DEADLINE to submit an application to ISOM is WEDNESDAY!

Students who are completing the required predictor courses for majors in Isenberg including the BBA program, HTM, and Sport Management must submit an application by 5 PM December 1st (that's WEDNESDAY)!  All applications are online on the ISOM Undergraduate website.  If you miss this deadline you will not be able to apply again until May.  More information about these programs can be found here.

Weekly Preview: November 29 through December 6

Hope you had a great Thanksgiving break!  Fasten your seatbelt . . . it'll be a wild ride from now until the end of the semester.  Practice your BEST time management skills, utilize all of the resources available to you, and keep it all in perspective. 

Here's what's happening the week you return after Thanksgiving:

Monday, November 29 – Classes resume after Thanksgiving break.

Friday, December 3, 9:00 am – 5:30 pm. Comparative Literature Junior Year Writing Conference. Look what they’ve done! Comparative Literature is proud to present this year's Junior Year Writing Conference, made up of presentations by this year's Junior Year Writing class, in panels chaired by the program's graduate students. Each year we acknowledge the hard work put in by our students and join them for a day of papers on topics of their choice. We welcome visitors from other areas of campus to enjoy these papers and support our students. Herter 601.

Tuesday, December 1 at 5:00pm. APPLICATION DEADLINE for On-Campus Transfer into Isenberg School of Management B.B.A., Sport Management, and Hospitality and Tourism Management programs. Applications and instructions are available online here. The next time that ISOM will make applications available will be April 1 for the May 1 deadline.

Friday, December 3, 10:00 – 12:00 pm. Open House for Prospective Graduate Students Interested in Public Health. Think you might consider graduate school after finishing your undergraduate degree? Plan ahead! Come meet Public Health faculty, staff and students from Biostatistics, Epidemiology, Environmental Health Sciences, Community Health Education, and Health Policy and Management. Learn about the admissions process, financial aid opportunities, and our curriculum. Campus Center 904-08.

Friday, December 3, 3:30-5:00pm. Computer Science First Friday Event: "Working at a Startup."  Prof. Mark Corner. First Friday Events are for all Computer Science Majors, Minors, and other interested students. 151 Computer Science Building.

Monday, December 6, 6:30pm. R1 (Tier 1) Basic Math Skills Exemption Test. 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. Click here for more information.  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. See website for details on topics covered by the test. Marcus 131.


Monday, December 6, 7-8:30pm.  Residence Life SOM Fair.  Whether you're in Isenberg School of Management or not, you can join a number of RSOs (student organizations) that relate to various business majors.  Come to this fair to learn more about: Association for Diversity in Sports, Association for Latino Professionals in Finance and Accounting, Food and beverages Management Association, Isenberg Honors Council, Marketing Club, Meeting and Event Managers Association, Resource Economics Society, and the Women in Business Society.  Build your resume!  Melville Residence Hall Classroom, Room 112.

(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) For the Fall 2010 semester, BDIC will be holding information sessions every Tuesday at 11am and Friday at 2pm. BDIC Information Sessions. Cannot find exactly what you are looking for in a major on campus? Attend a BDIC information session to learn about designing your own interdisciplinary major. 608 Goodell.

(Ongoing) Field Experience Co-op and Internship Info Session. Join Career Services/Field Experience for an information session on co-ops and internships. Learn how to find them, what they can do for your career, and when you should start your search. These sessions are held every Monday from 5-6pm and every Tuesday from 12:45pm-1:15pm in 508 Goodell.

(Ongoing) Monday, October 25- Monday, January 3. Winter Session Registration, through Continuing & Professional Education. Registration is now open for UMass Amherst Winter Session. Online classes start December 20. Face-to-face classes start January 2. Speak with an advisor and/or the Financial Aid Office to understand how these courses work in your academic program. For more information visit www.umassulearn.net and/or SPIRE.

Thanksgiving: It's a Networking Opportunity!


Whether you're thinking about a summer job, an internship, or a job after graduation, it's clear that networking can make a difference in landing the position you want.

While you're home for Thanksgiving and seeing people you don't ordinarily see, pay attention to what people are doing and whether they could help you learn about a type of work, secure a spot, or if they can put you in contact with someone else who could. Work Your Contacts!

