Volume V, Issue II - First Year Experience

Volume V, Issue II
Message from the Editor
Pegasus Families,
Welcome to the Pegasus Parent Post! Thank you very much for taking time to read this
e-newsletter. Again, this quarterly publication will provide you resources, advice, stories of
success, important dates and much more. Your student’s first semester is coming to a close
and we know that the transition has been many things…good, bad, easy, difficult, challenging
and even eye-opening. We know that a student’s first year in college is not only a transition
for them, but as family members, it is a transition for you as well, so making sure we are here
every step of the way is very important. We will continue to reach out to our UCF parents and
families through any means we can.
This post will be themed, Get Diversified and Get Real.
This is a very important time in your life and your student’s life as well so we hope that with
your support, your student will be successful at UCF. The information provided in these pages
will help you stay connected and feel a part of this great institution.
We look forward to sharing more information with you over the course of the year. Go Knights!
Best,
Joseph Deluna
Graduate Assistant
Pegasus Parent Program
Office of the First Year Experience
Inside This Issue:
-Multicultural Student Center
-Career Services
-Advising Corner
-Parent Spotlight
-Finals and Move out Information
Multicultural Student Center
What is the Multicultural Student Center?
The Multicultural Student Center plans a number of programs every semester in order to educate
the student body on the importance of diversity and inclusion. These programs educate students
on the importance of acknowledging and honoring the unique ethnicities, sizes, religions,
sexual-orientations, and abilities that are present on the University of Central Florida’s campus and
around the globe.
The MSC is an office dedicated to all students. They create cultural awareness through new and
exciting events and you can meet new people and learn about new cultures. Throughout the years
they have established a few staple programs which include Taste of UCF, World AIDS Day,
Women’s History Month, MLK Celebration, and a Cultural Dance Series.
Are students able to just walk-in and participate?
Yes, the MSC has a space in the Student Union available to all students.
What services are available?
•
MSC offers a variety of free programming to students throughout the school year.
•
Registered Student Organizations have the opportunity to apply for a cubicle space.
•
Ladership committee
•
Employment opportunities
“The MSC office is a warm and
welcoming place to escape.”
Name: Sederia Washington
Major: Health Services Administration
Hometown: Orlando, FL
Favorite Place on Campus: The Union
How can I become involved with the MSC?
Stopping by the office or contacting administration:
Student Union 153
“MSC events
(407) 823-0401
bring fun an
- Nelson.Santiago@ucf.edu
d diversity
to the UCF c
ommunity.”
- Bianca.Buscemi@ucf.edu
- Msc_sd@ucf.edu
How does the MSC benefit my student?
Through intentional programming, with Student Organizations, and the UCF community,
we encourage the educational exploration of multiculturalism, engage in dialogue,
challenge assumptions and barriers, and work with the surrounding community to support
and build collaborative relationships across the University.
For more information: http://msc.sdes.ucf.edu/
UCF Career Services
What does it take to make new college grads employable?
If parents could view the collegiate experience from an employer’s perspective, they might be surprised to
learn what constitutes a valuable education. In the June 2013 edition of the New York Times, the article
What it Takes to Make New College Graduates Employable, referenced a study from the Chronicle of
Higher Education that nearly half of over 700 employers stated they had trouble finding recent college
graduates qualified to fill positions at their companies. Surprisingly, it was not due to a lack of technical
skills, but rather general education and critical thinking skills.
“When it comes to the skills most needed by employers, job candidates are often lacking in written
and oral communication skills, analytical skills, adaptability, decision-making, and problem solving”
according to the report.
In today’s job market, every occupation requires some combination of these two broad types of
education:
□ General Education: reasoning, critical thinking, and basic academic skills (math, language, reading,
writing).
□ Specific Vocational or Career Preparation: technical or specialized knowledge and skills for a specific type
of employment.
Even with the growing improvements in the national and state economy, we hear from reporters, parents,
and college students alike that there are no jobs. In fact, there are jobs that are not being filled because
recent graduates often lack sufficient general or broad based education. When building the foundation for a
future career, a liberal arts program with a strong focus on general education can complement career goals
and vocational aspirations by providing students with the skills and knowledge employers are seeking from
today’s graduate.
