Students received a VIP look at key elements of UCF success such as academic colleges and Student Development and Enrollment Services Career Services, Office of Student Involvement, Knight Camp tours as well as housing tours emphasizing the “Transfer Connections Living Learning Community.”

At day’s end, students received a special visit from Knightro and participated in a drawing conducted by a UCF football player in which three students won a free class at Valencia College.

The SEE UCF program encourages students to get excited about their future transfer.  A testimonial from the program survey demonstrated this excitement: “It was exactly how I imagined… fun, lots of experience, pretty great information was given to me. I can’t wait to be a Knight!”

This excitement encourages early decision making and preparation for choosing a major and taking the correct prerequisites before transferring to UCF.

 Transfer and Transition Services is a department of the Division of Student Development and Enrollment Services.

Students were encouraged to come visit, sign in, grab a bagel and socialize with staff and fellow students. They shared stories their personal transfer experiences and introduced important advising questions. There were 68 in recorded attendance.

The office became an inviting environment for students – a place where they felt comfortable enough to not only ask specific advising questions, but also relax in a location promising open communication and networking.

TTS provides pre-admission and transition advising and connections to the campus community through a strong Peer Mentor program. For more information, visit: transfer.sdes.ucf.edu. The Office of TTS is in the Division  of Student Development and Enrollment Services.

The morning focused on updating advisors about everything their students should be aware of before, during and after their transfer to the UCF. Topics discussed included the recent mandate on excess credit hours, in-depth detail on Undergraduate Admissions, and how to prepare students for medical school. After lunch, advisors were able to attend breakout sessions for detailed information on several UCF colleges.

This was the 12th year Transfer and Transition Services facilitated the popular workshop. One attendee said, “As always, excellent workshop . . . Looking forward to next year.” Others commented that the workshop was “very motivating” and “great information.”

The Office of Transfer and Transition Services is in the Division of Student Development and Enrollment Services.

Valencia College, a close partner of the şŁ˝ÇÖ±˛Ą, has won the inaugural Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence. Announced in a ceremony held at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., the award comes with $600,000 in prize money.

In a competitive year-long process, the Aspen Institute, along with a panel of some of the biggest names in higher education, selected Valencia from a preliminary list of 120 “top” community colleges in the nation, based on student performance and graduation data collected by the U.S. Department of Education.

“The college is an engine for employment in Central Florida, and a model for the country,” said Josh Wyner, executive director of the Aspen Institute’s College Excellence Program.

In selecting Valencia as the best community college in America, Aspen officials noted that more than half of the college’s full-time students graduate or transfer within three years of entering the school, a rate significantly higher than the national average (51 percent versus 39 percent).

Many of the transfer students attend UCF through the innovative program. DirectConnect offers guaranteed admission to graduates of Valencia College, Lake-Sumter and Brevard community colleges and Seminole State College of Florida.

UCF academic and financial aid advisers work closely with students to help them make a seamless transition to .

To read a more detailed story about the Aspen Prize, visit the .

The full-day event provided advisors with up-to-date information from UCF’s academic colleges and programs. Mark Allen Poisel, assistant vice president SDES, opened the workshop by welcoming everyone and sharing what’s new in Student Development and Enrollment Services (SDES). Jennifer Wright, Student Academic Resource Center-SDES; Inez ford, Student Financial Assistance; and Annie Richardson, Undergraduate Admissions also shared information. Our participants were also treated to an update from REL Larkin, director of Admissions, on the first two classes of our new Medical School.

Tabling allowed UCF departments and clubs to showcase their information during the entirety of the workshop. Participants had opportunities to pick up pamphlets and information sheets, and discuss the services offered at UCF.

This workshop also featured breakout sessions with the UCF Colleges including: Hospitality Management, Engineering and Computer Science, Arts and Humanities, Nursing, Health and Public Affairs, Business Administration, and Education, as well as Regional Campuses and Interdisciplinary Studies. Presenters provided information and materials on their programs, with a question-and-answer ending each session which additionally provided networking opportunities.

TTS Director Charlene Stinard, describes the workshop as, “A true collaborative effort that involves many departments and people at UCF. The annual Community College Counselor Workshop is a highly anticipated event that encourages partnerships promoting transfer student success.”

Transfer and Transition Services is in the Division of Student Development and Enrollment Services.

Parents and their high school students with at least 45 college credits completed were invited to attend this information session to learn about the next steps for students moving forward in their academic careers at a university or college, with the primary focus on a smooth transition to UCF.

A total of 60 students, 27 parents, and eight Brevard County Public School staff and counselors attended this program to hear presentations from Sophomore & Second Year Center, Undergraduate Admissions, Student Financial Assistance, Transfer & Transition Services, and from a current UCF student to get a personal perspective on collegiate life and student success strategies.

Information packets were provided to all attendees, plus numerous door prizes given out to add to the festivities. Students, parents and guests also had an opportunity to meet individually with UCF representatives for questions and answers.

One parent commented after the program, “Thanks UCF for taking the time to meet with us, and for all the great information provided.”

Sophomore & Second Year Center and Transfer & Transition Services are offices in the Division of Student Development and Enrollment Services.

Over 45 participants set up table displays including SDES offices such as the Counseling Center, Transfer and Transition Services, Student Disability Services, and Regional Campuses Student Services at Cocoa. Community involvement included Veterans of Foreign Wars, Orange and Seminole County Veteran Services Officers, Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom (OEF/OIF) coordinator from the VA Medical Clinic, VetJobs and many others.

The VA Extravaganza event was organized by Assistant şŁ˝ÇÖ±˛Ą Registrar Jim Middlekauff who is responsible for Veteran Services at UCF. “This is the first of many more to come, which will be bigger and better each year,” said Middlekauff.

Veteran Services and Registrar’s Office are in the Division of Student Development and Enrollment Services.