Every semester is a chance to start fresh.

Whether you鈥檙e navigating your first days on campus or a returning Knight, each new academic semester is an opportunity to discover what works for you, meet new people, challenge yourself and take advantage of everything UCF has to offer.

No matter what you set out to accomplish, you鈥檒l find the support to help get you there. Whether you鈥檙e in need of academic guidance, career preparation, wellness resources and support or ways to get involved, here are the tools to set you up for success.

Build Strong Habits with Academic Support

The key to overcoming academic challenges isn鈥檛 waiting until you鈥檙e struggling 鈥� it鈥檚 knowing where to turn before you get there.

If you鈥檙e adjusting to college-level coursework, working through a difficult class or trying to stay ahead, UCF provides a variety of academic support services 鈥� available in person and virtually 鈥� to help you stay on track all semester long.

Start here:

• Academic Success Coaching:鈥疭tudents are encouraged to meet regularly with their for help setting goals, staying on track, improving study strategies, managing time and connecting with campus resources.
  • Support Pop-Up Station: Visit the UCF Student Union from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 25, and Thursday, Aug. 27, for on-the-spot support and guidance from Academic Advocates and Academic Success Coaches.

• Peer Tutoring: The Student Academic Resource Center (SARC) offers鈥�痠n more than 30 subjects. Visit the SARC office in Trevor Colbourn Hall Room 117 or the Engineering II atrium for assistance.

• : Drop in for help with undergraduate math courses and work through challenging concepts with experienced tutors.

• : Whether you鈥檙e writing your first college essay, polishing a lab report or updating your resume, writing consultants are available at every stage of the writing process.

• Academic Calendar: Refer to the official for important dates for enrollment, holidays, exams, commencement and events.

• : Academic Engagement Librarians are available to help graduate students find research materials, navigate databases, develop stronger research projects and access additional library resources and services.

• : From laptops for class to calculators for exams, this new service on the second floor of the John C. Hitt Library makes it easy to borrow the tools you need to succeed academically.

• Study Spaces: If you prefer complete silence, a lively atmosphere or the outdoors, there are plenty of places to help you stay productive. Check out some of these favorite spots across 鲍颁贵鈥檚 campuses:

• • Grab your favorite drink and settle in at a coffee shop. Campus favorites like Dunkin鈥� Donuts, Einstein Bros. Bagels, Foxtail Coffee or Starbucks are ideal if you enjoy a little background noise while studying, meeting with a group or working on a project.

• • Escape the bustle of campus at the Burnett Honors College Meditation Garden, a peaceful outdoor space where shaded seating, lush greenery and a tranquil koi pond create a relaxing environment for reading, studying or recharging between classes.

• • If you’re crossing the Dr. Phillips Academic Commons Bridge between classes at UCF Downtown, pause to review your notes or catch up on reading in one of the quiet seating areas overlooking campus.

• • The shaded lounge area in front of Addition Financial Arena at Knights Plaza offers a comfortable place to catch up on assignments, meet up with friends or unwind between classes.

• • Looking for a quieter environment? in the John C. Hitt Library or find one of the many individual and group study spaces designed for focused work.

• • Take your studying outside at the Reflecting Pond by spreading a blanket on the grass or settling into a shady spot along the water. Fresh air and a change of scenery can be a great way to recharge while reviewing notes.

Prioritize Your Health and Well-Being

Taking care of yourself is just as important as keeping up with your coursework. When you feel your best, you鈥檙e better prepared to succeed both inside and outside the classroom.

Through 鲍颁贵鈥檚 wide variety of health and wellness services, you鈥檒l have support physically, mentally and emotionally throughout the semester.

That holistic approach to serving students recently earned UCF national recognition. The university received Insight Into Academia magazine’s 2026 Excellence in Mental Health and Well-Being Award for fostering a campus culture in which students and employees have access to meaningful wellness resources, supportive communities and proactive care.

Available student well-being and support resources include:

• Mental Health Support:鈥� (CAPS) provides all students with free around-the-clock鈥痬ental health support. Additionally, they have complimentary access to ‘鈥痑nonymous peer support community and鈥�痶eletherapy sessions throughout the semester. Students can access support by calling CAPS at 407-823-2811, visiting in person or . For after-hours support, call 407-823-2811 and press 5 to connect with a counselor.
  • Spend time with from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Aug. 27 and enjoy a mindful break while learning practical stress-management techniques as you ease into the semester.

• : Build healthy habits that support your well-being and academic success with free services and programs, including wellness coaching, FreshU Kitchen, cooking demonstrations and classes, and access to free healthy food.

• Physical Wellness:鈥� is your on-campus healthcare home, providing convenient access to primary and preventive care, sports medicine, dental care, pharmacy, immunizations, laboratory testing and more. Looking to stay active? The鈥�痟as you covered with a two-story fitness area, group exercise classes and a variety of recreational activities. For some fresh air, head to 聽at Lake Claire, where you can unwind outdoors with free kayaking, canoeing and paddleboarding.

• Well-Being and Basic Needs Support: The Center for Student Care and Advocacy is a hub for navigating academic, personal and financial challenges. You can contact at 407-823-5607 or caremanager@ucf.edu for assistance. For help with everyday essentials, provides free food, clothing and toiletries daily to currently enrolled UCF students.

Prepare for Your Career Now

You don鈥檛 have to wait until graduation to start building your professional experience. The (DCDC) can assist you with exploring career paths, preparing for graduate or professional school,听building professional skills and connecting with employers from your first semester through graduation.

This semester, you can:

• Meet with UCF DCDC staff for resume reviews, LinkedIn profile feedback, mock interviews and more at the center.

• Get guidance from team for exploring careers that require advanced degrees and preparing and applying to graduate, health professional and law schools.

• Attend career workshops covering everything from networking and interviewing to job searching and using AI in your job search.

• Discover internship opportunities that provide you with real-world experience 鈥� and, in some cases, the chance to earn academic credit.

• Secure your next internship or job and connect with employers from a wide range of industries at the on Oct. 1 at Addition Financial Arena.

• Connect with employers, discover career opportunities and receive a free headshot at the on Oct. 28 in the Darden Auditorium.

Even if you鈥檙e only beginning to explore your career options, these experiences can help you build skills and connections long before graduation.

Find Your Community on Campus

Some of your best college memories happen outside the classroom.

Whether you鈥檙e looking to meet people, discover new interests, give back or just get out and have fun, you鈥檒l find plenty of ways to get involved and connect with campus.

Take the opportunity to:

• Find your people by joining one (or more!) of 鲍颁贵鈥檚 650+ student organizations.

• Grab your game day gear and embrace the energy of Knight Nation while cheering on the Knights across 16 sports. Students can claim free tickets to home games throughout the season.

• Make a difference through Volunteer UCF, where you can sort donations at local food pantries, tutor students, assist in hospitals and connect with the community.

• Take part in iconic UCF traditions like Spirit Splash, one of the most beloved Homecoming Week events, and Pegasus Palooza, 鲍颁贵鈥檚 official welcome week featuring free events and big-name entertainment.

• Graduate students: Build connections and get involved on campus through the Graduate Student Center, a welcoming hub in Trevor Colbourn Hall Room 213, where you can meet other graduate students and participate in , including Fall Take Off, two weeks of activities that welcome new and returning graduate students.

