UKnighted Newsletter
November 2006

SDES Welcomes Students and Their Families

Family Weekend is a UCF tradition that welcomes families and gives them the opportunity to explore the UCF campus and experience the university community. During the weekend of October 20-22, families attended many events that reflected a wide variety of activities and resources available to students. The following are some of Student Development and Enrollment Services’ events:

Housing and Residence Life’s Libra and Apollo communities partnered together to host a reception for UCF families and friends. “Participating in the University of Central Florida Family Weekend is important in building community support for every student,” said Travis Gabriel, area coordinator for the Apollo Community. “This is essential for first-year students who primarily reside in communities such as Libra and Apollo.” The more than 50 attendees stated they enjoyed the wonderful, friendly atmosphere that exists in the residential community.

In the Student Union, Open House was set up in four SDES offices, Office of Student Involvement (OSI), Student Government Association (SGA), Multicultural Student Center (MSC) and Fraternity and Sorority Life (F&SL), to welcome students and their families. This event offered families the opportunity to learn about the organizations that the students are active with or participate in on a daily basis. Students in MSC and F&SL introduced themselves and were available to answer questions. Erica Baker, Panhellenic president, commented, “The Open House allowed parents of Greek students to get a closer look at the office that provides the backbone to the entire Greek system.” Family Weekend has allowed students to show off their planning skills, creativity and organizational commitment.

Campus Life hosted a Welcome Reception at the Recreation and Wellness Center Leisure Pool. As guests mingled, the vibes of a steel drum provided the background music for the evening. Following the reception, Vice President Maribeth Ehasz, Student Development and Enrollment Services, along with President Mark White and Vice President Jared Stout, Student Government Association, scooped Jeremiah’s Italian ice for attendees. Guests raved about the Italian ice, stating it was the perfect cool-down on a hot evening.

Students with family members 17 years or older had the opportunity to use the Recreation and Wellness Center’s indoor facility and swimming pools for free during Family Weekend. Approximately 79 people participated in the Open Workout over the course of Family Weekend with 53 students and their family members. One family member stated, “This is an excellent opportunity for parents to get involved with their students.”

Late Knights, themed Gold Rush, was held on Friday evening. Activities included a mechanical bull, inflatable games, line dance lessons, Karaoke, caricatures, western photos, bingo, comedy featuring Aaron Karo (sponsored by CAB), pumpkin painting contest, and Halloween card making and candy bagging to benefit local homeless children. BBQ from Bubbalou’s was served at midnight. Approximately 1,500 students and family members were in attendance.

Family Weekend at the UCF Rosen College of Hospitality Management’s campus began Friday night with their version of “Rosen Idol.” Students and their families were invited to join together in the Darden auditorium to sing Karaoke and impress the panel of judges. After singing, they received a music DVD of their performance. Tyson Nales, Rosen Idol first place winner, won two tickets to Universal Studios.

On Sunday, Rosen students and families came together to enjoy a brunch buffet. “The food was delicious, and the Rosen staff were gracious and attentive,” said Sandy Rodenbrock, SDES staff member and parent of a student attending Rosen. “The other parents that I met were all very pleased with their student’s college experience.” After the brunch, everyone was invited to attend a friendly game of volleyball in the Rosen field.

What are parents saying about UCF?“I love it here.”“This is the perfect fit for our daughter.”“I love Parents Weekend.”“I Love UCF.”

UCF Wins Design Awards at Regional Conference

Campus Activity Board (CAB) and the Office of Student Involvement (OSI) Design Group were recently honored at the National Association for Campus Activities (NACA) Conference in Alabama by winning the following student-originated awards:

• 1st Place–One-Color Poster
• 2nd Place–Web Site (CAB)
• 2nd Place–Low-Cost Publicity
• 3rd Place–Theme Publicity
• 3rd Place–Non-Poster Publicity

Children Celebrate Diversity

The Creative School for Children (CSC) Diversity Art Show brightened up the brick walls on the second floor of Millican Hall, celebrating “Diversity, Sport and Cultural Change” in October. The artwork was created by CSC’s “littlest knights,” children ages 2 to 5 years old and was displayed throughout October.

