Recently, Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ was named to The Princeton Review’s 2025 Mental Health Services Honor Roll. The honor roll features 16 institutions who have shown a strong commitment to their student’s mental health and well-being. Distinctions included overall administrative support for campus mental health and well-being through its policies including commitments to staffing and student support. The list also looked at the campus’ quality of life that is both healthy and attentive to overall well-being, and how well a school is empowering its students to address their own mental health through education programs and peer-to-peer offerings.

The Mental Health Services Honor Roll was developed for the benefit of students looking for, heading to, or currently enrolled in colleges; that they might see the types of services provided.

The Princeton Review noted Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½â€™s committed to mental health advocacy by providing reliable resources that students can access help and develop successful coping mechanisms through. Through programs such as Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS), which is free to all enrolled students, Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ is able to assist with a wide range of free mental health services such as single, solution-focused sessions, short-term individual and relationship counseling, and crisis services. CAPS also provides mental health support on a variety of stressors ranging from panic attacks to academic difficulty. Students are also able to meet via anonymous screening, one-off counseling session, telemental video, or group therapy. CAPS also has drop-ins and scheduled appointments, and there’s a 24-hour hotline that will immediately connect them to a licensed therapist should they need it.

Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½â€™s events and course offerings to students were also noted by The Princeton Review. Paws-a-tively Events brings animals to campus to help reduce stress and improve mood. Field of Memories: Be Aware, Show You Care is designed to bolster awareness of suicide on college campuses. Students can attend classes like MIEA Intro to Mindfulness, a series of four 90-minute courses that teach mindfulness and meditation techniques. There are also free one-off hour-long monthly workshops conveniently held online, ranging from “The 7 Types of Restâ€� to “Managing ADHD Symptoms.â€�

The system of peer support was also spotlighted. With Togetherall, a free 24/7 online platform, students at Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ and elsewhere can anonymously connect and discuss anything that’s bothering them. It also provides self-assessment tools and always has trained professionals on hand. There are also student-run organizations that promote mental health awareness, such as Active Minds. Members encourage their classmates to fight the stigma of mental health disorders, recognize the warning signs, and take proactive steps to ensure they stay healthy. Students can also participate in To Knights, With Love, a campus chapter of the global organization More Love Letters. Created to help foster supportive, loving environments, the group crafts uplifting letters for their peers and leaves them around campus.

In addition to the services highlighted, there are also other resources to help students balance their schoolwork with opportunities to refresh and recharge.

Academic Support

If you are looking for some additional support with particular classes, check out now through Dec. 4. The office is open Monday to Friday from 7 to midnight, Saturday from 9 to midnight, and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Special operating hours may apply according to the University’s academic calendar and scheduling policies.

Before and during final exam week, the  will host multiple in-person and virtual final exam review sessions spanning a variety of academic subjects.

 helps you navigate state and university policies related to academic record changes, curriculum file management, degree audits and graduation requirements. For more information about any of these services, visit Millican Hall, room 161.

Mental Health Resources

It’s important to prioritize taking care of your mental health. Take advantage of these resources here at Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ to help you:

• : CAPS offers free mental health walk-ins, and their 24/7 crisis hotline can be reached by calling 407-823-2811 and pressing 5.
• : TAO is a self-guided interactive program that aids with managing anxiety, depression and other concerns.
• : Togetherall is a peer-to-peer space to connect with others experiencing similar feelings in a supportive environment, with trained professionals on hand 24/7.

Well-being Services

If you are facing unexpected challenges, reach out to  for wrap-around care and support. The office can be reached by calling 407-823-5607, emailing caremanager@ucf.edu and by submitting a  for yourself or a fellow Knight.

 offers wellness coaching to assist with your health goals and help you make lifestyle changes to optimize your well-being. Staff can help with nutrition, physical activity, stress management and more. Call 407-823-5841 to make an appointment.

Other Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ Resources

Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ has an abundance of additional resources available to you. Whether you need them now or down the road, please do not hesitate to reach out.

