UKnighted Newsletter
May 2008

SDES Annual Celebration Breakfast-
A Perfect 10

Student Development and Enrollment Services (SDES) held its 10th Annual Breakfast Celebration on April 17. Once a year, SDES employees come together to enjoy a breakfast buffet and recognize colleagues for their years of service at UCF. In addition, merit awards are presented to recipients nominated by their co-workers.

Maribeth Ehasz, vice president for SDES, welcomed and commended everyone for their hard work and commitment to providing quality service to students. She welcomed special guests: Terry Hickey, provost and executive vice president, Chris Morgan, executive assistant to the provost, and Brandie Hollinger, ‘07-’08 Student Government Association president. Ehasz also recognized Joshua Wilson, former Mr. UCF, who played the piano for the event, and members of the SDES Council.

Award certificates and plaques were presented to employees to honor years of service at UCF. Special recognition merit awards followed (see list).

Jim Smith, Regional Campuses Student Services–UCF Cocoa, and event emcee raffled off prizes throughout the breakfast. In the past, SDES staff eagerly looked forward to the giveaways, checking their numbers as winning tickets were drawn. This year was no different with many great prizes including UCF parking passes, savings bonds, a golf putter, autographed sports memorabilia, books published by alumni and gift certificates to area attractions, restaurants, entertainment businesses and much more.

For photos, service award recipients, merit award recipients and nominees, and sponsors, visit: www.sdes.ucf.edu/sdesbreakfst2008.htm.

2008 Merit Awards

• Community Connection: Patty Farris
• Commitment to Diversity: Sonia Gonzalez-Smith
• Continuous Learner: Fiona Murphy
• Way to Go: Tim Anderson
• Outstanding Collaborative Effort: LINK and Outdoor Adventure program, Recreation and Wellness Center
• Pride in Customer Service: Sarah Olesky
• The New Professional: Christopher Quintero
• The Experienced Professional: Earnestine Gould Jackson
• SDES Team of the Year: The University Crisis Committee
• Exceptional Partnership: Denise Berrios and the UCF Barnes & Noble Bookstore
• Overall Operational Excellence (A&P): J. Robert Wirag
• Overall Operational Excellence (USPS): Migdalia Rodriguez

The following award recipients were selected as LINK First-Year Advocate, nominated by a first-year student committee:

• Staff: Jennifer Wright
• Department: Student Academic Resource Center

SDES Council 2008

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.

If you have any ideas, suggestions or comments, please contact a SDES Council member: sdescoun@mail.ucf.edu.

• Ida Cerezo, Recreation and Wellness Center
• Sophie Cortes-Thomas, Orientation Services
• Germayne Graham, LEAD Scholars Program
• Scot Gustafson, Administrative Services
• Teresa Michaelson-Chmelir, Counseling Center
• Sarah Oleksy, Housing and Residence Life
• Judy Pardo, Assessment and Planning
• Suzette Ricketts, First Year Advising and Exploration

UCF Students Inducted to Order of Pegasus

Maribeth Ehasz, vice president for SDES, presided over the recent Order of Pegasus Class of 2008 induction ceremony held on April 23. John C. Hitt, president, and Terry Hickey, provost and executive vice president, were in attendance to congratulate the students and assist with the presentation of their award medals. Family members, faculty and administrators were on hand as well to celebrate the wonderful accomplishments of these talented students.

The Order of Pegasus is the highest university honor recognizing exemplary UCF students who demonstrate outstanding university involvement, leadership, academic achievement and community service. This year, four graduate and 11 undergraduate students were selected for this prestigious award from among a student body population of over 48,497. Students are nominated annually by high-ranking university officials. A separate selection committee reviews the students’ credentials and conducts interviews.

College of Education faculty member and Order of Pegasus Class of 2001 member Carolyn Walker-Hopp read excerpts from the students’ glowing reference letters and noted their future plans. Ehasz presented the Order of Pegasus medals, and all in attendance extended their congratulations. In addition to their medals, students received a $500 scholarship from the Student Government Association and a lifetime Alumni Association membership. A reception followed for the students and their families.

