FIU’s Spring 2012 starts here


Find out everything you need to know to navigate the new semester

Photo: Eduardo Merille '97, MBA '00.

FIU is resuming the academic year with the first day of Spring 2012 classes on Monday, Jan. 9.

Here are some important dates to keep in mind:

  • Sun., Jan. 8: Last day to add courses without incurring a late registration fee
  • Mon., Jan. 16: Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday (FIU will be closed)
  • Tues., Jan. 17: Last day to add/drop courses
  • Fri., Feb. 3: Last day to withdraw from the university with a 25 percent refund of tuition

WOW time

Spring 2012’s Week of Welcome (WOW) will get the fun started for Panthers with a comedy show featuring D’Sean Ross on Jan. 9, at 6 p.m., in the GC Ballrooms at Modesto A. Maidique (MMC).

A Campus Life Bonanza is set for Wednesday, Jan. 11, out on the GC Lawn, and the Student Programming Council will host screenings of the film 50/50 on Friday, Jan. 13, at 5 and 8 p.m.

Meanwhile, up at Biscayne Bay Campus (BBC), WOW will kick off on Jan. 9, with a Welcome Back Beach Party in the Wolfe University Center Panther Square, from 11 a.m.-2 p.m.

Organizers will host a brunch at the North Miami campus, on Thursday, Jan. 12, from 10-11:30 a.m., and BBC Recreation will host a Game Day for the next day, from 11 a.m.-2 p.m.

For additional information about Week of Welcome events at both campuses, call 305-348-2138 at MMC, 305-919-5823 at BBC, or click here.

What’s new?

There’s an app for that – and by that we mean FIU.

Yes, just like iPhone users, Android and BlackBerry can now access a wide array of university services from any time, anywhere through the FIU Mobile app.

BBC Recreation has been holding training sessions for students, alumni and community members (that is, both the FIU and our neighboring communities) in preparation for the first FIU Triathlon on March 18.

Coming up…

Throughout the month of January, FIU will commemorate the 21st Annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. 2012 Celebration with events at both MMC and BBC.

The Frost Art Museum at MMC will present an exhibit titled “MLK@FROST” from Jan. 10-29.

On Saturday, Jan. 14, the entire FIU family is encouraged to participate in the MLK Day of Service sponsored by FIU’s Center of Leadership Services in collaboration with Service for Peace and the AARP, beginning at 8 a.m. at Goulds Park in Cutler Bay.

On Monday, Jan. 16, FIU once again will take part in the annual MLK Parade, beginning at 8 a.m. in Liberty City.

The MLK Youth Forum and Peace Walk on Wednesday, Jan. 18, will feature a keynote address by Raquel Wright, assistant director for Advancement in the College of Business Administration at FIU. The event is sponsored by the colleges of Engineering & Computing and Arts & Sciences and will be held in the Wolfe University Ballroom at BBC.

Later that night, at MMC, students are invited to the (free) MLK Dinner in GC 243 sponsored by the Black Student Union, Campus Life and Residential Life.

For more information, call Multicultural Programs and Services at 305-345-2436.

Per tradition, FIU’s largest annual student fundraiser, Dance Marathon, benefiting Miami Children’s Hospital Foundation through the Children’s Miracle Network, will take place Jan. 28-29 at the Recreation Center at MMC.

More than 250 students had already signed on for the 25-hour extravaganza as of Jan. 4, so join them as they enjoy a Lion King theme and raise funds for a worthy cause (this year’s goal is $60,000). The fun begins at noon on Jan. 28.

To register for Dance Marathon, call 305-348-2149 or e-mail dm@fiu.edu.

Later in the semester, Panthers will have another chance to give back when the 2012 FIU Relay for Life gets underway March 2-3 at MMC, on Palm Avenue at the 8th Street entrance to the campus in front of the Ryder Business Building.

This year’s theme is “Superheroes” and organizers have set goals to register at least 100 teams and raise $100,000 (the 2011 Relay raised $96,000) for the American Cancer Society.

“It’s an ambitious target, but that’s why we picked our ‘Superheroes’ theme,” said Beverly Dalrymple, director of the Center for Leadership & Service. “We’re ordinary people by day, cancer fighters by night.”

For more information, call Beverly Dalrymple at 305-348-6995.

The Women’s Center’s 2012 Women Who Lead conference will take place March 7 at BBC and March 29 at MMC. Registration begins in February.

Later in the year, the Women’s Center and the Victim Advocacy Center will partner to promote sexual assault awareness, prevention and safety on campus, as well as the community, at the annual “Take Back the Night” event April 10.

Last, but not least, as some of you prepare to enter the workforce you might want to check out the Career Fairs at FIU in February.

