News @ Commonwealth College

COMMONWEALTH COLLEGE NOTICES

COMCOL LOUNGE EVENTS & ACTIVITIES

ADVISING REMINDERS & INFORMATION

SCHOLARSHIPS, FELLOWSHIPS & INTERNSHIPS

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES

CAMPUS & COMMUNITY EVENTS

STUDENT LIFE

 

COMMONWEALTH COLLEGE NOTICES

COMCOL'S JOCELYN SCHEINTAUB NAMED FULBRIGHT SCHOLAR

Commonwealth College senior Jocelyn Scheintaub, a double major in English and chemistry, has been awarded a Fulbright Grant for a year of research abroad. Scheintaub, who is currently finishing her senior thesis research creating polymers to help form more efficient photovoltaic cells, will spend the 2006-2007 academic year in Mainz, Germany. At the Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research, she will work on a project creating new stamping materials for nanoprinting. Read more about Jocelyn’s award and projects.

NEW HONORS STUDY! EARN CREDIT AND HELP COM COL ASSESS CURRICULUM - HONORS 397Z, 1 CREDIT

Commonwealth College students within a range of majors and colleges are needed to take part in a one-credit per semester study designed to assess work assigned and completed within their classes. This study is part of an effort to assess the effectiveness of the honors curriculum, and is open to any student within Commonwealth College, as long as the student is taking honors-level courses during the academic year 2006-2007, is available to attend four class meetings each semester on Wednesday nights, and is also organized and able to collect and catalog all of their work in the other classes they are taking throughout the semester, including class activities and assignments. Class size will be limited to 25 students. Because the participation of students from a variety of majors and colleges is needed, filling out and submitting an application does not guarantee entry into the study. To learn more, view the study syllabus. Submit application (available here online) to comcol@comcol.umass.edu or 504 Goodell.

FULFILL YOUR CAPSTONE REQUIREMENT AS A SERVICE COORDINATOR

The Office of Community Service Learning is offering a way to fulfill the capstone requirement by serving as a Community Service Learning (CSL) Service Coordinator for the special Dean's Book Courses with a service-learning component, Honors 291R and Honors 391S. Start your capstone this coming fall and finish in spring 2007. As coordinator you will be finding service placements for students in the class and much more. A modest stipend accompanies this position. Applications are available in 610 Goodell. Questions? Feel free to contact the current coordinator Shawna St. John at slstjohn@student.umass.edu.

3-CREDIT BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS MENTORING PROGRAM

Having trouble finding another class? Interested in doing something amazing for the community while getting college credits at the same time? Enroll in this 3- credit honors course and answer to the needs of youth in this community and fill your schedule at the same time!
WHAT: Big Brothers Big Sisters Mentoring Program designed to foster positive relationships between youth and college students.
All Mentors:
-Receive full comprehensive training
-Earn 3 Honors credits for Fall Semester
WHEN: One weekly meeting Tuesdays: 3-5 PM, Plus 3-5 hours/week with your “Little”
   Applications are available at the Office of Community Service Learning, 610 Goodell. For more information, contact Shakira Alvarez-Ferrer at 253-2591 or salvarez@chd.org, or OCSL at 545-2015 or servelearn@acad.umass.edu. This is an Honors Course but you DO NOT have to be in ComCol to participate.

COMCOL LOUNGE EVENTS & ACTIVITIES

THE LANGUAGE(S) OF COMBAT: PUBLIC, PRIVATE, PERSONAL & POLITICAL

A senior art installation by Sarah Krill will be showing May 10-27, Commonwealth College Office, 504 Goodell. Come investigate the competing discourses surrounding the war in Iraq and Afghanistan through this visual art installation. In this maze of language, how do the conflicting representations of the war, and the warriors involved, impact both the soldiers' ability to tell their personal war stories, and our ability to witness their experiences?

STUDENT DOCUMENTARIES TO AIR, MAY 18

4:00-6:00pm
ComCol Lounge
ComCol students from this spring's Video Dean's Book Course will air their documentaries. These documentary shorts--written, filmed, edited, and produced by the students--were done as part of their 391 DBC and inspired by their reading of the semester's text, David Shipler's The Working Poor. The showing is free and open to the College community. Please come, enjoy the presentation, and learn more about this alternative 391. And visit the Video DBC class website for some sneak previews.

ADVISING REMINDERS & INFORMATION

FINISHING YOUR CAPSTONE EXPERIENCE?

