UKnighted Newsletter
April 2007

Student Government Association, Making a Difference

When a UKnighted reporter first interviewed Mark White, Student Government Association (SGA) president and Jared Stout, vice president, in July 2006, White said, “A major goal of this administration is to accomplish everything we set out to do.” They have done just that.

With the conclusion of UKnighted’s second interview, 16 of the 18 goals have been accomplished and the other two (free assembly proposals and the Police Ride-Along program) are expected to be in place before the end of their term. “We have one shot to make a real difference. If we can do it, we need to do it to the best of our ability,” said White.

From the beginning of the White/Stout campaign and throughout their administrative term, they have engaged students in conversations to ask them what they want and need. SGA held Student Open Forums, luncheons with club presidents and a Pegasus Landing Meet-Greet, all welcoming students’ input.

“Just talking to students who are living life at UCF everyday sometimes generates the most successful programs and policies,” says Stout. At Orientation, their enthusiasm attracted 1,600 freshmen who wanted to get involved in SGA or learn more about it. “Students want to be a part of the change,” said White.

It was important to this administration to keep the Regional Campuses in touch with SGA as well as the Orlando Campus. A new interactive SGA Web site featuring: the Gold Pages (a classified section for UCF students to post job opportunities, items for sale, roommates, etc.), Parking Appeals Citation Committee (giving students a second chance to appeal), Student Union room reservations (virtual scheduling), teacher evaluations and more were designed to assist in this effort. The online teacher evaluations, consisting of actual data compiled from last year’s student evaluations of their professors, had 6,500 students view the site the first week of its debut in January 2007.

The Multicultural Student Center (MSC) was restructured to assist in reaching President John C. Hitt’s goal of making UCF a more diverse and inclusive institution. This new programming ideology will allow any multicultural organization or individual student passionate about bringing multicultural awareness, the ability to facilitate large-scale programs that promote an understanding among UCF students.

White and Stout have raised national and state recognition for UCF not only by going to Tallahassee and their influential leadership on the Florida Student Association councils, but White was named “Student Body President of the Month” for August 2006 by the American Student Government Association (ASGA). In addition, UCF SGA received one of only two “Super SG” awards in the state by the ASGA.

White and Stout were asked what was their biggest challenge during their term and the most rewarding. According to White, meeting the demands of his three roles: as president of an organization with students’ best interests and a budget of 12.5 million dollars; as a community figure head and university administrator on the Board of Trustees who sees a broader view of all aspects of issues; and as an engineering student.

White was most excited about advocating student seating options in the basketball arena and football stadium. Looking ahead on how UCF would be five years from now, he could look at polices and changes, and say, “I was a part of that change.”

Stout said he has always been student driven without looking at the global aspects. He changed his ideology and says, “you catch more flies with honey” and sees the rewards of building relationships, such as the partnership with LYNX to provide a new downtown shuttle service for students on campus at minimal cost.

White and Stout praise their Cabinet for their devotion to meet the administration’s mission, vision and goals. They said their Cabinet exceeded their expectations and they could not have accomplished everything without them.

The White-Stout administration have documented everything all year from contacts, meetings, timelines and projects to policies and more, to prepare and ease the transition for the new SGA president, Brandie Hollinger, and vice president, Logan Berkowitz. Student Development and Enrollment Services would like to thank Mark White, Jared Stout and SGA for all of their accomplishments.

SGA Additional Accomplishments

• Hosted the first-ever SGA Hob Nob- 250 students attended and participated in debate and discussions with 25 local and national politicians running for office.

• Funded many new spirit programs: spirit police, football pep rallies and SGA tailgating.

• Purchased video conference equipment for branch offices so they can participate in Senate meetings, etc.

• Created and revised guidelines for on-campus tailgating and created a new “Code of Conduct” for all fans.

• Almost doubled their scholarship fund to approximately $150,000.

Knight-Thon, Party for a Purpose

Knight-Thon, formerly known as Dance Marathon, is UCF’s largest student-run philanthropy. On February 24 and 25, over 200 participants and 100 volunteers attended the event, held at the Recreation and Wellness Center, raising $29,000 for the Children’s Miracle Network.

The money raised is disbursed on a need-basis between Arnold Palmer’s Hospital for Children in Orlando and the University of Florida Shand’s Hospital in Gainesville.

This year’s event was themed VH1 with activities based on quirky reality TV shows and pop-culture related series. Performances/presentations included UCF registered student organizations like Rukus, the Tae Kwon Do Club and the Chocolate Club.

