Category: Announcements

Your Campus Experience

By , September 12, 2022 8:42 am

Dear Students,

For this third message, I’d like to highlight opportunities to engage with the campus and our community. 

Your Campus Experience:

  • Visit the Office of Student Involvement for co-curricular and leadership opportunities, which are a great way to meet other students with similar interests and to get a break from studying!  OSI is home to Student Government, LGBTQIA Programs & the Rainbow Lounge, Greek life, Family & Parent Programs, student organizations, and more!
  • The Dr. Raj Bala Agrawal Care Center ensures no Roo goes without.  Located on the first floor of the Student Union, the Care Center includes the Kangaroo Pantry and provides assistance in securing access to housing, social services, and childcare. Taylor Blackmon is the resident Basic Needs Coordinator and is there to support and empower students.
  • Follow the Roo News—your independent student newspaper.
  • Grab your free ticket to any Kansas City Athletics home game held at Durwood Stadium or Swinney Center!  Download the KC Roos App and reserve your ticket at least 24-hours in advance of the game (first come, first served).
  • Celebrate Constitution Day by learning more about famous trials through the ages that developed our understanding and interpretation of the U.S. Constitution.  Join Prof. Doug Linder as he recounts the most famous of the famous trials.
  • Visit the Financial Wellness Center for coaching, resources, and workshops to help you define and reach your financial goals.
  • Did you know your ID card can store Roo Bucks?  Purchase Roo Bucks to use at all on-campus food venues, UMKC Bookstores, printing at computer labs, and Coca-Cola vending machines around campus.  Roo Bucks can also be used at Minsky’s Pizza on Main, Wings Café on Broadway, and CVS Pharmacy on Main.

Questions?

  • Find comprehensive and customizable links to key resources and technology tools in MyRoo Portal (myroo.umkc.edu).  
  • Have questions about Admissions, International Admissions, Financial Aid and Scholarships, Registration and Records, and Cashiers?  Call UMKC Central at 816-235-6000.
  • Have questions about email, log-ins, and technology resources?  Contact Information Services or call the Technology Support Center at 816-235-2000.
  • Review the UMKC Student Handbook to find campus policies and know your rights and responsibilities as a student at UMKC.

Have suggestions or need assistance?  Please let me know!  I look forward to working with you to ensure UMKC continues to meet the needs of all students. 

Enjoy the rest of your semester!

Michele D. Smith, Ph.D.

Vice Provost for Student Affairs and Dean of Students

Constitution Day 2022

By , September 6, 2022 10:04 am

Celebrate Constitution Day by learning more about famous trials through the ages that developed our understanding and interpretation of the U.S. Constitution.  Join Prof. Doug Linder as he recounts two of these famous trials.

Constitution Day became a recognized federal holiday in 2004, when legislation authored by Senator Robert Byrd was signed into law.  The Act mandates that all educational institutions that receive public funding provide educational programming on the history of the American Constitution on or near September 17th each year.

Your Health & Safety

By , September 6, 2022 10:00 am

Dear Students,
Your health and safety are just as important as your academic success at UMKC.  For this second message to campus, I’d like to focus on resources and tips to stay healthy and safe.  Please keep this message for future reference.


Follow these simple health tips:

  • Wash your hands often with soap and warm water; utilize hand sanitizer; cover your coughs and sneezes; and disinfect heavily-used surfaces.
  • Keep up-to-date with campus-wide Coronavirus information, including testing, vaccination, and current guidance.
  • Eat right, get a good night’s sleep, recognize and manage your stressors, and get in some physical exercise with Campus Recreation in the Swinney Center.  

Remember—Mental Health is Health! 

  • UMKC Counseling Services are available for all students.  You get 8 free individual sessions each year to talk to a caring, professional counselor.  Group therapy sessions are unlimited.
  • Catch the Mind Over Mood online workshops to work at your own pace to identify and manage emotions.
  • MindBody Connection is a space to help you identify strengths and learn stress management skills.

In addition, please review these helpful resources:

If you do get sick, stay home and contact Student Health & Wellness to make an appointment.

