SOAR Program Components
UCF Freshman Orientation
All Access Program participants must attend the same UCF Freshman two-day Orientation Program. Please register for Orientation at orientation.ucf.edu.
Access CREED Seminar
CREED Seminars introduce students to complete and accurate information about UCF resources, student rights and responsibilities, and a wide range of services students use to encourage their personal, academic and professional success.
Summer Classes
All students will take two summer courses that will count toward general education and elective requirements within their UCF degree programs. For the summer term classes will meet for four (4) days a week, Monday – Thursday, for an hour and fifty minutes.
SOAR students will be pre-registered for their two Summer B classes prior to arriving to orientation. All students will be enrolled in SLS 1501 (Strategies for Success in College) and one of these general education courses:
- PSY 2012 – General Psychology
- PHI 2010 – Philosophy
- ENC 1101 – Composition 1
However, if students are bringing in dual enrollment credit for SLS1501 or an equivalent, they will be required to enroll in two general education classes due to the Excess Hours clause. Please visit the Registrar’s Office for more information.
Supplemental Instruction (SI)
Each general education course option available to Access Program students for the Summer B term will have an academic support component tied directly to it in the form of a Supplemental Instruction (SI). SI sessions are usually 50 minutes long and are led by a UCF student who has previously taken the course and earned a grade of A.
These sessions allow students to compare notes, discuss important concepts, develop strategies for studying, and test their knowledge with peers before the professor does so in class.
SOAR Students taking ENC 1101 will meet with University Writing Center consultants twice weekly to discuss and develop successful writing habits.
Academic Advising
All SOAR students will receive individual academic advising during their freshman year through the office of First Year Advising and Exploration (FYAE). During the Summer B term, students will be assigned to a specific FYAE professional advisor with whom they will communicate regularly throughout the program through face-to-face advising appointments and email.
These advisors will discuss each student’s academic progress with them, answer any questions students may have, and assist students with future academic planning.
Peer Mentoring
A unique component of the SOAR Program is Peer Mentoring through the Student Academic Resource Center (SARC). Each student will be matched with a Peer Mentor with whom they will meet face-to-face over the course of the Summer and Fall semesters. This mentoring program offers a structured, collaborative approach to support the academic progress and success of students.
Peer Mentors will provide individualized guidance, and ongoing feedback as they meet with students to discuss their academic progress, effective study habits and skills, and their overall transition to the university.
Access Closing Ceremony
Parents and families are invited to the Access Programs Closing Ceremony on Thursday, August 4. The Closing Ceremony celebrates student persistence, learning, and achievement in completing the six-week Summer Bridge Program.
Workshops and Campus Activities
A wide offering of workshops and campus events are available to students throughout the year. While participation in these workshops and events is not a requirement of the Pegasus or SOAR programs, students are encouraged to attend these workshops and campus events over the course of their freshman year in order to continue building successful habits and study skills.
Workshops are designed to provide students with academic support and/or information regarding how to be a well-rounded UCF student. Some workshop topics have included: Time Management, Classroom and Email Etiquette, Goal Setting, Academic Organization, and Test Taking Strategies.
Campus events will provide the opportunity for students to connect on a social level and cultivate their pride as a UCF Knight. Many campus events are associated with the Learning and Interacting with New Knights (LINK) program.