“Every year, we invite Miracle Families out to the event to share their story with the participants,” said RJ Kennedy, morale director for Knight-Thon. “It is truly a touching experience to see how these children have progressed because of the Children’s Miracle Network and their affiliated hospitals."

Walking for a Good Cause

This is the second year Volunteer UCF and the March of Dimes hosted the 2007 UCF KnightWalk to raise money for research to find cures for prematurity and birth defects in infants as well as community awareness programs.

Over $11,000 was raised for the March of Dimes. President John C. Hitt and Linda Chapin, UCF’s Metropolitan Center for Regional Studies, welcomed over 150 walkers at the Reflecting Pond where participants began their 2.2 mile walk. Each walker received a free meal and drink after the walk sponsored by Sonny’s Real Pit BBQ and Coca-Cola.

“As KnightWalk unfolded this year, I was once again able to see my dream of holding a walk on campus become a reality,” said student Lauren Meyer who organized this event two years in a row. “The fact that we almost doubled our donations from last year is amazing.”

Konichiwa is "Hello" in Japan

Nine students from Nagoya College, Nagoya, Japan visited the Creative School for Children (CSC) to sing Japanese songs, read stories and write the children’s names in Japanese characters. The students are visiting for four weeks, staying with local families in the Orlando area.

Nagoya College offers a two-year track study program; students may choose English as Second/Other Language or Children’s Early Care and Education. “Konichiwa (Hello), Ohaiyou Gozaimasu (Good Morning), Arigatu (Thank you), and Sayonara (Goodbye) are still being heard in our five classrooms,” says Marcia Diebler, director for CSC. This program is made possible through the Center for Multilingual Multicultural Studies (CMMS).

Greek Commit to Positive Change

Seventy-seven student leaders of the Greek community gathered on February 9-10 at the Orange Springs Retreat Center for the Greek Leadership Challenge, to develop their leadership skills and make commitments that intend to improve the state of Greek life at UCF.

Developed in partnership with Leadership Programs and Greek Council, Fraternity and Sorority Life with several other UCF staff implemented the day and a half retreat which was themed “Make Your Ritual A Reality.” The curriculum for the leadership program was based on James Kouzes and Barry Posner’s five leadership practices explained in The Leadership Challenge (2002): Model the Way, Challenge the Process, Inspire a Shared Vision, Enable Others to Act, and Encourage the Heart.

Three monthly follow-up workshops will create a forum for Greek leaders to share success stories, brainstorm ideas for improvement, and continue to build interfraternal relationships. Many thanks to SDES and SGA for their support for the Greek Leadership Challenge.

UCF Student-Athletes Raise Money for Stetson Rowing Team

The Stetson University Rowing team was one of the many victims of the recent tornados that hit Central Florida in early February. The storms destroyed their boat house and all of their boats. The UCF Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) organized a fundraiser to help their peers at Stetson University. “As student-athletes, we felt we needed to do something to help them out,” said Kendra Howell, co-president of SAAC and a member of the UCF track team. “The pictures of the damage were overwhelming and we were glad to be able to help out in some small way.”

SAAC raised $750 for the Stetson rowing team by soliciting donations from fans at recent home athletic contests.

Students Benefit and Gain Experience from Career Events

Career Services & Experiential Learning (CSEL) hosted its eighth Employment Prep Conference on January 17. This semi-annual conference, designed to improve performance success of juniors and seniors participating in the on-campus interviewing program and the career expos, was attended by over 200 students.

Organized into breakout sessions, practice interviews, and resume critiques, the event began with a message from keynote speaker Brian McAllister, co-founder of Roadtrip Nation, and co-presenters, Kassandra Darling and Chrystal Heintz. McAllister and his team encouraged students to explore their career options not only through traditional means but non-traditional as well. The Roadtrip documentary series is broadcast on the Public Broadcast Service TV station in September of each year.

The Employment Prep Conference prepared students for the Career Expo and Internship Fair, held February 5-6 in the UCF Arena, attracting 1,800 students and 300 companies. The event offered students an excellent opportunity to meet employers recruiting students and alumni for internships or full-time professional opportunities.

The conference and expo provided ways for UCF students of all majors to network with employers, explore and reach their career goals.

Advising Office for Undeclared Program

First Year Advising and Exploration (FYAE) showcased their orientation program for undeclared FTIC’s at the national and regional National Academic Advising Association (NACADA) conferences.The program was recognized at the national conference as being a “Commission Sponsored Conference Presentation” by the Commission on Undecided and Exploratory Students.

In addition, at the regional NACADA conference, the program received the Best of Region for the presentation, “Engaging Undeclared Students at Orientation: Using ‘Dating Techniques’ to Find Your Perfect Major.”

