UKnighted Newsletter
September 2006

A Word from SDES Vice President Maribeth Ehasz

It is with great excitement and anticipation that I welcome you, our dedicated staff, faculty and students, back for the fall 2006 semester. I know this is going to be another great year with many opportunities and our share of challenges.

As we begin this new semester, I hope you will let our mission and goals guide your work. The Division of Student Development and Enrollment Services (SDES), in collaboration with university and community partners, empowers students to succeed by providing opportunities and support to develop integrity, scholarship, community, creativity and excellence. Our goals in SDES are to:

• Provide quality programs, services and learning environments that promote progression to graduation, graduate school and productive employment.
• Create opportunities for students to strengthen life skills and develop purpose, integrity, ethical standards and civic responsibility.
• Embrace diversity and foster engagement in the global community.

SDES is a diverse organization with multiple roles and responsibilities. It is sometimes easy to lose sight of the primary goals of the organization. Therefore, I wanted to restate what we are about through a new model. The below figure visually displays these three circles of focus and the relationship to the primary mission.

The focus of SDES is student success as defined by enrollment, retention, graduation and student development. We assure success in these areas through:

• Sustaining strong effective operations and business systems that are financially sound, efficient and contemporary as well as building, remodeling and updating learning environments that support student success.
• Providing essential and desirable services that support enrollment, retention and graduation, and eliminate obstacles to student learning and success.
•Creating opportunities for student learning and development integrating the UCF Creed as our foundation to encourage, engage, educate, enhance, and empower students to succeed.

Each member of the SDES community has a vital role in helping us reach our mission and goals. I believe that each of you is dedicated to that role. I look forward to our continued collaborative partnership to help students succeed.

Thank you for all you do for UCF, SDES and our students.

See Enrollment Services’ page for “Welcoming Students to UCF for the Fall Semester” photos.

The Student Development and Enrollment Services’ Web site has a new look! Visit: www.sdes.ucf.edu.Click on “Events” for SDES happenings.

Students Get Jump-Start on Jobs at Conference

Angel Ruiz, UCF ‘78, CEO and president of Ericsson North America will be the keynote speaker for the fall UCF Employment Prep Conference on September 13 at 12:30 p.m. in the Pegasus Ballroom. This signature event attracts over 300 students to a half-day conference that jump-starts their job search, beginning with an inspiring keynote speaker and interacting with over 40 company representatives providing employability skills seminars, resume critiques and practice interviewing sessions. Other notable keynoters have included Ann Deli, president of Orlando Harley-Davidson; Pat Williams, senior vice president for the Orlando Magic basketball team; and Wendy Chioji, news anchor for WESH-TV. The fair begins at noon through 4:30 p.m. and is hosted by Career Services & Experiential Learning.

UCF Fraternity Listed in Top 15 Nationally

The UCF Eta Rho Chapter of Alpha Tau Omega (ATO) Fraternity returned from their 2006 National Awards Congress in Austin, Texas with a total of six awards including the True Merit Award–the second highest award an ATO chapter can receive.

ATO received the True Merit Award for the second consecutive year in addition to Excellence Awards in Communication, Financial Management, Ritual, New Member Education, and Campus Involvement and Leadership. All awards were based on a national standard involving a baseline requirement of certain figures in each area as determined by the submission of an annual report to ATO’s Headquarters Office.

The Eta Rho Chapter also plans to begin a $1 million capital campaign for house renovations and educational scholarships.

Students Network at Ice Cream Social

The UCF/Lockheed Martin College Work Experience Program held an ice cream social on July 27 with 63 students attending. This was an opportunity for program participants to network with each other, meet a panel of Lockheed Martin employees and discover what recruiters seek in future employees.

This will become an annual event for the program, providing the UCF/Lockheed Martin College Work Experience Program students with information on making the most of their work experience, how to gain exposure to other opportunities within Lockheed Martin and how to make successful career choices.

Gonfalons Add Color, Flair

Displayed for a day before their debut at the New Student Convocation on August 19, gonfalons, or academic banners, were lined up on the second floor of Millican Hall. The gonfalons represented each college at UCF, as well as the university seal and creed.

“They were created to add more pageantry, tradition, color and attractiveness to our academic ceremonies and convocation,” said Dennis Dulniak, University Registrar, who started this project three years ago.

