Monthly Wellness Update

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, a time to raise awareness, support survivors, and strengthen our commitment to safe and healthy communities. Awareness saves lives! Understanding the warning signs of domestic violence, sharing available resources, and offering compassion and support can make a meaningful difference. Let’s stand together to promote safety, respect, hope, and access to assistance for those who may need it.

Additional Resources:

• Florida Department of Children and Families: Domestic Violence Resources – Information and resources for individuals experiencing domestic violence or seeking help for someone else.
• Health Advocate: Your safety matters – Tips for planning to leave an abusive relationship – Safety planning information and resources for individuals considering leaving an abusive relationship.
• UCF Victims of Domestic & Sexual Violence Leave – Information about leave available to eligible UCF employees who are experiencing domestic or sexual violence.
• UCF Green Dot – Learn how Green Dot empowers members of the UCF community to recognize potentially harmful situations and take proactive steps to prevent violence and support a safer campus community.

The UCF Center for Distributed Learning offers a variety of professional development opportunities designed to help employees enhance their skills and discover new approaches to technology, creativity, and accessibility. With offerings available in face-to-face, online, and hybrid formats, employees can choose learning experiences that fit their schedules and professional goals.

Explore the available offerings and register today!

Additional Resources:

• Division of Digital Learning Upcoming Events Calendar
• Accessibility Training Resources

Mark your calendar and take advantage of these opportunities to learn more about your benefits and prepare for Open Enrollment:

2026 Employee Benefits Fair

Join us at the annual UCF Employee Benefits Fair on October 14, 2026, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Celeste Hotel Ballroom. Connect with insurance and retirement plan providers, UCF partners, and other valuable resources available to employees. Attendees can also take advantage of wellness offerings, including flu shots, chair massages, and posture screenings.

Open Enrollment Information Sessions

The UCF HR Benefits unit will be hosting virtual Open Enrollment Information Sessions on October 7, 15, and 22. Attendance is voluntary but strongly encouraged. Sessions will cover upcoming 2027 plan year changes, as well as information regarding the Gabor Financial Solutions’ first disability open enrollment in three years.

Register for an open enrollment session today!

Open Enrollment

Open Enrollment runs October 12 through October 30, 2026, and includes two separate enrollment opportunities:

• State of Florida Group Insurance Program Open Enrollment: Review and update your State insurance benefits through People First.
• Gabor Financial Solutions Disability Open Enrollment: Enroll in or update your disability coverage directly through Gabor Financial Solutions.

For additional information, visit the Open Enrollment page of the UCF HR website.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, a time to prioritize your health, honor survivors, and remember those affected by breast cancer. Early detection saves lives. Talk with your healthcare provider about screening recommendations, schedule your mammogram, learn about your risk factors, and encourage loved ones to do the same. Join the movement by sharing information and supporting research that brings us closer to a cure!

Additional Resources:

• National Breast Cancer Foundation: FREE eBook – What Every Woman Needs to Know
• National Breast Cancer Foundation: Learn About Breast Cancer
• Health Advocate: Breast Health – Know your “normal”

October is National Depression & Mental Health Screening Month, a reminder to check in with yourself and those around you. All UCF employees (excluding OPS student employees) have free, confidential support through our Employee Assistance Program (EAP), offering counseling, resources, and screenings to help you or a loved one navigate life’s challenges. Take a moment this month to prioritize your well-being. You don’t have to face it alone.

Additional Resources:

• American Behavioral Clinics: Depression Screening Test
• Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration: What is Depression?

October 8 is World Financial Planning Day, a perfect reminder to take steps toward your financial goals.

CAPTRUST Financial Advisors will be conducting dedicated virtual consultations on October 27 and October 29. Topics covered in the individual advisory sessions include, but are not limited to, retirement planning, financial wellness, investment education, and personalized investment guidance. Participants will also have the opportunity to create a Retirement Blueprint®, CAPTRUST’s interactive tool designed to help assess retirement readiness and build a path toward long-term financial goals.

Even if you are already working with a financial advisor, CAPTRUST’s free, unbiased consultations can provide an additional perspective and serve as a valuable complement to your existing financial planning strategy.

