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By USucceed, August 21, 2012 8:43 am

Start the new semester off right!  There are two crucial tools that can help you stay on track and keep up with your coursework:  the class syllabus and a daily planner.

When you get your syllabus, read through it carefully.  This is essentially your contract for the course.  It contains a ton of important details about each class—including your professor’s office hours and contact information if you have any questions, required and suggested readings, classroom expectations, grading policies, Supplemental Instruction information (if offered with your class), and what happens if you miss an exam or a class session.  Not to mention course assignment due dates and when the exams are scheduled!  Keep all course materials, including the syllabus, in a binder so you know right where they are.

A daily planner (whether in Outlook, on your iPad, or a spiral notebook) is your next most important tool–it will help you visually and physically keep track of all your commitments.  First, mark all your class periods each week.  Note all the important dates from each syllabus—homework assignments, readings, and exams.  Fill in time to study—a good guideline is two hours studying for every hour you spend in class.  This time can be used to read the materials and review your notes, or meet with a group to discuss concepts from the lectures.  If your class has Supplemental Instruction, mark those times in your planner and then GO to the sessions!  Your planner can also help you stay on track for major projects by creating a personalized timeline—break each project into smaller chunks and assign a due-date to each part.

Next, be sure to set aside mealtimes and breaks, such as time to workout or just relax (it sounds silly—but you can’t forget to take care of yourself!).  Keep an eye out for flyers around campus advertising student organizations or events that may interest you—and put those in your planner, too.

Using these tools—the syllabus and a planner—can help you be more prepared and less stressed as you approach the end of the semester.  Making a plan for your time—and following it!—will pay off when you are ready for the final exam and you have your final project completed on time.

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By USucceed, August 21, 2012 8:42 am

Welcome to the first week of classes!  This week can be hectic as well as exciting–and even more hectic if you decide you want to change your class schedule.  This is perfectly normal–but here are a few things to keep in mind while you decide.

• Financial Aid.  Your Financial Aid is awarded based on the number of credit hours in which you are enrolled.  If you drop below the required number of hours, including if you completely withdraw from the University, your aid may be adjusted and you may owe the difference back to UMKC.  This federal regulation is called Return to Title IV; click here for more information.
• Refund Schedule.  If you decide to withdraw from a class, be mindful of the refund schedule policy.  The date you withdraw from a course is used to determine whether you will receive a refund of the tuition and fees associated with that class.  Withdrawing from classes does not necessarily release you from financial obligations to the University.  One deadline to keep in mind is Friday, August 24^th—this is the last day to receive a full refund if you drop a class scheduled for the regular 16-week session; the 24^th is also the deadline to receive a 60% refund for a class scheduled during the first 8-week session.  Additional information regarding deadlines can be found on the Academic Calendar. Continue reading 'Important Reminders: Registration and Due Dates'»

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By USucceed, August 21, 2012 8:41 am

Parking at UMKC.  There’s a new parking option on the Volker Campus–UMKC’s new six-level Cherry Street Parking Structure is officially open!

Located at the corner of Cherry Street, 50th Street, and Oak Street, the structure provides 1,500 spaces to serve students, faculty, staff, and visitors.  The structure features two pedestrian walkways:  one towards the Student Union and one crossing the street towards the PAC and Student Success Center.  Cyclists may also make use of the structure:  the facility houses secure bicycle storage and two public showers that may be used by commuters.  The University Police Department will occupy space on the ground floor of the garage.  Metered spaces are available on the 5th floor of the structure.

Please keep in mind there is no free parking on campus.  Permits are available for purchase either online or in the Parking Operations Office, located in the Administrative Center room 221. Parking maps are available for each campus:   Volker and Hospital Hill.

Transportation around UMKC and the City.  There are many ways to get around campus and the city. Below are transportation options available to UMKC students.

• UMKC Shuttle Bus- this bus runs routes around both Hospital Hill and Volker campuses, and between the two campuses. Click on the following links to access the Volker Campus and Hospital Hill Campus routes. Also available are the Volker Campus schedule and the Hospital Hill schedule.
• KCATA Bus Pass- a campus referendum approved by the student body allows UMKC students unlimited year-round access to the KCATA bus system for $14.00 each fall and spring semester. All you need is your current UMKC student ID card to enjoy this privilege. For more information on the KCATA bus routes and schedules, visit their website.
• ZipCar- Zipcar is a car sharing service that provides access to cars on campus to all its members.  You can reserve cars from one hour to 4 days at a time. Both hourly and daily rates include gas and insurance.  Our campus has 2 cars–a Ford Focus and a Toyota Prius.  Anyone over the age of 18 can join and use these two cars.  If you are a member over the age of 21, you will also have access to Zipcars all over the US, Canada, and the UK. For more information, visit their website.
• Clean Commute- Swinney Rec Center oversees a bike rental program, which allows students and faculty to check out loaner bikes by the day or for an entire semester on a first-come, first-served basis. For more information, visit their website.

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By USucceed, August 21, 2012 8:39 am

UMKC’s fraternities and sororities make an important contribution to life on campus by providing leadership opportunities for students and service to the community.

Sororities and fraternities at UMKC have been a large part of campus life since 1952. Our organizations constantly work together to promote the highest ideals and standards. Each fraternity and sorority is unique in its own way, but all offer the opportunity to experience leadership, develop high academic standards, social activities, community service, and philanthropic projects, and most of all, lifelong friends.

Below is an overview of the recruitment process for each council.

Interfraternity Council: Traditionally, chapters will hold events during the summer. In addition to summer recruitment events, you will have the opportunity to meet members from the five chapters at IFC-hosted events during the school year. Chapters can begin distributing bids (invitation to membership) over the summer or after the first week of classes in August. If you are interested in joining a fraternity, all you have to do is make friends with some fraternity men. Be social, meet the members, go to some events, and then decide if that chapter is right for you.

National Pan-Hellenic Council: The National Pan-Hellenic Council at UMKC consists of six member organizations, three sororities and three fraternities. Each group has a unique way of recruiting members to their organization. NPHC chapters are historically African American fraternities and sororities, but students from all backgrounds are welcome. The mission of NPHC is, “Unanimity of thought and action as far as possible in the conduct of Greek letter collegiate fraternities and sororities, and to consider problems of mutual interest to its member organizations.”

Collegiate Panhellenic Council: At UMKC, all women are encouraged to register for the formal recruitment process which occurs every year in August.  This process starts with meeting women from all four Panhellenic chapters.  Each day, a mutual selection occurs and by the end, members affiliate with one of the Panhellenic chapters!  UMKC is home to four Panhellenic sororities: Alpha Delta Pi, Alpha Sigma Alpha, Chi Omega and Delta Zeta. Online registration for formal recruitment closes at 5 pm on Wednesday, August 22.

Local Sorority: Delta Rho recruits individually. For more information, visit their website.