Sunday, January 30, 2011

Add/Drop Deadline!


Don't forget!

Add/Drop ends Monday January, 31st at 10PM!

You can make changes to your schedule via SPIRE until then. After that point you can no longer add or drop courses through SPIRE and it will require additional paperwork/permissions to change your schedule.

Don't wait until the last minute to make any necessary adjustments!
And remember, not attending a class doesn't mean you've dropped it! Just to be sure, double check your schedule on Spire before 10PM on Monday to make sure everything looks as you expect it should.

As always, if you have any questions about your schedule, you should see an advisor. Undeclared students can set up an appointment by calling (413) 545-2191.  Undergraduate Advising also has Drop-In hours daily from 10:30-11:30am and 3-4:00pm.

Friday, January 28, 2011

Weekly Preview: January 28 through February 4

We'll be headed into the third week of the semester next week - it's hard to believe!

Here's what you need to pay attention to this next week:

Sunday, January 30. Learning Resource Center opens for the semester. Check the website to find out about your opportunities for (FREE) tutoring or supplemental instruction in certain courses. 10th floor, W.E.B. Du Bois Library.

Monday, January 31. ADD/DROP PERIOD ENDS. This is the last day to add or drop a course for Spring 2011 WITHOUT having a record appear on your transcript.  Click here for more information.

Tuesday, February 1, 7:00 pm. RefWorks Workshop. Learn how to manage your citations and create quick bibliographies for one paper or for your whole career. W.E.B. Du Bois Library, Room 1620.

Wednesday, February 2, 6:00 - 8:30PM. Networking Secrets from an Ex-Wallflower (A Career Connections Program). Do you dread networking and sometimes avoid it despite how critical it is to your career or business goals? Join career and business coach Val Nelson for a workshop where you'll learn the 4 secrets to networking for introverts, develop your own unique networking plan, and come away with relaxed shoulders! Register here in advance; free for current UMass students. Memorial Hall.

Wednesday, February 2, or Thursday, February 3 at 12:00 noon. Australia and New Zealand Study Abroad Info Session. These sessions are an informal chance to get all your questions answered about studying abroad Down Under. Hear about the different University options as well as internships and other experiential learning programs. Note: To Study in New Zealand or Australia in 2011, you MUST attend one of these workshops. Hills South, Room 455 (Education Abroad Advising Center).

Thursday, February 3, 2:30-3:30pm. Public Health Sciences Major Group Advising Session. If you are interested in the major or new to the major, come to a group informational session. Please e-mail Lynn Koerbel, the Program Director, if you'll be attending: lkoerbel@schoolph.umass.edu. 321 Arnold House

Friday, February 4. APPLICATION DEADLINE for Teach for America.

Friday, February 4, 3:30pm. Computer Science First Friday Event. All majors, minors, undeclared students and interested others are cordially invited to attend.

(Ongoing) Through the end of final exams, every Wednesday through Friday at 2:30-3:30 and every Wednesday from 4:45-5:30. Domestic Exchange Information Sessions for Fall 2011 and Spring 2012 Exchanges. Want to spend a semester or year at another college or university in the U.S.? Check out the list of institutions in the National Student Exchange (nse.org) and also to the University of Massachusetts Exchange Schools, which currently include UMass Boston, UMass Dartmouth, and UMass Lowell. Students MUST attend an information session to apply (and will receive applications and all the information necessary to apply). The deadline is March 1st for FALL 2011 AND/OR SPRING 2012. (There is also a Priority Deadline of February 7th. Meeting the priority deadline does increase the chances of a student placement.) 604 Goodell.

(ongoing) BDIC (Bachelors Degree with Individual Concentration) Information Sessions for Spring 2011.
Learn about the most unique major on campus, and receive guidance on how you can design your own major. Information sessions will be held every Monday (3pm), Tuesday (1pm), Wednesday (10am), Thursday (11am), Friday (1pm) in 608 Goodell.

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Teach for America Info Session

Find out about the TEACH FOR AMERICA Program at an
Info Session on Thursday, January 27
at 6pm in Wilder Hall (CMass).

Teach for America accepts applicants from ALL majors and professional experiences,
and they will train you, pay full salary and provide health insurance. 
In addition, your federal student loans will be deferred. 

Even if you're not graduating this year, find out about the program and keep it in mind!

