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 UCF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 UCF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 听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!) 色花堂鈥檚 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, UCF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!

Along with your program office, the college is here to help you during your time at UCF. From admissions to graduation, we provide a range of services, covering policy management, analysis, and the formulation of recommendations to enhance your graduate education. We also offer guidance for interdisciplinary and cooperative programs. For questions about graduate studies, our team is available to assist you in Millican Hall, room 230.

Navigating Campus

Home to over 68,000 students, UCF is a sprawling institution with various campuses around central Florida, including UCF Downtown, Rosen College of Hospitality Management, and the Health Sciences Campus at Lake Nona. Our main campus located in Orlando spans about 1,420 acres organized in concentric rings designed to simplify your navigation.

Various modes of transportation are available to assist you in getting around the campus, along with additional choices for reaching other university locations.

Too hot to ride a Spin Scooter? You can opt for the Pegasus Express shuttles, which provide convenient transportation around the university. They run 7 a.m.鈥�7 p.m. Monday through Friday, during fall and spring semesters, excluding holidays. Students can also access Lynx bus routes for free with a valid UCF ID, take a shuttle to downtown, Rosen College, or Lake Nona, and even get transportation to the local grocery store.

Select the Shuttles icon on the to keep track of the schedules and stops and see how far shuttles are from you in real-time.

Located on the first floor of the across from College Optical, UCF鈥檚 bike shop provides free bike repair services for students, including tire inflation, brake adjustments, fixing loose handlebars, and gear adjustments. Bike N鈥� Gold, UCF’s bike share program hosted by the Student Government, also offers free long-term bike rentals for periods of up to one semester.

Resources

UCF strives to make graduate students鈥� lives easier by providing resources to support them during their studies. The听听(GSC) is a designated space for graduate students on our main campus in Trevor Colbourn Hall, Suite 213. The GSC provides complimentary and reservable study spaces, private conference rooms, and presentation rooms. Additionally, they organize cost-free events and workshops throughout the academic year to foster community among graduate students. Starting this semester, the center will also offer poster printing for students.

Though the prospect of diving into your thesis or dissertation might initially seem intimidating, rest assured that a range of support services is in place to accompany you on your academic journey. The Office of Graduate Student Life (GSL) coordinates the format review and final submission process for (ETDs), establishes deadlines for thesis and dissertation submissions, oversees policies related to these projects, and offers assistance to students, faculty, and staff. Beginning this semester, a dedicated graduate assistant will be available to help you format your work.

The John C. Hitt Library offers many resources and tools for graduate students and postdoctoral scholars. You can schedule consultations with the subject librarian, attend graduate and postdoc workshops, find information about scholarly publishing, and view archival theses and dissertations in the STARS Repository. You can access the library鈥檚 services for graduate students and postdocs at .

The library is open seven days a week: Monday through Thursday 7:30 a.m.鈥�1 a.m., Friday 7:30 a.m.鈥�7 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m.鈥�6 p.m. and Sunday noon鈥�1 a.m. Starting this semester, they will also offer hours Sunday through Thursday 1 a.m.鈥� 6 a.m. Please note that a UCF ID card is required for entry during these hours and only allows access to a portion of the second floor. No library services or printing are available during this time, but there are computers, restrooms and water fountains.

Events and Opportunities

provides a variety of services to support graduate students throughout their time at UCF and help prepare them for what comes after graduation. They also organize events and social gatherings for graduate students throughout the year, including their monthly First Wednesday Caf茅, where students can enjoy free bagels and coffee while learning about university resources available to graduate students.

Next week, they are hosting the Fall Semester Launch beginning Aug. 21 with many social and professional development events offered 鈥� from Donuts with the Deans to a funding workshop. Don鈥檛 miss out on all the networking opportunities and free food. Visit the for the schedule and to see other events taking place throughout the semester.

Building your community is an integral part of having a fulfilling graduate experience. Whether you want to get involved on campus or seek opportunities to network and make friends, UCF offers a range of registered student organizations (RSOs) tailored for graduate students. Notable groups include the Graduate Student Association and the Graduate Student Advisory Council. You can explore more opportunities on the听听portal, hosted by the Office of Student Involvement.

