Before you know it, your undergraduate education will come to an end. You’re probably excited to say good-bye to papers, lab reports, and exams (unless you plan to attend graduate school)!

Lifelong learning can come in a variety of forms, including, but not limited to: meeting and engaging with new people, traveling, community involvement, reading and keeping up to speed on current events, pursuing career opportunities, certificate programs, and picking up new hobbies! Learning does not have to end when you graduate; your educational journey could just be getting started.

Below are a few tips/resources to becoming a lifelong learner:

• UMBC Graduate School: If you plan on pursing an advanced degree, look no further! This fall, UMBC is awarding newly admitted alumni with a $1,000 scholarship! Visit the Graduate School web site to learn more about our exciting program offerings!

• UMBC Division of Professional Studies: Already have a job lined up but still interested in continuing your education? UMBC's Division of Professional Studies has courses, certificates and programs, designed to fit the busy schedule of the working professional. New program offerings include Data Science; Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Leadership; Technical Management; and Integrated Product Development and Manufacturing.

• UMBC Training Centers: If you are looking to gain a new skill and need flexible and affordable options, you may want to visit our Training Centers. High quality, flexible professional education and training opportunities are available year-round! Some courses are open to all individuals (no application needed)!

• Remain active: Clubs/organizations are available outside of college! A simple Google search will direct you to a variety of local activities where you can participate, take lessons from aerobics, to sports, to even learning a new language! Meetup.com is an excellent resource for connecting with people who share similar interests!

• Build your brand: Our Career Center is not just for current students! Alumni can make connections through various services that the Career Center offers. Seek out professional development opportunities within your workplace, including conferences, workshops, mentoring programs, or leadership trainings. Now that you are in a real-world setting, there will be other skills you will need to learn!

Stay in touch: As your graduating class prepares to travel down different paths, you will have so much to offer one another as you gain further knowledge and life experiences. By staying in touch with former classmates, you may encounter opportunities to collaborate in work or network in a field different than your own. To start, you can join UMBC’s Chapter of Young Alumni, open to graduates of the last decade. Membership is free via the UMBC Alumni Association, which offers chances for networking and fun throughout the year. Join our LinkedIn page to see where over 55,000 UMBC alumni are working!

Life after college is what you make of it. Keep an eye open to the countless experiences that are waiting for you outside of UMBC. Your very next lesson may be one that carries you through life!

Bonus Links:

Why You Should Strive to be a Lifelong Learner by Matt Mayberry

You are not at UMBC only to seek recognition. You are here to gain an education. But, if you are a strong student, you may find yourself making the Dean’s List, joining (or even leading) honor societies, working toward an Honors College Medallion, or applying for merit scholarships in your field.  Here is some information to help you navigate these opportunities at UMBC.

Academic Honors based on Semester Grades

The academic honor available to the largest number of UMBC students is completely automatic. Full-time students who achieve certain semester grade point averages receive a notation on their permanent UMBC transcripts as follows:  

Semester Academic Honors = 3.50 and up

Dean’s List Honors = 3.75 and up

President’s List Honors = 4.00

The beauty of this recognition is that you get a chance at it every fall and spring semester. It is definitely a morale boost also and resume-worthy when you see one of these notations on your transcript. It places you among the most successful students at UMBC in a given semester.

Honor Societies-Multi-disciplinary

Honor societies may be identified by Greek letters, but they are not fraternities or sororities in the usual sense of “Greek life” on campus.  Based on your academic performance at UMBC, you may be invited to join one or more of these organizations. You do not apply for membership. The most active honor societies on campus are:

Phi Beta Kappa:  The big Kahuna of American scholarly honor societies, PBK was founded at the College of William and Mary back in 1776 (a big year for the American colonies!). To win a Phi Beta Kappa key, a student has to achieve very high grades in a course of study that includes courses across the liberal arts well beyond minimum general education requirements for a degree.  A faculty committee here at UMBC evaluates potential selectees for Phi Beta Kappa honors. UMBC’s faculty and staff who were PBK members from their undergraduate days had to demonstrate the breadth and rigor of our academic program in order to establish a chapter of this prestigious honor society in 1998.  This is one invitation you will definitely want to accept if offered. Learn more about PBK.

