Category: Feature

Melissa Curry named vice president for human resources

Melissa Curry, who has served as the University of Florida’s interim vice president for human resources since July 2022, has been tapped to fill the role permanently, UF President Ben Sasse announced today.

“Melissa brings a wealth of experience and a proven track record of transformative leadership, which she demonstrated during her interim tenure,” Sasse said.

UF Health selected to join U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Medical Network

Building on a long history of providing health care to athletes at the University of Florida and beyond, UF Health joined a select group of health organizations providing care to Team USA athletes as they prepare for international competition, including the 2024 Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games. Watch the video and visit the UF Health website to learn more.

Updated COVID-19 vaccine now available

The Centers for Disease, Control and Prevention, or CDC, has released updated COVID-19 vaccine guidance, recommending everyone six months and older get an updated vaccine to protect against the potentially serious outcomes of the illness this fall and winter.

Explore exclusive savings for UF faculty and staff

From gyms to restaurants, car rentals and more — UF employees have the opportunity to save at a variety of businesses and retailers through UF GatorPerks.

Explore the GatorPerks website to discover local and regional discounts. Know of a business you would like to see included in the program? Complete the GatorPerks Recommendation Form to help us grow our list of vendors.

Protect yourself and others, schedule your flu shot today

Getting vaccinated for the flu virus goes a long way toward keeping you, your loved ones and the greater UF community healthy. The Student Health Care Center, or SHCC, offers a variety of appointment times and locations to get a flu vaccine and adds new options frequently.

Faculty, staff and students can visit the SHCC website to view available vaccine locations and to schedule an online appointment. Faculty and staff can also receive a flu shot at the annual Benefits and Wellness Fair , scheduled for Oct. 13 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. COVID vaccines are also available and can be given at the same time as the flu vaccine.

Faculty and staff outside of Gainesville are encouraged to visit their local pharmacy or contact their health care provider to schedule a flu shot.

Take steps now to ensure you receive benefits open enrollment communications

In the coming weeks, the State of Florida will be sending communications about insurance benefit choices and changes via email — rather than to your home mailing address — in advance of this year’s Open Enrollment period, which will run Oct. 16–Nov. 3.

To ensure you receive benefits correspondence, now is the time to verify and update your contact information as needed in both the State of Florida’s People First system and ONE.UF. Visit the Benefits website for a step-by-step guide. 

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 wellness programs designed to support your well-being throughout this semester and beyond.

Offering support to our UF community in the wake of Hurricane Idalia

On Wednesday morning, Hurricane Idalia made landfall on Florida’s Gulf Coast as a powerful Category 3 hurricane. The UF/IFAS Nature Coast Biological Station located in Cedar Key was among the UF facilities most affected by Idalia’s impact, suffering a record 6.9-foot storm surge. Weather Channel Meteorologist Jim Cantore chose the station as the location for his team to ride out the storm, giving us an close-up view of the infrastructure damage caused by the hurricane.

UF/IFAS has compiled a list of recovery and response resources you can explore for post-hurricane assistance. UF employee leave reporting guidelines can also be found on our website.

Some leave reporting and essential personnel considerations in anticipation of UF closure

As announced earlier today, due to Tropical Storm Idalia, the university campus in Gainesville will close at noon on Tuesday, Aug. 29, through Wednesday, Aug. 30, and other UF areas throughout the state will have similar closings in keeping with their county government guidelines. Decisions about when to resume classes and normal campus operations will be made on Wednesday. Clinical personnel and all UF Health staff in Gainesville should follow their prescribed procedures.

Hurricane resources for faculty and staff

UF officials continue to monitor the latest weather updates on Tropical Storm Idalia, with more information slated to come this afternoon. As we prepare for the storm, we wanted to remind you of helpful resources available to support you during hurricane season. We encourage everyone to become familiarized with the university’s emergency plans and take the necessary precautions in advance of the forecast.

UF operations outside of Alachua County should also monitor announcements and guidance from their area’s county governments or the state.