FROM THE DIRECTOR

hope your semester is going

well. We survived drop/swap and are

now in full swing. The university has

grown to over 56,000 students and

your program is growing as well. As

with everything else, there are posi-

tive and negative sides to the growth.

I am sure you are well aware of the

joys of parking. Fortunately another

parking garage is under construction

now and that will help. Our advising

office is busier than ever and some of

you have experienced painful delays

in visiting an advisor. Hopefully we

have minimized the inconvenience

though by bringing a new advisor,

peer advisors, and student assistants

on board.

The Interdisciplinary Studies student

club has filed the paperwork to be-

come official and is now just awaiting

word from SGA. Watch your email for

the first meeting and planning ses-

sion. Hopefully this will happen very

soon.

We have obtained funding to produce

tee shirts for Interdisciplinary Studies

and are preparing a contest for de-

signs. Our plan is to utilize a couple

of designs to produce silk screens and

do the printing in house. So, please

start creating in preparation for the

contest so we can have the best tee

shirts on campus.

The UCF Unifying Theme, The Global

Environment, is now part of Interdis-

ciplinary Studies and we are now

gearing up for the year. We are

putting together activities ranging

from lectures to films to projects

and will be sending information in

the near future. One project we are

working on now is a new application

that can be downloaded to smart

phones and other position-aware

devices that will bring up informa-

tion on environmental, sustainabil-

ity, and energy conservation pro-

jects, research, and initiatives in

your vicinity as you move about

campus. The plan is to launch this

app at the Environmental Summit

on April 7, 2011.

Have a successful and enjoyable

rest of the fall semester and do

great things.

Sincerely,

Dr. Michael D. Hampton

Office of Interdisciplinary Studies Newsletter Fall 2010

IN THIS ISSUE

FROM THE DIRECTOR 1

CONGRATULATIONS,

GRADUATES! 2

IMPORTANT DATES

& DEADLINES 2

ALUMNI CORNER 3

GIVING TO IDS 4

I.S. NEWS 5

NEW! ISSA 6

GRADUATE NEWS 10

Interdisciplinary Studies graduates walked across the stage marking their last symbolic act as

Undergraduates at UCF during the summer commencement ceremony on August 7th, 2010.

Over 140 I.S. students graduated this summer and we want to congratulate all of our graduates.

Good luck in your future endeavors!

Summa Cum Laude honors

designees (top 2.5 percent of their graduating class)

include:

Robin Elaine Apelado

IMPORTANT DATES AND DEADLINES

Magna Cum Laude honors

designees (top 5 percent, but not in the top 2.5 per-

cent) include:

Emily Ann Kuchar

Femke Aerts Harold Mario Brandner

What IS Up? Page 2

OCTOBER

UNIVERSITY CLOSED AT 12:20 PM 6

GRADE FORGIVENESS DEADLINE 15

WITHDRAWAL DEADLINE 15

NOVEMBER

VETERAN’S DAY HOLIDAY 11

THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY 26-27

DECEMBER

FINAL EXAMINATION PERIOD 7-13

DEGREE CONFERRAL DATE 17

COMMENCEMENT 17-18

GRADES AVAILABLE ON MYUCF. 18

Name: Carl Irani

Major: Interdisciplinary Studies, B.S.

I will be receiving my Interdisciplinary Studies degree in Nanotechnology/

Life Biomedical Sciences and minor in Environmental studies this fall 2010.

I was involved with research for two years at the Nanoscience Technology

Center in order to supplement my learning in the classroom (http://

www.nanoscience.ucf.edu/students/irani.php), in which case I gained a lot

of useful hands on experience in the nanotechnology field. I decided to

pursue my interests in nanotechnology and applied for a summer intern-

ship in 2009 at the College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering at the

University of Albany which was ranked #1 in 2005 (http://cnse.albany.edu/about_cnse/

why_cnse/1_in_world.html).

Through the grace of the Office of Undergraduate Research and SGA I traveled to present some of

my work in Brussels, Belgium and got to see and meet many new people in various fields of study,

as well as experience the culture as a local resident.

