NEWS @ COMMONWEALTH COLLEGE

Announcements & Activities

  1. Leadership Opportunities for Commonwealth College
  2. Networking with Alumni Attorneys, April 17
  3. Pizza & Prof with Prof Ben Branch, April 22
  4. Weekly Wed. Workshop: Podium Pointers, April 23
  5. Dr Sally Reis to Speak on the Gifted and Talented, April 23
  6. Dinner and a Movie: A Day without a Mexican, April 28
  7. Alumni Workshops at the Undergraduate Conference, May 2

Achievements, Awards & Accolades

  1. Michael Krainin Wins Prestigious Goldwater Scholarship

$cholarships and $upport

  1. Research Assistant Fellowships Deadline, April 22
  2. Honors Research Grants: Deadline, April 22

Internships & Employment

  1. Photo Assistants Needed at Commencement
  2. Young Professionals in New Orleans - This Could Be You!

Academic Opportunities

  1. Do Research in Europe as a UMass Student!
  2. 3 Fall '08 Courses to Help You Get Involved with the Community
  3. Community Service Learning Independent Studies
  4. Exciting Leadership Opportunity Available!
  5. Community Service Learning Dean's Book Course

Campus & Community Events

  1. Food Drive to Benefit Amherst Survival Center
  2. CHFA Career Connections Networking Reception, April 24
  3. Spring 2008 Environmental Lecture Series, Apr 16-May 5
  4. 8th Annual Juniper Literary Festival, April 25 & 26

— ANNOUNCEMENTS & ACTIVITIES —

LEADERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES FOR COMMONWEALTH COLLEGE
Do you have an interest in assisting incoming Commonwealth College students during our Welcome Weekend Orientation (formally Labor Day Orientation) and enhancing your leadership skills? Find out more and apply to be a Welcome Weekend Orientation Leader.

NETWORKING WITH ALUMNI ATTORNEYS, APRIL 17
Thinking about law school? Interested in hearing from practicing attorneys? Come to "Networking with Alumni Attorneys" this Thursday, April 17th at 6:00 p.m. in Memorial Hall. Meet with several alumni attorneys practicing law in a variety of fields settings, including Gary Marchese (’78 BDIC), sole practitioner, divorce, family, and bankruptcy law; Frederick Augenstern (’75 English), Assistant Massachusetts Attorney General in the Environmental Protection Division; Dwight Merriam ('68 Sociology), partner at Robinson & Cole with practice in land use law; David Sullivan ('81 Management), Register of Probate, Hampshire Probate and Family Court; Elizabeth Silver ('75 Psychology), Supervising Attorney, Neighborhood Legal Services, Lynn and Lawrence. Co-sponsored by Commonwealth College and the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences. Pizza will be served! RSVP to c3@comcol.umass.edu.


PIZZA & PROF WITH PROF BEN BRANCH, APRIL 22
Professor Branch will examine the question of whether markets are able to incorporate available information into prices quickly and effectively. He will also discuss why most professional investors earn only average returns. Professor Branch will also examine where very successful investors such as Warren Buffet fit into the financial world. The talk will address these questions and discuss how investors tired of 5-percent return rates on certificates of deposit could earn at least the historic market average of 9 percent to 11 percent and perhaps build on the little opportunities that would allow them to do somewhat better financially.
     The program starts at 6:30 in the ComCol lounge of 504 Goodell. Pizza is served at 6:15. Come join the feast and fun ... and bring your friends. To reserve a seat and a slice, email pizzaprof@comcol.umass.edu by Monday evening.

WEEKLY WED WORKSHOP: PODIUM POINTERS, APRIL 23
Join Alex Deschamps as she provides public speaking tips for oral defenses, Dean's Book presentations, and general life experiences.
     Workshops take place 6:00-7:00pm in 504 Goodell. RSVP to c3@comcol.umass.edu by Monday 4pm prior to the event if you are planning to attend.

DR SALLY REIS TO SPEAK ON THE GIFTED & TALENTED, APRIL 23
Commonwealth College is sponsoring a presentation by Dr. Sally Reis, Professor and Dept Head of the Educational Psychology Dept at the UConn Neag School of Education, on April 23 at 4:00 pm in Campus Center 904-908. Her talk will focus on how the findings of the National Research Center on the Gifted and Talented apply to university-level honors education. Please see the on-line flyer.

DINNER & A MOVIE: A DAY WITHOUT A MEXICAN, APRIL 28
Directed by Sergio Arau, this 2004 mockumentary provides a comedic look at what California would be like if Latinos disappeared.
    Show starts at 7:00pm in 504 Goodell and dinner is served at 6:45pm. Please RSVP to peers@comcol.umass.edu for dinner by theFriday before if you plan to attend.

ALUMNI WORKSHOPS AT THE UNDERGRAD CONFERENCE, MAY 2
Commonwealth College invites you to participate in alumni-run workshops as Part of the 14th Annual Undergraduate Conference on Friday, May 2nd in the Campus Center.  More than 400 students will be presenting the results of their research, creative, community service, and study abroad experiences.  Check out their projects, and join us for workshops put on by UMass Amherst honors alumni.
    UMass Amherst honors alumni will offer several workshops for conference participants and Commonwealth College students:

• Research Skills in the Real World – alumni from a wide variety of fields will address the topic: “How Skills Developed During Undergraduate Research Can be Useful After Graduation.”  This will be run in two sessions, at 10:10 a.m., with a particular focus on preparation for graduate level research, and at 1:30 p.m. with a focus on research in careers.