No matter what your interests are, there鈥檚 a place for you here and a community ready to welcome you.

Know Your Transportation Options

A little preparation can make getting around campus much easier 鈥� especially during the first few weeks of the semester.

Before heading to class:

• Make sure you have the correct parking permit and know where you can park. Beforehand, review and real-time to save time and avoid hassle. Parking Garages A and I often have the most availability.

• Check shuttle routes and schedules using the UCF Mobile app or the . offers 10 conveniently located stops near most academic buildings and popular campus destinations.

• Give yourself extra travel time during the first few weeks of the semester, when campus is busiest.

Friendly reminder: A valid UCF or Daily Parking Permit is required to park on campus at all times (24/7).

Stay Organized with Essential Tools

myKnight STAR

Keeping track of classes, appointments and deadlines is much easier when everything is in one place. That鈥檚 where , powered by Navigate Student, comes in. With tools designed to help you stay organized, connected and on track, it鈥檚 your go-to resource for managing the semester and accessing the support you need.

Using the app or web browser, you can:

• View your class schedule.

• Schedule appointments for Academic Success Coaching and other campus services.

• Explore majors and career pathways.

• Connect with classmates to form study groups.

• Receive reminders about important academic deadlines and upcoming appointments.

Student Center

The Student Center, accessible through , has a new, mobile-first design and updated navigation, but the tools you rely on 鈥� such as class registration, financial aid, tuition payments, grades and academic records 鈥� remain the same. They may just be in a different place. For help finding and accessing key tools, log in to myUCF and click the banner at the top of the page to visit the Help Center. Graduate students can also use the dedicated Graduate Students tile to access resources and tools for managing their academic journey.

Make This Semester Count

No matter where you are on your UCF journey, you won鈥檛 have to navigate it alone.

The habits you build now 鈥� and the people and resources you connect with along the way 鈥� can make all the difference in your college experience.

So ask questions, get involved, try something new and take advantage of the opportunities around you.

Wishing you a successful semester, Knights. Charge On!

He鈥檚 an experienced skydiver, private pilot and scuba diver whose hero since childhood has been moon-walker Neil Armstrong. And now Melchor Antu帽ano is a UCF Knight.

After 34 years with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) 鈥� the longest term for any senior executive in the agency鈥檚 history 鈥� Antu帽ano has joined the College of Medicine鈥檚 team as a professor, and chief technologist and medical innovation officer. In these roles he鈥檒l help design new procedures and technologies to keep astronauts, pilots and airplane passengers safer and help create a new UCF master鈥檚 degree in aerospace medicine and a residency program for aerospace medicine physicians. He鈥檒l also teach across UCF colleges.

鈥淏eing part of this outstanding visionary team gives me the opportunity not only to help advance the field I love, but also to inspire, educate and mentor the next generation of physicians, scientists and innovators.鈥� 鈥� Melchor Antu帽ano, UCF aerospace medicine medical innovation officer

Antu帽ano says a career in aerospace medicine has given him the 鈥渙pportunity to continually learn, adapt and contribute to a specialty defined by innovation, exploration, and discovery.鈥�

鈥淛oining the UCF College of Medicine represents a new and exciting chapter in that journey,鈥� he continues. 鈥淏eing part of this outstanding visionary team gives me the opportunity not only to help advance the field I love, but also to inspire, educate and mentor the next generation of physicians, scientists and innovators.鈥�

He is the newest leader to join 鲍颁贵鈥檚 new Center for Aerospace and Extreme Environments Medicine , a multidisciplinary center includes faculty experts in medicine, engineering, computer science, psychology, arts and educational leadership who will work together to research and develop new technologies for keeping space travelers healthy as well as soldiers on military missions, deep sea explorers, and mountain climbers.

鈥淒r. Antu帽ano brings to UCF an extraordinary combination of operational experience, scientific leadership, innovation and a lifelong commitment to aerospace medicine,鈥� says Emmanuel Urquieta, vice chair for aerospace medicine and director of CASEEM. 鈥淔or more than three decades, he helped shape aerospace medicine and safety at the national and international levels. Having someone of his caliber join our team is transformative as we build a comprehensive aerospace medicine program that integrates clinical care, education, research and technology development.鈥�

A Resourceful First Responder Before Medical School

Born in Mexico City, Antu帽ano had two dreams as a child: to be a doctor and fly airplanes. Before entering medical school at the National Autonomous University of Mexico School of Medicine, he volunteered with the Red Cross and the country鈥檚 rescue squad as a paramedic, rescue worker and EMT. He couldn鈥檛 afford to buy a red emergency light for his car. So he made one using a pot.

鈥淢y parents always instilled in my sisters and me the importance of doing our best, persevering in the face of adversity, planning ahead and learning from our mistakes,鈥� he says. 鈥淚 learned from my parents the importance of being kind, fair and respectful to everybody.鈥�

He learned about aviation medicine during medical school and volunteered at the Mexican Government鈥檚 National Center of Aviation Medicine, where he learned about aviation physiology (including altitude chamber operations), human factors in aircraft accident investigation and pilot medical certification.

Impact Fueled by Taking Initiative

Next came residency. Antu帽ano says he came to America because the only civilian aerospace medicine residency program was at Wright State University School of Medicine in Dayton, Ohio.

He learned about this program by writing letters to senior U.S. federal government officials 鈥� including then President Ronald Reagan 鈥� inquiring where to pursue postgraduate training in aviation medicine in the U.S. He was accepted into the residency.

鈥淭hat opportunity allowed me to pursue my professional dream and meet aerospace medicine physicians from all over the world,鈥� he says.

Antu帽ano also earned a master鈥檚 in aerospace medicine at Wright State. His research was using a portable head cooling system to protect U.S. Air Force personnel from heat exposure. He built his lab in the kitchen of the residents鈥� lounge. He turned up the heat, then added oil and air heaters to create a thermal chamber. His experimental subjects were his classmates. He earned the Aerospace Medical Association鈥檚 Young Investigator Award for his initiative.

After residency, he received a two-year postdoctoral research fellowship from the National Research Council of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine at the U.S. Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine. After that, he was hired as a contract scientist for the school to work on personal cooling technology for individuals wearing nuclear, biological and chemical protective suits.

Antu帽ano joined the FAA in 1992 and served as manager of the Medical Education Division and the Medical Certification Division at the agency鈥檚 Civil Aerospace Medical Institute (CAMI) in Oklahoma City. The institute is responsible for medically certifying that the nation鈥檚 pilots are physically fit to fly, training the physicians who perform the physical exams in the U.S. and in 90 countries worldwide, and conducting safety-related aerospace medicine and human factors research. He became CAMI鈥檚 director in 2001 and retired earlier this year as the longest serving director in history.

Steering the Future of Aerospace Medicine at UCF

鈥淎 leader has the responsibility to make more leaders,鈥� he says. 鈥淟ook for stars in the making 鈥� encourage them, support them and help turn them into future leaders.鈥� 鈥� Melchor Antu帽ano, UCF aerospace medicine medical innovation officer

As the commercial space industry expands and humans prepare for longer missions to the moon, Mars and beyond, 鲍颁贵鈥檚 College of Medicine is charting a new frontier in healthcare. The goal: explore how factors such as microgravity, radiation and isolation impact the human body in space and how that knowledge can drive innovation into diagnostics, treatment and disease prevention for patients on Earth.

