Friday, December 18, 2020

Business or Engineering Students: QUEST Program Applications are Open

 Attention all first-year students in the Clark School of Engineering, Smith School of Business, and/or CMNS! The QUEST Honors Program is a hands-on learning community for motivated students with diverse backgrounds and skill sets. Over the course of three years, QUEST students take classes focused on experiential learning projects. These projects solve complex problems for real-world clients and enable you to gain teamwork skills and new perspectives from students outside of your major.

Students graduating in Fall 2023 or later in the A. James Clark School of Engineering, College of Computer, Mathematical and Natural Sciences, or the Robert H. Smith School of Business are eligible to apply at apply.questumd.com. Applications are open between December 15th and February 1st! 

 

Be sure to follow us on Instagram (@questumd) to learn more about the program and stay updated on the application!

Fulbright Research/Study/English Teaching Grants - Early Access

 The Fulbright US Student Grant Program offers thousands of opportunities to do research, study, or teach English around the globe. 


Current juniors and seniors, and recent graduates, are eligible to apply for Fulbright grants this coming autumn 2021. (US Citizenship is required.)

Click here to get a head start in learning about Fulbright international research, study, and English teaching opportunities, to gain access to our ELMS resource site for Fulbright applicants, and to receive notice about our winter Fulbright info sessions.

You can visit the Fulbright US Student Grant Program website by clicking here.

UMD National Scholarships Office    fulbright@umd.edu

Alternative Breaks Applications are Open!

 Alternative Breaks (AB) applications are open for our Spring Alternative Breaks Dialogue Program! AB is a great opportunity for students in the Honors College to get involved in engaging discussion, education and reflection centered around global social issues and community service-learning.


Join us for the Spring 2021 Alternative Breaks Dialogue Program!



Program Details:

  • The Alternative Breaks Dialogue Program looks to build a world in which UMD students are empowered learners in community together, taking action toward just causes.

  • Through deliberative and reflective dialogues addressing global social issues, student participants will exchange and evaluate different ideas and approaches that challenge specific social, political and economic structures of our global community. 

  • Direct service with a local community partner will demonstrate how students can turn their knowledge into action in safe, responsible, and sustainable ways.

  • Interested students must be willing to commit 1.5 hours/week for 8 weeks between February 15th, 2021 - April 9th, 2021

  • The experience is free.


Who should participate?:

  • Any student that wants to explore community development, civic engagement, local issues, leadership, and service.

  • Undergraduate and graduate students interested in exploring social issues that include environmental conservations, education, socioeconomic inequality, healthcare, and more. 


How will you benefit from participating?:

  • Connect with a community of peers from across campus  and create new friendships. 

  • Develop and practice personal and group leadership skills such as active listening, reflection, critical thinking, and communication. 

  • Learn how to effectively engage in constructive dialogue


What should I expect?

  • Active engagement in personal reflection, listening, small group dialogue, and small group activities.

  • Thought-provoking questions and dialogue around social issues.

  • Making connections between social issues and your academic, personal, professional, or civic life.

  • Engaging in direct service alongside a local community partner. 

  • Identifying at least one action step to take towards a social issue you are passionate about.


Application Information:

  • Visit alternativebreaks.umd.edu to sign up starting Monday, December 7th, 2020.

  • The deadline to apply is Sunday, January 31st, 2021


For more information or questions, visit Alternativebreaks.umd.edu or contact us at alternativebreaks@umd.edu

Terps In Space Microgravity Experiment Competition

 We are seeking freshmen, sophomores and juniors interested in research to participate in a microgravity experiment competition. No previous background in research is required.


Terps in Space gives science and engineering undergrads the opportunity to design and propose REAL experiments that compete for a spot on the International Space Station (ISS). Experiments spend 4-6 weeks in space then return to the students for analysis.


Find out more on our site.


If interested in participating, please complete this form.



Timeline:


Spring 2021 (virtual):

Teams of 2-4 students work with a mentor to design and propose an experiment. This involves literature research, experiment planning, and gathering preliminary data. In May, three finalist teams will be selected.