Roommate Information Available at Fair

Students had the opportunity to gather useful resources in managing roommate relations at the 2006 Roommate Fair, recently hosted by Off-Campus Student Services (OCSS). Students were given a roommate inventory game to see how well they knew each other. They also had a chance to win prizes (umbrellas, tote bags, athletic cups) in a drawing, and enjoy pizza. The fair attracted over 100 students and approximately 64,000 LINK Loot points were given out. [LINK Loot can be used at the end of the semester’s LINK Auction on November 28.] One student reported that she was “glad to be able to obtain information on campus resources in such a comfortable environment.” The fair was a collaboration with Recreation and Wellness Center, Housing and Residence Life and Dispute Resolution Services.

OCSS takes to the road: OCSS began their Road Show on October 27 at the Northgate Lakes apartment community to reach out to UCF students who live off campus. The Road Show promoted UCF student services and programs, and talked about Homecoming Week. For more information, or to be involved with the Road Show, contact Jimmy Moore at: jsmoore@mail.ucf.edu.

Performance addresses men with eating disorders

Michael Feldman’s documentary, “MuscleBound,” illustrated men with body image disorders, asking what drives them, what scares them and why they hide their issues. Topics within the performance included how steroid and supplements are abused to gain athletic prowess and social acceptance. The emphasis on the male body in both straight and gay life was exemplified by depicting the effects of men dealing with anorexia, bulimia, and binge-eating.

MuscleBound took a look at the sharp rise of muscle dysmorphia, where muscular men perceive themselves as “too small” and exercise obsessively to gain girth. Feldman appears in the documentary clips and tells the audience of his own personal battle with eating disorders and bulimia.

MuscleBound attracted an audience of over 300. Following the documentary, 50 people participated in a panel discussion, which included: David Wallace (director for the Counseling Center), Priddy Wilkho (dietician for Health Services) and Kelly Ferris (peer educator for Reach for Wellness). Some audience comments included: “It was pretty interesting, it opened up my eyes to issues I hadn’t heard of,” and “It is clearly an area where we need to continue our educational efforts.”

Men Compete for Mr. UCF Title

On October 14, seven UCF men vied for the title of Mr. UCF 2007. The totally student run production, Fever All Through the Knight, featured Mr. UCF 2006 Gaston Blanchet and the reigning Miss UCF Megan Clementi. The competition was close, but 19-year-old sophomore Joshua “Josh” Wilson emerged as the winner. Nick Dorsey was first runner-up, Scott Kirkman, second runner-up, and Landon Grantham, third runner-up. Justin Lang won non-finalist talent and Zephyr Wilkins won non-finalist interview and the congeniality award. The contestants competed in interview, talent, beach wear, formal wear and answered an on-stage question.

Wilson, a resident of Orange Park, Florida, is a music major and mathematics minor. He is on the Dean’s list and a member of the Burnett Honors College. Wilson is also a member of Latin Rhythm, the Baptist Collegiate Ministries, and the Crescendudes. He plans to graduate with a degree in music performance and become a performer and entertainer.

Students Network with Future Employers

Career Services & Experiential Learning hosted the fall 2006 Career Expo on September 20 with 230 employers and over 1,500 students in attendance. This event connects UCF students with both local and national business partners. According to Alexis Stewart, Hartman Consulting & Design (HCD), “The fall 2006 Career Expo at UCF was well organized, represented a variety of companies and had an excellent turn out of students in many different disciplines. The Fall Career Expo gave HCD the opportunity to display our achievements, capabilities, and recruit students in the field of civil and environmental engineering.”

From the student’s perspective, Sarah Gautier (College of Arts and Humanities) stated, “The Expo was a great opportunity to network with employers and explore career possibilities.” The Spring Career Expo is scheduled for February 7.

Bicycle Auction

Bicycles abandoned on campus and recovered by the UCF Police Department will be sold at auction (cash only) to the highest bidder on November 14, starting at 11 a.m. in front of the Student Union. All proceeds raised at the auction will be used for student scholarships.

