Fall 2014 Graduate and International
Student Orientation, August 11-17th
Monday, August 11
Tuesday, August 12
Wednesday,
August 13
Thursday, August
14
Friday, August 15
*Today’s sessions
presented by UMBC’s
English Language
Institute (ELI)
Banking in the US
10:30am – 11:00am
Lecture Hall 1
Social Security
10:00am – 11:00am,
Lecture Hall 3
Graduate School
Orientation
12:30pm – 7:15pm
PROMISE
Success Institute
Service Providers
Fair and Lunch
11:00am – 1:00pm
The Commons, 2nd
Floor, Student
Organizations Space.
*meet with cell phone
Driving in
Maryland
11:00am – 12:00pm,
Lecture Hall 3
http://www.umbc.
edu/gradschool/es
sentials/orientatio
n.html
*Pre-registration is
required, see link
on Saturday’s
schedule
US Cultural
Differences, Academic
Norms and
Expectations
10:00am – 11:00am
ELI (University Center,
2nd floor)
Speaking, Debating and
Presenting
11:00am – 12:15pm
ELI
Lunch Break
12:15pm – 1:00pm
(not provided)
Academic Vocabulary
1:00pm – 2:00pm
ELI
Research and Writing
Academic Papers
2:00pm – 3:00pm
ELI
Night Out – Swing
Dance in Baltimore!
7:30pm – about 11pm
Mobtown Ballroom
Meet in Commons Loop
for transportation
(COST - $10, includes
lesson) Limited Space!
providers, banks, local
apartments, campus and
student organizations
and more, over lunch
UMBC Transit
Services
1:00pm – 1:30pm
Lecture Hall 1
Night Out“Experience
Baltimore” Harbor
Trip
1:30pm – 9:30pm
Bus leaves from
Commons Loop
(estimated COST - $7entrance to Fort
McHenry)*Limited Space
Available, students
must register ahead
of time at
ies@umbc.edu
8:30am -1:00pm
Dining Hall Lunch
12:00pm – 2:00pm
True Grit’s
(COST - $8.05)
RAC (gym) Tour
2:00-2:30pm
UMBC RAC
Library and
Resource
Scavenger Hunt!
2:30pm-4:00pm
Library Atrium
Culture EventMaryland Style
Crab Feast
4:30pm-6:30pm
Flat Tuesdays Patio
Tickets are $15 and
for sale at IES Office.
Limited Space!
Saturday, August
16
PROMISE Success
Institute
8:30am – 5:00pm
Hosted by UMB
(University of
Maryland, Baltimore)
SMC Campus Center
621 W. Lombard St.
Baltimore, MD 2120
*Pre-registration is
required, see link
below
Intercultural
Training Session
4:30pm-6:00pm
Sherman 006
Facilitated by Eva
Piera Escriva, INCC
Grad student and
ISAB member
Night Out-Live
MusicFrederick Road
Fridays
6:30pm-9:00pm
Frederick Road,
Catonsville
Meet at
Administration Bus
Shelter for
transportation.
Event is FREE!
*More information
and registration for
PROMISE is at
http://my.umbc.edu
/groups/promise/ne
ws/27031
Shopping TripInternational
Grocery Store and
Wal-Mart
12:00pm-3:30pm
Rt. 40 and Rolling
Road Shopping Center
Meet at
Administration Bus
Shelter for
transportation. Event
is FREE!
Event Descriptions
Monday, August 11th
UMBC’s English Language Institute presents a series of workshops designed to help students prepare for US academic expectations, including
classroom and professor expectations, presentation skills, building academic vocabulary, and guidance in writing academic papers. A lunch break is
included – you can head over to the Commons for lunch or bring your lunch with you.
Night Out - Swing Dance in Baltimore! -Advanced Registration Required, email ies@umbc.edu to register!
Join current UMBC students and other Baltimore locals for a night of fun and energetic social dancing! Swing dancing is a traditional American
style of partner dance from the 1930’s and 40’s, done to high-energy jazz and big band music. A lesson at 8pm will introduce new dancers to basic
moves, and the dance from 9pm – about 12am gives dancers a chance to try out what they’ve learned. This is a very fun, friendly and welcoming
environment – you will meet and interact with many different people in a safe and relaxed atmosphere. UMBC will provide transportation from
UMBC and back again for new UMBC students.
Watch an example of swing dancing here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dWR4TdMc7IE
COST - $10 with student ID
Tuesday, August 12th
Banking in the US – Learn the basics of the US Banking System, including an introduction to online banking, ATM usage, banking safety, and how
to evaluate and choose different banks. This is a great preparation for the Service Provider’s Fair!
Service Providers Fair – Advanced Registration Required, email ies@umbc.edu to register!
Meet and evaluate banking services, cell phone providers and nearby apartment complexes; meet and learn about various University Services, and
enjoy a pizza lunch with your new friends!
