Finals are Here!

Classes have ended for Fall 2021 - you made it! This was a very challenging semester as we all adjusted to being around people again in a not-quite-normal way. We are proud of you and everything you accomplished! As you study, don't forget to rub True Grit's nose for a little luck. If you aren't on campus, we've got a picture of him attached to this message so that you can boop his nose from home, too.

Need a Study Break?

Today (right now!) from 11-2, visit the AOK library for yoga, snacks, a visit from local celebrity Officer Chip, crafts, and giveaways. 

The Office of Health Promotion is hosting Snack Breaks this week - today 12-3, and tomorrow and Thursday 10-3 - at their space in the Center for Wellbeing. Drop in to say hello, and grab some good food and a hot drink between study sessions. 

OCAMocha is doubling their regular student discount this week. Visit them in downtown Arbutus and enjoy a whopping 20% off from now through December 21. Plus, today (Dec 14) only, they're running a BOGO special if you show your campus card and their instagram flyer. Enjoy a delicious coffee or the best hot chocolate in town, and relax in their cheerful space. 
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It's the last week of classes for Fall 2021. There's still a lot happening on and around campus, though, so if you're feeling overwhelmed with studying and classes, take a minute and check out some of these events! 

COVID Booster and Flu Shot Clinic - Wednesday, Dec 8

Retriever Integrated Health is hosting a COVID-19 Booster and Flu Shot clinic at the RAC on Wednesday, December 8 (tomorrow!). Registration only takes a minute. Get your booster now, and help to fight the spread of COVID-19 on campus and in your community at home! 

Gamelan Concert - Friday, Dec 10

UMBC's Gamelan Ensemble will hold its concert this Friday, December 10, from 5-6pm in the PAHB's Music Box Theatre. Admission is free - due to COVID-19 restrictions, space may be limited, so don't miss your chance to see these unique and beautiful orchestras! 

UMBC Anime Society Presents: Fall 2021 24 Hours of Anime Marathon - Friday, Dec 10

Join the UMBC Anime Society for this semester's edition of their popular anime marathon, beginning on Friday, December 10, at 7pmand running straight through until Saturday evening! For more information about this hybrid online and in-person event, visit their myUMBC page. 

Finals Stressbuster Tips and Events

• Let out some creative energy with (seb) at their final Paint Night of the semester, tonight (Dec 7) at 7pm in the Commons. Hot chocolate, cookies, candy canes, and a winter craft with friends - don't miss it! 
• Looking for someplace quiet to study, and all your usual haunts in the library are packed? SGA has shared some additional options that will be available for students over the next few weeks. 
• UMBC's First-Gen Network is hosting a De-Stress Zone in the Commons Sports Zone on Monday, December 13, at 2pm. Stop by for snacks, games, and study tips! More information is available on myUMBC, here. 
• If you live on campus, don't miss RSA's famous Midnight Breakfast event at True Grit's on Monday, Dec 13, at 11pm! 

Upcoming Dates and Deadlines

December is here, which means only a few more weeks of classes before finals and Winter Commencement. We wish you the best as you wrap up your semester! 

Virtual Humanities Forum Lecture with Dr. Vaporis

Join us online on Thursday afternoon for the closing session of the Fall 2021 Humanities Forum, 4-5:30pm, as Dr. Vaporis presents "A Lord, a Pauper, and an Artist: Putting People Back Into Samurai History." More information, and a link to the virtual session, is available on the Dresher Center's website, here.

Applications Now Open - JASC 2022

The 74th Japan-America Student Conference will bring up to 72 Japanese and American college students from a variety of academic disciplines to live, travel, and conduct original peer-reviewed research together. The session will take place in August 2022, and students will travel to New York, Washington, D.C., and San Francisco. For more information about this exciting program and how to apply, please visit their website. The deadline to apply is December 17, 2021.

Finals are Coming - Need Help?

The end of the semester can be a stressful time, as you juggle deadlines, studying, and everything else. UMBC has many resources to help you; we've listed a few here, but you're also welcome to email us if you have any questions or concerns. 

• Check out the Counseling Center for help with managing time and stress, or visit their Mind Spa if you just need a space to relax someplace quiet for a little while. Someone is available any time, day or night, if you need to talk or are feeling overwhelmed. 
• Take a study break! Visit the RAC, stop by the Game Room (the Commons, 2nd Floor), or wander over to Arbutus to get a cup of coffee at OCA Mocha. 
• Need some help with class, or something else? The Academic Success Center is your one-stop shop for help with everything from writing to tutoring to academic advocacy on your behalf. Visit them in Sherman Hall 345, or set up an appointment online. 