As part of that effort, the aerospace medicine team is developing courses for students across the university and building a lab that will design, create and test the next generation of medical equipment to keep space travelers healthy. The team just opened the UCF Aerospace Medicine Clinic to provide medical certification exams for astronauts and pilots across the region.

Antu帽ano says he is excited about the future and his role in advancing aerospace medicine research while training the next generation of aerospace physicians.

鈥淎 leader has the responsibility to make more leaders,鈥� he says. 鈥淟ook for stars in the making 鈥� encourage them, support them and help turn them into future leaders.鈥�

Two decades ago, UCF opened an on-campus stadium that embodied the ambition of a spirited university and the belief of its fanbase. Today, the opening of the new Roth Tower marks the next chapter in that story, celebrating the rise of Knight Nation, 鲍颁贵鈥檚 trajectory as the youngest institution in a Power Four conference and the momentum still ahead.

The Roth Tower project, made possible by a $90 million commitment of Tourist Development Tax revenues from the Orange County Board of County Commissioners, represents a pivotal addition to the Kenneth G. Dixon Athletics Village that strengthens Orange County as a premier destination for sports tourism and community engagement.

鈥淭he new Roth Tower would not be possible without Orange County鈥檚 $90 million investment, and we are deeply grateful to Mayor Demings and the Board of County Commissioners for their belief in UCF,鈥� says UCF President Alexander N. Cartwright. 鈥淭hat investment, together with the commitment of our donors, fans and community, helped make this next chapter of the Bounce House possible. Today, we are delivering a community asset designed to bring people here, bring them back and create lasting value for Orange County.鈥�

Born to Bounce

Since its opening in 2007, Acrisure Bounce House has allowed UCF to showcase the momentum and trajectory of one of the country鈥檚 fastest-growing universities.

For years the idea of an on-campus stadium at UCF was a dream that many had said could never come true. UCF President John C. Hitt and several prominent UCF supporters, including the tower鈥檚 namesake, Jerry and Susan Roth, saw the vision of what an on-campus stadium could be. They believed the football program and a stadium could help elevate the university and its brand.

In the last 20 years of the Bounce House, UCF has captivated audiences on nationally televised primetime broadcasts; welcomed premiere college football shows 贰厂笔狈鈥檚 College GameDay and 贵翱齿鈥檚 Big Noon Kickoff; hosted conference championships that catapulted the Knights to New Year鈥檚 Six bowl games; and has become a not-to-be-missed atmosphere in college sports.

The new Roth Tower represents another important investment in our continued rise.

A Tower With a Story to Tell

Thoughtful planning went into the design elements and functionality of the new tower.

The new space allows more opportunities beyond game day to welcome alumni, partners and visitors for corporate meetings and retreats, weddings and events, and even rocket launch viewing opportunities of nearby Kennedy Space Center, whose Launch Complex 39A aligns with the stadium鈥檚 50-yard line.

Stronger media and broadcast spaces will help showcase UCF nationally and open possibilities for hosting other premiere sporting events and concerts. The strategic layout and structure will make operations and logistics safer, smarter and more efficient.

The tower also serves as an extension of 鲍颁贵鈥檚 mission to equip our students with the knowledge, skills and aptitudes that align with the workforce of the future, offering paid opportunities to gain industry experience in areas including facility and event management, game day operations, broadcasting and production, brand management and strategic communications.

The details are uniquely UCF, with nods to the university鈥檚 roots as America鈥檚 Space University and its location in one of the most desirable tourist destinations globally.

A new concept in luxury seating, the open-air, semi-private Sky Suites on the north and south wings of the tower鈥� take advantage of Orlando鈥檚 average of 233 sunny days per year. Floor-to-ceiling windows serve as the east and west walls of the central suite space on the third floor for optimal views of the field and athletic village.

The stadium鈥檚 art collection is growing with two custom murals that pay homage to the UCF story and the university鈥檚 relationship to Orange County designed by artist Harry Foreman 鈥�18, a graphic design and emerging media management graduate. These complement several installations around the concourse already that include Knightro, wings of Pegasus (the university鈥檚 official seal), 鲍颁贵鈥檚 Big 12 ties and Orlando.

Building What鈥檚 Next

Roth Tower will create memorable experiences for visitors and reinforces UCF as another reason people choose to come to Orange County and come back.

While the tower is a huge step forward for UCF Athletics, it is not the finish line, says UCF Director of Athletics and Vice President Terry Mohajir, who has worked to implement facility enhancements throughout the village since he arrived in 2021.

鈥淥ur fans gave this stadium its identity 鈥� and kept the faith as UCF climbed from one level of collegiate athletics to the next,鈥� Mohajir says. 鈥淥ur responsibility now is to keep matching that belief, by giving our student-athletes every opportunity to succeed, competing for championships, delivering a Power Four-caliber experience and continuing to build the Kenneth G. Dixon Athletics Village into one of the greatest destinations in college sports.鈥�

The UCF football team opens the 2026 season against Bethune-Cookman on Thursday, Sept. 3, at 7 p.m. Ticket information can be found at .

鈥淚t鈥檚 a perfect day to bounce in Orange County, Florida.鈥�

The Roth Tower project, made possible by a $90 million commitment of Tourist Development Tax revenues from the Orange County Board of County Commissioners, represents a pivotal addition to the Kenneth G. Dixon Athletics Village that strengthens Orange County as a premier destination for sports tourism and community engagement.

When the investment was greenlit in 2023, university and athletics administration knew they wanted to add to the stadium鈥檚 art collection, which already features several installations around the concourse that include Knightro, wings of Pegasus (the university鈥檚 official seal), 鲍颁贵鈥檚 Big 12 ties and Orlando.

UCF commissioned Harry Foreman 鈥�18 to deliver two murals that pay homage to the UCF story and the university鈥檚 relationship to Orlando and Orange County. To execute the installation in the week leading up to the tower鈥檚 unveiling, Foreman utilized virtual reality technology as part of his process and enlisted the help of fellow alumni: Nicole Lind 鈥�11, a Burnett Honors Scholar who graduated with a degree in an elementary education, and Paulaiden Minerva 鈥�15, who earned his bachelor’s in marketing through the program.

Foreman studied graphic design and emerging media management and previously completed murals for the UCF Downtown and the Rosen College of Hospitality Management campuses.

鈥淲hen I was a student I always had so much fun on games days,鈥� Foreman says. 鈥淚t鈥檚 magic being back here.鈥�

The Florida native, who now splits his time between Orlando and Denver, has been an active contributor to the Central Florida鈥檚 arts scene for years. He recently was selected to be part of the City of Orlando鈥檚 Bloomberg Philanthropies Public Art Challenge, Art Pollination 鈥� a prestigious opportunity as Orlando was one of eight cities selected for the $1 million grant out of more than 150 submissions from around the country.

Acrisure Bounce House is his third football stadium mural project. He previously completed installations for the Denver Broncos and Jacksonville Jaguars.

鈥淚 always knew I wanted to paint big,鈥� he says.

Here he shares more about his latest creation.

What excited you about this project?

