All 麻豆原创 students and alumni can take advantage of this new system that is replacing KnightLink and Place Pro to serve the 麻豆原创 community. Handshake is cutting-edge technology career development platform that helps students and alumni connect with employers and campus partners to find jobs and internships. Users will be able to log in to Handshake with their NID and password and begin searching.

Over 120,000 employers are already using Handshake, including 93 percent of the nation鈥檚 Fortune 500 companies. This opens up more opportunities for students and alumni to find more jobs and internships than ever before.

By the end of the next summer, Handshake is on track to be the sole career development platform used by all of Florida鈥檚 major universities and colleges, opening up 麻豆原创 to more collaboration opportunities across the State of Florida.

New features and functionalities will continue to be introduced that include posting all SDES on-campus student positions in the system, operating the 麻豆原创 Job Shadow Program through Handshake, and many more.

Tori Walsh, student assistant for Career Services, stated, 鈥楬andshake is going to be such a valuable tool for students to take advantage of. Having Internships and Jobs all in one system is super easy for career planning.鈥�

For more information, students can visit or contact either Career Services or directly.

The event, held in anticipation of 麻豆原创鈥檚 Spring Career Expo on Jan. 28, will give students an opportunity to meet individually with Career Services and Experiential Learning professionals so students can fine-tune their resumes and practice marketing themselves to employers.

Also in attendance will be a Central Intelligence Agency recruiter, who will host 20-minute workshops focusing on the importance of researching potential employers.

The schedule for the Expo Prep event is:

Resume Critiques (about 15 minutes) and Elevator Pitches (about 30 minutes). These workshops will be held by Career Services and Experiential Learning professionals.

Workshop times: 12:15, 12:35, 12:55, 1:15 and 1:35 p.m.

Researching Employers Workshop (20 minutes) Hosted by a Central Intelligence Agency recruiter.

Workshop times: 12:15, 12:40, 1:05 and 1:30 p.m.

But with studying, activities, internships and other commitments, you may not even notice time whizzing by.

So what鈥檚 the secret to making the most of your time at 麻豆原创 and graduating as planned?

Over the past 50 years, nearly 250,000 students have graduated from 麻豆原创, and we鈥檝e gathered tips for academic success from across campus to help you on your journey to reaching that milestone.

Get involved in campus life. 麻豆原创 is home to hundreds of student organizations, including Greek life, academic and cultural clubs, and intramural sports teams.

Don鈥檛 fret if you don鈥檛 know where to start. Each fall during the first week of classes, 麻豆原创 hosts a welcome week called . Social, academic and service activities are planned for each day to help new and returning students get acquainted with campus and meet fellow Knights.

Among the new student groups launching this fall is First Knights Organization, which will support first-generation college students as they adjust to campus life and help them get involved.

鈥淎s a first-generation student, involvement is a big reason why I have had much success at 麻豆原创,鈥� said LaShaunda Hayes, the organization鈥檚 interim president. 鈥淕etting involved my freshman year helped me to surround myself with other leaders on campus, and that鈥檚 what I hope First Knights does for other students.鈥�

Apply for scholarships. 麻豆原创 awards more than $500 million in financial assistance each year, and there鈥檚 a piece of that pie out there for you, too.

Be aware of the grant and scholarship opportunities that are available. Many of them are listed online .

If you鈥檙e aiming high, consider reaching out to the Office of Prestigious Awards. The office works with students in pursuit of major scholarships or fellowships funded by national or international foundations, and staff can help you determine which awards might be the best fit for your skills, talents and goals.

Get on a first-name basis with your advisor. Your academic advisor can help you navigate courses, guide you in changing your major and ensure that you鈥檙e on track to graduate on time, so don鈥檛 hold off on introducing yourself to them.

First-year students are assigned an advisor from First Year Advising & Exploration. Once you declare a major, an advisor from your college is assigned to you. Students who haven鈥檛 declared a major or are in the process of changing their area of study can visit the Sophomore and Second Year Center.

鈥淩egardless of the questions students have, know that we can either answer them directly or point students in the right direction,鈥� said academic advising coordinator David Oglethorpe. 鈥淎s for schedule planning and academics, it鈥檚 very important that students review their planned schedules with their advisors at least once a semester 鈥� this way, we can ensure that everything is in place for success.鈥�

Visit the Student Self Service tab on my麻豆原创 to learn how to contact your advisor.