According to Gloria Laureano, director for FYAE, “Each time these were presented the rooms were packed with colleagues from across the U.S., which is indicative of the innovative work that continues to come from the University of Central Florida.”

The undeclared program at orientation was implemented in summer 2005 and was well received by students. Student evaluations continue to indicate great satisfaction with over 90 percent responding that they found the program satisfactory, and over 60 percent of students indicating that they are close to deciding on a major. These percentages are important considering that each year approximately 15 percent of FTIC students indicate being undecided about a major at the time of orientation.

Wrestling Club Places Second at National Tournament

The Wrestling Club completed their season as the Runner-Up at the National Collegiate Wrestling Association (NCWA) National Tournament. UCF had 15 wrestlers competing for the national title in Dallas, Texas. The club lost a hard fought tournament to Grand Valley State (2006 national champions). UCF had five wrestlers competing in the championship match, and all five finished in second place.

Elementary School Students Visit UCF

Taking a break from FCAT preparation, 28 fourth graders from Ivey Lane Elementary School visited UCF on Saturday, February 17th to have fun and learn more about college. Their visit marked the first annual UCF Service Day and served as the kickoff to Leadership Week.

Some UCF students served as mentors for the students while other volunteers assisted with inflatable games, face painting and other activities. Knightro, the UCF Cheerleaders, and Mr. and Miss UCF served as special guests during the event. The Ivey Lane students also sat in a UCF lecture hall to see what college is really like.

According to Ivey Lane Principal Ruth Baskerville, experiences with UCF students have helped the fourth graders realize “the magnitude of college” and helped them “believe that one day they could be here.”

UCF Service Day was a collaboration of Student Leadership Programs, Volunteer UCF and Service Learning.

Transfer Students Inducted in Honor Society

Tau Sigma Transfer Student Honor Society inducted 103 new members this semester. The formal induction took place March 2 with special guest speaker John Bersia, special assistant to the president for Global Perspectives. Bersia spoke of opportunities for students to participate in UCF’s globalization efforts.

Transfer students must earn at least a 3.5 GPA in their first (full-time) semester at UCF to qualify for membership. More than 1,600 summer and fall ‘06 transfer students qualified for membership. Tau Sigma is sponsored through the Office of Transfer and Transition Services.

Southern Region Student Access Station

Southern Region Students Services established its first Student Access Station in February. Students unfamiliar with online Student Services resources will receive personalized assistance on how to utilize the Cocoa Campus open access computer lab and how to navigate UCF online resources that include, but are not limited to, virtual orientation, career services, academic support services and My UCF. The Student Access Station is located in the Cocoa Campus Student Services Office, Building 3, room 238.

SDES Changes

• The Sophomore Center is now called the Sophomore and Second Year Center.

• Pamela Brady, former assistant director for Academic Services, has rejoined SDES and is now director for Student Services at Western Region, located in Clermont. Brady will oversee areas of: UCF South Lake, UCF Leesburg and UCF Ocala.

Brady has worked for UCF since 1990, in the Office of Community College Relations (currently, Transfer and Transition Services). She also worked in the Registrar’s Office from ‘93-’99 and then in the Office of Academic Services under David Dees, Undergraduate Studies.

“I am excited about the opportunity to serve UCF students in the Western Region,” says Brady. “It will be my privilege to bring Student Services to the Western Region in a broader spectrum than has previously been possible.

This is all happening as a result of the Regional Campuses, SDES and Lake Sumter Community College working together for the good of our students.” Brady received her B.A. from UCF in Public Administration and plans to pursue her master’s degree in Educational Leadership in the near future.

SDES Awards and Recognition

• Kristy Belden, Pam Brady, Terry Exum, Jessica Falco, Sylvia Farris, Suzi Halpin, Dana Juntunen, Amy Kleeman, Stacey Malaret, Pat Pates, Laine Powell, Valda Ramdial, Pamela Rea, Diana Weidman and Vivian Yamada, sponsored by SDES, attended Mayor Crotty’s Women’s Leadership Summit in Orlando on February 23. The summit was an inspirational opportunity to listen to nationally recognized speakers as well as discuss ways to improve their leadership skills and identify options to make a difference in their own lives.

In addition, this grant proposal generated matching grants in the same amount for the University of Florida’s and University of South Florida’s career centers.

• Tom Hall, Alcohol and Other Drug Prevention Programming (AOD), Michael Dunn (associate professor), Pamela Brown, Jacqueline Alfonso, and Janani “Jenn” Sivasithamparam (doctoral students), Clinical Psychology, were recipients of the “Prevention Excellence Award” by the organization, Outside the Classroom.