Sessions are limited and by appointment only. Schedule an appointment online.

Cholesterol plays an important role in your overall heart health. High cholesterol often has no warning signs, but it can increase your risk for heart disease and stroke. The good news? Small lifestyle choices can make a big impact, like choosing heart-healthy foods, staying active, and getting your cholesterol checked regularly.

Additional Resources:

• American Heart Association: What is Cholesterol?
• CDC: High Cholesterol Facts

UCF College of Medicine: How to Fight High Cholesterol & Improve Heart Health

September is National Suicide Prevention Month, an opportunity to raise awareness and remind everyone that help and hope are always available. Life’s challenges can sometimes feel overwhelming, but difficult feelings do not define you, and they won’t last forever.

Additional Resources:

• Video: You are not alone. Health Advocate can help.
• Flyer: Your Life Matters
• Webinar – Suicide Prevention: What to Know and How to Help
  Register Now: Thursday, September 17^th 10:00 a.m. |  4:00 p.m.

Planning for retirement? Join the UCF Human Resources Benefits team this September for informative retirement presentations that outline the UCF retirement process for specific UCF retirement plans; including time off payouts, insurance continuation options, and benefits available to UCF retirees.

Register Now:

• Sept. 14 @ 2pm: Retiring From UCF: FRS Pension Plan & DROP
• Sept. 17 @ 2pm: Retiring From UCF: FRS Investment Plan & State University System Optional Retirement Program (SUSORP)

Did you know the UCF Staff Advisory Council offers scholarship opportunities to help eligible USPS and A&P employees pursue their educational goals? Awards include the $250 Employee Scholarship, the $250 Fairwinds Credit Union Employee Savings Incentive Award, and the $100 Barnes & Noble Campus Book Award. If you’re working toward a degree, these awards can help offset educational expenses and support your long-term financial wellbeing. Applications are accepted through September 30.

To learn more and apply online, visit the Scholarships page of the Staff Advisory Council website.

Open Enrollment for the UCF Sick Pool runs through the entire month of September. By donating just 16 hours of sick time off, eligible UCF employees can join the Sick Pool and gain access to up to 12 weeks of paid leave during times of serious illness or injury.

Applications will be accepted through Wednesday, September 30, through a Workday Help case using the case type: Sick Pool Open Enrollment. Instructions on how to create the case are available in Workday. Membership responses will be provided directly in the Workday Case by early October.

Beyond personal protection, joining the Sick Pool is a way to support colleagues across campus who may face unexpected health challenges. Together, we can make a meaningful difference for one another!

Social wellness is about building meaningful connections and engaging with others who share your interests and experiences. UCF offers a variety of faculty and staff associations and communities that provide opportunities to connect, network, learn, and get involved.

Explore UCF’s Black Faculty and Staff Association (BFSA), Latino Faculty and Staff Association (LaFaSA), and PRIDE Faculty and Staff Association (PFSA). UCF is also launching a Caribbean Faculty and Staff Association for employees interested in becoming part of the founding group.

Visit UCF’s Faculty & Staff Associations and Resources for additional information and to explore opportunities for building relationships, participating in campus activities, and finding a community where you can connect.

Your wellbeing includes more than work – take time to build connections and be part of the UCF community!

Career wellness is about continuing to learn, grow, and make meaningful contributions at UCF. This fall, UCF HR Talent Development is introducing an approach to professional development that recognizes growth can happen in many ways.

Employee development is a shared partnership between employees and supervisors. Employees take an active role by building skills, seeking feedback, and pursuing new experiences, while supervisors provide guidance, feedback, and opportunities to learn and grow. Together, they identify development opportunities that support both individual growth and organizational success.

This fall, new course offerings will introduce UCF’s approach to professional development and leaders, supervisors, faculty, and staff understand their role in development, the different ways development can happen, and how to access learning and development opportunities.

Join us at the annual UCF Employee Benefits Fair on October 14, 2026, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Celeste Hotel Ballroom. Connect with insurance and retirement plan providers, UCF partners, and other valuable resources available to employees. Attendees can also take advantage of wellness offerings, including flu shots, chair massages, and posture screenings.

