涩里番

Going to college is a fun time in each student鈥檚 life, but it can be a time when students drift away from the church. Finding a home church in college gives students mentors, community, and a way to grow their faith in a critical point in their life. The 涩里番 has multiple ways for students to find the right church for their time in college.

The first step of finding a church in college is finding out what鈥檚 most important to you in a church. The type of music, missions, teaching, and community can all play a factor in what a student is looking for.

The 涩里番 hosts the For The Church Expo each year. Local churches set up booths for students to explore. This allows students to see what the local churches offer and see what their college ministry is like.

The 涩里番 also requires chapel for all students. Speakers from local churches lead each week and share their story with the student body. This give students a chance to hear what local pastors鈥� sermons are like.

Ram Rush is an event for incoming students to get connected with the university. Each Ram Rush leader invites their group to their local church and assists students in finding the church that fits them best.

The 涩里番 works to help students get involved in a local church and build a community that deepens their faith.

Zac Douglas

Zac Douglas is the marketing communications specialist for the 涩里番. He graduated from the University of Mississippi in 2019 with a Bachelor of Science in integrated marketing and communications. As marketing communications specialist, Zac is responsible for writing and strategizing content about the university, assisting with media relations, and handling other marketing and communications projects. He is an active member at Cottage Hill Baptist Church and enjoys spending his time surfing, skating and climbing.

The first semester of college is tough for most students. In general, they don鈥檛 manage their time well, study correctly, and have a tendency to focus on their social life before their schoolwork. But focusing on the right things and knowing how to study can help students not only survive their first semester, but set them up for success through the rest of their college career.

Choosing a college with small classes and a low student-to-faculty ratio can be the difference between simply surviving and actually thriving at college. The 涩里番 has a 14:1 student faculty ratio. That means small classes, which gives students the chance to get to know their professors. Building relationships with professors helps students know exactly what is needed in their class. Relationships with professors also give students a chance to learn what life within their chosen career will be like, and build connections with faculty who know their students and can assist in finding jobs and internships.

Learning how to manage your time correctly is a crucial part of college. If students spend too much time on their social life, their schoolwork with suffer, and vice versa. Students need to find the middle ground where they spend enough time on schoolwork to succeed, but also spend time on their social life so they can enjoy college. The 涩里番鈥檚 Freshman Seminar is a course designed to assist freshmen in their transition from high school to college that discusses time management and other skills necessary to succeed.

Studying for college can be much harder on students than studying for high school. College classes require more work than what most incoming students are used to. Finding the right study habits is essential to succeeding in their classes. The 涩里番 Student Success Center offers free help for UM students, including academic coaching and tutoring.

The first semester can be hard, but the most important thing for students to do is not give up. If students put their time and effort into their priorities, they can thrive their first semester, and set themselves up for success for the future.

Zac Douglas

Zac Douglas is the marketing communications specialist for the 涩里番. He graduated from the University of Mississippi in 2019 with a Bachelor of Science in integrated marketing and communications. As marketing communications specialist, Zac is responsible for writing and strategizing content about the university, assisting with media relations, and handling other marketing and communications projects. He is an active member at Cottage Hill Baptist Church and enjoys spending his time surfing, skating and climbing.

Living with roommates for the first time can be challenging. The 涩里番 helps students enjoy living on campus by providing the best college dorms in the state of Alabama, according to Niche.com. That鈥檚 not all 鈥� UM鈥檚 residence halls are among the top 30 in the nation! But it can still be an adjustment getting used to dorm life and living with another person. Luckily, a few basic tips can help you have a great time in the dorms with your new roommate.

Clear communication from the start
Having communication between roommates is extremely important for amicable living. If you set ground rules from the start, both roommates know exactly what is expected of them. This keeps roommates from arguing over problems that could have been addressed when first moving in together.

Solve problems as soon as you can
Letting problems fester is one of the easiest ways for students to dislike their roommate. If you have something that鈥檚 bothering you, it鈥檚 best to get it out in the open as soon as you can. This helps roommates know what鈥檚 bothering each other and do their best to fix it.

Remember whose belongings are whose
No one likes when someone messes with their things. Having respect for each other is a key part of having a roommate. It may not seem like a problem with one roommate, but it can be a big problem for the other. The best practice is to set ground rules about each other鈥檚 things from the start, and always ask if it鈥檚 ok to borrow the other鈥檚 belongings.

You may not be best friends
We see on TV and movies all the time how college roommates are best friends, but this isn鈥檛 always the case. Students may not be great friends with their roommate, but that鈥檚 okay. The most important thing is to have respect for each other so you both can enjoy your time as much as possible.

Remember the golden rule
Always treat your roommate how you would like to be treated. If you follow this rule, you鈥檒l know your roommate is being respected the way you would like to be. If you like to be notified when your roommate has other friends over, make sure that you鈥檙e notifying your roommate when your friends are over.

Learning to live with a college roommate can be a wonderful time and growth experience. Setting a few ground rules can be the key to building good memories that last a lifetime.