Consider learning outside of the classroom. Nearly three quarters of all 麻豆原创 students take at least one online course each year, and web, video and blended classes account for more than 34 percent of all student credit hours.

It鈥檚 no secret that web-based courses offer flexibility for students, but a study from the U.S. Department of Education also found that on average, students perform better in blended classes than they do in face-to-face classes.

Some 麻豆原创 programs even offer fully online undergraduate and graduate degrees.

鈥淏lended and online learning gives you options, and that鈥檚 why I find them so convenient,鈥� said Joyce Jacobson, a junior business management major. 鈥淚 have a job, but I can still watch lectures and learn lessons in a way that fits into my schedule. Those types of courses also teach you a lot about time management鈥攜ou have to be responsible and watch lectures and take notes. The accountability falls on you.鈥�

Remember that it鈥檚 never too early to think about what鈥檚 next. From resume critiques to mock interviews to career exploration, Career Services and Experiential Learning helps students plan their futures outside of 麻豆原创.

Whether you鈥檙e on the hunt for a job, internship or career, the office鈥檚 location near Memory Mall is a one-stop shop for students seeking assistance with achieving their academic and professional goals. There are resources to help you explore career fields, gain hands-on work experience and line up plans for after graduation.

The key is to think about what comes next early on.

More than 100 employers will gather at 麻豆原创 on Oct. 3 for the Fall Career Expo, which is open to students and alumni looking for a way to connect with the job market. More information is available , and the deadline to register is in September.

Held at the 麻豆原创 Arena, the event will feature more than 150 employers with available positions in engineering, accounting, sales, marketing, management and other fields. Last semester’s career expo attracted 100 employers and more than 1,500 students and alumni.

Attendees are required to dress in business professional attire and should take copies of their resumes.

Students interested in attending may take their resumes to Career Services for critiques during the drop-in hours of 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the days leading up to the Career Expo.

They can also prepare by attending one of the Career Services .

A list of participating companies and their available positions is located at www.career.ucf.edu, under the 鈥淪pring 2013 Career Expo鈥� page. 聽Students and alumni interested in attending are encouraged to research their employers of interest and learn more about the available positions.

Because of Hurricane Sandy, President Barack Obama has canceled his appearance at聽a campaign event scheduled for Monday morning on Memory Mall at the 麻豆原创. President Bill Clinton will speak at the event.聽

Parking garages D and H are now completely open.聽Portions of both garages had been聽closed when President Obama was still scheduled to attend.

Is 麻豆原创 holding classes on Monday? Which buildings will be closed?

All Monday classes will be held as scheduled, except for classes in Health and Public Affairs I and II and the Psychology Building starting earlier than 3:30 p.m. Classes in those buildings beginning at 3:30 p.m. or later will be held as scheduled.

All campus buildings will be open for regular hours except for Health and Public Affairs I and II, Psychology, and the Career Services and Experiential Learning building. The Health and Public Affairs I and II and Psychology buildings will open at 3:30 p.m. The Career Services and Experiential Learning building will be closed all day Monday.

Should staff members in the closed buildings report to work Monday?

Staff members who work in the Health and Public Affairs I and II, Psychology and Career Services and Experiential Learning buildings will be granted administrative leave Monday until 5 p.m. unless they are considered essential personnel. Employees who are unsure of their status should check with their supervisor. All other 麻豆原创 employees are expected to work their usual schedules on Monday.

Where should staff and faculty members and event guests park on Monday?

Most campus parking lots and garages will be open as usual. Parking lot D-1 remains closed. Additional parking spaces for students, staff members, faculty members and event guests will be available Monday along Orion Boulevard and in parking lots adjacent to the football, softball and baseball stadiums. Limited shuttle service will be available to transport students, staff members, faculty members and guests from those parking areas to the shuttle bus stop in lot C1 by the Health and Public Affairs buildings.

Students, staff members and faculty members are encouraged to car pool or ride 麻豆原创 shuttles that link the campus to the Central Florida Research Park and 18 area apartment complexes.

