BreakingGround Digest


BreakingGround celebrates and extends innovative social change work by UMBC's students, faculty, staff, alumni and community partners.  Here's what's new in the past week.
Don't forget that BreakingGround offers grants to support service projects designed to get members of the UMBC community more deeply involved in social change work.  Read about the grant program and apply by September 30th.  All UMBC departments and student organizations are eligible.

--David Hoffman

Co-Create UMBC is a blog for and about UMBC, written by David Hoffman and Craig Berger from the Office of Student Life. Join the Co-Create UMBC group on MyUMBC. Like Co-Create UMBC on Facebook. And follow David and Craig on Twitter.

]]> BreakingGround celebrates and extends innovative social change work by UMBC's students, faculty, staff, alumni and community partners.  Here's what's new in the past week. Kelly Cyr, a UMBC... http://cocreateumbc.blogspot.com/2012/09/breakingground-digest_20.html https://my3.my.umbc.edu/api/v0/pixel/news/16958/guest@my.umbc.edu/fa1f9105c5095cf33d7b079adc162aa8/api/pixel Co-Create UMBC https://my3.my.umbc.edu/groups/co-create https://assets4-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/xsmall.png?1499890363 https://assets2-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/original.jpg?1499890363 https://assets1-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/xxlarge.png?1499890363 https://assets4-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/xlarge.png?1499890363 https://assets1-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/large.png?1499890363 https://assets1-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/medium.png?1499890363 https://assets2-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/small.png?1499890363 https://assets4-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/xsmall.png?1499890363 https://assets1-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/xxsmall.png?1499890363 Co-Create UMBC 4 0 true Thu, 20 Sep 2012 13:10:00 -0400 Co-Create UMBC @ 5

644 posts and 5 years ago this week, I launched Co-Create UMBC.
At the beginning, there were no Real People Profiles, no participation from faculty and staff, and no long strings of comments from readers. The audience I imagined for my posts was limited to the 30-40 SGA members (SGA was a much smaller organization back then) not in the room with me at the moment. I wanted to share some of the stories and ideas from my one-to-one conversations with them. And I wanted to talk about my own vulnerabilities, and my own process of learning how to be an effective human being and citizen, to make it OK for students to experience their own imperfections and growth as something other than traumatic and isolating. The entire first semester, Co-Create UMBC attracted half the number of views it now gets in a week.  

Much has changed. I'm more confident in my intuitions about how to say things. But in a way, I still I'm still discovering my voice and my purposes. I know I want to make UMBC visible to itself as a community co-created by all of its members. I want the people at UMBC to see and know each other as human beings, not merely as roles like "professor" and "student." And I still want to name my own struggles, past and present, when doing so can help set someone else free. My favorite moments as a blogger have been the ones when people have shared how they have become conscious of their thought patterns by identifying with mine, or able to name a hope or fear because I did so in a post. I'm grateful to everyone who has ever shared those thoughts with me.

In case you're wondering, this is the most-viewed post of all time, which is kind of funny because I said very little (but provided a link to something provocative).  This is my favorite personal story I've shared, although if you're willing to read my two epic multi-chapter sagas (one about quitting a law firm, one about the implosion of my undergraduate student government), please help yourself. This is my favorite piece of Co-Create UMBC social/political commentary. And I have treasured the reaction to this post the most (I've re-posted each year), because years ago this list was simply my way of coping with life.

So what topics should Co-Create UMBC tackle in the years ahead? What new series could complement the Real People Profiles and help reveal the UMBC community to itself? What conversation starters would prompt you to share?  Leave a comment, and let's get this next half-decade started.

--David Hoffman

Co-Create UMBC is a blog for and about UMBC, written by David Hoffman and Craig Berger from the Office of Student Life. Join the Co-Create UMBC group on MyUMBC. Like Co-Create UMBC on Facebook. And follow David and Craig on Twitter.