Monday, January 24, 2011

TODAY AND TOMORROW

All undeclared students who entered UMass THIS January:

Remember the CHECK-IN events TODAY (Monday, 1/24) and TOMORROW (Tuesday, 1/25) from 4-5:00pm in the Bernie Dallas Room (5th floor Goodell).

BE THERE!

Want to get into SOM???

Are you interested in getting into any of the Isenberg School of Management majors: BBA track (including these majors: Accounting, Finance, Management, Marketing, and Operations Management), Hospitality and Tourism Management, Sport Management, or Resource Economics?

If so, be aware that there is a process involved, and many of these programs are competitive (e.g. not all students who apply will get in). If you want to pursue a major in one of these fields, it is VERY important that you attend an info session, to learn about the programs and the steps required to get into the majors.

Info sessions for all of these majors will be held this week. If you’re interested in more than one program within ISOM, you should plan to attend both (all) separate information sessions. Do some ‘homework’ ahead of the info sessions, by reading the website information carefully and pulling together any questions you might have.

Here’s the schedule for the info sessions:

Tuesday, Jan 25, 2011

  • BBA Track, Hospitality and Tourism Management, or Sport Management will be held at 5:30 p.m. in ISOM 206
  • Resource Economics information sessions will be held at 11:15am in Stockbridge 217
Wednesday, Jan 26, 2011

  • BBA Track, Hospitality and Tourism Management, or Sport Management will be held at 5:30 p.m. in ISOM 206
  • Resource Economics information sessions will be held at 5:30pm in Stockbridge 217

Friday, January 21, 2011

Weekly Preview: January 21-28

We’re headed into the second week of classes for the spring semester. Check out these events that could make a difference in your academic program:

Monday, January 24 and Tuesday, January 25, 4-5:00pm. Undergraduate Advising Check-In for New Students. All undeclared students who entered UMass in January 2011 should attend one of these Check-In events for basic information about the University. Bernie Dallas Room, 5th floor Goodell.

Monday, January 24, 4-5 pm. Public Health Sciences Major Group Advising Session. If you are interested in the major or new to the major, come to a group informational session. Please e-mail Lynn Koerbel, the Program Director, if you'll be attending: lkoerbel@schoolph.umass.edu. 321 Arnold House

Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday (January 24, 25 and 26), 6-8:00pm. The Boltwood Project Project Recruitment Nights. The BOLTWOOD Project ™ is a community service learning course; interested students MUST attend one of these meetings to sign up/apply. Placements earn graded academic credit, PLUS you get valuable ‘people-skills’ experience. Monday and Tuesday’s programs will be in the Student Union Ballroom; Wednesday’s event is in Hills Central 105.

Monday, January 24, 7:30pm. Basic Math Skills (R1) Exemption Test. The R1 requirement can no longer be satisfied through the Math Placement Exam. Passing the R1 exam (at least 12 out of 20 correct) will satisfy the R1 requirement for graduation but will not result in the awarding of any credits. There are, however, credit courses that will also satisfy the R1 requirement. Bring a #2 pencil, ID, and calculator. 131 Marcus Hall.

Tuesday, January 25 and Wednesday, January 26, 5:30pm. Isenberg School of Management Group Info Sessions for On-Campus Transfer to the BBA, Sport Management, and Hospitality (HTM) Majors. Arrive before 5:30 pm, to be directed to the room where the relevant information session will be held. **If you are interested in more than one of the ISOM majors, plan to attend more than one evening’s info session. Students who wish to apply to the Sport Management major MUST attend a Sport Management info session. 206 ISOM Building.

Tuesday, January 25 at 11:15am and Wednesday, January 26 at 5:30pm. Isenberg School of Management Resource Economics Information Sessions. Come hear about the options within Resource Economics and the steps you must follow to declare the major by the April 15 deadline in order to register for Fall 2011 courses as a major. For more information, go to http://www.umass.edu/resec/undergraduate/ and click on the “So You Want To Be a Resource Economics Major?”. Stockbridge 217.

Coming soon . . . Monday, January 31. ADD/DROP Period ENDS.

