Roo Connection

sepia-toned photo of Epperson House in the 1920s

What's Happening

Haunted UMKC: 5 Eerie Campus Spots

Dancing theatre ghosts, creepy messages on the wall ... and what's up with that vacant mansion? Just in time for Halloween, we’re getting the scoop on five reportedly haunted places at UMKC from our own resident historian, Chris Wolff.

Read about the hauntings

Ballard and Rios meet outside at a coffee shop with masks on

Academics

Finding Mentorship and Friendship

"It's really nice to have somebody who's been down that road who's helping to steer the car. And I’m able to learn a little bit more about adulting and have conversations with a professional person. But the biggest advantage is having that person’s insight of, 'Yes, you can do this. I've done it, and this is how I've done it.'”

The pandemic hasn't stopped the budding mentor/friendship of Ruby Rios, computer science student, and Debby Ballard, president of the Sprint Foundation and UMKC Trustee.

Read their story

photo of a person holding up a phone during a video chat

Wellness

Connecting Through COVID

While the pandemic slogs on, many are experiencing isolation on a new level. UMKC Staff Council recently conducted a panel discussion on staying connected, centered and grounded. Check out these tips on how to stay in touch with others whlie protecting your mental health and wellbeing during COVID-19.

Get the tips

two stick figures with arrows between them

Connecting

Anyone Want a Pen Pal?

Are you looking for ways to connect with other Roos at UMKC? Register for Roo Companion, a pen pal program by the Office of Student Involvement, and be matched with a student on campus with similar interests.

You can connect with your Roo Companion through a variety of methods:Text

Video Chat (Zoom, FaceTime or other platforms)
Phone Call
Email
Social Media
Snail Mail
Gaming
or any other way you mutually agree to communicate

The deadline to register is Oct. 26 at 11:45 PM. You will be matched with a pen pal by Oct. 30.

Proud to be a Roo

Celebrating Hispanic Heritage

Iván Ramírez, senior coordinator of the Avanzando mentoring program, is leveraging his personal experiences and education to increase the engagement of Latinx students at UMKC. As we just finished Hispanic Heritage Month last week, check out all the resources and scholarships UMKC offers for Latinx students.

Roos Advocate for Community Change

Tell Us About Your Community Service

There are four big reasons you need to take this 5-minute UMKC Inventory Survey by 5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 30. It is crucial so we can:

Identify areas UMKC is serving in our diverse community as well as where more help is needed.
Discover organizations and resources for partnership opportunities.
Add service learning to students’ resumes and CVs.
Recognize people on campus for their time and efforts.

And don't forget to check out the latest in the Critical Conversations series; the latest topics cover finance, policing and women in higher education.

Take the survey

“I take pride in [being a first-generation student] because I know my family made a sacrifice to leave their homeland to come here and prosper. My parents were only able to get so far in life because of the lack of resources provided to them; however, I was inculcated with the desire to work hard and be humble, and I can't thank them enough for teaching me those values.”

– Roberto Diaz '20, Ed.S.

Resources and Opportunities:

Voting: Vote by Nov. 3! Make sure your voice is heard, and your mail-in ballots are notarized. UMKC has free notaries on campus.

Learn more about voting

Social Justice Book Discussion: Join for a panel conversation on "How to be an Antiracist" on Oct. 27, 6 p.m. The book combines author Ibram X. Kendi’s personal knowledge of racism’s effects with a deeper understanding of its systemic nature, and presents antiracism as not merely a catchphrase, but more accurately, a call to action.

Earn Scholarship Money: The Bloch School is putting on a Case Competition Event/Scholarship Opportunity open to all UMKC Students! All you have to do is form a team, work together to solve a real-world problem, and submit your idea on Canvas!

Learn about the competition

FAFSA: The Free Application for Federal Student Aid opened up Oct. 1 and if you apply early you have a better chance to get the most out of your application.

Get FAFSA tips

Academic Support and Mentoring: Have a tough class? Learn more about tools and resources available to help you succeed in the latest ASM newsletter.

Read the newsletter

Office of Student Involvement | Academic Support and Mentoring | Student Health | Financial Aid

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