From Finding a Tutor to Navigating Campus, Returning Students Offer Guidance

Blue mascot Rowdy River Hawk takes a selfie with two students

08/26/2024
By Staff Writers

Whether you’re a first-time college student or a transfer, whether you’re moving into a residence hall or commuting, the start of the academic year brings lots of changes – and questions. How do I meet people? What are the options for paid internships and co-op jobs? Is tutoring available? Where can I grab lunch or dinner near campus?  We checked in with students who know the ropes around here and asked them. Here are their tips for having the best semester:


Students enter and exit bus at bus stop

How do I get around?

Whether you get around campus by foot, bicycle, scooter, bus or even unicycle, the first thing you need to do is save the interactive Campus Map on your phone. It will help you figure out the difference between the Olney Science Center and Olsen Hall.  The map also features helpful transportation resources.

If you have a bicycle, there are a dozen covered bike racks and five repair stations across campus, which you can find on the Campus Map. Don’t have a bike? You can check one out for the day from the Free Wheelers Bike Share program, with two locations on East Campus at the Campus Recreation Center and Bike Shop and Outdoor Center. You can also rent a bicycle for the semester.

Prefer the campus shuttle bus? Transportation Services operates three lines — Blue, Red and Orange — that connect East, North and South campuses Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. There is also night and weekend service. You can find all the routes, and see where shuttles are in real time, on the Campus Map.

UMass Lowell students can also hop on a Lowell Regional Transit Authority (LRTA) bus for free with their UCard. And Merrimack Valley Transit provides free service on its Lawrence-Lowell line.

Want to head into Boston? Hop on the MBTA commuter rail at the Gallagher Transportation Terminal. For farther-flung adventures, ZipCars are available to rent from the parking garages on North and South campuses. UML students save $55 on an annual membership.

Rugby player holding ball on field filled with students

There’s so much going on at UML. How do I dive in?

It’s the most common piece of advice that seasoned UML students have for new River Hawks: Get involved.
But how?
A good first step is to attend the Engagement Fair, which is immediately following Convocation on Tuesday, Sept. 3, from noon to 2 p.m. at the Campus Recreation Center on East Campus.
There you can learn about more than 200 student organizations, everything from the Anime Club to the WUML student radio station. If you miss the fair, you can check out the clubs on Campus Groups.
“Joining a club is a good way to feel part of the UMass Lowell community,” says senior biochemistry major Stephanie Ceballos, who joined the Christian Student Fellowship as soon as she started college, a decision that has “quite literally changed my life.”
Playing sports is another great way to meet people while staying fit. Campus Recreation offers more than 30 club sports, everything from soccer, basketball and rugby to ultimate frisbee, equestrian and dance.
Criminal justice grad Cameron McKenzie ’24 was a figure skater growing up in Oregon. When she got to campus, she was happy to discover that UML has a figure skating club, the Ice Hawks.
“I wasn’t looking to do it competitively — I just wanted a chance to put on my skates, get some ice time and meet some new people,” she says.
Campus Rec also runs intramural sports leagues for soccer, basketball, volleyball and flag football, as well as one-day tournaments throughout the semester, some with cash prizes.
If Greek life is your thing, there are four sororities and six fraternities at UML. You can also give back to the community by joining a service-learning project.

How can I stay active?

Walk into the Campus Recreation Center (CRC) on East Campus, and you’re greeted by weights and cardio machines to your left, pool and ping pong tables straight ahead and three multipurpose courts to your right. And that’s just what you can see from the lobby.
Hazel Rivera, a rising sophomore nursing major, works at the CRC and is impressed by everything the two-story facility offers.
“There are a bunch of fitness classes that I really enjoy going to, especially the spin classes,” she says. “It’s a great way to make friends and be active.”
The CRC, which also offers an indoor track and racquetball courts, is just one option for students looking to stay fit. There is also the Riverview Fitness Center on South Campus, the Kayak Center alongside the Merrimack River and the Bike Shop on East Campus. Campus Recreation also offers an Outdoor Adventure Program, which  recently took students to Rye, New Hampshire, for a surfing excursion.
“One of the reasons I stayed here for my Ph.D. is because of this program,” says Ali Fallah ’21, an Earth system science Ph.D. student from Iran. “It’s an opportunity for me to learn something new and gain new experiences.”

How can I stay healthy?

As you get busy with classes and extracurricular activities, it’s important not to lose focus on your health.
Sarah Fischer, the new director of Health Services, says students can stay healthy by eating a well-balanced diet, regularly exercising, sleeping  at least seven hours a night, managing stress levels and time and avoiding unhealthy habits, such as smoking.
But if you do get sick, Fischer says the Wellness Center, located on the third floor of University Crossing, is ready to help.
“We believe in creating a supportive and nurturing environment where everyone feels heard, respected and valued,” she says.
The Wellness Center consists of Health Services, which provides diagnosis and treatment of colds, rashes and other episodic illnesses, and Counseling Services, which offers mental health counseling.
“The caring and compassionate team at the Wellness Center are here to help students through all aspects of their wellness journey at the university, whether that is medical care or someone to talk to and support them,” Fischer says.
Student wearing headphones seen through window with reflections on it

I’m a commuter. How can I feel like I’m part of the campus community?

You don’t have to live on campus to take advantage of all that UMass Lowell has to offer. 
Senior business major Jack Barron commutes from home in Haverhill, Massachusetts. Instead of driving straight home after classes, he likes to spend time on campus to study, go to events and hang out with friends.
“By staying on campus, you can fully engage with the university experience,” he says. “You'll have more opportunities to attend events, join study groups and make connections with your peers and professors.”
Barron stays in the loop about clubs and activities by checking his student email and reading flyers posted around campus. The events calendar, which you can find on your myUML page, is also a “one-stop shop” for everything happening at the university, he says.
Kieran Scofidio, a senior business major who commutes from Grafton, Massachusetts, likes to come to campus even on days when he doesn’t have classes. 
“I treat it like I'm going into the office,” he says. “Being in that environment where everyone is working definitely helps me be more efficient. Sometimes I'll see people on those off days that I might not see in my classes.”

