Student Center Dedicated in Memory of Jimmie A. Ferrell

November 4th was a very special Homecoming Friday. Former Orientation Team members, Student Body presidents and Student Affairs staff members; other alumni; and the UCF community came
together to dedicate the Jimmie A. Ferrell Commons, formerly the Student Resource Center.

If anyone knew students on college campuses, it was Jimmie Ferrell. Along with being a single father and raising three kids of his own, Ferrell served as director of Student Affairs from 1970 to 1996. For 26 years he ran the Student Center and all the student organizations on campus. His biggest achievement was in the mid-1970’s when he called on his rich West Virginia upbringing, indelible belief in family, community and student personnel training to form the freshman orientation program. Ferrell developed the program to center around an “O-Team,” a group of upper classmen, who gave campus tours to incoming freshmen and helped them to register for classes. The O-Team became the catalyst for the formal development of student leadership for hundreds of students. The essence of the O-Team experience was a “commitment to service” by a cadre of students, who became the first point of contact for incoming freshman. Hence, the beginning of the orientation program we know today. “Jimmie opened the door to selfdiscovery for thousands of UCF students,” says Anthony Thompson, former student and current director of major gifts for the College of Education. “He gave students the sense that they could accomplish anything.” “Many lasting bonds and friendships were created through O-Team,” remembers Thompson.

Steeped in tradition, the O-Team is stronger than ever averaging
30-35 student leaders each year. The O-Team continues to be the
main contact for students as they attend Orientation. With the aid
of technology, they can continue to follow-up with students by e-mail through the end of their first semester. O-Teamers are now required to have a higher grade point average than most other student groups on campus with continued emphasis placed on leadership development. Finally, virtually every O-Teamer continues their service to UCF by being involved in other organizations with many of them being selected for prestigious awards including the Order of Pegasus Award.

In a bill passed by the 2000 State Legislature, the renovated Student Resource Center (student services area) at UCF was to be named the Jimmie A. Ferrell Student Services Commons. This bill was sponsored by Senator Lee Constantine, a past Student Body president and current Florida State Legislator. Constantine was also a friend of Ferrell’s and committed to seeing this completed. Constantine said this about Jimmie, “As we continue to grow, UCF needs to recognize our roots. Jimmie Ferrell was instrumental in helping students along their educational path in the early years of our university. We need to appreciate individuals such as Jimmie, and I am honored to have played a part in naming the Commons after him.” The area was designated because Ferrell’s office was located in this area and served as a mentoring ground for hundreds of students in the early years of UCF.

The Ferrell Commons includes the Office of Student Rights and
Responsibilities, Student Disability Services, Career Services and
Experiential Learning, Counseling Center, Apollo Community Office,
Marketplace Cafeteria, MegaGames, the Ferrell Auditorium, Live Oak
Room, Garden Room and the Back Stage Diner.

SDES Holiday Celebration

December 14 • 2-4 p.m.
Student Union, Pegasus Ballroom (D,E,F)

Please bring unwrapped toys or books for children up to the age of 15. Gifts will be donated to the Salvation Army’s Women and Children’s Living Center. In addition, items for women at the shelter are needed, such as razors, shaving cream, shampoo, deodorant and other personal items.

 

Competition Challenges Student-Athletes Participation

This fall marked the first-ever Knights Challenge, a competition program for studentathletes, utilizing the NCAA CHAMPS/Life Skills Program and the National Consortium for Academics and Support (NCAS) Outreach and Community Service Program to enhance academic excellence, personal and career development of student athletes. Workshops, outreach events and special programs will continue in the spring.

“Competition is just as tight on the field as it is for the Knights Challenge,” says Suzi Katz, director for NCAS. Student-athletes earn points based on the programs they attend and prizes will be awarded to the top three teams at the end of the spring semester.

Student-athletes aren’t the only ones who have benefited from this program. So far, student-athletes have participated in 33 events reaching 7,000 children and families through events such as Red Ribbon Week, Reader Kick-off, Miracle League and Special Spectators.





Housing Committee Focus on Community Outreach

A new departmental committee called the Character Development and Integrity committee (CDI) was created to facilitate an intentional effort to track, plan and implement character and integrity programs throughout the Housing and Residence Life community. The committee will focus on community outreach through service and charity, residence life programming and development of partnerships across the campus.

The Tunnel of Oppression 2006, which will take place in March, will be among the highlights this academic year. The program will be directed by the CDI committee, Counseling Center and LINK. The Tunnel 2006 seeks to bring campus awareness to concerns, such as global genocide, discrimination and poverty. The CDI committee is supervised by Gidget Lewis and Shane Cadden, area coordinators.