]]> 644 posts and 5 years ago this week, I launched Co-Create UMBC. At the beginning, there were no Real People Profiles, no participation from faculty and staff, and no long strings of... http://cocreateumbc.blogspot.com/2012/09/co-create-umbc-5.html https://my3.my.umbc.edu/api/v0/pixel/news/16932/guest@my.umbc.edu/b6adf973efeb9f7a12377365673b4cfa/api/pixel Co-Create UMBC https://my3.my.umbc.edu/groups/co-create https://assets4-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/xsmall.png?1499890363 https://assets2-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/original.jpg?1499890363 https://assets1-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/xxlarge.png?1499890363 https://assets4-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/xlarge.png?1499890363 https://assets1-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/large.png?1499890363 https://assets1-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/medium.png?1499890363 https://assets2-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/small.png?1499890363 https://assets4-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/xsmall.png?1499890363 https://assets1-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/xxsmall.png?1499890363 Co-Create UMBC 24 4 true Wed, 19 Sep 2012 15:49:00 -0400 Wed, 19 Sep 2012 15:49:00 -0400 Your UMBC Bucket List We have a fine tradition at UMBC (now one year old): At the beginning of the academic year, we share our lists of things we'd like to do while we're here. My UMBC Bucket List includes seeing performances in every venue in the new Performing Arts & Humanities Building, participating in my third Election Night Extravaganza (this November), advising a student organization other than SGA (already advised SGA, loved it), and completing my Ph.D.  

 So what's on your bucket list? Take a look at the lists people posted last year for inspiration, then please share. After that, let's hold each other accountable for following through.  I didn't do so well at checking off items from my list from last year.  Did you?

 --David Hoffman

 Co-Create UMBC is a blog for and about UMBC, written by David Hoffman and Craig Berger from the Office of Student Life. Join the Co-Create UMBC group on MyUMBC. Like Co-Create UMBC on Facebook. And follow David and Craig on Twitter. 

]]> We have a fine tradition at UMBC (now one year old): At the beginning of the academic year, we share our lists of things we'd like to do while we're here. My UMBC Bucket List includes seeing... http://cocreateumbc.blogspot.com/2012/09/your-umbc-bucket-list.html https://my3.my.umbc.edu/api/v0/pixel/news/16876/guest@my.umbc.edu/5b73802fad8f32f0d40bced6d3075e69/api/pixel Co-Create UMBC https://my3.my.umbc.edu/groups/co-create https://assets4-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/xsmall.png?1499890363 https://assets2-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/original.jpg?1499890363 https://assets1-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/xxlarge.png?1499890363 https://assets4-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/xlarge.png?1499890363 https://assets1-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/large.png?1499890363 https://assets1-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/medium.png?1499890363 https://assets2-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/small.png?1499890363 https://assets4-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/xsmall.png?1499890363 https://assets1-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/xxsmall.png?1499890363 Co-Create UMBC 49 56 true Tue, 18 Sep 2012 09:27:00 -0400 Electoral College: What It Is, Why It's Unfair
With today being Constitution Day (225 years ago today, September 17, 1787, is when the Constitutional Convention signed the final document), I thought my first post on Co-Create UMBC might commemorate this day by examining one particularly relevant component of the Constitution—the Electoral College—and its influence on presidential campaigns.

Background

On Election Day, you will vote for Electors who will convene weeks later to formally elect the President and Vice President.  In the Electoral College, each state has a number of votes equal to the number of its Representatives (determined by population) plus Senators (two per state, regardless of population).  Because Maryland currently has eight Representatives and two Senators, it will cast 10 electoral votes in the 2012 Presidential Election. The Electoral College originated in a compromise among states with higher populations and lower populations.

The Electoral College Today

In 1787, the Electoral College, though it tipped the scales toward states with small populations even then, found a place in the Constitution out of political convenience. In today’s landscape, however, the system has evolved into an institution that routinely disempowers millions of Americans every four years. How?

Well, we can first start with the representation issue. By counting Senators when determining the number of electors each state receives, we privilege less populous states in the Electoral College. For example, Wyoming’s small population and three electoral votes means that one of the state’s electoral votes represents 56,363 citizens, while Maryland’s large population and ten electoral votes results in one of its electoral votes representing 577,355 of its citizens. While many of us assume that in America our votes count equally, the reality is that they do not when we elect Presidents and Vice Presidents.

Another problematic feature of the Electoral College emerged only a few decades after the institution’s creation. In the early nineteenth century, many states looked for ways to heighten their influence in presidential politics. States began implementing “winner-take-all” models as one method, in which states package their electoral votes together and award them to the candidate winning a plurality of each state’s popular vote. Over the years the winner-take-all rule has become the default method of awarding electoral votes; only Maine and Nebraska do not use the winner-take-all system. The rule rewards presidential candidates who camp out in competitive states that award large numbers of electoral votes. In 2012, Ohio, Florida, Virginia, and Colorado have seen presidential candidates spend significant time and resources in their states based on their “swing state” status—their politically moderate populations and large blocs of electoral votes. Conversely, less populated states that tend to vote predictably for the same party election after election—like Wyoming (which reliably votes Republican) and Vermont (reliably Democratic)—attract little to no attention from modern campaigns and are often shut out of the national political dialogue.