Note: Non-finalist teams will conclude their participation in the program having gained a semester of independent, student-driven research experience.


Summer 2021-Fall 2021:

The three semi-finalist teams will have time to further develop their proposals and, optionally, do preliminary experiments. In December, the winning team will be selected.


Spring 2022:

The winning team will conduct lab work to optimize their proposed experiment, and then load their experiment and ship it to be flown to the ISS.


Summer 2022-Fall 2022:

The winning team will receive their experiment from the ISS and conduct analysis and do report writeup. They may also attend the SSEP conference in Washington, D.C. and present results.




Terps in Space is part of the Student Spaceflight Experiments Program of the National Center for Earth and Space Science Education.

Two Technology Research Asst Positions

 Position 1: Website Development 

CECEI is seeking a Research Assistant who will primarily assist with developing a new website. The website will support a national expert working group focused on trauma. This is a great opportunity to build your project portfolio and gain applied web development experience. Tasks include: researching current web design best practices, reviewing similar websites, building the website in Drupal, user experience testing, and content management. The ideal candidate has strong web development experience.

Position Details

• 10 hours/week through each semester.

• In the spring and fall semester, RA is to enroll in an independent study for which their work will count for course credit.

• Priority will be given to applicants who are available/interested in working for 2 consecutive semesters.

• Graduate AND undergraduate students may be considered.

For best consideration, please send all materials by December 21st, 2020. Please contact us with any questions or for more information. To apply, please email a resume, cover letter, and unofficial transcript to Naomi Patton at CECEI@umd.edu, with the subject line “Project Technology RA 2021.”


Position 2: App & Web Development

CECEI is seeking a Research Assistant who will primarily assist with app and web development projects. The app is on iOS and Android and helps families connect with what their children are learning at school and offers activities and resources. Websites are hosted on Drupal and highlight the CECEI and its projects. This is a great opportunity to build your project porHolio and gain applied app and web development experience. App tasks include: researching and implementing improvements including user testing, reviewing similar apps and research on them, and troubleshooting/maintenance. Web tasks include: researching current web design best practices, building website(s) in Drupal, UX testing, and content management. The ideal candidate has strong SwiP and/or Android as well as web development experience.

Position Details

• 10 hours/week through the course of the academic year.

• In the spring and fall semesters, RAs are to enroll in an independent study for which their work will count for course credit.

• Priority will be given to applicants who are available/interested in working for 2 consecutive semesters.

• Graduate AND undergraduate students may be considered.

For best consideration, please send all materials by December 21st, 2020. Please contact us with any questions or for more information. To apply, please email a resume, cover letter, and unofficial transcript to Naomi Patton at CECEI@umd.edu, with the subject line “CECEI Technology RA 2021.”


About Us

The Center for Early Childhood Education and Intervention (CECEI) is a joint initiative between the Department of Counseling, Higher Education and Special Education (CHSE) and the Department of Human Development and Quantitative Methodology (HDQM). The mission of CECEI is to conduct high quality research on early childhood education and early intervention programs in order to inform State and Federal policy, to translate research into scalable education programs and best practices, to build capacity in schools and communities, and to promote family engagement in their children’s education.

The Diamondback's multimedia desk is hiring!

 The Diamondback, the university’s independent student newspaper, is hiring a multimedia reporter for the spring semester! This position is an excellent opportunity to gain reporting experience, publish videos and get involved with the publication. 

Multimedia reporters are expected to pitch story ideas, attend weekly staff meetings and produce straight news packages and/or longer-form feature videos over the course of the semester. You can check out some of our recent videos here. Multimedia reporters will also have the opportunity to work with The Diamondback’s news feature podcast, Offbeat. 

All interested applicants should send an email including a resume, why you’re interested in the job, two clips that showcase your video experience and one story idea for the spring. Please include whether or not you own camera equipment and if you will be on campus in the spring, though this is NOT required for the position.