Center Showcased to UCF and Medical Community Members

The Health Center’s Open House was an opportunity for Health Services to showcase the facility and enhance partnerships both on and off campus. Members from the medical community included: Dr. Neal Patterson and Dr. Robert Law (prominent local physicians), Dr. Thomas Marbury and his staff (Orlando Clinical Research), Dr. Phillip Chen and Richard Howard (Cognoscenti Health Institute), and a representative from Drew Medical, UCF’s Health Center’s newest partner, providing them with radiology services. UCF guests included representatives from the General Counsel’s office, Rosen College of Hospitality Management and the Student Union. Approximately, 60
people attended including representatives from the local medical community, family members of staff and several former staff members.





UCF Intramural Supervisors Officiate and Work National Tournament

Intramural supervisors Doug Marcello and Marissa Dienstag were selected as two of the top four officials to officiate at the National Flag Football tournament during the Pensacola Regional Flag Football tournament on November 11-13. Chosen out of 36 officials from the Southeast United States, Marcello was the referee for a Men’s Semifinal game and Dienstag was the referee for the Women’s Final.

Donnie Barnes was selected to work as Back Judge for the Men’s Championship and David Decandis worked as Field Judge for the Men’s Semifinal game. Together they bring the number of officials to referee at the national tournament from UCF to 13 since 2001.





Students to Participate in Study at Lockheed Martin

Several months ago representatives from Lockheed Martin in Orlando contacted Student Disability Services with a proposal to engage in an opportunity to test accommodations for its employees using UCF students with disabilities as subjects for the testing process.

The project Adaptive Information Technology Test (ADIT) will have student subjects performing functional testing of adaptive information technology tools to help determine their ability to enhance employee productivity in the work environment. Test subject will utilize tools provided by Lockheed Martin and will provide both qualitative and quantitative feedback on the tools being tested. Students will be paid $10 per hour for their work and will have an opportunity to get exposure to the corporate environment, especially as it relates to employees with disabilities.

A visually impaired student has been selected for the first round of testing at the Lockheed Martin on Lake Underhill. For more information, contact Phil Kalfin at 407.823.2371.





Tower of Terror Haunts Students

The Gemini Area Council (GAC) at the Gemini South residence halls scared more than 600 residents around UCF with their version of the Tower of Terror. The idea came from Rusty Hein, Gemini South resident and GAC vice president, when he noticed residents were disappointed about the Haunted Arboretum no longer existing. Together GAC in collaboration with the Gemini Resident Assistants (RAs) and help from several LEAD Scholars, created a 5,040-square-foot maze. Those involved dressed in black to blend with the walls, jumped out and followed residents. Five rooms consisted of a mad scientist, a junkyard, white noise room, blood room and a forest. Residents said their favorite part was walking around an enclosed room filled with fog. It gave an eerie feeling leading up to the forest. Many people compared this outstanding success to Halloween Horror Nights. Tower of Terror will become a yearly event.





Rhythms of Change in Miami

UCF was well represented at the National Orientation Directors Association (NODA) conference held in Miami on November 5-8. Joe Ritchie, Eric Hennes and Alicia Kornowa, Orientation Services staff, not only attended, but served on the planning committee. The conference theme “Rhythms of Change” could not be more fitting as the committee worked around ongoing effects of a hurricanestricken Miami.

Despite last minute “rhythmic” changes, conference evaluations contained glowing comments on the huge success of the conference. Many said it was the best in years. Hennes presented a program for graduate students entitle “Changing Gears–Getting Ready for the Job Search.” Also attending the conference were Jodi Farbstein of Orientation Services and Lindi Smedberg of Transfer and Transition Services. Smedberg was one of four award recipients for “Best Communication” in the Graduate Case Study Competition. Orientation Services won the Outstanding Clothing Item for its “3/4 tee staff shirt.”

Advisers Outreach to Students

First Year Advising and Exploration (FYAE) continued its mission of taking advising to students this fall semester by holding advising sessions in various locations on and off campus. To assist students with schedule planning for the spring and major exploration, the FYAE advisors met with students in Academic Village, the Student Union, Greek housing, offcampus affiliated housing and the new Ferrell Auditorium.

Amy Buford, lead coordinator of outreach programming, was optimistic for the year’s success. Attendance records for on-campus programming was 752 (duplicated) through eight programs. According to Buford, many students had already spoken to their advisor about the spring semester, even as early as their summer orientation and are coming to the outreaches to be certain of their schedules.





Marathon Raises Money for Charity

The 5th annual Mini Dance Marathon, held November 12, attracted over 100 students from area high schools. Students danced and participated in theme hours, including high school spirit, UCF spirit, and elementary school games to help pass the time during the 12 hour event that raised over $4,400 for the Children’s Miracle Network.

The event was sponsored by CAB’s Dance Marathon Committee. The 10th annual UCF Dance Marathon will be held February 25.

For more information, contact Christa Coffey in the Office of Student Involvement at ccoffey@mail.ucf.edu.