With the inherently unequal distribution of political power in the Electoral College and the winner-take-all system working in tandem, we now have a presidential voting process that is anachronistic, undemocratic, and, in many states, difficult to experience. Many individuals and organizations have spawned efforts to amend the Constitution in an effort to dispose of the Electoral College. One contemporary movement is called the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact (NPVIC), an initiative inviting state commitments to revise current rules governing how they apportion their electoral votes to ensure that states select the winner of the national popular vote. The agreement will only take effect when the compact enlists the required number of states to represent the majority of electors. (Currently, eight states and the District of Columbia have joined the NPVIC, with Maryland being the first state to join in 2007.)

Conclusion

I think the most important thing for us to remember is that the Constitution is not a static document. While making the process difficult, our founders did entrust us with the ability to amend the Constitution as necessary. Regardless of political affiliation, we all own a piece of that Constitution and its contents (including the Electoral College). On this Constitution Day, I think it's worth thinking about what kind of system for electing Presidents we want to have.

How do you feel about the Electoral College? If you don’t like it, how would you amend it?

Note: You can read the original text of the Constitution here, and the 27 amendments adopted since that day in 1787 here and here.  David has written a couple posts in the past to celebrate this holiday. In 2010,David asserted that the Constitution represented the ideals of co-creation and restraint. In 2009, David’s Constitution Day post proposed that U.S. Senators be apportioned among the states at least partly based on population(not two per state).

--Craig Berger

Co-Create UMBC is a blog for and about UMBC, written by David Hoffman and Craig Berger from the Office of Student Life. Join the Co-Create UMBC group on MyUMBC. Like Co-Create UMBC on Facebook. And follow David and Craig on Twitter. 

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Name: Michael Fell

Hometown: Blacksburg, VA

Q: How long have you been at UMBC?

A: This is my third semester at UMBC. 

Q: What is your current title (job or student organization position)?

A: I am a Service Peer Educator, secretary of UMBC College Democrats, treasurer of the Gender and Women's Studies Council of Majors and I am an IHU Peer.  I was also an orientation peer adviser over the summer and was also a member of the SGA Election Board.

Q: In 12 words or less, what role(s) do you play on campus? 

A: Passionate psychology major who loves UMBC and is always learning.

Q: What aspect of your UMBC role(s) do you enjoy most?

A:I love the opportunity to talk with other students and learn about their experiences, interests and viewpoints on different subjects .  One of my favorite things about being an orientation peer adviser over the summer was to convey my passion for UMBC to the incoming students and to let them know about all the amazing opportunities that are available here.  In turn, I learned a lot about the diversity of the incoming freshmen and transfer students, which helped me grow in my appreciation for our awesome university.

Q: What is the most important or memorable thing you learned in college/have learned at UMBC?

A:  I have learned that there are always great opportunities available to you, but that it it is up to you to find them and advocate on behalf of yourself.  There really are so many amazing groups, clubs and research opportunities at UMBC, but they won't fall into your lap...you have to be brave and take a few chances that may seem a bit intimidating at first.  I have also come to appreciate that one of the best things you can do in the classroom is to speak up and get to know  your professors--they are really interesting people and want to hear what you have to say!

Q: Complete this sentence: "I am a big fan of __________"

A: Music, psychology, people, UMBC and learning new things.

Q: Do you have any UMBC stories, little-known facts about UMBC, favorite spots on campus, or anything else you’d like to share?

A: UMBC is a great place to get involved and meet so many new and interesting people.  I entered the university as a transfer from community college, and never dreamed that I would be so involved in so many different areas of campus life.  Everything at UMBC is open to anyone who is interested in taking part.  I encourage everyone to try new things and meet as many different people as you can--talk to people in your classes, go to clubs that sound interesting or get involved in a club sport that you've always wanted to try.  You never know when you'll meet your next best friend, or the individual who will connect you with an amazing opportunity!

BONUS VIDEO QUESTION: What else would you like to share? Ask yourself a question and answer it.

Co-Create UMBC is a blog for and about UMBC, written by David Hoffman and Craig Berger from the Office of Student Life. Join the Co-Create UMBC group on MyUMBC. Like Co-Create UMBC on Facebook. And follow David and Craig on Twitter. 

