The UMBC Parent Connection
A service of the Division of Student Affairs Parent Programs & Services Office

                                         

                                                                                                                                                                                                       

November 22, 2005                                                    2005-11, No.4 ________________________________________________

F E A T U R E   S T O R Y

                                     End of another Semester: a student’s perspective                                           

by Mark Benesch (sophomore, Chemical Engineering)

 

          Another semester has almost come and gone which means the “fun-filled” week of finals is getting closer. This semester has had many great UMBC memories and experiences. As for finals, this is my third time taking them, and now I know what to expect.  However, I could have used some helpful hints in my younger years of college.

          As I prepare for finals, I am reminded of the reason I choose this school, its outstanding academics, and I have been fortunate, as have many others, to benefit from this. As a research university, UMBC is on the forefront of scientific discovery and allow undergraduates to work with our talented faculty. I personally have been given the opportunity to work with a professor in the field of tissue engineering simply by speaking with him and showing interest. My experience is not unique. UMBC professor Michael Summers has been granted the Howard Hughes Fellowship for his research with AIDS and he takes on 25 undergraduate research assistants each semester. I have found the professors here are extremely concerned for their student’s success and will go above and beyond to provide students valuable experiences in research and other forms of learning.

          Now after many lectures, fun days and late nights of homecoming week, and countless homework assignments completed, everything has built up to this last and most important week, finals. With exams coming up, the memories of late night studying with friends in the library and the countless cups of coffee are about to become a reality once more. I can not promise that studying took up every hour of the week prior to finals but there was substantial prep work. As for my experience, studying in groups is a great way to keep those books from looking like pillows and, as I’ve found, gives you a better understanding of the material anyway. Professors are usually more than happy to meet with students so take advantage of this during the week prior to finals to clear up any problems you might have. If you take some time to dedicate to serious studying finals should be a breeze.  So, you can have the best of both worlds at UMBC—lots of fun, but lots of hard work as well. I hope that parents, who read this will wish your son or daughter good luck on finals, remind them to study hard, and encourage them to start studying now and not wait until it’s too late.

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L E T T E R  F R O M  P A R E N T S  P R O G R A M  C O O R D I N A T O R

 Greetings UMBC Parents and Families,

 

          As you may know, George Preisinger, former Parents Connection Coordinator has embarked on a well-deserved retirement.  
I have been selected by the office of the Vice President for Student Affairs to work with UMBC parents. I am working directly with K. Jill Barr, Chief of Staff in the Vice President's office.

I am from California and have moved to Baltimore to participate in the Intercultural Communications/Spanish

UMBC Graduate Program.  My desire to work with UMBC parents and families stems from a life-long commitment to volunteerism and service beginning with my experience as a Peace Corps Volunteer in South America.

        

         My mission as the Graduate Assistant Coordinator for Parent Programs at UMBC is to enhance a positive connection between UMBC parents and the University through the development of  effective communication, family programming and the sustainable facilitation of the UMBC Parents' Association so that students' academic success, university and life experiences may be fully actualized.

         To successfully carry out this mission, I need feedback and support from you. My office hours for the fall semester are: Monday 11am-4pm, Tuesday 12pm-4pm, Wednesday 11am-5pm, and Friday 12pm-5pm.

Please contact me with any questions, comments or concerns so that I can be the most effective at this post and ultimately support the success of all UMBC undergraduate students.

Yours Truly,

Daniel Hall BSW

Graduate Assistant

Coordinator of Parent Programs

(410) 443-1105

(800) 866-VIP-UMBC

Parents@umbc.edu

 

 

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CAMPUS ANNOUNCEMENTS


Blanket Drive

Student Judicial Programs (SJP) will be hosting a coat/blanket drive beginning on December 5, 2005. Donations can be dropped off in SJP. The drive will run until January 25, 2006.  We are accepting winter essentials (coats, gloves, hats, scarves and blankets).

Homecoming Survey

UMBC is conducting a survey about Homecoming and Parent Celebration 2005. We'd like to know what you thought of the weekend. If you didn't attend, we'd still like to get your opinion on how we can make our parent programs more enjoyable for you. It's quick and easy and will take only a few minutes of your time. Click here to take the survey.

http://www.zoomerang.com/survey.zgi?p=WEB224S6AMJTD9

Financial Aid Notice                                                                             

Student and Parent loan requests must be on file with UMBC by November 23rd in order to be processed for the semester. In addition, students who wish to borrow a Stafford loan must also have a valid 2005-2006 FAFSA on file with the UMBC Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships no later than November 23rd. The UMBC Office of Financial Aid & Scholarships can be reached at 410-455-2387 (select option 7) Monday-Friday 8:30am-4:30pm or by emailing finaid@umbc.edu.

Advanced Registration Placement Testing – Fall 2005
Advanced Registration Placement Testing is in the Learning Resource Center, located in Office 345 of Academic IV, B-Wing for students who still need to take the test(s). Students will only have enough time to take one test per session. Those who need to take the math and English test must come for two testing periods. Pre-registration is not required, but students must be on time, as testing begins promptly. Direct questions to Marie Gore, academic skills coordinator for the Learning Resource Center, at ext. 5-2447 or e-mail magore@umbc.edu.

