SDES Comes Together at Year End Celebration


I would like to welcome back the SDES staff and faculty to the New Year and thank you for your hard work, dedication and assistance in 2005. Last year was an exciting transition for the division which saw many new student programs, services, activities, and the construction of new and renovated facilities. 2006 promises to be just as busy and challenging as we look for new innovative ways to provide academic and student support services and development opportunities for all UCF students at all UCF locations. We look forward this year to continue to develop partnerships and seek ways to bring students together with faculty, employers and the community to make the UCF Experience one of the most significant and meaningful time in students’ lives.

~Maribeth Ehasz, Vice President, SDES

The SDES Council, Santa Claus, Vice President Maribeth Ehasz and others greeted the SDES family as they came together for a Holiday Celebration to enjoy food, entertainment, fun holiday activities, jolly Santa and more. The SDES staff brought gifts for children and personal products for women, which were placed next to the holiday tree. Gifts were donated to benefit the Salvation Army’s Women and Children’s Living Center.

Instrumental music was provided by Health Services’ Betty Calton’s husband, Tommy, and friends. Terry Wheeler performed with the band, strumming his acoustic guitar. Bob Faust was one of the first to lead the crowd in some holiday songs. Calton, Wheeler and Faust are members of Health Services. Other singers included: Denesha Jenkins, Nichole McPhearson and Tara Szczepanski.

Santa, who was played by Chuck Gallo, Activity and Service Fee Business Office, handed out candy and spread holiday cheers of ho, ho, ho. Santa was available for photos by the holiday tree.

SDES members were challenged to participate in a few competitions such as decorating ornaments, cookie contest and holiday questions printed on their place-mats. Prizes included $100 Spa & Salon gift certificates, one-hour massage at the Health Center and $25 Barney’s Steakhouse gift certificates. Participants can pick up their decorated ornaments at the Activity and Service Fee Business Office (ask for Carol Kraus); ornaments will be saved till the end of January.

The following are staff comments of the celebration event:

To view the photos of the Holiday Celebration, visit: www.sdes.ucf.edu and click on Staff News and Information, then SDES Holiday Celebration. Anyone who wishes an electronic copy of a photo (print quality), please contact Judy Pardo at: jpardo@mail.ucf.edu.

Contest Winners

• Ornament Decorating:

• Cookie Decorating:

• Place-mat Quiz:

New Initiative Assists Students with Job Interview Skills

Career Services & Experiential Learning (CSEL) has implemented a Practice Interview Program designed to teach students how to effectively communicate with employers during an actual interview. Students learn to answer tough questions, such as “Tell me about yourself” or “Tell me about a time when…”

Professional recruiters volunteer their time to assist students with these practice interview sessions. Students may sign up for an appointment as they would for a regular on-campus interview using KnightLink (the data base for on-campus recruiting and job postings). After the practice interview, the employer critiques the student’s performance and provides feedback based on a rating form completed during the interview. Nearly 25 students have participated over the few weeks this program has been in existence, showing a need for this type of assistance.

Students can also sharpen their interview skills through the career peer advisor practice interview program by scheduling an appointment with a career peer advisor to practice responses to interview questions, which may be video taped. Interview feedback is then given to the students along with helpful advice on grooming, dress, and professional etiquette.

For more information, contact Annie Ware at 407.823.3313.

Landing a good job and advancing one’s career should not be left to chance. It requires more than just responding to job vacancy announcements and waiting to be called for an interview. The job seeker must move from passive job search activities to proactive initiatives for uncovering job leads and interviewing opportunities with prospective employers.

 

Rosen Casino Knight Donations Benefit Children


The Rosen College of Hospitality Management students, faculty and staff celebrated the end of fall 2005 at the Rosen College’s 2nd Annual Casino Knight. “Everyone had a blast and we even raised over $300 and donated enough toys for 65 children for the Hug Me Program,” said Tiffany Greenis, Rosen College Campus Life.

At Casino Knight, students, faculty and staff enjoyed food, fun and entertainment. Prizes were donated by SeaWorld, Hampton Inn, Gaylord Palms, Apple, Universal Studios and Richard Petty Driving Experience.

Hug Me is a program through Arnold Palmer Hospital that helps children and families with HIV/AIDS. Rosen College Professor Iskat and his students volunteered at the 4th Annual Hug Me Christmas party, held at the Rosen Centre (food and accommodations provided by Harris Rosen). The donated toys from Casino Knight were given to the children at the Christmas Party.