]]> We're asking some of the people you might encounter on the UMBC campus, including students, faculty, staff and alumni, to answer a few questions about themselves and their experiences. These are... http://cocreateumbc.blogspot.com/2012/09/real-people-profiles-michael-fell.html https://my3.my.umbc.edu/api/v0/pixel/news/16843/guest@my.umbc.edu/3418a0ed01bc636b87b1c29912eaafa9/api/pixel Co-Create UMBC https://my3.my.umbc.edu/groups/co-create https://assets4-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/xsmall.png?1499890363 https://assets2-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/original.jpg?1499890363 https://assets1-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/xxlarge.png?1499890363 https://assets4-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/xlarge.png?1499890363 https://assets1-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/large.png?1499890363 https://assets1-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/medium.png?1499890363 https://assets2-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/small.png?1499890363 https://assets4-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/xsmall.png?1499890363 https://assets1-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/xxsmall.png?1499890363 Co-Create UMBC 51 6 true Sun, 16 Sep 2012 21:27:00 -0400 Information for applying to graduate school (English & Spanish). Applications will be due soon!

 

Applications for graduate school are usually due between December and February of the year before you are going to enter graduate school. PROMISE: Maryland’s AGEP has developed a paper (presented at a conference in 2012) that will help you with the requirements for your graduate school applications. The paper can be downloaded here: Preparing for Engineering and Other STEM Graduate/Post-Graduate Masters and Doctoral Programs.  It is part of the Proceedings of the Tenth LACCEI Latin American and Caribbean Conference (LACCEI 2012), Megaprojects: Building Infrastructure by fostering engineering collaboration, efficient and effective integration and innovative planning, July 23-27, 2012, Panama City, Panama.  

 

One of the most important sections of the paper is Section 4. Here is a subset of that section.

 

  1. Innovations in Program Content Designed to Increase Access

PROMISE seminars and workshops for graduate school preparation focus on four key areas: Transcript, Letters of Recommendation, Statement of Purpose, and GRE Score.  Students are cautioned to remember that they should be striving for top grades in all of their courses.

4.1 Letters of Recommendation: 10 Item Checklist

Students who attend UMBC’s seminars are cautioned to seek very strong letters of recommendation from faculty members, a concept that has long been part of the foundation of advice that is given to students by the National GEM Consortium.  UMBC’s facilitator teaches students to provide their faculty recommenders with 10 items: (See Section 4.1: Preparing for Engineering and Other STEM Graduate/Post-Graduate Masters and Doctoral Programs and Dr. Tull’s List)

 

4.2 Statement of Purpose:  Four Paragraph Template

During UMBC’s PROMISE seminars and Horizons workshops, students are taught to thoroughly read through the engineering departments’ websites and write their statements of purpose based on their personal research interests and experiences, coupled with research that is being conducted in the department.   When students are applying to Graduate School, and to doctoral programs in particular, they must be sure to make the case for the reasons why they want to be there.  The statement of purpose should reflect the “why.”  Why you?  Why that particular research?  Why do you want to work with those professors or that lab?  (See the 4 paragraph structure in the full paper: Preparing for Engineering and Other STEM Graduate/Post-Graduate Masters and Doctoral Programs.)

 

4.3 GRE Score: Focused attention on mathematics

Engineering programs expect students to have aptitude for mathematics.  The GRE provides faculty admissions committees with a standard measure by which to evaluate prospective students.  During UMBC’s workshops and seminars, students are reminded that many of the topics in the “Quantitative Reasoning” portion of the GRE include concepts from high school or secondary school.  Other topics are taught in introductory statistics courses and some students aren’t exposed to probability and statistics until they reach the university.  However, students in the seminars regularly reveal that they didn’t know that they had to study for the GRE.  While inferential statistics and the ability to construct proofs are not tested on the GRE, several students in seminars have been hesitant when they were asked for immediate answers to sample questions involving factorials, inequalities, or geometric representations.  The students said that they “used to know” how to solve certain kinds of equations or that they “didn’t remember” concepts.  To prepare students for the exam, UMBC’s seminars provide students with a live sample problem solving session, and the list of skills that they need in order to do well on the quantitative measure.  (See Table 3 in the full paper: Preparing for Engineering and Other STEM Graduate/Post-Graduate Masters and Doctoral Programs.)

 

The Spanish Version of Section 4 can be found here: 

Preparación para Programas de Maestría y Doctorado. 

