Isenberg Info Sessions!

The next Information Sessions for On-Campus students interested in transferring into the Isenberg School of Management are THIS THURSDAY, Feb. 12th! Make sure you attend if you plan on applying to any of the Isenberg majors.

Career Fairs: Why, When, and How?

Many employers use career fairs to promote their job opportunities and to pre-screen applicants. Most of these fairs consist of booths and tables staffed by recruiters and other representatives from each organization. For students, a career fair can be an excellent place to gather information about potential employers, make contacts that could lead to a job, learn more about an employer’s application process, and discover new possibilities.


UMass Amherst Career Services sponsors a number of career fairs throughout the year and several will be happening in the coming weeks. The Diversity Career Fair is February 24th, Career Blast 2015 is February 25th, and the Service & Leadership Career & Internship Fair is March 3rd! Be sure to check out the on-going calendar of events.

Not sure how to proceed? Stop by Career Services on the 5th floor of Goodell during their walk-in hours, Monday-Friday from 12 to 4 p.m. You can also visit Career Services online to see the planning timeline recommended for each year as well.

Weekly Preview: February 9 - 13

The Malcolm X Cultural Center of the Center for Multicultural Advancement and Student Success Center (CMASS) at the University of Massachusetts Amherst invites the campus community and general public to join us in celebrating Black History Month 2015. This year’s events are hosted by the Malcolm X Cultural Center, CMASS, W.E.B. DuBois Department of Afro-American Studies, W. E. B. Du Bois Library, Students of Caribbean Ancestry, Commonwealth Honors College, and the African Student Association.  For more the schedule of event, click here.  

Are you considering a major in the Isenberg School of Management?  Attend an Information Session on Thursday, February 12 at 5:30 pm to learn more about the application, required predictor courses, deadlines and GPA requirements.

• BBA Program: Location Isenberg 108
• Hospitality & Tourism Management: Isenberg 106
• Sport Management: Isenberg 108

Visit the On Campus Transfer Guide for updates and more information.

Advice from Alex: 5 Awesome Academic Resources to Take Advantage of Now

Hey UMass, I hope you are enjoying your first few weeks of Spring 2015! The start of a new semester is often full of excitement, new possibilities, and maybe a few challenges as well. At such a large university, there are countless opportunities available to you; however it can also feel difficult to navigate the ins-and-outs of UMass. Here are a few amazing on-campus resources that will assist you with your academic goals throughout the semester...

1. The Learning Resource Center (LRC) is located on the 10th floor of DuBois Library, and offers FREE peer-supported academic tutoring and supplemental instruction for over 180 courses at UMass. Tutoring support at the LRC is available for individual or small group sessions on a walk-in basis.They also assist students with learning workshops to improve your note-taking, studying, time-management or problem-solving skills. Its important to be proactive about your academic goals, so if you think you might need some additional support, feel free to stop by the Learning Resource Center or visit their webpage for more information.

2. The Writing Center can be found in the Learning Commons within the basement of DuBois Library. At the Writing Center, students can receive one-on-one support with all aspects of the writing process from beginning to end. The Writing Center tutors meet with writers in 45 minute face-to-face or online consultations. If you need help with anything from getting your ideas onto paper to revising your last draft, then check out their website to schedule an appointment with a Writing Center tutor.

3. Also located in the basement of DuBois Library is the  Academic Advising Link, where Peer Advisors like me are ready for anything! These Peer Advisors from Undergraduate Advising can assist you with the course selection process, answer questions about academic requirements, promote major exploration, and much more. Swing by the Academic Advising Link in the library Sunday-Thursday from 4-8pm to have an awesome Peer Advisor assist you.

4. Check out the Tutoring Centers available in the Lederle Graduate Research Tower if you need some assistance with various Math or Stats department courses. These centers are staffed by instructors, graduate TAs, and undergraduate peer TAs who are always happy to provide some assistance and math review. For the most up-to-date information regarding the time and room numbers for each tutoring session, please review the Tutoring Centers website.