SDES Takes Positive Steps Toward Tailgating


On Saturday, September 24, 2005, the University of Central Florida lost its first police officer in the line of duty, Mario Jenkins. Following this sad and unfortunate event, SDES suggested to the Alcohol Task Force a plan in which A&P and faculty would serve as “ambassadors” of the university during the primary tailgating hours prior to each home football game.

The role of the Ambassador was to assist in making the tailgating experience more enjoyable and safer for all attendees. The Ambassadors had two goals: to assist in educating attendees about UCF’s tailgating guidelines and to provide an increased presence of individuals who care about the university and people who attend university functions.

The Alcohol Task Force was enthusiastic about implementing the Ambassador Program. As word spread about the program, more individuals asked to assist and the program was opened to all employees, students, alumni and friends of the university. In the four remaining home games, over 50 Ambassadors assisted with the program. The following were quotes from Ambassadors regarding the SDES initiative:

On December 5, an appreciation program and reception was given to the Alcohol Use Policy Task Force Committee members and Ambassadors. John Schell, assistant vice president and dean of Undergraduate Studies, spoke of appreciation for all efforts to make tailgating a safe and enjoyable event.

Students Deliver Holiday Cheer to Area Children

Housing and Residence Life teamed up with the Seminole County school system to bring holiday cheer to five underprivileged children from Sanford. The program, Hercules Holiday Kids, was a success with the Hercules Community students and staff contributing over 125 gifts and raising over $200 through the five-building competitions and candy-gram fund-raisers.

Gifts ranged from GI-Joe’s and Barbies to a new bicycle with matching helmet and elbow pads. The children also received handmade holiday cards that were created by residents. The student and professional staff for the Hercules Community helped coordinate the event and described it as both exciting and inspiring.



First Fall Career Expo Has Successful Outcomes

The Rosen College of Hospitality Management recently hosted its first Fall Career Expo; staff reports the event was an “extraordinary success.” The expo featured 64 employers exhibiting, an even greater number than spring 2005’s record breaking number of 61.

Over a third of the exhibiting companies were first time visitors to the Rosen College. Several hundred students attended the event, and many students and alumni received full-time managerial and internship offers as a result of this special event. The Rosen College will host its next hospitality career expo on February 23, and the college expects even stronger employer and student turnout.



Academic Outreach Programming Available to Students

The Student Academic Resource Center (SARC) will be providing free academic support services to students this spring semester in the form of tutoring, Supplemental Instruction (SI) and academic success workshops.

Peer lead tutoring and SI sessions will support students in subject areas such as: Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Accounting, Economics, Statistics, Genetics, Human Anatomy and Physiology, and Astronomy. SARC will also continue to offer its popular Academic Success workshop series on learning and study techniques. Topics will include: how to stay motivated throughout the semester, how to communicate with faculty and power studying.

SARC representatives are available to conduct learning and study skills workshops for classes in any discipline, for student clubs, sorority and fraternity meetings, and in residential halls. The workshops are interactive, motivating and provide the most recent information regarding college level study skills. Request for workshop forms and schedules are available at: www.sarc.sdes.ucf.edu under Study Skills and Learning Strategies.

For more information, contact Jennifer Wright at 407.823.5130.

Consultant Presents Online Alcohol Course

Dr. Richard Keeling, noted college health consultant, presented, “Population Level Prevention,” to interested university members on December 2 at the Health Center. The subject focused on targeting all first-year students with an online alcohol prevention/education course and how it is the foundation of a comprehensive alcohol prevention program. He shared national data from 110,000 U.S. college students, who took AlcoholEdu course during fall 2005.

Dr. Keeling has devoted his career to advancing the health of young people. He has received the highest awards of both NASPA and the American College Health Association and is the author of more than 125 scholarly articles, monographs, chapters and books.

Students Get Information at Career Fair

The Organization of Public Administrators and Career Services & Experiential Learning partnered to host the 4th annual Public Administration Career Fair on November 8 in the Health and Public Affairs atrium. Approximately, 200 students had the opportunity to meet and talk with 22 employers.

The focus of the fair was to provide students with information about career, volunteer and internship opportunities within the fields of public administration. Employers included organizations, such as Orange County Government, the Social Security Administration and the Department of Justice.

 

Maribeth Ehasz Wins Pacesetter Award

Provost Terry Hickey and other guests surprised SDES Vice President Maribeth Ehasz at the SDES Enhanced Divisional Meeting on December 20 with light refreshments and a hearty “Well done.” Hickey congratulated Ehasz for winning the Pacesetter Award and noted her many accomplishments and innovations in advising students.