Sample:

4.2. DECLARACIÓN DE PROPÓSITOS: LA PLANTILLA DE CUATRO PÁRRAFOS

Durante los seminarios de PROMISE en UMBC y los talleres de Horizons, los estudiantes son entrenados para leer extensivamente los sitios web de departamentos de Ingeniería y para escribir sus declaraciones de propósitos, basados en sus intereses personales de investigación y experiencias, ligadas a proyectos de investigación que son conducidos en el departamento. Varios miembros de los comités de admisión que son liderados por profesores, a lo largo de distintas universidades, le han comentado a nuestros facilitadores que han visto muchas declaraciones de propósitos que no tenían una conexión con proyectos de investigación que eran conducidos en el departamento. A los estudiantes se les indica que deben estar seguros que las personas encargas de recibir sus paquetes de aplicación en programas de maestría y doctorado, sepan explícitamente por qué ellos quieren estar en esa universidad, en ese departamento, en ese laboratorio o grupo en particular y qué ellos quieren llevar a cabo. Cuando los estudiantes están aplicando a estudios de maestría y doctorado, especialmente de doctorado, ellos deben asegurarse de enfatizar las razones por las que quieren estar allí. La declaración de propósitos debe reflejar el “por qué”. ¿Por qué tú? ¿Por qué ese proyecto de investigación en particular? ¿Por qué quieres trabajar con esos profesores o en ese laboratorio?  Para ayudar a los estudiantes con la redacción de sus declaraciones de propósitos, nuestros facilitadores recomiendan esta estructura de cuatro párrafos:

__________________________________________________________________

Tull, R. G., Nino, M.  and Ramoutar, N. (2012).  Preparing for Engineering and Other STEM Graduate/Post-Graduate Masters and Doctoral Programs.  Proceedings of the Tenth LACCEI Latin American and Caribbean Conference (LACCEI 2012), Megaprojects: Building Infrastructure by fostering engineering collaboration, efficient and effective integration and innovative planning, July 23-27, 2012, Panama City, Panama.  [Spanish Version of Section 4 here:Preparación para Programas de Maestría y Doctorado]

__________________________________________________________________

The text content of this post was compiled and written by the staff of PROMISE: Maryland’s AGEP and may not be copied without referencing the PROMISE organization, as “PROMISE: Maryland’s AGEP”.

Creative Commons License
PROMISE AGEP Online Information by PROMISE: Maryland’s AGEP is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.

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]]>   Applications for graduate school are usually due between December and February of the year before you are going to enter graduate school. PROMISE: Maryland’s AGEP has developed a paper... http://promiseagep.wordpress.com/2012/09/15/information-for-applying-to-graduate-school-english-spanish-applications-will-be-due-soon/ https://my3.my.umbc.edu/api/v0/pixel/news/16832/guest@my.umbc.edu/b33f360bb5b310609bc252fac632ce62/api/pixel advising agep development gradschool gradstudents graduate-record-examinations gre learning maryland nsf ph-d-completion postdoc professor professoriate promise seminars-and-workshops support teaching umbc university-of-maryland-baltimore-county Grad Student & Postdoc Development https://my3.my.umbc.edu/groups/gspd https://assets3-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/066/4b2a0ea3017d894b96de7bd4a45729d5/xsmall.png?1781730740 https://assets4-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/066/4b2a0ea3017d894b96de7bd4a45729d5/original.png?1781730740 https://assets2-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/066/4b2a0ea3017d894b96de7bd4a45729d5/xxlarge.png?1781730740 https://assets1-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/066/4b2a0ea3017d894b96de7bd4a45729d5/xlarge.png?1781730740 https://assets1-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/066/4b2a0ea3017d894b96de7bd4a45729d5/large.png?1781730740 https://assets2-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/066/4b2a0ea3017d894b96de7bd4a45729d5/medium.png?1781730740 https://assets3-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/066/4b2a0ea3017d894b96de7bd4a45729d5/small.png?1781730740 https://assets3-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/066/4b2a0ea3017d894b96de7bd4a45729d5/xsmall.png?1781730740 https://assets1-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/066/4b2a0ea3017d894b96de7bd4a45729d5/xxsmall.png?1781730740 PROMISE @ UMBC: Graduate Student Development 2 0 false Sat, 15 Sep 2012 11:32:16 -0400 Information for applying to graduate school (English & Spanish). Applications will be due soon!