I’m an international student. Are there programs to help me get settled and acclimated to campus?

A week of welcome events kicks off the year for international students, hosted by the Office of Multicultural Affairs (OMA) and the International Students and Scholars Office (ISSO). During the academic year, the OMA offers the popular Pair Up program, which matches each international student with a U.S. student for events and outings, friendship and cross-cultural understanding.
Asst. Director Stephanie Garcia says the OMA aims to be a “home away from home” for international students, who can contact her directly to ask about where to buy international groceries or get a good haircut. She also suggests that international students check out the other fun and instructive events hosted by the OMA throughout the year, as well as its list of clubs where students can share and celebrate their identities.
Three transfer students smiling
Kylie Encarnao, Anna Barta and Nicole Barta met in person at a TAP welcome event.

What services are available for transfer students?

Months before she transferred to UMass Lowell in fall 2023, junior accounting major Kylie Encarnao knew that she wanted to be a part of the Transfer Alliance Program (TAP), first as a member and then as a peer ally to other transfer students.
“Having someone to show me around campus, talk about the campus resources and just be there – having a friendly face was super welcoming,” Encarnao says. “I was grateful having somebody do that for me, and I wanted to do that for others.”
Now she does, as a peer ally to other students in the Manning School of Business. She encourages all transfer students to join TAP for their first semester on campus. In addition to peer allies matched to them by major or college, TAP offers social events and workshops on campus resources.
TAP, which debuted a year ago with 85 students, has 340 incoming transfer students this fall, says Ellen Nichols, coordinator of transfer initiatives – and it’s not too late to sign up. “Students still have the option to request a peer ally or just be part of the community,” she says.
Student smiles as student in foreground works on laptop

Where can I get tutoring and academic support?

Do you need help with dropping one class and adding another? Are you juggling classes, homework and work – and struggling to manage your time? Are you in over your head in one of your classes?
Senior psychology major Rachel Gonçalves says you should head over to CLASS (the Centers for Learning, Advising and Student Success), where a small army of professional and peer advisors and tutors are ready to help you with questions from how to use the Schedule Builder app to how to change your major.
Gonçalves, a peer advisor in the CLASS offices in O’Leary Library on South Campus and Cumnock Hall on North Campus, is equally enthusiastic about CLASS’s free Writing Center assistance and tutoring services, which she used while taking organic chemistry. “I found it so helpful,” she says. “I know a lot of the tutors, and everyone is so capable and qualified.”
CLASS also offers professional advising to all students, workshops on time management and study skills, and academic success coaching. “If a person feels like they’re struggling, they can work with an advisor to make a plan with the steps they’re going to take to get back on track,” Gonçalves says. 
Marietta Arakelian in front of computer server
Electrical engineering major Marietta Arakelian ’25

How can I get a job to start building my resume and earn money?

First-time, first-year students can take advantage of the “UML Guarantee,” which provides an opportunity to pursue at least one career-connected experience, earning pay, course credits or both before they even graduate.
Students can choose from a wide range of experiential learning programs like working in a lab with faculty and industry mentors, doing paid co-ops and internships at businesses and nonprofits and participating in service-learning projects or entrepreneurial and creative endeavors such as the DifferenceMaker program and Moloney Student Scholars. 
For electrical engineering major Marietta Arakelian ’25, her professional co-op experience at the telecommunications company Nokia in Westford, Massachusetts, gave her not only valuable experience while earning money, but it also helped her to grow personally and professionally. 
“My co-op experience … gave me confidence, and it helped me grow as a person and believe in my ability to succeed,” says Arakelian, who plans to continue on for a master’s degree in electrical engineering as part of the university’s 4+1 graduate program.  
Mill No. 5 hallway

What is there to do in Lowell?

Whether it’s checking out the abundance of restaurants, shopping for vintage finds or taking a stroll along the Merrimack River, the city of Lowell is packed with things to do. 

“Lowell has so much more to offer than what meets the eye,” says Casey McCauley, a senior criminal justice major and the president of the Student Government Association.

McCauley is a fan of the city’s food scene, singling out Tasty Dumplings on Market Street, the 1981 Ramen Bar on Merrimack Street and Mochinut on Dutton Street for high praise.  Adjacent to campus, she recommends the Eggroll Cafe near North Campus and Angelina’s over by South Campus. 

McCauley suggests a visit to Mill No. 5, a renovated textile mill in downtown that bills itself as “an indoor streetscape of salvaged storefronts with great coffee, a movie theater, farmer’s market, independent shopping and events.” 

“I love this place because all the stores are very old-timey, including a vinyl store, an apothecary, boutiques, and art shows and shops,” McCauley says. 

Students interested in hearing live music (including UML student performers) while grabbing a bite to eat should check out Warp and Weft on Market Street, suggests Alexa Henderson, sophomore business major. 

“Warp and Weft has great food and a fun atmosphere,” she says.

Interested in spending time outside? There are plenty of options.  

“The Lowell Riverwalk is a great walking trail alongside the Merrimack River,” says Cameron Famiglietti ’24, an MBA student.

And speaking of the river, renting a kayak, canoe or stand-up paddleboard at the Bellegarde Boathouse is a great way to get a whole new perspective on the city. 

“I really loved kayaking,” says Sharvani Bhavanam, junior computer science major who tried paddling for the first time over the summer with a group of friends. “It was a lot of fun. The sun was reflecting on the water. It was beautiful.” 

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