12-13 Weekly HawkTalk Student e-Newsletter
IMPORTANT DATES 
Dec. 13: Classes end for Fall 15-Week Session
Dec. 15: Deadline to apply to graduate with diploma only, without participating in the January commencement ceremony
Dec. 15: Rental textbooks are due back to the CSM College Store
Dec. 20: Classes begin for Winter Session
Dec. 23: College closes at 3 p.m. for Winter Break
Jan. 3: College reopens after Winter Break; Last day to withdraw without a grade or change a credit to an audit (or vice versa) for Winter Session
Jan. 5: Payment due date for Spring 2022 Semester
MAKE STUDYING EASIER WITH ALTERNATIVE FILE FORMATS AND MORE
As you’re studying for finals, don’t miss out on features in myLearning that make it easier to absorb and retain information! CSM’s implemented accessibility software, called Ally, that automatically provides alternative file formats and other nifty features for content in all your courses, including audio files, Tagged PDF, Braille, and more. If you have trouble reading on screens or find yourself losing your place, try out BeeLine! To use Ally, just go to the Content section of any of your courses in myLearning, and look for the icon that looks like a stylized letter A with a down arrow. You can learn more about Ally and its features in Module 2 of the myLearning Student Orientation. Note: Getting all of our course materials to play nice with Ally is an ongoing process! Please contact Disability Support Services if there’s a file you need to access that isn’t working, so that we can find a solution.
INTRODUCING THE TALON THE HAWK CHATBOT
We’ve added a new feature to csmd.edu, a chatbot that will make it easier for you to get answers to your questions. Just click the “Ask Talon the Hawk” button and enter your question. We’ll be continuing to refine his answers over the coming weeks.
PAYMENT DUE DATE FOR SPRING IS JAN. 5, 2022
Don’t get dropped from your spring classes for nonpayment! Be sure to pay your semester bill or sign up for the CSM Payment Plan on or before Jan. 5, 2022. You can still register for spring classes after Jan. 5; if registering after this date, you’ll need to pay your bill or sign up for the CSM Payment Plan the same day.
UMD PREFERRED FAFSA DEADLINE IS JAN. 1, 2022
If you’re planning to transfer to the University of Maryland, College Park (UMD) any time in 2022, be sure to file your FAFSA right away! UMD’s preferred deadline is Jan. 1, 2022, so submit as soon as possible for the best chance at scholarships and other financial aid.
LEONARDTOWN HAWK PANTRY CHANGED TO THURSDAYS
The food pantry on the Leonardtown Campus will be open on Thursdays, effective immediately. Visit the Hawk Pantry page for details, including locations and hours!
TREAT YOURSELF TO CLARITY
Drop by Clarity Coffee on the La Plata Campus for seasonal specialties and perennial favorites! Try the deliciously decadent cannoli or warm up with holiday flavors like peppermint mocha and new Ferrero Rocher Latte.
NEW AND UPDATED TRANSFER OPPORTUNITIES: UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND GLOBAL CAMPUS AND MOUNT ST. MARY’S UNIVERSITY
CSM students intending to pursue a bachelor’s degree have new options for transfer! CSM recently finalized a new transfer agreement with Mount St. Mary’s University for its business program. We’ve also worked with University of Maryland Global Campus to update our existing transfer agreements in accounting, business administration, criminal justice, English, general studies, homeland security, and public safety administration. Visit Transfer Services for the full list of more than 220 articulation agreements and search by institution or program of study!
ONLINE-ONLY ORDERING FOR TEXTBOOKS AND COURSE MATERIALS
As you’re preparing for winter and spring classes, keep in mind that textbooks and course materials are available for purchase or rental online only, through the CSM College Store website at www.csmcollegestore.com.
In-store pickup is free and available at the La Plata, Leonardtown, and Prince Frederick Campuses. Shipping is also available for textbooks and course materials for a flat fee of $7.99.
HAPPENING THIS WEEk
SOUTHERN MIX BARBERSHOP CHORUS FALL VIRTUAL VARIETY SHOW
On Dec. 13, Southern Mix, CSM’s barbershop chorus under the direction of Paul Douglass, presents its Fall Virtual Variety Show! The concert features traditional barbershop-style staples, as well as small ensemble singing and some contemporary music.
FALL STUDENT HONORS RECITAL
Join us Dec. 15 as we showcase the talent of CSM’s student musicians in our Fall Student Honors Recital. This recital will feature a variety of contemporary popular music and traditional classical pieces for specific instruments.
SPRING THEATER AUDITIONS
Aspiring thespians, join us Dec. 16 and audition for the spring production of “Oddments,” an original play by CSM student Sarah Slack and alumna Sydney Mitchell!
Women and men ages 16 to 30 should be prepared to present a one- to two-minute monologue. Men should also prepare a 10-measure a cappella song excerpt.
TRANSFER THURSDAY
Connect directly with our transfer partners and get answers, straight from the source! Learn more and register for the Dec. 16 sessions you're interested in.
THE COLLEGE WILL CLOSE AT 3 P.M. ON DEC. 23 FOR WINTER BREAK
There are currently no events scheduled for the week of Dec. 20.
My name is Jaryn Griggs, and I’m majoring in social science. I am someone who thrives off of helping and listening to people; I am a creative at heart; and I know what I want out of my life.
CSM has been the biggest blessing of my academic career. Because of the pandemic, it was really hard to get scholarships, but CSM awarded me a Help-A-Hawk Scholarship that helped me afford my education. I took this as a sign that I was meant to be here.
The teachers have been so receptive and open to feedback from students. My FYS professor, the lovely Dr. Ebersole, would take time out of her class to ask us if, as her students, we had anything we wanted to change about our experience or the class. She wrote everything down and actually acted on what we said.
Meeting with my advisor (shoutout to Mrs. Tora!) changed my perspective on a lot of things. She told me about the transfer programs and which classes I should take for a smoother transition to a four-year college, and helped me get an idea of what I had an interest in, career-wise.
I plan on attending Salisbury University to study psychology, then become a social worker or a therapist. My purpose is to have a positive impact and leave behind a lasting legacy via empathy, humor, and art."
Jaryn Griggs
Current Student
Social Science
STUDENT RESOURCES
CSM College Survival Guide
At CSM, no hawk has to fly alone. The College Survival Guide is a recurring feature that directs members of the CSM community to free resources and support for whatever challenges they may be facing.
NEED HELP REGISTERING FOR CLASSES? Talk to an advisor! January is one of the busiest times for our academic advisors, so if you need to meet with an advisor, sooner is better! Reach out now and cruise into Winter Break with your concerns addressed and questions answered.
Student health 101
This online health and wellness magazine is your resource on nutrition, career advice, articles like "Think you’re neurodiverse? The pros and cons of getting a diagnosis," and more. View the current issue now and sign up to receive the Student Health 101 email each month.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
THE COLLEGE WILL BE CLOSING AT 1:30 P.M. ON FRIDAY, DEC. 17.
CSM COVID-19 VACCINATION REQUIREMENT GOES INTO EFFECT JAN. 18, 2022
VETERANS, ACTIVE DUTY, AND STUDENTS USING VA BENEFITS:
Check Your Student Email For Important GI Bill® Updates For 2022
HAWK PANTRIES OPEN WEEKLY ON LA PLATA, LEONARDTOWN, AND PRINCE FREDERICK CAMPUSES