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By USucceed, October 15, 2013 9:04 am

UMKC is participating in the 2013 Great Central US ShakeOut Earthquake drill at 10:17 a.m. on Oct. 17.

An alert will be sent out UMKC mass notification system. Participation in the drill is not mandatory, but it is encouraged.

During the drill, remember to drop, cover, and hold on: Drop to the ground, take cover under a table or desk, and hold on to it as if a major earthquake were happening (stay down for at least 60 seconds). Practice now so you will immediately protect yourself during earthquakes.

While still under the table, or wherever you are, look around and imagine what would happen in a major earthquake. What would fall on you or others? What would be damaged? What would life be like after? What will you do before the actual earthquake happens to reduce losses and quickly recover?

Finally, practice what your community will do after the shaking stops.

A great step for after your “Drop, Cover, and Hold On” drill is to practice how to communicate with family, friends, and co-workers. Texting first before making phone calls is highly recommended. Learn more from ShakeOut partner Safe America Foundation and their “Text First. Talk Second.” campaign, including how to hold a texting drill.

Learn more at http://shakeout.org/centralus/.

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By USucceed, October 15, 2013 9:03 am

If you are an undergraduate and plan to enroll for Spring 2014 in a Writing Intensive course or any class that lists the RooWriter Writing Assessment as a prerequisite, be sure to take the assessment a month before your registration appointment so that you are not blocked by Pathway.

If you plan to graduate in December and have not already taken the Written English Proficiency Test (WEPT), you need to take the RooWriter Writing Assessment by December 1.

For complete information, see the RooWriter web site at https://www.umkc.edu/roowriter/

As you may have heard, the RooWriter replaced the WEPT for all undergraduates at UMKC.  Unlike the WEPT, the RooWriter is not a pass/fail essay on one topic that must be written in three hours and in person during a scheduled time.  Rather, the RooWriter allows you to write a 750-1,500 word essay on your choice of six topics in a 72-hour-period anytime and anywhere you have access to a computer and the Internet.  After you submit your essay, it will be assessed by two trained evaluators and you will receive a report of their responses and a copy of your essay through the online system.

Everything that you need to know and do is located at the RooWriter web site, including the essay guidelines and expectations.  You can also preview the six Reading Packets to decide which one you want to write about.  The current Reading Packets address topics ranging from distracted driving to digital piracy to homelessness in Kansas City.  When you choose your Reading Packet you will be assigned a prompt or question to respond to.  You then have 72 hours to complete your essay, which means you can work on it, return to it, and get help from the Writing Studio.  After you submit your essay, two evaluators will assess it in six areas, including “Point-Purpose-Idea,” “Clarity and Cohesion,” and “Support-Evidence-Citations.”  Evaluators will also provide comments about the strengths of your essay and any aspects of your writing that you should concentrate on in the future.  To see a sample evaluator report, please click here.

To help you develop your writing and reading skills, you are encouraged to take the RooWriter Writing Assessment more than once during your UMKC undergraduate career.  The RooWriter is a requirement for graduation, and to fulfill that requirement, you should take the RooWriter after you have completed Discourse II or its equivalent and before you have earned 90 hours of undergraduate credit.  It also is required for Writing-Intensive classes and may be required for other classes.

Undergraduate students who already have earned a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution are exempt from the RooWriter requirement.  The first time that you use the RooWriter Writing Assessment, your student account will be billed $5, but you will not be charged for subsequent assessments.  For more information, contact the Coordinator of Writing Assessment at roowriter@umkc.edu.

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By USucceed, October 15, 2013 9:02 am

It is getting to be that time of semester when everything seems to hit at once, and the worst part is that things won’t slow down again until after finals are over!  Throw in the fact that flu season is starting, and what we have is a dangerous mix!  Try to keep a healthy balance of stress (for motivation!) but plan now so it won’t overwhelm you.  You are probably taking your mid-term exams right now, so this means you are half-way through the semester.  Are you ready for finals?

Being mentally healthy can be difficult when school gets really stressful.  However, there are things you can do to help.  If you haven’t already, plan your day-to-day schedule.  You should know by now how much time you need to study for each class, so you can adjust your schedule as needed.  Don’t forget to schedule some down time and time with friends, although try to avoid making that a priority.  During study breaks, do what you can to relax.  There are many apps that have been built specifically for relaxation.  Using an app like “Breathe to Relax” can help you get rid of unnecessary tension and clear your head, allowing you to focus and get more done when studying and working on projects.

It is also important to keep yourself physically healthy.  Be sure you are eating right… this means try to avoid living off of junk food!  When you are up late, try to make your snacks healthy.  If you want something to crunch on, try carrots or almonds instead of chips.  These will help fill you up and leave you more satisfied.  Also be sure you are getting enough exercise.  At the end of the semester, it is easy to go weeks without lifting anything heavier than your bookbag, or have your only running be from exam to exam.  Even though it may be difficult, try to get to Swinney Recreation Center at least a few times a week.  If you can’t give up the time studying, hit the treadmill and walk while you read your textbook or practice with flashcards.

Maintain your sleep schedule as much as you can.  There may be a few late nights, but try to be sure you are getting 7-8 hours of sleep every night.  This will add to productivity during the day because you won’t be as tired and groggy!    Get a flu shot sooner, rather than later; shots are offered through the Student Health and Wellness.  Last of all, if you do happen to get sick, don’t try to power through it.  Know your limits, and know when you just need to spend some quality time in bed resting.

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By USucceed, October 8, 2013 8:45 am

The Spring 2014 class schedule is now available in Pathway!  Browse through the course offerings and make an appointment with your academic adviser now to make registration a breeze.  To find the class schedule, you can either log onto your Pathway account or click here.

Registration appointment times will be emailed to your UMKC student account by the end of the week.  Appointment times can be viewed by the student in the Self Service > Student Center on the right-hand side in a box labeled “Enrollment Dates.”  Be sure to click on “details” to get the time after which you can start registering.

Priority registration begins November 4th, so make sure you have met with your advisor and have taken care of any holds on your account so you can register.