News @ Commonwealth College

— COMMONWEALTH COLLEGE —

Special Events

1. Small Works Art Competition at ComCol

ComCol Profiles

1. Prof Ventura Perez Examines Violence/Cultural Processes

Announcements & Activities

1. ComCol Names Fischer Assistant Director of Public Relations

Academic Opportunities

1. Dean's Book Course Classes Begin February 5
2. Mentoring with Big Brothers Big Sisters
3. New Course Introducing Service Learning
4. CSL Dean’s Book Courses for Spring ‘07—Apply Now
5. Capstone: Service Learning Coordinator for the DBC

Advising

1. Walk-in Advising Now through Add/Drop

$cholarships and $upport

1. Honors Research Grants Available, Apply by Feb 6
2. ComCol Scholarships Available, Apply by March 27
3. Fall Research Grants & Fellowships Available, Apply by April 24
4. Full Scholarships to Study Critical Languages This Summer

— CAMPUS & COMMUNITY —

Internships

1. Summer Internship in Technology Investment Banking
2. Summer Internship Teaching
3. Summer Internship at the State House

Student Life & Support

1. Class of 2007 Graduating Seniors
2. Does Your Student Group Need $$$$$$?

— COMMONWEALTH COLLEGE —

Special Events

ART COMPETITION SPONSORED BY COMCOL

Commonwealth College is seeking original student artwork to be displayed at "The Impossible Dream" Symposium on Feb 23 in the Campus Center. Submissions should illustrate a theme present in Don Quixote. They may be paintings, drawings, pottery, sculpture, collage, photography, or mixed media. Artwork should be no larger than 18"x 24" hung or 16"x 16" on a pedestal.
    There will be cash awards for the winners. Please contact dean@comcol.umass.edu for more information or with your intention to submit. Priority will be given to submissions received by Dec 20, '06. Entries will be considered through Feb 2, '07, if space is available.

ComCol Profiles

PROF VENTURA PEREZ EXAMINES VIOLENCE & CULTURE

“The road to being a tenure-track biological anthropologist in UMass Amherst’s College of Social and Behavioral Sciences was not a super-highway for Ventura Perez; it was more like a winding mountain path. The recipient of the UMass Amherst Distinguished Teaching Award in 2005 when he was still a graduate assistant working toward his PhD, Perez says, ‘I’m the first in my family to go to college….’
    Perez likes being with students who want to learn and also are interested in community building. As a result, he created an undergraduate curriculum that includes student participation in Community Service Learning (CSL), under the auspices of Commonwealth College. ‘This hands-on, integrated approach enriches learning, teaches civic responsibility, and strengthens communities,’ he explains” (see Social and Behavioral Sciences “Faculty Profiles” for complete story).

Announcements & Activities

COMCOL NAMES FISCHER ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC RELATIONS

Alex Fischer looks forward to bringing his energy, insight, graphics and outreach expertise to better promote and highlight the personal nurturing of educational excellence at the Commonwealth College. Having grown up in an academic environment with both his father as a professor of English at SUNY Buffalo and his mother as a social worker, he feels right at home working in a university setting. (click for Press Release).

Academic Opportunities

DEAN'S BOOK COURSE CLASSES BEGIN FEBRUARY 5

The Dean's Book Course starts the second week of classes. Students enrolled for the spring semester must attend the first class meeting or will be considered a “no-show” and dropped from the section. Students still wishing to enroll should continue checking Spire for openings. If no openings occur, they may attend the first class meeting of a section fitting their schedule and replace any possible “no-show.” The spring book selection is Marjane Satrapi's two-volume graphic memoir, Persepolis and Persepolis 2, available at the textbook annex and local bookstores. Students should read the text prior to the first class meeting. For more on the course, visit http://www.comcol.umass.edu/dbc.

MENTORING WITH BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS

Would you like to play a constructive role in the life of a child? Would you like to learn how to be an effective mentor to a young person? Would you like to be part of a class where you can talk with other new Big Brothers or Big Sisters about the joys and challenges of building a strong and supportive relationship with a child? Then check out Honors 397R, Mentoring with Big Brothers Big Sisters, for Spring 2007. The course meets each Monday from 3:00 to 5:00. In addition to the class meetings, after being screened and approved, you will be matched as a Big Brother or Big Sister with a child, and you will commit to spending 3-5 hours each week over the coming year with your “Little.”
     As you build this relationship, you will grow, and the course will help you understand the complex issues that affect your Little Brother or Little Sister.
    For more information and for an application, come to the Office of Community Service Learning, 610 Goodell, between 9:00 and 5:00 Monday through Friday.

NEW COURSE INTRODUCING SERVICE LEARNING

Engaging with the Community (Honors 292S), offered for the first time this spring, will introduce students to the practice of Community Service Learning, including how to engage effectively with a community organization and how to learn deeply from that experience. Each time it is offered, it will be organized around a specific topic of public concern; this spring the course will focus on food security in the Connecticut River Valley of Massachusetts. The course is offered Tuesdays 1:00 - 3:45 and Thursday 1:00 - 2:15; Tuesday’s longer meetings will allow opportunities for field trips and interviews.
   For more information, click here. To apply, contact Will Snyder, the instructor, at 545-3876 or wsnyder@umext.umass.edu.

CSL DEAN’S BOOK COURSES FOR SPRING ‘07—APPLY NOW!

