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Right from the Start: Opportunities for New UMBC Freshmen & Transfer Students

by David Hoffman and Craig Berger

Two special leadership and involvement opportunities are now open to students in their first semester at UMBC. If you want to make friends, build your leadership skills and work with others to make a meaningful difference on campus, start right here.

First Year Council

The First Year Council works with campus leaders to make the first-year experience the best it can be. Past First Year Councils have addressed weekend dining options, created community-building programs and helped peers find the information they needed on campus. A member of the original First Year Council spearheaded the establishment of the Homecoming Bonfire as a campus tradition.



The First Year Council meets every Friday afternoon with advisors from Student Life. Become a member by being nominated by any student organization. Just ask one of the organization's officers to complete this form. The nomination deadline is September 25, 2013. Questions? Contact Annekia Harding, Civic Engagement and Leadership Intern in Student Life, at annekia1@umbc.edu.

Student Government Association First Year Ambassadors

First Year Ambassadors serve in the SGA Senate, Finance Board and Executive Branch.  They have all of the responsibilities of other SGA officers (except that First Year Ambassadors serving in the Senate and Finance Board do not vote), but receive special training and opportunities to learn about SGA's and UMBC's structure and operations.  In addition, First Year Ambassadors have the opportunity to represent SGA on the First Year Council. This opportunity is open to all students in their first year at UMBC.

Questions? Contact Max Barnhart, Assistant Director of SGA Departmental Affairs, at mb11@umbc.edu
To apply to join SGA as a First Year Ambassador, follow this link:  First Year Ambassador Application


Co-Create UMBC is a blog for and about UMBC, written by David Hoffman and Craig Berger from the Office of Student Life. Join the Co-Create UMBC group on MyUMBC. Like Co-Create UMBC on Facebook. And follow David and Craig on Twitter.

Posted: September 18, 2013, 10:49 AM