Flexus: The Dr. Marilyn Berman Pollans Women in Engineering Living & Learning Community
Program Overview
You are invited to join us as a member of Flexus, the Dr. Marilyn Berman Pollans Women in Engineering (WIE) Living & Learning Community! This community, which began in fall 2007, is open to first year engineering students with an interest in promoting gender diversity in the field of engineering. The goal of this program is to provide a supportive community for you to be successful in engineering. A generous donation by Dr. Marilyn Berman Pollans allowed for the creation of this program. Read more...
Space is limited. To apply, complete your application by May 1, 2013. Acceptance notifications will be sent by May 14. Preference will be given to students who are not already invited to a campus living and learning community. This special opportunity can be continued into your sophomore year provided you complete the program’s academic components and remain in engineering.
There are two components of the WIE Living and Learning community: one is residential and one is academic.
Residential Community
Flexus students live in Easton Hall in the Denton Community on North Campus. Easton Hall is an eight-story, coed, traditional style hall, with men and women living on separate wings of the residence hall. Students have access to study lounges on each floor, wireless internet access and laundry facilities. All rooms have a regular twin bed, dresser, desk and desk chair, cable jack, telephone line and data jack for each student. Byrd Stadium, the Eppley Recreation Center, and the Stamp Student Union are located nearby. A dining hall is also located in the community.
Living in this community helps you connect with peers in engineering while creating a setting conducive to study groups, networking, peer tutoring and a variety of social activities. Be sure to register for housing through the Undergraduate Admissions Office. Housing is required unless you have housing in another LLC, e.g. College Park Scholars or Honors.
Flexus Student Lounge
Flexus members love being able to have their very own student lounge! The lounge is conveniently located in the basement of Easton Hall and contains several tables and chairs—perfect for working on group projects, in study groups, with tutors, or just getting together to have some fun! The lounge is swipe-access only, making it a private space for Flexus students to enjoy.
Flexus Community Activities
Flexus students are some of the hardest working students around, but they know how to have fun too! The Flexus Student Board organizes at least one fun community event per month with the goal of promoting community and friendship among Flexus members. Some past events have included: Bowling Night, birthday celebrations with cake, group dinners, a trip to Washington, D.C., Halloween door-decorating, BBQ’s and volleyball, Movie and Popcorn Nights, and more! The close friendships and sense of community built through Flexus are what its members consistently say they love most about the living and learning community.
Academic Component
If you elect to participate in Flexus, you will register for a 1-credit seminar each semester you participate. The seminar provides an experience designed to assist your efforts in becoming a successful engineer. Seminar topics include:
- Networking opportunities with women mentors & role models
- Professional, career & personal development opportunities
- Guest speakers from offices and programs that will help acclimate you to campus and college life
- Important technical and leadership skills needed to succeed in engineering
- Opportunities to serve as a mentor and role model to younger students
Another benefit of Flexus is that students will be clustered together in Math, Chemistry and Introduction to Engineering Design (ENES 100) courses, providing you with many familiar faces in your technical courses.
Flexus Seminar Syllabi
Flexus Student Assistance Center
Members of Flexus also enjoy the perk of having their very own Student Assistance Center, conveniently located in their building. High-achieving, upper-level engineering students are available twice a week for tutoring in the Flexus student lounge. Tutors are trained to assist in most of the first and second year engineering courses, including math, chemistry, physics, and Introduction to Engineering Design (ENES100). They can assist in some major-specific engineering courses as well. Flexus students enjoy having their very own tutors available to them and just an elevator-ride away!
Important Dates
Application Deadline: May 1, 2013
Notification of Acceptance: May 14, 2013
Application
By May 1st, you must complete the following items:
- Online application form for Flexus
- University housing agreement*
*Flexus is not listed on the University housing agreement as a living and learning option. By applying using our online form, your name will be automatically forwarded by WIE to the Department of Resident Life. No action is needed on your part.
Contact Information
Please direct any questions about the program to any of the following contacts:
| Flexus University of Maryland 1131 Glenn L. Martin Hall College Park, MD 20742 |
Paige E. Smith, Ph.D. Director, Women in Engineering Program Phone: 301-405-3931 Email: pesmith@umd.edu |
| Candice Staples, Graduate Coordinator Phone: 301-405-9434 Email: cstaples@umd.edu |