On-campus shuttle routes also will be operating on Monday.

Will any roads be closed for the event?

There may be聽road closures on campus and in the Central Florida Research Park.

Students, parents and football fans can listen to live music, help with projects aimed at conserving marine habitats and shoot free throws with Knights basketball players during College Open House activities before the 麻豆原创 football home opener on Saturday, Sept. 15.

Lectures and聽demonstrations around campus will聽feature topics such as the state of the economy, the U.S. Supreme Court鈥檚 role in elections, and cars and innovative mobile apps designed by engineering and computer science students. 聽

The Burnett Honors College will host one of the day鈥檚 most varied programs. For adults who are not easily offended, English Professor Tison Pugh will give a 12:30 p.m. presentation on medieval humor that will cover topics 鈥渞anging from Chaucer鈥檚 bawdy tales to monks behaving badly.鈥� For kids, the college will have pony rides and a bounce house from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The goal of College Open Houses is to showcase the university鈥檚 academic programs to students and their families during Family Weekend. Nine 麻豆原创 colleges will hold activities, starting as early as 10 a.m. and finishing as late as 3 p.m., before the Knights play their football home opener against Florida International University at 4 p.m.

麻豆原创 students can compete for prizes 鈥� including tickets to Universal Studios and the 麻豆原创-Missouri football game 鈥� by finishing several colleges鈥� activities in an Amazing Race-style contest. Prizes also include $50 textbook scholarships from the 麻豆原创 Bookstore and a four-year Forever Knight membership from the 麻豆原创 Alumni Association.

麻豆原创鈥檚 Career Services office also will hold an open house from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday at the Career Services & Experiential Learning building. Attendees will learn about the many free services available to students as they choose a career and apply for jobs.

Family Weekend runs from Friday, Sept. 14, through Sunday, Sept. 16. Family Weekend events include Health Center tours, a program on understanding the 麻豆原创 creed and students鈥� rules of conduct, a discussion about services available to students with disabilities, and a session about choosing the study-abroad programs.

The Student Government Association and 麻豆原创 Athletics will present Friday Knight Lights, 麻豆原创鈥檚 annual football season kickoff party, from 4:30 to 5:15 p.m. Friday, Sept. 14, at Bright House Networks Stadium. The event is open to all 麻豆原创 students, alumni and fans.

For details about other Family Weekend activities, go to .

The schedule of College Open House activities is:

College of Arts and Humanities: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Performing Arts Center, live performances by theatre, steel band and marching band students, and tours of the 麻豆原创 Art Gallery.

Burnett Honors College: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Burnett Honors College, mini-lectures on topics such as medieval humor and the Supreme Court鈥檚 impact on U.S. elections. Hot dog聽 and hamburger lunches will be available for a $5 donation. Children鈥檚 activities will feature pony rides and a bounce house.

College of Business Administration: Noon to 1 p.m., Business Administration I, room 107, update on the state of the economy from Sean Snaith, director of 麻豆原创鈥檚 Institute of Economic Competitiveness.

College of Education: 12 a.m. to 2 p.m., Education Building gymnasium, 鈥淎re You Smarter Than a Fifth-Grader鈥� game and free-throw shooting contests (麻豆原创 men鈥檚 and women鈥檚 basketball players will join families from noon to 1 p.m.). Prizes will be awarded.

College of Engineering and Computer Science: 10 a.m. to noon, Harris Corp. Engineering Center lawn, senior design project demonstrations, trivia, student-organization tables, prizes and hot dogs.

College of Health and Public Affairs: 10 a.m. to noon, Health and Public Affairs I atrium, displays and discussion opportunities with academic-program representatives.

College of Medicine: 10 a.m. to noon, Health and Public Affairs I lobby, presentation about admission requirements and how 麻豆原创 undergraduate programs prepare students for medical school.

Rosen College of Hospitality Management: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Classroom I, mock-classroom discussions and demonstrations.

College of Sciences: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Nicholson School of Communication, support marine conservation and restoration efforts by potting mangrove seeds and making oyster mats. Green bandanas will be provided to those who help out.聽 Guided tours of the Nicholson School鈥檚 broadcast facilities also will be offered.