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University of Central Florida Office of Student Involvement Collection, 1977-2023, bulk 2009-2017

 

Summary

Creator:
University of Central Florida. Office of Student Involvement
Abstract:
The Office of Student Involvement (OSI) supports student success and enhances the campus environment by focusing on their core principles of connect, involve, and impact by providing programs, services, student leadership opportunities, and intentional environments. This collection of records contains memorabilia, documents, and media relating to OSI's history, programs, and agencies.
Extent:
13.55 Linear Feet 23 boxes, 1 flat file
Language:
The materials are written in English.
Preferred citation:

University of Central Florida Office of Student Involvement Collection, Special Collections and University Archives, University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida.

Background

Scope and content:
This collection is arranged in seven series. The first six series are arranged by like-object. Series VI contains miscellaneous media and is arranged by type of media.
Biographical / historical:

According to the UCF website, the Office of Student Involvement (OSI) is one of the oldest organizations at the University of Central Florida. The OSI was previously called the Office of Student Activities, but it was changed in 2003 to OSI. The mission of OSI is to provide programs, services, and leadership opportunities that enrich students' time at UCF. Their core values are connect, involve, and impact. As of 2021, the OSI promotes these values by collaborating with both students and staff to create and develop programs that contribute to students' personal growth, civic responsibility, and diversity awareness. As of 2021, the OSI oversees the registration and management of over 350 student organizations (academic, pre-professional, honorary, military, sports, religious, special interests, minority/interracial, and service groups). The OSI also advises the Campus Activities Board (CAB), Fraternity and Sorority Life, Homecoming, Knights of the RoundTable (KoRT), Late Knights, Multicultural Student Center (MSC), Student Government Association (SGA), and Volunteer UCF (VUCF).

This collection holds a lot of material about Homecoming, which is the OSI's most recognizable event. Homecoming at UCF lasts for a week, leading up to the Homecoming football game of the year. Homecoming represents an opportunity for current students, staff, and alumni to come together and celebrate their time at UCF. Homecoming is one of UCF's oldest traditions, dating back to a mere three years after UCF first opened its doors. UCF held its first Homecoming in 1971 to coincide with the basketball season, which was UCF's first varsity sport. The first “skit knight” was held in 1971, which was known at the time as “Nite of Knights.” This has since become a staple in Homecoming week festivities. In 1975, UCF held its first Homecoming Parade. The parade was moved to downtown Orlando in 1992, but it was relocated back to UCF in 2007 to celebrate UCF's first on-campus football stadium. In 1980, UCF held two Homecomings to celebrate both the basketball and football seasons. Following the celebrations, Homecoming began to align itself with the football season. There was a brief gap in Homecoming from 1972-1974 when UCF put on an event called "Kaleidoscope" in its place. This event shared many of the same activities, but ultimately Homecoming was reinstated.

Another important aspect of UCF's Homecoming week is the Spirit Splash. Spirit Splash is a beloved UCF tradition in which students gather around the fountain in front of the John C. Hitt Library and run into it. UCF also produces rubber ducks to throw into the fountain as a souvenir for the students participating. Spirit Splash takes place on the Friday before the homecoming football game. The origin of Spirit Splash was debated until 2021 when the University Archives did a deep dive in research and confirmed that the first time students were encouraged to jump into the pond was in 1994. It continued in 1995 when the second group of students jumped into the Reflecting Pond before Homecoming. The SGA received funding for the event and renamed it “Spirit Splash” in 1997.

The OSI has also put on programs such as Knight Camp in the past. Knight Camp was a four-day orientation camp that allowed new incoming students to meet each other and learn more about UCF in a camp-like setting. The students were also allowed to move into their housing placements early if they so wished. Knight Camp lasted from 2013-2016.

Acquisition information:
Haley Winston transferred these materials to the University of Central Florida Libraries, Special Collections and University Archives in 2013 (CFU2013_26) and 2016 (CFU2016_12). Shane Juntunen transferred additional materials in 2014 (CFU2014_34). Courtney Buzan transferred additional materials in 2015 (CFU2015_41) and 2016 (CFU2016_52). Eric Smith transferred additional material in 2017 (CFU2017_37) and 2019 (CFU2019_09). Dianne Campbell transferred additional material in 2018 (CFU2018_38). Victoria Weston transferred additional material in 2020 (CFU2020_03). Amanda Dever transferred additional material in 2022 (CFU2022_02). The Office of Student Involvement transferred additional material in 2023 (CFU2023_03) and 2024 (CFU2024_01).
Processing information:

Processing History Collection processed by and finding aid prepared by Trinity Cruz in 2021. Four items within the Miscellaneous Media series relating to Mr. and Miss UCF and CAB (Campus Activities Board) did not warrant their own series due to separate collections already existing. Finding aid updated to reflect additions to the collection by Asmara Cortes-Caba in 2024.

Arrangement:

This collection is arranged in seven series. The first six series are arranged by like-object. Series VI contains miscellaneous media and is arranged by type of media.

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

The entire collection is open for research.

Terms of access:

Unpublished manuscripts are protected by copyright. Permission to publish, quote or reproduce must be secured from the repository and the copyright holder.

Preferred citation:

University of Central Florida Office of Student Involvement Collection, Special Collections and University Archives, University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida.

Location of this collection:
John C. Hitt Library
12701 Pegasus Drive, Building 2
Orlando
FL
32816-8030
USA