The campus personnel were so willing and excited about my ideas and style that I brought into this that it was almost a perfect match. I led with fun first and then presented some safer ideas. And they said, 鈥淣ope. We want the fun.鈥�

I鈥檓 grateful and appreciative that I鈥檓 creating in a way that is so well received by so many people. Especially with the way we鈥檙e doing these murals with minimal color and a gold approach, I think it鈥檚 a style that has an elevated look while also having this fun, bubbly, childlike feeling, which is perfect for a football stadium on game day.

Where did you pull inspiration from for the two murals?

A staple in a lot of my mural work is my 鈥渙range blossom gang.鈥� They are fun, smiling orange characters that I will sprinkle in throughout a lot of my murals. They act almost as the glue that keeps other imagery and assets like together. They appear in both murals.

For the UCF-themed mural, we have my signature doodle collage style. We鈥檙e in the Bounce House, baby. So I tried to have this flowy, bubbly movement with the clouds. I wanted it to feel like it was light and airy.

With regards to Easter eggs, when I was a student, I did artwork around Orlando and I would do this little emanating whoopsie daisy flower. I snuck it into a postcard stamp. The manatee celebrates Central Florida鈥檚 natural springs, which is in my opinion, one of the most magical parts about the entire state. I also snuck in a variation of the rubber duck for Spirit Splash.

For the Orange County mural, it is centered in an Art Deco theme and is an ode to how the university is entwined with Orlando. From the downtown corridor to our relationship with the hospitality sector around I-Drive to space and 鲍颁贵鈥檚 engineering and technology roots. And we wanted to include a message to what helped make this possible: 鈥淚n appreciation of Orange County, Florida, whose continued belief, support and investment will welcome millions through these gates to bounce.鈥�

How do you apply virtual reality technology in your process?

I first started using the VR headset to project my artwork on walls last year. There are many different ways to get your art on your walls through grid systems, sketching freehand, projectors and now through headsets. In this circumstance, I have another mural next week. I鈥檝e got to get in and out. I didn’t want to wait till the nighttime to use a projector. What鈥檚 great about the headset is no matter the time of day, you are able to work and operate, and forecast your artwork on a wall.

It鈥檚 a really weird, immersive and amazing technology. If you got vertigo like I do, tread lightly. As I鈥檓 wearing it, I’m constantly thinking, 鈥榃e are in the future.鈥� 鈥�

How did your UCF experience help you hone your craft?

鈥淏eing at UCF pushed me to be great.鈥� 鈥� Harry Foreman 鈥�18, muralist

My UCF experience was not just a four-year degree. I used nearly every offering UCF had 鈥� I was in different clubs, at the gym all the time. I was in the engineering lab using the laser cutter for a lot of my school projects. My experience was almost competitive nurture in a sense, learning in a school setting with so many talented creatives around me. Being at UCF pushed me to be great and taught me how to be a shape shifter.

I already was running a business while in school. I immediately graduated and went right into freelancing, and the Orlando community and UCF network at large welcomed me right when I needed it. I booked amazing jobs right out of school. The UCF Downtown project, I would say, is still some of my most impactful work that gets me jobs to this day.

I never in a million years thought murals would allow me to be traveling all over the nation. I鈥檓 about to buy my wife a house. It鈥檚 a great time to be a muralist. It鈥檚 the best job in the world.

What does it mean to you to be able to give back to your alma mater and Orlando in this way?

It鈥檚 so special. As a student, and even as an artist, there鈥檚 no textbook for success, no single game plan for how to do things. The fact that I get to paint and create in spaces like this, I hope it can inspire the next student. I hope they see this and they say, 鈥淭hat is so cool. I want to do that,鈥� because whenever I saw someone doing it, that was my first response.

If you鈥檙e a student that is worried about the creative world that we鈥檙e entering into, as long as you鈥檙e pushing yourself to make great work, everything you could ever want is already there waiting for you. Orlando as a canvas is the best place to blossom. It was for me.

Yesterday, Time magazine released its inaugural listing of America鈥檚 Best Incubators and Accelerators 2026, spotlighting programs that assist early-stage companies to grow, scale and create lasting economic impact.

The UCF Business Incubation Program ranks No. 17 out of 80 entities nationally 鈥� and as the No. 1 business incubator in Florida. It is also the highest-ranked program focused entirely on traditional business incubation.

鈥淲e鈥檙e honored that Time magazine has recognized what our region has known for years: when universities, industry and community partners work together, extraordinary companies can be built.鈥� 鈥� Rafael Caamano, UCF Business Incubation Program interim director

鈥淭his recognition reflects more than the work of our team; it reflects the success of every entrepreneur, mentor, community partner, investor and local government that has helped build Central Florida鈥檚 innovation ecosystem over the past 27 years,鈥� says Rafael Caamano, interim director 色花堂 Innovation Districts and the UCF Business Incubator. 鈥淲e鈥檙e honored that Time magazine has recognized what our region has known for years: when universities, industry and community partners work together, extraordinary companies can be built.鈥�

The recognition showcases the success of the companies served. In 2025, more than 100 client companies of the UCF Business Incubation Program collectively employed a workforce of more than 600 full- and part-time professionals, secured more than $78 million in contracts and attracted nearly $35 million in investment.

鈥淏ehind every successful innovation are talented people with the vision, expertise and determination to translate complex ideas into value for society,鈥� says Winston Schoenfeld, 鲍颁贵鈥檚 vice president for research and innovation. 鈥淭his recognition celebrates the power of partnerships among academia, industry professionals and entrepreneurs who together build an ecosystem that transforms discovery into real-world solutions driving economic growth and shaping the future.鈥�

How the Ranking Was Determined

According to Statsia, the global research platform that provided the research for Time鈥檚 ranking, those selected were based on track record, peer recommendations and measurable founder outcomes.

The evaluation included:

• Alumni evaluations, based on surveys of companies that graduated from the program over the past five years.
• Client success, measured through the performance and growth of participating companies.
• Expert recommendations from startup investors, seasoned entrepreneurs and business leaders.

The ranking considers both incubators and accelerators, which offer short (often 3-6 months), cohort-based programming and are often focused on particular industries or demographics. One example is Plug and Play 鈥� which ranks No. 34 nationally on the list 鈥� a global startup accelerator based in California that has partnered with UCF for an Orlando office.

鈥淲e love the UCF Business Incubation Program and how instrumental the program has been in our success.鈥� 鈥� Lizbeth Walker, CEO of Qualifize and UCF Business Incubator client

A traditional incubation program offers a more robust range of services over an extended period of time, allowing companies to gain the foundation they need for success.

鈥淭he relationships we鈥檝e built and partnerships through the program, have positioned us to serve our commercial and government clients on a different level of excellence and ingenuity due in part to the standards set at our UCF Incubator,鈥� says Lizbeth Walker, CEO of Qualifize, an operational intelligence company and UCF Business Incubator client.

More than half of the programs ranked ahead of the UCF Business Incubation Program were accelerators. Other programs offer a limited incubation program, combined with an accelerator.

鈥淭he recognition further reinforces Central Florida’s emergence as one of America’s leading regions for innovation, technology commercialization and entrepreneurial growth,鈥� Caamano says.

