Monthly Archives: March 2010

The semester is almost half over?! whaaaat?

Posted on by

Hello everyone!

Mary here, with some important information. The semester is just about halfway through! All I have to say is, where did the time go? With classes, work, and extracurricular activities things have been very busy in my world.

So, with the halfway point approaching that means only one thing, registartion for fall classes! Your thinking to yourself…”I’m just starting to understand what’s going on in my classes and now they want me to register for classes for next semester!!!” The advising period begins April 14, this is the time when you should start going to see your advisor to figure out what classes you should be taking. April 14 is also the first day for enrollment appointments. You can view your enrollment appt on your ISIS account. Enrollment appt’s go by how many credits you have earned. Make sure you also check your ISIS account before registering because there may be holds on your account that need to be lifted before you are allowed to register for classes.

I know this seems like a few weeks early but trust me, make sure you have all your ducks in a row before the advising and registration period begin. If you have any questions about advising/registration you know how to contact us! Have a fabulous day.

-Mary

Healthy Riverhawks

Posted on by

Around the time of midterms and finals, it’s easy to forget to eat well and get lots of sleep. With flu season still upon us and germs abundant, the likelyhood of getting sick is very possible. And during this time of year, you can’t afford sick days.

If you aren’t able to make an appointment with your regular doctor, you can make an appointment with the UMass Lowell Health Services Department and schedule an appointment to be seen. That link will take you to the FAQ’s section for commonly asked questions about the services offered by the HS department.
If you haven’t gotten your H1N1 [Swine Flu] shot, definately get it! Many clinics are offering it for free or for a low cost, and not getting vaccinated can put you at risk for catching the flu. As many of you know, when you get the flu, you’re out of commission for up to a week or two. And while it’s tempting to use the “I’m sick” excuse during flu season [many doctors have recommended staying home if you feel ill at all] for days you don’t want to go to school, you’re missing out on valuable information that is preparing you for your finals and midterms.
Especially with the threat of the regular flu and swine flu, remember that there are hand santizer stations located everywhere on all campuses! They’re hanging from the walls, and offer a quick solution to sanitize your hands when you don’t have time to find a bathroom.
And finally, if you are sick and can’t go into school, be sure to get plenty of rest and fluids! Those are the two best things for helping you healthy Riverhawks to get back on your feet.

Spring Break Safety!

Posted on by

Spring Break Safety



Spring Break is by far one of the most exciting times of the school year.


Unfortunately, it can also be one of the most dangerous times, especially if you let your anxiousness to get away become your main priority. Safety during this week, especially for those of you who are traveling, is essential.





When going away, keep a few things in mind: you may have the week off to have fun and relax, so do others. Ways to celebrate Spring Break can be different for everyone, so be careful and mindful in choosing ways you want to celebrate.


Here are some other general tips to keep in mind:






IT’S 2010- TAKE ADVANTAGE OF TECHNOLOGY!


Always make sure to have your cell phone with you, charged and ready to use. It’s important for your friends and family to be able to contact you, so make sure it’s available to you. In addition, it can’t hurt to have a GPS ready so you know where you are at all times and avoid getting lost. Lastly, bring a camera; if anything SHOULD happen, documenting the trip in photos will serve as great evidence.






TAKE EXTRA PRECAUTIONS


This includes but is not limited to double-locking your hotel room door, switching to a smaller purse/wallet and being more selective of what you eat/drink. Since you will be away and unfamiliar with places like police stations and hospitals, the best way to stay safe is to put in a little more effort into thinking about your actions.






DOUBLE-CHECK NECCESITIES!


And no, we don’t mean trashy magazines for the beach. Remember to put your money/I.D./license/passport/hotel key in a place that’s safe.






MAKE GOOD DECISIONS!


Whether it is what you eat, where you travel to or who you hang out with, make sure you are making conscience decisions. Be mindful of where you are and what you are doing at all times.


A FEW QUICK SUGGESTIONS:
-Pack some Gatorade/Water bottles in your suitcase, in case the water at your destination is undrinkable
-Don’t disregard suntan lotion/sunblock just because you want a tan- it’s important!

-Dress to impress, but also to relax; spring break is about enjoying yourself, so remember to bring comfortable clothes/activities as well.

Remember, being at college means you are on your own; don’t do anything on Spring Break you wouldn’t do when you are home.

Facebook!

Posted on by

This is how Dwight feels about inappropriate Facebook use.

Hey guys! Shayna here.
As you all know, Facebook is a pretty big social networking site. Most of us are logging on several times a day to check statuses, post messages on everyone’s wall, and flipping through hilarious photos. But just remember that ANYTHING you post online isn’t just visible to you!

As you might have remembered us repeating over and over again this summer, you need to be careful about what you make available on your profile. Posting incriminating photos of you drinking, doing illegal drugs, or anything of the like can come back to bite you if you apply for a job [say, Orienation or ResLife, or any job in general] in the future. Employers can contact Facebook and ask for information, and even one incriminating photo can automatically dismiss you as a candidate for a job, even if you’re completely qualified for it.