The MMC Career Fair is scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 2, from 3-7 p.m., at the U.S. Century Bank Arena. The BBC Career Fair is set for Wednesday, Feb. 15, from 11 a.m.-3 p.m., in the WUC Ballrooms.

Admission is free to all FIU students and alumni and no registration is needed. Be sure to have valid FIU One Card or Panther ID and to dress professionally. For more information, click here.

Up for a show?

FIU’s new portal for all things art at the university – livethearts.com – ought to be bookmarked on your browser already, but if it’s not, here are a few highlights of what is to be staged at the Herbert & Nicole Wertheim Performing Arts Center this season by FIU Theatre students and faculty

Up first, from Jan. 27-Feb. 12, is In the Next Room (The Vibrator Play), which international guest director Jesus Quintero is overseeing.

Then, it’s time for The Arabian Nights, directed by Phillip Church, March 2-11.

FIU Music will hold a number of performances throughout spring, including a presentation by FIU Opera Theatre of The Turn of the Screw in March and an evening of jazz with guest Tom Carling in April.

Let us hear you roar

On an athletic note, FIU’s basketball programs and cross country/track & field, golf, swimming & diving and tennis teams are either in the middle of their seasons or set to begin later this year. Plus, the FIU baseball and softball teams are set to return to the field in February.

Remember, FIU students may attend any home games free of charge with a valid FIU One Card. Friends and family may call 1-866-FIU-GAME or click here for tickets and information on fall sports.

And just like last year, students attending FIU Athletic events throughout the year will have a chance to win prizes by building up Panther Points. Among the prizes up for grabs in 2011? HDTVs, iPad 2s, iPods and laptops.

Important Links/Numbers:

Office of the Registrar: MMC – 305-348-2320; BBC – 305-919-5750; Broward Pines Center – 954-438-8600

Cashier’s Office: MMC – 305-348-2126; BBC – 305-919-5540

Parking and Transportation: MMC – 305-348-3615;  BBC – 305-919-5558

Students may now order their parking decal and pay/appeal student tickets online.

GreenRide Carpool Program: FIU’s GreenRide Carpool Program encourages students to reduce the number of times they drive alone to campus each week.

Public Safety: Police dispatchers are available to take your emergency phone call 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

MMC: 305-348-5911

BBC: 305-919-5911

MMC Public Safety

Offices located in PG5
305-348-2626

BBC Public Safety

Offices located in the SO II Building
305-919-5559

“FIU Alerts!”

“FIU Alerts!” is an emergency notification system that will notify registered users of emergencies occurring on or near FIU campuses using text messages sent to the user’s cell phone.

The system, formerly known as Panther Alerts, no longer supports a portal page that allows users to register themselves. Registration to the system for students will now be done during online class registration.

Faculty and staff may enter the cell phone number(s) where you wish to receive emergency notifications by clicking here.

MMC Bookstore: 305-348-2691 (also for information on the bookstore at the Broward Pines Center)

BBC Bookstore: 305-919-5580

Photo: Eduardo Merille '97, MBA '00.

Libraries: Green Library at MMC – 305-348-2451;  Glenn Hubert Library – 305-919-5718; Broward Pines Center Library Liaison – 954-438-8608.

Recreation Centers: MMC – 305-348-2575; BBC – 305-919-5678

Campus Shuttles: There are two shuttles that travel between campuses: the Golden Panther Express, which travels between MMC and BBC, as well as the CATS shuttle, which travels between MMC and the Engineering Center.

Golden Panther Express tickets are $5 per round trip. Tickets must be purchased in advance. The CATS shuttle is a free shuttle. Click here for more details for schedules of operations.

Finally, as a student at FIU there is a lot you can do to become involved.

There are many extracurricular university activities to help you enrich your time at FIU, including more than 100 student clubs, an intramural sports program and an ever-growing Greek presence, just to name a few. Here are some useful telephone numbers to keep in mind:

  • Campus Life Information Hotline: 305-348-2137
  • MMC Campus Life Office: GC 2240 at MMC, 305-348-2139
  • BBC Campus Life Office: WUC 141 at BBC, 305-919-5804
  • Broward Pines Center Campus Life Office: 954-438-8633
  • University Health Sciences: UHSC at MMC, 305-348-2401
  • University Health Sciences: Student Health Center (next to the Glenn Hubert Library) or WUC 307 at BBC, 305-919-5620
  • FIU Alumni Association: MARC 510 at MMC, 305-348-3334
  • Greek Affairs: GC 2240 at MMC, 305-348-2138
  • Hertz on Demand
  • Intramural Sports, 305-348-1054
  • Kayak on the Bay at BBC, 305-919-4701
  • Panther Safety Tram: 305-348-6173

Students may subscribe to the SPC Text Message System and receive updates, announcements and special offers from the Student Programming Council. Just text “FIUSPC” to 41411 (standard text-message fees from your carrier apply.)