The hand-stitched, silk gonfalons are black and gold, reflecting the university’s official colors. Prior to their creation, only greenery and the flags of the United States and Florida adorned the Arena platform for ceremonies.

In collaboration with Charles Roller, former associate director of university marketing, Dulniak worked directly with deans to create a graphic image that represents each college.

“We have 13 so far,” Dulniak said, adding that he and Roller are currently designing a gonfalon for Graduate Studies, with plans for additional gonfalons as future colleges are added, such as the College of Medicine.

State-of-the-Art Playing Fields Open this Month

The Recreation and Wellness Center (RWC) is getting ready for its Park Grand Opening, September 11-14. The park will consist of two softball/baseball fields, Sport Club fields, Intramural (IM) grass fields and brand new IM turf fields.

The Recreation and Wellness Center (RWC) Park recently completed its first phase of construction with the opening of the turf fields. The turf used was Momentum 51, which is manufactured by Sportexe. This surface is designed to be firm, dense, and maximize performance and player safety. This product is currently in two NFL stadiums (Louisiana Superdome–New Orleans, M&T Bank Stadium–Baltimore) and several universities. An additional state-of-the-art Musco lighting system will allow more time for outdoor events and Intramural Sports, such as flag football and soccer. The turf fields are located at the south end of the Academic Village parking lot.

The grand opening will consist of various activities throughout the week including: food, games, DJ, prizes and giveaways. Everyone is welcome to come out and celebrate. For a schedule of events, additional information about the turf fields and to view photos of construction progress, visit: www.rec.ucf.edu.colors.

Testing Center Receives National Recognition

The University Testing Center (UTC) received national recognition by the College Board as being one of the top 100 testing centers in the country administering the most CLEP examinations in 2005-06. This is the third consecutive year UTC has received this honor. UTC is committed to providing CLEP exams as an educational opportunity that will connect students to college success.

Pegasus Success Program Receives National Award

The University of Central Florida’s Pegasus Success Program was awarded the National Noel-Levitz Retention Excellence Award on July 20. The award was presented at the National Conference on Student Recruitment, Marketing and Retention. The Retention Excellence Awards Program began in 1989. This recognition is given annually to honor programs that are the most innovative and successful at post-secondary retention programs in North America. The Pegasus Success Program was judged by a national panel of leading retention practitioners who reviewed the program for originality and creativity, use of resources, adaptability for use at other institutions, and identifiable and measurable institutional outcomes.

Welcoming Students to UCF for the Fall Semester

Big Turnout for LINK Luau
The LINK (Learning and Interacting with New Knights) Program hosted the biggest crowd in its four-year history with over 3,000 students attending the LINK Luau. The luau was an opportunity for students to meet new friends. Everyone enjoyed hamburgers, hot dogs, potato chips and watermelon. Students were entertained with magicians, caricature and henna artists, and had fun on the inflatable games.

First-year students in attendance received a LINK T-shirt and 1,000 LINK Loot points, which can be used to bid on items at the end-of-semester auction. The LINK Program will once again be auctioning off $1,300 in tuition and other prizes.

The LINK Luau was held in collaboration with Housing and Residence Life, UCF Athletics, Office of Student Involvement and the Recreation and Wellness Center. The LINK staff would like to give a special thanks to Jeff Novak and the Housing and Residence staff for their help in making this event a success.

Welcome Expo Draws a Big Crowd
Approximately 4,000 attendees had the opportunity to visit with 178 student services, academic departments, registered student organizations and local vendors’ information tables to get acquainted with what UCF and the local community have to offer.

MASS Welcomes Students
Students were offered advice and assistance from the Multicultural Academic Support Services (MASS) Open House.

Students Connect to SARC Services
Welcome Back Snack Attack offered students the opportunity to check out the Student Academic Resource Center’s (SARC) services, programs and workshops.

SDES Council
Ideas, suggestions or comments? Contact a SDES Council member: sdescoun@mail.ucf.edu.Stands for Opportunity

SDES Awards and Recognition

• Amy Kleeman, Career Services & Experiential Learning, and Valda Ramdial, recruiting coordinator, were selected to participate in UCF’s 2006-07 Leadership Enhancement Program.

