Welcome to the Spring 2025 semester. Please consider nominating yourself for the position of Graduate Student Association Elections Committee Co-Chair!

Eligibility

The Elections Committee will be co-chaired by:

• A sitting senator or cabinet member with at least one full year of experience within the GSA.
• A graduate student who is not currently an officer of the GSA in a role of either the “officers of the cabinet,” or a position as “committee chair,” or “senator.”

Please note! You will be ineligible to run for any other positions in GSA in the spring 2025 elections if you chair or serve on this committee. This is an excellent opportunity for anyone planning to graduate in 2025 (since as a result you would be ineligible to run anyway).

Roles and Responsibilities

1. Oversight of Elections: The committee will oversee all aspects of the election process, from candidate registration to campaigning, voting, and the announcement of results.
2. Rule-Making: The committee will establish clear rules for elections, including eligibility requirements, campaign regulations, and voting procedures. These rules will be reviewed annually and made publicly available to all students.
3. Candidate Vetting: The committee will ensure that all candidates meet eligibility criteria and adhere to campaign guidelines.
4. Complaint Resolution: The committee will have the authority to receive, review, and resolve any complaints related to the election process. Decisions made by the committee in this regard will be final.
5. Publication of Results: The committee will be responsible for the transparent and timely publication of election results.

Once the Committee has completed these responsibilities (likely no later than April 2025), your service would end.

As a member of the GSA Executive Council, you would be in a position of service and support to the GSA. If you are elected, you will be expected to begin work immediately and to work for approximately 7 hours per week. You must be able to participate in online meetings every Monday from 12:30-2 PM and, once a month, on Friday from 12-2 PM. As part of this job, you will be responsible for collaborating with other members of the GSA Executive Council, attending important GSA events, and other duties as required. You will receive a stipend for your work.

Nomination Process
To nominate yourself, please submit your name, student ID number, photograph/headshot, brief biography (50-100 words), and statement as to your qualifications and interest in the role (100-300 words), by Monday, 3 Feb 2025. If you are qualified according to the Graduate School, you should participate in the election, which will take place during the GSA Special Senate meeting on 14 Feb 2025 from 1-2 PM EST (online). Depending on the number of applicants, you may be able to give a speech and/or answer questions before the vote that day.

Here is the link to self-nominate:
https://forms.gle/j3vhKPquX5DKHwoC9

You will need to be logged into your UMBC account (and you may need to log out of other Gmail accounts) to access it.

Please email me at gsapresident@umbc.edu if you have any questions.

FREE TICKETS to Men's Basketball vs. Bryant
Thursday, Jan. 30th @ 7:00 P.M.

Welcome back Retrievers! We hope you had a good winter break, but now it’s time to talk about something important — your future.

No matter where you are in your academic career, there is always the looming pressure of starting your career after graduation. Many students make the mistake of waiting too long to start their search, only to realize that opportunities have passed them by. Don’t be one of those students! Here are some steps you can take right now to set yourself up for success and launch your career.

1. Update Your Resume and Cover Letter
   Your resume should reflect your most relevant experiences, skills, and achievements. It should also align with the top skill-based keywords found in job descriptions of interest. Remember, a well-formatted resume that is optimized for the job is more likely to make it past Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) and into the hands of a hiring manager or recruiter. Make sure it’s in good shape!
2. Strengthen Your Online Presence
   Believe it or not, recruiters are now checking LinkedIn profiles before looking at resumes and reaching out to candidates. Make sure your LinkedIn is up-to-date with a professional photo, an engaging “About” section, and relevant experiences with skills attached. You can similarly update your Handshake profile and share your profile link publicly with employers. To learn more about how to set this up, check out this article.
3. Research and Apply to Jobs Early
   According to Talentworks, Inc., there is an 8 TIMES ADVANTAGE to applying within the first 96 hours of a job being posted. In fact, the start of the new year is a peak hiring period, so don’t wait until after graduation to start applying. Set aside time each week to browse job search sites, attend career fairs, and tap your network for leads.
4. Practice Your Interview Skills
   Confidence in interviews comes with preparation and practice. Explore the practice question sets in Big Interview, record responses in real time, and send your videos to the Career Center for feedback. Then, schedule a Practice Interview appointment with the Career Center to get comfortable answering common questions and to brainstorm questions to ask the interviewer.

Don't let your job search become a last-minute scramble. Use your time wisely by being proactive and strategic. Whether it’s fine-tuning your resume, networking with industry professionals, or practicing interviews, every step you take now brings you closer to securing a job you love.

To get more personalized support, attend Resume Rescue on February 4 from 10 AM to 4 PM and get feedback on your materials. 

Are you interested in Statistics and looking for ways to grow academically and professionally? Mu Sigma Rho, the Honor Society for Statistics Students, offers opportunities to connect with peers, learn, and celebrate the field of statistics together.

Eligibility Requirements

If you meet the following criteria, we’d be happy to have you apply:

Undergraduate Students:

• Completed at least 2 years of college coursework.
• Completed 8 semester hours (or 12 quarter hours) of statistics courses, including 5 semester hours (or 7 quarter hours) at the junior level.
• Earned a GPA of at least 3.40 (on a 4.0 scale) in all undergraduate statistics courses and a minimum GPA of 3.20 in all undergraduate courses.

Graduate Students:

• Completed at least 12 semester hours (or 18 quarter hours) of graduate-level statistics courses.
• Maintained a GPA of at least 3.50 (on a 4.0 scale) in all graduate-level statistics courses.
• Enrolled as a graduate student in good standing.

Why Join Mu Sigma Rho?

Joining Mu Sigma Rho is not just an opportunity to enhance your statistical knowledge and network with peers, but also a nice addition to your CV! Whether you're pursuing further studies or planning your career, membership in an honor society like Mu Sigma Rho reflects your dedication and academic excellence.

Benefits Include:

• A membership certificate and Mu Sigma Rho pin.
• A complimentary 1-year student membership in the American Statistical Association (ASA), a valuable resource for aspiring statisticians
• Opportunities to connect with fellow students and professionals in the field.

Please note: If selected, there is a one-time membership fee of $5, which covers your membership materials and ASA student membership.

Activities We Host:

• Workshops and advising sessions tailored to students’ needs.
• Guest speakers from academia and industry.
• Fun and engaging events like games, competitions, movie nights, and pizza parties.

How to Join

To apply, please submit the following materials to Dr. Thu Nguyen at thu.nguyen@umbc.edu by 11:59 PM on Friday, February 21st, 2025:

1. Completed membership form (available in the “Files” tab on the Mu Sigma Rho group page).
2. A copy of your transcript (unofficial transcripts are acceptable).

For more information, visit our chapter group:

         https://my3.my.umbc.edu/groups/msr

Learn more about Mu Sigma Rho by reviewing our constitution and bylaws here:

      
         http://www.stat.purdue.edu/msr/index.html 

         http://www.stat.purdue.edu/msr/ConstitutionAndByLaws.pdf

We’d love for you to join us in learning, sharing, and celebrating statistics. Consider applying to become part of the Mu Sigma Rho community!