Greetings, ENSP Students!
Welcome to the start of the Fall 2020 semester, one that will certainly be remembered as one of the most unique, challenging, and memorable ones yet (aside from last spring, of course!). A special welcome goes out to our brand new first-year and transfer students who are joining the ENSP family this fall. I hope all of you - both new and returning students - were able to enjoy your summers by spending time outside and taking advantage of the “down time” we were compelled to have. I know many of you kept part-time jobs in the restaurant and retail industries this summer; so for those of you who were essential employees, thank you.
As you know, President Pines announced that our first two weeks of classes will be delivered remotely. If you will be returning to campus, be sure to schedule a COVID-19 test.
Now that the majority of our communication will be handled remotely this semester, I wanted to remind you of the online resources we have available to you. They will be used now more than ever, and will likely be our main modes of communication, so please keep them in mind.
Academic Advising - All advising services in ENSP will be handled virtually this semester (no masks required!). You’ll find more information about advising for each concentration in the ENSP program (including “Undeclared” students) by visiting this page (link at top)
Email - Email is the University’s main form of communication, so read every message carefully. We're all getting of emails, so I suggest you make “folders” to organize your Inbox – A good folder would be for ENSP Advising, for example, where you can save important announcements about deadlines, advising, and registration. I also send information regarding clubs and activities to join, part-time jobs, internship opportunities, and campus resources; those would make good folders, too.
ENSP website - ensp.umd.edu - everything you need regarding degree requirements, four-year plans, careers, internships, research opportunities and advising resources. This should be your GO-TO PAGE for anything regarding your ENSP degree program.
ENSP Advising Blog (http://enspadvisingnews.
blogspot.com/) - BOOKMARK THIS PAGE. This is where I post information about deadlines, research opportunities, internships, campus announcements, and more. I update it almost every day, so check it often! Social Media: Like us on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/
ENSPUMD) and Instagram (@ensp.umd). Again, this is another great way to stay connected to the program and university life. You may also see pictures of my cat Connect with ENSPire, the ENSP Student Advisory Board. They manage a Facebook page specifically for ENSP majors, which can be found HERE. This page is a great way to communicate with other students about classes, books, events on campus, or just seeking general advice. You can also email ENSPire at enspireatumd [at] gmail.com
Drop-In Advising during the First Week of Classes (Aug 31 - Sept 4, 2020): I will be utilizing Google Hangouts for “drop-ins”. Click HERE for times, dates, and more information about this process. Remember, your TerpMail accounts are operated through Google, so all students should have access to these features. I’m always available via email, too.
Resources, updates, and campus information:
Tips for Taking Online Classes - from Northeastern University
What Makes a Successful Online Learner? - from Minnesota State
Recognizing and Treating Anxiety - from TheSkimm: a mental health overview, but also a GREAT collection of websites, podcasts, apps and coping techniques to help you stay calm and focused.
UMD Reopening News and Announcements - campus updates regarding academics, the pandemic, housing, athletics, and more.
Fall 2020 Course Information - information about Fall 2020 courses, how to view delivery method, what each delivery method means, how to search for courses, etc.
Health and Safety Plan - tips and resources for staying safe as you return to campus
Communications from President Pines - a collection of all emails and announcements sent by the President
Please know that the faculty and staff in ENSP are here to support you, so let us know if you begin to experience any difficulties. As the semester progresses, it is important to communicate with your instructors if you begin experiencing problems that may affect your academic performance. After all, it’s better to pinpoint issues as they begin to arise rather than waiting until it “snowballs” into something unmanageable.
We’ve been living with this pandemic for about 5 months now; we know that this situation is fluid, guidance will likely change over time, and we will always be adapting and transitioning. The faculty and staff in ENSP sincerely miss seeing you around campus; however, the reality of this pandemic is concerning, so we must do what is necessary to keep the UMD community safe. The sooner we all work together to stop the spread, the sooner we can all be together again in person.
Be safe, be well, and be kind!
Hope to "see you" around,
Angela