After concluding with all this research I realized that my real talents are being held back and hidden

and need to be expressed through the business world. I hope to make businesses green via the

technologies they use, manufacture and the general way in which business is conducted. I would

like to incorporate my undergraduate studies & research experiences with the area of Biomimicry

and Business to propel the future of humanity on the green wave of our generation. My Interdiscipli-

nary Studies degree has helped me cross pollinate my University experience in areas that I have

been interested in & will hopefully allow me to do the same with my life.

ALUMNI SHARE THEIR STORIES

Name: Monisha Seth, MD

Major: Liberal Studies, B.S.

My undergraduate research experience at UCF taught me scientific

rigor and the fundamental skills to interpret raw data. I was able to

apply these skills to my bench research project in medical school. I

utilize these skills today to assess the medical literature and incorpo-

rate it into my internal medicine practice.

What IS Up? Page 3

Monisha Seth, MD

Class of 1993

Carl Irani

Class of 2009

What IS Up? Page 5

Jessica Simmons, Peter Wallace, and Marcelle Turner continue to advise Interdisciplinary

Studies students with Pete Wallace advising all graduate students.

Our returning Peer Advisors are Miguel Naranjo and Maria Castro, and joining them this

year is Aeryel Williams. Our Peer Advisors provide an invaluable service to all of our

prospective students who are interested in learning more about Interdisciplinary studies.

Many of you may have met with one of these knowledgeable staff members already!

We would like to welcome the newest member of our advising team, Jessica

Cheatwood-Alvarez. Jessica has worked at various colleges and universities

(Hocking College, Kenyon College, University of New Mexico, and Arizona

State University) in a variety of capacities such as academic advising,

leadership development, student activities and residential education prior to

joining Interdisciplinary Studies in July 2010. She is passionate about making

personal connections with students and encouraging them to truly make the

most of their undergraduate education. Jessica considers herself to be a life-

long learner but received her “official” degrees by studying Psychology and

Zoology to earn her B.A. at Ohio Wesleyan University, followed by earning her

M.A. in Higher Education and Counseling at Ohio University. Jessica will be

working primarily with students on academic probation to help them succeed at UCF and with

students in the Leadership Studies minor and certificate programs.

We welcome you to visit the I.S. advising team in Classroom 1, Suite 302 and take advantage

of our wealth of knowledge.

Advising Updates

Cheatwood-Alvarez

Greeting from the Front Desk

We would like to welcome you to a great fall semester here at UCF. We look

forward to working with you to meet all your academic needs. Please feel free

to make an appointment to speak with an advisor, or just stop by to say hello.

When making appointments through the website, keep in mind that same day

appointments may not be scheduled. Also, please schedule your appointments

well in advance of busy times, as advisors’ schedules book up quickly.

Once again, we welcome you to the fall semester and Interdisciplinary Studies.

Allison, Matt & Whitney

Would you like to get to know your fellow Interdisciplinary Studies peers and network with

other Interdisciplinary Studies majors? How about exploring career and academic oppor-

tunities with professionals from a variety of fields?

Membership in the Interdisciplinary Studies Student Association (ISSA) will

grant these and other opportunities!

It’s time that Interdisciplinary Studies had an association to give a strong voice to one of

the largest majors at UCF. The Interdisciplinary Studies Student Association has been

created so that IDS students can come together to create a networking environment for

us to share our diverse experiences, talents, resources, and skills.

You will also have the opportunity to help contribute to the association as one of its

founding members from its very beginnings. You will be able to help decide how the as-

sociation works and grows.

The ISSA will hold its first meeting in October!

We’ll announce the meeting day, time, and place on the Interdisciplinary Studies website

and on flyers around campus, so be on the lookout!