鈥�We are genuinely proud to be part of this journey and to witness the continued growth and success that led to this achievement,鈥� says Aluska Richardson, CEO/president of Aurora InfoTech, an IT and cybersecurity support company and UCF Business Incubator client. 鈥�Moments like this are a testament to the hard work, dedication, and vision behind everything you do, and we are honored to be included along the way.鈥�

From Incubation to National Recognition

The program鈥檚 impact is also reflected in the success of the companies it supports. Two current UCF Business Incubation Program clients 鈥� advanced-materials startup Soarce and energy-technology company Capacitech 鈥� are led by UCF engineering and business Knights who were recognized on Forbes鈥� 2026 30 Under 30 list.

Capacitech Energy CEO Joe Sleppy 鈥�18 develops modular supercapacitor systems to improve power reliability in data centers and microgrids, while Soarce co-founders Matthew Jaeger 鈥�22, Patrick Michel, Mason Mincey 鈥�23 and Derek Saltzman 鈥�23 transform hemp, seaweed and grass into high-strength nanomaterials.

This national recognition paired with the new Time magazine ranking highlights how 鲍颁贵鈥檚 entrepreneurial ecosystem is helping turn promising ideas into companies that develop solutions with potential global impact.

Powered by Partnership

Operating across seven sites, the UCF Business Incubation Program empowers business owners through support from Orange County Government, the City of Orlando, Seminole County Government, the City of Kissimmee, Osceola County Government, Lake County Government and the City of Eustis.

This Time magazine recognition not only signals 鲍颁贵鈥檚 strength in fostering economic development, but how collaboration facilities collective impact.

Here the UCF Business Incubator partners share the importance of this honor.

Mike Bishop, director of economic development, City of Eustis:聽鈥淎 healthy entrepreneurial ecosystem gives local business owners the support, connections and confidence they need to turn good ideas into lasting companies. The UCF Business Incubation Program is an important part of that ecosystem in Eustis, and this national recognition affirms the value it brings to our businesses and community.鈥�

David Rodriguez, economic development director, City of Kissimmee: 鈥淭he UCF Incubator in Kissimmee is an important partner in our efforts to diversify and strengthen our economy. By supporting entrepreneurs, innovation, and high-growth businesses, the Incubator helps create new opportunities and builds the foundation for a more resilient and dynamic local economy鈥�

Meg Brew, director, Lake County Economic Development: 鈥淥ur business incubator is an incredible resource for companies looking to establish themselves in Lake County. Together, we鈥檙e creating new opportunities for local businesses and showcasing Lake County as a great place to grow and succeed.鈥�

Jerry Demings, mayor, Orange County: 鈥淭he UCF Business Incubation Program is an important partner in our efforts to diversify Orange County鈥檚 economy and support entrepreneurs as they grow successful businesses and create jobs. We鈥檙e proud of our partnership and congratulate the program on this well-deserved recognition.鈥�

Buddy Dyer, mayor, City of Orlando:聽鈥淥ne of our city鈥檚 key priorities has long been to ensure we are providing opportunities and forging strategic partnerships that elevate our city鈥檚 ability to foster a strong entrepreneurial ecosystem, where entrepreneurs can not only start a new business, but are able to succeed long-term. The UCF Business Incubation Program鈥檚 success is undeniable, with the ideas and successes of entrepreneurs who have gone through this program putting Orlando on the map as one of the nation鈥檚 leaders in advanced technology and innovation. We as a city are proud to be a partner of the UCF Incubator for nearly 20 years, and congratulate them on this incredibly well-earned recognition.鈥�

Commissioner Brandon Arrington, chairman of the Osceola County Board of County Commissioners: 鈥湵涔筲�檚 Business Incubation Program is working to build the next generation of businesses in Central Florida while creating new opportunities for our workforce to grow alongside them. This recognition is a testament to what happens when education, entrepreneurship, and economic development come together. In Osceola County, we鈥檙e focused on building a strong classroom-to-boardroom pipeline, and our partnership with UCF is an invaluable part of those efforts. By helping entrepreneurs turn ideas into growing companies, we鈥檙e creating jobs today and building the talent that will drive our economy forward tomorrow.鈥�

Andria Herr, chairman, Seminole County:聽鈥淪eminole County has long recognized that supporting entrepreneurs and small businesses is an investment in our local economy. Our partnership with the UCF Business Incubation Program connects businesses with the resources and expertise they need to grow and succeed right here in our community. This national recognition is well deserved, and we are proud to be part of the program鈥檚 continued success.鈥�

From signature UCF traditions to opportunities to meet new people, get involved and have some fun before classes get into full swing, there鈥檚 plenty to experience. Here鈥檚 your guide to the week鈥檚 events on the main campus and at聽. Just remember to bring your UCF ID to participate in each event.

For the latest event details and updates, check the聽,听聽and @UCF_OSI on Instagram.

Sunday, Aug. 23:

The Knighting
Addition Financial Arena
11 a.m. 鈥� 12 p.m.

鲍颁贵鈥檚 official welcome ceremony brings together all new Knights to celebrate the start of their UCF journey. No ticket is required, and the event is open to all. Doors open at 10 a.m.

Opening Knight
Student Union
12 鈥� 4 p.m.

What鈥檚 the best way to get involved at UCF? Meet the Knights already doing it. Stop by the Student Union to explore student organizations, connect with current members and find your place on campus. Plus, enjoy DJs, free food, giveaways and more.

Monday, Aug. 24:

Welcome Back Social
Reflecting Pond
12 鈥� 1 p.m.

Grab complimentary sweet treats and mingle with UCF President Alexander N. Cartwright, faculty, staff and students.

Movie Knight
Memory Mall
7 鈥� 10 p.m.

Grab your friends and head to Memory Mall for the Campus Activities Board鈥檚 annual Movie Knight. Catch Project Hail Mary under the stars, take on a human hamster ball course and enjoy free popcorn and drinks. The event is open to all UCF students.

Tuesday, Aug. 25:

Taste 色花堂
Addition Financial Arena
4 鈥� 6 p.m.

Experience international destinations through food, music, dance and traditions from around the world. This annual celebration brings students together to explore the many backgrounds represented at UCF and throughout the greater Orlando area while building connections and a sense of belonging.

Wednesday, Aug. 26:

Welcome Expo
Student Union Key West Ballroom
10 a.m. 鈥� 2 p.m.

For nearly 30 years, the has helped Knights discover what campus 鈥� and the surrounding community 鈥� has to offer. Stop by to learn about UCF programs, explore campus resources, meet local businesses and discover new opportunities, all in one place. Plus, enjoy music, food and tons of giveaways while taking part in a longtime campus tradition.

Homecoming Theme Reveal
Student Union Atrium
12 鈥� 2 p.m.

Be among the first to find out the Homecoming Week 2026 theme and score some UCF Homecoming merch.

Comedy Knight Featuring Leslie Jones
Addition Financial Arena
7 鈥� 9 p.m.

Join the Campus Activities Board for a night of fun and laughs featuring Primetime Emmy-nominated comedian and actress Leslie Jones. Best known for her five seasons on聽Saturday Night Live, Jones has appeared in nearly 60 film and television projects, including 2016鈥檚聽Ghostbusters. Get ready to experience her comedic talents, incredible writing and magnetic stage presence live at UCF.

Current UCF students get in free with a valid UCF ID. Tickets for the general public are available at additionfiarena.com.

Thursday, Aug. 27:

Taste of Downtown
Dr. Phillips Academic Commons at UCF Downtown
11 a.m. 鈥� 2 p.m.