Late Knights Ends Year with a Splash

Late Knights held its final event of the semester at the Recreation and Wellness Center on April 18. Late Knights, a student-run, Student Government Association agency, provides free alcohol-alternative programming to UCF students. This luau themed event attracted over 1,100 UCF students and friends to the Leisure Pool for a night of activities, food and fun.

Late Knights executive board brought all the fun of a water park to the UCF campus. With a foam party, surf simulator, water tag obstacle course and a water slide, students came out ready to get wet. Spray paint artists, a magician and a DJ provided entertainment. In addition, the Beach Scene, a surf shop that recently opened on the north end of campus, provided a band and giveaways. Everyone enjoyed Bubbalou’s Bodacious BBQ catering.

“This year was one of Late Knights most successful years,” said Kelly Sparks, coordinator for the Office of Student Involvement. “The board was able to successfully hold eight events over the Fall and Spring semesters, two more then last year. Two of the monthly events had an attendance of over 2,500 students, a tremendous increase from previous years.” To build on the event’s success, Late Knights scheduled a summer event to be held on July 18.

REAL Peers Really Get It

UCF students may not realize it as they clutch their notebooks, anxiously anticipating another impending exam, but they could be tomorrow’s CEOs, politicians and educators. Tom Hall, Bernadette Jungblut, Brittany Resmann, Matthew Harris, Kyla Tan and the SDES REAL Peers research team, recognize the importance of providing opportunities for students to become well-prepared for campus and community leadership roles. The team is committed to establishing a curriculum that ventures outside traditional programming and delivers grassroots opportunities to become engaged in community mobilization. “The idea of the curriculum is to challenge students to recognize they are the lifeblood of their community,” said Hall.

On April 6, the REAL Peers Team began implementing this vision in a pilot of the first component of the REAL Peers curriculum. They asked teams of student volunteers to design a university by addressing key questions about academics, athletics, health and safety, housing, social activities, student resources, and university administration – and to make difficult decisions by assigning limited budget dollars to each issue area.

Diverse leadership styles quickly emerged as the team decision-making ensued. “I learned that team members depend on me to keep them focused,” said Jamaari Johnson, Transfer and Transition Services (TTS) peer mentor and pilot study participant. “The program is creative and inspiring. It applies to several types of students in leadership roles, not just the student body president,” said Brittany Tollerton, TTS peer mentor. “Students should be advocates, improving the community and motivating others to do the same. I’m looking forward to the next test-run.”

For more information about REAL Peers, contact Tom Hall: tvhall@mail.ucf.edu or Bernadette Jungblut: bjungblu@mail.ucf.edu.

Students Lead Out Loud

The student leadership development office facilitated the first Minority Leadership Retreat, “LEAD OUT LOUD” on April 4-5. The purpose of the retreat was to provide training for students who are executive board members in a club or organization on campus or those who have the desire to attain an executive board position this upcoming school year.

The opportunity provided 56 students with the foundational knowledge to be successful student leaders. The retreat began on a Friday evening with an opening address and challenge from DeLaine Priest, assistant vice president for the Student Success Center. She encouraged the students to get involved on campus and seek out opportunities that will have an impact on the community. The next day students participated in team-building exercises at the UCF Challenge Course and then attended workshops that provided essential information needed to be a leader.

“The response was overwhelming, resulting in more students attracted to the student leadership development office and getting involved in leadership positions,” said Edwanna Andrews, assistant director. One student commented, “First and foremost, I’ve realized that it’s imperative to know myself so that I may be able to extend myself to others.”

Students Get Tips in Managing their Finances

SDES held a Financial Literacy Day to educate students about managing money and avoiding debt. Representatives from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and the InCharge Education Foundation were in front of the Student Union on April 9 to answer questions about financial issues.

“We want to teach students to make sound decisions about credit and money, especially now with the current state of our economy,” said Fritzlaine Powell, director of Partnership Development who organized the event. Free pizza was distributed to those stopping by the information tables, as well as piggy banks, posters and educational pamphlets.

