Forty-one students began working toward their drafting dreams this week as ÐÔÊӽ紫ý welcomed the inaugural class of the new .

Created in partnership with Valencia Community College and the University of ÐÔÊӽ紫ý, students in the program take two years of classes as Valencia students and two years as ÐÔÊӽ紫ý students. They then can move on to obtain their master’s degrees, potentially by staying in Orlando and enrolling in a University of ÐÔÊӽ紫ý College of Design program based in ÐÔÊӽ紫ý’s Center for Emerging Media in downtown Orlando.

The Valencia and ÐÔÊӽ紫ý classes are taught at the University Center building shared by the two schools at Valencia’s West Campus. The local chapter of the American Institute of Architects has worked closely with Valencia, ÐÔÊӽ紫ý and UF to develop the program.