Advanced Registration Placement Testing – fall 2005 con’t.
Monday, Nov. 7: 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.
Wednesday, Nov. 9: 1 p.m.
Friday, Nov. 11: 12 p.m.
Monday, Nov. 14: 12 p.m.
Wednesday, Nov. 16: 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.
Friday, Nov. 18: 12 p.m.
Monday, Nov. 21: 12 p.m.
Monday, Nov. 28: 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.
Wednesday, Nov. 30: 12 p.m.

 

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E V E N T S   O F   I N T E R E S T

* BOOKSTORE SUPPORTS BLACK/GOLD FRIDAYS *                                                                                            

Save 15% on UMBC Black/Gold clothing when you visit the BOOKSTORE on Fridays wearing Black or Gold.  See Bookstore Staff for details.

Dining Services Promotes “Thanksgiving in Our Community”
During the month of November, Dining Services will promote "Thanksgiving in Our Community."  Students, faculty and staff are encouraged to make a difference in their local community by volunteering their time and hospitality. The week of Nov. 14 -18, local organizations will come to the Dining Hall to encourage students to volunteer. A canned food drive will also take place throughout November.  Students can bring a senior citizen from the community to dine on campus - compliments of Dining Services. For more information about this event, contact Aziza at ext. 5-8020 or at azizajones@hotmail.com.

"TheShriver Center Celebrates National Career Development Week"
Students are needed to participate in the Shriver Center’s internship and co-op programs. Faculty is asked to encourage their students to sign up with PlacePro (UMBC’s online internship and co-op database) in the Shriver Center.

Shriver Center representatives are available to make the announcement in your classes. To schedule an announcement, contact Casey Miller at cmille1@umbc.edu or ext. 5-2493).

 

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S C H O O L  S P I R I T

What are UMBC Students up to?

Check out www.umbc.edu/calendar <http://www.umbc.edu/calendar> for a full list of events. . .

 

*President's Commission for Women*

On Tuesday, Nov.22, the PCFW will publicly thank the people who clean our campus and serve our food in the cafeterias and Commons. Between 2-4 PM, members of our commission will give out $10.00 gift certificates from local merchants and a questionnaire asking Sodexo and Abacus employees about ways UMBC can serve them better. Have you noticed people doing a good job? Why not ask them their name and write a thank you note with their name on it, and/or give a small gift to let them know how much they are appreciated. Thanksgiving is a time to show our gratitude. Let's use the time before our break to thank over 300 employees who serve us at UMBC!!

Monday, November 21st

Student Events Board Committee Meeting

Committee meetings are held every Monday at 12 pm in Commons 2B10. *//*

Show up and voice your opinion on what types of events you and your friends would like to see at UMBC. You can even get the chance to help plan future events or help out at concerts throughout the year.

This is your school and SEB is here to help you get the most out of your college experience!

www.umbc.edu/seb/<http://www.umbc.edu/seb 

Thursday, November 24th

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Mark your calendars...

*Pocket Billiards Exhibition by Dr. Cue*

World renowned billiards player and trick shot artist The Commons

Game room Monday, November 28th 11 am - 6 pm.

*STUDY ABROAD 101*

Want to spend a summer, semester, January term or year overseas but don't know where to start?  Don't know if your credits from a semester in Australia will transfer back?  Confused about how your financial aid transfer will transfer?  Instead of wondering, why not just come to the source and learn more?!

Every week throughout the semester the UMBC Study Abroad Office holds two sessions of Study Abroad 101 to answer your basic study abroad questions.

These sessions meet in 218 Administration Building at the following times:

Monday - 12:00 PM to 1 PM during the free hour Thursday - 3:00  PM to

4:00 PM

Need more information?  Contact the UMBC Study Abroad Office at

sao@umbc.edu

*Attention Undergraduate Students Conducting Research:*

Here is an opportunity for you to present your research results during a conference devoted to undergraduate research results. The National Conferences on Undergraduate Research (NCUR) is calling for student proposals to present research during their conference April 6-8, 2006 at University of North Carolina, Asheville. Last year several UMBC students were accepted to present at this conference.

Proposals will be accepted from October 3, 2005 through December 2, 2005.

For more information, go to http://ncur.unca.edu/.   Click on "Call for

Papers" (on the left side), then click on "Students."

*Theatre with Dinner: The Love of Don Perlimplín and Belisa in the Garden *

Saturday, December 3, 2005

Reservations due 11/22/05.

Directed by Xerxes Mehta and sponsored by the Friends of the Library & Gallery. The event will begin with a wine and soft drinks reception (provided by the Libby Kuhn Endowment) on the 7th floor of the Library at 5:00 p.m. followed by Dinner at 6:00 p.m. and then remarks by Xerxes Mehta with discussion.  The play will be performed in the UMBC Theatre at 8 p.m.  $35 per person, including the theatre ticket.  To make a reservation - by November 22, 2005- or for further information, call the

Library Administrative offices at 410.455.2356 or email aok@umbc.edu.