Follow this link for some tips on career networking for college students, where they say that "approximately 70-75 % of most jobs are found through networking."

Tip of the Week with Jess and Matt (#10)

Hola. Bonjour. What’s poppin’? So before Jess and I head on off home (yes, we do have lives) for some turkey, friends, and family, we wanted to let you folks know about another course idea to keep in mind. This time we present to you….


First Year Seminars!!!



For the spring semester, UMass is offering several 1 credit pass/fail seminars. Faculty First Year Seminars offer a small classroom environment (less than 30 students) where you can discuss unique topics of interest and develop a relationship with a faculty member. If you’re an undeclared student and want to learn more about majors and campus resources, then check out the OASIS seminar sections offered by Undergraduate Advising. All of these seminars can be found on Spire by searching “UNIV” and “begins with” 197. These are a great option if you’re looking for an extra credit, and because they meet once a week, they’re so easy to add to your schedule!

So as we leave you for this upcoming holiday, remember that it is a time for family, friends, and getting up at 3 the next morning for Black Friday. So long!

FINAL EXAMS . . . coming soon

OK - so we're not quite at exam week yet, but it will come up on us VERY quickly. 
Here's what you need to do right now, to make sure you're all ready.

Check SPIRE, under the Student Center tab, to find out when and where your final exams will be held. Look carefully to see if you have:

• two exams scheduled at the same time, OR
• three exams scheduled on the same day.

If that is the case, TAKE ACTION NOW!   Print your final exam schedule from SPIRE and take it to the Registrar's Office (in Whitmore 213) so they can figure out how to reschedule them for you.  You can click here for more information from the Registrar's Office about final exams.

Note: It's not your responsibility, as a student, to approach faculty to ask for an exam to be rescheduled.  However, you need to contact the Registrar's Office at least TWO WEEKS prior to the exams in question to ensure that they will get rescheduled. 

As most returning students will tell you, once you get back to campus after Thanksgiving, it's basically a mad rush to the end of the semester.  Taking care of business NOW will put you in a better position to do your best.  Stay tuned to the Blog for more tips on how to navigate the end of the semester.

Student Panel on Study Abroad or Domestic Exchange

UMass Amherst offers you a HUGE number of opportunities that can augment your academic experience.  Not only would these experiences broaden your perspective and give you the challenge and excitement of trying something new -  they would be very appealing to prospective employers and/or grad schools.

This Thursday (November 18), from 4-5:00pm, you'll have an opportunity to hear from students who have chosen to spend a semester or two AWAY from UMass Amherst.  These students have studied abroad (through the International Programs Office) or at another institution in one of 48 states of the US or Puerto Rico or the US Virgin Islands (through the Domestic Exchange Program). 

You will also have an opportunity to hear briefly from staff from the programs.  They will give you basic information about how to PLAN AHEAD to make sure such an experience will fit into your academic program at UMass.

Come to Goodell 604, and learn about how to broaden your horizons!

Weekly Preview: November 12 to 24

OK - so this week's "weekly" preview contains info for more than a week.  We have info on all of the days leading up to the Thanksgiving break.  It's hard to believe we're already pushing Thanksgiving . . . which will be followed shortly by the end of the semester!  If there was ever a time for good time management and study strategies, this is it.

Here's what's happening on campus.  Pay close attention if you're interested in any of the majors in ISOM - you have info sessions and deadlines approaching!

Friday, November 12, 2:00-2:45pm. OR Wednesday, November 17, 4:30 5:15pm. Public Health Group Advising Session for those interested in learning more about the Public Health major. Please contact Lynn Koerbel at lkoerbel@schoolph.umass.edu so she will know how many will attend. Arnold House 321.

Monday, November 15, 5 – 7:00 pm. Legal Issues Forum for International Students. GEO and the International Students' Caucus Presents an informative open discussion addressing several legal issues and concerns you may have as an international student. Guest speakers include: Dan Berger, Esquire; Bernadette Stark, Esquire; Nancy Condon, IPO; Officer Mark Whelihan, UMPD. Campus Center, 168C.

Tuesday, November 16, 5-6:30pm. Department of History Alumni Career Night. What can you do with a History degree? Come hear all about it! Several former UMass History undergrads will return to campus to share their experience working in a variety of fields including journalism, nonprofit advocacy, labor relations, home inspection services and more. Herter 601.

