It's easy being green

It's Commuter Week, and OCSS is going green! We have compostable plates, napkins, cups and cutlery at all of our events this week. Now we need you to do your part; when you come to our events and enjoy some yummy, FREE food, make sure you dispose of your waste in the bins marked Compost.

Commuter Week!

Hi Everyone!

Commuter Week is here! We have an exciting week planned; be sure to stop by. You don't want to miss it! Commuter week is a great way to learn more about the services we provide and to have FUN! Hope to see you there!

Here is a detailed schedule of the week: http://umbc.edu/ocss/CommuterWeek.pdf 

-Salma 

Veterans, Food, and Volleyball

Hello UMBC students,

Just in case you didn't know, UMBC's Commuter Week is coming up soon. The dates that it will take place during are the 28th of October - the 1st of November. That means next week guys!

During this week we will be having great events and activities all around the campus so keep an eye out! You can look forward to: Transportation Fair, Halloween Shuttle Decorating, Commuter Game Night, Pub Trivia, and a lot more! You can get a list of the events and times http://umbc.edu/ocss/CommuterWeek.pdf

The events that you will see me at are...

Women’s Volleyball vs SUNY Binghamton:

From 6pm-9pm on November 1st; we will be meeting in the Commuter Lounge where we will be giving out FREE PIZZA and PRIZES. To make things even better TRUE GRIT and the Women's Volleyball Coach will be making a guest appearance to take pictures and hang out with us for a bit. Then we'll head over to the RAC for the 7pm start.

Commuters Care: Vets Service Project:

We will create hand-made thank you cards for returning veterans from 12pm-1pm, November 1st. These cards will be distributed to veterans at BWI by Operation Welcome Home Maryland. So stop by, socialize, and make a quick card to help show our support! You can find more information about where and why we are sending these cards here at http://www.operationwelcomehomemd.org/

Veterans Food Drive:

We will also be having a food drive for the entire week where you can drop off non perishables and canned food to send over to the troops. You can either drop them off at our office located in the Commons right by the Bookstore or food for the designated food drive boxes that we will place in the Commons, Administration, University Center, and the AOK Library. You can find more information of the organization that we are donating to visit http://www.baltimorestation.org/index.html

Transfer News & Advice

Hi everyone! I hope everyone did well on their midterms and are starting to be able to relax a bit!

Can you believe that it is almost time to register for next semester? It seems like only yesterday we were just starting classes for this semester!

If you are confused about the whole course registration process, DON'T FRET! The Transfer Student Network has put together a workshop to answer all your questions about course registration! Our event will be taking place today, October 23 at 12:00pm in Engineering 333. We will have handouts and other information about course registration. We will also be providing lunch for you to grab on the way out!

If you cannot make the workshop, no worries! There are plenty of additional resources that you are able to utilize. The registrar website is a wonderful website to go to.  It has a lot of information about registration and classes. One of the most important worksheets that is listed is the Spring 2014 registration times. If you click or copy the link, http://registrar.umbc.edu/files/2012/06/Spring2014RegApps.pdf , you should be able to see your registration date and time based on the number of credits prior to this semester. That is extremely important because the credits are based on what you have already completed, not how many you are in the process of right now.

If you have additional questions, it is important you speak with your advisor. He or she can help you decide what classes are best and how you can achieve your goals.

Another resource is speaking to fellow classmates. They can help you and give you advice on the difficulty of each class and ways to achieve success in those classes. Just remember that every one is different and the level of difficulty will be different, as well!

So, do not fret about course registration! You are not alone and there are plenty of resources for you. Good luck!

Photo taken from http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/834142/umbc.jpg

Looking for a good time? OktoberFeast is the way to go!

Hey there commuters!

We are half way through the semester and  with all the mid terms and late nights I bet all of you are craving for a getaway! Even if its for an hour!

Well it's your lucky day because we the Commuter Connections Team from Off Campus Student Service are bringing you an hour of awesome at OktoberFeast! German themed food, design your own pretzel bar, and as always lots of gifts and give-ways await your presence!

It gets even better! Wait for it....because we will be having UMBC Registered Dietitian Carlene Thomas with us to get you guys some tips on everyday healthy eating. She'll be joined by UMBC Transit representatives, there to answer any of the transportation questions you may have about using UMBC Transit or MTA busses.

