UKnighted Newsletter
June 2007

Job Fair Draws Big Crowd from Around the State

The University of Central Florida’s Career Services & Experiential Learning (CSEL), in partnership with Florida Career Centers, hosted the 19th Annual Statewide Job Fair on May 10 at the UCF Arena. The Statewide Job Fair provides employers with the opportunity to recruit graduates and alumni from Florida’s 11 public universities at one event. The event attracted approximately 1,400 students and over 240 employers.

Students and employers alike were extremely pleased with this year’s event. Students seeking full-time, professional positions dressed accordingly, with resumes in hand for the opportunity to network with employers and companies from around the country.

Sam Shepard, a UCF graduate, found that “there was a lot of diversity.” According to Justin Green, a UCF Molecular and Microbiology major, “There was a lot of selection there, a lot of vendors with many possible job opportunities.”

Many students took advantage of these opportunities and were able to schedule interviews with possible future employers. Some lucky students were even able to be interviewed at the event in private interview rooms that were set up for employers to use.

The centralized location of the University of Central Florida is ideal to attract both students and employers from around the state. Many employers use this one event as their primary resource for recruiting graduates and alumni for possible positions in their organization. Steven Gilbert, Special Agent Recruiter for United States Drug Enforcement Administration, stated that UCF is “a big university, and that is why I always come to this event.”

Gilbert also stated that he attends other UCF career events throughout the year for his company’s recruiting needs. Employers like Gilbert come armed with representatives, displays, banners and pamphlets to provide information about their company. That way, they will be able to attract and find the candidates that best suit their needs.

Some companies limit their job openings to a particular major, but many elect not to place restrictions. Instead, they seek any major because they feel they can still find recruits with professional demeanors and abilities to work for them.

“With such great attendance and diversity, it is easy to see why the Statewide Job Fair is continually the best event for students and employers year after year,” said Alex Mosley, career events assistant, CSEL .



Health Service Happenings

•Health Services staff collaborated with Florida Department of Health officials on April 9-13 to provide free HIV screenings to UCF students.

Under the leadership of Peter Mastroianni, coordinator, educational/training, more than 15 volunteers from the community and the Department of Health worked with Health Services’ Reach-4-Wellness staff to provide HIV counseling and testing to 521 students. The event helped raise HIV screening awareness among students.

•Health Services is busy preparing for a new satellite pharmacy. Adjacent to the new postal services office and across the street from the new UCF Convocation Center, the pharmacy will provide a broad supply of retail merchandise to nearby residents, faculty, staff and visitors. Additionally, the satellite pharmacy will stock a wide range of prescriptive medicines with a pharmacist on site.



Off-Campus Communities U-Knight at Meeting

Off-Campus Student Services (OCSS) hosted the annual Spring Managers Meeting for over 12 apartment communities serving the UCF area including the UCF Affiliated Housing at Pegasus Landing and Pegasus Pointe.

OCSS and managers discussed plans for the inaugural on-campus football season, safety and security, and the future of housing at UCF. Jimmy Moore, coordinator for Assessment, presented “Marketing to Millennials,” offering tips and insight into this generation of college students. The planned Community Bridge Web site was introduced, highlighting activities and resources in the area along with the newly forming Off-Campus Student Council.

OCSS will host the Summer Safety Summit for the communities on July 18 and will focus on increasing personal accountability for safety among all members of our communities. “The meeting was a true testament to a lasting tradition of powerful partnerships,” said Moore.



Stretch those Muscles

The Recreation and Wellness Center (RWC) recently added a new addition to their fitness equipment. The True Stretch machine is designed to increase flexibility among users and reduces the risk for injury. This piece of equipment was acquired through the funds received from the filming of the movie, “Sydney White” which took place over spring break.



Free Cruise for Rosen Students

On April 19, the Rosen College of Hospitality Management’s students enjoyed their “cruise” around the world on the “Rosen of the Seas.” Students were able to enjoy food and fun activities corresponding to each port.

The cruise had four ports of call: Jamaica, Belize rainforest, Greek Isles and Key West. Each port had activities including body art, sand art, chair massages, manicures, music, hair braiding, limbo, photos and specialty food such as dirt cake, key lime pie and greek salad.