 

Applications for graduate school are usually due between December and February of the year before you are going to enter graduate school. PROMISE: Maryland’s AGEP has developed a paper (presented at a conference in 2012) that will help you with the requirements for your graduate school applications. The paper can be downloaded here: Preparing for Engineering and Other STEM Graduate/Post-Graduate Masters and Doctoral Programs.  It is part of the Proceedings of the Tenth LACCEI Latin American and Caribbean Conference (LACCEI 2012), Megaprojects: Building Infrastructure by fostering engineering collaboration, efficient and effective integration and innovative planning, July 23-27, 2012, Panama City, Panama.  

 

One of the most important sections of the paper is Section 4. Here is a subset of that section.

 

  1. Innovations in Program Content Designed to Increase Access

PROMISE seminars and workshops for graduate school preparation focus on four key areas: Transcript, Letters of Recommendation, Statement of Purpose, and GRE Score.  Students are cautioned to remember that they should be striving for top grades in all of their courses.

4.1 Letters of Recommendation: 10 Item Checklist

Students who attend UMBC’s seminars are cautioned to seek very strong letters of recommendation from faculty members, a concept that has long been part of the foundation of advice that is given to students by the National GEM Consortium.  UMBC’s facilitator teaches students to provide their faculty recommenders with 10 items: (See Section 4.1: Preparing for Engineering and Other STEM Graduate/Post-Graduate Masters and Doctoral Programs and Dr. Tull’s List)

 

4.2 Statement of Purpose:  Four Paragraph Template

During UMBC’s PROMISE seminars and Horizons workshops, students are taught to thoroughly read through the engineering departments’ websites and write their statements of purpose based on their personal research interests and experiences, coupled with research that is being conducted in the department.   When students are applying to Graduate School, and to doctoral programs in particular, they must be sure to make the case for the reasons why they want to be there.  The statement of purpose should reflect the “why.”  Why you?  Why that particular research?  Why do you want to work with those professors or that lab?  (See the 4 paragraph structure in the full paper: Preparing for Engineering and Other STEM Graduate/Post-Graduate Masters and Doctoral Programs.)

 

4.3 GRE Score: Focused attention on mathematics

Engineering programs expect students to have aptitude for mathematics.  The GRE provides faculty admissions committees with a standard measure by which to evaluate prospective students.  During UMBC’s workshops and seminars, students are reminded that many of the topics in the “Quantitative Reasoning” portion of the GRE include concepts from high school or secondary school.  Other topics are taught in introductory statistics courses and some students aren’t exposed to probability and statistics until they reach the university.  However, students in the seminars regularly reveal that they didn’t know that they had to study for the GRE.  While inferential statistics and the ability to construct proofs are not tested on the GRE, several students in seminars have been hesitant when they were asked for immediate answers to sample questions involving factorials, inequalities, or geometric representations.  The students said that they “used to know” how to solve certain kinds of equations or that they “didn’t remember” concepts.  To prepare students for the exam, UMBC’s seminars provide students with a live sample problem solving session, and the list of skills that they need in order to do well on the quantitative measure.  (See Table 3 in the full paper: Preparing for Engineering and Other STEM Graduate/Post-Graduate Masters and Doctoral Programs.)

 

The Spanish Version of Section 4 can be found here: 

Preparación para Programas de Maestría y Doctorado. 

Sample:

4.2. DECLARACIÓN DE PROPÓSITOS: LA PLANTILLA DE CUATRO PÁRRAFOS

Durante los seminarios de PROMISE en UMBC y los talleres de Horizons, los estudiantes son entrenados para leer extensivamente los sitios web de departamentos de Ingeniería y para escribir sus declaraciones de propósitos, basados en sus intereses personales de investigación y experiencias, ligadas a proyectos de investigación que son conducidos en el departamento. Varios miembros de los comités de admisión que son liderados por profesores, a lo largo de distintas universidades, le han comentado a nuestros facilitadores que han visto muchas declaraciones de propósitos que no tenían una conexión con proyectos de investigación que eran conducidos en el departamento. A los estudiantes se les indica que deben estar seguros que las personas encargas de recibir sus paquetes de aplicación en programas de maestría y doctorado, sepan explícitamente por qué ellos quieren estar en esa universidad, en ese departamento, en ese laboratorio o grupo en particular y qué ellos quieren llevar a cabo. Cuando los estudiantes están aplicando a estudios de maestría y doctorado, especialmente de doctorado, ellos deben asegurarse de enfatizar las razones por las que quieren estar allí. La declaración de propósitos debe reflejar el “por qué”. ¿Por qué tú? ¿Por qué ese proyecto de investigación en particular? ¿Por qué quieres trabajar con esos profesores o en ese laboratorio?  Para ayudar a los estudiantes con la redacción de sus declaraciones de propósitos, nuestros facilitadores recomiendan esta estructura de cuatro párrafos:

