See how UCF academics and leaders intersect and collaborate with the community and others in making the world a better place.
Wed Nov 4
Visitors to the international Pompeii exhibit currently running at the Orlando Science Center (OSC) will get to see frescos from the city buried under ash — as well as frescos made by first, second, and third graders living in neighborhoods around downtown Orlando. Through the UCF Center for Research and Education in Arts, Technology, and Entertainment…
Wed Nov 4
Americans of the founding generation would be shocked by how Veterans Day on Nov. 11 is celebrated nowadays — and not because it’s become commercialized with sales, deals and discounts. In the days following the American Revolution, most Americans didn’t want to honor veterans at all. Yes, Americans celebrated their independence and they feted leaders,…
Wed Nov 4
UCF’s voting precinct, Precinct 538, saw a 107.56% voter turnout in the 2020 election. Yes, that number is right. The 811 ballots cast in the precinct, which consists solely of students who live on campus, include early voting, vote by mail and in-person election day voting. So how do you get more than 100% turnout?…
Mon Nov 2
Commencement is a time to celebrate students and honor the time, energy and effort they’ve committed to earn a degree. Since we won’t be able to do that in person this fall, we’re asking for your help to make this year’s celebration as memorable as possible. UCF is compiling a virtual graduation celebration video to…
Fri Oct 30
With physical distancing restrictions in place and student outreach like the KNIGHTS and Chapman Clinics reducing services during the pandemic, UCF medical students have come up with new ways to serve the community. To help reduce the spread of the coronavirus, students have created “COVID Combat Kits” containing digital thermometers, facemasks, hand sanitizer and hygiene…
Fri Oct 30
Since 2017, UCF has been recognized as a Voter Friendly Campus by NASPA, an association for the advancement, health and sustainability of the student affairs profession, for its initiatives to register and encourage students to vote. In addition to hosting an early voting site on campus and in support of a healthy campus political environment, here are some of…
Fri Oct 30
As the United States inches closer to the 2020 presidential election Nov. 3, UCF Professor Aubrey Jewett explains the pros and cons of the Electoral College, Florida’s role as a swing state, and what major factor could delay knowing the outcome on election night. Jewett is an internationally recognized political scientist and co-author of the…
Fri Oct 30
Transparency between police and the community they serve has always been paramount to ensure mutual trust and respect. The recent national response to some cases of police brutality and the outcry for criminal-justice reform reinforces that need for transparency. Following the death of George Floyd in Minnesota, the UCF Police Department brainstormed ways it could…
Fri Oct 30
The Tony Award-winning show Hamilton became a pop culture phenomenon that reaches far beyond the typical Broadway audience. After multiple Broadway tours, over one billion album streams and a recorded cinematic performance on Disney+, the musical that flips the script on one of the lesser-known founding fathers has become a household name. All the show’s fame and…
Thu Oct 29
Whatever our political opinions, we share one common view about medicine: Each one of us wants to stay healthy and wants access to a trained, knowledgeable and kind healthcare provider when we get sick. The COVID-19 pandemic has shown us that medicine is not just a personal issue or choice. Elected officials also play a…
Thu Oct 29
As the country continues to reopen and Election Day looms, U.S. consumers are fueling the recovery, says Sean Snaith, national economist and director of UCF’s Institute for Economic Forecasting. “The self-inflicted economic shutdown has had a far-reaching impact,” Snaith says, “but as the pandemic fades, consumer confidence is rising and household balance sheets are recovering.” Lower…
Wed Oct 28
The work of the Community Counseling and Research Center was recognized recently when they were given the “Pete Fisher” Humanitarian Award from the Florida Counseling Association. The award is given to an individual or organization that has made a significant contribution to the betterment of humanity and the human condition. The center is a clinical and supervision…
Mon Oct 26
The UCF community celebrated Homecoming 2020 with some of events anticipated annually — like the Friday night fireworks show and Knights’ football game —and reinvented other traditions for the health and well-being of others during the pandemic. Twin Day encouraged students to dress alike and share their photos on social media. Christina and Alexandra Adams, advertising/public…
Mon Oct 26
As employees continue to work from home, leases are running out and corporate office space is in jeopardy. Managers around the world have to decide if it’s more efficient to keep their offices open, downsize, or go entirely remote. Seven months into this pandemic, the question remains⦠is working from home really going to stick?…
Mon Oct 26
The term “fake news” has become so ubiquitous in our society that it’s even become a punchline. But the threat is very real — with real consequences — which is why UCF Associate Lecturer of Psychology Chrysalis Wright dedicates her days to studying it. Wright is an expert on fake news and online disinformation who…
Fri Oct 23
The ancient town of Pompeii, destroyed by an eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD, has long fascinated society. This fall, thanks to the Orlando Science Center, Central Florida has access to a rare exhibition about the town and its inhabitants: the science center is one of just three sites in the United States to…
Fri Oct 23
To help nurses thrive in the turbulent times of COVID-19 and beyond, Orlando Health and the UCF College of Nursing are hosting a free online lecture with national resilience expert J. Bryan Sexton from the Duke School of Medicine. Open to all healthcare professionals, the event will be held on Tuesday, October 27, 2020, at 2 p.m.…
Thu Oct 22
If you caught the COVID-19 virus and are now well, your illness and your strength can help others. In this week’s health tip, we turn to Jane Gibson, an expert in molecular pathology and genetics at the UCF College of Medicine, on how convalescent plasma — blood plasma collected from people who have recovered from the…
Thu Oct 22
Have you ever attended a meeting where you have your notebook, pen and list of ideas that you know will grab everyone’s attention? You have been waiting for the right time to raise your hand and say, “I have a suggestion.” But as you share your concept, you notice that eyes aren’t on you. People…
Wed Oct 21
University of Central researchers have received a $7.5 million, five-year grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to continue their work to help keep couples in the Orlando area together through relationship counseling, a project started in 2015 that has become more important during the pandemic. “We know that there is a…