The event is part of SDES’ Take Charge: Bank on Your Credit campaign, focused on assisting students with budgeting and saving to avoid falling into credit card debt. The event was held during Financial Literacy Month, declared by Florida Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink to raise awareness of the importance of financial information and assistance.

“Many people live off credit cards,” Powell said. “Credit cards aren’t always a bad thing, but you have to be aware of your spending and rate plans. Make sure you understand your credit card’s terms and conditions. That leaflet of small type that no one reads…read it. If you don’t understand it, call the credit card company and ask specific questions.”

Rosen Event Raises Money for Charity

On April 7, Rosen Campus Life held a “Party Like a Rockstar” event to raise money for the Lupus Foundation. The band “Fall Term” provided entertainment. The Chocolate Club provided fruit and marshmallows to dip in a chocolate fountain, and Bonefish Grill provided shrimp. Students designed their own photo-setting using inflated guitars and other props in the “Pimp your Photo” area. A raffle with donated prizes such as hotel stays, restaurant gift cards, gas cards, and more was held. The event raised over $300 for the Lupus Foundation. Rosen Campus Life collaborated with an Event Management class to produce the event, and the UCF Campus Activity Board helped sponsor the event.

Greek Chapters Recognized

Fraternity and Sorority Life recognized the following chapters with awards for their hard work and dedication to the Greek Community 2007:

• Outstanding Grade Point Average: Alpha Kappa Alpha and Beta Theta Pi
• Most Improved Grade Point Average: Chi Upsilon Sigma and Lambda Sigma Upsilon
• Outstanding New Member Program: Beta Theta Pi
• Outstanding Community Service (large Greek organization): Alpha Tau Omega
• Outstanding Community Service (small Greek organization): Delta Phi Lambda
• Outstanding Philanthropic Organization : Alpha Tau Omega
• Outstanding Risk Management: Kappa Alpha Theta
• Diversity Initiatives Programming: Kappa Alpha Psi
• Chapter of the Year Panhellenic Council: Kappa Kappa Gamma
• Chapter of the Year Diversified Greek Council: Chi Upsilon Sigma
• Chapter of the Year Interfraternity Council: Alpha Tau Omega
• Chapter of the Year Pan-Hellenic Council: Delta Sigma Theta
  

Students with Disabilities Prepare for Jobs

Recently, 13 UCF students, registered with the Student Disability Services Office, were among 52 students with disabilities from a variety of post-secondary institutions in Florida to participate in the first Full Access: Career Opportunities for Students with Disabilities Summit.

The keynote speaker was Olegario “Ollie” Cantos, special council to the acting assistant attorney general, Civil Rights Division, U.S. Department of Justice. Cantos, who is legally blind, is the highest ranking individual with a disability in the U.S. government. The students participated in workshops to help prepare them for their job searches. They were also provided with opportunities to network with corporate representatives from 10 major companies, including Wachovia, Sun Trust and AIG. Student feedback on the event was very positive. One student stated that she felt better prepared to begin her job search.

Registrar’s Office Gets Prepared

Major Randy Mingo, University Police Department, recently spoke with the staff of the Registrar’s Office (RO) about how to respond to situations involving suspicious or threatening individuals on campus. Mingo was able to provide insight about how the police handle such incidents as well as safety and evacuation strategies for the staff to utilize. Mingo will make several return visits to help evaluate and plan for the specific needs of the RO. For more information on how the University Police Department can provide assistance and advice to your office, call 407.823.5555.

Students from Oregon Visit UCF

Multicultural Academic and Support Services Director, Wayne Jackson, along with UCF students from Men of Integrity and Brother to Brother take a photo with high school students from The Bridge Builders, a Portland, Oregon-based organization that recently toured the UCF campus.

UCF Cocoa Relocating for Summer Building Upgrades

Currently, the Regional Campuses Student Services–UCF Cocoa Building 3, SGA, faculty and staff are temporarily housed on the third floor of the UCF Cocoa Library until mid-August. This relocation is due to heating and air conditioner replacement in Building 3.