Tuesday, November 16 and Wednesday, November 17, 5:30 p.m. Isenberg School of Management Group Information / Orientation Sessions for BBA, Sport Management and Hospitality Majors. Want to apply to get into ISOM? It’s highly recommended that you attend required that you attend. The deadline for fall applications for the BBA, HTM, and Sport Management programs is DECEMBER 1st. Applications and more information can be found here. ISOM 206.

Tuesday, Nov 16, 2010 at 12:30pm and Thursday, Nov 18, 2010 at 5:30pm. Resource Economics Information Session. Attend an information session to learn more about the four options within the Resource Economics major: Managerial Economics in Food and Resource Industries; Consumer and Family Economics; Food Marketing Economics; and Natural Resource Economics. NOTE: Isenberg School of Management’s Resource Economics Department requires an online statement of interest (deadline November 21st), as well as an advising meeting, prior to admission to the Resource Economics major. Stockbridge 217.

Wednesday, November 17, 6-7:00pm. Writing Placement Test 2010. Any student who has not previously taken this test must do so before s/he can enroll in ENGLWRIT112 College Writing. Registration for the test is not needed.

Wednesday, November 17. DEADLINE for applications to be submitted for Curricular Alternative Spring Break with Grassroots Community Development. Interested in an Alternative Spring Break – doing some community service? Consider taking this 5-credit honors course, Grassroots Community Development (Anthropology 397H). Each spring the class studies grassroots development and organizing through examining ways that communities use local knowledge and other local assets to combat poverty and political disenfranchisement. During spring break, the class travels to communities to work side by side with members of a grassroots organization. UACT (UMass Alliance for Community Transformation) is accepting applications for Spring 2011. For more information or to download a copy of the application, go to their website.

Thursday, November 18, 4-5:00pm.  Student Panel on Exchange Programs.  Do you want to think about studying away from UMass - on study abroad, Domestic Exchange, or even through the 5-College Interchange program?  Come hear from students who went somewhere else for a semester.  Even if you might not want to do this for a year or more, find out about it early, so you have everything lined up!  Goodell 604.

Sunday, November 21. DEADLINE for Resource Economics Statement of Interest for Major Transfer. Students who submit this form after November 21st will only be accommodated on a space-available basis. Although they will still be able to declare the major, they may be delayed in gaining admission to the courses they need to complete their degree in a timely manner.

(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) Monday, October 25- Monday, January 3. Winter Session Registration, through Continuing & Professional Education. Registration is now open for UMass Amherst Winter Session. Online classes start December 20. Face-to-face classes start January 2. Speak with an advisor and/or the Financial Aid Office to understand how these courses work in your academic program. For more information visit www.umassulearn.net and/or SPIRE.

(Ongoing) For the Fall 2010 semester, BDIC will be holding information sessions every Tuesday at 11am and Friday at 2pm. BDIC Information Sessions. Cannot find exactly what you are looking for in a major on campus? Attend a BDIC information session to learn about designing your own interdisciplinary major. 608 Goodell.

Wednesday is THURSDAY

Remember . . .

Wednesday, November 10 will follow a THURSDAY class schedule.

Thursday is a HOLIDAY, for Veterans Day.

Find a moment to thank a vet . . .

Tip of the Week with Jess and Matt (#9)

Howdy folks, you guessed it once again, another Tip of the Week with Jess and Matt. Jess - I told you this was one of the smartest classes coming in! Any who, we wanted to let all you smarty pants know about even more knowledge you can acquire by simply trying out a….

Five College Interchange Course



So we know you guys have all been feverishly looking through SPIRE for classes and what not, but you could consider a five college course. Classes at Amherst, Mt. Holyoke, Hampshire, and Smith are up for grabs. AND the PVTA bus system can take you to all of them. Snazzy stuff, huh? You can find more information and FAQ’s here, and a catalog of eligible courses at the Five College website. Even if you can’t fit one into your schedule now, keep it in mind; this is a great opportunity! The best part is, you can take these classes at no extra cost! You are, however, limited to eight credits per semester at any one college, and make sure that you are in good standing at the university and are enrolled in at least one three credit UMass course.


So as Jess said, go explore the Pioneer Valley!