Take your taste buds on a trip around the world at this signature event featuring international flavors, live entertainment and interactive experiences inspired by destinations worldwide. Come try something new, meet fellow Knights and celebrate the people and traditions that make UCF Downtown and the greater Orlando area so vibrant.

Speed Friending
Dr. Phillips Academic Commons, Room 107 at UCF Downtown
12 鈥� 2 p.m.

Break the ice at Speed Friending, a fast-paced, low-pressure way to connect with fellow UCF Downtown students. Rotate through quick conversations, tackle fun icebreaker questions and see who you click with along the way. Whether you鈥檙e new to campus or looking to expand your circle, it鈥檚 a fun way to meet new people, make meaningful connections and create lasting memories.

Concert Knight Featuring Quavo
Addition Financial Arena
7 鈥� 9 p.m.

Get hyped for a night of live music featuring Grammy-nominated rapper, singer and producer Quavo. Known for solo hits like Hotel Lobby and Workin Me and as a member of Migos, the chart-topping rap group behind Bad and Boujee and Stir Fry, Quavo has amassed more than a billion streams and captivated audiences worldwide with his signature sound.

Current UCF students get in free with a valid UCF ID. Tickets for the general public are available at additionfiarena.com.

Friday, Aug. 28:

Paint Rave
Memory Mall
7:30 鈥� 11 p.m.

Join Late Knights for Paint Rave, a high-energy night packed with glowing paint, music, mocktails and plenty of ways to get creative. Bring a friend, hit the painting stations and light up the night while making memories you won鈥檛 want to forget.

Saturday, Aug. 29:

Day of Service
Student Union Patio
7:30 a.m. 鈥� 1:30 p.m.

Make an impact beyond campus with Volunteer 鲍颁贵鈥檚 Day of Service. Team up with fellow Knights and four local community partners for a morning of hands-on service supporting youth and mentoring, the environment, education and literacy. Choose the cause that speaks to you, meet new people and have fun while giving back to the greater Orlando community. Students will earn three service hours for participating.

Service sites are selected on a first-come, first-served basis. Arrive at 7:30 a.m. for check-in, and RSVP on KnightConnect to participate.

A child clutches a wand before stepping into Hogsmeade for the first time. Nearby, a father smiles, remembering his own first visit years earlier. Grandparents pause for a photo. Teenagers race toward their favorite coaster. Doug Akers 鈥�07 notices all of it.

As senior vice president of operations for Universal Destinations & Experiences, the UCF hospitality management alumnus helps oversee the intricate systems that make those moments possible. But after more than 20 years in the themed entertainment industry, he鈥檚 learned that operations isn’t really about attractions, transportation or crowd flow.

It’s about protecting something surprisingly fragile: wonder.

Finding the Right Path

Akers’ love of theme parks began early. He found himself happily spending hours designing his own theme parks inside video games and paying far more attention to the operational details than anyone else his age thought necessary. While friends obsessed over bigger roller coasters and taller drop towers, he wondered where deliveries arrived, where maintenance crews parked and what made the fantasy feel believable.

“I had my own little fan website,” he says. “People think I’m obsessive, but I’d ask myself, ‘Where’s my service road? Where’s my warehouse? The park doesn’t look real. It needs the support buildings.'”

As a child, Akers helped his parents with the annual school carnival, arriving before the crowds to watch an empty schoolyard transform into something magical.

Looking back, though, the curiosity started even earlier. As a child, Akers helped his parents with the annual carnival at his elementary school, arriving before the crowds to watch vendors transform an empty schoolyard into something magical.

“I think that’s really where I got my roots,” he says, reflecting on early mornings spent watching adults solve problems, adapt to surprises and somehow make it all look effortless.

By high school, that curiosity had become impossible to ignore. He enrolled in Honors Physics after hearing about a key design project that challenged students to apply scientific principles to something they cared about. He knew immediately that he wanted to create a theme park.

色花堂, he discovered that operations offered the same intellectual challenge that first drew him to engineering.

The project quickly grew beyond a classroom assignment.聽 Along with crafting miniature toothpick landscapes and designing attractions, Akers wrote fictional press releases announcing the park’s grand opening and carefully mapped out how every element fit together. He wasn鈥檛 just building rides 鈥� he was creating an experience.

Engineering seemed like an obvious choice when Akers began college. He had always been fascinated by how systems worked and how their pieces fit together. 色花堂, he discovered that operations offered the same intellectual challenge that first drew him to engineering, while adding a dimension he hadn’t expected: human behavior.

How do thousands of moving parts and people come together so seamlessly that guests never stop to think about them? How do all those unseen details shape what people remember long after they return home?

Those questions ultimately led him to , where he discovered an academic environment that blended entertainment, finance, guest service, leadership, operations and strategic thinking.

Learning to See the Invisible

A college job at Universal Orlando Resort became something much bigger 鈥� a cauldron of knowledge, more wondrous than anything else he had known. Each new opportunity brought greater responsibility. Akers worked in transportation, attractions, food and beverage, entry operations and special events across multiple parks and international projects. By building a reputation for thoughtful leadership and a willingness to learn every corner of the business, he rose from a college employee to one of the company’s senior executives.

Along the way, he learned one lesson that has shaped his career: the most exceptional operations are often the least visible.

When every detail is executed seamlessly, guests never think about logistics, staffing or transportation. They鈥檙e focused on making memories with family and friends.

That鈥檚 when Akers realized operations were never the end goal. They were the foundations that made those meaningful experiences possible.

Wonder Doesn’t Have an Age Limit

Spend a day in the parks with Akers and one thing becomes clear: he spends as much time watching guests as he does monitoring attractions. A child experiences a beloved story for the first time. Parents revisit childhood memories. Grandparents watch a new generation imagine and dream.

For Akers, those moments are the true measure of success.

Wonder doesn鈥檛 disappear as people grow older. It simply takes on new meaning with every stage of life, creating memories and connections that span generations.

Creating and operating the spaces where those moments take place has quietly become the work of his career.

Leading Through Curiosity

Today, Akers oversees operations on a scale he never imagined as a college student. His career has taken him across the U.S. and around the world, including helping open Universal Studios Singapore and Universal Studios Beijing.

Those experiences also help shape the future of the industry. Through the first-of-its-kind housed within UCF’s Rosen College 鈥� created in partnership with Universal Destinations & Experiences 鈥� students will learn how storytelling, technology and operations work together while designing experiences that inspire wonder, with Universal helping craft the curriculum.

色花堂, professors and mentors challenged Akers to think differently and encouraged him to pursue opportunities he hadn’t considered. They helped him recognize that careers rarely follow a straight path and that curiosity is often a better guide than certainty.

It’s the same advice he shares with UCF students: Don’t become so attached to your original plan that you miss the opportunity in front of you. The best experiences are the ones held together by thousands of invisible details working in perfect harmony, Akers says.

Somewhere today, another child will step through Universal Orlando Resort鈥檚 gates carrying a wand almost as tall as they are. Years from now, they may return with children of their own.

Akers hopes they never think about the thousands of unseen details that made the day possible.

He hopes they remember only how they felt.

He hopes they remember the wonder.

is about more than reaching a destination. It鈥檚 about creating the conditions for bold ideas, transformative experiences and life-changing opportunities, similar to the ones that shaped Akers’ career. Join us in investing in students, strengthening our university and helping UCF continue to reach ever higher.