Summer classes normally offered in Building 3 will be located on the Brevard Community College campus. The campus will remain a full service campus with the same phone and e-mail contact information. For additional information, e-mail: srss@mail.ucf.edu.

Welcome to SDES

• Kady English, coordinator, Student Affairs, Housing and Residence Life
• Herman Gomez, maintenance specialist, Student Union (SU)
• Robert Romo, maintenance worker, SU
• Cathy Rudolph, advanced registered nurse practitioner, Health Services
• Spencer Williams, senior computer specialist, Health Services
  

SDES Awards and Recognition

• Gloria Laureano, First Year Advising and Exploration, received the “Women Who Make a Difference” award in the field of education at a four-year university from La Prensa at the first Central Florida Hispanic Women Awards Luncheon on March 22.
  

Publications

• Andrew Luchner and Casey Moser from the Counseling Center, along with faculty from their graduate program, have authored an article, “Maintaining Boundaries in Psychotherapy: Covert Narcissistic Personality Characteristics and Psychotherapists” in Psychotherapy: Theory, Research, Practice, Training; 2008, Volume 45, No. 1. The article is available online through PsychInfo:library.ucf.edu/Databases/OnlineJournals.asp.
  

SDES Reconsidered: The Discussion Continues

Kerry Welch
Director, Office of Student and Involvement
Primary Facilitator, SDES Reconsidered
407.823.6471 • kpwelch@mail.ucf.edu

We have transitioned into a new phase of the SDES Reconsidered process. After several months discussing transformational learning and the student learning outcomes we anticipate, now is the time for putting our ideas into action. Core group members have demonstrated competency with the format the Learning Guides designed for crafting student learning outcomes. The next few weeks should be an exciting time as student learning outcomes emerge and we map the division according to student learning domains, objectives, and outcomes.

Through presentations and discussion sessions, Learning Guides will support individual SDES units as they craft student learning outcomes specific to the programs and services those units provide for students. Ideally, the entire staff of each unit will be able to participate in these discussions and will assist in the development of the student learning outcomes. It is very important we maintain our emphasis on involving everyone in the division in this process. As we have noted throughout, student learning occurs all the time and everywhere – and we all play a key role in that process.

The first of the Learning Guide presentations occurred on April 19 at the Recreation and Wellness Center (RWC) with approximately 15 staff members participating – including the director, associate and assistant directors, coordinators, administrative assistants and graduate assistants. Jimmy Moore, Learning Guide and Housing and Residence Life Coordinator for Assessment and Off-Campus Student Services, led the presentation. Celena Daniels, Learning Guide and RWC staff member, co-facilitated the discussion.

The RWC staff members were very engaged as they crafted several valuable student learning outcomes. According to Moore, the process was “very successful.” At the same time, some important lessons were learned that might be of use to all of us as we work with our respective Learning Guides. First, this presentation reinforced the importance of devoting at least 90 minutes to a discussion with our Learning Guides about crafting student learning outcomes. Otherwise, the process may feel rushed, and significant opportunities for professional growth and involvement may be lost. Second, it was very beneficial for the RWC staff to have a chance to familiarize themselves with the presentation materials prior to their discussion with Moore and Daniels. Learning Guides will usually send these materials to unit heads in advance for distribution to unit staff. Finally, developing and identifying effective assessment strategies and tools is an ongoing process. Fortunately, we have staff members with expertise in assessment. The Departmental Review Committee (DRC) and the Learning Guides have been and will continue to work together to assist each unit to develop student learning outcomes and appropriate measures for evaluating the achievement of those outcomes.

We also need to be mindful that SDES Reconsidered is an ongoing process, not an event. It certainly doesn’t end with a single presentation. We are at the beginning of an exciting journey of “stretching” ourselves to maintain our high level of service to students across the division. Each step along this new path is significant. As student learning outcomes are developed, look for the Horizontal Workshop in late May, the first in a series of workshops that will help identify natural partners across the division as well as new opportunities for collaboration.

Please feel free to contact me at any time if you have a question about this process. I look forward to hearing from other staff and the Learning Guides regarding the continued development of student learning outcomes that will benefit the ultimate audience, our students.

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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