As the fall semester begins, there are many new Miners who question what the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) has to offer. Such as where the essential places to study are, how the parking works on campus or where to find resources on campus. If you\u2019re looking for that, then you\u2019re in the right spot! <\/p>\n
The secret do\u2019s and don\u2019ts of UTEP<\/p>\n
On campus, there are a few basic things you should know that aren\u2019t explicitly told. <\/p>\n
To start, when you enter your classes, there isn\u2019t assigned seating, so DO feel free to sit wherever you want in class, and if later that seat doesn\u2019t suit you, you\u2019re more than able to sit somewhere else. \u00a0<\/p>\n
One thing you SHOULDN\u2019T do is ask to go to the restroom. If you need to step out of class to use the restroom or for other reasons, you\u2019re able to step outside of class. It is recommended to be as quiet as you can, so you don\u2019t interrupt the class.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
Another thing you SHOULD do is when it comes to your classes, do not feel afraid to ask questions. That\u2019s what your professors and classmates are for. Don\u2019t run yourself short and risk getting behind if you\u2019re stuck on something. \u00a0<\/p>\n
A final thing you SHOULD NOT do is procrastinate on your homework and projects. Trust me when I say that if you do so, it will pile up and you will run far behind. You do not want to fail a class so quickly. \u00a0<\/p>\n
How to navigate parking and driving around campus<\/p>\n
The parking here on campus seems simple, right? You\u2019ve already got your parking pass so that means it\u2019s secured! Well\u2026 sort of. All parking spots on campus are on a first come first serve basis, meaning that if the parking lot gets filled, you are going to have to wait until a car ends up leaving so that you may park there. It\u2019s recommended to at least try to find parking an hour before your class starts, so that you won\u2019t have to worry about not finding a place to park when your class starts so soon. If you try to find parking ten minutes before your class\u2026 good luck.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
When it comes to driving on or around campus, you should follow the speed limit, especially if the school zone lights are blinking which usually happens throughout the entire day. Also make sure to follow the rules of the roundabouts on campus, many people tend to ignore it which can lead to accidents. You do not want to be one of those people!\u00a0<\/p>\n
Resources<\/p>\n
There are many resources for students on campus, which some students might not know about, so take the time to know about them! UTEP offers many resources such as counseling, the recreational sports center, childcare, dining on campus and more! For more information on resources, you can find it on the \u201cResources for Students\u201d<\/a> page on the official university website. \u00a0<\/p>\n Places to study and socialize<\/p>\n If you can\u2019t focus at home or in your dorm, UTEP has many places for you to study. There\u2019s the library, where they have many tables and areas for you to study by yourself, with, classmates or friends and study rooms that you can use. Rember though, study rooms require groups of at least three people who all have to be present during the request. Texas Western Hall also has study rooms, both areas having them as a first come first served basis, so make sure to secure those rooms as soon as possible for your studies.\u00a0<\/p>\n If you want to find a place to socialize with your friends after or even between classes, there are many places to do so. The Union East building has a lounge area, including places to dine there so you can enjoy some refreshments to unwind with your friends. \u00a0<\/p>\n If you\u2019re wanting to find a place outside of campus, there are many spots around there as well, such as Kinley\u2019s House Coffee & Tea, 787 Coffee Co., Tippi Teas and many more places near campus to socialize. \u00a0<\/p>\n There are also exciting events that will be happening throughout the fall semester at UTEP. The biggest and most anticipated one being Minerpalooza on Sep. 11. The event feature games and activities hosted by student organizations, live music, food trucks and vendors in the artisan market. For kids, there is a dedicated are called Pete\u2019s Playground and for those over 21 there is a beer and wine garden. UTEP events can be found by visiting the events page on MineTracker. \u00a0<\/p>\n Here\u2019s to an exciting semester and first year for freshmen at UTEP, and as always, go Miners!\u00a0<\/p>\n