Phi Kappa Phi:  Founded in 1897 at the University of Maine, Phi Kappa Phi honors high-achieving students in all disciplines, at both the undergraduate and graduate levels.  The UMB-UMBC chapter was installed at UMBC in 2010 and is hard at work at creating campus presence. Phi Kappa Phi’s motto is “Let the love of learning rule humanity.” 

Golden Key International Honor Society:  Golden Key membership is extended to high-achieving students in all disciplines. The national and international organizations offer a large program of scholarships and awards open to members as well as regional and national conferences. UMBC’s award-winning chapter of Golden Key is well known for its extensive community service commitments, such as hosting an annual Halloween party for children at Villa Maria Children’s Center.  A tutoring program at Arbutus Middle School is another project recently launched. Learn more about Golden Key at UMBC.  

Tau Sigma National Honor Society:  Founded in 1999 at Auburn University, Tau Sigma recognizes and supports talented transfer students at four-year universities. This society does require students who believe they meet the criteria to apply for membership. Membership is available to transfer students who achieve high-grade averages during their first full-time semester of enrollment at UMBC. The UMBC chapter was created in 2007. Learn more and apply.

Graduation Honors

Honors are based upon coursework taken over the duration of a student’s entire undergraduate academic career at UMBC. To be eligible for Honors, students must have earned at least 60 graded credits at UMBC (excluding Pass/Fail and Audit grades) with a GPA as follows:

Summa cum laude (“With highest honor”): Students graduating with a GPA between 3.95 and 4.0.

Magna cum laude (“With high honor”): Students graduating with a GPA between 3.75 and 3.9499.

Cum laude (“With honor”): Students graduating with a GPA between 3.5 and 3.7499.

Visit the Registrar’s website for how graduation honors in calculated.

Academic Recognition for Varsity Athletes

The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and other external organizations sponsor a variety of awards recognizing the academic achievements of varsity athletes.  UMBC athletes and whole teams regularly receive recognition for maintaining high academic standards despite demanding athletic schedules. In addition, UMBC sponsors a chapter of the National College Athlete Honor Society, Chi Alpha Sigma. 

Academic Merit Scholarships

The great bulk of academic merit scholarships at UMBC are awarded to students at the time they are admitted to UMBC.  However, there are some opportunities for students enrolled at UMBC to compete for scholarships based primarily on academic achievement, sometimes in combination with service and need.  For example, UMBC sponsors a small scholarship for returning women students. The UMBC Alumni Association also sponsors scholarships for continuing students. The Honors College and the Ancient Studies Department have some study abroad scholarships. The UMBC Theatre Department provides modest scholarships to majors based on academic performance and service. An extensive listing of such scholarships is available.

These scholarships are as much a way for UMBC to recognize top students as they are a means of financial support.  Applying for merit scholarships at UMBC is therefore very worthwhile, even if the amounts involved are modest. These scholarships come and go, so be sure to do careful research.

We just obtained a great opportunity for an upcoming May or recent graduate at VALIC in Linthicum, MD.  The Enrollment Specialist position will allow you to work alongside financial advisors as you work with teachers and staff in the K-12 educational system.  Full position details can be found below.  If you are interested, apply to position 9298981 in UMBCworks ASAP. 

Excel with VALIC
With the combined strength and diverse products of AIG member companies and VALIC powering your efforts, you can provide a uniquely high level of personalized retirement and financial planning— and make a real difference in the lives of those who deserve your help.

Our Enrollment Specialists have the opportunity to assist existing & potential clients with employer-sponsored retirement plan enrollments including:
•    Prepare and help clients complete contracts & related product materials during the enrollment process
•    Educate potential clients on product focus
•    Participate in firm or client sponsored events & deliver on-site education of the client’s employer-sponsored plan
•    Partner with a Senior Financial Advisor within assigned territory when client requires planning advice on investments outside employer sponsored-plan or to consolidate assets
•    Adhere to the highest compliance standards

What We Provide:
•    Existing employer relationships with current retirement plan participants to contact
•    Marketing support including mailings, email blasts and customized flyers
•    Company-provided technology, including equipment, helpdesk assistance, client management and financial planning tools
•    Pay for performance compensation schedule
•    Competitive benefits package with immediate access to medical, dental, vision, life and 401K with match
•    Educational support toward certification(s), license(s) and career development
•    Ongoing coaching and mentoring by a Senior Financial Advisor

