Keeping You Connected!
UMW Commuter Student Newsletter
Volume 2, Issue 7 March 2016
Resource Spotlight: Rave Guardian App Turn your phone into a personal safety device with the innovative mobile app, RAVE Guardian, available for download free of charge by anyone in the UMW network. With this smartphone app you can set a set a safety timer when you are traveling alone that will send out a call to chosen friends and family if you do not make it to your destination on time. It will allow you to text emergency tips and information directly to UMW campus police in situations where you do not feel safe calling. In the case of an emergency, it will also provide one-touch user connection to 911 and emergency personnel, displaying the user’s GPS location upon activation for quick and efficient response. We are encouraging all students, and commuters especially, who may be traveling alone more often than other students to take advantage of this free safety app. To download, visit your phone’s app store and search Rave Guardian. For more information about the app itself, go to http://adminfinance.umw.edu/safety/umw-rave-guardian-system.
Tips for Surviving Group Projects February Commuter Events Commuter Coffee Hours 3/8 | Tuesday | 1-2pm 3/14 | Monday | 10-11am 3/25 | Friday | 11am-12pm 3/29 | Tuesday | 12-1pm Commuter Lounge (UC 114A) Grab a cup between classes or stick around and chat! CSA Canal Walk & Carl’s Ice Cream 2/23 | Wednesday | 4pm Meet at Old Mill Park Bring your sneakers and come enjoy the beautiful spring weather on the Canal Path, one of the most beautiful hidden gems in Fredericksburg! Destination: Carl’s Ice Cream by 4:30. CSA Pizza & Board Games 3/31 | Thursday | 4:00-6:00pm Tables by Qdoba, 2nd floor UC Bring your favorite games and come hang out with other commuters while enjoying free pizza!
Perhaps one of the most difficult challenges for commuters is group projects. For those who are balancing school with evening responsibilities such as a family or job (or both!), scheduling a time to meet with the other group members can be harder than the project itself. Here are a couple tips to help you communicate with your on-campus peers and make the whole process go smoothly: 1) Be upfront about your schedule. If you only have certain times that your are available on campus, let people know right away. 2) Get phone numbers of at least one or two other people in the group. That way, if you are going to be late to a meeting or if your plans change last minute, you have a faster, more reliable communication line than email. 3) Text or call someone before driving back to campus to confirm the group meeting is still on. There’s nothing like wasting your time in driving all the way to campus only to find out the meeting has been rescheduled and you missed the email. 4) Use technology. Still can’t figure out a time that’s convenient? Why not use a Google Doc so you can all contribute to the project on your own time? Or schedule a Skype call so you can add your voice to a meeting remotely? There are many options available that will allow you to participate in a group even if you cannot be present for the discussion physically. 5) Remember that on-campus students are also balancing numerous commitments. If group members seem frustrated about your limited time, share with them some of your experiences as an off-campus student, and you may be surprised at how understanding they will be. Remember, group projects present a unique opportunity to get to know your classmates better. Be open to what you might learn from each other!
Eating Well on a (College Student) Budget We all know that eating well is important for maintaining a healthy brain and performing well on all those class assignments. But how is one supposed to pay tuition, pay rent, and pay for good food? The college diet is supposed to consist almost entirely of Ramen, right? Maybe not. Check out these tips for helping keep your body, taste buds, and wallet happy for the rest of the school year. 1) Plan your meals in advance. Once a week pull out a notebook, whiteboard, meal planning app, or sticky note and write out a plan for what you will eat that week. This helps you prioritize when grocery shopping and will ward against the temptation of ordering take-out. Doing some mental prep work pays off. 2) Go to the local Farmer’s Market. The Fredericksburg one is located around Hurkamp Park in downtown, within easy walking distance for those living in College Heights or College Terrace. Take your bag and some cash and enjoy a Saturday walk through downtown. You’ll be able to enjoy local fresh produce for the rest of the week. Your taste buds and local farmers will thank you! 3) Buy essential items in bulk. Particularly dry items that don’t spoil quickly (think pasta, flour, oatmeal, sugar, etc.). Be more stingy with your fresh ingredients. Just because Romaine is on sale does not mean you should buy all five heads of lettuce. Chances are, four of those heads will go bad and you won’t have actually saved money. 4) Don’t buy things in small packages. Anything fun-sized, pre-chopped, preseasoned or individually wrapped may be convenient, but the bulk of your money will be going towards the plastic wrapping, not the food. Do that extra work yourself, taking a few minutes to chop the vegetables, bag the crackers, and salt the meat. 5) Save receipts and track your expenditures. This is a good habit to get into now. Often you may not realize how much you are spending on until you actually have the numbers in front of you. Use this insight for planning your next grocery trip. Also, many receipts come with coupons on the back. Use them and save a few cents!
Feature a Commuter: Sierra Turner Congratulations to Sierra Turner, this month’s featured commuter! Sierra is a junior majoring in Business Administration. She was nominated by Greta Franklin, Associate Director of the Multicultural Center who said: “Sierra is very involved in student leadership groups. She is the President of Women of Color and is an active member of the Black Student Association and Bothers of a New Direction (BOND). Sierra has been active in those groups since her freshman year. In addition to her student leadership roles, Sierra volunteers at Hope House, a homeless shelter for women and children that prepares their residents to live successfully on their own. Sierra engages with the children of the women who reside at Hope House in order for the women to engage in personal development workshops. Sierra is also very active with her church and assists with the children’s choir. Being an active student leader, Sierra stays on campus to attend meetings and events. She often is on campus until the late evening. However, I have never heard her complain about the long days or all of her commitments. I believe Sierra is a great example of commuter student who exhibits UMW values of integrity,
dignity and respect, diversity, intellectual inquiry, responsibility, and leadership. Check out what Sierra had to tell us about her commuter experience: Hometown? I have lived in the Fredericksburg/ Spotsylvania area all of my life. Campus Involvements? President of Women of Color, Member of Black Student Association, LINK Mentoring program for at risk middle school student, Member of the Constitution Review Board Favorite thing about UMW? My favorite thing about UMW is the amount of opportunities it has to get involved and create your ideal learning experience. Also the Professors are great! Favorite thing about being a commuter? My favorite things about being a commuter is being able to experience the University life while still being able to come home to my mom’s home cooked meals. Advice to other commuters? GET INVOLVED! And parking is not a problem when you take 8 am classes. Other facts you’d like to share? I was drum major in my high school’s marching band. I have an older sister that also attended UMW as a commuter student. Thanks for being our Featured Commuter this month, Sierra! You demonstrate the dedication and involvement that we hope all of our students to cultivate.