What’s Happening, Week of 9/27-10/2

As we approach the start of October, we’re approximately one quarter of the way through the fall semester! As you start to hit due dates for assignments, papers and tests, make sure you know about the resources available to you. Check out these services:

• 9/27 The Learning Resource Center will open for business. Check out the website, or even better, stop by the 10^th floor of the W.E.B. DuBois Library. LRC offers both tutoring and supplemental instruction in specific courses.
• Also, the Writing Center opened for the semester on September 15^th. Located in the northwest corner of the Learning Commons in the W.E.B. DuBois Library, you can register with them and set up an appointment to work with one of their tutors.
• 10/1, 9:30-10:45 RefWorks Workshop. Did you miss the RefWorks Workshop last week? Here’s another chance to find out how you can make your research life MUCH better!

So you'd like to be a Psychology major update...

As of October 1, 2009, students who would like to declare the Psychology major must either be currently registered in a course that fulfills the R1 gen ed requirement or have completed their R1 gen ed BEFORE they can declare the major. The R1 can be fulfilled by taking an appropriate course(s) or passing the R1 exemption test. For more information regarding the Psychology department and psych major requirements please visit the Psychology department, located in 501 Tobin Hall, to meet with an advisor during the following hours:

Mondays 11:30-3:30

   Tuesdays 2:00-5:00 

 Thursdays 2:00-5:00

You should bring a copy of your unofficial transcript (printed from Spire ) with you.  If you need help printing your transcript, click here.

Public Health & Health Sciences Career & Internship Fair

When:  Thursday, September 24, 2009 • 10:00 am – 2:00 pm
Where:  Campus Center Auditorium


For undergraduate and graduate students. Learn about careers and internships in public health and network with public health professionals. Over 25 health organizations from Western Massachusetts will be attending!

For Further details please visit the School of Public Health and Health Sciences here.

How to Declare a Major

All UMass majors are either restricted or open. Restricted majors have certain requirements you must fulfill before you can declare. These requirements may be pre-requisite courses, minimum GPAs, personal essays, or attending an information session. In some cases you may need all of these things compiled into an application that will be reviewed by that department to determine if you meet their qualifications. It is important to keep in mind that if you are considering a restricted major, you should also have an alternate or two in mind!

Open majors do not have specific requirements that need to be completed before you can declare, although some departments may only allow you to declare during certain times of the year. Undeclared students who are ready to declare an open major should:

• Obtain a Change of Major form from the Registrar's Office (213 Whitmore) or from Undergraduate Advising
  
• Have the form signed by someone from the department/major you are declaring
• Bring the signed form to Undergraduate Advising to be signed out of Undeclared
  

Sound confusing? The best way to determine whether a major is restricted, open, or open with certain declaration periods is to check the department website, meet with an advisor, and stay tuned to this blog!

**ADD/DROP ENDS TONIGHT!!!**

ADD/DROP ENDS TODAY AT 10PM!!

IF YOU STILL NEED TO SWAP/DROP/ADD COURSES, YOU MUST DO SO BEFORE THEN!!
AND REMEMBER--ACADEMIC DEPARTMENTS GENERALLY CLOSE AT 5PM. IF YOU NEED DEPARTMENT CONSENT TO ADD A CLASS, YOUR DEADLINE IS EVEN CLOSER!

IF YOU DON'T DROP A CLASS BEFORE ADD/DROP ENDS, YOU'LL HAVE TO DROP WITH A 'W.'

RefWorks Citation Management Workshop

This workshop covers basic skills such as how to access RefWorks, search catalogs, import references from library databases, retrieve and manage citations, and create bibliographies according to various citation styles (e.g., MLA or APA).

Du Bois Library - Calipari Room, ground floor
Mon. 9/21 2:30-3:45

Click here for more info and other Fall workshop dates!

Sneak Preview – the Week of 9/21-25

The Undergraduate Advising Blog is the place to find need-to-know information about your academic program at UMass! For quick reference, here’s what you may want to think about for the coming week:

September 21, 10 pm – Add/Drop deadline . Last date to add or drop courses without them appearing on your transcript. You must have 12 credits to be fulltime. Remember: most offices at UMass close at 5pm, so if you need a signature or advice, plan ahead!

September 21 2:30-3:45 pm. RefWorks Workshop, Calipari Room, W.E.B.DuBois Library – learn to manage your research at UMass.

September 21, 12:15-1:15 or September 22, from 5-6pm. Information Session about the Resource Economics major at UMass. Stockbridge Hall Room 122. For further information, email advising@resecon.umass.edu .

September 23 , 5:00-6:00. Seminar for Biology/Life Sciences majors (or people interested in being Bio or related majors). Morrill 2 room 131, The focus of this session will primarily be on majors in the life sciences, with a quick run through of university resources.

Add/Drop ends Monday, September 21st at 10PM

This is a reminder that add/drop ends on Monday 9/21 at 10PM. You can make changes to your schedule via SPIRE until then. Some professors/instructors are requiring that you seek department consent prior to adding a course--that means you must visit them either during the actual class or during their office hours. If this is the case, you must do so prior to the end of add/drop in order to make the changes to your schedule. Don't wait until the last minute!

And remember, not attending a class doesn't mean you've dropped it! If you intend on dropping a course, be sure to drop it before the deadline via SPIRE--you can fail the class if you don't attend.

If you want to discuss matters regarding add/drop, call 545-2191 and make an appointment to see an advisor by Monday .

Bio Seminar Series

- How to be a biology major!
as well as 
- PreMed/PreDent will be discussed.



When: Wed. Sept. 16th from 5 pm - 6 pm


Where: Morrill Science Center 131

SOM Info Sessions--Things To Know Before You Go

There will be two upcoming information sessions on September 16th and 17th for current students who are interested in applying to the Isenberg School of Management. Both info sessions are in ISOM 206 at 5:30 PM.

Here are some tips to keep in mind if you plan on attending:

1) Get there early! To avoid fighting for a seat or worse, interrupting the session, be sure to get there approximately TEN MINUTES PRIOR to the start time. Treat it like a job interview and be professional--you don't have to wear your Sunday best, but you do want to make a good impression!

2) Know which session to attend!  Upon arriving, they will direct you to different rooms based on your interests, i.e., BBA, Sports Management, or HTM. Make sure you're in the right place! If you have multiple interests in SOM (both BBA and Sports Management, for example), you should attend an info session for BOTH programs. 
 Remember! Sports Management requires attendance at one of their info sessions before you can take a Sports Management course!

3) Be informed! Read their website and be familiar with the program you are interested in--as well as procedures for applying. You can find information on applying here. **Note that the current application for Spring admission has not yet been posted**

4) Have an Alternate Major in mind!  Remember that you will be required to apply in order to gain admission--and that applications, by nature, can be rejected. So it's always a good idea to have an alternate major in mind just in case. For more information on suitable alternates, you can call 545-2191 and make an appointment to see an advisor in our office.

Good luck! Should you be unable to attend the upcoming info sessions, there will be two more offered in November.