Get Ready Bears!
Spirit Week & Homecoming 2024

Get ready Bears because Spirit Week starts on Monday September 30^th! All throughout the week there will be a number of fun novelties and activities for you to participate in.

Some event highlights include:

• Monday from 11 am to 2 pm there will be airbrushed bandanas and beanies and a donut food truck with BSU themed donuts.
• Wednesday from 11 am to 2 pm we will have printed tote bags and a coffee food truck!
• Thursday from 7 pm to 10 pm we will have the annual Homecoming Pageant!
• Friday we will keep the fun going with Spirit Night from 5 pm to 10 pm where we will have an assortment of glow in the dark activities, a DJ, and hot air balloon rides!

So be sure to come out this spirit week & homecoming to show your BSU pride, because this is going to be one for the books!

Click here for more information about Spirit Week, Homecoming, Homecoming 2024 T-shirts, and more!

And don't forget to invite your family members & supporters to Homecoming on October 5th, 2024. Click here for more information for families and supporters planning their visit for Homecoming. 

Resource Spotlight
Lewis & Gaines Center for Inclusion and Equity (LGCIE)

The Lewis and Gaines Center for Inclusion and Equity (LGCIE) is dedicated to academic success, personal growth, and retention of students of color. Our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion is reflected in educating about and celebrating diverse cultures and intersecting identities. 

LGCIE offers a multitude of opportunities for students to come and get involved which are open to all students. LGCIE also offers direct lines of communication from students to other resources on campus.

We encourage all of our students to check out LGCIE & their events throughout their time at BSU. Click here for more info from EngageBSU on LGCIE's upcoming events & you can also follow them on Instagram (lgcie_bsu).

LGCIE is open Monday through Friday 9 am to 5 pm and their office is located in the Rondileau Student Union, room 101. Stop by and say hello! 

Martin Richard Institute for Social Justice
Voter Registration Tables

Are you registered to vote? Stop by one of MRISJ's upcoming voter registration tables and get #VoteReady BSU! MRISJ Voting & Civic Action Ambassadors will be on hand to help you register to vote, check or update your voter registration and much more!

Click here to our upcoming voting events here to stay informed. 

Resource Spotlight
Student Accessibility Services (SAS)

Written By: Liz McLam, CSE Digital Engagement Assistant  

Student Accessibility Services (SAS) is one of Bridgewater State University’s many services that strives to provide all students with a successful and accessible education. Student Accessibility Services specifically ensures that individuals have equal access to its programs, services, and community. It also works with students, faculty, and staff to identify and remove barriers that may withhold students from getting everything out of their education and experience at BSU.

SAS also collaborates with students who have documented learning, intellectual, or cognitive disabilities; medical diagnoses of physical challenges; psychological diagnoses and autism to get accommodations to ensure their experiences at Bridgewater State University.  To learn more about the accomodation process, click here. 

Student Accessibility Services is located in the Academic Achievement Center, which is located on the ground floor of the Maxwell Library. For more information or any questions, you can contact SAS at SAS@bridgew.edu  or 508.531.1214.  

Martin Richard Institute for Social Justice
Alternative Break 2025

Applications for MRISJ's 2025 Alternative Break program open on September 30th! This year we're excited to offer three out-of-state experiences and one local experience, each covering a different theme in partnership with local community organizations.

📍Advocacy, Policy & Storytelling | Southeastern MA
📍Civil Rights & Restorative Justice | Selma, AL
📍Coastal Restoration & Environmental Justice | New Orleans, LA
📍Community Health & Wellbeing | Williamson, WV

Click here to learn more about each of the experiences and apply! Stop by our info session from 5:30-6:30pm on 10/1 to talk to the team leaders, ask questions, and enjoy appetizers.

BSU Votes
What's on Your Ballot? Event

We hope to see you at the “What’s on your Ballot?”event with Dr. Brian Frederick and Dr. Kevin Donnelly from BSU's Political Science Department! 

Monday, October 7, 10:10- 11:20 AM
RSU 201 Council Chambers

When Massachusetts voters go to the polls in November, not only will they be casting their ballots for various candidates, but they will also get to weigh in on state ballot initiatives. This panel will explore the debate surrounding the merits of the citizen initiative process and examine each of the initiatives on the ballot in the 2024 general election.

A light breakfast will be served. 

Click here for more information. 

Highlights from the
Career Services & Internships Office
STEM & Health Sciences Career Expo

This in person event offers you the opportunity to network with over 30 employers in a variety of industries!

Click here for more information.

Tips for Attending:

• Be prepared--Plan ahead and schedule a resume review with Career Services & Internships in advance of the fair.
• Dress professionally--Visit the Bear Essentials closet at Career Services & Internships for *free* professional attire!
• Bring plenty of copies of your resume to give to employers!