Tshilaba Vérité, ISSA President

Community service and volunteering

On-campus events and socials

Career-related workshops

Guest speaker lectures and workshops

Interdisciplinary socials and events

Networking with IS student community

The IS online journal

What IS Up? Page 7

Applying for Graduation

All students must file an intent to graduate the semester before they intend to graduate. Aca-

demic deadlines are posted on the University’s academic calendar online:

Fall 2010 Graduation Application was due: August 6, 2010

Spring 2011 Graduation Application is due: December 7, 2010

UCF’s online Intent to Graduate application system allows students to submit their graduation

applications through myUCF student self-service. Two required graduation surveys are also

submitted online. After students submit their graduation applications, they will receive a confir-

mation email, and they can continue to check the status of their intents online throughout the

semester.

Not all students are required to meet with an advisor prior to graduation. If you are required to

meet with an advisor, you will receive an email. Even if you are not required to meet with an

advisor prior to submitting your intent, we recommend that you meet with an advisor in Inter-

disciplinary Studies as well as an advisor in your minor department. This will allow you to make

a final check of your degree audit and make sure

you will meet all graduation requirements. You

should also register for classes for your final semes-

ter before meeting with an advisor or filing your in-

tent so that your class schedule can be double-

checked.

Remember: You must be enrolled at UCF during

your graduating semester, and you are not permit-

ted to be a transient student in your final semester.

Looking for Your IDS Instructors?

Now, you will find your IDS instructors in CL1-302. For your convenience, the instructors will

be available throughout the week to meet with you as necessary. Please drop in to visit with

the faculty during their office hours.

Ms. Laura Hard Af Segerstad, Tuesday 10:00 – 3:00

Ms. Jane Moody, Wednesday 1:00 – 2:30 & Thursday 2:00 – 4:00

Ms. Michele Randall, Monday 1:30 – 3:00

Ms. Susan Spraker, Wednesday 10:00 – 12:30

What IS Up? Page 8

I.S. Office Statistics

Interdisciplinary Studies is the 2nd largest discipline at UCF and continues to attract students

to the Bachelors and Masters degrees. You are among the most widely educated students at

the university and our dedicated staff and faculty are committed to guiding you to reach your

greatest potential. This strong commitment can be seen in our Spring and Summer 2010 stu-

dent contact numbers:

Advising Appointments –2,041

Phone Appointments - 547

Incoming E-mails – 4,314

Outgoing E-mails – 6,196

Incoming Phone Calls – Ongoing

Outgoing Phone Calls – 293

Walk-in - 173

While we will continue to utilize different avenues to communicate more effectively, we strongly

encourage students to visit our website (http://www.is.ucf.edu) and use the appointment re-

quest services to schedule advising appointments and for more information.

Why the HOLD-up?

Interdisciplinary Studies students may receive holds throughout the semester for a few rea-

sons. The major reasons why you may see a hold from the Interdisciplinary Studies Office are:

1) if you are in the Interdisciplinary Studies Pending major or

2) if you are on academic probation.

You will receive an email to your Knights email account to notify you that a hold will be placed

on your record and to explain what you must do to have the hold lifted. Interdisciplinary Stud-

ies holds do prevent course registration and schedule changes, so we encourage you to respond

to us as soon as possible after receiving the email notification.

Holds are used as a way to mandate advising appointments in order to help students be aware

of issues that may be detrimental to their success at UCF. For example, students in the Inter-

disciplinary Studies Pending major cannot graduate or register for Cornerstone and Capstone,

and students on academic probation may be at risk of being dismissed from the University. We

do not intend for holds to be a form of “punishment” but rather a warning to let students know

of potential academic roadblocks.

What IS Up? Page 9

A Sharper You: The Leadership Studies Minor

Have you heard about how to become one of the “Sharpest Leaders” that graduates from UCF?

Have you heard about the students who are going to stand out amongst the other UCF gradu-

ates with similar credentials and who, because of a series of coursework and leadership related

experiences, are more likely to be more competitive in the hiring process after graduation?

Now, you are probably saying to yourself, “No, I haven’t heard

this latest and greatest news, but I want to know more”!

So, here’s the scoop:

The Leadership Studies (LS) Minor is an interdisciplinary aca-

demic program that focuses on developing several dimensions of

leadership understanding and skills for undergraduate students.

The minor builds upon foundational courses with specific aspects

of leadership involving communication, collaboration, social rela-

tions, politics, and ethics.

