IGNITE invites you to be their guest for breakfast as they kick off the 2017 Believe Faculty and Staff Campaign.

Believe is part of IGNITE: The Campaign for UCF. This campaign will provide the spark to an even bigger and brighter future, a future worth dreaming about. (Find out more information about IGNITE at https://www.ucffoundation.org/.)

Save the date for an exciting morning as attendees will hear from key members of UCF leadership, and learn about the impact faculty and staff like you are making on UCF students.

The email copied below has been circulating this morning with a subject line Important Announcement from President John C. Hitt. Please note that this email is a phishing message, do not open the attachment and delete the email from your inbox. The email has been reported to the UCF Information Security Response Team.

If you opened the attachment or entered your credentials please change your NID password as a precaution and contact our office. We will schedule a technician visit to check your computer for malware/viruses.

"Dear UCF Family,

Please read attached for an important announcement from President John C. Hitt

Office of the President
University of Central Florida
P.O. Box 160002
Orlando, FL 32816-0002

Phone: 407-823-1823
FAX: 407-823-2264
Email: Office of the President"

You are invited to the research presentation, lunch and open forum with a candidate for strategic communication, from 12:30 to 2 p.m. on Thursday, Jan 12 in NSC 254.

Do you plan to attend the strategic communication candidate open forum and lunch? If so, please send your response by clicking the button below. Responses are time sensitive and we ask that you please respond by 12 p.m. on Jan 10.

The Spring Job Shadow Program is being held from May 8 - 12, 2017 and allows students to explore specific career fields while networking with professionals. This valuable experience is being sponsored by Career Services and they ask that students submit their applications by the Jan. 29 deadline.

The LGBTQ+ Undergraduate Book Award is provided to students who demonstrate leadership in areas of advocacy toward issues concerning LGBTQ+ and social justice, as well as, involvement within the UCF campus and Orlando communities. If you know any students who might be interested in this award, please send them to the application link below.

There are enhancements to the UCF 403(b) Plan that will be effective in April 2017. For an overview of these changes, please visit the UCF 403(b) Plan Changes page on the Human Resources website.

The Benefits Section is available to conduct a brief training session regarding these upcoming changes for your department. If you are interested in scheduling a training session, please email Ashley Longoria to coordinate a date and time.

LGBTQ+ Services has some exciting events coming up this semester including a Safe Zone talk (1/11), a PFSA Chat (1/18) and even a Welcome Back BBQ (1/19). Even more engaging events will be hosted through the month of April. You find a copy of these events here.

Career Services will be hosting several lunch and learn events from Jan through April. Student are encouraged to attend as their will be representatives from many influential employers from throughout the Orlando area providing insight regarding their respective industries. Students who plan on attending one or more of these events will need to RSVP by logging on to KnightLink then navigating to Events >> Workshops. All lunches will take place from 12 - 1 p.m. in CSEL. See the scheduled dates here. 

NSC students can qualify for up to 20 scholarships found on the College of Sciences website. Scholarships will be awarded at the end of the Spring semester and applications are open from Jan. 1 - Mar. 31, 2017. Please encourage students to apply at www.sciences.ucf.edu/scholarships.

"Dear UCF communications friends,

Olga and I wish you the happiest of New Years. 

Maybe everything didn’t turn up wine and roses in 2016 (politically speaking for me), but the good news is we’ve started the whole process over in 2017. 

And yes, we’re going to give this new 2017 edition that which they say you never get—a second chance to make a first impression. 

We did release two new books last year, my sixth novel, “Extra Wives” — which I am always compelled to add that it is not THAT kind of book—and, Olga and I together wrote a book on public speaking, “Conquer Your Fears (Own the Room).

  While maintaining a presence in Ukraine and Istanbul with a series of crisis and issues trainings last summer, we launched Willard Global Strategies in Florida and Washington, DC. 

  The attached Willard Global Strategies newsletter represents the 20th year some have received these missives, either in this form, as The Willard Reader or an occasional Random Notes.  

 This month we focus on how accommodating we have found our new launching pad in Lake Nona on the outskirts of Orlando and within sight of the international airport.

  It’s a great, convenient starting place for any assignment in the world.  Just this last week, I flew to Eastern Europe for five days, traveling much of the time, but held two training sessions on messaging and public speaking, making it back by New Year’s Eve. 

 A second item is a discussion of our work in crisis and conflict management.  

Again, we appreciate your friendship and wish you, your families and UCF the very best in 2017. 

Michael and Olga Willard "

Adam Parrish
Who celebrates on Jan. 11

Jonathan Conway
Who celebrates on Jan. 14