Martin Richard Institute for Social Justice
Introducing Hot Topics

Get #VoteReady BSU! MRISJ is breaking down hot topics from this election cycle to help you learn about and consider these complex issues and feel prepared to vote on Election Day. Students are welcome to attend one, a few, or all of the series. 

Each Hot Topics session will have a faculty facilitiator and guest speakers who will provide an introduction and overview of the various aspects of the hot topic issues. Panelists may be other faculty members, BSU students and/or representatives from local community organizations.

Topics include LGBTQIA+ rights, 2nd amendment & gun control, reproductive rights, immigration, and climate change (see image below). Click here to learn more and RSVP. 

Bear Mentor Spotlight
Academic Trips & Tricks

Bear Mentors are trained student leaders who offer support to our new to BSU students through the First Semester Roadmap program. Request your Bear Mentor today using this form! 

Written By: Caralyn Smith '26, Bear Mentor

Starting college can feel very overwhelming, especially when balancing classes, assignments, and new responsibilities. Whether you're adjusting to longer lectures or figuring out how to stay on top of your workload, it can be difficult to get into the groove. I’ve seen it both in my friends and in myself, but I’ve found ways to avoid and manage that start-of-the-semester stress.

I’ve compiled a list of academic tips to help you navigate your studies and workload. From managing your time effectively to using campus resources, these tips will help set you on the right path for a successful semester. 

• Time Management: As a person with ADHD, time management has always been extraordinarily difficult for me. I’ve discovered ways to overcome procrastination, although they may not work for every style of learner. If you’re like me and planners don’t tend to be used after the first two weeks of school or if you have a lot of online classes, utilize Google Sheets or Microsoft Exel to map out what assignments for what class you have and when they’re due. I’ve included a version of mine from last semester (see image below). The colors are the different classes (because it’s easier for me to visualize the assignments as colors), and I just took what my professors gave me on my syllabi to input the data into the sheet, and then I sorted the rows by date.  
• Another tip that I’ve found useful is to find a “Study Buddy” to help hold you accountable for doing your assignments, whether that be your roommate, your friend, or even another person in your class. That’s a two-way street–you could also help your roommate/friend/peer stay on top of their work, and I’ve found it’s more fun to do work with someone else. 
• Use Your Syllabus/Blackboard: It may seem like common knowledge, but definitely use every resource your professors give you. The calendar feature on Blackboard has saved me from late assignments more times than I care to admit, and most professors will post extra information about their lessons onto Blackboard to help with assignments. The syllabus especially will house important information about both due dates and classroom policies, so don’t just throw them away. 
• Finding a Study Space: One of my struggles during my first year at BSU was trying to do all of my homework and assignments in my dorm room from the comfort of my bed. The rumors are true: doing your work in your bed does interfere with your sleep schedule, or you will get nothing done because your room has all of the things you want to interact with that don’t include a boring assignment. Eventually, I realized that I needed to keep my work out of my room. The Maxwell Library is open from 8 am-9 pm Monday through Thursday, and 8 am-4 pm on Fridays (with extended hours during Finals week), and it is a great place to do assignments with very minimal distractions. I’ve also found that the Dana Mohler-Faria building (DMF) is a great place to study and go work on things at night when no classes are going on. East Campus Commons (ECC) can also be a very good place to study if you like to eat while doing work. 
• Don’t Procrastinate: Easier said than done, right? But I know that one of the things that I strive to do is to have my assignments done at least a day before they’re due. That might not always be possible for some classes, but typically I’ve found that I am much less stressed when my assignments are completed the day I receive them. Again, that sort of goes with the idea of time management, but using a way to track your assignments I think is crucial for success. 
• Don’t Be Afraid to Ask For Help: I know it can feel very intimidating to seek out your professors after class, but sometimes it can be very useful and helpful to attend their office hours. They have those hours specifically for their students to ask them questions about anything in their course, big or small. A quick email goes a long way. Even if you only pop into their office for 5 minutes, use their office hours if you are confused or overwhelmed and need guidance on an assignment. The Academic Achievement Center (AAC) can also help in some ways, with their Tutoring Services Center as well as the Student Accessibility Services (SAS). They have a wide variety of resources to assist in all manner of academic and personal struggles and are always available for students to utilize. 

BSU Votes

BSU Votes is your resource hub for all things voting! There you'll find important dates & deadlines, resources to check or update your voter registration status, information for first time voters and more!

Be sure to Get Vote Ready BSU! Check out this resource site and EngageBSU for resources and upcoming events related to BSU Votes.