The event is this Friday, October 18th, in Lower Flat Tuesdays during the free hour.

Hope to see you all of you there having a good time!

-Safa Zahangir

Hump Day!

It's Hump Day!

And we all know what that means! It's only two more days until the day to rule all the days: Friday.

But this is no ordinary Hump Day.  This is the Hump Day of the WHOLE SEMESTER!  That's right. We're 8 weeks into our 16 week semester.  Since you go to UMBC, you probably know that reduces to 1/2, which means that we are precisely halfway through this semester.

Let that sink in. Halfway through.

Just think; 8 short weeks ago, you were derping around campus asking, "Where is Lecture Hall 1??"
You were also trying to look cool because you had a screenshot of your schedule on your phone and you were pretending to be texting while you were actually desperately searching for the location of your class.  It's ok, I was doing that too.

So, let me be the first to say: Congratulations! You have survived half the semester!  That is an achievement worth roughly 1/16 of your diploma.

So, with that in mind, don't let the second half of your semester go to waste! If you are not yet involved in some community on campus, I highly encourage you to take that first step! Here are a couple ways you can do that:

• Good Morning Commuters!  Every Tuesday from 8:30am-10:30am on Commons Mainstreet.
• Transfer Student Network Workshop: Course Registration Advising from Oct 23, 12:00-12:45 in ENG 333. (Free lunch!)
• OR join us for any of these great Commuter Week events! Download this very flyer!

Homecoming Highlights

Did you get a chance to participate in Homecoming Week!?*

If not, that's quite alright. With midterms approaching, I and the rest of the OCSS office understand the long nights in the library and how much you value your sleep. For my post today I just wanted to share a few things from Homecoming Week, so you know what all the buzz was about. Perhaps next year, you will be able to take a study break and join in on the fun!

UMBC Men's Soccer came to a draw V. Albany after double overtime with score 0-0.

Photo Cred: UMBC Athletics

 UMBC Homecoming Bonfire in Erickson Field. One of the most anticipated homecoming events.

Photo Cred: (seb)

  Homecoming Comedian, Nick Offerman took the stage (then took his shirt off).

Photo Cred: Emma Hagen's IG

These are only a few of the highlighted homecoming events, but feel free to comment below and share some of your favorite events! How can UMBC make homecoming  more spectacular next year?

*Note: Commuter Week begins Oct. 28th. Hit the books early so you can join us that week for activities, games, prizes and possibly free food.....

Waiting for the bus

Before I was able to carpool to UMBC this year, I had to take the metro bus everyday just to get to campus, and then sometimes I would take the bus back home. From where I live, it normally would take about an hour to an hour fifteen minutes to commute to UMBC. 

So you're probably wondering why and how I was able to pull this off my freshman year, because getting up at 5am or 7am just to leave to go to the station is pretty intense, let alone with everything else that follows right afterward. The answer is simple, I had a motivation and time management to help me, a couple of skills that maybe can help you out as you continue along your UMBC Career. I mean if I was late and didn't leave on time, I would not only miss the train, but the bus as well and that would hinder some of my free time that I had before classes.

If you're planning on commuting with the MTA Bus or Train, keep a couple things in mind:

• Make sure you know what time the bus leaves/arrives at your stop. Pay attention to the bus number and the destination or you may accidentally miss it.
• Have something to do while waiting for the bus and waiting to arrive at your stop. Listening to music is good, doing some work/studying is good too, and maybe taking a nap if you're wanting to catch up with some sleep. Though I will advise you to make sure you wake up before arriving at your stop!

OKtoberFeast!

Hey All!

Our last Commuter Connections event was great! We had a lot of people attend, and pretty much everyone left with a full stomach-- or at least a full bag with information from some important campus resources: Study Abroad, Health Services, (seb), and The Shriver Center. PNC was awesome to come out as well, and for giving us those awesome draw string bags. I actually got one too and have been using it everyday.

But now that the weather is cooling down we're going to take a step back from the warm summer themes like the Survive the Semester's Island theme and get a little serious. That's because our next theme is OktoberFeast! Okay so it's not really that serious, but a change in themes is pretty serious to us!