5. The DuBois Library offers an Ask a Librarian service to assist students with both understanding the borrowing or inter-library loan process, and locating the materials they need. They can also teach students how to utilize the library equipment, learn to use RefWorks, and more. Students can email, phone, IM, text, or visit the reference desk in the basement of the library within the Learning Commons in order to Ask these Librarians anything. Feel free to visit their website for more information.

One of the best pieces of advice I can offer to any of my fellow students is to always ask questions, and seek out help when you need it. These are just some of the many wonderful resources available to you at UMass--don’t forget that your instructors, teaching assistants, and classmates also serve as support systems for you too! 

I hope my A+ Advice will inspire you to take advantage of these Academic Resources this semester.

Domestic Exchange!

If you're interested in traveling across the country, this is the opportunity for you! Take advantage of the Domestic Exchange Program here at UMass!

Are you interested in studying at another college/university in the country for an academic semester or year? There are OVER 180 colleges and universities in 48 states, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Guam to choose from? Meet new students, take classes at another school, and experience life in another state! Check out the National Student Exchange website to browse all the opportunities: http://nse.org

If you are interested, come to one of our information sessions. They are offered three times a week in 613 Goodell every Wednesday at 4:45 PM and Thursday and Friday at 2:30 PM while classes are in session. Learn more about the different opportunities and great experiences offered through Domestic Exchange.

The  deadline for a Fall 2015/Spring 2016 Exchange is March 1st. Whether you are thinking about going on Exchange next year or sometime in the future, come to an information session soon and learn more about the program.

Don't wait! Start planning your exchange today!

Looking for a summer job in Amherst?

New Students Orientation is starting the search for the 2015 orientation leaders. They are looking for engaged student leaders who are enthusiastic about UMass and excited to share their experience with new students and parents. 

If you're an active member of the UMass community, excited to share your love for UMass with incoming students, and have at least a 3.0 cumulative GPA, you can apply! 

The application and more details about the position are available online at:

www.umass.edu/newstudent/join-nso-team

The application deadline is February 6, 2015.

Add/Drop Ends at 10pm on Monday!

 

You can make changes to your schedule via SPIRE until Monday, February 2, at 10PM.   

After that deadline you can no longer add or drop courses through SPIRE!  Making changes to your schedule will require additional paperwork/permissions.  Double check your schedule on SPIRE and make sure it looks as you expect it should.

Not attending a class doesn't mean you've dropped it!  If you do still need to make adjustments, use the swap and edit functions whenever possible.  And remember, should you decide to add a class at this point, you will be responsible for any work that has been assigned during the first week and a half of classes--plan accordingly! 

You have until the Mid-Semester Date (Thursday, March 5) to change a class to Pass/Fail.  After Add/Drop ends, you'll need to go to the Registrar's Office in Whitmore to fill out a Course Change Request form.  You do get credit for Pass/Fail classes if you pass but they do not fulfill requirements (GenEds, major, minor, certificates, GlobalEds, etc.), so make an appointment to meet with an advisor if you're not sure how this will affect you.

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.  You can also meet with a Peer Advisor in the Academic Advising Link in the Learning Commons of the DuBois Library, Sunday - Thursday from 4pm - 8pm.  No appointment needed and all students in all majors are welcome.  

Weekly Preview: February 2 - February 6

Add/Drop ends at 10:00pm on Monday, February 2!  You will not be able to make any changes to your schedule after this time and must complete a paper process.  Look at your schedule and confirm that it is correct!  Just because you've been going to a class doesn't mean you're enrolled!

Five College Interchange registration ends on Monday, February 2.  Two copies of the completed paperwork must be turned into 613 Goodell before 5:00pm.  Reread our earlier post and if you have questions about this deadline, call 413-545-5352 or email 5collreg@acad.umass.edu.