• Public Speaking and Presentation Skills – alumni share tricks of the trade and the value of particularly good presentations.  One session at 10:10 a.m.

• Careers in Community Service – hear from alumni who have turned their interest in community service into careers.  Who knew there were so many options?  One session at 1:30 p.m.

• Marketing Yourself – alumni offer insights on what they look for in job applicants, and how they found their first jobs.  One session at 1:30 p.m.

Seating is limited for these workshops, so please RSVP by April 24 to umcur@comcol.umass.edu to hold your spot.

—ACHIEVEMENTS, AWARDS & ACCOLADES—

MICHAEL KRAININ WINS PRESTIGIOUS GOLDWATER SCHOLARSHIP
Commonwealth College junior Michael Krainin is one of just 321 students nationwide to be awarded the Goldwater Scholarhip for the 2008-09 academic year. Goldwater Scholars, chosen on the basis of academic merit, all intend to pursue careers in science, mathematics, or engineering. [Read more about Michael Krainin's award.]

— $CHOLARSHIPS AND $UPPORT —

RESEARCH ASSISTANT FELLOWSHIPS DEADLINE, APRIL 22
Attention Freshman & Sophomore Commonwealth College students! The deadline to apply for Research Assistant Fellowships for Fall 2008 is Tuesday, April 22, 2008, 4:00 p.m., 408 Goodell.
     These Fellowships are working fellowships that pay $8.00 per hour up to a maximum of $1,000 for students to work on a faculty member's research project. The program is designed to provide supplemental financial assistance, to give you an opportunity to gain experience in your academic field, and to help prepare you to undertake your own research. Application forms and guidelines are available here. Submit applications with essay and documentation from faculty member to ATTN: Research Fellowships, Commonwealth College, 408 Goodell. You must submit your application jointly with a faculty member.

HONORS RESEARCH GRANTS: DEADLINE, APRIL 22
Attention Junior Commonwealth College students! The deadline to apply for Honors Research Grants for Fall 2008 is Tuesday, April 22, 2008, 4:00 p.m., in 408 Goodell.
    Juniors who will be seniors pursuing honors research in the next academic year are eligible to apply. Students must submit a proposal outlining their project accompanied by a letter of endorsement from their faculty sponsor. Every recipient is asked to present his or her work at the statewide Undergraduate Research Conference in spring 2009. These fellowships of up to $1,000 are for direct costs only and do not provide a stipend or wage. Application forms and guidelines are available online here. Submit applications with proposal and letter of support to ATTN: Honors Grants, Commonwealth College, 408 Goodell.

— INTERNSHIPS & EMPLOYMENT —

PHOTO ASSISTANTS NEEDED AT COMMENCEMENT
The Commencement Office is looking for students (non-graduating seniors), staff or community members to assist the professional photographers during undergraduate Commencement. [See flyer for complete information.]

YOUNG PROFESSIONALS IN NEW ORLEANS-COULD BE YOU!
Presented by The New Orleans Young Urban Rebuilding Professionals Initiative (NOLA-YURP) (www.nolayurp.com) The mission of the NOLA-YURP Initiative is to build a support and resource network to attract, connect, and retain young professionals from diverse backgrounds for a sustainable New Orleans. The executive director is Nathan Rothstein, UMass '06.
WHEN: Tuesday, April 22nd at 7pm
WHERE: UMass Campus Center, Room 162
WHAT: They will speak about the climate of the city from a young person's perspective and the types of job opportunities are available. They will also talk about different ways to help the city from college campuses. The event will feature photography Erin FitzPatrick, who will also talk about her work.
     This event is free and open to the Five Colleges community. Juniors & Seniors who are thinking about jobs after graduation should check this out. We would also like to see the different groups who went to New Orleans for Alternative Spring Break to meet each other and reflect on their experiences. [view NOLA-YURP poster]

— ACADEMIC OPPORTUNITIES —

DO RESEARCH IN EUROPE AS A UMASS STUDENT!
Commonwealth College students from across the social sciences, history, and cultural studies are invited to participate in the 2008-2009 round of the European Field Studies (EFS) Program. This three-course program (Fall-Spring-Fall) is ideal for undergraduates preparing an honors thesis. By launching themselves early and intensively into guided field research, students gain international research experience as well as valuable grant-writing skills that make them more successful in advanced graduate research in the social sciences. Working closely with a faculty advisor, EFS participants develop and carry out independent, ethnographic research projects in Europe (including Turkey and the former Soviet Union). Past participants in the program have published their research in peer-reviewed journals and presented at major conferences. Further information is available online or contact the EFS program director, Prof. Krista Harper at <kharper@anthro.umass.edu>.