Support Services

The (UWC) is another valuable resource that offers free individual and small-group writing consultations to UCF community members. Their purpose is not to 鈥渇ix鈥� papers. Instead, the UWC provides a collaborative environment that creates opportunities to support writers鈥� learning to help them to better understand and navigate complex situations for writing, both in and outside the university. Their tutors are qualified UCF graduate and undergraduate students dedicated to helping you produce your best writing.

Though graduate school may be stressful at times, taking care of your mental health is always a priority.听 provides an assortment of workshops, group counseling, and one-on-one counseling services to all UCF students. They also offer a selection of virtual services and self-help resources. In addition, the College of Graduate Studies offers a webcourse called designed to help graduate students be more proactive with their mental wellness.

Prioritizing your physical health is equally important, and engaging in regular exercise can help alleviate stress and improve your mood. The (RWC) comprises many programs, such as intramural Sports, Sports Clubs, Outdoor Adventure, Fitness, and Aquatics. The RWC also includes various facilities such as our state-of-the-art fitness center, the Climbing Tower, tennis courts, sand volleyball courts, and Lake Claire Recreation Area. There is also a satellite fitness center on the downtown campus. The RWC is open to all currently enrolled students and offers many services aimed at helping UCF students be healthy knights.

There are many sources of financial support for graduate students at UCF, from fellowships and assistantships to tuition remission and health insurance. To find out more about UCF financial assistance opportunities, visit the College of Graduate Studies听 page. Visit UCF鈥檚 Office of Student Financial Assistance site听for student loans and other funding sources.

In case you encounter a crisis while at UCF, such as homelessness, an unforeseen emergency, or a catastrophic event, Student Care Services offers to graduate students. You can find the criteria and access the application on their website.

UCF has its own police department contributing to a secure campus environment. The currently employs approximately 80 sworn law enforcement officers between the main and the three regional campuses in Orlando. They provide many services, including safe escorts, notary services, bike and property registrations, and self-defense workshops.

We are committed to your success and intellectual development. We are rooting for you to walk across that stage at commencement. Our goal is simple 鈥� to help you achieve your dreams and become the best in your chosen field.

You have an opportunity to change the world, so take full advantage of it and enjoy the ride.

鈥淭he emphasis is on benefit to students,鈥� says Frank Allen, interim director 色花堂 Libraries who has overseen the transformation of the building since the project started in 2016. 鈥淔or years we have been putting a plan together to create more collaborative and quieter spaces for our students, and now we are finally able to show them what we have been working on.鈥�

This renovation marks the first major overhaul to the library since 1984.

Following the ribbon cutting and remarks from speakers, students can fully explore the 21st Century Library additions with the Back to the Library Scavenger Hunt starting at 10 a.m. 鈥� prizes include limited edition rubber ducks and a drawing for a grand prize pack for those who finish the challenge.

Since the campus鈥� opening in 1968, the library has been a popular spot for students to gather, and the new renovations aim to capitalize on that by adding 908 new seats for studying. The majority of these new seats will have power stations at arm鈥檚 reach to keep laptops, smartphones and tablets charged.

鈥淪tudents wanted more group study rooms and quiet rooms, but mainly spaces where they could come and work together,鈥� says former Director of Libraries Barry Baker. 鈥淲e do what we do for the students, and we want them to continue to give us input.鈥�

Here are some of the features of the new and improved John C Hitt Library.

The circulation desk serves as a resource for students who have general inquiries about the library, and to check out materials including reserve items. The main circulation services desk is now located at the new north entrance. The library鈥檚 鈥淟ibTech desk,鈥� moved to the former circulation desk location on second floor which faces the Reflecting Pond. This will provide more exposure for this busy desk, which loans out over 135,000 technology-related items per year.

The Automated Retrieval Center (ARC), which opened in 2018, is capable of holding up to 1.25 million volumes of the library鈥檚 print collection, placed in bins inside racks three stories high, with retrieval by robotic cranes. Placing the volumes in the ARC opens up more 鈥渟tack鈥� space to create areas for students to study and work together.

