For many students, finals week can be an overwhelming and stressful time.
The University of Maryland has several resources to help students prepare for their exams and take care of themselves.
Here is a look at some of the resources at this university.
Extended dining hall hours
Campus dining halls will open earlier in the day during finals week.
All dining halls will open at 6:30 a.m. on weekdays and 8:00 a.m. on Saturday, according to this university’s end-of-semester resources page on the student affairs division website. Typically, South Campus and Yahentamitsi dining halls open at 7:00 a.m. on weekdays and 10:00 a.m. on the weekend. While 251 North opens at 8:00 a.m. every day of the week. Operating hours on Sunday will remain the same.
Students with resident dining plans can also pick up a snack every evening from the South Campus and Yahentamitsi dining halls.
Freshman public health science major Precious Ikwu is experiencing her second finals week. She thinks that as finals draw near the provided snacks from the dining hall will be helpful.
Also, Footnotes cafe in McKeldin Library is scheduled to operate an extended 24 hours a day. The library will stay open all day from May 8 to May 14.
[Here’s a look at some bills the UMD RHA passed this year]
Counseling services
This university’s counseling center is open during its regular hours, which are from 8:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Fridays.
Urgent visits are available all year to students who may be struggling and need to meet with a counselor same day. Students can also set up brief assessment appointments to learn what services are available to them at the counseling center.
Allison Asarch, a staff psychologist and outreach and consultation services coordinator at the counseling center, said it’s important for students to receive support during overwhelming times, such as exam season.
“Sometimes some of our stressors or our problems are just a little bit too much for us to handle alone,” Asarch said. “It just means that we’re deserving of some extra support, and we want to be that place that’s there for the students when they’re needing more support.”
Asarch emphasized that its important students know about counseling services so they can be successful academically and in their daily lives.
Wags for Wellness, which brings therapy dogs to campus to help students and community members relieve stress, will run from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on May 14 and from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. onto May 15 from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. On May 14, the dogs will be in the health center and on May 15, they will be at McKeldin.
Academic success resources
Throughout finals week, students can attend study sessions and use resources at this university to help prepare for their exams
This university’s teaching and learning transformation center currently offers tutoring for multiple subjects including business, economics, engineering and writing.
There are other resources listed on their website including various mentor programs and this university’s guided study session program.
Freshman public health practice major Kayla Miller, who has attended guided study sessions for her statistics class, has found it helpful for studying.
“I don’t think I would have done as well in stats if I didn’t have GSS,” she said. “I finished with a 97 in that class, and I had not been good at math for a long time.”
[UMD students frustrated, concerned over lack of air conditioning on campus]
Stamp Student Union events
Stamp Student Union is hosting several social events throughout the next week, including crafts and meditation sessions.
TerpZone, this university’s on-campus recreation center, will host Terp Study Zone, an all-day event for students to take a break and go bowling or enjoy games. This event runs from May 11 to May 15, operating from 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Miller and Ikwu added that having these resources is important for students to feel supported during finals.
“You start to feel like you’re isolated. You can feel isolated if you don’t [go outside]. Those are important times for social connection,” Miller said.
Contact junior staff writer Johana Gonzalez–Cruz at jglez11@terpmail.umd.edu.