Applications are due by Tuesday, Dec. 22 at 11:59 p.m. to multimedia editor Kimi Fleming. All applications and questions go to kimberlyfleming16@gmail.com.

Friday, December 4, 2020

Rangel Summer Enrichment Program for International Affairs

 Are you an undergraduate student planning a career in International Affairs? Do you receive need-based financial aid?

If so, you should learn about the Rangel Summer Enrichment Program for students with strong interests in pursuing careers in international affairs. The program provides undergraduate students with a deeper appreciation of current issues and trends in international affairs, a greater understanding of career opportunities in international affairs, and the enhanced knowledge and skills to pursue such careers.

Duration: This program takes place at Howard University from June 14 to July 23, 2021. 

Award Amount: The program includes courses (with transferable credit), a full range of extracurricular activities and career-development support, travel, and room & board, and a $3,200 stipend.

Program Preferences: The Rangel program encourages the application of members of minority groups historically underrepresented in the Foreign Service; the program has a strong focus on students who receive need-based financial aid (demonstrated by FAFSA).

Eligibility: Rangel is open to undergraduate students and requires U.S. citizenship. Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors are eligible. Rangel requires a GPA minimum of 3.2.

Deadline: February 9, 2021 

For more information and to learn how we can assist you with the application process, please contact us at scholarships@umd.edu.

Brain Exercise Initiative - Virtual Volunteer Opportunity (for Pre-med students)

Looking for a way to help your community during the pandemic? Interested in neuroscience and helping others?


The Brain Exercise Initiative is a student-run non-profit organization that uses math, reading, and writing as a form of cognitive development for the elderly. It is found that simple math exercises and reading for just 30 minutes a day can have a positive impact on memory for those with Alzheimer's. We currently have chapters at 50 universities including UCLA, Harvard, Columbia, Cornell, Notre Dame, Brown, and numerous others. We go to retirement homes for about 30-45 minutes a day and do simple math (addition, subtraction, etc), read aloud, and writing exercises with the seniors. 

 

We are currently looking for volunteers to be a part of our non-profit. As a volunteer, you would virtually meet with the seniors at retirement homes and hold these exercises with them. If you have an interest in neuroscience and Alzheimer’s and enjoy volunteering with elders, we encourage you to apply! We would love to have committed people on our team. Applications are due on Friday, December 18th. Apply here: ter.ps/bei2020



You can also visit our website at www.brainexerciseinitiative.com to find out more. If you have any questions please contact us at umd.bei@gmail.com. Thank you!

McNair Scholars - PhD Prep Program

 Thinking about Graduate School and Pursuing a Ph.D.?

 

The McNair Scholars Program Can Help You Get There!

 

The Academic Achievement Programs' Ronald E. McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement Program is a graduate school preparation program designed to identify high academic achievers from traditionally underserved groups and to prepare its Scholars to matriculate into graduate programs & to earn doctoral or terminal degrees.

 

Benefits of Being a McNair Scholar:

-- Paid Summer Virtual & In-person Research Experience with Faculty

-- GRE & Graduate School Application Fee Waivers 

-- Graduate School Application Preparation Assistance

 

Online Information Sessions:


December 7         12:00 - 1:00 pm

December 10       12:00 - 1:00 pm

February 1           12:00 - 1:00 pm

February 4           12:00 - 1:00 pm 


Zoom Link


https://umd.zoom.us/j/92048380676?pwd=VlIyWDdyeCt6UzBMeWNOK0RBRjBUQT09


Application: 


Priority Deadline: December 31, 2020

General Deadline February 13, 2021 (rolling admission based on space availability thereafter)


Visit: http://ugst.umd.edu/AAP/mcnair-about.html

 

Contact:  

Rhea Roper Nedd, Ph.D.

(301) 405-4749 or  rnedd@umd.edu 

Friday, November 20, 2020

2021 Maryland Summer Scholars Program

 The Maryland Summer Scholars Program (MSS) provides opportunities for University of Maryland, College Park (UMD) undergraduates to spend much of the summer working closely with faculty mentors on ambitious research, scholarly, or artistic projects. The MSS program provides awards of $3,000 to approximately 25-30 undergraduates each summer.