Seniors and Juniors who are completing their Capstone Experience requirements are reminded to consult the manuscript formatting and Archiving requirements for the award of Magna or Summa cum laude. Instructions, title and abstract page templates, and the “Capstone Completion” form are available online from the ComCol website.
   The date for submission of Capstone Experience manuscripts to the Commonwealth College office is May 31st. Students should plan to submit their manuscripts in person to avoid honors and grad clearance problems.

Grad candidates for May 2006 are also reminded to update their addresses on SPIRE so that honors and grad clearance correspondence is routed correctly this summer.

WALK-IN ADVISING HAS ENDED

Advising has returned to its regular appointment basis. Visit 504 Goodell or call 413. 545.2483 to make an appointment.

SCHOLARSHIPS, FELLOWSHIPS & INTERNSHIPS

STATE HOUSE/SENATE SUMMER INTERNSHIPS AVAILABLE


Representative Deborah D. Blumer
(Democrat, 6th Middlesex District) is seeking interns to provide valuable staff assistance in exchange for the opportunity to gain the “inside” perspective and learn how the State House operates. Interns are encouraged to attend meetings, hearings and legislative sessions of the House and Senate. An internship encompasses a wide range of tasks and responsibilities that assist Representative Blumer with legislative and administrative work.
   Interested applicants should send resume and cover letter to Diana Hwang, Legislative Aide, at diana.hwang@state.ma.us. See posted announcement for details.

Representative Denise Provost (Somerville) is looking for candidates who are interested in developing their research and writing skills through a summer internship at the State House. An internship with Representative Provost's office will provide exposure to state government and an opportunity to research and write about policy and constituent issues. Interns will also contribute to administrative office projects.
    Interested candidates should submit to Elizabeth Monnin (elizabeth.monnin@state.ma.us) a cover letter, short writing sample (no more than 3 pages), resume, and their summer availability. We are looking for a commitment of at least 2 days a week. We are accepting qualified applicants on a rolling basis. Please call or email with any questions.

Senator Cynthia Stone Creem: Summer Internship positions (unpaid) are available in the State House office of Senator Cynthia Stone Creem, a progressive Democrat representing Brookline, Newton, and Wellesley. Senator Creem is looking for professional and hard working individuals with an interest in gaining valuable experience in state government and legislative politics. See posted announcement for details.

Senator Susan Fargo: The Office of Senator Susan Fargo offers a limited number of volunteer Summer internship opportunities. Placements are made in a variety of public policy and functional areas, and work assignments are aligned with the intern's academic interests and/or professional goals. Internships give students a unique opportunity to observe and learn about the legislative process. See posted announcement for details.

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES

OCSL STUDENT OFFICE ASSISTANT POSITION '06-'07

Four office assistant positions with the UMass Office of Community Service Learning at Commonwealth College will be available both fall ‘06 and spring ‘07 semesters. Positions are for 5-10 hours/week at an hourly rate of $6.75/hour. Upon satisfactory performance, student staff may receive pay rate increases each semester (up to a maximum of $10/hour). Work study and non-work study positions available. Possibility of summer 2006 positions, too.
  For details, including application information, click here.

CAMPUS & COMMUNITY EVENTS

BOOKS NEEDED FOR BOOKS BUILDING BRIDGES!!!

Books Building Bridges is a valley-wide project dedicated to examining the impact of war on libraries, literacy and education in the US and in Iraq. In partnership with Books to Baghdad, Books Building Bridges is looking for donations of academic textbooks published within the last five years in the following subjects: engineering, math, science, computer science, medicine, and technology. The donated books will be shipped to faculty and students at Baghdad University in July 2006. Books Building Bridges is also working with other colleges and universities in the Valley to support book donation drives on various campuses. The efforts at UMASS are supported by the UMASS anti-war coalition and several professors. The book donation box at UMASS is outside the Campus Center Graduate Lounge just across the blue wall.
    For more information, please visit the Books Building Bridges website. The UMASS Anti-War Collation can be contacted at UMassAWC@gmail.com. To reach AFSC, 413.584.8975 or afsc@crocker.com. Please spread the word!!

STUDENT LIFE

INTERNATIONAL CULTURAL EXPERIENCE - IN SEARCH OF LEADERS

The International Cultural Experience, ICE, is a new RSO, which seeks to bring people from all backgrounds to meet and share their cultures with each other. Over the past 2 years of formation, the people in this club have accomplished many amazing things, such as biweekly internationally themed coffeehouses. We held an international competition and an international dance. We also learned a lot of lessons and there are certainly a lot of opportunities to further improve this club. Many of our board members are graduating this year and we would really like this club to continue to blossom in your visions and your hands, whether you would like to hold a position or just be a part of the club. If you are interested, please contact Inna at 774-278-0454 or Innaes2001@yahoo.com.