Come out to OktoberFeast on Oktober 18th during free hour. That's Friday, Oktober 18th at 12pm-1pm. It's the same drill as last time, but with a German, fall twist to it. We'll have prizes, giveaways, and of course free food--specifically, a pretzel bar! Custom design your own pretzel! Where else can you do that? No where else except OCSS Commuter Connections.

Hope everyone's semester is going well, and talk to you later!

Communication is Key

I’m really into people watching. I like observing the different behaviors people have whether if it is repetition, odd quirks, or commonalities between people. I get to see about 180 people every Tuesday morning by working for Good Morning Commuters which is a lot of observing for me to do when I’m not serving food. I know personally, I’m always concerned on getting to Point B from Point A, but I’m never paying attention to anything but my phone when getting to Point B. I’m on my phone checking e-mails or texting co-workers about an event when I’m in that transition from Point A to Point B.

The other Tuesday at GMC, I went to a table with two girls who did not know each other and were on their phones. I just asked them general questions such as what their names were, what year they are, what their major in. They were both are into Psychology and started talking about internships they both had and realized they both had the same experiences in different offices. Since that one GMC early in the semester, I have seen those two sitting at a table and eating breakfast together every Tuesday.

We’re in the midst of an age where people are on their phones talking to people instead of getting together in person to talk to each other. We’re on our phones constantly, we’re not paying attention to our surroundings, and we’re not taking the time to realize where we are in our lives and take it all in.

Next time you’re walking from one class to another or from your car to your class, make sure you stop and smell the roses (or feed the squirrels...or don't) and say hi to a friend! 

RAC renovations beginning

If you've been in the weight room at UMBC, you probably understand that it needs work. A lot of the machines are old or not working, there’s not nearly enough space, and the entire area seems dirty. However, it appears that the university has finally approved renovations. 

Within a few weeks, there will be a whole new weight room. According to SGA’s Facebook page, renovations costs will total $115,000 and will include a number of new machines and equipment. A list of the new equipment can be found on this discussion on myUMBC here: http://my.umbc.edu/discussions/9240. In the short term, this means that if you want to exercise over the next 3 weeks, you’ll have to use the Michael S. Knapp Training Center (also referred to by students as the “varsity gym”) on the RAC Arena Track level. The hours are a little odd and shift from week to week, but they are posted on the recreation page here: http://my.umbc.edu/groups/recsports.

Additionally, my other job with the RAC Event Staff gave me the opportunity to help out a bit with the renovations. Working with several others, I helped remove some of the flooring as well as transporting most of the dumbbells and plates out. Some pictures are posted below. I for one cannot wait to see the new room and hope the changes are implemented as planned.

Updates!

Hey guys,

Happy Wednesday!

Even though the TSN workshops Series is coming to an end, do not worry, we will be having follow up events later in the semester.  After the Retriever Ready Celebration, which is on October 9 in Lower Flat Tuesdays, we will be having peer mentoring sessions for students that have any questions or need someone to talk. These sessions will be during our regular workshop time: Wednesdays at Noon in OCSS. If you have any questions or concerns, we are here to help.

I know it is that time of the semester that you are already stressed out from school. Just looking at all the work you have to do this semester is giving you a headache. You many have a gotten back your first exams and they may not have been the grades that you wanted. Do not worry, there is plenty of time to pull up your grades. Never give up, and find ways to get the help you need. Just keep working hard and it will pay off in the end. Time files and before you know it the semester will be over. Just hang in there!

If you need to take your mind of things Homecoming week is almost here! October 7 to October 12.

Be sure to check out these events!

MONDAY, OCTOBER 7

Homecoming Hype & Food Trucks
12 – 1 p.m, UMBC Quad (rain location: Commons, MainStreet)

---

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 8

Homecoming Info Tables
11 a.m. – 1 p.m., Breezeway

---

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 9

Faculty and Staff Social
5 – 6 p.m., Flat Tuesdays, The Commons

---

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 10

Women’s Soccer v. Vermont
7 p.m., Soccer Field

Outstanding Alumni of the Year Awards

6:30 p.m. reception, 7:30 p.m. ceremony
Albin O. Kuhn Library & Gallery

Talent Show9 p.m., University Center Ballroom

---

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 11

Big Prize Poetry SLAM!
6-8 p.m., Performing Arts and Humanities Building Atrium

Retriever Rally
9 – 10:30 p.m., Retriever Activities Center (RAC)