Many Summer Scholars expand their summer research into an independent study or honors thesis project the following autumn semester, and find that their research experience helps distinguish their applications for graduate study, fellowships, internships, employment and other competitive opportunities.

Maryland Summer Scholars (MSS) may conduct their summer research on the College Park campus or elsewhere in the U.S. or abroad as required by the nature of the project. Students whose projects require travel for an extended period of time to off campus locations (not to include regular commuting) may submit a travel supplement request as directed in the online application form. Travel supplements will not exceed $1,000.

Eligibility: You are eligible to apply for an MSS award: if you have earned 12 or more UMD course credits (not including AP or IB credits) by the date of the application deadline; if you have a cumulative UMD GPA of 3.40 or higher by the date of the application deadline; and if you expect to receive your undergraduate degree no earlier than December 2021. All academic majors are eligible.

Application Deadline: The deadline to apply for summer 2021 awards will be Thursday, February 14, 2021. It is important that candidates begin developing their proposals as soon as possible.

A presentation about the MSS program is available on our website as well as on ELMS, along with presentations about additional summer research opportunities - for ELMS access please click here to complete a brief questionnaire

Important Tax Information: Please note that MSS awards are subject to taxation as personal income, and awardees should plan accordingly; tax withholding may apply. 

The Maryland Summer Scholars Program is sponsored by the Office of Undergraduate Studies, the UMD Division of Research, UMD Schools and Colleges, and the Maryland Center for Undergraduate Research. 

QUEST Info Session Dec 9

 Attention all freshmen in the Clark School of Engineering, Smith School of Business, and/or CMNS! The QUEST Honors Program is a hands-on learning community for motivated students with diverse backgrounds and skill sets. Over the course of three years, QUEST students take classes focused on experiential learning projects. These projects solve complex problems for real-world clients and enable you to gain teamwork skills and new perspectives from students outside of your major.

We will have an information session where you can learn more about QUEST and the application process on:

If you are interested in learning more about QUEST please register for the information session above, fill out the form at ter.ps/questupdates, and follow us on instagram @questumd. Applications open over Winter Break!
  

Graphic Design Research Assistant

 The Center for Early Childhood Education and Intervention (CECEI) is a joint initiative between the Department of Counseling, Higher Education and Special Education (CHSE) and the Department of Human Development and Quantitative Methodology (HDQM). The mission of CECEI is to conduct high quality research on early childhood education and early intervention programs in order to inform State and Federal policy, to translate research into scalable education programs and best practices, to build capacity in schools and communities, and to promote family engagement in their children’s education.

Children Study Their World (CSW) is an early childhood curriculum for 4-year-olds, based on principles of project-based inquiry and driven by evidence-based practices that build teacher capacity and support successful implementation. CSW was developed by the Center for Early Childhood Education and Intervention with funding from the Maryland State Department of Education, Division of Early Childhood.

The Graphic Design Research Assistant (GDRA) will primarily assist with tasks for the CSW curriculum and may also assist with related curricula projects. This is a great opportunity to build a project portfolio and gain applied graphic design and illustration experience.

Specifically, the GDRA will develop the visual assets for a picture book for early learning educators, using the existing CSW art style and graphics in addition to developing new graphics specific to the book. The Graphic Design RA will be responsible for design of original picture book scenes/backgrounds, editing and placement of existing character designs, text placement, cover design, and any other design tasks needed to complete the book. Existing CSW art files use the Adobe Illustrator format. The GDRA will additionally assist with developing needed artwork for other CSW and curricula-related materials.

Minimum Requirements:

● Currently enrolled in an academic program related to graphic design, illustration, or a closely related field

● A strong portfolio that includes relevant examples of graphic design and illustration projects

● Experience using Adobe Illustrator and related graphic design and illustration tools

● Evidence of strong communication skills, both oral and written

● Excellent interpersonal and teamwork skills

● Attention to detail and ability to work autonomously

● Proficiency in using Google Suite

In the spring 2021 semester, the GDRA is to enroll in an independent study for which their work will count for course credit. The position would require 10 hours per week, which is generally the equivalent of 3 credit hours. The GDRA may be considered for a second semester based on performance and Center needs. 

