Wed Jan 4
Dear Colleagues: Welcome to a new year and a new semester. This message includes key academic policies, regulations and resources to inform your course preparation. Syllabus requirements Course materials availability Student Accessibility Services Final exams Make-up assignments Religious observances Student conduct and academic integrity Student academic misconduct review process Office of Military and Veteran Student…
Wed Dec 7
Dear Colleagues: I am grateful for your hard work and success during a very challenging year. As the holidays unfold, I wish you much joy and peace. May this be a time to relax, reflect, recharge and appreciate the people you cherish most. I invite you to join me in celebrating the season and some 2022…
Tue Nov 22
Dear Colleagues: I am writing to tell you about a preliminary court injunction suspending the implementation and enforcement of House Bill 7 (Individual Freedom Act) as it relates to state universities. State legislation passed this spring amended the Florida civil rights law that prohibits discrimination against students and employees by defining certain acts relating to training and instruction as discrimination. The Florida Board of Governors…
Fri Nov 11
Dear Colleagues: I am grateful for your prompt efforts to prepare for another storm and now our students’ impending return to class. While most campus business is paused today for Veterans Day, faculty who wish to check on their offices or labs may do so. As previously announced, courses scheduled for Saturday will resume as planned.…
Tue Nov 8
Dear Colleagues: To prepare for Tropical Storm Nicole, UCF has canceled all classes, including online courses, for tomorrow and Thursday. Any homework or exams planned for or due on those days must be postponed until Monday or later. Please be prepared to help students navigate the challenges that Nicole may bring. As with Hurricane Ian, your flexibility…
Mon Nov 7
Another tropical storm system is approaching Florida. Please be vigilant and consider your preparations for home and work now. Campus operations are currently normal. This evening, based on the latest forecasts for Subtropical Storm Nicole, UCF will update the campus community on plans for classes and operations. As we saw with Hurricane Ian, weather conditions can change rapidly.…
Mon Nov 7
Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2 p.m. Update In anticipation of Tropical Storm Nicole, UCF will suspend campus operations and all classes, including online classes, Wednesday, Nov. 9, and Thursday, Nov. 10. UCF is already scheduled to be closed on Friday, Nov. 11, in recognition of Veteran’s Day. All academic assignments, including for all classes with online…
Mon Oct 31
All UCF faculty who are required to disclose annually about outside activity, employment and potential conflict of interest are receiving an individual e-mail today about completing the online form by Nov. 30. The required disclosure – the Potential Outside Activity, Employment, and Conflict of Interest and Commitment Disclosure AA-21 – is emailed via a link…
Wed Oct 26
Dear Colleagues: Thank you for the compassion you have shown our students and one another in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian. This message may feel like a contradiction of my request that you postpone assignments and due dates, and for this I apologize. But it is necessary. Despite the disruptions and hardships from Hurricane Ian, UCF must…
Mon Oct 17
Dear Faculty and Staff Colleagues: Hurricane Ian adversely affected many UCF students, some quite seriously. To support our students’ academic success and well-being, UCF is extending the fall course withdrawal deadline through Friday, Nov. 4 (a week extra). Ian resulted in five lost class days at UCF, disrupting teaching, assignments and tests. Extending the withdrawal…
Wed Oct 12
I am pleased to announce the reappointment of Paul Jarley as dean of the College of Business Administration. Under his leadership, the college and its faculty have become increasingly adept at preparing students to thrive in a constantly evolving global marketplace. New programs, such as the master’s in Fintech program in partnership with Computer Science,…
Tue Oct 4
UCF’s separation of research and graduate studies will lead to two leadership changes this week as we move forward in elevating research and graduate programs in alignment with our new strategic plan. I have appointed Dr. Winston Schoenfeld, associate vice president for Research, as interim vice president for Research, effective Friday, Oct. 7. Dr. Schoenfeld,…
Mon Oct 3
As UCF resumes classes and campus operations tomorrow, I urge you to actively support students who may be facing hardships from Ian that affect their ability to engage as usual with their courses. Please consider postponing assignments, exams and due dates in your classes for a week or two to help those students most directly impacted…
Fri Sep 30
As we communicated earlier today, UCF will reopen for classes and normal operations on Monday, Oct. 3. Classes remain canceled through Saturday, Oct. 1, and no homework should be assigned or required to be submitted by any student until classes resume on Monday. Your classes should resume as usual if possible. However, I know that Hurricane Ian…
Tue Sep 27
As preparations continue for Hurricane Ian’s arrival, please remember that classes are canceled starting tomorrow (Sept. 28) through Friday. No homework should be assigned or required to be submitted during this time. Also, please do not come to campus when operations are suspended (as of now, Wednesday through Friday). UCF labs and campus buildings will be…
Tue Aug 30
Season three of Knights Do That, UCF’s official podcast, returns with its second guest, Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs Michael Johnson. Over 30 years ago, Johnson started as an assistant professor in the Department of Physics and over the years he has continued to serve Knight Nation through various leadership roles. He…
Tue Aug 9
Below are several key academic policies, regulations and resources to help you prepare for the new academic year, including fostering an equitable, inclusive and vibrant learning environment. Syllabus requirements Course materials availability Final exams Make-up assignments Religious observances Student conduct and academic integrity Student academic misconduct review process Office of Military and Veteran Student Success…
Mon Aug 8
The launch of Knight Vision on July 1 went well, but as expected, there are still issues that require our attention. We appreciate your feedback and patience as we continue to stand up these new systems, and we are committed to transparency and open communication about issues and progress. We continue to ask for grace,…
Mon Aug 8
Dear Faculty Colleagues: I am pleased to welcome all of you to the start of a new academic year and to provide the following important updates. First, President Alexander Cartwright and I invite you to a faculty assembly and reception on Tuesday, Aug. 16, from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. More details, including the location, are forthcoming. I…
Fri Jul 29
UCF will host three weeknight football games this fall. They are Thursday, Sept. 1; Friday, Sept. 9; and Thursday, Oct. 13. On those days, classes on the main campus, in the Central Florida Research Park, at UCF Downtown, at the Rosen College of Hospitality Management and on UCF Connect campuses will conclude at 2 p.m.…