Weekly Preview: November 5-12

It will be another busy week coming up . . . even with the holiday on Thursday.  Heads up!

Friday, November 5, 3:30pm. Computer Science First Friday Event & Registration Counseling Meeting. Interested undeclared students or other prospective majors are cordially invited to attend this meeting so they are on-track! Computer Science Building, Room 151.

Monday, November 8, 9:00 am – 10:30 am. Warriors' Breakfast. This breakfast, celebrating alumni veterans for veterans, is sponsored by the Veteran Services Office. Military alumni and staff, faculty and students are invited to attend. Memorial Hall.

Tuesday, November 9, 3:30-4:15 pm. Public Health Group Advising Session for those interested in learning more about the Public Health major. Please contact Lynn Koerbel at lkoerbel@schoolph.umass.edu so she will know how many will attend. Arnold House 321.

Tuesday, November 9, 11:00 am – 2:00 pm. Disability Services and Veterans Services Open House. October is National Disability Awareness Month. Disability Services, in conjunction with the Office of Veteran Services, will be holding an open house to reaffirm our connections to the campus community and to celebrate our newly renovated offices. All members of the campus community are invited to come and visit our offices and speak with our staff. Whitmore, 161 and 233.

Tuesday, November 9, 5:30 pm. Campus to Career Program: Alumni 2.0. What happens after I graduate??? The Student Alumni Association (SAA) and the UMass Amherst Alumni Association are proud to present the Campus to Career program, Alumni 2.0, a panel discussion that gives students a glimpse of where their UMass Amherst education and experiences can take them.
Alumni panelists include (panelists are subject to change):
     - Amanda Baldi '08, Comparative Literature and English; Executive Assistant at Vecna Technologies in Cambridge, MA
     - Christopher Collins '02, English; Instructional Designer at the Research Foundation of SUNY in Albany, NY
     - Gillian Gallagher '05, Linguistics; Visiting Assistant Professor at New York University's Department of Linguistics in New York, NY
     - Sara Garber '08, Art History; Planning Marketing Coordinator for Goody Clancy in Boston, MA
     - Christina Knowles '05, Women, Gender, Sexuality Studies and English; State Director for the National Organization of Women in Boston, MA
Seating is limited. Please register at the event website. Memorial Hall.

Wednesday, November 10. FOLLOW THURSDAY CLASS SCHEDULE.

Wednesday, November 10, 4:00 – 6:00 pm. Veterans' Day Ceremony, followed by a ROTC vigil. The UMass Army and Air Force ROTC will conduct a ceremony to honor Veterans. The ceremony will include a guest speaker, wreath-laying ceremony, a 21-gun salute, and educational information on the meaning of Veterans' Day. The ceremony will be followed by a short reception sponsored by the campus Veterans' Center. Memorial Hall.

Wednesday, November 10, 5:30 pm. Scholarship Information Night. Sophomores and juniors are invited to learn how to apply for merit-based scholarships, such as Rhodes, Leaders in the Making, Fulbright, Life Member Scholarship for Internships and many more. There are over $500,000 in scholarships available each year. Advance registration is required, as seating is limited to the first 100 students. Walk-ins will only be accommodated if there is space and will be on a first-come, first-served basis. Register at the event website by Tuesday, November 9, 2010. Memorial Hall.

Thursday, November 11. VETERANS DAY HOLIDAY.

Friday, November 12, 2:00-2:45pm. Public Health Group Advising Session for those interested in learning more about the Public Health major. Please contact Lynn Koerbel at lkoerbel@schoolph.umass.edu so she will know how many will attend. Arnold House 321.

(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) Monday, October 25- Monday, January 3. Winter Session Registration, through Continuing & Professional Education. Registration is now open for UMass Amherst Winter Session. Online classes start December 20. Face-to-face classes start January 2. Speak with an advisor and/or the Financial Aid Office to understand how these courses work in your academic program. For more information visit www.umassulearn.net and/or SPIRE.

(Ongoing) For the Fall 2010 semester, BDIC will be holding information sessions every Tuesday at 11am and Friday at 2pm. BDIC Information Sessions. Cannot find exactly what you are looking for in a major on campus? Attend a BDIC information session to learn about designing your own interdisciplinary major. 608 Goodell.