Transit Services – Want to get off campus and explore Baltimore and the surrounding areas? Need transportation to your apartment, the airport, the
grocery store, and beyond? Learn more in this session about UMBC’s free shuttle system, as well as local forms of public transportation.
Night Out – “Experience Baltimore” Harbor Trip - Advanced Registration Required, email ies@umbc.edu to register!
Join IES staff and your new friends for an afternoon and evening of Baltimore history and fun! We will start our trip with a guided tour of historical
Fort McHenry, which is celebrating the bicentennial of the war of 1812 and the writing of the National Anthem. The Fort played a crucial role in the
formation of the US! We will also take a trip on the Charm City Circulator to experience a free public transit option to get around Baltimore City.
The Circulator will take us to the Baltimore Welcome Center to pick up more information about the city. Students will then have the rest of the
evening free to wander the harbor, enjoying dinner, entertainment, shopping and more as they please. Transportation between UMBC and Baltimore
will be provided.
COST –$7 for entrance to Fort McHenry. Food and shopping will be additional expenses.
Wednesday, August 13th
Social Security - This session reviews the process to apply for a Social Security number (SSN), which is required to work and get paid in the US.
Graduate Assistants or others that already have jobs lined up on campus are heavily encouraged to attend, as they will need to apply for an SSN.
Driving in Maryland – Don’t be confused by the process to get a Maryland Driver’s license – we’ll explain everything you need to know!
Dining Hall Lunch – Join IES staff and fellow students for lunch in UMBC’s Dining Hall, True Grit’s. This is a great way to sample a variety of
American food, as the Dining Hall is “buffet style,” and very good!
Cost - $8
RAC Tour – The RAC (Retriever Activities Center) is UMBC’s gym, which all students have free access to. We’ll tour the facility and learn about
different opportunities for students, such as a free group fitness classes, pool usage, weight rooms and more.
Library and Resource Scavenger Hunt - A favorite session for new students, this workshop will help you get to know the services UMBC’s Albin
O. Kuhn (AOK) Library has to offer in a fun and interactive way. Services of the library include the popular Media Center, the Retriever Learning
Center, research librarians, journal collections, and the library’s extensive web services. This session is especially important to new Graduate
Students who will be conducting research while at UMBC.
IES Maryland Crab Feast!- Advanced Ticket Purchase Required. Purchase your tickets in the IES Office- Administration Building, 2nd
Floor. Tickets are $10 (Cash Only) for all you can eat Maryland Crabs! Enjoy a traditional Maryland style Crab Feast with delicious, hot
steamed crabs! There will also be potato salad, corn on the cob, and ice cold beverages! Any questions? Contact IES at (410)-4552624 or ies@umbc.edu. Learn a little bit more about crabs in Maryland here: http://baltimore.org/taste-baltimore/maryland-crabs/
Thursday, August 14th
Graduate School Orientation – Register in advance through the Graduate School! Graduate students should plan to attend this informative and
exciting event, which helps students learn important information about being a Graduate student at UMBC, as well as provides plenty of time for
getting to know your colleagues and peers. More information can be found here: http://www.umbc.edu/gradschool/essentials/orientation.html
Friday, August 15th
PROMISE Success Institute – Register in advance at http://my.umbc.edu/groups/promise/news/27031
PROMISE is an organization designed to assist Graduate students in completing their degrees. This Success Institute will help you give you
opportunities to learn success strategies and networking skills, meet other new students, and prepare for a rewarding and productive year ahead!
Intercultural Training Session
Join UMBC graduate students and ISAB member, Eva Piera Escriva, for an interactive session that provides academic and social-interactional advice
from the perspective of a current graduate international student. This session will introduce you to culture shock and help you prepare for your life at
UMBC as an international student. Topics covered will be culture shock, intercultural communication, international student adjustment, and goal
setting.
Night Out- Live Music- Frederick Road Fridays
Join IES staff and, current and new UMBC students for an evening of live music in the local town of Catonsville. The event is FREE but you will
need to purchase your own food and beverages from local vendors. Bring your UMBC ID Card for use on the UMBC Transit Shuttle (we will be
departing from the Administration Bus Shelter) and also a blanket to sit on so you can watch the show! You can also explore downtown Catonsville
where there are shops, restaurants, antiques, and cafés. Join us for this fun evening out in Catonsville!
Saturday, August 16th
Shopping Trip-International Market and Wal-Mart
Are you curious where to get grocery items from your home country? Do you need to furnish your new apartment or room? Join IES staff and current
students to go on a Saturday afternoon shopping trip to the local international market and Wal-Mart. Wal-Mart has everything from televisions to
plants for you to make your new home to your liking! We will be leaving from the Administration Bus Shelter promptly at 12:00pm and using FREE
UMBC Transit so don’t forget to bring your UMBC ID card! The shuttle will return to campus at 3:30pm.
Watch your email for more events coming during the week of August 18th-24th!
We look forward to welcoming you to UMBC! Please contact us with any questions or concerns:
UMBC IES Office, Admin 224
ies@umbc.edu 410-455-2624