So now you are saying to yourself, “Okay, sounds good, but what are the courses I need to

take for the Minor?

Check out http://www.is.ucf.edu/docs/LEADERSHIP%20STUDIES%20MINOR.pdf .

If you are interested in learning about the specifics of this minor and how it could fit into your

academic plan with your current IS major and minor, or you are thinking about changing your

minor, go to www.is.ucf.edu and request an appointment to meet with Jessica Cheatwood-

Alvarez.

“I love this minor because it is

for ALL STUDENTS regardless

of their majors or career inter-

ests. Everyone can benefit from

learning more about leadership

and becoming a better leader!”

–Jed Miciak, Hospitality

Management Major

Unifying Theme

In recent years, the Office of Undergraduate

Studies has embarked on a journey to bring

unity and uniformity to the General Education

Program. This initiative was to be centered

around a central theme about which our students

are passionate. The resulting program, known as

“The Unifying Theme: The Environment and

Global Climate Change”, has become an important aspect of the university community. The

purpose of the Unifying Theme supports the students driven, campus wide environmental

initiatives and education. To learn more about the Uniftying Theme and to discover the ways

in which you can become involved, visit our website at http://www.ut.ucf.edu.

WELCOME NEW FALL STUDENTS!

GRADUATE EDITIO

N

IMPORTANT DATES & DEADLINES

WHAT IS UP? Graduate Edition Page 10

The Office of Interdisciplinary Studies is proud to welcome our

Fall 2010 incoming class:

Tanya Engelhardt, Master of Arts, Provost Fellowship recipient

Anthony Aakre, Master of Arts

William Buchanan, Master of Arts

Irene Culican, Master of Arts

Sandy Modell, Master of Arts

David Oswald, Master of Science

Cary Pellizzeri, Master of Science

Jonathan Roda, Master of Science

Becky Smith, Master of Arts

OCTOBER

UNIVERSITY CLOSED AT 12:20 PM 6

WITHDRAWAL DEADLINE 15

NOVEMBER

VETERAN’S DAY HOLIDAY 11

THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY 26-27

DECEMBER

FINAL EXAMINATION PERIOD 7-13

DEGREE CONFERRAL DATE 17

COMMENCEMENT 17-18

GRADES AVAILABLE ON MYUCF. 18

Congratulations to our Summer 2010 graduates from the IDS M.A./M.S. programs:

Bryan Carson, Master of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies, 2010

Karen Williams, Master of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies, 2010

Best wishes in your future endeavors!

CONGRATULATIONS GRADUATES!

RESPONSIBLE CONDUCT OF RESEARCH SEMINARS

WHAT IS UP? Graduate Edition Page 11

The College of Graduate Studies is hosting a Responsible Conduct of

Research Seminar Series in the Fall and Spring terms.

The Fall schedule includes:

Tuesday, October 5, 2010, TA 117, 3:00-5:00pm

"Intellectual and other conflicts of interest: Your rights and responsibilities."

Presented by Douglas Blackman.

Tuesday, October 19, 2010, TA 117, 3:00-5:00pm

"Doing the right thing: What every graduate student should know about research

misconduct." Presented by Jo Smith.

Tuesday, November 2, 2010, TA 117, 3:00-5:00pm

"Ethical and legal issues in teaching." Presented by Nancy Stanlick.

Hope to see you there!

What IS Up? is published by The Office of Interdisciplinary Studies

at the University of Central Florida.

UCF Stands for Opportunity: The University of Central Florida is a metropolitan research

university that ranks as the 6th largest in the nation with more than 48,000 students. UCF’s

first classes were offered in 1968. The university offers impressive academic and research

environments that power the region’s economic development. UCF’s culture of opportunity is

driven by our diversity, Orlando environment, history of entrepreneurship and our youth,

relevance and energy.

University of Central Florida

The Office of Interdisciplinary Studies

Michael Hampton, Director.

4000 Central Florida Boulevard

Classroom Building 1, Suite 302

Orlando, FL 32816-1998

http://www.is.ucf.edu

Phone: (407) 823-0144

Fax: (407) 823-2028