SARC Peer Mentors: Walking For a Great Cause

Each semester the Student Academic Resource Center (SARC) Peer Mentors make it a priority to give back to the Central Florida community. On Saturday, October 7, six peer mentors participated in the Alzheimer’s Association 2006 Memory Walk. This annual fundraiser is to raise money for Alzheimer’s research. In addition to the walk, SARC Peer Mentors held bake sales and a donation drive to raise funds to contribute to this very important cause. The final tally… $514. The SARC Peer Mentors said they are looking forward to continuing this tradition next year.

The Counseling Center is focused on providing the best possible mental health assessment, counseling and referral services to UCF students. Vivian Yamada, interim associate director of Clinical Services, coordinates this effort.

The center has traditionally focused on offering experiential training for counseling and social work master’s students. This year, under the leadership of Karen Hofmann, interim associate director of Training, the center included a psychology pre-doctoral internship as well, with Wade Arnold (University of Florida) and Cathy Connolly (Florida State University).

Yamada earned a Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, and Hofmann holds a Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from Texas A&M University.

Upgrade is User Friendly

UCF upgraded its student administration and human resources system, PeopleSoft, from version 8.0 to 8.9. The new system went live on November 1, providing expanded functionality and an improved user interface for employees, students and advisors in the areas of self-service in MyUCF.

“The look is a bit different,” said Dennis Dulniak, university registrar. “The content organization has been modified.”

The capabilities of the new system were bundled under various roles or responsibilities, which made navigation more user friendly. A new search capability in PeopleSoft 8.9 allows a more defined search for requested inquiries. Unlike the previous version, the exact pathway had to be remembered to get to a desired page. Once the search finds the link requested, the navigator can create and organize a favorites list to his or her preference.

“We have been teaching a student records class in which university personnel were trained to use PeopleSoft pages so they would be familiar with the new system before it went live,” stated Dulniak.

For training online or in person, contact the Registrar’s Office at 407.823.3100 or visit: training.ucf.edu.

Students Benefit from UCF and Community College Partnership

Recently, the annual Transfer and Transition Services (TTS) Community College Workshop was held with 133 advisors in attendance, representing UCF and 15 Florida community colleges. The program included: an update from Undergraduate Admissions; Career Services & Experiential Learning; the campus master plan with highlights by William Merck (vice president for Administration and Finance); Regional Campus Consortium updates by David Harrison (vice provost); and Information Fluency by Martha Marinara (professor). Advisors and representatives from UCF’s eight undergraduate colleges provided academic updates, news on majors and changes. In addition, other SDES departments provided information.

According to Charlene Stinard, director for TTS, “This vital program provides our community college partners with the most up-to-date information on UCF academic majors and other programs, and helps to ensure that students transferring from the community college system are academically prepared.”

UCF Collaborates with VCC for Transfer Students

Transfer and Transition Services (TTS) collaborated with Valencia Community College (VCC) to present the annual GradTrack transfer advising workshop. More than 300 Valencia students planning to transfer to UCF attended programs at VCC East and West campuses.

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

Presentations at both campuses gave Valencia students an opportunity to learn about the transfer process and undergraduate admissions. In addition, financial aid staff spoke to students about the importance of applying early and being prepared for the transition to UCF. Students explored their intended majors in small group advising sessions with UCF faculty and advisors. This year, additional advising sessions were added for students who are still exploring major choices. Bob Snow and Jackie Jessup provided assistance and information to undeclared students.

Counseling Center Open House

Faculty, staff and students were invited to visit the newly renovated Counseling Center building (formerly the old Student Health Center). The facility houses the Counseling Center, Alcohol and Other Drug Prevention Program, The REAL Project, and Health Services–Psychiatry, Biofeedback, Massage Therapy and Acupuncture. Tours were given and refreshments were served.

SDES Awards and Recognition

• Tim Anderson has joined the Academic Services for Student-Athletes advising staff. He will be working with the UCF football, softball and men’s golf teams.

Anderson arrived to UCF from Colorado State University where he worked as an advisor for student-athletes the past year. He is a former college football player and was a student coach while completing his undergraduate studies at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. Anderson earned his master’s degree in sports management at the University of Tennessee and served as a graduate assistant in the student-athlete academic support program.

