Monday, November 27, 2017

How to Register for Classes

If you are already a matriculated UMass Dartmouth student, you can register through COIN online.

If this is your first UMass Dartmouth online course, you will need to activate your UMass Dartmouth email account. All online course correspondence is done through your UMD email, not your personal email. Also, the first semester RN-BS online students will be registered automatically.
Students register for classes in COIN, UMass Dartmouth's student information system, located in the myUMassD portal.
Before registering, each student must meet with his or her academic advisor to review course selections and for the advisor to lift the academic advising hold on the COIN account. A student will not be able to register for classes until this hold is lifted.
Be sure to note the class numbers in the course listings for the classes you want to take. Then:
  1. Log in to the myUMassD portal
  2. Select COIN from the Launch Pad
  3. Log in to COIN and click on Academics
  4. Select add/drop/swap a class
  5. Select the upcoming term
  6. Select add classes
  7. Enter your class numbers; Once they have been entered, click on submit
COIN should indicate why a student may have trouble registering for a class. If you need any additional help, please visit the IT Student Help Desk for one-on-one assistance.

Thursday, November 16, 2017

How to Remove Holds

If you have a hold on your account, COIN will block you from enrolling until the hold is removed.

Check your COIN account prior to your registration date and address any of the following holds. Typical holds which will block enrollment include:

Academic Advising Hold:
Academic advising holds can be lifted by meeting with your adviser or attending a group advising session.

Bursar’s Hold
 A bursar’s hold is placed on student accounts having a past due balance. Your student support coordinator or faculty advisers cannot remove a bursar’s hold. You will need to go to the 2nd floor of the Foster Administration Building to resolve the problem with the Bursar.

Emergency Contact Hold
In order to remove this hold, students need to log on to their COIN account to verify their emergency contact information in their Personal Data section.

Immunization Hold 
The Immunization Hold is placed on student accounts by Health Services and will not block enrollment during the Fall semester. If the Immunization Hold is not removed, it will block your enrollment in the Spring semester. To remove the Immunization Hold, students need to upload their immunization record to UMD’s Health Services Office. Here is the link to access the online portal: http://www.umassd.edu/studentaffairs/health/

Graduation Process



1. Contact your faculty adviser to make sure all classes have been met towards your degree.

2. Make sure your graduation term is correct. Contact Diane Rodrigues to make sure the term is changed. Her email is drodrigues1@umassd.edu, (Make sure when you email her you include your student ID.)

3. Fill out intent to graduate form (this comes out in November)

4. After you apply, the Office of Registrar forwards applicant names to the appropriate academic department for careful review and certification that all requirements have been met. Once all final grades have been posted, the department will send your degree certification to the Office of Registrar for posting of your degree on your transcript.

5. Here is a link with more information about applying for graduation.
http://www.umassd.edu/registrar/graduation/

Saturday, November 11, 2017

Study Strategies to Reduce Test Anxiety

Test anxiety is when a student excessively worries about doing well on a test. This type of anxiety is more than the average anxiety all students may experience from time to time. Severe text anxiety can become a major hindrance on test performance and cause extreme nervousness and memory lapses, among other symptoms.

Recognizing Test Anxiety

  • Freezing up 
  • Panicking 
  • Being easily distracted 
  • Physical effects; sweating, shortness of breath 
  • Lack of interest in test or topic 


How to Combat Text Anxiety Being well prepared for a test is the best way to reduce test anxiety.

1. Space out your studying over a few days or weeks, and continually review class material. Don’t wait until the night before to try to learn all the material.
2. Try to maintain a positive attitude while preparing for the test and during the test.
3. Exercising for a few days before the test and throughout the semester will help reduce stress.
4. Get a good night’s sleep during the entire semester and before the test.
5. Stay relaxed. If you begin to get nervous take a few deep breaths slowly to relax yourself and then get back to work.
6. Read the directions slowly and carefully.
7. If you don’t understand the directions on the test, ask the teacher to explain them to you.
8. Skim through the test so that you have a good idea how to pace yourself.
9. Write down important formulas, facts, definitions and/or keywords in the margin first so you won’t worry about forgetting them.
10. Do the simple questions first to help build up your confidence for the harder questions.
11. Don’t worry about how fast other people finish their test; just concentrate on your own test.
12. If you don’t know a question, skip it. Go back to it later if you have time, and remember that you don’t have to always get every question right to do well on the test.
13. Focus on the question at hand; don’t let your mind wander onto other things.

Wednesday, November 8, 2017

UMass Dartmouth Student Success Website

You may need some help as you navigate your path to graduation.
Our checklists, tools, and advice are designed to guide you on that path to a college degree.
Academics are the most important part of why you’re here and we understand that there are other aspects of your education that enrich your experience—like community involvement, faculty engagement and developing a sense of belonging. Click here for more information.

Friday, November 3, 2017

How to Study

Here is a great resource to find tips/strategies to study. https://howtostudy.org/
You can find information on Time Management, Procrastination, Stress Management and so much more!

 My favorite is the Assignment Calculator. Just plug in start and end date of an assignment and get the steps you need to take day by day to get it done!

 Want me to help you one on one?
 Let me know by making an appointment by phone or office click here to make an appointment.