By: Dr. Susan Han and Dr. Bruce Herman, UMBC Counseling Center

College is a time for growth and parental support throughout the college experience is invaluable.  The first year is a year of transition.  Parents not only experience the excitement and anxiety along with their sons and daughters, but can also provide support when students are confronted with new challenges.  Incoming freshmen often have difficulty finding balance among the many new opportunities at college.  Students who get involved in campus organizations, jobs and activities generally do better academically and are more likely to stay in school.  However, it is sometimes challenging to figure out how to find balance and manage time.  Students’ lives in college are generally much less structured than they were in high school.  As a parent, you can help prepare your child anticipate academic and social challenges as he or she moves from home and takes steps toward independence.  Stay alert for signs of distress and possible changes in mood or behavior, and throughout the year, ask questions and listen to how they are feeling.  In addition, encourage them to use resources on campus.  If a student has been receiving ongoing mental health care, or you expect that they will require mental health services while at UMBC, it may be helpful to contact the Counseling Center before school begins to discuss how to best meet their needs for mental health services.

The Counseling Center is a free and confidential resource at UMBC that provides short-term individual counseling, group therapy, psychiatric consultation and referral assistance on a wide variety of concerns.  Some students talk to their counselors about their struggles to adjust to UMBC, while others seek treatment for mood and/or anxiety disorders.  Counseling Center staff also provide drop-in workshops called “Skills 4 Success” which help students learn strategies to improve time management, procrastination difficulties, test anxiety and stress management.  At any time, parents can reach out to the Counseling Center for consultation regarding how they can best support their son or daughter. Further information about the Center is available at our website or you can call 410-555-2472 for further information.

Name: Nicole Smith ’10, modern languages and linguistics (German concentration)
Employer: Albin O. Kuhn Library & Gallery at UMBC
Alumni leadership role: Secretary/Historian for the Chapter of Young Alumni (CYA)

Q: Where are you from originally?
The Arbutus/Lansdowne area in Baltimore County

Q: What’s your favorite UMBC memory?
Cardboard surfing! My friends and I would spread broken-down boxes in our dorm’s hallway and proceed to act like penguins for the next few hours. There’s far too many embarrassing photos…

Q: Why are you involved in an alumni chapter?
It’s a wonderful opportunity to stay connected with the campus and support current and future students. And I get to work with some of the coolest people around; it helps me stay creative.

Q: Why do you think it’s important to support UMBC?
Supporting UMBC means supporting students. Gifts to the campus don’t end up in limbo–they directly impact a student’s success, and from there, their future.

Q: If you could visit any place in the world, where would you pick?
Seal Island in South Africa (well, on a boat near it). Great white sharks will propel themselves out of the water when hunting here, and that’s pretty much the coolest thing.

Find out more about the Chapter of Young Alumni (CYA) here!

UMBC Bookstore is excited to bring many money saving offersto students and their families as we begin the fall 2014 semester.

Don’t miss our Tech Week Computer Sale August 22 thru August 30. Apple and Dell Computers at less than educational prices! Dell bundles for as low as $763! Macbook Air bundles for as low as $910! Macbook Pro bundles from as low as $1,057! All tech week bundles include a copy of Microsoft Office University 365 and enrollment in our loaner repair program! Reserve yours now at http://bookstore.umbc.edu/SiteText.aspx?id=22005. With a purchase of a Mac you will receive a $100 Apple App gift card. All iPads are also on sale, $30 off all iPad Air models and $20 off all iPad minis. With a purchase of an iPad you will receive a $50 Apple App gift card.

You can be proud to say your son or daughter attends UMBC. What better way to show your pride than to wear it? Our Back-to-School Clothing and Insignia Sale is August 18 to August 30. Buy one UMBC clothing or logo item, receive 50% off a second UMBC item of equal or lesser value. Take a look at just some of the great clothing, gifts, and spirit merchandise available on our website http://bookstore.umbc.edu.

Textbooks can be expensive, and that’s why now more than ever UMBC Bookstore is committed to finding ways to save students and their families’ money. The Bookstore has over 1000 titles available for rent this fall. Renting is a great way to save money upfront. For technologically savvy students, eBooks are often an even greater money saving option. Most digital textbooks sold at the UMBC Bookstore are compatible with the latest tablets like Apple iPad in addition to personal computers.  Our industry leading inventory of thousands of used books remains one of the best choices when trying to curb costs, especially when you factor in the cash you can recoup by selling the books back at the end of the semester.

UMBC Bookstore is dedicated to offering exceptional, personalized service to you and your family.  Because our store is University owned and operated, you can be sure any money you spend here stays on campus to support university programs and scholarships. We’d love to stay in touch throughout the semester by connecting with you on Facebook (fb.com/umbcbookstore) or twitter @Umbcbookstore. We’ll let you know about our upcoming promotions and sales, and you can tell us when you need help.  We encourage you to contact us if you ever have any questions at all.  Click the ‘contact us’ tab on our website http://bookstore.umbc.edu, email bookstore@umbc.edu, or call us at 410-455-2665.  Together with you, we look forward to making this another great year at UMBC. 

Don't forget that UMBC's Student Government Association (SGA) is accepting applications for general member and officer positions in the Executive Branch of the organization. The SGA is looking for experienced, motivated students to take on leadership positions in the Executive Branch, Student Organization Support Team, and Financial Support Team.

These positions come with significant responsibilities and are valuable opportunities to work on issues that matter to you while cultivating relationships with UMBC students, staff, and faculty. Yet, while you will be doing serious, important work, it's also important to point out that you will have lots of assistance from other members of the organization, advisors, and other faculty, staff, and administrators across campus.

Applications and information about each position can be found at sga.umbc.edu/apply. Applications will be accepted until 11:59 p.m. on Wednesday, August 13. The application only takes a few minutes to fill out, so apply today!

by Dinah Winnick