  • Be sure to contact your instructors or work supervisors if you need to stay home for any illness; the UMKC Student HelpLine (816-235-2222) can assist you with this process.  You may need to provide medical documentation to receive an excused absence. 
  • Meningococcal disease (meningitis) is a preventable disease that can affect college students and cause serious and even fatal consequences.  Learn more about meningitis and the vaccine that can protect you.  If you have not received a dose since age 16, call the Student Health Center at 816-235-6133 for an appointment.  Missouri State law requires all students living on-campus to have this vaccine unless they have a documented exemption.
  • Remember that UMKC is a smoke- and tobacco-free campus.  There is no smoking or tobacco use in any buildings, housing facilities, or campus sidewalks, driveways, and green spaces. 

Your Safety & Security

Always be aware of your surroundings and stay alert while walking, biking, driving, or riding the bus or shuttle.  UMKC’s crime statistics are very low with most crimes reported being larcenies; however, it’s always a good idea to keep safety at the top of your mind.

  • Secure your belongings and don’t leave them unattended.  Pay attention to your surroundings when walking instead of texting or checking your phone.  For students living on-campus, please don’t let anyone “tailgate” and follow you into the residence halls without swiping in.  For more information and safety tips go to the Safety and Security website.
  • Take the required Campus Emergency Alert Training, which can be found in your Canvas Dashboard.  University safety programs are designed to protect and to empower our communities, and one of our most effective programs is the emergency alert system.  Emergency alert systems are used to notify the campus community when there is an emergency situation, including criminal threats and/or natural disasters.  As a student, we ask that you learn more about how our campus emergency alert system works and how you can protect yourself in emergency situations by taking our Campus Emergency Alert Training by September 10.
  • UMKC’s RISE: Resources, Intervention, Support, and Education Office provides support, advocacy, awareness education, and prevention training to help end sexual violence, stalking, and domestic/dating violence.  You can also take the online U Got This! training, which includes information on consent, bystander intervention, stalking, relationships, and more.
  • To contact the UMKC Police for any reason, call 816-235-1515 or use one of the blue emergency call boxes located throughout campus. 
    • Download the Rave Guardian App to turn your phone into a personal safety device.
    • If you see something, say something!  Report a crime or suspicious activity as a Silent Witness
  • Parking Reminder—parking on campus requires a permit or you can park at metered spaces: 

If you have any questions about these or other resources on campus, call the UMKC Student HelpLine at 816-235-2222.

I hope you have a healthy and successful semester!

Michele D. Smith, Ph.D.

Vice Provost for Student Affairs and Dean of Students

Your Academic Success

By , August 30, 2022 4:39 pm

Welcome to the Fall 2022 semester!  I trust your first week is going well and you are geared up for an exciting and rewarding semester.  For this first resource message of the semester, I want to focus on your academic success at UMKC and the programs and services available to you (please keep this message for future reference).

Keys to Your Academic Success:

  • Review your course syllabus carefully for due dates, grading rubrics, attendance policies, and other important course-related information. 
  • Need a tutor?  Learn more about Supplemental Instruction, Tutoring, Roo Up Seminars, and the Writing Studio offered by Academic Support and Mentoring.
  • If you need academic access accommodations, contact UMKC Student Disability Services at 816-235-5696.
  • The University Libraries have many resources to help you excel—including study spaces, computer labs, and helpful librarians.
  • Curious about undergraduate research opportunities?  Drop by the Miller Nichols Learning Center on September 1 from 10am-2pm for a poster symposium with students who completed unique research projects over the summer with a grant from the Undergraduate Research Office.  Learn more and apply for your own research grant (deadline is Sept 16)!
  • Prepare for your future career now by visiting with UMKC Career Services or Bloch Career Center.  
    • Activate your Handshake account for access to career resources.
    • Keep an eye out for career recruiting events, such as the upcoming Industry Fair for Business, Science, and Engineering on September 15 from 10am-2pm at Swinney Recreation Center.  Learn more and register here.
  • For technology issues and help setting up your email account, contact the Information Services Technology Support Center at 816-235-2000.  For questions about Canvas, call 816-235-6700. 
    • All official communications are made through the University’s email system and all use of University email and technology must adhere to the Acceptable Use Policy.
  • Questions about your academic program
    • Meet with the academic advisor for your Major Academic Path (MAP) at Roo Advising.
    • Review your degree requirements in the UMKC Catalog.
    • Keep track of important registration deadlines in the Academic Calendar.
  • Review your rights and responsibilities regarding academic conduct and other campus policies and resources in the Student Handbook.

Best of luck for a successful and productive semester.  I am so glad you are here!

Michele D. Smith, Ph.D.

Vice Provost for Student Affairs and Dean of Students

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