Basic Math Skills (R1) Exemption Test TONIGHT!

The Basic Math Skills (R1) Exemption Test is tonight (Monday, September 10) at 6:30pm in Marcus 131.

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.

A student ID and a #2 pencil are required. A calculator is recommended. There is no limit on the number of times a student may take this test. The focus of this exam is to measure knowledge of basic math skills. Topics include:

• perimeter, area, volume
• linear equations
• averages
• fractions
• ratios
• percent increase and decrease
• interpreting graphs and tables
• compound interest

Results will be posted within four class days of giving the exam.

Boltwood Project Recruitment Nights

The BOLTWOOD Project™ is a community service learning course offered by the Landscape Architecture and Regional Planning Department.

The BOLTWOOD Project™ is a community outreach program consisting of about fifteen groups working primarily with individuals who are mentally or physically challenged, in the greater Amherst, Northampton, Turners Falls, and South Hadley communities.

To sign up/apply for this Community Service program, interested students must attend a recruitment night meeting on September 10, 11, or 12 from 6:00pm - 8:00 pm in the Campus Center Auditorium.

Stop by to learn more about the BOLTWOOD Project™ and see if it's right for you!

NOTE: Placements earn graded academic credit.

Weekly Preview: September 10 - 14

There will be a Basic Math Skills (R1) Exemption Test on Monday, September 10 at 6:30 in Marcus 131. Bring a #2 pencil, ID, and a calculator. The next test will be held on October 29.

The Math 127 - 128 Help Center will open for the semester on Monday, September 10.  Stop by LGRT 110 Monday through Thursday from 3:00 - 8:00pm to get help with your classes.  The Calculus Tutoring Center, located in LGRT 110, is a resource for students taking Math 131, Math 132 and Math 233. The Center is staffed by instructors and TAs on Monday through Thursday from 10:00am to 3:00pm. 

RefWorks: What is it and how do I use it?  Attending a RefWorks workshop will teach you how to manage your citations and create automatic bibliographies.  Click to register for an upcoming session!  The first workshop of the semester will be held on Tuesday, September 11 from 11:00am - 12:00pm in the W.E.B. Du Bois Library, Room 1620. 

TRANSFERmations will continue their programming for incoming transfer students with First Things First: Starting Off Right at UMass.  Stop by and find out details on the process of procuring a job and getting involved on campus.  Sessions will be held on Monday, September 10 from 3:00pm - 4:00pm and again on Tuesday, September 11 from 12:00pm - 1:00pm in the Student Union Room 314.

On Wednesday, September 12 from 4:00pm - 6:00pm in New Africa House, join the Center for Women and Community (CWC), formerly known as the Everywoman’s Center, for an open house -- the first event of our 40th Anniversary celebrations.  Come meet our staff, learn about our programs and services, and find out how to get involved in our organization.  For more information visit their website or call (413) 545-0883.

Isenberg Information Sessions for the BBA, Hospitality and Tourism Management, and Sport Management majors will be on Wednesday, September 12 and Thursday, September 13 at 5:30pm in Isenberg 206.  If you are interested in applying for these majors, you should plan on attending a session.  We'll post more on how to prepare for these sessions soon. 

Resource Economics will have their Information Sessions on Wednesday, September 12 at 12:20pm and Thursday, September 13 at 5:30pm in Stockbridge 208.  Students who are interested in the major should visit their site to learn more.  You must attend a session and complete the Online Statement of Interest before you can schedule an advising appointment to complete your change of major.  Statements of Interest are due by November 30 for students who want to declare for the Spring.

The Academic Advising Link is Open!

Day three of the semester is here. You've gone to classes.  You've looked at your syllabi.  You have questions.

Are you trying to change a class to Pass/Fail? Edit a discussion? Swap into a different class? Read your ARR? Search for GenEds?

Are you trying to do this on your own but having problems with SPIRE or you're just not sure where to start?

Come to the Academic Advising Link!

Our experienced and trained Peer Advisors will help you with SPIRE. They'll talk to you about major requirements, GenEds, grading options and more. You don't need to make an appointment - just stop by!

The Link is open Sunday through Thursday from 4:00pm - 8:00pm.  We are located downstairs in the Learning Commons in the DuBois Library.

Don't wait until the day before Add/Drop ends! Meet with a Peer Advisor now!

Undeclared, but interested in Engineering?

If you're Undeclared, but interested in Engineering, don't miss the ENGINEERING INFORMATION SESSION,

this Thursday (9/6/12) 

from 4-5:00pm in 604 Goodell. 

Note: if you're in the Focus STEM RAP, you don't need to go - Engineering advisors will visit your seminars this week.   

Make sure you're taking the courses you'll need to try to get into the Engineering major and be on track to graduate on time . . . .

Computer Science First Friday Event

Open to students in all majors!

On Friday, September 7 in the Computer Science Building, Room 151, join the Computer Science department for their start of the semester welcome event.

If you're interested in majoring in Computer Science, stop by to meet department members as well as students in the major.

Computer Science holds events the first Friday of the month.  Visit their website for updates.

While you there, read more about why students choose to major in Computer Science.

OASIS seminars

Are you interested in taking an OASIS seminar (UNIV 125 - click here for more information), but they all look full on SPIRE?

Here's the scoop: we will go up to (but not over) 20 students in each section.  If you are unable to enroll, but it looks as if there might still be a seat available, email undergradadvising@acad.umass.edu with your name, 8-digit ID number, and the section of OASIS you'd like to join.  NOTE: make sure you get to the first class meeting!  If you did not attend the first class meeting, you will need to meet with the instructor/advisor before you can join the class.

Cultural Connection:Sustaining Voices Across Diaspora

The Cultural Enrichment office within the Center for Multicultural Advancement and Student Success (CMASS) will host the 4th Annual Cultural Connections Showcase on Thursday September 6th, 2012 in Camps Center Auditorium from 6:00pm to 10:00pm.  

This annual First Week event is a collaborative effort between current students, staff and alumni to highlight and support cultural diversity through student artistic venues (art work, poetry, spoken word, song, and dance). The event is free and open to the campus and general public as a celebration of our campus cultural plurality and as a means of welcoming new students to campus.

The Center for Multicultural Advancement & Student Success provides academic support, cultural enrichment, student development as well as support for institutional diversity on the University of Massachusetts Amherst campus.

Whether you're looking for peer mentoring, social connection, exposure to national student leadership conferences, help navigating offices of the Bursar, Registrar or Financial Aid, or more - the office is here to ensure that you have the resources to thrive in an inclusive and multicultural environment during your time at the university.

Feel free to visit their central office or any of their cultural centers that help extend your learning beyond the classroom.

Join their mailing list to keep up-to-date with what is happening at CMASS and learn more about multicultural affairs in the UMass Amherst community!

Writing Placement Test TONIGHT!

The Writing Placement Test will be held tonight at 6:00pm in Bartlett Hall Room 206. If you didn't take it during NSO (and haven't yet) and you do not have credit for College Writing, you should take this test! Contact the University Writing Program in Bartlett 305 and read up on it here.

Foreign Language Exemption Tests

Foreign Language Exemption Tests will be given on Sunday and Monday: 

German, Latin and Spanish: Sunday, September 2 at 4:00pm or Monday, September 3 at 3:00pm in Room 163 Campus Center.

French: Sunday, September 2 at 4:00pm or Monday, September 3 at 3:00p in the Calipari Room, W E B DuBois Library.