AOK Library Contest - Win a Study Room for Finals!

Upcoming Dates and Deadlines

• Ongoing: Winter 2022 and Spring 2022 registration. Need advising? Contact us!
• Dec 2 (Thursday), 4pm: Dr. Vaporis Humanities Forum Virtual Lecture
• Dec 13: Last day of classes; last day for full semester withdrawal
• Dec 14: Study day!
• Dec 15-21: Finals
  
• Dec 22: Winter Undergraduate Commencement

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It is the last full week of November this year, and that means Thanksgiving has arrived. UMBC will be closed Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, and classes will resume on Monday next week. We wish you a safe and happy holiday, if you are celebrating! 

Humanities Forum Virtual Lecture with Dr. Vaporis

Don't miss the upcoming final session in the Fall 2021 Humanities Forum, as Dr. Vaporis presents his online lecture "A Lord, a Pauper, and an Artist: Putting People Back Into Samurai History" on Thursday, Dec. 2 at 4pm. Learn more about the lecture, and find a link to the online session, on the Dresher Center's website! 

Advising and Registration for Spring 2022 is Ongoing

If you still need advising for Spring 2022, please contact us, and we will be happy to assist you. 

Upcoming Dates and Deadlines

• Nov 24-26: UMBC closed (Thanksgiving)
• Dec. 2, 4pm: Humanities Forum Virtual Lecture with Dr. Vaporis
• Dec. 13: Last day of classes; last day for semester withdrawal
• Dec. 14: Study Day
• Dec. 15-21: Finals 
• Dec. 22: Undergraduate Commencement

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Here on campus, we were fortunate to get about a week of full autumn color and mild weather before winter started arriving, and the semester is in full swing. There are only a few weeks left before finals, so be sure to take advantage of everything happening on campus! 

Advising Continues

Do you still need advising for Spring 2022? Dr. Oyen still has appointments available! Start by filling out this Google Form. 

Remember: you do not need to sign up for classes right away after your advising appointment. As long as you have met with your advisor, you can register at any time. Please let us know if you have any questions. 

Virtual Lecture with Angie Kim - Tomorrow, 4:30!

Join the Dresher Center, MLLI, and Asian Studies in welcoming novelist Angie Kim to campus virtually for a discussion of her book, Miracle Creek! The online session will take place 4:30-5:30pm on Wednesday, November 17. For more information, and to RSVP, visit MLLI's myUMBC page. 

Info Sessions - Joining the Residential Life Team

Residential Life is hosting three information sessions - tonight, Nov 22, and Dec 1 - for students who are interested in being Resident Assistants (RAs), Desk Managers (DMs), or Maintenance Assistants (MAs) during the 2022-23 academic year. Selected applicants receive a single room in on-campus housing, a meal plan, and a small cash stipend. 

More information about the information sessions is available on myUMBC, and more information about the positions themselves are available in the 'Paraprofessional' section of Residential Life's website. 

Upcoming Dates and Deadlines

• Tomorrow, Nov 17, 4:30pm - Angie Kim Virtual Lecture
• Nov 24-26 (next week!) - Thanksgiving Break
• Dec 2, 4pm - Humanities Forum Virtual Lecture with Dr. Vaporis, "A Lord, A Pauper, and an Artist" - more info here 
• Dec 13 - Last day of classes; last day for full semester withdrawal

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The clocks have changed and the days are short, and the semester is continuing here at UMBC. In Seoul, the annual Lantern Festival is underway - a two-week celebration of lights and festivities which includes floating huge, colorful lanterns down Cheonggyecheon Stream through the center of the city. The 2021 festival is taking place now through November 21, and even if you can't get to Seoul in person, they have a variety of online events scheduled which you can check out! 

Reminder: Spring 2022 Advising and Registration!

Do you still need advising for Spring 2022? Asian Studies majors should fill out this Google Form to prepare for advising. Remember that you cannot add classes to your schedule without registration clearance, and you can't get registration clearance without making an advising appointment. For more information, visit our Advising Guide. 

There are hundreds of classes offered this Spring - how do you know which ones to choose? Your advisor (Dr. Oyen, if you're an Asian Studies major) can help you narrow things down. We also have a helpful guide to all the Spring 2022 courses that count towards Asian Studies, including their GEP designations! 

Event: Online Discussion with Angie Kim, Author of "Miracle Creek" - November 17

Join the Dresher Center, the Dept of Modern Languages, Linguistics, and Intercultural Communication, and Asian Studies next week in welcoming author Angie Kim to campus virtually to discuss her award-winning novel Miracle Creek! The online event will take place on Wednesday, November 17, at 4:30pm EST. For more information and to RSVP, visit MLLI's myUMBC page. 