Students entered into a raffle to win prizes sponsored by the Campus Activity Board (CAB) such as iPod Shuffles and Best Buy gift cards. Elise Enloe’s Event Management class and Campus Life teamed up to produce this creative event. Over 200 students, faculty and staff attended the event.



Outdoor Adventure East Coast Road Trip

Outdoor Adventure (OA) bundled seven separate activities across the Southeast together for the OA East Coast Road Trip, which spanned seven intense days of cave diving, white water rafting, mountain biking, hiking and camping.

The Future embedded a writer and photographer, Amanda Moore, in the group to document the excursion. This vigorous trip received much excitement from the group of nine students and four staff members. All of the students rated this trip as “Excellent” and “Very Good.”

Students experienced the wilderness of Georgia, Tennessee and the Carolinas.



TTS Peer Mentors Bring "The Real World" to UCF

Recently, the Peer Mentors of Transfer and Transition Services (TTS) produced and directed a film for this year’s Major Exploration Week, held March 19-23. The film, “The Real World: UCF Majors” is a spoof on MTV’s “The Real World.”

Jennifer Petit, a TTS Peer Mentor, assumed the role of executive producer and led the group of Peer Mentors and Volunteer UCF students all over campus. “The film is an entertaining way for undeclared students to learn about the different majors that are offered at UCF,” claimed Petit.

Several of Petit’s fellow Peer Mentors helped in the making of the film, including Gerardo Aponte, who played the role of an Interdisciplinary Studies Major with a Minor in Dance. “Being a part of this film has helped me to understand the undeclared experience, and it has provided me with knowledge that I have carried over into my advising sessions,” said Aponte.

According to Petit, “It was a pleasure to work with everyone involved. The actors provided a lot of energy to make the movie exciting, and it seemed to pay off for the students because they loved watching it, and they learned a lot from it.”

TTS Director Charlene Stinard thanked film leaders: Alex Askew, director; John McMinn, assistant director; Jessica Tones, assistant producer; and the entire cast for all of their hard work. “It was one of the most innovative and exciting projects for this year’s Peer Mentors; they deserve an Oscar,” said Stinard.



Regional Campuses Host ADR Team Visit

Western and Southern Regional Campuses hosted an Academic Development and Retention (ADR) team visit on April 30. Offices represented on the visit were ADR; Regional Campus Student Services; Career Services and Experiential Learning; Counseling Center; Multicultural Academic and Support Services; Orientation Services; Registrar’s Office; Student Academic Resource Center; and Transfer and Transition Services.

“Western Region’s SDES cohorts were welcomed by the South Lake Campus administration, faculty and staff with much enthusiasm,” said Pam Brady, director for Student Services at Western Region, which includes South Lake, Ocala, Osceola, Metro-West, South Orlando and Leesburg campuses .

“ South Lake is a young campus that is very excited about bringing student services to its students.” A presentation was made by Cecelia Rivers, assistant vice president/director for Western Region, on the campus history and programs, which provided insight into student support needs. Additionally, the Ocala Campus and future Leesburg Campus were spotlighted in the presentation. The group had a discussion and shared ideas. The campus visit ended with a tour of the joint-use facility.

Visitors were welcomed to the Cocoa Campus by the Southern Region’s campus administration and staff, advising team, Student Government Association and Student Services. The afternoon included a presentation on Southern Region programs and support services and a campus tour. The presentation by Lauren Miller, director for Academic Support Services, provided a foundation for a group discussion on the needs of students in the Southern Region.

A highlight of the visit was an interactive poly com demonstration from the Palm Bay Campus. The demonstration, facilitated by Linda Puritz, Regional Campus assistant director, showcased how utilization of poly com technology can expand student access to programs and services.

A.J. Range , assistant vice president of Regional Campus Student Services, summarized the visit by stating, “This was an outstanding collaborative activity designed to better serve students.”



Undergraduate Catalog Released

The 2007-08 Undergraduate Catalog has been published and distributed to each new student at orientation, as well as colleges and departments. Additionally, the catalog is available for sale in the University Bookstore. Prepared by the Registrar’s Office, the complete catalog is conveniently available online at: www.catalog.sdes.ucf.edu.



Registrar's Office Coordinates Six Graduations

Coordinated by Dennis Dulniak, university registrar, and Joy Blair, assistant university registrar, a team from the Registrar’s Office directed six commencement ceremonies May 3-5 at the UCF Arena. Over 4,000 graduates attended over the course of the three days. In addition, Charles Townes, who received the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1964 for developing the fundamental inventions that would later lead to the laser, was presented with an honorary Doctorate in Science.