Open Enrollment runs October 12 through October 30, 2026, and includes two separate enrollment opportunities:

• State of Florida Group Insurance Program Open Enrollment: Review and update your State insurance benefits through People First.
• Gabor Financial Solutions Disability Open Enrollment: Enroll in or update your disability coverage directly through Gabor Financial Solutions.

For additional information, visit the Open Enrollment page of the UCF HR website.

Reminder: Keep your contact information up to date in Workday to ensure you receive important benefits communications. If your mailing address has changed, please update it in Workday by September 30, 2026, to ensure your People First Open Enrollment statement is mailed to the correct address. Updates made in Workday are sent to People First. View the Modify Personal Information Workday Article for instructions.

August 14 is National Financial Awareness Day – a reminder of the importance of understanding and improving your financial health. While the official day is just once a year, financial wellness matters all the time!

This August, take charge of your financial future by exploring the Florida Retirement System’s (FRS) on-demand financial wellness webinars. Available topics include Investment Planning, Taking Control of Your Finances, Social Security and Your Retirement, and many more designed to help you make informed financial decisions at every stage of your career.

To view the full library of on-demand presentations, visit the FRS Financial Planning Workshops page of the MyFRS website.

The 2026 Florida Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday begins Monday, July 20 and runs through Thursday, August 20, giving families an opportunity to save on qualifying school supplies and other eligible items.

Whether you’re stocking up on notebooks, backpacks, pens, pencils, or other classroom essentials, this tax holiday can help stretch your back-to-school budget a little further. For a complete list of eligible items and additional information, visit the Florida Department of Revenue’s Back to School Sales Tax Holiday webpage.

Get ready for a successful school year while taking advantage of these valuable savings opportunities!

As part of your commitment to wellness, make time each year for preventive care. Routine wellness exams, recommended screenings, and immunizations can help detect potential health concerns early and keep you feeling your best.

If you are enrolled in health insurance through the State Group Health Insurance Program, most preventive services are covered when you use in-network providers. Before scheduling your appointment, review your plan’s preventive care benefits and talk with your healthcare provider about the screenings and vaccines that are right for you.

If you haven’t scheduled your annual wellness visit yet, August is a great time to make your health a priority!

Additional Resources:

• Stay on top of your health: Preventive Care Made Simple
• Protect yourself and your family: Stay current on vaccines

Social and community wellness includes knowing where to turn in times of need and supporting others in doing the same. UCF Victim Services offers confidential 24/7 support to all employees through their hotline (407) 823-1200, text line (407) 823-6868, and now a confidential chat feature on the UCF Victim Services website available during business hours. Their site also includes a wide range of local, regional, and national resources.

Want to expand your department’s awareness? Victim Services offers trainings on topics like domestic violence, consent, stalking, crisis response, and more. To request a presentation, email: askanadvocate@ucf.edu or learn more on the UCF Victim Services website.

Planning a trip? UCF employees can now enroll for TSA PreCheck® right on campus at The SPOT! Whether you’re traveling for a conference, research, or a well-deserved vacation, this convenient on-campus enrollment option helps you prepare for travel without leaving campus. Plus, most TSA PreCheck® travelers move through airport security in under 10 minutes, giving you more time to focus on the journey ahead and the people you’re traveling to see.

Learn more and schedule your appointment: TSA PreCheck Enrollment at UCF

August 30 is National Grief Awareness Day, a reminder that grief is a personal journey and everyone experiences it differently. Whether you’re mourning the loss of a loved one, a beloved pet, or adjusting to a significant life change, it’s important to give yourself grace and remember that healing takes time. Check in with yourself and those around you, and don’t hesitate to seek support when you need it.

If you or a family member could benefit from additional support, UCF’s confidential Employee Assistance Program (EAP), provided through Health Advocate for all active UCF employees (excluding OPS student employees), offers professional counseling and resources at no cost to eligible employees and their families.