鈥淭he idea is to repurpose space, and to ease the task of navigating through stacks looking for a book,鈥� Allen says.听 鈥淣ow, books can be requested with the click of a button on an electronic device, and each volume will be available for pick up at the circulation desk within 10 minutes.鈥�

The fourth floor reading room, located on top of the ARC, features a 270-degree view of campus and 235 news seats in a 鈥渓ow-conversation area,鈥� offering a great vantage point overlooking the Student Union and expanded outdoor plaza.

The fourth floor features a new special collections gallery space, which will display a variety of library-owned art, rare collection materials and archival documents.

With the renovations, the library aims to become LEED certified, a building designation that recognizes sustainability. Liberal use of reclaimed cypress wood (pictured in background here) pays homage to Florida鈥檚 native cypress trees.

The library will also feature a new multipurpose room with seating capacity for 120 to host lectures and library-related events.

The first floor features two new instruction rooms 鈥� including an active learning classroom that features a collaborative, technology-rich learning environment. And in response to student requests for more individual and group study spaces, there are new group study rooms. Students can reserve times via the library website and on-location reservation devices.

The designers made the stairwells more visible and open to increase use and safety. 鈥淭he idea is to have active design, so the elevators and stairs are positioned so that students prefer to use the stairs,鈥� says Baker.

鈥淭his project is something that has been in development for years, based on UCF student feedback, successful practices in other libraries, and forward thinking. People will see sharp differences between old and new spaces, which will motivate us to continue the work we have started,鈥� Allen says.

This new space represents the start of a complete renovation of the entire library building, which will most likely occur floor by floor, with one or two floors renovated at a time, beginning with the third floor in Fall 2021, which will include a new dedicated study space for graduate students.

Renovations will also include new air conditioning, lighting, plumbing and electrical systems. As existing floors are renovated, more books will be added into the ARC and shelving then removed to free up space for additional student seating. Renovating one floor at a time will also have the benefit of limiting construction to only a set amount of area at a time, thus minimizing disruption to students and visitors in this very busy library.

The NEA Big Read: Central Florida is a program designed to revitalize the role of literature in American culture and to encourage citizens to read for pleasure and enlightenment. This year, it runs from Jan. 11 through Feb. 23 and will feature a series of exciting events related to the novel.

Silver Sparrow was added to the NEA Big Read Library of classics in 2016. Jones’ website describes the book as “a breathtaking story about a man鈥檚 deception, a family鈥檚 complicity, and the teenage girls caught in the middle. Set in a middle-class neighborhood in the 1980s, the novel revolves around James Witherspoon鈥檚 families 鈥� the public one and the secret one. When the daughters from each family meet and form a friendship, only one of them knows they are sisters.鈥�

鈥淛ones鈥� book鈥ffers an excellent opportunity for UCF to bring impactful programs that celebrate the role of literature in our community,鈥� says Keri Watson, director of the NEA Big Read: Central Florida. 鈥淥ur programming will coincide with UCF鈥檚 celebration of Black History Month, and we are working with Africana Studies to bring the Big Read to a new campus audience.鈥�

UCF is one of 84 communities nationwide participating in the NEA Big Read this year, 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 the program.

NEA Big Read Events

Additionally, from Jan. 11 through Feb. 5, the UCF Art Gallery will host But Before Bone is Skin, an exhibition curated by Jonell Logan, creative director for the McColl Center for Art + Innovation in Charlotte, N.C.

On Jan. 22, a keynote address by Logan will take place via Zoom. She will discuss the relationship between the visual and literary arts, Silver Sparrow and the ways in which the novel鈥檚 themes informed the artwork featured in But Before Bone is Skin. On Jan. 28, contributing artists to the exhibition will discuss their artwork and how the themes of the book inspired their work in an artist panel via Zoom.

In addition, Seminole County Public Libraries will host daytime and evening book-discussion groups at each of its five branches, for a total of 10 book clubs this year. All clubs and discussions will take place via Zoom and are free and open to the public.

