Volunteers Needed
Save the Date: NSM Block Party
The Office of First Year Programs invites you to volunteer at Block Party! Help us kick off the start of the school year: bring your good vides, represent your office/department, and welcome our newest NSM Coogs with games, music, and FREE giveaways.
This event welcomes incoming first-years and transfer students to the College community and is the perfect opportunity for them to mingle with fellow peers, connect with faculty and staff, explore student organizations, and dive into our vibrant community.
Event Details
What: Block Party, the College’s welcome back bash hosted by the Office of First Year Programs
When: Sunday, August 23, 6:30–8:00 PM
Where: NSM Rotunda (rain plan: moving activities inside surrounding buildings)
Register here by August 7, 2026 to save your volunteer spot!
For questions, please contact nsmyear1@uh.edu.
Faculty Mentors Needed for 2026–2027 STEM Living and Learning Community
The NSM Living Learning Community is expanding for the 2026–2027 academic year to welcome any incoming student pursuing a STEM major. This residential community will include up to 50 first-year students living together on a dedicated floor in Cougar Village 2, creating a vibrant and supportive STEM-focused environment.
Faculty mentors will join Dr. Donna Pattison (NSM) and Dr. Christina Chang (Engineering) in guiding this cohort. The mentor team will meet with students twice per month during the fall and spring semesters with the goal of fostering connection, academic growth, and a strong sense of belonging among our residential STEM freshmen.
Faculty mentors will help build community, coordinate engaging meetings and events, and serve as accessible guides for students as they transition into university life. Support for programming logistics is available through Dr. Melissa Pierson, Associate Provost for Student Success, as well as the floor’s undergraduate Resident Advisor and the leadership team in Resident Life. A modest budget from Resident Life is available to support activities and programming.
If you are interested in serving as a faculty mentor for the next cohort, please contact Dr. Pattison at dpattison@uh.edu.
Opportunities to Engage with Prospective and First-Year Students - Volunteers Needed
The Office of First Year Programs (OFYP) invites NSM faculty to participate in several upcoming engagement and recruitment opportunities during Fall 2026. These activities provide meaningful ways to connect with prospective and current students, highlight departmental strengths, and support student success.
NSMTalks Series Returns - Volunteers Needed
The NSMTalks series, hosted by the Office of First Year Program’s Student Leadership team, returns this Fall. For this series, faculty/staff share their academic, professional, and/or personal journeys with the NSM community through a one-hour presentation/discussion session. This helps build connections with our students and promotes engagement for academic and social events. If you would like to be featured for an NSMTalks event, please email us at nsmyear1@central.uh.edu.