---

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 12

Support Shriver Center “Stuff a Scion!”
All day, The Commons

Rob Magin 5K Dawg Chase
8 a.m., Registration opens; 9 a.m., Race begins; Stadium Lot

A Morning with Arrested Development Star Jeffrey Tambor
Breakfast, 9:15 a.m.; Lecture at 10 a.m.; University Center Ballroom

Men’s Lacrosse Alumni Game
11 a.m., UMBC Stadium

Community Picnic Lunch with Dr. Hrabowski
11 a.m. – 2 p.m., UMBC Quad

Women’s Lacrosse Alumnae Game
12:30 p.m., UMBC Stadium

Men’s Rugby v. Salisbury
1 p.m., Walker Field

Homecoming Kickball Kup – Students vs. Alumni
1:15 p.m., Erickson Field

Kids Zone
1:00 – 3:00 p.m., SportsZone, The Commons

Smoothies at Flat Tuesdays
1 – 4 p.m., Flat Tuesdays, Upper Level, The Commons

Free Game Play
1 – 5 p.m., 2nd Floor, The Commons

Tour of Baltimore with the Shriver Center 
1:30 – 5 p.m., Bus departs Commons Circle Drive

Spirit March
2 – 2:30 p.m.

Softball Alumnae Game
2 p.m., Softball Stadium

Baseball Alumni Game 
2 p.m., Alumni Field

Decorate Pumpkins & Rockets with the Honors College
2 – 4 p.m., Flat Tuesdays Lower Level & Patio

Residence Life Community Center Open House
2 – 4 p.m., Community Center

Men’s Alumni Basketball Reunion
2:30-4 p.m., Flat Tuesdays Upper

Men’s Soccer Game v. Albany
2:30p.m., Retriever Soccer Park

Open Pub at Flat Tuesdays
4 – 6:30 p.m., Flat Tuesdays, The Commons

Ice Hockey v. Virginia Tech 
4:45 p.m., Reisterstown Sportsplex

Taste of UMBC: Crab Feast
5 – 8 p.m., UMBC Quad

I

Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Lambda Phi Alumnae Reunion
5:30 – 8 p.m., Room 329, The Commons

Student Leader Reunion
7 – 8 p.m., RAC

Comedy Show Featuring Nick Offerman of Parks and Recreation
7 p.m. doors, 8 – 9:30 p.m. show, RAC Arena

CBLA Homecoming Throwback Party
8:30 p.m. – Midnight, Flat Tuesdays, The Commons

For more information click this link 

http://homecoming.umbc.edu/whats-going-on/full-events-listing/ 

Stay Positive! 

-Salma 

Study Skills Workshop

Hello there UMBC students! I hope you have been enjoying school so far and getting in enough time to relax and spend some time with friends and family!

Since it is now October, that means that there are fun and exciting events coming up on and off campus. During fall, I always go pumpkin picking and carve pumpkins. Fall is my favorite season because of pumpkin coffee, muffins, apple cider, Halloween, and wearing cute dresses with scarves.

Now that I've listed some of my favorite fall activities, what are yours? Please leave some comments and let OCSS know what some of your favorite things about fall are!

In regard to OCSS and our events, the Transfer Student Network has been working very hard to bring information and fun events for our Transfer students. Tomorrow, October 2nd, is our Study Skills Workshop in the University Center Ballroom Lounge. At this workshop, you will find information on effective studying habits and reducing stress. Since midterms are right around the corner, this workshop will help students understand their study habits and what they can do to achieve their goals in their classes.

Not only will we have excellent information about study skills, we will also have some comfort foods that will ease the minds of our UMBC students! (We won't tell you what we're serving - just come and find out!)

We also will be having a raffle for students who attend our workshop. (Again, you will have to come to find out what the raffle is!)

Our last event will take place next week, October 9th, in Lower Flat Tuesdays. This is our celebratory event and there will be plenty of opportunities to meet fellow transfer students, enjoy some yummy food, and hang out with the TSN staff!

Now that you are informed of the next Transfer Student Network event, here is a wonderful picture of fall.

Photo taken from http://www.musingsofamuse.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Discovery-Fall-2013-Collections-605x310.jpg