Registrar's Office Receives a Good Review

Susan Van Voorhis, director of Academic Support Resources and University Registrar for the University of Minnesota, performed a peer review on the UCF Registrar’s Office (RO) this past April. At the invitation of Dennis Dulniak, UCF university registrar, Van Voorhis was to review and evaluate the operations and structure of RO services and support.

She met with students and staff from all levels of the university community. She concluded in her report that “...UCF is a great place for students to receive an education. RO staff care about the success of the students.” Van Voorhis also made several key recommendations, including the automation of processes and the direction and formulation of an Information Technology unit within the department.

She believes the RO has the opportunity to produce an environment that will “create innovative technology solutions and streamline business processes to enhance the work and service environment of UCF.” Van Voorhis went on to conclude that “implementing these recommendations will allow the RO to continue to function well as the university continues to grow.”



SDES Council Corner

The University Testing Center (UTC) strives to meet the needs of UCF students, prospective students, alumni and the greater Orlando Metropolitan area by providing a wide variety of testing services.

In 2006, UTC administered over 24,000 exams. In addition, in 2005-06 UTC was recognized as a Top 100 CLEP Test Center for the third consecutive year. Each fall, UTC staff holds a series of Supervisor/Proctor Training Workshops that train over 200 individuals needed to participate in UTC’s large standardized examination administrations that occur throughout the year.

The center is a member of the National College Testing Association (NCTA) and is a participant in the Consortium of College Testing Centers (CCTC). Staff members have represented UCF at national conferences and have presented workshops on a variety of topics.

UTC offers a variety of national and local standardized examinations. Among the computer-based examinations are:

• College Level Academic Skills Test (CAT-CLAST);

• College Level Examination Program (CLEP);

• Florida Teacher Certification Examinations (FTCE).

Recently, UTC was chosen to be one of the few sites to offer the Internet-based Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). UTC’s paper-and-pencil examinations include:

• College Level Academic Skills Test (CLAST);

• Grammar Proficiency Exam (for the Nicholson School of Communications);

• Foreign Language Proficiency Exam (in over 50 languages);

• Law School Admission Test (LSAT); • Florida Teacher Certification Examinations (FTCE).

UTC also offers comprehensive CLAST advising for students who are in need of satisfying the state-mandated requirement.

The center is located in Howard Phillips Hall, room 106. For more information, call 407.823.5109 or visit: www.testing.sdes.ucf.edu.

SDES Awards and Recognition

• Patricia Pates, Assessment and Planning, was selected to serve as the state representative for the State Knowledge Community Chair for International Education on the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA) Region III - Florida Advisory Board.

Her first charge is to develop an agenda of pressing International Education issues that need to be addressed by Student Affairs in Florida higher education institutions.


SDES Presentations

• Jacqueline Alfonso, graduate assistant in the Alcohol and Other Drug Prevention Programming Office and doctoral candidate in the Clinical Psychology program, presented her original research on effective alcohol interventions at this year’s Graduate Student Research Forum and was awarded with the “Best Research Poster Presentation” in the Social Sciences category.

Jacqueline will be completing her pre-doctoral internship at The Greater Hartford Clinical Psychology Internship Consortium this July.

Publications

• Dennis Dulniak was interviewed by LRP Publications and had a full page written in the March edition of a national newsletter, The Successful Registrar, on his leadership and the UCF Registrar’s Office.

Correction to April issue: Pamela Brady, director for Student Services at Western Region, oversees South Lake, Ocala, Osceola, Metro-West, South Orlando and Leesburg campuses.

Welcome to SDES

• Katherine Compton, program assistant, Readmissions, Registrar’s Office, (RO)
• David Scot Gustafson, senior computer repair technician, Technology Team, Administrative Services
• Bunnie Jackson, program assistant, Residency Reclassifications, RO
• Amie Kusak, office manager, Creative School for Children
• Scott Milbuta, program analyst, Reporting, RO
• Maribel Pina, executive administrative assistant, Student Rights and Responsibilities
• Jacqueline Rodriguez, program assistant, Graduation, RO
• Kent Woodford, program assistant, Administrative Data, RO

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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