Medicine can treat infections after people get sick, but UCF infectious disease expert Mollie Jewett is seeking to halt Borrelia burgdorferi bacteria, which causes Lyme disease, in its tracks without relying on general antibiotics. Her goal: 鈥渟tarve鈥� the bacteria of the nutrients they need to function before they spread through the human body.

Jewett, professor and head of the Immunity and Pathogenesis Research Division at 鲍颁贵鈥檚 College of Medicine, is supported by a recently renewed five-year, $2.5 million grant from the National Institutes of Health.

She is entering a third consecutive federally funded research cycle with $513,314 received this year. Jewett鈥檚 research builds upon more than a decade of discoveries that have narrowed the search for ways to stop B. burgdorferi from triggering Lyme disease, one of the nation鈥檚 most common vector-borne diseases. Her team includes a UCF undergraduate who occasionally struggled to walk because of pain from Lyme disease.

The disease is spread by blacklegged ticks that become infected after biting mammals or birds carrying the bacteria. The ticks are so small, humans often don鈥檛 notice they have been bitten. Symptoms include fever, chills, headache and fatigue, which often are misdiagnosed as a virus or the flu. Even after treatment, Lyme disease patients can face complications including nervous system and heart issues, severe fatigue and arthritic pain.

The disease is most commonly found in Maine to Virginia and in the upper Midwest but is spreading as suburban growth enters wildlife areas. Florida reports few cases of Lyme disease annually, but travelers who go to endemic areas like New England are at increased risk.

A New Approach to Battle Borrelia

UCF researchers are focused on how B. burgdorferi manages to survive and thrive as it spreads in ticks and mammals to humans.

鈥淭he bacteria need to adapt to two different environments, and so we want to know how it does that,鈥� Jewett says. 鈥淲e鈥檙e looking at what the bacteria eat and what it needs to survive. In our lab, we call Borrelia a wimpy pathogen because it can鈥檛 make a lot of the nutrients it needs on its own, and so it scavenges what it needs from wherever it is.鈥�

The first iteration of the NIH grant allowed the scientists to screen all of the bacteria鈥檚 genes that might be important for the infection. With the second grant, Jewett targeted three genes that appeared to play a role in spreading the infection from a bite on the skin to other parts of the human body.

“One of these three genes we found is important to the ability of the bacteria to consume riboflavin. We want to target this gene and see if we can starve the bacteria.” 鈥� Mollie Jewett, UCF infectious disease expert

Now they have focused on riboflavin, commonly known as vitamin B2, after discovering that B. burgdorferi salvages the vitamin from each host to sustain itself.

鈥淥ne of these three genes we found is important to the ability of the bacteria to consume riboflavin,鈥� Jewett says. 鈥淲e know that riboflavin is a precursor for other cellular activities that are important to the metabolism of the bacteria. Essentially, we want to target this gene and see if we can starve the bacteria.鈥�

If their theory is successful, it could lead to therapies specific to B. burgdorferi that would prevent successful bacterial infection by limiting its riboflavin uptake. An advantage of such potential treatments would be that patients don鈥檛 have to take general antibiotics that can also harm the body鈥檚 good bacteria and increase risks for antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

The UCF team is collaborating with Baylor University scientists to trace exactly how riboflavin is used by the bacteria.

Students Driving Discovery

Biomedical sciences doctoral student Anna Schulz 鈥�25MS played a key role in pinpointing specific ways the bacteria use riboflavin to generate energy. She served as first author on a recent publication examining these processes, and says she鈥檚 looking forward to growing as a researcher in this next phase.

鈥淎s a first author, I took more ownership over the experiments and the writing process,鈥� Schulz says. 鈥淸Jewett] was really great about letting me lead the project as a student. Borrelia is so unique, and there鈥檚 still so much we don鈥檛 know, and that鈥檚 what keeps me engaged with this research.鈥�

“… I couldn鈥檛 treat it until years after I got infected. So, I truly care about finding new treatments for Lyme disease.” 鈥� Grace Easterling, UCF biomedical sciences student

Third-year biomedical sciences undergraduate Grace Easterling says she was drawn to Jewett鈥檚 lab because she previously developed Lyme disease and suffered tremendous joint pain. She was determined to find a way to protect others.

鈥淚t was something that, because we live in Florida, wasn鈥檛 caught early because it鈥檚 not as common,鈥� Easterling says. 鈥淚 struggled for a long time to get diagnosed, and I couldn鈥檛 treat it until years after I got infected. So, I truly care about finding new treatments for Lyme disease and understanding the bacteria.鈥�

Research reported in this publication was supported by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases of the National Institutes of Health under award number R01AI099094. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.

Instructor: Gregg Buckingham, a聽 adjunct instructor and retired associate lecturer.

During his 28-year NASA career, Buckingham served in various roles in Washington, D.C., and at Kennedy Space Center (KSC), including positions in the NASA Administrator鈥檚 Office, the Space Shuttle Logistics Program and external relations at KSC.

When is the class offered?

The class will be offered fully online in Fall 2026.

What is the class about?

For many people, astronauts and engineers are among the first things that come to mind when thinking about space exploration. What they may not picture is the host of professionals working behind the scenes whose jobs are crucial to managing and implementing space policy.

鲍颁贵鈥檚 Space Policy and Management course offers graduate students 鈥� as well as select undergraduate students 鈥� a historical overview of the policy and administrative issues surrounding space exploration, from presidential initiatives and congressional oversight to governance, infrastructure, international competition and cooperation, and commercial participation.

From the Instructor

Gregg Buckingham

What is space policy?

A policy is simply a direction that an organization wants to go in. In 1961, President John F. Kennedy stood before Congress and proposed that the United States should land a man on the moon and return him safely to Earth in a decade 鈥� and Congress agreed. That鈥檚 a policy statement.

Over NASA’s history, the United States has shifted direction from the moonshot to the Space Shuttle and International Space Station, and now to increased commercial involvement in space, while also carrying out a host of scientific missions. Each direction was sponsored by a president, funded by Congress and implemented by NASA. Many variables drive these policy and management changes, including national prestige, efficiency and technology development.

How do public administration and public policy intersect with the space industry?

NASA is a government organization, and like any organization, it has administrative needs involving budgeting, procurement, organizational structure and leadership. With 10 primary field centers nationwide, various components of NASA鈥檚 mission are carried out across the centers.

When people think about space, they often think about rocket launches, engineers, scientists and astronauts 鈥� and they are certainly very important. But behind that technical work are contract specialists, finance and accounting professionals, public affairs professionals and many other necessary roles to support the agency’s technical work.

Emergency management is crucial, too. NASA has valuable facilities and hardware to protect during events such as hurricanes, and for launches, public-safety planning and preparation in case something doesn’t go as planned.

What will students learn in this course?

This course uses NASA as a case study for government infrastructure and governance in space exploration. We’ll discuss the organization and structure of the NASA network over the last 70 years, from policymaking and implementation to collaborative governance and communication.

In the space policy arena, students will learn about the many stakeholders that affect policy in one way or another. The president and Congress set policy and determine the budget, but other organizations 鈥� including commercial firms such as SpaceX and Boeing 鈥� also have an ongoing interest in NASA鈥檚 work.