• Amy Kleeman, Career Services & Experiential Learning, was elected to serve as Career Services Representative on the board of directors for the Florida Career Professionals Association.

• Melanie Parker, Career Services & Experiential Learning, and Valda Ramdial, recruiting coordinator, have been selected to serve on the National Association of Colleges and Employers Leadership Strategy and Sourcing Committee.

Presentations

•Tina Adamski-Baker developed and presented a professional development workshop, “Career Planning for Students with Disabilities” at UCF, which included participants from UCF and six staff from Daytona Beach Community College.

• Larry Marks, Counseling Center, recently attended the American Psychological Association convention in New Orleans, August. He co-chaired a symposium, “Applications of Positive Psychology in University Counseling Centers,” and co-facilitated a mentoring roundtable for students interested in working at a counseling center.

• Melanie Parker, Career Services & Experiential Learning, presented, “Tapping the College Talent Pipeline: What Will It Take to Keep Them in Florida,” at the Florida Economic Development Conference along with Mike Evans of the Florida High Tech Corridor and Gary Earl, CEO of Workforce Central Florida in Orlando, July.

• Caroline Willard, Career Services & Experiential Learning, co-facilitated a presentation on challenges in Federal Recruitment at the Southeastern Association of Colleges and Employers (SACE) Drive-in Workshop in Savannah, Georgia, July.

Welcome to SDES

• Jami Campbell, office assistant, LEAD Scholars Program
• Heather Engelking, assistant director, Employer Relations–Liaison to COHPA and Burnett Biomedical College, Career Services and Experiential Learning
• Jodi Farbstein, coordinator, Student Affairs, Orientation Services
• Travis Gabriel, area coordinator, Housing and Residence Life
• Joseph Giron, coordinator, computer applications, LEAD Scholars Program
• Morgan Kamp, program assistant, Registrar’s Office
•Barbara Malcarne, area coordinator, Housing and Residence Life
• Jessica Raymond, assistant director, Housing and Residence Life
• Vernon Rogers, area coordinator, Housing and Residence Life
• Edward Rolnick, accountant, Activity and Service Fee Business Office


Student Calendar on Web

The 2006-07 Student Calendar is on the Web in printable pdf format. Visit: www.sdes.ucf.edu/publications.htm.


School Lesson Plans Created from Restoration Experience

During the summer of 2006, two Creative School for Children (CSC) instructors, Suzie Caffery and Diahn Escue, were invited by the UCF Biology Department and Linda Walters, professor, to participate in the Oyster Reef Restoration Project. Caffery and Escue spent two days at UCF’s Fellers House Field Station on Mosquito Lagoon collecting specimens on oyster reefs and making restoration mats. Caffery and Escue then wrote lesson plans based on Oyster Reef Restoration for grades K through 5. Also joining the project was Joshua Sacks, CSC alumnus.

UCF Represented on Panel at Florida Conference

Over 11 institutions from the State of Florida participated in the 2006 Association for Student Judicial Affairs (ASJA) Florida Drive-In Conference on July 28. A panel discussion was held in the morning regarding implementing a mental health policy on a university campus. The panel was composed of Maribeth Ehasz, Student Development and Enrollment Services; Dr. Michael Deichen, UCF Health Services; Maxine Oliver, UCF Police Department; Shane Cadden, Housing and Residence Life; and Laura Riddle and Vivian Yamada, Counseling Center. The conference was hosted by the Office of Student Conduct.

UCF Interns Volunteer Time

On July 14, the UCF/Lockheed Martin College Work Experience Program had several students, who partnered with Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control of Orlando summer interns, to share in the experience of giving back to the community by volunteering their time and talent to help Habitat for Humanity.“The University of Central Florida takes great pride in the participation of our students in the Habitat for Humanity Project,” said Amy Kleemen, associate director of Career Services & Experiential Learning (CSEL).

“The UCF-Lockheed Martin Work Experience Program is an exceptional partnership that allows students to augment their education through workplace application onsite at Lockheed Martin facilities in Orlando.”

According to Kerry Fleming, assistant director, UCF/Lockheed Martin College Work Experience Program with CSEL, “Most importantly, it enables our UCF students to use their abilities to promote self-improvement and develop their character while bringing a positive cause for both society at large and the individual volunteering.”

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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