Ehasz was the recipient of the prestigious national award, which was presented in October 2005 at the National Academic Advising Association (NACADA) National Conference in Las Vegas. The Pacesetter Award is presented annually to chief executive officers, provosts and chief academic or student affairs officers who exemplify a commitment to advising and are true advocates for students and advisors.



New SDES Council 2006

Mission: Strengthen communication among employees, improve the general employee environment, build affiliation among employees within the division and create awareness of the mission of Student Development and Enrollment Services.

 

Welcome to SDES

 

SDES Division Changes

• Transfer and Transitions Services is now located in Howard Phillips Hall, room 221.
•Multicultural Academic and Support Services is now located in Howard Phillips Hall, room 102.
• A.J. Range, assistant vice president for the Regional Campus Student Services, is now located at the University Towers, suite 101 on 12201 Research Parkway. The mailing address is P. O. Box 10060, Orlando, FL 32816-0060. The new telephone number is 407.823.2609 and fax: 407.823.1399.

 

SDES Awards and Recognition


• UCF Student Union received the 2005 Educational Benchmarking Commitment to Excellence Award in recognition of their commitment to continuous improvement through participation in the Association for College Unions International/Educational Benchmarking (ACUI/EBI) College Union Student Center Assessment.

• Greg Mason, director for Fraternity/Sorority Housing and Development recently attended the Association of Fraternity Advisor’s and North-American Interfraternity Conference held in Atlanta on December 2005. Mason serves in various leadership roles including the Advisory Board for the National Hazing Symposium.

Over 150 professionals attended this day long program, which was designed for those in higher education to set an agenda on this topic for the future. Mason also serves as a board member of Gamma Sigma Alpha, a national fraternity/sorority honor society. He coordinates and facilitates two educational programs; “Mission Expansion: A Values Based Recruitment,” as well as, “Driving Professional Development–A Crash Course for Mid-Level Professionals.”

In addition, Mason spent several hours meeting with various architects and fraternity/sorority housing specialists, gaining additional ideas and insight for houses that will be constructed at UCF in the future.

 

Presentations

• Germayne Graham, Counseling Center, presented, “Creative ways of Utilizing Group Therapy with African American/Black College students at Predominately White Universities,” at the Third Annual Counseling Center Conference on Mental Health among Black College Students in Baltimore on November 3-5.

Publications

• Dennis Congos, First Year Advising and Exploration, has published an article, “10 Ways to be a Successful 1st Year Student in College,” in the online publication The Learning Center Newsletter, November 2005. The article lists 10 things a freshman can do to increase chances of success in college.
• Germayne Graham, Counseling Center, co-authored with several Auburn University staff members, “Mental Health Practitioners: The relationship between white racial identity attitudes and self reported multicultural counseling competencies,” in the Journal of Counseling and Development, volume 83, fall 2005.

 

Registrar’s Office Collects Toys for Marine Program

In the spirit of the holiday season, the Registrar’s Office collected toys to assist the Marines’ Toys for Tots program. This effort was coordinated by Jim Middlekauff, Registrar specialist, who delivered the large box of toys to the Central Florida Toys for Tots drop off station on December 15. The gifts were added to the 50,000 toys that were already collected.

 

Correction to December 2005 UKnighted:

The front page article, “Student Center Dedicated in Memory of Jimmie A. Ferrell, . . .the Jimmie A. Ferrell Commons, formerly known as the Student Academic Resource Center, should have read. . . formerly known as the Student Resource Center.

Penny War to Benefit Salvation Army

November 1 kicked off a three-week currency crusade hosted by the Student Academic Resource Center (SARC) Peer Mentors. The Office of Multicultural Academic and Support Services (MASS), Transfer and Transition Services (TTS), First Year Advising and Exploration (FYAE) and SARC participated in the 3rd annual Penny War. This year, money raised will benefit the Salvation Army’s Hurricane Relief Fund.

The Peer Mentors of SARC revved up the competition, placing jars and contest rules on the front desk of each department. Each Friday, the Peer Mentors collected the penny jars and calculated the current standings of the battle, and each department was notified of the status.

A total of $408 was raised with FYAE being the winner and earning them “bragging” rights for this year’s Penny War. The Peer Mentors presented the donation to the commander of the Salvation Army.

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.