Dear Faculty and Staff:
I am pleased to welcome you to a new academic year. This is a joyful time for students, and I hope for you as well. I am grateful for your dedication and support for our students and for one another.
First, a couple of events:
- Aug. 21: Welcome Back Popsicle Social, noon to 1 p.m., in front of Millican Hall.
- Sept. 14: Faculty Assembly and Reception, 3 p.m. to 5 p.m., in the Cape Florida Ballroom at the Student Union.
Budget and Senate Bill 266
I am pleased to report that we received new funding as part of a record state investment in higher education. The funds are largely restricted in how we can use them – for example, funds to help us hire and retain faculty, investments aimed at STEM fields, additional money to help complete the new nursing building in Lake Nona, and funds to bolster student success. These funds are well aligned with our strategic goals and plans to reach preeminence.
There were also policy bills that affect UCF. Senate Bill 266 will affect Diversity, Equity and Inclusion initiatives. It also starts a process to revisit and possibly revise the general education program. Before making any changes we are awaiting guidance being developed by the Florida Board of Governors.
The discourse around this bill recognized our obligation to make certain that all students feel that they belong and have opportunities to earn success. At UCF, we celebrate our student diversity and know that fostering a respectful environment will protect it. I know our faculty and staff promote a positive environment where all views can be heard, and I am grateful to see this in our classrooms.
Post-tenure Review – A state law passed in 2022 and a corresponding Board of Governors regulation creates a post-tenure review process for all state universities. UCF has had post-tenure review for years, but this represents a significant change in approach. We hope to make the new approach as straightforward as possible for all involved, including the first hundred or so faculty undergoing the process starting this fall.
Artificial Intelligence – AI has exploded across higher education, and we’re looking closely at how UCF should best approach it to benefit our faculty and students. It is our obligation to ensure that our students gain the knowledge they will need to use AI tools in their careers. FCTL provides tips and insights on how to successfully navigate this new world of AI. Also, UCF will host a national conference on Sept. 24-25 about how to use AI tools effectively in the classroom. We are moving quickly to develop an approach to provide any other professional development needed.
Big 12 Athletic Conference – I celebrate with sports fans across Knight Nation that UCF is now officially in the Big 12. Our move makes it clear to our academic peers and potential students across the country that UCF has achieved national stature as a major research university. Please note the main campus and satellite locations will close at 2 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 31, for the football opener against Kent State.
Thank you for all you do to distinguish our university for excellence, innovation and impact. I look forward to a rewarding and successful new academic year.