Some of the resources we鈥檒l use include NASA鈥檚 oral histories with astronauts and administrators, as well as recordings from the Presidential Library system of presidents discussing the space program with NASA administrators and engineers. The goal is for students to gain a sense of different approaches to and perspectives on space policy and space management. They鈥檒l also look at leaders from around NASA and the impact they’ve had on programs and policy.

Who should take this course?

This graduate-level course is open to students across the university, including those studying engineering, business, political science and public administration. It鈥檒l also be available to outstanding undergraduate students.

Anyone interested in working in the space industry or government in some capacity could benefit from gaining perspective on policy and management, especially those who plan to move up from a technical position to a managerial one. Many of the variables that affect policy are similar whether you’re at NASA, the Department of Defense or another government agency.

What do you hope students take away from the experience?

My goal is to convey the excitement, innovation and creativity that goes into the space program and the role policy, management and administration play in making it possible. The course focuses on the space program, but students will also gain a broader understanding of the relationship between industry and government and how it can be applied to whichever sector they choose to pursue.

This guide is a resource to help you develop a sense of belonging, find community and build lifelong friendships while studying at UCF.

Marquee Events

Whether you鈥檙e studying at UCF Downtown, the , Rosen College of Hospitality Management or the main campus,听聽you鈥檒l have plenty of opportunities to get involved.

Some signature events have become beloved UCF traditions聽with not-to-be-missed programming:

• Pegasus Palooza, 鲍颁贵鈥檚 annual welcome week, greets new and returning students to campus with a variety of events including notable headliners at Comedy Knight and Concert Knight.

• UCF Homecoming聽Week,听featuring聽Spirit Splash,听kicks聽off聽Monday,听Oct. 19,听and聽concludes聽with the UCF football team鈥檚 matchup against BYU on聽Saturday,听Oct. 24.

• Space Game, a football game unlike any other in the nation, pays tribute to our 鲍颁贵鈥檚 roots as America鈥檚 Space University. This year鈥檚 matchup against Baylor on Friday, Oct. 30, marks 10 years of the Space Game.

• , held each spring at聽聽Orlando鈥檚 Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts, showcases the artistic talents of 鲍颁贵鈥檚 faculty and students in performances, exhibitions, presentations and interactive experiences.

• Gather Luncheon,听a聽community-building event in the spring hosted by聽Wellness & Health Promotion Services and Dining Services,听聽brings hundreds of students聽together聽聽for聽a free, three-course meal.

Recreation, Intramurals and Sports Clubs

In addition to its fitness and recreation facilities, the Recreation and Wellness Center has longstanding intramural and sports club programs that allow students to form friendships and win championships, sometimes on the brightest of stages.

The RWC鈥檚 intramural sports program welcomes all UCF students, especially those who are new to Orlando and haven鈥檛 met enough peers to form their own team. Thanks to its free agency feature, individuals ca聽be matched up with others or be paired with an established team.

The sports club includes 45 different sports, encompassing everything from judo to lacrosse to wakeboarding and have produced some of 鲍颁贵鈥檚 most notable alumni. Gold medalist Phil Dalhausser 鈥�02, who played club volleyball while pursuing his business degree, and bronze medalist Kristen Thomas 鈥�16, who began her rugby career聽as a theatre studies major聽at UCF,听both went on to聽represent聽Team USA聽at聽multiple Summer Olympic Games.

For more information, visit聽.

Registered Student Organizations

UCF offers more than 650 registered student organizations spanning academic, professional, cultural and spiritual, social and recreational, and sports interests.

KnightConnect聽is 鲍颁贵鈥檚 official involvement platform where students can explore聽these organizations or even create a new one.聽Each organization has its own page with meeting times, contact information,听and ways to get involved.

Visit the聽聽to find the organization right for you.

Greek Life

The fraternity and sorority experience has long been a part of campus life. Since the 1970s, fraternities and sororities have been providing spaces of belonging for students to grow together during their collegiate years.

Currently our UCF Greek community is comprised of 47 organizations, which all share the values of scholarship, leadership, service and brotherhood/sisterhood.

For more information visit聽.

UCF Athletics 鈥� Knightmare Society and Marching Knights

UCF is a member of one of the premiere conferences in the nation, the Big 12. From聽Fear the Fronds聽to聽Zombie Nation, the student section鈥檚 energy is聽an integral part of the game day atmosphere聽and gives the Knights a distinct home field (and court) advantage.

All full-time UCF-enrolled students (except 色花堂) are eligible for free tickets to home sporting events. Please note: all seating is first-come, first-served and admission is not guaranteed. For more information, especially for football and men鈥檚 basketball student tickets, please visit .

罢丑别听 is an organization built and run by UCF students and supported by UCF Athletics. Joining the official group has its perks, including football tickets automatically loaded to members鈥� Ticketmaster accounts, a dedicated fast pass entrance at all UCF men鈥檚 basketball games, and first access to post-season student ticket claims.

Students can also contribute to game-day experiences by joining聽, a more than 390-member marching band student organization that performs at pregame shows, halftime shows, pep rallies and聽other聽fan-fest聽events. By creating the soundtrack for these dynamic events, the Marching Knights serve as one of the most vibrant and visible forces for school spirit.

Engage in聽Research

Undergraduate research provides opportunities to build a learning community with faculty and fellow students聽while engaging聽in meaningful work that聽develops聽solutions聽for聽challenges facing our communities,听industries聽and the world.

In addition to forging connections with peers and mentors, this聽practical experience聽allows students to聽build their professional resumes聽before聽they graduate.

, 鲍颁贵鈥檚 annual university-wide celebration of research and creative scholarship showcases graduate and undergraduate research. The week is scheduled for March 29 through April 2, 2027, featuring presentations, exhibitions and other events showcasing student research.

For more information on how to get involved with undergraduate research, visit聽.

贰虫辫濒辞谤别听翱谤濒补苍诲辞

UCF students live in one of the most vibrant destinations in the world, Orlando.聽Whatever your interest, Orlando聽likely has聽it:聽theme parks,听elite聽sporting events,听electric festivals,听Michelin-rated restaurants,听nearby聽coastlines聽and聽natural springs.

Orlando is what you make it, and there are ways to experience it all on a student budget.

罢丑别听聽offers聽discounted聽tickets to various attractions, including Walt Disney World, Universal聽Orlando聽and Kennedy Space Center.聽Every spring semester, UCF students聽enjoy聽free, exclusive access to Universal Islands of Adventure as part of Universal Knights.

聽gives Knights of all experience levels opportunities to go on hiking and camping trips at nearby springs, learn to surf, paddle through bioluminescent waters and more.

Several cultural museums in the area offer free entry,听including聽the聽 on the main campus,听Rollins Museum of Art聽and Mead Garden in nearby Winter Park,听and the聽Holocaust Memorial Resource and Education Center of Central Florida聽in Maitland.聽罢丑别听acclaimed聽Orlando Museum of Art聽offers free entry on the third Thursday of each month聽as part of its Access for All initiative.

Held annually at the start of the fall semester, Visit Orlando鈥檚 Magical Dining offers a chance to sample some the area’s exceptional restaurants at a fraction of the normal cost. Savor three-course, prix-fixe dinners聽 鈥� including at Aurora at the on-campus The Celeste Hotel 鈥� for just $40 or $60 per person from Aug. 14 鈥� Sept. 30, 2026.