Visit UCF鈥檚 Big Read website to learn more about the NEA Big Read: Central Florida and register for the program鈥檚 upcoming events.

An initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with Arts Midwest, the NEA Big Read broadens our understanding of our world, our communities, and ourselves through the joy of sharing a good book.

Whether your classes are online or face-to-face, we have ways to support your progress toward your degree. Check out this list of opportunities and resources that UCF is hosting this semester. The events or resources are all free.

Library Support for Course Materials

Sept. 16, 2-3 p.m.

UCF Libraries

Faculty session, but open to postdocs and graduate students who teach

UCF Libraries provide access to a variety of materials that can support your courses 鈥� from journal articles, streaming videos, e-books and more. These materials have a wide variety of access models that are not always evident. In this session, UCF Librarians Sara Duff, Rich Gause and Sarah Norris will share how to navigate the plethora of resources available to support teaching and learning with a particular emphasis on resources that can be used during remote teaching during emergency circumstances. How to access these materials and ensure they鈥檙e accessible by students, as well as copyright and licensing will also be explored in this session.

Copyright, Fair Use, and Online Teaching听

Sept. 23, 1-2 p.m.

UCF Libraries

Faculty session but open to postdoctoral researchers and graduate students who teach

Can you upload a PDF of a journal article or book chapter to your webcourse? Are you allowed to stream a video in your online video lecture? These are just a few questions that faculty may have when teaching online. This session, led by Sarah Norris, UCF scholarly communications librarian, and Rich Gause, UCF government information librarian, will provide information about copyright and fair use (exploring the four fair use factors in depth) and other components that will be helpful to consider when听integrating resources for teaching online.

Acing the Virtual Interview

Career Services

Oct. 7, 5 p.m.

Employers are currently relying heavily on technology to recruit potential candidates for open positions. Learn about how virtual interviews differ from in-person ones and what you can do to successfully prepare for them and communicate your strengths effectively in an online format.

Copyright Basics for Research and Teaching听

UCF Libraries

Oct. 20, 1 p.m.

Can you use any image you find online in your presentation? Do you need to get permission to use a chart or graphic for your thesis or dissertation? What kinds of rights do you have as an author of a journal article? These are just a few of the questions that we will explore in this session focused on the fundamentals of copyright and fair use for research and teaching. Attendees will learn about copyright basics, the four fair use factors, author rights, and more.

LinkedIn Made Easy

Career Services

Oct. 21, 5 p.m.

Attend this workshop to learn how you can leverage your profile to promote your brand and connect with professionals in your network. Follow along to update your profile and experiment with LinkedIn resources.

Networking for Conferences (Virtual vs. In-Person)

Career Services

Dec. 2, 5 p.m.

Professional associations are relying heavily on technology to manage and run their conferences and professional-development opportunities. Learn how virtual conferences differ from in-person ones and what you can do to successfully prepare for them and effectively network in an online format.

Preparing Tomorrow鈥檚 Faculty Program

The Karen L. Smith Faculty Center for Teaching and Learning offers a Preparing Tomorrow鈥檚 Faculty Program every semester. This is a voluntary program on teaching in higher education, primarily intended for graduate teaching assistants but open to all UCF graduate students. Students should visit听 for more information and register by the appropriate听deadline.

Additional workshops are available throughout the semester on everything from writing grants to personal finance to interview strategies and more, through the program.

Utilize all campus resources like the Recreation and Wellness Center, , , S, dozens of student organizations, and more. These services provide opportunities for networking, socializing, building your resume, and maintaining personal wellness.

For faster service concerning questions about admissions or graduate funding, email graduate@ucf.edu

UCF honored 39 such faculty members during UCF鈥檚 second Authors Celebration on Feb. 5 at the Live Oak Ballroom. The , and co-sponsor the affair every two years. Interim Provost Michael D. Johnson also attended to cheer faculty on.