Productive Semester for CSEL

Students were offered many opportunities at the Career Services and Experiential Learning (CSEL) events during the fall semester. Event attendance data is as follows:

Students Receive International Career Advice

Career Services & Experiential Learning collaborated with the Office of International Studies to develop an International Career Panel, which was held on November 14th. The event featured panelists from the Peace Corp, U.S. Department of State, Enterprise Rent-ACar, Price Waterhouse Coopers, Marriott and Sea World. The panelists spoke to an audience of over 100 UCF students about international career opportunities, skills they look for in entry level candidates, answered questions and provided career related advice to students. The collaborative event was successful with over 90 percent of student evaluators reporting that the session was helpful and informative.





Center Showcased to UCF and Medical Community Members

The Health Center’s Open House, held on October 26, was an opportunity to showcase thefacility and enhance partnerships both on and off campus. Among the guests were Dr. Neal Patterson and Dr. Robert Law (prominent local physicians), Dr. Thomas Marbury and his staff (Orlando Clinical Research), Dr. Phillip Chen and Richard Howard (Cognoscenti Health Institute), and a representative from Drew Medical, UCF’s Health Center’s newest partner, providing them with radiology services. UCF guests included representatives from the General Counsel’s office, Rosen College of Hospitality Management and the Student Union.






CSEL Partners with Target

Members of the Career Services & Experiential Learning staff attended a site visit at Target Corporation’s Waterford location, the 3rd busiest in the nation. Leaders within the Target organization provided CSEL staff with a behind the scenes store tour and detailed information on their Management Trainee and Internship programs that are available to UCF students and alumni. Target also participated and sponsored gifts at the Interpersonal & Organizational Communication Career Panel on November 9, which attracted over 85 students. The Target Corporation sees CSEL at UCF as a valuable partner to assist in accomplishing their aggressive growth projections of increasing their total number of stores from almost 1,400 currently to 2,010 by the year 2010.

 

 

CLAST Offered at Rosen Campus

On October 1, the University Testing Center (UTC) offered the CLAST paper-and pencil test at the Rosen College of Hospitality Management as part of an initiative to expand critical testing services. Students were excited to take advantage of testing services and cited convenient access at the Rosen College. UTC testing personnel saw a great turn out with 74 percent of those registered testing on that day.

The next CLAST paper-and-pencil administration will be held February 18, and the deadline to register is January 20. For more information, visit: www.sarc.sdes.ucf.edu.




UCF and Community College Collaborate to Assist Students

Transfer and Transition Services (TTS) sponsored the annual GradTrack transfer advising workshop at Valencia Community College (VCC). More than 450 VCC students planning to transfer to UCF attended programs at VCC East and West campuses.

According to Charlene Stinard, TTS director, “This is a premiere collaboration between UCF and VCC. UCF faculty and advisors participate in advising to ensure that VCC transfers are prepared to start their major at UCF next year.”

VCC students had an opportunity to learn about the transfer process. Undergraduate Admissions and Student Financial Assistance staff provided information of the importance of applying early and being prepared for the transition to UCF. Students explored their intended majors in small group advising sessions with faculty and advisors. Bob Snow and Jackie Jessup, TTS staff, provided assistance to assist undeclared students.

This is the sixth year TTS has collaborated with VCC to assist transferring students at GradTrack.






Welcome to SDES

SDES Division Changes

SDES Awards and Recognition

Presentations

 

.
Greeks Recognized Nationally

The UCF Beta Eta Zeta Chapter of Lambda Chi Alpha won several awards at the 50th Leadership Seminar, which was held at the University of Maryland, College Park.

The chapter was awarded an Academic Achievement Award, which is given to chapters with a Grade Point Average that was first on a campus; or second or third on larger campuses with a greater number of fraternities. In the spring of 2005, the chapter average was a 2.927, which placed third among all UCF fraternities. The All-Men’s Undergraduate Average was 2.716 during for that semester. The chapter was recognized for their participation and contribution to the North American Food Drive, collecting 92,200 pounds of canned food. They also received a Campus Involvement Award, which is given to those chapters with extensive involvement in extracurricular activities.





SDES Offers Art Students Exposure

SDES has formed a partnership with Walter Gaudnek, professor for the Art Department, to display student artwork from his painting class on the walls in Millican Hall room 282. This collaboration offers students the opportunity to exhibit their work to the public. The paintings are for sale and will change each semester. Come by and check out the display. For more information, call 407.282.2821.

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.

Grant Awarded to Center for Patient Alcohol Study

Dr. James Schaus of Health Services was recently awarded a grant by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism for $650,000. The grant is designed to study the influence of brief interventions by medical providers to deter high risk drinking amongst their patients. This will be one of the first studies in the country to assess such an approach within a student health center. The study will take place over approximately a two year period of time. Dr. Schaus is collaborating with Mary Lou Sole of the School of Nursing, Mike Dunn of the Department of Psychology, Laura Riddle from Counseling and Dr. Mike Deichen of Health Services. Medical providers will be taught a special interview technique that will hopefully allow them to reduce high-risk drinking amongst the patients they care for. “If the study proves successful, it is anticipated that the technique could easily be replicated at other student health centers across the country,” says Dr. Deichen.