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Volume 5, Issue 2


GEP Assessment Updates

BY ANNABELLE CONROY, PH.D., GEP FACULTY FELLOW

The GEP assessment deadline is next month. Here are a few reminders:

  • Submit your GEP assessment by March 28 at 11:59 p.m., which is also UCF’s withdrawal deadline. You can complete your assessment at any time.
  • Be sure you have an assignment that measures at least one of your course’s GEP foundation learning outcomes. Visit the General Education Faculty Learning Community for information.
  • Drop into a virtual session if you have GEP assessment questions or need assistance setting up an assignment. Additional sessions will be added to the Canvas course as needed. You will receive a link to the session when you register. Session dates and times:
  • Monday, March 24, from 2-3 p.m. (Zoom link)
  • Wednesday, March 26, from 2-3 p.m. (Zoom link)
  • Friday, March 28, from 9-10 a.m. (Zoom link)
  • Check out the General Education Faculty Learning Community for assessment instructions and information about the GEP foundation and learning outcomes.

If you’re interested in the assessment process, the GEP Assessment Task Force will meet on Tuesday, Feb. 18, from 2-3 p.m. via Zoom.

We appreciate your help with the Spring 2025 GEP assessment process! Please email Annabelle Conroy or Amanda Pacheco for help setting up outcomes, adding the rubric to assignments, or answering other assessment questions.


Assistance Requested to Recruit Undergraduate Students for a PAID Research Study!

research study is being conducted to gather students’ perceptions of the General Education Program. We’ll use the information to assess the program’s strengths, identify areas for improvement, and enhance the academic experiences of future students.

Research Study Highlights: 

  • Incentive: Students will receive a $25 book scholarship upon completing the prequalification survey and participating in a focus group. 

    • All participants must be 18 years of age or older.
    • The student must have completed at least 30 credit hours.
    • The student must be a current UCF undergraduate student and have taken at least 50 percent of your General Education Program courses at UCF in the past 10 years. If you are unsure, please apply. 

  • Incentive: Students will receive a $25 book scholarship upon completing the prequalification survey and participating in a focus group. 
  • Incentive: Students will receive a $25 book scholarship upon completing the prequalification survey and participating in a focus group. 

    • In-Person Focus Group: Tuesday, Feb. 25, 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m., UCF main campus. Pizza will be served.
    • Virtual Focus Group: Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2-3:30 p.m., via Zoom.

  • Incentive: Students will receive a $25 book scholarship upon completing the prequalification survey and participating in a focus group. 

We request your assistance in sharing this opportunity with students. You can refer them to the GEP Research Study webpage for research study information and the prequalification survey.

Contact Information:
Please direct any questions to co-PIs Steven Freeman or Vernon Headley, or email the GEP.

We thank you in advance for your support!


Attend the GEP Track at the UCF Summer Faculty Development Conference

$500 Stipends Available. Apply by March 3.

The 2025 Summer Faculty Development Institute will take place in-person May 5-7 in Classroom Building 1 on the main campus. Please note that the week of the institute is the week following final exams and graduation.

GEP Track: Sharing and Caring

The Sharing and Caring track invites UCF faculty to collaborate on creative strategies to improve General Education Program (GEP) courses and enhance student learning outcomes. Through dynamic sessions and hands-on workshops, participants will discover methods to refine their teaching practices, build effective community partnerships, and align their courses with institutional and statewide objectives for student achievement.

The GEP track opens with an in-depth overview of recent updates to GEP policies and UCF’s ongoing initiatives to address these changes. Faculty will then engage in sessions showcasing transformative classroom approaches, unique instructional techniques, and interdisciplinary lessons. Participants will connect with nonprofit organizations and colleagues who successfully incorporate service-learning into their courses, gaining insights and practical resources to inspire meaningful student engagement.

Later sessions will emphasize designing GEP courses that promote long-term success, including strategies for creating pathways that foster academic and professional growth. For those teaching large online classes, the track offers expert guidance on cultivating a sense of community, addressing varied learner needs, and integrating technology to maximize student interaction. The track culminates in a reflective session, where participants will consolidate their key insights, share experiences, and develop actionable plans to implement during the 2025-26 academic year.

At the conclusion of the program, faculty will leave with fresh perspectives, valuable resources, and practical solutions to transform their GEP courses and empower students to excel. This track provides a unique forum for collaboration, professional growth, and strategies that result in measurable improvements in teaching and learning.

Faculty who attend all required sessions will receive a $500 grant. Only full-time faculty are eligible for funding, though any UCF faculty member may choose to attend the Institute sessions without funding.

Submit your application by Monday, March 3. The GEP team will notify stipend recipients by March 14.

Following full participation in the GEP track, each accepted faculty member will receive compensation.

Questions? Please email the GEP team.


Spring Fling Materials Due on Feb. 28

Share the innovative spirit of your classroom at this year’s Spring Fling Academic Showcase on March 5! The GEP Team invites faculty to contribute photos and course assignments that showcase the dynamic learning experiences you create for our students.

Whether it’s photos of student projects in action, field trips that brought learning to life, or examples of unique assignments that sparked student engagement, we want to celebrate your creative approaches to teaching and learning.

This is your opportunity to:

  • Demonstrate the diverse learning experiences in our general education courses
  • Share successful assignments that have resonated with students
  • Highlight the hands-on and experiential aspects of your courses

Contributing is easy! Simply submit:

  • Photos from your course activities (please ensure privacy by submitting images where student faces are not identifiable)
  • Sample assignments or project guidelines that showcase your unique teaching approach
  • A brief description providing context for your materials

Your contributions will be prominently displayed during Spring Fling, offering visitors a window into the enriching educational experiences that make our General Education Program special.

Submit any items to gep@ucf.edu no later than Feb. 28.


How to Earn a Certificate of GEP Engagement

The GEP Certificate of Engagement recognizes UCF faculty and graduate students who have demonstrated their commitment to general education and student success through consistent participation in GEP professional development events, including workshops, webinars, and collaborative learning sessions.

Eligibility

  • Taught at least one GEP course (Summer 2024, Fall 2024, Spring 2025)
  • Attended a minimum of three GEP events between Summer 2024 and Spring 2025.  

Visit the GEP webpage for certificate eligibility and submit your application. If you have questions, please email the GEP team.


March Workshop

Events hosted by the GEP team qualify for a Certificate of Engagement!


March 5

Fostering Civil Discourse in GEP Courses [VIRTUAL]

Presenter: Dr. Haley Winston, Director of Civil Discourse and Engagement, Office of Public Policy Events

The session will focus on how to tackle challenging topics while fostering respectful dialogue and communication in General Education Program courses, providing practical tools to promote civil discourse in the classroom.

Date: March 5
Time: 12:30 – 1:30 p.m.

Virtual Location: Zoom
Advance Registration Required: bit.ly/GEPcivildiscourse
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.