鈥淎s a kid, I used to jump on my bicycle and pedal to the library as fast as I could just so I could borrow books,鈥� says Elizabeth Klonoff, vice president for Research and dean of the College of Graduate Studies. 鈥淏ooks are incredible. They open up whole new worlds. It is no easy thing to publish a book. That鈥檚 why what you do is so cool and we wanted to recognize you.鈥�

The celebration included a reading by one of this year鈥檚 honorees, Professor of writing and rhetoric Martha Catherine Brenckle. During her talk she spoke about the steps necessary to writing poetry and read excerpts from her book Hard Letters and Folded Wings.

She shared many of her poems, some that rhymed and some that did not, to weave a tapestry of colors and shapes that evoked emotions. Brenckle concluded with perhaps the most important lesson: 鈥淭here is no one way or right way to write poetry. Commitment, lots of hard work and to get [started] writing is what is needed.鈥�

About 80 people attended the event, including some previous honorees. They shared conversation and food while browsing tables that showcased some of the books written by the author honored.

The collection included works of fiction, non-fiction, poetry and textbooks. They covered a variety of topics including: women鈥檚 contributions to journalism in the post-World War II era, invasive plants in Florida, spacecraft Cassinis鈥� voyage to Saturn, sports heroes, and marketing for tourism and hospitality, among others.

This year鈥檚 recognized authors are:

• Jonathan Beever,

• Steven Berman,

• Martha Catherine Brenckle, College of Arts and Humanities

• Cheryl Briggs, College of Arts and Humanities

• Sarah Bush,

• Michael Callaghan, College of Sciences

• Ilenia Colon Mendoza, College of Arts and Humanities

• Joshua Colwell, College of Sciences

• Sai Deng, John C. Hitt Library

• Tyler Fisher, College of Arts and Humanities

• David Fukuda,

• Alan Fyall,

• Martha Garcia, College of Arts and Humanities

• Edward Gonzalez-Tennant, College of Sciences

• David Head, College of Arts and Humanities

• Micah Dean Hicks, College of Arts and Humanities

• Nathan Holic, College of Arts and Humanities

• Aubrey Jewett, College of Sciences

• Anthony Pak-Hin Kong, College of Health Professions and Sciences

• Richard Lapchick,

• Julia Listengarten, College of Arts and Humanities

• Humberto Lopez Cruz, College of Arts and Humanities

• Luis Martinez-Fernandez, College of Arts and Humanities

• Rudy McDaniel, College of Arts and Humanities

• Tison Pugh, College of Arts and Humanities

• Beatriz Reyes-Foster, College of Sciences

• Kyle Riding,

• Fernando Rivera, College of Sciences

• John Solow, College of Business

• Nancy Stanlick, College of Arts and Humanities

• Michael Stawser, College of Sciences

• Stella Sung, College of Arts and Humanities

• Gunes Murat Tezcur, College of Sciences

• Kimberly Wilmot Voss, College of Sciences

• Linda Walters, College of Sciences

• Ross Wolf, College of Community Innovation and Education

• Melissa Worley, College of Medicine

• Margaret Ann Zaho, College of Arts and Humanities

• Richard Zraick, College of Health Professions and Sciences

The following information will help navigate the academic portion of game day and then game day activities.

Class Schedule and On-Campus Facilities

Classes on the main campus, in the Central Florida Research Park, Rosen College of Hospitality Management and on UCF Connect鈥檚 campuses will conclude at 2:30 p.m. Offices at those locations also will close for normal operations at 2:30 p.m. in order to allow adequate time for a smooth transition to game day activities, which will begin at 3:30 p.m. on most of the campus.

Faculty who have classes in progress at 2:30 p.m. may choose to conduct the portions of those sessions that come before that time. Some staff members may be required to work past the university鈥檚 2:30 p.m. closing time. Please speak with your supervisor about operations in your specific area of the university.

In order to provide students with additional time to study, the John C. Hitt Library will remain open until 5 p.m. Additionally, many UCF Dining Services locations will remain open after 2:30 p.m., including Knightro鈥檚 and 鈥�63 South, which will be open until 9 p.m. and 10 p.m., respectively.

The university will reopen for normal operations, including regular class and activity schedules, at 6 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 22.

Parking, Towing and Shuttles

Parking

Regular university-parking policies will be in effect until 2:30 p.m.