• : available for Knights who need support with items such as food, clothing and toiletries.
• : offers free legal advice, consultation and court representation in select areas of law that students encounter most often, including lease agreements and assistance.
• Emergency Funding: for those who are facing financial insecurity, contact Student Care Services for an application to be considered for emergency funds.
• : provides all members of the university community with an independent, confidential and neutral place to share concerns and seek resolution.
• : use this website as a guide to report an incident or concern.

With Thanksgiving behind us and final exams and the holidays quickly approaching, this time of year often comes with increased anxiety and unease.

Breathe — you’ve got this! Make a plan for preparation, schedule time for study and for self-care, do one thing at a time and check things off the list as you go. You will reach the finish line.

To help you balance your schoolwork with opportunities to refresh and recharge, I am sharing the many Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ resources available to support your success and well-being.

Academic Support

If you are looking for some additional support with particular classes, check out now through Dec. 5. Before and during final exam week, the will host multiple in-person and virtual final exam review sessions spanning a variety of academic subjects.

helps you navigate state and university policies related to academic record changes, curriculum file management, degree audits and graduation requirements. For more information about any of these services, you can visit us in Millican Hall in Room 161.

Mental Health Resources

It’s important to prioritize taking care of your mental health. Take advantage of these resources here at Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ to help you:

• : CAPS offers free mental health walk-ins, and their 24/7 crisis hotline can be reached by calling 407-823-2811 and pressing 5.
• : TAO is a self-guided interactive program that aids with managing anxiety, depression and other concerns.
• : Togetherall is a peer-to-peer space to connect with others experiencing similar feelings in a supportive environment, with trained professionals on hand 24/7.

Well-being Services

If you are facing unexpected challenges, reach out to  for wrap-around care and support. The office can be reached by calling 407-823-5607, emailing caremanager@ucf.edu and by submitting a  for yourself or a fellow Knight.

 offers wellness coaching to assist with your health goals and help you make lifestyle changes to optimize your well-being. Staff can help with nutrition, physical activity, stress management and more. Call 407-823-5841 to make an appointment.

Other Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ Resources

Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ has an abundance of additional resources available to you. Whether you need them now or down the road, please do not hesitate to reach out.

• : available for Knights who need support with items such as food, clothing and toiletries.
• : offers free legal advice, consultation and court representation in select areas of law that students encounter most often, including lease agreements and assistance.
• Emergency Funding: for those who are facing financial insecurity, contact Student Care Services for an application to be considered for emergency funds.
• : provides all members of the university community with an independent, confidential and neutral place to share concerns and seek resolution.
• : use this website as a guide to report an incident or concern.

We wish you every success on final exams and a happy, safe holiday season.

“We always tell students to consistently prepare in any class that you’re in,� says Piety. “But some students struggle with time management, some have work or other commitments that eat into their study time, and some just procrastinate. Whatever the reason, it can be very stressful knowing an exam is just days away and feeling unprepared.�

Many students who find themselves in that situation turn to marathon, all-night study sessions to try to make up for lost time. Between 25%  to 50% of students cram for tests, according to Faculty Focus, a teaching-centric publication.  But the unhealthy aspects that often accompany cramming actually make it more difficult to learn.

“When you’re overcaffeinated, stressed and tired, those are the worst conditions for trying to take in and retain information,� Piety says. “Cramming just leads to burn out, stress and a lot of anxiety.�

Instead of cramming, Piety recommends taking action as soon as you realize you might be unprepared for an upcoming exam.

“If you haven’t been preparing all semester, you have to start studying now,� says Piety. “Don’t wait until the last minute, don’t wait until the night before (an exam).�

Here are some tips and resources Piety recommends to help make last-minute studying a little less stressful and a lot more effective.

Tip 1: Get in the Zone

Find the study environment where you feel the most comfortable and productive. That won’t always be sitting at your desk at home. Some students seek out someplace quiet, like the library, the Student Academic Resource Center or the All-Knight study locations at Ferrell Commons and Knights Plaza. Others prefer a livelier atmosphere, like a coffee shop or outdoors.