*Shakespeare Reading and Performance Group: Much Ado About Nothing*

Tues. November 22, 4 p.m., Library 214

Readers of all levels and experience are welcome.  Enthusiasm for the works of William Shakespeare is all that is required.  We will read specific texts, discuss them, and play with them. Please arrive with something to say about this play and a scene you'd like to hear aloud.  Bring a copy of the play with you (complete texts are available online at _www.tech.mit.edu/Shakespeare/_ Attendees  

*Cleaning out your closet?*

Donate a pair of shoes that you no longer wear to University Health Services for an upcoming project.  After the event, the shoes will be delivered to a charitable organization.  If you would like to donate a pair of shoes, please drop them off in one of the following locations:  UHS front desk, Health Education Office in Erickson Hall, Residential Education area of Res. Life, as well as in the Commons Lobby.

Collections will begin Wednesday November 9th and end on Friday December

2nd. For any questions or concerns, please contact Alison Rohrbach at

arohrbach@umbc.edu, or ext. 5-1599.  Thank you for your help!

*"Hotel Rwanda": Genocide and International Relations*

Tuesday, December 6, 8-11pm

Commons Skylight Lounge.

Join the Student Events Board (SEB) for a free showing of the film

"Hotel Rwanda" followed by a discussion of issues raised in the film.

Questions should be directed to Eric Grollman at egrollman@umbc.edu 

* Bartleby 2006 UMBC's Creative Arts Journal *

Now accepting submissions electronically. Submit your creative works of art and creative works of poetry and prose to Bartleby@umbc.edu Official contest rules and submission guidelines may be found online at www.umbcbartleby.org Submissions are now being accepted in art, poetry, fiction, and nonfiction genres. In addition, Bartleby is accepting any cool slogans or graphics that are not copyrighted. The deadline to submit your works of art is December 1, 2005. Cash prize in each category is usually around 100 dollars.

Attention: SGA Positions Available

SGA has several positions available to be filled by motivated, talented students!

One position is Director of Student Advocacy.  The Director will be responsible for coordinating and supporting SGA's efforts to connect with every undergraduate at UMBC.   This will involve coming up with fresh ideas about how to make it easy for students get SGA's help in addressing their issues and concerns.  The Director will serve as a member of the Executive Cabinet and will be supervised by the President and Vice President. There also are two Justice Positions available on the SGA Supreme Court. Justices resolve disputes and questions relating to SGA's Constitution, Bylaws, Election Policy, Budget Policy and other guiding documents.

Finally, SGA has been working toward five broad goals this year: ensuring that student fees are used in ways most beneficial to students; making UMBC's physical environment more attractive and inspiring; enhancing the undergraduate academic experience; improving and reallocating campus space for students' use; and supporting and improving student services.  We have launched (and, in some cases, completed) more than a dozen projects that support these goals.  If you are interested in finding out more about SGA's projects and joining a project team, please let us know by replying to this e-mail.

Applications for all of these positions and roles are available in the Student Organizations Area on The Commons' 2nd floor.  The Director of Student Advocacy application is due next Monday the 14th.

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H E L P F U L   W E B S I T E S   F O R   P A R E N T S

 

Admissions
http://www.umbc.edu/undergrad/

Financial Aid
http://www.umbc.edu/undergrad/finaid.html

Scholarships
http://www.umbc.edu/undergrad/scholarships.html

Center for Women and Information Technology (CWIT) Scholars Program
http://www.umbc.edu/undergrad/s_cwit.html

Humanities Scholars Program
http://www.umbc.edu/undergrad/s_hum.html

Gateway to International and Intercultural Programs & Services http://www.umbc.edu/international

Linehan Artist Scholars Program
http://www.umbc.edu/undergrad/s_lin.html

Meyerhoff Scholars Program (Science and Engineering)
http://www.umbc.edu/undergrad/s_mey.html

Public Affairs Scholars Program
http://www.umbc.edu/undergrad/s_pubaff.html

The Honors College
http://www.umbc.edu/honors

Parent Programs & Services
http://www.umbc.edu/parents

Student Affairs
http://www.umbc.edu/saf

Career Development Center
http://careers.umbc.edu/saf

Residential Life
http://www.umbc.edu/reslife/

The Student Link
http://www.umbc.edu/StudentLink/

Hillel at UMBC

http://www.umbchillel.com/

                                                                                                                                      

Financial Services                                                                                     

http://www.umbc.edu/FinancialServices/

The Retriever Weekly (student newspaper)
http://trw.umbc.edu/

Official UMBC Publications
http://www.umbc.edu/newsevents/pub.html

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To unsubscribe to the Parent Connection or to offer comments and suggestions, please write to:  parents@umbc.edu or call 1-866-VIP-UMBC.