UCF President John C. Hitt will welcome new and returning faculty members to campus for the new academic year during a Friday program that will include introducing the university’s new provost.

The 3 p.m. program will be in the Student Union’s Pegasus Ballroom.

For those who aren’t able to attend, a webcast of the event will be available at http://webcast.oir.ucf.edu/.

A reception also will be held to meet Dale Whittaker, the new provost and vice president for Academic Affairs.

Whittaker comes to UCF from Purdue University, where was vice provost for undergraduate academic affairs. He also is a professor of civil, environmental and construction engineering.