“The important thing is to just settle in and get comfortable,� says Piety.

Tip 2: Break it up

People tend to delay tasks that feel too daunting, so Piety suggests breaking course content into chunks that can then be tackled one at a time. Take the same approach to the blocks of time you dedicate to studying. Rather than trying to study nonstop for hours at a time, break that time up into 25-minute intervals separated by five- or 10-minute breaks.

“You have to break the material up, take it in and then give your brain time to process that information,� she says. “That’s how it becomes long-term learning.�

Tip 3: You Don’t Have to go it Alone

Whether you do it in person or remotely, studying in a group can be helpful — especially if you’re struggling with specific class concepts. One approach Piety recommends for study groups is for each student in the group to pick a topic from the course, then teach the rest of the group about that topic.

“That benefits you because you have to have a good understanding of that material in order to explain it to someone else,� says Piety, “and it benefits the rest of the group because they’re learning what you’re teaching them.�

Tip 4: Be Wise About Diet, Sleep and Exercise

Trying to fit study time into already-packed schedules leads many students to throw good diet, sleep and exercise habits out the window. But final exam time is when students should be paying more attention to their health, not less.

“They need to take care of their whole self when they’re preparing for final exams,� Piety says.

Plan and be intentional about your meals, and eat a balanced diet so you can keep your energy level high and stay focused. Stay active — rather than reaching for the game controller or your phone during those five- or 10-minute breaks, get up and take a walk. And lastly, make sure you get enough sleep.

“Sleeping for seven to nine hours a night will help combat fatigue, but it goes beyond that,� says Piety. “A good night’s sleep gives a student’s brain time to shift all of what they’ve been studying from their short-term memory into their long-term memory so they can remember what they learned for that upcoming final.�

Campus and Other Resources:

From April 23-27, SARC is partnering with the student union to host , a series of dozens of final exam review sessions available to students both in-person and online. A schedule of the sessions is available on the SARC website, which is also where students can join live sessions remotely and view video recordings of completed sessions.

Piety also recommends a variety of apps that students may find helpful as they prepare for finals, including Headspace, Buddhify, Insight Timer, Simple Habit and Unplug. Forest and Flora are apps that help students to unplug from their phones and develop habits to help them be more productive and present.

Piety points out that this can be a time of high stress and anxiety even for students who have been preparing for finals since the first day of class. On  April 26 at 1 p.m., the Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) office is offering a . Students can find more information about the workshop on the . CAPS also offers a 24/7 crisis hotline (407-823-2811) for students who are in distress.

“We see a higher incidence of that around finals time,� says Piety. “We always recommend that students call that hotline if they feel like they need help.�

Last but not least, students should feel free to reach out to their instructor.

“A lot of students are afraid or reluctant to reach out to their instructors, but that’s why they have their office hours posted,â€� Piety says. “So, if they’re not understanding something or if they do need help, one of the first places they

SARC was awarded the Frank L. Christ Outstanding Learning Center Award, the Innovative Use of Technology Award and the Website Excellence Award from the National College Learning Center Association at its annual conference. NCLCA works to recognize institutions with learning centers that exemplify the highest standards of the association, with an emphasis on the use of technology and being a model for other institutions.  

The Frank L. Christ Award is a highly regarded national honor for excellence as a learning center in higher education. Each year, a two-year and four-year institution of higher learning is presented with the award.

The Innovative Use of Technology Award recognizes learning centers that use innovative technology solutions to improve student learning, resource usage, student engagement, and work to enhance learning strategies. SARC’s online services for students include Online Peer Assisted Learning, learning skills materials, videos, a YouTube channel and live-streaming of final exam review sessions offered during Study Union. In 2016-17, more than 43,000 students used SARC’s online services.

