Graduate Students, We’ve Got You Covered

As the 2020 academic year gets underway at UCF, we know that things are different this fall. The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way we do a lot of things and we want to remind you that the College of Graduate Studies is here to help you.

Whether your classes are online or face-to-face, we have ways to support your progress toward your degree. Check out this list of opportunities and resources that UCF is hosting this semester. The events or resources are all free.

Library Support for Course Materials
Sept. 16, 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
UCF Libraries

Faculty session, but open to postdocs and graduate students who teach.

UCF Libraries provide access to a variety of materials that can support your courses — from journal articles, streaming videos, e-books, and more. These materials have a wide variety of access models that are not always evident. In this session, UCF Librarians Sara Duff, Rich Gause, and Sarah Norris will share how to navigate the plethora of resources available to support teaching and learning with a particular emphasis on resources that can be used during remote teaching during emergency circumstances. How to access these materials and ensure they’re accessible by students, as well as copyright and licensing will also be explored in this session.

Copyright, Fair Use, and Online Teaching 
Sept. 23, 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.
UCF Libraries

Faculty session but open to postdoctoral researchers and graduate students who teach.

Can you upload a PDF of a journal article or book chapter to your webcourse? Are you allowed to stream a video in your online video lecture? These are just a few questions that faculty may have when teaching online. This session, led by Sarah Norris, UCF scholarly communications librarian, and Rich Gause, UCF government information librarian, will provide information about copyright and fair use (exploring the four fair use factors in depth) and other components that will be helpful to consider when integrating resources for teaching online.

Acing the Virtual Interview
Oct. 7, 5:00 p.m.
UCF Libraries

Employers are currently relying heavily on technology to recruit potential candidates for open positions. Learn about how virtual interviews differ from in-person ones and what you can do to successfully prepare for them and communicate your strengths effectively in an online format.

Copyright Basics for Research and Teaching 
Oct. 20, 1:00 p.m.
UCF Libraries

Can you use any image you find online in your presentation? Do you need to get permission to use a chart or graphic for your thesis or dissertation? What kinds of rights do you have as an author of a journal article? These are just a few of the questions that we will explore in this session focused on the fundamentals of copyright and fair use for research and teaching. Attendees will learn about copyright basics, the four fair use factors, author rights, and more.

LinkedIn Made Easy
Oct. 21, 5:00 p.m.
Career Services

Attend this workshop to learn how you can leverage your profile to promote your brand and connect with professionals in your network. Follow along to update your profile and experiment with LinkedIn resources.

Networking for Conferences (Virtual vs. In-Person)
Dec. 2, 5:00 p.m.
Career Services

Professional associations are relying heavily on technology to manage and run their conferences and professional-development opportunities. Learn how virtual conferences differ from in-person ones and what you can do to successfully prepare for them and effectively network in an online format.

Preparing Tomorrow’s Faculty Program

The Karen L. Smith Faculty Center for Teaching and Learning offers a Preparing Tomorrow’s Faculty Program every semester. This is a voluntary program on teaching in higher education, primarily intended for graduate teaching assistants but open to all UCF graduate students. Students should visit Preparing Tomorrow’s Faculty Program for more information and register by the appropriate deadline.

Additional workshops are available throughout the semester on everything from writing grants to personal finance to interview strategies and more, through the Pathways to Success program.

Utilize all campus resources like the Recreation and Wellness Center, Career Services, Volunteer UCF, Student Health Services, dozens of student organizations, and more. These services provide opportunities for networking, socializing, building your resume, and maintaining personal wellness.

For faster service concerning questions about admissions or graduate funding, email graduate@ucf.edu.