• The Ombuds Office at the University of Central Florida was established in 1994 by President John C. Hitt to enhance the quality of service offered to all members of the university community.
• In an informal, impartial, and confidential manner, the Office facilitates a fair resolution to problems that arise on campus, especially those that have not been adequately addressed through usual channels.
• An ombuds officer is an impartial and independent party appointed to receive complaints; one who provides informal and confidential* assistance to help achieve resolution to a complaint.

• The safety of our students, faculty and staff is one of the university's top priorities. UCF's emergency management team is constantly reviewing plans and procedures to keep our campuses as safe as possible, and to be ready to respond should an event occur. UCF expects to post its emergency plans online soon and will communicate to students how to locate and review this important information

• In the event of an impending hurricane, UCF will regularly post emergency procedures, campus alerts and other news on the UCF News Web site, www.news.ucf.edu. Depending on the circumstance, the university may send out e-mail alerts as well. Students should monitor the UCF News Web site and local media for updates.
• Please, do not call the university, unless instructed to do so by The Emergency Management Agency, System, Information, or Advisories in case of severe weather. The radio or TV information in your local, state, or regional area will be provide tornado, earthquake or hurricane emergency information to the public. Please leave the cellular and phone lines clear and open for emergencies. The university and our community college partners work together to inform, notify, and instruct the public, including our students and parents of emergency, health and safety matters. Opportunities will be available for students to contact parents, family, and friends.

• If the university determines that weather conditions warrant the cancellation of classes, announcements will be posted to the UCF News Web site, www.news.ucf.edu.

Contact Patricia MacKown, the Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities via
Phone:  407-823-6960; Fax:  407-823-4544 or Email: pmackown@mail.ucf.edu
Eternal Knights

• The Eternal Knights Program honors students who have passed away during the academic year. This tasteful ceremony enables families, who have lost a son or daughter, to join with campus leaders and members of the University of Central Florida community in a solemn tribute to their loved ones.
• The Eternal Knights Memorial Service is held annually to recognize the students, their families, and faculty, staff and students who knew them. The members of the Campus Faiths and Ministries present the Call for Memorial, Benediction and play two musical meditations. A faculty member presents the eulogy including the name of each student. During the ceremony each student, college and major, and "Eternal Knights" date are named. Members of the President's Leadership Council place a keepsake for each family next to a yellow rose followed by the ringing of a bell. The Eternal Knights Memorial Service concludes with a Scottish bag pipes musical and it is followed by a small reception and a family, faculty, staff, and students reunion.

The Counseling Center

• The Counseling Center is also available to help your student through this grieving process. Please visit their website:  http://www.counseling.sdes.ucf.edu

My son or daughter is a victim of a crime. Who can help?

• Every local police authority has jurisdiction, where the crime occurred. As a courtesy and in cases of shared jurisdiction, with the university, and particularly, if a crime occurred at one of our regional community college partnering institutions, involving one of our Regional students, each local authority notifies the university, if a student is a victim.

The Counseling Center

• The Counseling Center is also available to help your student through this process. Please visit their website:  http://www.counseling.sdes.ucf.edu

• Pay special attention to your student’s experiences and activities during the crucial first 6 weeks on campus. With a great deal of free time, many students initiate heavy drinking and other substance use during these early days of college, and the potential exists for substance use to interfere with a successful  transition to campus life.
• Be familiar with the name of the person who is responsible for campus Alcohol and other Drug Prevention Programming. Tom Hall is the contact at the University of Central Florida.
• Inquire about and make certain you understand the college's "parental notification" policy.
• Check in with your son or daughter on a regular basis.
• Inquire about concerns about roommates, their roommates' behavior, and how disagreements are settled or disruptive behavior dealt with.
• Make sure that your son or daughter understands the penalties and health risks associated with substance use, public drunkenness, using a fake ID, driving under the influence, sexual assault, and other substance-related offenses.
• Let them know you have asked the university to keep you informed of infractions to school alcohol policies.
• Make certain that they understand how alcohol and other substance use can lead to sexual assault, physical assault, accidents, injury and academic failure.

What do I do if I believe my son or daughter is abusing alcohol or other substances?

• Be aware of the signs of possible substance abuse by your student (e.g., lower grades, never available or reluctant to talk with you, unwilling to talk about activities with friends, trouble with campus authorities,   sudden changes in mood).
• If you believe your son or daughter is having a problem with alcohol or other substances, do not blame them, but find appropriate help.
• If your son or daughter is concerned about his or her alcohol consumption, or that of a friend, encourage them to contact the Substance Use Services Team,   (407 823-0879) for free confidential screening, brief intervention and referral to treatment.
• Pay your son or daughter an unexpected visit. Ask to meet their friends. Attend Parents' Weekend and other campus events open to parents.
• Continue to stay actively involved in the life of your son or daughter. Even though they may be away at college, they continue to be an extension of your family and its values.

My son or daughter was arrested. What university resources are available to assist?