SARC also tied for first place for the Website Excellence Award, which recognizes excellence of a learning center’s website in the areas of content, structure, navigation, visual design, functionality, interactivity and overall experience. This award is co-sponsored by the Learning Support Centers in Higher Education and NCLCA.

SARC is a unit in Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½â€™s Division of Student Development and Enrollment Services and is led by Rebecca Piety, who also serves as the director the University Testing Center, and is the president of the Florida College Learning Center Association. SARC assisted students 119,000 times in 2016-17.

“The Student Academic Resource Center is committed to transforming students’ lives through innovative learning support services,â€� said DeLaine Priest, associate vice president for Student Development and Enrollment Services. “We are honored that NCLCA has recognized SARC with three national awards.”

Neither of her parents earned college degrees, and growing up in a single-parent household meant there was little to no extra money to send her to school, she said. But when her fifth-grade teacher opened Fate’s eyes to her potential, her vision of the future drastically changed.

At 21, Fate is now an alumna of the Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½â€™s Burnett Honors College. She graduated May 6 with bachelor’s degrees in political science and legal studies, honors in the major, a 4.0 GPA and a near perfect score on the Law School Admission Test under her belt. Out of 180 possible points, Fate earned 178 and a seat at one of the country’s most prestigious law schools, Harvard, where she sent her “dream application,â€� she said.

“I knew since Rebecca was in my criminal law class in spring 2014 that she was extremely gifted and that she would do very, very well on the LSAT,â€� said James Beckman, Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ professor of legal studies and Fate’s Honors in the Major thesis chair. “However, I must admit, when she told me that she scored nearly perfect, I was slightly taken aback. Not because I did not expect an extremely high score from her, but simply because I have never known a single student, of the over 1,000 students I’ve taught, who has scored in the top 0.15 percent.â€�

Fate credits her success in education to her elementary school teacher who saw something special in her while giving her individualized curriculum. Fate, her mom and older sister a month into her fifth-grade classes moved from Oregon to the Tampa Bay area. When Fate’s new teacher took her aside to help her get caught up to the rest of the class, the teacher noticed the young student already knew the material and more.

“She encouraged me to do more because she felt I was ahead of the curriculum already,� Fate said. “It was a difficult transition moving to Florida, and school gave me something to focus on. The attention she gave me really helped.�

Fate’s teacher encouraged her and her mom to consider a magnet school for sixth grade. Although hesitant at first – considering it was a two-hour bus ride one way to the school – Fate ultimately attended. That was the beginning of her college-bound path. She would continue on to a high school where there was an International Baccalaureate program filled with students whose expectations were to go to college. Being immersed into that atmosphere, where resources were in plenty to help students apply to college, gave Fate the vision she needed to continue her education.

“It wasn’t until the IB program and its expectations that I starting thinking about college,� she said. “College was never pushed on me. It just wasn’t offered up as the obvious path.�

Fate applied to a handful of universities – University of Florida, Florida State University, Vanderbilt University and ones back in Oregon – but Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½â€™s offer of a full-ride National Merit Scholarship sealed the deal.

“Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ just gave me the feeling that I was wanted here,â€� she said. “If I hadn’t gotten a scholarship, it would’ve been really difficult for me to come to college.â€�

Fate joined pre-law fraternity Phi Alpha Delta, became a tutor at Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½â€™s Student Academic Resource Center, and worked for the honors college as a student assistant and peer ambassador.

Now, Fate aspires to continue in higher education as a professor of law.

“I like the university atmosphere and learning,� Fate said. “I just never want to leave.�

For students taking the LSAT, Fate suggests diligently studying in the months leading up to the test and taking the LSAT practice tests. She bought LSAT preparation books to figure out which parts she struggled with, and studied daily.

“I am confident that she will do extremely well at Harvard and I wouldn’t be surprised in the least if she ends up at the top of her class at Harvard Law,â€� said Beckman. “It has been my great privilege to have interacted with Rebecca at Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½.â€�

Study Union is a partnership between SARC, the Student Union and Office of Student Involvement. The Student Union remains open for 24 hours to provide a safe and collaborative space for students to study.

