See how UCF academics and leaders intersect and collaborate with the community and others in making the world a better place.
Tue Jun 16
The Practical Access Podcast launched earlier this year with the goal of providing fast, flexible thinking about real-life problems for educators, people with disabilities and their family members. Lisa Dieker and Rebecca “Becky” Hines have been friends and colleagues for 16 years. Both are exceptional student education faculty members at UCF. Hines is an aunt to a person…
Tue Jun 16
Navigating what may be the “new normal” brought on by the coronavirus pandemic has left many people grappling with unknowns. From worrying about one’s own health and safety as well as their family members’ well-being, adapting to a remote-work situation or job loss, juggling new family schedules, experiencing isolation from friends and loved ones —…
Tue Jun 16
The University of Central Florida is one of 84 communities nationwide participating in the NEA Big Read from September 2020-June 2021, receiving a $15,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Arts. This is the sixth consecutive year the College of Arts and Humanities has received NEA funding to host this community event. The NEA…
Tue Jun 16
Alligators, oranges and Florida Man are among the many things the state is known for, but beautiful natural swimming spots are some of the best things the Sunshine State has to offer. From the Panhandle to the Keys, there are plenty of places to take a refreshing dip, but you don’t have to travel far…
Fri Jun 12
UCF recognizes and celebrates the 49 beautiful people who died four years ago at Pulse Nightclub, including two of our own Eternal Knights. We remember their love, light and spirit. We remember the 49. Stanley Almodovar III Amanda L. Alvear Oscar A. Aracena Montero Rodolfo Ayala Ayala Antonio Davon Brown Darryl Roman Burt II Angel Candelario-Padro…
Fri Jun 12
Aquote from novelist and activist James Baldwin encapsulated what it is like to be Black in America: “I know your countrymen do not agree with me about this, and I hear them saying, “You exaggerate.” Throughout that particular essay, Baldwin offers his nephew a critique of racism while warning him of the challenges he will encounter. In…
Thu Jun 11
People over age 70 have been especially devastated by COVID-19. What can we do to help and protect our older parents, neighbors, family and friends? This week’s health tip is from College of Nursing faculty member Jacqueline LaManna, who specializes in geriatric primary care. It’s important to remember that social distancing has caused many seniors to live…
Thu Jun 11
Millican Hall is light up with rainbow-colored lights in honor of the 49 lives lost during the Pulse nightclub shooting on June 12, 2016 (Photo by Thomas Bell ’08) Zoe Williamson began the evening of June 12, 2016, partaking in a police ride-along with the Orange County Sheriff’s Office. By the end of the night,…
Wed Jun 10
UCF students, faculty and staff kneeled on the College of Medicine’s green for 8 minutes and 46 seconds to honor the life of George Floyd and protest police brutality (Photo by Christin Senior) UCF medical students Lake Lindo ’19 and Joshua Salzman have known each other since kindergarten. They grew up together in Orlando and bonded while…
Wed Jun 10
The UCF Center for Autism and Related Disabilities recently received a gift of $150,000 from Providing Autism Links & Supports(PALS). UCF CARD is one of seven regional resource centers established by the State of Florida to support those with autism spectrum disorder and their families. UCF CARD serves more than 15,000 individuals and families of all ages…
Tue Jun 9
UCF medical students Lake Lindo and Joshua Salzman have known each other since kindergarten – they grew up together in Orlando, played YMCA basketball together. And on Tuesday, Lindo, who is black, and Salzman, who is white, knelt next to each other on the College of Medicine’s green for 8 minutes and 46 seconds to…
Tue Jun 9
One of the calls to action in the Black Lives Matter movement is to consume artistic and educational works whose themes examine race and/or were created by authors of color. UCF Libraries, along with faculty from UCF’s College of Arts and Humanities recommend a sampling of 26 works, including fiction and non-fiction books, eBooks, children’s…
Mon Jun 8
For the past several weeks, many groups have been working on our plans for what UCF’s fall semester will look like because of COVID-19. On Wednesday, June 10, from 3:30 to 5 p.m., President Alexander N. Cartwright will be sharing more about the university’s plans at a virtual forum, where members from these planning groups will be on hand to answer…
Mon Jun 8
Richard Lapchick, who has spent five decades working as a human-rights activist and pioneer for racial equality, suggests ways everyone can become an activist in the Black Lives Matter movement. When I was a teenager, I went to a basketball summer camp in the Catskill Mountains. There were five other white guys and a black…
Fri Jun 5
Istarted my career in 1998 as a 23-year-old high school teacher fresh out of college. I took a position at a school in a city that neighbored my hometown of Virginia Beach, Virginia, and began teaching world studies and U.S. history to freshmen and juniors. My memories from that first year include nervousness about running…
Thu Jun 4
The Lou Frey Institute is adding to the national conversation on pandemic liberties through a series of one-page conversation starters for K-12 teachers. Called “Civics in Real Life”, the series provides a historical and civics-based lens on current events, including the distinction between the power of states and federal government; the Defense Production Act; and the First Amendment. The…
Thu Jun 4
A new Vascular Surgery fellowship program, based at the Orlando VA Medical Center and Osceola Regional Medical Center, has received initial accreditation and is seeking immediate applicants to begin training in 2021. The program is part of a UCF-HCA Healthcare consortium that is building residency programs across Central and North Central Florida. The consortium now…
Thu Jun 4
Washing your hands regularly helps prevent the spread of illness. We’ve all spent weeks in isolation and now are in the process of returning to working back in the office. We’re balancing the need to get back to some kind of normal life, keep our economy healthy and creating safer environments for individuals. But COVID-19 is…
Thu Jun 4
Dear CHPS students, faculty and staff- The heartbreaking events of the past week emphasize the significant and persistent racial injustices that exist in our nation. I share in your feelings of outrage, grief and fear. While words are not the action needed right now, I want to express my commitment, and the commitment of CHPS,…
Wed Jun 3
Dear Students & Community Partners, The faculty and staff of the School of Social Work at the University of Central Florida stand united with those who are calling for justice and for real change in our society to condemn racism in all its forms. We denounce the hatred, discrimination and social injustices committed and tolerated…