• Students in need of legal service should contact, either in person or by telephone (407-823-2538), Student Legal Services in Room 155 Ferrell Commons. All consultation is by appointment only. No legal advice will be given over the phone.
• The office of Student Legal Services seeks to provide qualified students at the University of Central Florida with legal counseling and court representation in certain cases. The staff attorneys interview each client individually to advise in the areas of law that concern the student. Cases which are not covered by the program guidelines are referred to appropriate agencies or private attorneys through a lawyer referral service. The operation of the program is subject at all times to the rules and regulations promulgated by the Supreme Court of Florida and the Board of Governors of the Florida Bar. The program is approved by the Florida Bar and is staffed by licensed attorneys.
• Each currently enrolled student is entitled to consult with program attorneys about legal matters and entitled to receive advice conveyed in a formal or informal manner as appropriate. Although this program is free as a service to the students, the program will not cover the payment of court costs, fees incidental to litigation, fines, penalties, or amounts of any judgments awarded against the student.
• Facts and questions regarding the office:  http://www.stulegal.sdes.ucf.edu

• Is he/she an F1 or J1 international student?
• Students must contact International Services due to the affect the arrest may have on their status.  Federal law requires international students to be enrolled full-time.  As soon as you find out that you may be facing dismissal contact the International Services office immediately to come up with case by case options.  Website:  http://www.intl.ucf.edu

• How will the arrest affect financial aid, scholarships, grants, etc.?
• Contact the Office of Student Financial Assistance to speak with a counselor about your options. Website: http://finaid.ucf.edu

• Contact Florida Council on Compulsive Gamblings, Inc. Contact #:1-888-ADMIT-IT (236-4848) / Website: http://www.gablinghelp.org

What Scholarships are available to students with disabilities?

• The following scholarships administered through UCF are available for students with disabilities:
  Theodore R. and Vivian M. Johnson Scholarship
  -Must provide appropriate documentation of the nature and/or extent of a disability
  -Must have a demonstrated financial need (determined from FAFSA information)
  -Must be enrolled for at least nine (9) credit hours
  -Award: $3,500
  -Application deadline: May 15 each year (date is subject to change)
  -Application form available from Student Disability Services, FC 132, in March

Florida Scholarship:
Florida Public Student Assistant Grant (GPSAG)

Student with disabilities for whom part-time enrollment is a necessary accommodation are now eligible to qualify for the FPSAG.
-If students qualify for the grant and, if part-time enrollment is a necessary accommodation for their disability, they may now enroll for fewer credits per term.
-This will allow for greater participation opportunities and success in the classroom, while receiving financial assistance.
-Certain requirements regarding disability documentation are necessary. Therefore, students must check with Student Disability Services to ensure that they qualify.

See Student Financial Assistance for other scholarships available to all students, http://finaid.ucf.edu/scholarships/index.htm

On the Undergraduate Admissions Application, my daughter checked the box stating she has a disability and she wants to know the status of her application. Who does she contact?

Contact Undergraduate Admissions, 407-823-3000.

My son received a letter stating that the Disability Committee is reviewing his admissions application. Who does he contact

• Contact Undergraduate Admissions, 407-823-3000. The Undergraduate Admissions Disability Committee reviews applications that have been checked stating the student has a disability

I want to register my daughter with UCF Student Disability Services. What do I need to do?

• First, she must be admitted to UCF and attend all required orientation.
• Second, she should be well acquainted with our Disability Documentation Requirements. Student Disability Services will not accept documentation of disability that does not meet our requirements.
• Third, she should call the office of Student Disability Services at (407) 823-2371 and schedule an appointment for an intake interview.
• Last, she will need to bring her disability documentation and completed intake questionnaire to the intake interview.

I sent my son’s disability documentation the UCF Admissions Office. Can the office of Student Disability Services get a copy from Admissions?

• Student Disability Services does not receive nor request copies of any disability documentation sent to Admissions. Admissions will not release confidential student information. Please bring appropriate documentation to your scheduled intake interview with an SDS coordinator.

What are the office hours for Student Disability Services?

• Mondays through Fridays, from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM .The office also extends its hours for scheduled course exams.

My daughter has a learning disability but her school disability report does not meet your disability documentation criteria. What should I do? I hear that testing for a learning disability is very expensive.

Please contact our office (407) 823-2371. Ask to speak with one of our SDS professional staff members about learning disability testing. You may also consider the following resources:

• If she is a recent high school graduate, you may contact her high school psychologist or ESE team and ask if they can provide an updated assessment report that meets the requirements of the university. Some schools may agree to do this as a courtesy depending on their staffing resources. But, be advised that, more often, schools will not do this since they are not mandated by law to provide services to students once they graduate.
• If she qualifys for federal financial aid, she may schedule an appointment with a UCF financial aid advisor to review her financial aid package. Find out if she has any additional funds to pay for psycho-educational testing. Please refer to HB795 Section 3. Section 1009.892, Florida Statutes (Cost of attendance; adult norm-referenced testing):
  1. A public or private postsecondary institution shall include in its cost of attendance adult norm-referenced testing that it requires for eligible students to qualify for accommodations for disabilities.
  2. To be eligible, a student must be a legal resident of this state, as defined in s. 1009.21; must be enrolled in at least 6 semester hours, or the equivalent, per term in a degree, certificate, or diploma program; and must have documented learning disabilities under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004 or the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.

• If she has medical insurance, she may contact the provider and ask for the listing of psychologists or mental health services covered by the plan. Find out if any of them conduct routine psycho-educational testing for adults. Then, arrange to share with them our criteria for documenting a learning disability.
• She may contact the Florida Division of Vocational Rehabilitation http://www.rehabworks.org

My student needs early registration to enroll in UCF courses. Who can help?

• If your student is a UCF student with a documented disability, the student must first be registered with Student Disability Services in order to receive "early registration" or priority registration status