COURSES TO HELP YOU GET INVOLVED IN THE COMMUNITY
Honors 292S, Engaging with the Community: An Introduction to Community Service Learning, introduces you to the practice of Community Service Learning—including how to engage effectively with a community through its people and organizations and how to learn deeply from that experience. In this course you will encounter and learn from people who have different experiences, opinions, racial and ethnic and class backgrounds from yourself -- and you will get to know yourself better. You will develop skills for experiential learning and for taking charge of your own education -- including observation, journaling, and learning circles -- that you can use in your UMass education and beyond. This course fulfills the Interdisciplinary and U.S. Diversity Gen. Ed. Requirements. This Fall, Engaging with the Community will have three sections. [See flyer for full information.]

COMMUNITY SERVICE LEARNING INDEPENDENT STUDIES
Are you interested in designing your own service-learning independent study? The Community Service Learning Honors Independent Study (CSLHIS) program, offered through the Office of Community Service Learning, gives you the opportunity to link service with a community organization to course work.
    This program enables you to earn up to two additional credits by integrating a service-learning experience with one of your UMass courses of three credits or more (from this semester or last semester).  You will need to find a service placement that relates to your course content and also ask your course instructor to sponsor you.  If you need assistance finding a placement, visit Community Service Links at www.umass.edu/csl or speak with the CSLHIS Coordinator. CSLHIS is open to all UMass students. For more information, visit www.umass.edu/csl/CSLHIS, or contact the Office of Community Service Learning, 610 Goodell, 545-2015, servelearn@acad.umass.edu. Applications will be accepted during pre-registration through September 29th.

EXCITING LEADERSHIP OPPORTUNITY AVAILABLE!
Looking for a fun and different way to earn academic credit and money and give back to the community? Apply for the Dean’s Book Service Coordinator Position! This position involves working closely with community based organizations, students, the Office of Community Service Learning, and the course instructor to provide service placements and lead discussions for students enrolled in the Fall 2008 section of the CSL Dean’s Book course (391S).
    This role also requires enrolling in the course Honors 393L: Leadership in Service Learning in Fall 2008 and putting in 20 hours of preparation work in April and May. The Service Coordinator will earn $200 for the preparation work this semester as well as 4 credits and $500 for work in the Fall 2008 semester.
     Please stop by the Office of Community Service Learning in 610 Goodell for more information or to pick up an application. You may also contact the current service coordinator, Ashley Pratte, at csldeansbook@comcol.umass.edu for an application or any additional information.

COMMUNITY SERVICE LEARNING DEAN'S BOOK COURSE
Do want to give back to the community? Are you in Commonwealth College? Consider taking this “two-in-one” Dean’s book course! The Dean’s Book Community Service Learning class, or CSL Dean’s book, is a 3-credit course that combines 291 and 391 along with a community service component. You must have junior status or above to be eligible for the 391S class. Some sophomores may be admitted and are welcome to apply. The class will be held on Wednesdays from 5:00-6:55. This fall, there will be two books, Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer and another chosen by the instructor. Students then do 18 hours of community service in Holyoke based on themes from the book along with attending the Introduction to Holyoke on a Saturday at the beginning of the semester.
     If you would like to apply for the course, either stop by 610 Goodell to pick up an application, or print out an application from www.umass.edu/csl. Contact the community service coordinator, Ashley Pratte at CSLdeansbook@comcol.umass.edu for any additional questions. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling admission basis so the sooner you apply, the better your chances are of getting into the class.

— CAMPUS & COMMUNITY EVENTS —

FOOD DRIVE TO BENEFIT AMHERST SURVIVAL CENTER
The OCSL at 610 Goodell Building is a drop-off site for the UMass Amherst Alumni Association food drive to benefit the Amherst Survival Center. We will be accepting donations now until April 30th. There is also an opportunity for students and staff to help out by taking donated goods from the OCSL to the main UMass collection site at 37 Mather. See the on-line flyer from the Alumni Association for a list of what items are most needed, and also what not to donate.

CHFA CAREER CONNECTIONS NETWORKING RECEPTION, APRIL 24
Fine Arts Center Lobby, 3:00-6:00pm
The College of Humanities and Fine Arts Career Connections connects current students with successful CHFA graduates. Alumni/ae from CHFA departments will be available to discuss their current professions and how their education in the College of Humanities and Fine Arts relates to their careers. Refreshments provided and raffle for an IPOD Touch!

SPRING 2008 ENVIRONMENTAL LECTURE SERIES
The Environmental Institute is pleased to announce the Spring 2008 Environmental Lecture Series which will feature three distinguished scientists addressing Emerging Technologies and Environmental Applications and Impacts. Public Lectures will focus on the environment and nanotechnology; wireless sensor networks to monitor global environmental change; and the role of genome science in bioenergy, carbon cycling, and environmental remediation respectively. The series is free and open to the public. See flyer for complete information.

8th ANNUAL JUNIPER LITERARY FESTIVAL, APRIL 25 & 26
The 8th annual Juniper Festival, The World & the Word, will explore the confluence of environmental science and literary art.  Poets, essayists, fiction writers, activists, publishers, and scientists will gather to investigate the many ways environmental science and literary art need and nourish one another.  [See flyer for full information and events calendar.]