Roo Connection

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What's Happening

6 Tips to Start the Semester Strong

Welcome back, Roos! Even though this semester is different than normal (thanks, COVID) there are still plenty of ways to get plugged in, enjoy campus and take advantage of all the resources you have available to you. Check out these tried-and-true tips for starting off strong.

Get the tips

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Wellness

Healthy Resources During COVID-19

Here's a round-up of COVID-specific resources you might find helpful.

Get the latest UMKC updates

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Proud to be a Roo

Biology Student Launches STEMology Podcast

“Science students like to talk science, but there’s not always a space to do that,” says Alynah Adams, biology student. “I was talking about this with some of my friends one day and thought, ‘Someone should start a podcast.’ And then I thought, ‘Why not me?’ I sent about 30 friends 10 podcast names. Within a day they helped me settle on ‘STEMology: The Young Scientists' Survival Guide.’”

Academics

Introducing a New Department: Race, Ethnic and Gender Studies

Make sure to check out Race, Ethnic and Gender Studies (REGS) in the College of Arts and Sciences. Employers across sectors are actively recruiting job candidates with knowledge and training in issues of race, ethnicity, sexuality and gender.

“This is the course of study we need to offer right now, during this period of raised consciousness and expanding opportunity,” said Toya Like, Ph.D., interim chair of the REGS Department and associate professor of criminal justice and criminology. “Individuals and organizations across the country are recognizing that they have a lot of work to do if they want to expand social justice, and that work will need to be guided by well-educated professionals with a deep understanding of the roots of injustice.”

The department currently offers minors in three interest areas: Black Studies; Latinx and Latin American Studies; and Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies. Students are able to pursue a specialized focus while enhancing their major in the humanities, social sciences or natural sciences. The minors provide flexibility to allow for the creation of a course of study suited to individual student interests.

Learn more

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Connecting

New UMKC Zoom Backgrounds

Celebrate the new academic year with these new Zoom backgrounds feeaturing shots around campus.

Get the backgrounds

photo of Chris on an exercise mat in his home

"It’s just been amazing, so many testimonials of people that have been able to change their lives based on workouts we do together, based on the daily stories we do, promoting joy and happiness during this tough time ... Take care of your health, take care of yourself, your life is important."

– Chris Anderaos from UMKC Campus Recreation, on the success his fitness and wellness account on Instagram has had since COVID started

See the KSHB 41 story on Chris

Resources and Opportunities:

Mental Health Resources: Starting a new semester during a pandemic can be stressful. Make sure you're taking advantage of the many resources UMKC has to offer you, like Counseling Services and Sanvello, a mental health app that's free to everyone with a UMKC email address and has resources for coping with COVID stress.

Mental Health Resources

Changes to Parking and Libraries: Updates this semester include an app for metered parking and more virtual/online options for getting help from UMKC Libraries.

Learn more

Academic Support and Mentoring: Learn more about initiatives for student academic success (like Supplemental Instruction, Tutoring and the Writing Studio) in the latest issue of Success, ASM’s quarterly newsletter.

Read the newsletter

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