__________________________________________________________________

Tull, R. G., Nino, M.  and Ramoutar, N. (2012).  Preparing for Engineering and Other STEM Graduate/Post-Graduate Masters and Doctoral Programs.  Proceedings of the Tenth LACCEI Latin American and Caribbean Conference (LACCEI 2012), Megaprojects: Building Infrastructure by fostering engineering collaboration, efficient and effective integration and innovative planning, July 23-27, 2012, Panama City, Panama.  [Spanish Version of Section 4 here:Preparación para Programas de Maestría y Doctorado]

__________________________________________________________________

The text content of this post was compiled and written by the staff of PROMISE: Maryland’s AGEP and may not be copied without referencing the PROMISE organization, as “PROMISE: Maryland’s AGEP”.

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PROMISE AGEP Online Information by PROMISE: Maryland’s AGEP is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.

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]]>   Applications for graduate school are usually due between December and February of the year before you are going to enter graduate school. PROMISE: Maryland’s AGEP has developed a paper... https://promiseagep.wordpress.com/2012/09/15/information-for-applying-to-graduate-school-english-spanish-applications-will-be-due-soon/ https://my3.my.umbc.edu/api/v0/pixel/news/16841/guest@my.umbc.edu/527bfd5257f6ae20dbab833f7085c33a/api/pixel advising agep development gradschool gradstudents graduate-record-examinations gre learning maryland nsf ph-d-completion postdoc professor professoriate promise seminars-and-workshops support teaching umbc university-of-maryland-baltimore-county Grad Student & Postdoc Development https://my3.my.umbc.edu/groups/gspd https://assets3-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/066/4b2a0ea3017d894b96de7bd4a45729d5/xsmall.png?1781730740 https://assets4-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/066/4b2a0ea3017d894b96de7bd4a45729d5/original.png?1781730740 https://assets2-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/066/4b2a0ea3017d894b96de7bd4a45729d5/xxlarge.png?1781730740 https://assets1-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/066/4b2a0ea3017d894b96de7bd4a45729d5/xlarge.png?1781730740 https://assets1-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/066/4b2a0ea3017d894b96de7bd4a45729d5/large.png?1781730740 https://assets2-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/066/4b2a0ea3017d894b96de7bd4a45729d5/medium.png?1781730740 https://assets3-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/066/4b2a0ea3017d894b96de7bd4a45729d5/small.png?1781730740 https://assets3-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/066/4b2a0ea3017d894b96de7bd4a45729d5/xsmall.png?1781730740 https://assets1-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/066/4b2a0ea3017d894b96de7bd4a45729d5/xxsmall.png?1781730740 PROMISE @ UMBC: Graduate Student Development 1 0 false Sat, 15 Sep 2012 11:32:16 -0400 BreakingGround Digest

BreakingGround celebrates and extends innovative social change work by UMBC's students, faculty, staff, alumni and community partners.  Here's what's new in the past 7 days.

 Press: BreakingGround got some great press this week, including an op-ed in the Baltimore Sun; the "Campus Spotlight" feature on the American Democracy Project blog; and the lead story in The Retriever Weekly.

Stories: The past week's BreakingGround posts featured UMBC graduate student and Shriver Center Peaceworker Charlotte Keniston's food justice initiative, and UMBC archivist Lindsey Loeper's reflections on using campus history as a platform for shaping its future.

Opportunities: The blog also featured several opportunities to get connected and make a difference.
Facebook: Make this your cover photo!


--David Hoffman

Co-Create UMBC is a blog for and about UMBC, written by David Hoffman and Craig Berger from the Office of Student Life. Join the Co-Create UMBC group on MyUMBC. Like Co-Create UMBC on Facebook. And follow David and Craig on Twitter. 

]]> BreakingGround celebrates and extends innovative social change work by UMBC's students, faculty, staff, alumni and community partners.  Here's what's new in the past 7 days.... http://cocreateumbc.blogspot.com/2012/09/breakingground-digest_12.html https://my3.my.umbc.edu/api/v0/pixel/news/16765/guest@my.umbc.edu/d0548a4735432bd346b9768ace234594/api/pixel Co-Create UMBC https://my3.my.umbc.edu/groups/co-create https://assets4-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/xsmall.png?1499890363 https://assets2-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/original.jpg?1499890363 https://assets1-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/xxlarge.png?1499890363 https://assets4-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/xlarge.png?1499890363 https://assets1-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/large.png?1499890363 https://assets1-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/medium.png?1499890363 https://assets2-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/small.png?1499890363 https://assets4-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/xsmall.png?1499890363 https://assets1-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/xxsmall.png?1499890363 Co-Create UMBC 14 1 true Wed, 12 Sep 2012 13:58:00 -0400 Wed, 12 Sep 2012 13:58:00 -0400 Real People Profiles: Okemeteri Esiekpe We're asking some of the people you might encounter on the UMBC campus, including students, faculty, staff and alumni, to answer a few questions about themselves and their experiences. These are their responses.
Name: Okemeteri Esiekpe