Upcoming Dates and Deadlines

• Now - Spring 2022 Advising and Registration (see above)
• Now - Winter 2022 Registration
• Nov 10 (tomorrow) - deadline to drop an individual class with a "W"
• Nov 17, 4:30pm - online discussion of novel Miracle Creek with author Angie Kim (see above)
• Nov 25-26 - Thanksgiving Break, no classes
• Dec 2, 4pm - online Humanities Forum lecture "A Lord, A Pauper, and an Artist: Putting People Back Into Samurai History" with Dr. Vaporis

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Spring 2022 Registration Starts on November 2!

Don't panic! Registration - adding classes to your schedule - is easy, and only takes a few minutes. We've set up a useful guide on our website with detailed information, and have also included it here for you: 

Step 1: Check your degree plan

In your myUMBC profile, click on your 'Degree Plan' tile and see what classes you might still need to take to fulfill your degree requirements. (Not sure where to find the planner? Here's a guide to help.)

Step 2: Check your student account

Also in your myUMBC profile, check your 'Billing' tile to make sure that you do not have a balance due or a hold on your account. Open balances and financial or other holds can prevent you from adding classes to your schedule! Student Business Services can answer any account-related questions you may have. 

Step 3: Make an advising appointment

Students must have registration clearance from their advisor before they can add classes to their schedule. Asian Studies students can be advised by Dr. Oyen - fill out the Google form on this page first. At your advising appointment, you and Dr. Oyen can discuss your plans for Spring 2022 and beyond. 

Step 3a: Identify classes you want or need to take

Check out the online schedule of classes for a list of all the classes that will be offered this spring, or visit the Asian Studies website for a list of classes that count towards Asian Studies program requirements. Dr. Oyen will ask about your plans at your advising appointment, so you should have an idea of possible options before you meet with her. 

Step 4: Check your registration time

Your registration time is based on the number of credits you've completed. Students who have completed more classes (for example, a senior) will have an earlier registration time than students who have completed fewer classes (for example, a sophomore). 

Step 5: Register!

Once your registration time arrives, you can add classes to your schedule. Classes often fill quickly, so it is to your advantage to register for classes as early as you can. You can make changes to your schedule any time before the semester begins - check the Registrar's site for specific add/drop deadlines and other useful dates. 

That's it - the only thing left after adding the classes is to get excited about your Spring 2022 schedule! 

If you have any questions about the registration and advising process, please contact us, and we'll be happy to assist you. 

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Spring 2022 Schedule and Advising are Here!

The Spring 2022 schedule is now live, and you can look online to see what classes will be offered. As you consider what electives you would like to take, you can compare the classes on the Spring 2022 schedule with the Asian Studies course catalog to see what will count towards your ASIA degree, minor, or certificate. 

Some options available this spring include ASIA 300 (Music and Identity in the Two Koreas), POLI 309 (Chinese Politics), MLL 333 (Japanese Food Culture), HIST 386 (Hindus, Muslims, and their Others), GWST/HIST 380 (Women and Gender in East Asia), and AMST 375 (a special version of Studies in Asian American Culture which will involve field trips to the Smithsonian). This is just a sample of available options, though - check the schedule for the full listing as you make your plans.

Registration will begin next week (November 2), so make your advising appointment soon - click here for more information. 

Winter Registration Continues!

Thinking about a Winter 2022 class? In addition to many classes that satisfy various GEP requirements, there are a few options for Asian Studies students among the more than 100 courses that will be offered this January, including MUSC 230 (Musics of the World), HIST 381 (From Samurai to Salariman), and HIST 434 (Vietnam Wars in International Context). You're welcome to make an appointment with Dr. Oyen to discuss whether a Winter 2022 class makes sense for you and your degree plan. 

Upcoming Events, Dates, and Deadlines

• Now - Spring 2022 schedule available online
• Now - Winter 2022 registration is open 
• Oct 29, noon - ASCOM meeting, Fine Arts 558
• Nov 2 - Advance registration for Spring '22 begins for students with registration clearance (make an appointment today!)
• Nov 4 - Diwali
• Nov 10 - Last day to drop individual courses with a "W"
• Nov 17, 4pm - Virtual Lecture "Legal, Poetic, and Social Justice" with author Angie Kim, co-sponsored by the Dresher Center, the Department of Modern Languages, Linguistics, and Intercultural Communication, and Asian Studies

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