The collaboration and dedication of AOD and Clinical Psychology has earned UCF national recognition as an of “Prevention Excellence,” an award that recognizes organizations that have achieved distinction in their alcohol prevention efforts.

• Department of Housing and Residence Life’s United Resident Student Association (URSA) received multiple awards including the Crystal Award for dedicated service and Most Improved RHA Award at the annual Florida Association of Residence Halls (FARH) Conference held at the University of North Florida on February 16.

• Nicholas Brigati, graduate assistant for Intramural Sports, was recipient of the Foundation Scholarship from the National Intramural-Recreational Sports Association (NIRSA) for his leadership skills. In addition, Marlaine Hagopian, graduate assistant for Recreation and Wellness facilities, received the Katrina Waiver Scholarship for her outstanding efforts in helping the Hurricane Katrina victims in Orlando and New Orleans.

SDES Presentations

• Dennis Dulniak, university registrar, presented on “Successful SPEEDE Electronic Document Exchanges” at the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (AACRAO) conference in Boston, held February 28-March 3. In the presentation, he shared how UCF has accounted for 9.3 percent of all national Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) traffic of electronic transcripts through the Texas server, over 60,000 last year.

• Joe Ritchie, Orientation Services, presented Assessing Student Learning in Orientation and First Year Programs at the Indian River Community College Professional Enhancement Day held in Fort Pierce on February 9.

•The following Orientation Services’ members attended Southern Regional Orientation Workshop (SROW) held in Tallahassee on March 2-4:

Erin Litchfield, Amanda Downing, and Brett Ambrosini presented, “New Student Respect Program.” Danny Meuninck presented, “Shakin’ Things Up in the Office: How to Establish an In-House Professional Development Program.”

Jodi Farbstein and Danny Meuninck were recognized for being members of the Southern Regional Orientation Workshop (SROW) Planning Committee. In addition, Erin Litchfield, Amanda Downing, Brett Ambrosini and Rachel Edington participated in the SROW Case Study Competition. Edington, a graduate student at the University of South Carolina who was recently hired to be Orientation Services’ National Orientation Directors Association (NODA) intern at UCF, received the award for Best Communication in the Case Study Competition.

Welcome to SDES

• Pamela Brady, director, Student Services at Western Region

• Shannon O’Donoghue, office manager, Transfer and Transition Services

• Jacqueline Rodriguez, program assistant for graduation, Registrar’s Office (RO)

• Kent Woodford, program assistant for administrative record changes, RO

SDES Council Corner

The SDES Council has been working hard preparing for the SDES Celebration Breakfast as well as collecting donations for the door prizes. Will you be the lucky one to receive a free on-campus parking pass, certificate to eat at a cuisine or airline flight to an exciting destination (within the continental United States)?

According to David Crafts, the photo submissions for the slideshow are phenomenal and you should to be prepared for some laughs and joy. Submit photos to: dcrafts@mail.ucf.edu by noon on April 11.

Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities (OSRR)

By offering a wide range of services designed to assist as well as educate students in resolving their disputes, the Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities (OSRR) combines Student Legal Services, Dispute Resolution Services and the Office of Student Conduct.

OSRR provides a forum that contributes to the individual growth and development of the student’s knowledge of community responsibility, due process, conflict resolution skills and university conduct rules. Their resources are more effectively used by combining and referring within the judicial knowledge base that exists within these three services.

Student Right and Responsibilities, Office of:
Patricia MacKown, director

Dispute Resolution Services:
Sylvia “Patty” Farris, coordinator
Offers mediation training as well as all types of dispute resolution services including individual coaching.

Student Conduct, Office of:
Dana Juntunen, assistant director
142 FC • 407.823.2851 • www.osc.sdes.ucf.edu
Processes 1,300 cases per year and offers many educational as well as punitive outcomes for student violations of the Code of Conduct.

Student Legal Services (SLS):
Patricia MacKown, director
Represents students in six counties in areas of law such as: landlord/tenant, consumer, dissolution of marriage, name change, third degree felony and misdemeanor, Chapter 7 bankruptcy and more. SLS handles 1,200 cases per year, services by appointment only and is on call 24-hours.

INTEGRITY
I will practice and defend academic and personal honesty.

SCHOLARSHIP
I will cherish and honor learning as a fundamental purpose of my membership in the UCF community.

COMMUNITY
I will promote an open and supportive campus environment by respecting the rights and contributions of every individual.

CREATIVITY
I will use my talents to enrich the human experience.

EXCELLENCE
I will strive toward the highest standards of performance in any endeavor I undertake.

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