University of Maryland Annual Fall Events

It is back to school time, and everyone is ready to get back on campus.  Do you know what events University of Maryland is having this year?  We have a list below of many of the main fall events including the annual All-Niter!

New Student Welcome
Days before classes begin, Fall Semester
Part of New Resident Orientation, this is Maryland's version of a new student convocation. Over 4,000 new students gather in Comcast Center and are officially welcomed to the University. This event features short speeches by President Loh, the SGA President, a representative from the Alumni Association, and an athletic coach, as well as being introduced to the victory song with the Mighty Sound of Maryland Marching Band.

All Niter
Last Friday of September
Stamp's biggest party! Activities start in the afternoon and continue until almost 4am! Previous activities have included Bingo, caricature and airbrush artists, movies in the Hoff, fashion shows, carnival games, aerial artists, and dance party. Student organizations and departments are encouraged to register and sponsor various events and performances throughout the night. thestamp.umd.edu/allniter.

Homecoming
usually mid-October
The Homecoming Celebration at the University of Maryland is a week-long schedule of events that culminates in the Homecoming Parade on Friday and the Homecoming Football Game on Saturday. Homecoming Week Events are conceptualized and planned primarily by the Student Homecoming Committee. homecoming.umd.edu.

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Ongoing Events and Programs

Stamp Friday Showcase
Every Friday during the academic year, from 12pm-1pm, in the Baltimore Room or Nyumburu Amphitheater (in good weather)
A weekly talent showcase featuring performers and bands from the University of Maryland community. Held outside when the weather is nice in early fall in Nyumburu Amphiteather, however, as the weather becomes colder or in the case of inclement weather, the showcase is moved indoors into the Baltimore Room. For more information, or to inquire about performing, visit Stamp Friday Showcase.

Stamp Second Saturdays
Second Saturday of each month, after 7 pm, in the Stamp
A brand new initiative to the Stamp, this is a monthly series of FREE late night weekend events for students. Under the umbrella of Stamp Second Saturdays, each month, a different unit within Stamp will be the primary host. Second Saturdays.

Stamp Study Break
Around finals each semester
Refuel, recharge, and relax during Finals Week. Activities have included free 10-minute chair massages, free food, and new this year is more study space offered throughout the Stamp.

For more information please see The Stamp.

Great Tips for A Succesful School Year

 Graduating high school is a big milestone at 18.  These senior year milestones can be the best time of your life, but after the summer is over the next step seems like more of a mountain.  Transitioning from high to college can be tough.  However, if you follow these tips and tricks you will be very successful in your transitioning to college.

The transition from high school to college is an exciting time. First year students experience new routines, new roles, new relationships and new ways of thinking about themselves. All life transitions - even positive ones - can be challenging! Knowing what to expect and accessing the resources at your new institution can help students make a successful transition to the university so that they have a strong first semester.
Here are some tips to help first year students make a successful transition to college life and learning:

• Take an active role in your education. In high school 80% of your academic life was controlled by your teacher. In college 80% of your academic life will be controlled by you!
• At the beginning of the semester, review each course syllabus and enter due dates for tests, papers, and assignments in your calendar. Review each course syllabus every week and prioritize the tasks that need to be done that week.
• Go to class! This seems obvious, but many students who run into problems do so because they don t go to class. They mistakenly think that all they need to do is read the textbook, or look at the PowerPoint slides posted on-line. By not attending class, they are missing cues to what the professor thinks is important. Moreover, studies show that there is a strong correlation between the grades one receives in a class and their attendance. So go to class!
• Sit as close to the front of the room in each class. You will be more focused and will have a better chance of the professor knowing who you are. There are also studies that show that the closer to the front of the room you sit, the higher your grades!
• Get to know your professors. All professors hold office hours each week. First year students often are afraid to visit professors, or think that they should go to office hours only when they have a problem. This is an important time to go, but you can also go just to meet the professor, learn more about his/her field, and start to develop relationships that can pay off later when you need help with a recommendation, scholarship, or job.
• Get to know other students in your classes. You can work together in a study group to discuss material presented in class and prepare for exams.
• Manage your time wisely. Commit to spending at least two hours studying for every hour you are in class. We define studying as anything that you do for that class, including reading the text, doing research and writing papers, doing homework, reviewing your notes, and studying for exams. For a three credit class, you should be spending about 6-8 hours per week for all your academic tasks in that class. For a full-time load (12-15 credits), plan to spend about 24-30 hours studying per week.
• Take advantage of the services on campus that are here to support your academic success. Don't be afraid to seek help if things are not going your way. It is easier to fix a problem early, rather than have it get worse by trying to solve it yourself. Seeking help is a sign of strength.
• Get involved in campus life. College is about becoming a well-rounded, civically engaged individual and developing a network of friends. Join a club; go to a cultural event; attend a play or concert; go to a sporting event; attend colloquia or lectures; visit Washington, DC or other big city near you; join a fraternity or sorority; and be sure to explore education abroad opportunities. All these activities can help you learn a lot about yourself and your interests and can even lead to a future career.
• Most importantly, have fun! College is a chance to branch out, learn more about the world and yourself, and prepare for your future. Take advantage of the myriad opportunities that college presents.
  For more information please see UMD.
  

New App for Students

A new phone app is being released to help protect students on campus.  If there is a problem, the app will automatically dial 911 and enable the video and audio on the phone.  This will allow police to evaluate the situation, while also getting to the scene faster.

The University of Maryland Police recently introduced the first of its kind smart phone application called M-Urgency to help promote safety and increase productivity in emergency response.

The application, which is now available, automatically dials 911 when used and taps into the video and audio of the smart phone to allow the emergency officials to see what is happening at the scene in real time.

This was the type of technology needed to make emergency response more efficient, said University Police Chief David Mitchell.

“The next generation of 911 needs text, as well as video, capability to supplement, not replace, voice communication,” Mitchell said.

The application was a collaborative effort between campus police and the M.I.N.D. lab team, led by Dr. Ashok K. Agrawala.

The idea for the application occurred to Agrawala two years ago after then University President Dan Mote asked the community how they could improve campus safety.

“The question I posed to myself was what can we do, from the technology side, to improve the quality of life, and public safety is part of that,” Agrawala said.

Before the application, 911 calls made on campus would be received by the Prince George’s County Police, and then would be transferred to campus police.

The new application sends your GPS location and connects directly to campus police, which could save anywhere between 10 seconds to a few minutes in response time, which Mitchell said is vital.

“In emergency situations, every second counts,” Mitchell said.

The application also enables students to enter emergency information, such as their allergies, language spoken and family contact information, that would automatically show up to emergency responders.

University students, like senior architecture major Betsy Nolen, have some reservations about the new application.

“I think it might be slower than just calling 911,” Nolen said. “When an emergency happens my first

instinct is to call 911, not find the application on my phone.”

Other students, like junior journalism major Aline Barros, believe something like this was needed.

“I think it’s amazing. I’m definitely going to download it and use it,” Barros said.

Agrawala is working on a GPS system that would tell responders exactly which floor and room the caller is on. He said this should be completed before the fall semester.

The application only works inside the geo-fence, which includes all of the main campus, Graduate Hills, Graduate Gardens, Courtyards, Leonardtown, and the houses behind Fraternity Row until the railroad tracks.

The city of College Park has expressed interest in expanding this geo-fence to allow more people to use the new application, Mitchell said.

University police also are testing another application called Escort-M.

The new application would be used when students felt unsafe walking on campus. Officials could watch them travel by tapping into their phone camera, as well as using their GPS location to tilt and pan the emergency cameras on campus to where they were walking.

Escort-M is in the testing stage. No word on when it will be available to the public.

For more information please go to the College Park Patch.