Category: Feature

HEO opens doors for UF families

Pictured from left to right: Michelle Watson, manager of administrative services at the UF College of Dentistry, with her daughter, Mallory Watson, a 2021 HEO scholarship recipient, and her husband, David Watson, a retired UFPD police officer.

Few things in life can have such a drastic impact on a child’s future like access to a post-secondary education. Many families go into debt to provide their child with the opportunity to receive a college degree. The University of Florida fully understands this and, to mitigate the economic impact that a child’s college education poses to a family, has created the Higher Education Opportunity (HEO) program.

Created in 2003, the HEO provides tuition assistance in the form of a scholarship. It covers the in-state matriculation fees for a maximum of 132 credit hours toward an undergraduate degree. To date, 2,050 UF employees have been awarded the HEO scholarship for their child.

Read on to learn how the HEO has benefited various UF employees, and visit the UFHR website to learn more and submit your HEO application, due Nov. 2.

Protect yourself and others — schedule your flu shot today

A person getting a Band-Aid placed on their arm after a flu shot

Getting the flu shot can go a long way toward keeping you, your loved ones and the UF community healthy. Visit the Student Health Care Center website to view available vaccine locations and to schedule an online appointment.

Empowering UF: Preparing for Workday

In July 2027, the University of Florida will replace myUFL (PeopleSoft) with Workday. The Empowering UF Project Team invites you to jumpstart your Workday journey!

Save the date for the 2026 Benefits and Wellness Fair!

Join us on Oct. 13 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. for the Benefits and Wellness Fair! Stop by the Evans Champions Club at the Ben Hill Griffin Stadium to learn about health and wellness resources available to UF faculty and staff.

Celebrate safety all month long!

two scientists wearing proper safety gear and using proper safety equipment.

In recognition of Safety Month, UF Environmental Health and Safety, or EH&S, will host activities and outreach events across campus throughout October, featuring practical safety information, resources and opportunities to connect with EH&S professionals.

Explore ways to expand your benefits

a person looking at a computer screen, smiling and clasping their hands in excitement.

With Open Enrollment just around the corner, UFHR Benefits has scheduled two webinars where you can learn of available options to expand your benefits.

Join The Standard representative Christine D’Angelo on Sept. 28 at noon to learn about term life and long-term disability insurance. On Sept. 30 at noon, join Capital Insurance representative Prudance Pate to learn about pre-tax benefits, including dental, vision, cancer and hospital intensive care.

Explore UF Engaged resources for supervisors and staff

UF supervisors and staff received an email earlier this month reminding them to complete their semi-annual UF Engaged check-ins by Oct. 31. Providing meaningful feedback plays a crucial role in employee engagement, performance and retention, and check-ins are expected to be completed by all employees.

Supervisors and staff are encouraged to explore the UF Engaged Toolkit for instruction guides, job aids, suggested courses and answers to frequently asked questions.

Cup o’ Joe: The Football Episode

Cheering. Chomping. Grilling. It’s time for the season opener … of Cup o’ Joe! No tickets required, just show up.

2026 Government Productivity Award winners announced

Professor of Entomology Jawwad Qureshi, Ph.D., and the UF Facilities Services team have each been awarded a 2026 Florida Government Productivity Award and were recently recognized at a ceremony in Tallahassee on Sept. 1.

The Florida Government Productivity Awards annually recognize state employees who demonstrate an outstanding commitment to creating innovative solutions that enhance efficiency and effectiveness in public service.

This year, ten awards were presented to individuals and teams throughout Florida for their achievements in innovation and productivity improvements. UF’s award-winners each received a plaque and cash award in recognition of their dedication and success in creating value for both the state of Florida and the University of Florida. It is an honor to celebrate their accomplishments.

Claim a CSA discount by Sept. 25

Register for UF’s Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program and receive a discount for Siembra Farm’s CSA. Individual and family CSA shares are available — sign up today!