What is a collegium?!

ATTENTION ALL UPCOMING FIRST YEAR COMMUTER STUDENTS!

UBC is now offering something called UBC Collegium , which UBC likes to call the “home away from home” for commuter students!

This is entirely new and it’s opening this September but it is limited to 250 memberships and you do have to sign up. HOWEVER, it is dedicated to commuter students and they give preference for first years, and let me tell you that it sounds like a pretty damn good idea.

In first year, I was a part of a program called CSP which stands for the Coordianted Science Program. Being a part of this program meant that there was a room dedicated to the CSP students where they could study in peace with (usually) a guarantee of a seat and table. This was so useful it was a little crazy how grateful I was I had this room (and how sad I am that I don’t have it anymore!)

Coming to UBC there are some MAJOR changes. It’s all fun learning about them and getting used to it though! As the year goes on, you’re going to want to use breaks between your classes or some time after all your classes are finished, to just sit down to do your readings or to study and review the lecture you just had. That can get a little difficult as a commuter student when you don’t have certain tables or rooms set aside specifically for you. You’ll also want somewhere to just relax, maybe some place to heat up your food.

So I wanna talk about the Collegium! I took this list of “Resources Offered” from the site, which is linked at the beginning of this post and I’ll link again here.

What resources will be available?

  • comfortable lounge chairs, cluster-seating, and a river-rock fireplace
  • bright, open space and floor to ceiling windows inviting natural light
  • state-of-the-art kitchen facilities (oven, two refrigerators, small appliances, dishes, and cutlery)
  • places to store meals
  • an honour-system snack bar (priced at cost and includes Fair-Trade Coffee)
  • a social area with board games, cards, and a large-screen TV
  • complimentary and secure wireless internet
  • several electrical outlets to charge wireless devices
  • a study area with desks, lamps, and shelves
  • a print centre

DOESN’T THAT SOUND AWESOME?

ANOTHER AWESOME THING: This collegium is in the new Panderosa Commons building! BRAND NEW. Like new that all of my first year, all I could see of this building was construction.

It’s basically a lounge area for commuters and only people with memberships can come in, which means it won’t ever be TOO crowded.

I just wanted to let everyone know because you DO need to apply! So send your applications in and cross your fingers!

Upper year students: although the memberships are intended for first years, there COULD be space, so sign up anyway! Each member gets guests passes so if you’re desperate to check it out… make friends with a first year commuter?

As a commuter student, I just wanted to testify that even though I haven’t had the chance to use the room, it is a wonderful idea and I hope I get the chance to use it!

…WAHHH I REALLY WANT TO BE ABLE TO USE THIS!

insert-clever-blog-title-to-make-up-for-not-blogging-in-like-eternities-here

Err…

So I got caught up in the whirlwind that is:

*Take a deep breath*

Conquering first year.

Let me tell you something, it was not easy!

But let me tell you something else: I’m already used to it!

And I’m just going to steal one off of Josella‘s ideas here and just make a list of what I plan to blog about in the future. That way if anyone is still taking a peek at my blog, you can have something to look forward to! (Also sorry for the mysterious disappearance)

Here’s what to look forward to!

  1. First Year Transition
  2. Summer School Experience (BIOL 153, almost done, whoop whoop!)
  3. Review of First Year Courses
  4. SECOND YEAR APPLICATIONS (AKA: HOW KIM GAINED 499 MORE WHITE HAIRS)
  5. Mug Leader stuff
  6. SUMMER THINGS!
  7. Lists
  8. Are
  9. Fun
  10. Also
  11. I love you, guys
  12. Also
  13. I miss everyone from Blog Squad
  14. ALSO ALSO
  15. Food reviews.
  16. Wait #15 is actually a thing
  17. HEALTHINESS AND GOALS FOR IT
  18. #17 is also an actual thing
  19. Hey! 17 is my favourite number!
  20. Yeah, so I’ll stop now.
  21. I HOPE EVERYONE IS HAVING A GLORIOUS SUNSHINE-Y SUMMER

*EDIT:   22. The shenanigans of Paul and Kim in August

Just pick Neutral for everything…

I hope everyone’s doing well, and I hope everyone’s filled out their course/teacher evaluation things.

(If you don’t know what those are, check your email, they probably sent you 524739 reminders.)

I just finished filling mine out this morning and felt so bad when I had to be completely honest and tell them that yes, one professor was not someone who should be teaching, and yes, BIOL140 needs some massive restructuring.

And I felt mean and like a terrible person who was whining and not being grateful for any of their work and I’m assuming some people are feeling like that too. And some people might feel it to the point that they don’t say what they really want to say in the evaluation forms.

Some people don’t even fill them out.

Guys, it does make a difference and even if they might not change something you want to change right away, they will see your suggestion and that seed will be planted.

Course evals are good things!

Not only is it a way of telling some professors that the techniques they use to teach… aren’t that awesome. It’s ALSO a chance to tell the profs you DO love, how awesome they are.

Just be honest and don’t feel too bad and don’t be mean about it.

Professors are there to help us, but they learn as much as we do as the course progresses.

The course evaluations surveys end April 9, at 11:59pm. (Tomorrow)

So, maybe fill one out and give an honest opinion.

Who knows, your survey response might change something for the better!

This Post was Helpful:
___   Strongly Disagree
___   Disagree
_x_   Neutral
___   Agree
___   Strongly Agree

…When all else fails, choose neutral….

BUT BE HONEST.

Okay okay, back to studying.