(Ongoing)  Every Wednesday through Friday at 2:30-3:30 and every Wednesday from 4:45-5:30. Domestic Exchange Information Sessions for Fall 2011 and Spring 2012 Exchanges. Want to spend a semester or year at another college or university in the U.S.? Check out the list of institutions in the National Student Exchange (nse.org) and also to the University of Massachusetts Exchange Schools, which currently include UMass Boston, UMass Dartmouth, and UMass Lowell. Students MUST attend an information session to apply (and will receive applications and all the information necessary to apply). The deadline is March 1st for FALL 2011 AND/OR SPRING 2012. (There is also a Priority Deadline of February 7th. Meeting the priority deadline does increase the chances of a student placement.) 604 Goodell.

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

FOREIGN LANGUAGE TESTS POSTPONED

The Foreign Language exams scheduled for today (1/18) are postponed due to the bad weather.

The exams will be offered TOMORROW, Wednesday, at 1:30pm in CC rm 162.
The results from last week's exams, as well as tomorrow's exam, will be available Thursday after 12noon.

Monday, January 17, 2011

Finalize Your Schedule

Still working on finalizing your schedule? Here are some general points to bear in mind:


1) You need to enroll in at least 12 credits to qualify as a full-time student. You will need to average 15 EARNED credits per semester to graduate in four years.

2) While Add/Drop lasts for two weeks, don’t count on adding a new class the last day of Add/Drop when you haven’t been attending and doing the work all along. Attending a class that you cannot enroll in (because it is full) is a good strategy . . . just make sure you’re also attending and keeping up with at least 12 credits of courses that you KNOW you are safely enrolled in.

3) Speaking with an instructor – face to face – will often net you the best results, when trying to get into a closed class. Attend the class, and then go up after class to introduce yourself and to say why it’s important for you to get into that class.

4)  See your advisor with any questions or concerns you have about your schedule - and don't wait until the end of Add/Drop!

If you’re a first year student (and especially if you’re starting at UMass this semester), you should check out the seminars that are designed specifically for you, and that will get you into a small class where you’ll get to know your classmates and your faculty. Here are some options:

  • The OASIS First-Year Seminar (UNIV-125) is designed specifically for students entering UMass without a declared major. In addition to all the traditional topics found in many first-year seminars, OASIS has a strong emphasis on exploring majors.  Your class will be taught by your advisor. 
  • Faculty First-Year Seminars (FFYS - see courses that begin with UNIV 197) are a fantastic way for incoming students to connect with faculty and engage in a topic they are passionate about. Check out "Media, Fashion, Culture, and Style," "Brazil for Beginners," "Parasites and People: The Good, the Bad, the Yucky" or any of the other fascinating seminars that offer direct access to UMass Amherst's distinguished faculty and the passion they bring to the classroom and their research.
And, not just for first year students - this spring you can get in on the initial offering of UNIV 190P: Investigating Higher Education! In this 3-credit course, you will be part of a small class, engage in a personal research project, and have an opportunity to present your work. The topic of the class will focus on issues of access to and success in higher education.

Friday, January 14, 2011

Weekly Preview: January 14 to 21

Spring Semester 2011 - Welcome back!  Here's what's happening the first week of the semester:

Monday, January 17. Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday.

Tuesday, Jan 18 – First Day of Classes for Spring 2011 semester.

Tuesday, January 18, 1:30pm. Foreign Language Tests in Spanish, French, Latin and German. 162 Campus Center.

Tuesday, January 18, 6:00pm. Writing Placement & Exemption Test. Any student who has not previously taken this test MUST do so before s/he can enroll in ENG WRIT 112 College Writing. Bartlett 310.

(Ongoing)  Every Wednesday through Friday at 2:30-3:30 and every Wednesday from 4:45-5:30. Domestic Exchange Information Sessions for Fall 2011 and Spring 2012 Exchanges. Want to spend a semester or year at another college or university in the U.S.? Check out the list of institutions in the National Student Exchange (nse.org) and also to the University of Massachusetts Exchange Schools, which currently include UMass Boston, UMass Dartmouth, and UMass Lowell. Students MUST attend an information session to apply (and will receive applications and all the information necessary to apply). The deadline is March 1st for FALL 2011 AND/OR SPRING 2012. (There is also a Priority Deadline of February 7th. Meeting the priority deadline does increase the chances of a student placement.) 615 Goodell.
(Ongoing)  Spring Session Registration. Register now for Continuing and Professional Education's Spring Session. Classes run Jan 18 - May 3. For more information, visit www.umassulearn.net and/or SPIRE.