Study Union will operate from April 23 to May 2. It will feature coffee specials and 88 SARC study sessions, among others, that connect students with small-group study sessions on a particular topic or course. These sessions also will be streamed live on , and the recordings will be made available on the YouTube channel within 24 hours of the live session.

SARC’s year-round resource, , also are available to students as they prepare for finals.

Special accommodation requests relating to accessing a SARC session should be addressed to sarc@ucf.edu. For other questions, contact SARC at 407-823-5130.

The Florida College Learning Center Association offers learning center staff the opportunity to build professional networks by working with colleagues throughout the state as well as the opportunity for professional development for all members of the Florida postsecondary student academic support community.

“This is a great opportunity to showcase the work Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ has engaged in over the past few years to help increase the retention and graduation rates of undergraduate students,â€� said Rebecca Piety, director for Student Academic Resource Center. “It is also a wonderful opportunity to learn from colleagues across the state as we strive to provide quality education at a low cost for Florida’s students.â€�

Maribeth Ehasz, vice president for Student Development and Enrollment Services, will address the membership on Re-Imaging the First Year in College. Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ was recently selected as one of 44 postsecondary institutions to participate in the three-year project sponsored by the American Association of State Colleges and Universities. Mark Gumble, assistant vice president for Learning Support, is also scheduled to present on the work Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ has engaged in to improve the retention rate of high-risk students.

More information about the conference can be found at: www.floridacollegelearning.org/.

Study Union is committed to promoting student’s well-being and academic excellence during what can be a very stressful time. At this time, many events and programs are offered to help students both prepare and relax before their exams.

During this time, the Student Academic Resource Center relocates its services to the Student Union, holding nonstop review sessions before final exams. Each subject session is led by a knowledgeable reviewer in one of the Student Union meeting spaces. A number of sessions will also be live streamed and posted to the SARC YouTube channel for later viewing.

To view the schedule, visit: directory.sdes.ucf.edu/file/447/news-attachment-study-union.pdf. The schedule is subject to change. For the most up-to-date information, visit SARC at: .

The Military Friendly® Schools designation is awarded to the top colleges, universities, community colleges and trade schools in the country that are doing the most to embrace military students, and to dedicate resources to ensure their success both in the classroom and after graduation.

“We are very proud of the distinction, which we believe helps Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ draw the best in returning veterans to our university,â€� said Paul Viau, director for Veterans Academic Resource Center.

VARC is a one-stop solution to meet the needs of student veterans. The center provides tutoring; study space; academic advising; career guidance; counseling; assistance with classroom and examination accommodations; and tools to stay on track and finish their degree.

“I need to ensure I can be a successful student. Having the VARC in my corner means that I have easy access to all the educational resources,� stated Eric Bobo, MAT Social Science Education.

VARC partners include: Transfer and Transition Services, Career Services, Student Academic Resource Center, Counseling and Psychological Services, and Student Accessibility Services.

The center is located at the CFE Arena, suite 100. For more information, call 407.823.2707 or visit .

There were a dozen events for SARC student staffers to participate in, including a meet-and-greet brunch with Student Development and Enrollment Services leaders, a community outreach at the Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ Arboretum, a workshop hosted by FAIRWINDS Credit Union, a talent competition, and other activities.

Since 2011, SARC has celebrated National Tutoring Week by recognizing more than 500 tutors that have helped improve the Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ community through academic services.

Rebecca Piety, director of the Student Academic Resource Center and University Testing Center, credited Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½â€™s top event ranking to the work of Patricia Hartley, coordinator of tutoring and outreach; Jenna Gonzalez, graduate assistant; and Francisco Del Prado, lead tutor. Because of the first-place honor, Hartley was given a free registration to the association’s 2016 professional development conference in Tampa.

FAIRWINDS Credit Union sponsored National Tutoring Week at Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½.