Faculty, staff, and students will be able to stay in many campus parking lots and garages after classes have concluded. Those areas include garages A and B, as well as surface parking lots B5, B6, B9, and H4 with respect to your designated permits. Those who possess a game day parking permit may remain parked in their designated football Gold Zone lot or garage throughout the day as long as their game day permit is displayed.

Beginning at 4 p.m., all vehicles without a valid game-day permit in garages C, D, F and H as well as the baseball lot and parking lots C1-C3, D1-D2 and E1-E8 will be subject to towing.

Shuttles

Regular weekday student-shuttle routes will switch over to game-day operations at 5 p.m., and game-day shuttles will continue to run for two hours following the game.

Fans should park at the Research Pavilion, 12424 Research Parkway in Central Florida Research Park. Shuttles will transport fans from the Research Pavilion to parking lot D1. No tailgating will be permitted at the Research Pavilion.

The game-day shuttles will include all regular student-shuttle routes with the exception of Tivoli, Northgate and Northview, due to their close proximity to the stadium; services to these three communities ends at 5 p.m.

The Rosen College shuttle will depart from that campus at 3 p.m. and will leave from the main campus鈥檚 student union at 11:30 p.m.

Traffic Flow

Gemini Boulevard North between East Plaza and West Plaza drives will be closed to vehicular traffic prior to and during tailgating. The road will be reopened at the discretion of law enforcement following the conclusion of tailgating.

To expedite postgame traffic, North Orion Boulevard will only be open to traffic traveling from Gemini Boulevard to McCulloch Road starting at 8:30 p.m. until postgame traffic is cleared. Vehicles will not be able to enter campus from McCulloch Road during that time.

Tickets

A limited number of tickets remain for Friday’s game and can be purchased online through UCF.听Season tickets are available for the remaining UCF home games. UCF faculty and staff are eligible to receive 20 percent off the ticket portion of season tickets. Many sections at Spectrum Stadium have already sold out, so don’t wait to get your seats. To order, call 407-823-1000.

Student Tickets

UCF students can claim their free ticket through Friday through UCFStudentTix.com, but please note that claiming a ticket does not guarantee entry. Early arrival to the stadium is strongly encouraged. Once students arrive at the gate, they must have their UCF student ID and mobile ticket. Student guest tickets officially sold out Tuesday afternoon.

Remember, if 50,000 students attend home games before Nov. 9, UCF President Dale Whittaker has promised to accept UCF Director of Athletics Danny White鈥檚 challenge to join in UCF Homecoming鈥檚 tradition of Spirit Splash.

Going to the Game?

#UCFansWear is looking for a blackout at Spectrum Stadium, so all Knights fans should gear up in black.

Tailgating on campus starts at 3:30 p.m.

The main act for the UCF Tailgate Concert Series presented by Pacifico is Keith Eaton, who will take the stage in IOA Plaza at 5 p.m.

Don鈥檛 forget, a clear-bag policy is in effect and it鈥檚 important to know your gate of entry. Express lanes are available for fans who don’t have any bags. These can be found in all lanes for gates 5 and 9 and some lanes in gates 12, 13 and 18. The clear-bag policy is effective for all sporting events at Spectrum Stadium. While fans are encouraged to not bring any bags, those that do can review the policy on ucfknights.com.

For additional information on game-day policies and procedures, please visit: www.UCFGameDay.com.

Some online library self-services will still be available at , including: databases, research guides, eBooks, online journals, streaming videos, information literacy modules and the STARS digital repository.

Requests for articles will be processed until Dec. 13, and document delivery requests听will be processed until听Dec. 14. No more interlibrary loan requests听are being handled until January.

Books that are due can be deposited in book drops next to the main library entrance and in the parking lot between Howard Phillips and Millican halls, or if they鈥檙e eligible for renewal, the books鈥� due dates can be extended at .

Staffers for the Center for Distributed Learning in the basement of the building will work Dec. 18-22 in the Partnership II building, Classroom Building I and remotely on campus. Phone service not be available but employees can be reached by email.

For help with CDL issues, email webcourses@ucf.edu or chat online during office hours at .