• Dennis Dulniak, university registrar, participated in American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers’ (AACRAO) Nominations and Elections (N&E) Committee meeting in Denver from September 28-October 1. He was elected to serve on the national nine-member panel reviewing nominees and selecting AACRAO Board members and next year’s N&E candidates.

• William Ehling, James Wilkening, Sarah DiSabato, Kimberly Halliday and Jaime Morales, Recreation and Wellness Center, attended the National Intramural-Recreational Sports Association (NIRSA) Facilities Institute at the Ohio State University during October for professional staff development.

• Sylvia “Patty” Farris, Dispute Resolution Services, received her Florida Supreme Court Mediation Certification.

• Tom Hall, Alcohol and Other Drug Prevention Programming (AOD), was selected to be chair-elect for the American College Personnel Association (ACPA) Directorate for Substance Abuse and Related Violence.

Presentations

•Sylvia “Patty” Farris, Dispute Resolution Services, presented “1st Timer Mediation” training to child services professionals at Devereux Child Management Services during October. Seventeen professionals were trained in mediation from Devereux and Family Services of Metro Orlando.

• Tom Hall, AOD, and Al Harms, UCF chair for the Alcohol Task Force, presented “Critical Incident Response–Lessons Learned” at the 20th Annual Florida Prevention Conference, held in Orlando during September. Hall and Mike Smith, Florida Center for Prevention Research, presented at the same conference “The REAL Project–Strategies to Prevent High-Risk Drinking.” Hall co-facilitated with Ryan Travia, Harvard University, a discussion group at the Department of Education 20th Annual National Meeting on Alcohol and other Drug Abuse and Violence Prevention in Higher Education held in Arlington, Virginia during October. The session, sponsored by Outside the Classroom, featured a discussion regarding how to implement a comprehensive campuswide AOD prevention strategy.

The following SDES employees presented at the 2006 National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA) Florida Drive-In Conference, held at UCF on October 5-6:

• Joe Paulick and Sarah Oleksy, Housing and Residence Life, served as conference directors for the 2006 NASPA Florida Drive-In Conference.

• Jodi Farbstein and Danny Meuninck, Orientation Services, presented “Above and Beyond: Distance Yourself from the Competition.”

• David Pavlonnis, Administrative Services, and Emily Santiago, Career Services and Experiential Learning, co-presented the session, “Exploring Non-Traditional Careers in Higher Education.”

• Joe Ritchie, Orientation Services, Inez Ford, Student Financial Assistance, and Kerry Welch, Office of Student Involvement, co-presented “Reading the numbers: Financial Literacy and Higher Education.”

• Meredith Varner and Travis Gabriel, Housing and Residence Life, hosted a pre-conference workshop, “Hot Topics in Student Affairs.”

Welcome to SDES

• Tim Anderson, counselor/advisor, Academic Services for Student-Athletes
• Rishan Chandarana, programmer analyst, Housing and Residence Life
• Robin Cordis-Lewis, registered nurse specialist, Health Services
• David Crafts, interim assistant director, Student Affairs, Student Leadership Programs
• Myrna Pagan-Ubides, coordinator, Academic Support Services, Student Disability Services
• R. Lynn Voiret, office assistant, Eastern Region Student Services

SDES Participates in Leadership Program

Six SDES employees are participating in the nine-month 2006-07 Leadership Enhancement Program (LEP). The UCF LEP provides leadership development opportunities for program scholars to gain career-enhancing skills and leadership experiences in today’s changing educational environment. SDES participants include: Amy Buford (First Year Advising and Exploration), Amy Kleeman (Career Services & Experiential Learning), Joanne McCully (Recreation and Wellness Center), Lisa Vaughn (Registrar’s Office), Diana Weidman (Eastern Region Student Services) and Valda Ramdial (Career Services & Experiential Learning). Program benefits are monthly seminars, mentors, participation in Leadership Institute workshops and certificates of completion. For more information, visit the Office of Diversity Initiatives: diversity.ucf.edu.

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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