Are you planning to apply to the Public Health Major?  As of February 2, 2015, all UMass prospective public health major applicants must attend an information session and complete the application to be eligible to apply to the Public Health Sciences major.  If you would like to learn more about the major but are not ready to apply, attend an information session and hand in the application at a later date in the Peer Advising Center in Arnold House, Room 330.

All information sessions will be held in the W.E.B. Du Bois Library Rm 720

• Monday February 2 at 5:30pm
• Tuesday, February 24 at 5:30pm
• Monday, March 30 at 5:30pm
• Friday, April 10 at 3:30pm

Bring an unofficial copy of your transcript and sign up for an information session early: http://bit.ly/1JCUhGc  All UMass prospective public health majors are encouraged to meet with a Public Health peer advisor during drop-in hours before attending an information session.  Click here for the schedule.

Shaylene's Tip of the Week: Get Involved on Campus!

When I first toured UMass, I was intimated by the sheer size of the campus and had doubts about attending a large school. However, I remember my tour guide saying, "You can always make a big school feel smaller, but you can never make a small school feel bigger." That was a big part of what sold me on coming to UMass and it is absolutely true! Make the most out of the campus and take advantages of all the opportunities and activities that are offered. It's a great way to make friends and find hobbies that suit your interests. Here are some tips for getting involved on campus:

1. Check Campus Pulse! 
Campus Pulse is one of the best ways to find cool events on campus, and trust me, there is always something to go to, no matter what day of the week. On the home page of Campus Pulse, there is an event board that lists the upcoming events around campus. Check it out! There is everything from late night movies to UMass Got Talent. Plus, it is always being updated with new events!

2. Look at the UMass Calendar of Events
Similar to Campus Pulse, the UMass Calender of Events lists all of the happenings around campus. Instead of just listing mostly social events, the calendar of events includes art exhibits, sporting events, recitals, and so much more. Take advantage of them! I have attended a number of fantastic lectures, seen some beautiful art exhibits, and have had a great time cheering on UMass at various sports events. I even took a self defense class once and it was one of the coolest events I've gone to here on campus. It is absolutely worth it to scan the events page and see what is happening throughout the month. There are a lot of very interesting people and programs that come to UMass.

3. Join clubs!
I cannot stress this one enough! Joining clubs on campus is one of the best ways to meet and connect with people who share similar interests. If you're looking for a club to join, check out campus pulse! The website has a list of all of the organizations offered on campus and there is certainly something for everyone. Find a club that focuses on what you're interested in or even take a risk and try a new club because the description seemed interesting. It is certainly one of the many ways to get involved with a small community on campus!

4. Attend Floor Events and Events in Your Building
It is easy to see the signs for floor or building events and brush them off, but go to some of them! Your RA or House council is putting on these events specifically for you and they're almost always free! Plus, it's right in your building. It doesn't get much better than that. It's a great way to meet people on your floor or in your building, while attending a fun event!

I can't stress it enough when I say take advantage of all the amazing opportunities offered on campus! It's a great way to get involved, meet new people, and ultimate make the campus feel a lot more like home. Don't wait, get involved today!

Resource Economics Info Sessions this Thursday and Friday!

If you are interested in majoring in Resource Economics, or you want to learn more about the major, you should attend one of these meetings ASAP!

Resource Economics On Campus
Information Sessions

Students must attend an information session and complete the Online Statement of Interest BEFORE being invited to schedule an advising appointment to complete the change of major process. This process assists students in examining whether ResEc is a good fit for them and designing a plan for academic success.

Thursday, January 29th at 4:00 pm
Friday, January 30th at 12:20 pm
Friday, February 27th at 11:15 am
Thursday, April 2nd at 4:00 pm
Friday, April 3rd at 12:20 pm

All sessions will be held in STOCKBRIDGE 303

For information please contact the
ResEc Undergraduate Advising Office:
advising@resecon.umass.edu