The 21st Century Library project is a multi-phased renovation and expansion. As each phase is completed, the next will begin. For updates on the project, go to: .

The reception date has been rescheduled for听Thursday, Sept. 21 @ 4-6 p.m. in the John C. Hitt Library room 223.

鈥淵ou might find us in front of the classroom or in the office down the hall and yet never suspect the secret we share. We are artists. Whether we have exhibited in galleries around the world or have never shown our work before, we are artists. We present to you our dreams, our hearts, our passion鈥e are the Hidden Artists.鈥�

色花堂 has many talented employees who use their creativity in their daily jobs. Some of these employees are 鈥渧isual artists鈥� who create artwork on their own time for themselves, their families and/or for the public. They are the 鈥淗idden Artists.鈥�

The Hidden Artists will exhibit at the John C. Hitt Library from September 1-29, 2017 with a reception on September 21.

Artwork will be exhibited in the library on the Art Wall and in the glass display cases with a variety of styles, subjects and mediums, including photography, mixed media, acrylic, graphic and jewelry.

The exhibit features the talents of: Maribel Amaro-Garcia, Gina Clifton, Pamela Williams Gruen, Jacqui Johnson, Simona Loh, Russ Muller, Fiona Murphy, Judy Bragg Pardo, Brian Pate, Christopher Saclolo, M.C. Santana, and Paul Viau.

“In 2008, I got together a group of creative UCF faculty and staff members; and formed the Hidden Artists,鈥� says Judy Bragg Pardo. 鈥淪ince that time, I have coordinated nine exhibitions at the UCF John C. Hitt Library. Some members retired or left UCF and new members have joined. This year will be my last year exhibiting as I am retiring at the end of 2017. I wanted to say how proud I am of the dedicated Hidden Artists who have opened their hearts and souls to share their artworks with the UCF community. There were many artists who had never exhibited before and have gone on to enter juried exhibitions and display their art in galleries. Special thanks to Brian Pate who designed our beautiful postcards throughout the years and to those artists who have been with the group from the very beginning. With the collaborative effort of the group members, the Hidden Artists will keep its tradition of exhibiting at the library for years follow.鈥�

Visit the Hidden Artists on Facebook at: and click 鈥淟ike.鈥� to follow the group.

Hidden Artists membership is open to currently working UCF faculty or staff members who create artwork. For more information, email Judy Bragg Pardo at: judyart23@aol.com.

The 色花堂 John C. Hitt Library is located at 4000 Central Florida Blvd., Orlando, FL 32816. Call the library for hours of operation at 407.823.2580 or visit the website at library.ucf.edu.

The weather curious at UCF are in luck thanks to WeatherSTEM, a tool that tracks current and predicted weather and pushes out updates through the web, social media and a WeatherSTEM app.

WeatherSTEM has been at UCF since 2015, but its camera component was recently upgraded. Now, WeatherSTEM followers can watch the sunrise, sunset and daily weather conditions from a camera positioned high atop the John C. Hitt Library with a view 色花堂鈥檚 iconic Reflecting Pond and Millican Hall.

A weather station installed at UCF鈥檚 Emergency Operations Center measures factors such as wind speed and rainfall every minute, pumping that information to the WeatherSTEM channels.

The camera and weather station were donated by WeatherSTEM CEO Edward Mansouri.

鈥淒epending on the time of the year, weather in Central Florida can be great or become severe.听 WeatherSTEM allows the UCF community to be aware of the local weather so they can plan accordingly,鈥� said Jeff Morgan, UCF鈥檚 director of Security and Emergency Management. 鈥淲e see this as another safety tool for our community鈥�

WeatherSTEM is a tool used across the country to share important weather information and build environmental literacy.

色花堂 and other universities with WeatherSTEM, the system also includes a history of the campus鈥� weather on past football gamedays. Users can scroll back to 1979 to see what the weather was like during each game of the Knights鈥� first season, or look through other years to see the weather conditions of Knights home and away games.

To see WeatherSTEM in action, visit https://orange.weatherstem.com/ucf or follow along on .