See how UCF academics and leaders intersect and collaborate with the community and others in making the world a better place.
Wed May 20
We’ve all heard “April showers bring May flowers,” a favorite quote that reminds us that a new season is upon us and the possibilities of brighter days are just around the corner. But this year is different. May is Mental Health Awareness Month and during this unprecedented time we should all take assessment of our…
Mon May 18
UCF Continuing Education courses typically cost about $130 each, and range from successful job searches to marketing on a budget. In an effort to help those affected by financial pressures due to COVID-19, UCF Continuing Education and online-learning partner, Ed2Go, are offering online professional development courses to the public for free for a limited time. These courses…
Mon May 18
UCF sociology Associate Professor Amy Donley ’02 ’04MA ’08PhD is committed to understanding and exposing social inequalities and the impact they have on those in poverty. In the midst of COVID-19, Donley is assisting in the coordination of relief efforts coming out of the Homeless Services Network. The network aims to combat homelessness through funding programs and providing direct crisis…
Mon May 18
The collective efforts of three biology faculty members to find digital textbooks for their lower-level classes recently resulted in savings of $177,006 for 1,207 students. The savings were created in Biology I Honors and Biology II after their instructors moved the bulk of the class to online coursework and streamlined the curriculum. The only changes…
Fri May 15
UCF Rosen College of Hospitality Management has launched not one, but two webinar series, specifically for alumni and industry professionals to aid in navigating the post coronavirus COVID-19 world of tourism and hospitality, which has been impacted heavily by the virus. From restaurants, to cruise ships, to hotels, to attractions, to conventions and events, the…
Thu May 14
Hurricane season begins June 1. While COVID-19 is at the forefront of everyone’s minds, UCF’s Department of Emergency Management reminds Knights and their families that hurricane season is quickly approaching. Hurricane season begins June 1, and now is the time to prepare. UCF’s Emergency Management team — which works to prevent, prepare for, manage and…
Wed May 13
As businesses and other entities across the state begin bringing back employees, UCF soon will as well, with a phased-in approach for faculty and staff returning to campus. We are prioritizing the safety of our entire campus community and following guidance from public health officials and Governor DeSantis’ plan for reopening Florida. Since last month,…
Wed May 13
The events of the past two months have unfolded with terrifying suddenness only to be followed by a slow drip of grim news. Within three days of our spring break we learned that classes had been canceled for the rest of the month, with the news coming just a few days later that all in-person…
Tue May 12
A new clearinghouse of information for hospitality workers affected by COVID-19 has been compiled by researchers from UCF’s Targeted Research Training Program (TRT). These resources cover a variety of topics including: lay-offs and furloughs; opportunities to make money during the crisis; protecting personal finances; improving mental health; skill development; industry relevant information; and links to activities families…
Tue May 12
When Wade Cole, a college honors student, called his mother, Stephanie, on that cold morning in January 2015 to tell her that his headache was back, she knew something was terribly wrong. “Wade told me the pain was excruciating,” Stephanie said. She noticed other clues as she spoke with him, she said, like his speech…
Tue May 12
Yuisa Colón-Rosado ’16 is a nursing doctoral student who has helped make over 200 masks for local medical workers. (Photo courtesy of Yuisa Colón-Rosado ’16) When Yuisa Colón-Rosado ’16 sees a problem, she’s compelled to be a part of the solution. Just look at why she got into nursing. After eight years of working in marketing for…
Mon May 11
Tracy Wilk ’10 is a professional chef in New York City who is baking treats for local hospital workers. (Photo courtesy of Tracy Wilk ’10) Sprinkling joy is what chef Tracy Wilk ’10 does best. In light of the world’s COVID-19 pandemic, Wilk has turned the kitchen of her small studio apartment in New York City into…
Wed May 6
In 2020, the College of Arts and Humanities recognizes 25 staff members for their extensive dedication to UCF. Three of these staff members received prestigious honors that include a financial award of $600 each. In a message to all faculty and staff, Executive Associate Dean Lyman Brodie and Special Assistant to the Dean Paul Lartonoix…
Wed May 6
Anthropomorphism is the term for our tendency to give human characteristics to animals or non-living things. Many of us might recall it from our high school English classes, but there is a psychological basis for our use of anthropomorphism, as well. It may help us develop empathy with the natural world, reducing loneliness through connections…
Wed May 6
Kellie Chapman serves four hospitals in Brevard County as an ER educator. For two decades, Kellie Chapman made a difference as a nurse at the bedside of her patients. About four years ago, the UCF Online doctoral student realized how she could extend that impact even further – by teaching the nurses around her. “As a nurse,…
Tue May 5
Hospital emergency rooms are chaotic in normal times. Try being an emergency medicine resident during a pandemic. As the nation’s healthcare system deals with COVID-19, UCF-HCA Healthcare physicians in residency training find themselves on the front lines of a novel virus and new ways of learning and caring for patients. Emergency medicine residents have had to…
Fri May 1
The UCF Office of Research-sponsored NIH workshop currently has 101 people registered from 10 different research institutions. The University of Central Florida’s Office of Research will offer a National Institutes of Health workshop virtually next week to help researchers from across Florida pursuing NIH funding for their research projects. “This conference aims to provide researchers with the…
Wed Apr 29
Afriend’s husband is in the hospital due to a heart attack, but the family isn’t allowed to visit. People are losing their jobs. Politics about the severity of COVID-19 has frayed connections between me and some of my relatives. My aunt’s funeral was canceled, and I can’t even hug my mom. How do people cope…
Wed Apr 29
The UCF Center for Autism and Related Disabilities currently serves more than 15,000 families, providing support and assistance to families with children on the autism spectrum. Terri Daly, the director of UCF CARD, wants to expand support for children with autism. Her clinical research has focused on the impact that inclusive preschool programs have on children with…
Wed Apr 29
Michael Deichen, associate vice president for Student Health Services, is one of UCF’s essential personnel who are still working on campus during the coronavirus pandemic. (Photo by Nick Leyva ’15) On March 18, UCF transitioned to remote learning and working due to the coronavirus pandemic. While most students and faculty are off campus at this time,…