And simply deleting the content won’t help. Facebook caches [saves] everything. Each photo you put up becomes the property of Facebook and they can use your photos any way they want. Have you ever noticed those ads on the side of Facebook? Many of them use photos uploaded to the site of actual users.

Even if you’re eighteen and you went to a country where it was legal for people 18 and over to drink, remember that your underage drinking still violates the UMass Lowell Conduct Code [the conduct code applies for laws set in the United States]. You can still get in trouble for it if photos surface!
Speaking of Facebook, there have been several viruses going around disguised as Facebook applications. They spam your friends with notifications that you haven’t authorized, and sometimes even post photos without your knowledge. If you find that your account’s been infected with one, go to your Applications page, and delete it [they usually disguise themselves as “Photos” or “Links”]. Also, remember that if you haven’t changed your privacy settings and made your account private, anyone can sift through your stuff! I’ve seen friends post their home addresses and phone numbers on their accounts, and had them completely open to the public. You should treat your account like Fort Knox and make a fifty foot high wall around it.
And remember; Facebook is for fun! But be careful with what you share with the world!

We have loads of fun here at Orientation! 🙂

FAFSA Information

Posted on by

Hey students!

Remember your FAFSA forms that you had to fill out before coming to UML? Weeeellll! You have to fill those out EVERY YEAR!

The deadline each year is March 1.

Guess who forgot? Yep, Ashley did.

If you forgot, as I did, not to worry! You can still submit your FAFSA information online to receive student aid.

Follow this link >>> https://fafsa.ed.gov/  and you can find all of the information you need on filing your FAFSA!

Some FAQ about the FAFSA that you might want to know:

Where’s my PIN number?
   You can access your PIN number with your Social Security Number, Birthday, and Last Name at >>> http://www.pin.ed.gov/PINWebApp/pinindex.jsp

What IS a PIN number?
    A PIN number is a way to electronically sign your FAFSA application so you can do everything electronically.

What is the difference of doing a FAFSA online or through standard US mail?
     If you apply for your FAFSA online, you’re likely to get your results within a week of submitting. If you apply for your FAFSA through standard US mail, you’re likely to get your results within 2 – 3 weeks of submitting.

So make sure you apply soon if you haven’t already!!

-Ashley

Holler

Posted on by

Hey Everyone!

Jeff here to fill your brains with what we are doing here in the office…

We have a new system that we Orientation Ambassadors are implementing in the office.  Everyday there will be blogs, tweets, and someone always on the facebook for you to see what we are up to and to ask us questions.  The good thing about asking us questions on the Facebook is that the answers are immediate.  most departments make you schedule an appointment and that can just be a hassle!  So remember to utilize us as a readily available resource…you’re already our friends now use us :).

Now for the fun stuff….

If you have not heard about the Campus Movie Fest then open your ears because im about to fill them with knowledge.  Now the “fest” itself is a week long event, which started today.  Participants have one week to film a 5 minute short film.  They also have to do all of the editing and preperation ALONE…spooky I know.  The movies will premier on March 25th at Cumnock Hall.  The premiers start at 8PM and run until everything has been shown.  It should be a really cool event and a lot of fun…and plus I am in it with Ben Nguyen as my guide so come and support your fellow directors!

The Movies That Rock series is still kickin’ and this weekend it is Brothers.  It has that guy from Spider Man and that guy from Broke Back Mountain and some other woman.  The Guy from Spider Man goes to war and “dies” so the wife begins to develop a relationship with the guy from Broke Back Mountain, which is the guy from Spider Man’s brother!!!  (OMG I KNOW)…THEN, the guy from Spider Man comes back somehow and flips and then the movie just gets juicy.  So check it out at the Common at Fox Hall on Sunday at 8PM and Monday at the ICC at 8PM.

On Friday March 5, there is a comedian coming to The Common at Fox Hall presented by UML LOL.  His name is Shane Mauss so check him out it’s free and probably going to be funny so it is a nice way to unwind after a stressful week.

Those of you interested in the music that your fellow students produce, guess what?!?!  There is a Wind Ensemble concert in Durgin Hall on Monday March 8.  The concert starts at 7:30 and is free so be sure to come by and listen to some good music!

Alrighty that’s enough from me so I will see you all on the flip side of Facebook.

-Jeff

spring break!

Posted on by

It’s Monday again! I hope everyone is having a good start to the week after such a rainy weekend. This semester has been SO busy lately that I didn’t realize until today that spring break is only two weeks away! Here are the hours that the residence halls will be closing and re-opening:

Residence Halls Closing:
– Friday March 12, 2010 6:00pm

Residence Halls Opening:
– Sunday March 21, 2010 noon

Everyone needs to be out by 6:00pm. Spring break is still two weeks away, but I hope this helps with your spring break plans!

Tommy