To assist your students in learning more about ways to develop and demonstrate these general education
skills, refer them to Career Services. Since parents have a great deal of influence over their college age
children (believe it or not), you can help them make the most of their time at UCF by encouraging them to
connect with Career Services early in their academic experience.
“If Career Services didn’t offer all the resources
Dr. Bill Blank
Director-Career Development
Career Services
they did, my resume would be a mess!”
For more information: http://career.sdes.ucf.edu/
Name: Aubrey Gainey
Major: Mental Health Counseling
Hometown: Deltona, FL
Favorite Place on Campus: Meditation Garden at
The Burnett Honors College Building
What is Career Services?
Welcome family members! Career Services offers a wide range of assistance to help UCF students
of any major reach their academic and career goals. We invite your family to
familiarize yourself with our services and resources.
Are students able to just drop-in or do they need an appointment?
Drop-in career assistance is available Monday-Friday from 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Students are able to drop-in for resume critiques, but appointments are encouraged for further
career assistance. We are located on Memory Mall (next to the Psychology building), and students
can make an appointment by calling 407-823-2361.
What services are available?
Career Services offers comprehensive resources to both undergraduate and graduate
students as they explore majors, careers, and employment. These include:
•
Career Counseling
•
Major Exploration
•
Relevant Work Experience •
Job Search Skills
“I love how everyone
in Career Services is
•
Resume Critiques
willing to help
m
e in my future endeav
•
Practice Interviews
ors.”
•
Graduate School Planning
•
Career Development Workshops
•
Job Database
•
Employer Info Sessions
•
Job Fairs and Professional Employment Opportunities
•
On-Campus Recruitment
•
Alumni Mentoring Program
Our career specialists help students manage their career planning by:
•
choosing and confirming educational and career choices
•
gaining career-related experience
•
developing effective job search skills
•
searching for full-time employment
It is never too early or too late for students to work on their professional
development plan. We look forward to establishing a partnership that
benefits your student!
Parent Spotlight
Name: Yamilie E. Vazquez
Hometown: Tampa, FL
Student: Janine M. Colon
Favorite thing about UCF: Amount of opportunites for students
How do you communicate with your student?
Mostly phone, we text every day. We also Facetime, Facebook
and Instagram. We try to see each other once a month.
What has been the hardest part of your experience so far?
Not seeing her every day. She is a fun, loving, caring young
lady and I do miss her beautiful smile.
What are some things you wish you knew before your
student started school?
Well, I have been pleasantly surprised that even though the
student body is around 60,000 it still feels like a family. Calls and emails are
returned promptly and efficiently so any worries I had at the beginning were quickly
gone.
What has been your best UCF memory so far?
Orientation was very organized and easy to navigate. Happy hour for the parents was
a nice detail. I got to meet many other parents and help each other out.
How do you feel your student’s experience has been at UCF?
She is absolutely happy. She volunteers at Rent a pup, she is getting good grades,
and has lots of friends. She is very excited about her career and how UCF is helping
her to accomplish all her goals.
If you could give one piece of advice to future parents and family members,
what would it be?
Don’t have any worries or second thoughts about sending your student here.
Advising Corner
- The holiday season is fast approaching. You are probably looking forward to a visit
from your student soon. Before they come home, they need to start planning for next
semester.
- By now your student should know their Enrollment Appointment for Spring 2014. An
enrollment appointment is not an appointment with an advisor, but the point in time in
which a student can start registration for classes.
- The enrollment appointment is found on myUCF under Student Self Service.
Students are encouraged to contact their academic advisor to do schedule planning
before they complete registration. They should also review their degree audit on
myUCF, as well as the undergraduate catalog for major requirements.
http://studentunion.ucf.edu/events/study-union
Final Exam Week
Wednesday, December 04, 2013 Tuesday, December 10, 2013
Housing Closes
Wednesday, December 11, 2013 12:00 PM
Grades Available on MyUCF
Wednesday, December 11, 2013 12:00 PM
Finals and Move-Out Info