To get started, contact Health Advocate at any of the resources below:

Phone: (877) 240-6863 (Available 24/7)
Website: HealthAdvocate.com/members (Registration Code: BLMXAEJ)

From work to school to socializing, technology plays a huge role in our daily lives. It can feel like we never have the option to unplug, but finding a healthy balance with technology is important for our mental health and overall well-being.

Join Health Advocate’s upcoming webinar to explore strategies for using technology in ways that support your well-being and help prevent digital burnout.

Topics to be covered:

• Understanding digital distractions
• Looking at statistics and examples of digital overuse
• Exploring the impact of digital distractions on health

Date: Thursday, August 20^th
Registration Links: 10:00 a.m. EDT  |  4:00 p.m. EDT

According to a 2018 survey, 69% of respondents cited incivility as a major problem in American society, with 29% reporting that they have experienced uncivil behavior at work. In this workshop, participants will explore what civility at work means; identify the costs and impacts of uncivil behavior; discuss the benefits of a civil workplace; and explore strategies for personal development.

Register Online: Civility at Work –  August 11 @ 10:00 a.m.

If you are enrolled in life insurance through the State of Florida Group Insurance Program, you have access to valuable MetLife Advantages benefits at no additional cost. These resources can help you plan for the future, navigate life transitions, and support your loved ones when they need it most.

Available benefits include:

• Estate planning services, including will preparation and access to attorneys
• Travel assistance services when traveling more than 100 miles from home
• Financial guidance and transition support during major life events
• Grief counseling and funeral assistance services
• Beneficiary support, including claims assistance and estate resolution services
• Empathy services to help beneficiaries manage grief, settle estates, and handle important post-loss tasks

Take a few minutes to explore these often overlooked benefits, and make sure you are getting the most value from your life insurance coverage!

Learn More: MetLife Life Insurance – More than Life Insurance Protection

Modern life means living in challenging times, which makes it more important than ever to learn to cope with uncertainty, unpredictability, and stress. Making sound decisions can also be overwhelming, especially when it’s unknown what tomorrow will bring, let alone next week or next month. This webinar explores techniques to help relieve stress so participants can make decisions they feel comfortable with, which are critical elements to managing these feelings now and in the future.

Register Now: July 1 @ 1pm – Strategies to Manage Stress and Uncertainty

Unlock your potential by developing a growth mindset – the belief that skills, abilities, and intelligence can be strengthened through effort, learning, and persistence. In this interactive course, you’ll discover how to recognize fixed mindset habits, build resilience, embrace challenges as opportunities, and develop strategies for continuous personal and professional growth. Gain practical tools to help you adapt, learn, and thrive in an ever-changing workplace.

Register Now: July 14 @ 1:30pm – GROWTH Mindset

Your financial wellbeing matters. Take control of your financial future with our upcoming expert-led sessions focused on planning for retirement and estate planning. Don’t miss out – sign up today to secure your spot!

• July 28 @ 10am: Taking Control of Your Finances
• July 28 @ 1pm: Investment Planning

July is UV Safety Awareness Month. It’s summertime, and you’re probably ready to get outside and soak up the sun – but wait! Before you start catching rays by the pool or taking part in other outdoor activities, make sure you know how to protect yourself from harmful UV light.

For tips on integrating sun safety into your daily routine, check out the American Cancer Society Sun Safety Guide or review recommendations from the American Academy of Dermatology.

Looking for a meaningful way to connect with nature and your UCF community? The UCF Arboretum offers a peaceful retreat right on campus, with opportunities to explore diverse plant life, enjoy guided nature walks, volunteer in the community garden, or simply take a mindful break outdoors. Whether you’re looking to learn, relax, or engage with others, the Arboretum is a great space to discover the natural beauty that surrounds us!

Learn More: UCF Arboretum

Caring for an aging loved one can be rewarding, but also emotionally overwhelming. Through our Employee Assistance Program (EAP) with Health Advocate, all UCF employees (excluding OPS students) have access to Eldercare Services that can help ease the stress. Whether you need help finding long-term care resources, understanding Medicare, or navigating caregiver challenges, Health Advocate provides expert guidance and compassionate support. Prioritize your emotional and mental well-being – you’re not alone in this journey.

Learn More: Health Advocate EAP Eldercare Resources