Graduate AND undergraduate students may be considered.

To apply, please email a resume, cover letter, portfolio samples, and unofficial transcript to Naomi Patton at CECEI@umd.edu by 5 p.m., Monday, November 30th, with the subject line “CECEI Graphic Design RA 2021.”

Incomplete applications will not be considered. Please email us with any questions or for more information.

For more information about our Center and the project, please visit our CECEI and CSW websites.

The Answer Class is Hiring Online SAT/ACT Prep Teachers

 NOW HIRING ONLINE SAT/ACT PREP TEACHERS


Join a dynamic and growing educational organization in Maryland!

We are looking for highly motivated University of Maryland Honors College students to teach live, virtual SAT and/or ACT prep classes to area high school students.

Flexible schedule – evenings and weekends available.

Immediate openings for those available to teach weeknight classes.

Training, curriculum and materials are all provided.


Competitive pay: $17-$25/hour based on experience, with bonus potential.

We currently employ several UMD Honors College students & alumni and welcome the opportunity to work with you as well!

Send resume or letter of interest to: info@theanswerclass.com


**********


And here’s what our teachers say about working at The Answer Class ….

“…a fun and convenient way to make a positive impact on the community and also make extra money.”

“I love the people I work with and also I think it serves an important purpose. . .it’s a great job and really rewarding.”

“This is probably one of the best jobs I've ever had (My bosses) are so kind! They really care about their employees! It's also a very low stress job.”


**********


**Our mission: We feel strongly that all students, regardless of family income, location, school and extra-curricular schedules should have the opportunity to present their strongest college application. For this reason, we founded The Answer Class as a way to make SAT & ACT prep as accessible as possible to as many students as possible -- and in some small measure work to even the playing field for students taking the SAT & ACT. **

Monday, November 16, 2020

McNair Scholars - PhD Prep Program

 Thinking about Graduate School and Pursuing a Ph.D.?

 

The McNair Scholars Program Can Help You Get There!

 

The Academic Achievement Programs' Ronald E. McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement Program is a graduate school preparation program designed to identify high academic achievers from traditionally underserved groups and to prepare its Scholars to matriculate into graduate programs & to earn doctoral or terminal degrees.

 

Benefits of Being a McNair Scholar:

-- Paid Summer Virtual & In-person Research Experience with Faculty

-- GRE & Graduate School Application Fee Waivers 

-- Graduate School Application Preparation Assistance

 

Online Information Sessions:


November 2         12:00 -1:00 pm

November 5         12:00 -1:00 pm

December 7         12:00 - 1:00 pm

December 10       12:00 - 1:00 pm

February 1           12:00 - 1:00 pm

February 4           12:00 - 1:00 pm 


Zoom Link


https://umd.zoom.us/j/92048380676?pwd=VlIyWDdyeCt6UzBMeWNOK0RBRjBUQT09


Application: 


Priority Deadline: December 31, 2020

General Deadline February 13, 2021 (rolling admission based on space availability thereafter)


Visit: http://ugst.umd.edu/AAP/mcnair-about.html

 

Contact:  

Rhea Roper Nedd, Ph.D.

(301) 405-4749 or  rnedd@umd.edu 

Quest Program

 Attention all freshmen in the Clark School of Engineering, Smith School of Business, and/or CMNS! The QUEST Honors Program is a hands-on learning community for motivated students with diverse backgrounds and skill sets. Over the course of three years, QUEST students take classes focused on experiential learning projects. These projects solve complex problems for real-world clients and enable you to gain teamwork skills and new perspectives from students outside of your major.

 

Learn more about QUEST and the application process.

If you are interested in learning more about QUEST please register for the information session above, fill out the form at ter.ps/questupdates, and follow us on instagram @questumd. Applications open over Winter Break!