What You Need:
•    Self-motivated with a strong drive to succeed
•    Ability to obtain FINRA Series 7 and 66 or 6 and 63 license(s) with VALIC sponsorship
•    Ability to obtain active state variable life and health license with VALIC sponsorship
•    Ability to quickly earn trust and build lasting relationships
•    Eagerness to learn the financial services industry and be mentored by a Senior Financial Advisor
•    College graduate with demonstrated success in GPA and extra-curricular activities welcome to apply

 VALIC Overview
The Variable Annuity Life Insurance Company ("VALIC") and VALIC Financial Advisors, Inc., subsidiaries of AIG, is an insurance, retirement and financial planning company that services clients in the not for profit, as well as the for-profit sectors. We are best known for the work that we do in the 403(b) space where our Advisors partner with clients that work in public school districts, universities and hospitals. Additionally, we also work with clients in governmental offices and, because of the vast product and services that we offer, we also have clients in the private sector. VALIC is a national company that is headquartered in Houston, TX. We have 48 district offices across the country with just under 1,500 financial advisors. VALIC’s roots date back to 1955. In 1964, we implemented the very first 403b plan in a public school district. We regularly rank in the “top 3” against our direct competitors and in the K-12 market.

Did you know that, according to the Kauffman Foundation, two thirds, or more than 2,000 U.S. universities and colleges offer at least one course in entrepreneurship?  Fortunately you attend UMBC – a bold institution that not only offers entrepreneurship courses and a very popular, fast-moving minor in the field, but is also home to the Alex. Brown Center for Entrepreneurship. 

Markus Proctor, pictured here (news.umbc.edu) designed an Interdisciplinary Studies (INDS) major which focused on Tech Entrepreneurship and Organizational Management. The creator of a web-based platform that helps students keep organized, on task, and up to date with changes in their course syllabi, launched a company called  EduPal which pivited into new directions including virtual reality and analytics.  An Extra Credit staff writer sat down with Markus to talk about entrepreneurship, his experience at UMBC and some recommendations for current students. 
 
EC: How can UMBC students approach their education (course decisions, internship choices, major choices) in an entrepreneurial fashion?
 
MP: Entrepreneurship can extend beyond its economic/business definition into many different areas of our lives because, in simple terms, it's all about value creation through innovative problem-solving. Students should focus on the "value-add" of their choices as often as possible whether its selecting courses, applying for internships, or declaring a major/minor. Before making rushed decisions, students should ask "how does this create value for me?" and "how can I confirm my assumptions?". This is where leveraging resources on campus to make an informed, decisive decision is critical. 
 
EC: What do you feel has been your greatest success at UMBC and what resources from UMBC contributed to that success?
 
MP: My greatest success at UMBC is building a reputable start-up in the Baltimore region that has allowed me to meet exceptional people, receive awards, and fully enjoy the process of learning. There are many resources that have contributed to that success: 
 

*The opportunity to design my own degree with the Interdisciplinary Studies Department

*The study abroad program which allowed me the opportunity to conduct preliminary, exploratory research in Switzerland

*The Alex Brown Center for Entrepreneurship

*Outstanding administrators and professors supporting me along the way

 
EC: What experience, course, relationship, or resource at UMBC do you consider to be the greatest "difference-maker"  as a student and entrepreneur at UMBC?
 
MP: The Cangialosi Business Innovation Competition was the one experience that made the biggest difference in my journey as an "edupreneur" and student; I highly recommend that students participate in this event.
 
EC: If you could go back and "redo" your first three years at UMBC, what would you do differently and why?
 
MP: I would network with more students on campus because we have an abundance of talent on campus. Who knows what can happen if more students integrated their talents to solve big problems?
   
If you are inspired by Markus’s story and experience, be sure to explore the many events, activities, and tools that the Alex. Brown Center for Entrepreneurship (Public Policy, Room 115) offers. 
 
KEY LINKS:  
The Minor in Entrepreneurship at UMBC  
The Shattuck Family Internship Program for Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Social Change    
                                                                       
BONUS LINKS:
Markus Proctor, founder of EduPal, is ready for career as an entrepreneur Class of Spring 2016 Graduate Profile
"Five TED Talks Every Entrepreneur Should Watch" by  Jayson Demers on entrepreneur.com