(Ongoing) Tuesday, October 19 – Wednesday, November 17. Applications can be submitted for Curricular Alternative Spring Break with Grassroots Community Development. Interested in an Alternative Spring Break – doing some community service? Consider taking this 5-credit honors course, Grassroots Community Development (Anthropology 397H). Each spring the class studies grassroots development and organizing through examining ways that communities use local knowledge and other local assets to combat poverty and political disenfranchisement. During spring break, the class travels to communities to work side by side with members of a grassroots organization. UACT (UMass Alliance for Community Transformation) is accepting applications for Spring 2011. For more information or to download a copy of the application, go to their website.

Computer Science First Friday Event - Spring 11 Advising!

Interested undeclared students or other prospective majors are cordially invited to attend this meeting in order to get assistance with advising for Spring Semester.

Computer Science Building, Room 151

 Friday, November 5, 3:30pm

Registration for Spring 2011 begins soon!

As you may have noticed, Spring classes are posted on SPIRE!  That means registration will be underway soon.  Here are some pointers to help you prepare now and avoid registration pitfalls later...

First, make sure you know when your Enrollment Appointment begins.  Like Jess & Matt told you earlier this week, this is the date & time that SPIRE will allow you to begin adding classes--it is not a scheduled appointment with an advisor.  You can (and should) add classes to your Shopping Cart prior to this date--that way you can monitor your choices and keep track of space available as your Enrollment Appointment nears.  You can find your Enrollment Appointment on your SPIRE homepage: from the menu on the left select "Enrollment" then "Enrollment Appointment."

Second, make sure you don't have any HOLDS on your account. Registration holds can be issued by any office on campus that needs you to do something with them before you're allowed to add classes for Spring 2011. Often these holds require you to gather or complete documentation, visit an office on campus, have an appointment, etc. It can take a few days (or more) to have such holds lifted, so start the process now! Click here for help finding out if you have a hold.

Finally, November is a very busy time in most advising offices!  Just because your Enrollment Appointment may not be until the end of the month doesn't mean you can't meet with an advisor before then.  In fact, coming in early will be more beneficial by helping you prepare.  Waiting until last minute to schedule a meeting may mean there are no appointment times available or cause you to have to delay having your questions answered until AFTER you've added classes.  Be proactive and make an appointment prior to your enrollment appointment.  If you're undeclared, call (413) 545-2191 to schedule a meeting with an advisor.  If you have a declared major, contact the advisor or advising office listed on your SPIRE homepage.  Once you have a scheduled meeting with an advisor, print, complete, and bring this form with you to your appointment!

Becoming A History Teacher!

Faculty from the School of Education will talk about their programs that can help you become licensed as an elementary, middle, or high school teacher, including STEP (Secondary Teacher Education Program), and CTEP (Collaborative Teacher Education Program).

 Thursday, November 4, 4:00pm

  Herter Hall 601

Refreshments will be served!

Tip of the Week with Jess and Matt (#8)

Hey guys, Jess and Matt right back at you! We had to do some MAJOR recovering from all the excitement at the Majors Fair. We hope you all got a chance to visit numerous tables and ask lots and lots of questions! With November underway that means 2 things, Spire Registration for Spring and Matt’s Birthday (importance not necessarily in that order). So we strongly suggest that you….

Search for Classes!

Searching early for classes is a great way to plan out your schedule and cut down on your stress. And it’s fun. Spring classes should be available on November 4th. From the search tab you can view classes, times, and professors. If you see a class you like/want/need/adore, then add it to your shopping cart! You can tell when you select classes based on your Enrollment Appointment…not to be confused with an in-person advising appointment…in which you can see the exact date and time you can actively select classes on Spire. Take a pass/fail class, experiment with new ones, or take a faculty seminar. Here’s a Spire refresher just in case!


You ain’t cool unless you search ahead of time classes. Trust us, if you do it early, you will have sufficient time to find back-up courses in case your originals fill up. Happy Browsing!

Want to design your own interdisciplinary major?

BDIC (Bachelor's Degree with Individual Concerntration) allows you to do just that!  The BDIC program will be holding information sessions every Tuesday at 11am and Friday at 2pm in 608 Goodell.  If you haven't quite found the right major for you and you think you're up to the challenge of designing your own, checkout an info session to learn how!