Hometown: Lagos, Nigeria

Q: How long have you been at UMBC?

A: I'm in my second year of graduate school.

Q: What is your current title (job or student organization position)?

A: I am the Graduate Coordinator for LGBTQ Programs in the Office of Student Life.

Q: In 12 words or less, what role(s) do you play on campus? 

A: Helping to foster an inclusive campus community.

Q: What aspect of your UMBC role(s) do you enjoy most?

A: I absolutely enjoy getting to know the students! I am inspired and energized by them on a regular basis. 

Q: What is the most important or memorable thing you learned in college/have learned at UMBC?

A:  The most important thing I have learned in college is that sometimes, the most unlikely people become your lifelong friends. 

Q: Complete this sentence: "I am a big fan of __________"

A: Great conversations, great friends, laughter, and sleeping!

Q: Do you have any UMBC stories, little-known facts about UMBC, favorite spots on campus, or anything else you’d like to share?

A: My favorite spot on campus is the Women's Center. Jess Myers, Galina Portnoy, and other staff members keep this center welcoming and inviting for everyone - not just women :). If you need a moment's rest, an engaging conversation, or a laugh, stop by. 

Co-Create UMBC is a blog for and about UMBC, written by David Hoffman and Craig Berger from the Office of Student Life. Join the Co-Create UMBC group on MyUMBC. Like Co-Create UMBC on Facebook. And follow David and Craig on Twitter.
]]> We're asking some of the people you might encounter on the UMBC campus, including students, faculty, staff and alumni, to answer a few questions about themselves and their experiences. These are... http://cocreateumbc.blogspot.com/2012/09/real-people-profiles-okemeteri-esiekpe.html https://my3.my.umbc.edu/api/v0/pixel/news/16738/guest@my.umbc.edu/7e3a8eb60a8c66703046a674dd979242/api/pixel real-people-profiles Co-Create UMBC https://my3.my.umbc.edu/groups/co-create https://assets4-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/xsmall.png?1499890363 https://assets2-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/original.jpg?1499890363 https://assets1-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/xxlarge.png?1499890363 https://assets4-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/xlarge.png?1499890363 https://assets1-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/large.png?1499890363 https://assets1-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/medium.png?1499890363 https://assets2-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/small.png?1499890363 https://assets4-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/xsmall.png?1499890363 https://assets1-my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/xxsmall.png?1499890363 Co-Create UMBC 43 14 true Tue, 11 Sep 2012 17:46:00 -0400 Scenes from Involvement Fest (photos) Last Wednesday at 6:00 a.m., my colleague Sara Leidner and I were online looking at the weather forecast, which showed a 75% chance of rain by noon. The Involvement Fest vendors had to be told whether the event was going to happen by 6:30 a.m. With reluctance, she made the tough call to postpone. Then we rooted for a thunderstorm to come along and validate the decision, but the rain never materialized; all we got was uncomfortable heat and an overabundance of humidity.

 Involvement Fest was rescheduled for Monday, and it was perfect.

 I was standing in a corner with Co-Create UMBC coauthor Craig Berger interviewing students for a long while, so I didn't get photos of the musical performances.  But here is some of what I did see.
First came the tables and the tents.
Setting up under a ridiculously gorgeous sky.
Again, that sky . . .

Vanquishing the green balloon.




In the middle of free hour, it got a little crowded
on the main walkway . . .










The theme: Pirates. Ergo: Parrots.

From my office, as the event wound down . . .

No, our work in Student Life is not always glamorous,
but we do it together, and . . . 

sometimes we end up making new
friends. That's Virginia Byrne
on the right.

--David Hoffman

Co-Create UMBC is a blog for and about UMBC, written by David Hoffman and Craig Berger from the Office of Student Life. Join the Co-Create UMBC group on MyUMBC. Like Co-Create UMBC on Facebook. And follow David and Craig on Twitter.



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