Category: Feature

Preparing for upcoming UF holidays and time off 

The holiday season is almost here! If you haven’t already done so, now is the time to begin preparing for—and looking forward to—the upcoming holidays and your time off. 

As a reminder, leave-accruing TEAMS and 12-month Faculty and Postdoctoral Associates are eligible for 11 paid holidays each year, plus an additional three designated by the UF President’s Office for the current academic year. 

Top holiday travel tips for uncertain times

Rachel J.C. Fu, Ph.D., chair and professor in the Department of Tourism, Hospitality and Event Management and director of the Eric Friedheim Tourism Institute, shares smart strategies for navigating today’s unpredictable travel landscape. 

Connecting the community with university resources

The UF Government and Community Relations office has launched the UF Outreach Directory — a centralized guide to programs, services and resources available to the public. From health clinics and youth programs to cultural events and professional development opportunities, the directory makes it easy to connect with the many ways UF supports communities across Florida and beyond.

Explore ways to give back to your community 

Did you know that generosity is tied to increased happiness? The start of the holiday season is the perfect time to lift your spirits through giving, especially as charities, food banks and community organizations see increased demand.

If you’re looking for ways you can give back to your community, we invite you to explore some of the agencies that are currently in need. 

UF celebrates three innovators shaping the future of AI research

UF’s AIIRI honored Adrian Roitberg, Ph.D., Kiley Graim, Ph.D., and Jeremy Balch, MD, with the first-ever AI Research Awards at a ceremony held last week.

Holiday savings with GatorPerks

Whether you’re making travel plans, preparing for an event or shopping for gifts, the GatorPerks program is here to help you make the most out of your holiday season without breaking the bank. Read on to discover discounts on everything from fine jewelry and electronics to events, car rentals, pet sitting services and more.

Holiday leave cash-out period runs Nov. 10–20

Each year, full-time UF TEAMS employees are eligible to cash out up to 16 hours of vacation leave ahead of the holiday season. This year’s leave cash-out period runs from Monday, Nov. 10, through Thursday, Nov. 20. Eligible participants will receive the cash-out payment in their Nov. 26 paycheck.  

Michael Okun’s bold vision for a Parkinson’s-free future

When Michael Okun, MD, began treating people with Parkinson’s disease, he realized medicine too often focused on symptoms instead of stories. He wanted to understand not just what patients were losing, but what they hoped to keep.

Cup o’ Joe: Cafecito

Energize yourselves with a “Cafe Cuban-Joe” as Interim Provost Joe Glover, Ph.D., makes a bold request of Faculty Senate Chair Amelia Dempere, Ph.D. — then gets called out for drifting off at meetings.

How to participate in UF’s AI Days

Students, faculty and staff are invited to participate in the University of Florida’s fourth annual AI Days from Oct. 24–29. AI Days, sponsored by the AI^2 Center, are one component of UF’s larger push to engage the entire campus in artificial intelligence and will include a number of immersive events.