Located near the main entrance of UCF, the Morgridge International Reading Center is now an iconic gateway of the campus. Standing three stories tall, with 15,000 square feet, and a $5.2 million dollar price tag, the center is truly eye-catching. Established as a resource for those interested in the art and science of teaching reading in 2011, the center has been in planning since 2005 when philanthropists John and Carrie Morgridge donated $2 million. As of 2008, the Morgridge gift is the largest gift ever donated to UCF’s College of Education and among the largest gifts ever donated to a college of education within the state of Florida. The gift was matched by the state of Florida to help with the cost of construction.
Advancing literacy through communication, collaboration, learning, and research is the center’s mission. The center is focused as a tool for teachers and researchers to learn effective ways to teach literacy. The Center is partnered with the Florida Literacy and International Reading Faculty Fellows (FLaIR) as a cooperative effort among Florida state university professors focused on improving instruction. In addition to FLaIR, the center is designed for professional learning opportunities and events.
