authorizing a dental school on FAMU’s campus died during the 2010 legislative session.

FAMU is in finalizing a detailed implementation plan for its dental program that will go before the university Board of Trustees next month. It should reach the Board of Governors by August.

In an interview with the Tallahassee Democrat, FAMU consultant Howard Bailit said that UCF’s pitch for a College of Dental Medicine “reinforces that there is a need for a dental school,” which helps FAMU’s case.