UCF officials just announced their fledgling medical school has been granted preliminary accreditation -- a significant designation that allows them to start admitting their inaugural class of 40 students for Fall 2009.

FIU medical school officials are expected to announce this afternoon that they, too, have secured preliminary accreditation for their school. The Board of Governors approved the schools, a controversial decision, a couple of years ago.

Gov. Charlie Crist wants to spend $23 million for second-year planning for FIU and UCF's schools, and to provide additional money for existing medical schools at the University of Florida, University of South Florida, and Florida State University.

“This is a truly historic achievement for the University of Central Florida and our community,” UCF President John Hitt said. “I look forward to the day when we welcome our first students to the world-class UCF College of Medicine.”

UCF is raising money to give its first class of medical students a free, four-year ride. FIU, meanwhile, is planning a unique community-based program that has nursing, social work and medical students working closely with Miami-area families.