UCF in the News

Millions of Americans are choosing to ignore reliable research, instead relying on their own misinformation superhighway. “You have a cellphone and you’re on social media,” said Chrysalis Wright, an associate lecturer in the psychology department of the University of Central Florida who focuses on understanding the allure of misinformation and so-called fake news.

At the Westside Community Center’s 10th annual back to school drive in Sanford, cars are lined up to receive items like hygiene kits, backpacks, school supplies and even free haircuts. “I just feel like it’s pretty important to the community that people come out here and support and give away for schools,” said C.J. Walker, a rising junior basketball player with UCF.

UCF research has helped generate dozens of startups and business partnerships. The university as of fiscal 2020 reported 33 active startups connected to its research in industries such as health care, manufacturing and technology, as well as 32 products on the market. That work has led to a number of local business spinoffs that have had recent success, which can create jobs and generate economic impact in Central Florida.

UCF on Tuesday announced that its plans to return to pre-pandemic operations remain in place and are in alignment with directives from the State of Florida and Florida’s State University System. The university said it is expecting students and staff to wear masks when indoors, regardless of vaccine status.

Now a year into his tenure, UCF President Alexander Cartwright wants to establish the university as one of the nation’s top 50 public research universities. Cartwright's goals include doubling the university's federal research funds — $110.77 million for fiscal 2020 — and significantly expanding UCF’s number of patent awards, research publications and licensed products created by UCF. He also wants to get businesses more involved in the research-and-development process.

Perhaps the greatest myth in academia is that enhancing access automatically results in a loss in rigor and excellence. Universities such as the University of Texas at Arlington, Arizona State University, and the University of Central Florida have all shown that it is possible to increase access and enrollment without decreases in student success.

UCF is going statewide with its novel approach to coaching transfer students. The program has helped get UCF more transfers than any other school in the state and is credited with increasing the number of bachelor’s degrees among Hispanic students by 378-percent.

Limbitless Solutions, a UCF-affiliated nonprofit that develops functional bionic limbs, produced an arm for a 12-year-old boy, who is now using it to create a comic book with his brother. All proceeds from the comic go to Limbitless Solutions in the hopes of providing bionic arms for other children.

With coronavirus cases rising in Central Florida ahead of another school year, children might experience more than first-day nerves as they return to class. WMFE and Health News Florida spoke with UCF psychology professor Dalena Dillman-Taylor about how to talk to kids about mental health and what routines to consider.