Zac Douglas

Zac Douglas is the marketing communications specialist for the 涩里番. He graduated from the University of Mississippi in 2019 with a Bachelor of Science in integrated marketing and communications. As marketing communications specialist, Zac is responsible for writing and strategizing content about the university, assisting with media relations, and handling other marketing and communications projects. He is an active member at Cottage Hill Baptist Church and enjoys spending his time surfing, skating and climbing.

Smaller class sizes have a large impact on the way students learn and perform. At the 涩里番, the average class size of 14 people allows students to learn in a more customized approach compared to larger class sizes. Here are five reasons why having a smaller class size is vital to your success in college.

1. Individualized Instruction
When professors have fewer students to teach, they have more time for individual instruction. Professors are able to focus on specific students and assist them with whatever they might need. 鈥淚n smaller classes, the professors know each student and help students understand how the subject material fits within their chosen major and career path.鈥� says Shanoa Reed, 涩里番鈥檚 student success coordinator.

2. Professor-Student Interaction
With smaller class sizes, student don鈥檛 have to work to build relationships with their professors. Getting to know your professors can be essential when students begin looking for careers or internships. Professors have connections within their field and can assist students with the knowledge they need for the work they鈥檙e called to do.

3. More Classroom Interaction
鈥淲hen students get to know their professor, it creates an open dialogue which can be important when students need to ask questions about course material or communicate important information.鈥� says Reed. With smaller class sizes, students have the ability to create a dialogue in the classroom which allows for better understanding of the material and a better relationship with their professors.

听4.听Student-to-Student Relationships

Having smaller class sizes allows for students to get to know each other better, form study groups, share notes and work together in the class. This helps students form friendships with classmates, which then transfers into a better classroom experience. When students are more comfortable with their peers and professors, they are more likely to ask questions and understand the class more thoroughly.

听5.听Fewer distractions
Having an average of 14 students to the classroom allows for professors to focus more on their course materials and how this helps students with their future careers. Professors can customize the classwork to fit the interests and talents of a smaller group. 鈥淎ccording to research, students in smaller classes earn higher grades and have more positive outcomes.鈥� says Reed.

For more information on class sizes at the 涩里番, please visit umobile.edu/academics.

Zac Douglas

Zac Douglas is the marketing communications specialist for the 涩里番. He graduated from the University of Mississippi in 2019 with a Bachelor of Science in integrated marketing and communications. As marketing communications specialist, Zac is responsible for writing and strategizing content about the university, assisting with media relations, and handling other marketing and communications projects. He is an active member at Cottage Hill Baptist Church and enjoys spending his time surfing, skating and climbing.

Going to college means taking on a lot of responsibility. You鈥檙e living on your own and making your own choices. According to Lifeway Research, two thirds of incoming freshman walk away from their Christian faith, but at the 涩里番, we work to grow that faith instead of diminishing it. As a student, you have multiple ways to get plugged in and find a community of believers to support and grow your Christian beliefs.

Christ in the Classrooms
At the 涩里番, each professor is a believer. Professors prepare students to be successful in their career choices, but also to share the gospel in their workplace after college. With a 14:1 student to teacher ratio, professors work to build relationships with students in order to share real life experience on how to have a rewarding and Christ-centered vocation after college.

Connecting with a Local Church
Connecting with a local church is an essential part of a student鈥檚 life. Local churches provide guidance, community, encouragement and support for students. The church also connects you with people who have been through similar experiences who can mentor you and be your home away from home. UM has multiple ways to help students get connected with local churches, including the For the Church Expo which allows for students to see what options are available, and find the church that God is calling them to.

Ministry Student Leaders
The 涩里番 connects new students with student-led small groups. This means that each small group will be going through the same life experiences and can encourage each other while growing their faith. Ministry Leaders are also active in their local church and can assist students in finding the church home that they鈥檙e looking for.

Going on Missions Trips
Having missions experiences is a great way for you to grow in your faith and see what life is like outside of your bubble. The 涩里番 offers multiple ways for you to serve and share your faith through your actions. Project Serve is on example of this. Students and faculty all join together to work on projects within the local Mobile area. Students can also be part of Youth Hostel Missions, which allows students to backpack through Europe and learn to share their testimony and preach the gospel in different cultures, while also earning college credit.

University Chapel
The purpose of听chapel is to offer students well-planned programs providing for Christian growth and maturation. This doesn鈥檛 substitute for the local church, but it allows for students to worship alongside each other. Speakers from all walks of life lead chapel such as local pastors, alumni and even well-known evangelists such as Trip Lee, a hip-hop artist with Reach Records; Danny Akin, president of the Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary and Bob Goff, author of Love Does.

You can find out about more ways to grow in your faith at the 涩里番 by visiting .

Zac Douglas

Zac Douglas is the marketing communications specialist for the 涩里番. He graduated from the University of Mississippi in 2019 with a Bachelor of Science in integrated marketing and communications. As marketing communications specialist, Zac is responsible for writing and strategizing content about the university, assisting with media relations, and handling other marketing and communications projects. He is an active member at Cottage Hill Baptist Church and enjoys spending his time surfing, skating and climbing.