Want to fulfill 2 Dean’s Book requirements in 1 semester while helping the community? Then apply for Community Service Learning (CSL) Dean’s Book Course today! There will be 2 sections of CSL DBC offered in the Spring 2007: 291R will cover the requirements for 191D and 291D, and 391S will cover the requirements for 291D and 391D. Each course will be a semester long, and you will receive 3 credits for your completed participation. You will receive 1 credit for each section of Dean’s Book completed, and 1 credit for the 20 hours of community service you will be required to complete. For 291R, you must be of second semester Freshman status; for 391S, you must be of Junior status to participate. Both sections will read the required text (Persepolis 1 & 2) that is assigned to all Dean’s Book classes and an additional text chosen by the instructor. If you are interested in taking advantage of this exciting opportunity, please stop by the Office of Community Service Learning at 610 Goodell for more information or an application. You may also email the Service Coordinator, Cara Forti, at cforti@student.umass.edu for any further questions.

CAPSTONE: CSL COORDINATOR FOR THE DBC

Looking for a way to complete your capstone and give back to the community? Apply for the Dean’s Book Community Service Learning Coordinator Position! This position is a year long commitment (spring 2007-fall 2008) in which the coordinator works closely with students, community based organizations, the Office of Community Service Learning, and a course instructor to provide service placements and lead discussions for students enrolled in the CSL Dean’s Book course. The position will provide the six credits needed to fulfill the Capstone requirement and also a small stipend. Applications can be picked up at the CSL Office located at 610 Goodell. For any questions, visit the CSL office or email csldeansbook@comcol.umass.edu.

Advising

WALK-IN ADVISING NOW THROUGH ADD/DROP

Walk-In Advising Hours are 9:30-11:30 and 1:00-4:00 weekdays. These walk-in meetings are typically 15-20 minutes each; and you may have to wait for a while, so plan ahead!

$cholarships and $upport

HONORS RESEARCH GRANTS AVAILABLE, APPLY BY FEB 6

Each year, Honors Research Grants of up to $1,000 each are awarded to senior and junior Commonwealth College students through a competitive application process.
    For more information and to download an application, visit the Scholarships page of our website.

COMCOL SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE, APPLY BY MARCH 27

Commonwealth College alumni have endowed a variety of scholarships and awards. Selection criteria for most of these scholarships combine financial need and academic merit, and many of the senior awards consider service to the community as well as academic excellence. Applications for Commonwealth College scholarships must be submitted by March 27.
    For scholarship information and applications, follow the link associated with your class level: freshmen, sophomores, juniors, seniors.

FALL RESEARCH GRANTS AVAILABLE, APPLY BY APRIL 24

Applications for freshman and sophomore Research Assistant Fellowships as well as junior Honors Research Grants are now being accepted for the fall semester. For information and applications, visit the scholarship page for your class level: freshmen, sophomores, juniors.

FULL SCHOLARSHIPS TO STUDY CRITICAL LANGUAGES THIS SUMMER

Middlebury College is pleased to announce the Kathryn Wasserman Davis Scholarships in Critical Language Study. These scholarships will cover the full cost of a summer language study from beginner to graduate in Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Portuguese, and Russian at the Middlebury College Language Schools during the summer of 2007. The scholarships are part of the “100 Summer Scholarships for Peace” Program. Click here for more information and application.

— CAMPUS & COMMUNITY—

Internships

SUMMER INTERNSHIP IN TECHNOLOGY INVESTMENT BANKING

Two UMass Amherst alumni are looking to recruit qualified UMass Amherst juniors into a summer internship with their firm, Piper Jaffray, a leading international middle-market investment bank and institutional securities firm. Click here for more information on the internship and the application. Applications are due February 8, 2007. Representatives will be on campus to interview finalists the following week.

SUMMER INTERNSHIP TEACHING

"Summerbridge Cambridge teachers are outstanding, diverse high school and college students. Some are sure they want to become teachers, and some just want to give it a try. All are committed to working hard as role models for their middle school students. Every year, 40 – 45 high school and college students teach in Summerbridge Cambridge’s summer and after-school programs. They take on enormous responsibilities and receive extensive training and support. Through this hands-on immersion into teaching, they gain the skills and experience to become professional educators. Together with our colleagues in the Breakthrough Collaborative, Summerbridge Cambridge is building and diversifying the field of education" (Summerbridge Cambridge website). For more information click here.

SUMMER INTERNSHIP AT THE STATE HOUSE

Representative Denise Provost (D-Somerville) is looking for candidates who are interested in an internship at the Massachusetts State House for June-August, 2007. An internship with Representative Provost's office will provide exposure to state government and an opportunity to research and write about legislation. Interns will contribute to administrative office projects including: data entry, mailings, and filing.
    Interested candidates should submit their application to Elizabeth Monnin–Browder (elizabeth.monnin@state.ma.us) with the subject line “Summer Internship Application.” Your application should include: a cover letter, short writing sample (no more than 3 pages), and resume. In your cover letter, please be explicit about your availability including: available start and end date, which days you are available and for how many hours each day, and how many hours total you can commit each week. At minimum, candidates should be able to commit to at least 5 hours a week.
    We are accepting applications on a rolling basis. Please call (617-722-2810) or email Elizabeth with any questions.

Student Life

CLASS OF 2007 GRADUATING SENIORS

The Commonwealth College office is now preparing its lists of names for the UMass Commencement and ComCol Celebration of Excellence programs for May 2007 graduation. Please check your graduation date on SPIRE. If SPIRE does not reflect the date you truly plan to graduate, visit the Undergraduate Records Office in Whitmore by March 1 to make necessary corrections and ensure the accuracy of our lists.

DOES YOUR STUDENT GROUP NEED $$$$$?

The UMass Amherst Alumni Association provides grants to RSO's and other student organizations to help fund projects that will improve and enhance student life. Awards are limited to $2,000 per applicant group per academic year.
    Visit www.UMassAlumni.com for an application and grant guidelines today! Or contact the Alumni Association at 545-2317 for more information.