Your monthly newsletter from the Gator Parent and Family Association.
The Gator Family Connection
February 2019
From the Gator Parent and Family Association
Spring Family Weekend
Celebrate your Gator Family with a fun weekend in Gainesville on March 29-31, 2019.
We love our Gator Families and we hope to have you join us for our Spring Family Weekend!  This is your opportunity to explore campus and Gainesville with your favorite Gator!

Be on the lookout for registration opening later this month. 

Please email ihaveagator@ufl.edu with any questions.
Career Showcase is back! 
Encourage your students to meet potential employers on  February 5 & 6, 2019 from 9 AM-3 PM, in the O'Connell Center.

Career Showcase is a two-day event featuring employers hiring for full-time job and internships. This event offers students a great opportunity to network with employers who travel to UF just to see them - it doesn't get much better than that!  For information and the full list of events, click here.  
 
Spring Commencement is right around the corner! The official Commencement Ceremonies schedules have been released here . Encourage your student to make sure he or she has met all degree requirements, applied online to graduate, have their finances in order, prepped for their diploma, ordered all necessary academic regalia, and completed any other necessary requirements that can be found on the Graduation Checklist . 



The start of February marks the official kick-off of Black History Month, a celebration sponsored by the Black Student Union that seeks to provide the UF and surrounding communities an opportunity to learn about the unique contributions of African-Americans in history, celebrate a rich and diverse heritage and promote common understanding across all cultures through events aimed to entertain, challenge and educate while providing opportunities for intellectual and social growth. For more information, please visit UF's Black Student Union  

Its election season again! Student Government at UF is committed to tirelessly advocating on behalf of the student body, enhancing the entire student experience and promoting the image of the university and its students by upholding the highest standards, leading with integrity and selflessly serving the university and beyond. Spring elections for the Executive Branch and College Senators will take place February 19 and 20. To learn more about polling locations and ballots, visit their website here .  

Valentine's Day is soon approaching and can be a time full of love, but also can trigger various emotions from students, especially if far away from family and loved ones. The following campus resources are here to support your students should they need someone to talk to this month and beyond:
 
Counseling and Wellness Center
The Counseling and Wellness Center is a campus resource that offers counseling, mental health and psychiatric services for UF students. Individual therapy, group, couples counseling, consultation, crisis services, outreach, biofeedback and much more are offered, all with the goal to help students thrive, grow in self-understanding, self-responsibility and optimal life functioning.

U Matter, We Care
U Matter, We Care serves as UF's umbrella program for a culture of care and provides students in distress with support and coordination of the wide variety of appropriate resources. Families, faculty and students can contact umatter@ufl.edu seven days a week for assistance for students in distress.



The Disability Resource Center provides reasonable academic accommodations to students who have documented evidence of a disability. The office also offers screeners to help narrow down possibilities of potential disabilities if students seem to be struggling in certain academic areas. If your student would benefit from their services, encourage them to seek additional information on their website.
Florida Alternative Breaks (FAB) is a UF student-led organization that sends out service-learning trips based on specific social issues during academic breaks.
Each trip places an emphasis on education, service, and reflection in order to best maximize the impact of the alternative break experience. Students interested in joining FAB for Spring Break can get more information here.