Category: Feature

Protect yourself and others, schedule your flu shot today

Getting the flu shot can go a long way toward keeping you, your loved ones and the greater UF community healthy. The Student Health Care Center (SHCC) offers a variety of appointment times and locations and adds new options frequently. If you don’t live in Gainesville, you are encouraged to visit your local pharmacy or contact your health care provider to schedule a flu shot.

Faculty, staff and students can visit the SHCC website to view available vaccine locations and to schedule an online appointment. Be sure to bring your UFID and insurance card to your appointment.

Humans infecting animals infecting humans: Preventing pandemics requires protecting all species

When the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a pandemic on March 11, 2020, humans had been the only species with reported cases of the disease. Less than two weeks later, a report from Belgium marked the first infection in a domestic cat – presumably by its owner.

Researchers have documented this phenomenon of human-to-animal transmission, colloquially referred to as spillback or reverse zoonotic transmission, in both domestic and wild animals. This stepping-stone effect provides new opportunities for pathogens to evolve and can radically change how they spread.

Explore opportunities to save with GatorPerks

As you settle back into the fall semester, we invite you to explore and take advantage of the various local and nationwide discounts available to you and your family through the GatorPerks program.

Congratulations to our August UF at Play winners!

We received some incredible photographs for our UF at Play photo contest this summer. 

Our winners for the month of August are UF Neurology Clinical Service Representative Raina McLeod for People’s Choice; UF/IFAS Extension Collier County Sea Grant Agent Michael Sipos for Nature; UF Psychiatry Assistant Director Kathleen Breton for Travel; and Electrical and Computer Engineering Assistant Professor Ivan Ruchkin, Ph.D., for Daily Life. 

Congratulations to our winners, and thank you to all who participated in this year’s contest! Visit our Facebook page to view all 570 submissions we received throughout the summer.

Discover support for your well-being this semester 

The fall semester is an exciting time filled with new routines as well as stressors that can affect our health and overall well-being. We hope you’ll take time to explore some of the UF-sponsored programs designed to support your well-being throughout this semester and beyond. 

Tickets on sale for UF Performing Arts’ 24|25 season

Tickets for UF Performing Arts’ 24|25 season are now available for purchase through the UFPA website and at the Phillips Center box office.

This season features an exciting lineup of performances ranging from classical music and contemporary dance to touring Broadway theater and world-renowned guest artists. Audiences can look forward to unforgettable experiences that showcase the best in the performing arts, bringing the world to Gainesville.

Watch UF scientist rocket to space at the Reitz Union Aug. 29

Take part in history on Thursday, Aug. 29, as the University of Florida’s own Rob Ferl, Ph.D., becomes the first NASA-funded academic to conduct an experiment in space as part of the Blue Origin New Shepard mission.

Join a watch party starting at 8:30 a.m. in the Reitz Union to track the countdown to launch at 9 a.m. and follow the dramatic 11-minute journey to space and back. Free popcorn and “astronaut food” will be available as the official Blue Origin webcast plays. The event is hosted by the Reitz Union and the UF Astraeus Space Institute.

New semester, new opportunities: Enhancing the UF employee experience

The start of a new semester is always an exciting time at UF. The campus comes back to life with students moving into their dorms, faculty rushing between classrooms, and the reassuring presence of our staff, working diligently to ensure everything runs smoothly. Few can resist the energy of a new school year and the promise it holds for a fresh start.

Our team in UFHR has been working hard to enhance the employee experience and foster a greater sense of welcome and belonging for our faculty and staff from day one.

Read on to learn how.

UF Engaged enhancements launch Sept. 3

Last year, UF Engaged underwent a comprehensive review to enhance evaluations for supervisors and staff. Based on the feedback gathered, UF Engaged will transition to a semi-annual process starting Sept. 3.

Congratulations to our July UF at Play winners!

We’ve received some incredible photographs for our UF at Play summer photo contest, which runs now through Aug. 18. Our winners for the month of July are College of Nursing Academic Advisor Kenneth Foote for People’s Choice, UF CREC Food Science Intern Jade Wu for Nature, CLAS Academic Assistant Mayra Bernabefor Travel and UF/IFAS SWFREC HR Generalist Maria Miranda for Daily Life.