May 29, 2020
Over the past two and a half months, all of us at UCF have missed our students’ energy and enthusiasm. Though we have been supporting you remotely, our quiet campus hasn’t been the same without you, and we know that many of you are eager to return.
We want you back, too, but we also must plan for a return to campus that prioritizes the health and safety of all Knights. That’s why teams across the university are currently developing what your return to the classrooms, labs, residence halls and campus activities could look like this fall.
Virtual Town Hall Next Week
We know many of you have concerns about COVID-19 and its effects on you and those you care about, and we want to hear from you as we develop the university’s next steps. To help us with this planning, we will join Student Government in hosting a virtual forum open to all students from 2:30 to 4 p.m. Thursday, June 4, for you to share your ideas about returning to campus and to learn more about the work the university is doing to prepare for fall semester.
You also can share your feedback by completing this survey from the Student Body Advocacy Committee, which is part of the Student Government Senate.
Staying Safe and Healthy
Your feedback and the guidance of government and public health officials in the coming weeks will help decide our path forward. We know this fall will look different, with many new safety procedures in place, such as
- wearing face coverings,
- limiting the size and number of in-person classes and gatherings
- and more cleanings in shared spaces.
We also know that our individual actions — even ones that seem unusual or inconvenient — are equally important to help keep yourself and others safe. You can continue to do your part at home to help minimize the virus’ spread by practicing simple safety guidelines recommended by the CDC.
CARES Funding and Other Resources
With more than 21,000 applications submitted for federal CARES funding relief for students, we expect to begin distributing this financial aid to students in the next two weeks. You should keep a close eye on your Knights email account for additional updates.
We continue to share resources to help support the record number of students who are enrolled in classes this summer on the UCF Keep Learning website.
And we encourage you to keep checking the university’s coronavirus website. It is updated regularly with important information and resources to help you.
I know this has been a challenging time for you, but the compassion and spirit I’ve seen from our students even during this unprecedented period represent what Knight Nation is all about. You have my best wishes for success this summer and beyond.
Together, let’s Charge On!
Maribeth Ehasz, Ph.D.
Vice President, Student Development and Enrollment Services