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Stress Less Fest

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Stress Less Fest is a week of stress-busting events, programs, and workshops across UMKC's two campuses. Study, rest, recuperate, and be ready to succeed during finals.

 Stress Fest Logo, featuring multicolored circles representing a wellness wheel.

Featured Stress Less Fest Events include Pause for Paws, Late Night Breakfast, and a variety of events with our campus partners! View the complete Stress Less Fest Schedule below. 

Stress Less Fest Fall 2024 | December 2 - 6

See full schedule and register for events on Roo Groups.

 

Fall 2024 Schedule

  •  7:00AM-7:45AM | Roo Fit, Cycle Class, Swinney Recreation Center
    • Start your week with a bang at a sunrise cycle class. Get your heart rate up and build endurance in this spin class with Riley. 
  • 10:00AM-11:30AM | LGBTea Community Hour, Rainbow Lounge SU 325
    • Looking to build community? Join LGBTQIA Programs and Services and campus partners for coffee, community, and connection. This weekly program is a great way to get to know new people across campus and build a network of other students and staff. 
  • 12:00PM-1:00PM | Success Coach Group Session: Finals Support Session, Online
    • Success coaching sessions are offered in a judgement-free zone and tailored to support a student's needs. When juggling school and life responsibilities seems overwhelming, success coaches are here to help.
  • 1:00PM-2:00PM | Project Unlonely: Colors and Connection, SU 301
    • Colors and Connection is a free, one-hour workshop that brings people together with "connecting through colors" activities. You will have a chance to explore and grow your creative intelligence as you discover how color can express and reflect moods and emotions, as well as help nurture peer-to-peer communication. 

  • 8:30AM-11:30AM | Pop-Up Study Hall, ASSC 237
    • Come study with us! We will have school supplies, tea, snacks, a calming atmosphere, and student leaders available to provide advice on studying for upcoming exams. 
  • 12:00PM-2:00PM | Success Coach Drop-In, Johnson Hall
    • Success coaching sessions are offered in a judgement-free zone and tailored to support a student's needs. When juggling school and life responsibilities seems overwhelming, success coaches are here to help.
  • 12:00PM-2:00PM | Pause for Paws, Miller Nichols Library IX Theater 
    • Missing your furry friend from home? Want to de-stress with a pretty pooch? Stop by to say hello to our MO-KAN Pet Partners and take a break from studying for finals.
  • 1:00PM-2:00PM | Finals Preparation, ASSC 237
    • Finals are quickly approaching and the PAL Program is here to help you prepare. Join us for a workshop on how to build a study and time management plan for finals, as well as tipes for practicing self-care during the stress that finals week often brings. 
  • 3:00PM-5:00PM | Sweet Treats & Study Skills, Pierson Auditorium
    • Sip cocoa with an SI leader, have tea with the tutors, and eat waffles with the writing studio.
  • 3:30PM-4:15PM | Roofit: Punch Time, Swinney Recreation Center 
    • Join Tanna for a cardio kickboxing class that will get your heart rate up!
  • 6:00PM-7:00PM | Applying for Scholarships, Online
    • In this session, current students and scholarship reviewers will walk through the UMKC competitive scholarship application, giving you tupes and tricks for making your application stand out. We will also chare recommendations for finding additional scholarship resources in the community. 

  • 10:00AM-12:00PM | Crafty Feminism: Shrink Your Stress, Haag Hall 105
    • Join the UMKC Women's Center for some stress reducing crafts. Bring your creativity and we provide the rest!
  • 11:00AM-12:00PM | Project Unlonely: Colors and Connection, SU 301
    • Colors and Connection is a free, one-hour workshop that brings people together with "connecting through colors" activities. You will have a chance to explore and grow your creative intelligence as you discover how color can express and reflect moods and emotions, as well as help nurture peer-to-peer communication. 
  • 12:00PM-2:00PM | CARE Bags & SNAP Information, SU 2nd Floor Lobby
    • Stop by to grab a CARE bag, full of resources, information, and goodies to help you combat finals week stressors.
  • 12:00PM-2:00PM | Success Coach Drop-In, Miller Nichols Lobby
    • Success coaching sessions are offered in a judgement-free zone and tailored to support a student's needs. When juggling school and life responsibilities seems overwhelming, success coaches are here to help.
  • 12:00PM-2:00PM | FAFSA & Frosting, SU Starbucks Lounge
    • Get ready to secure your financial aid for the 2025-2026 school year while adding a little sweetness to the process! Join us for FAFSA & Frosting, where you’ll have the opportunity to complete your FAFSA application. Supplies will be provided, so all you need to bring is yourself (and your FAFSA login details!). 
    • We are committed to providing accessible programming. If you would like accommodation, please email financialwellness@umkc.edu or call 816-235-1269 one week prior to the event.
  • 12:00PM-2:00PM | Success Coach Drop-In, Kangaroo Pantry, Care Center
    • Success coaching sessions are offered in a judgement-free zone and tailored to support a student's needs. When juggling school and life responsibilities seems overwhelming, success coaches are here to help.
  • 2:00PM-4:00PM | Study Munchies, MNLC 1st Floor Lobby
    • Join the Honors Program for a free snack. 
  • 4:00PM-6:00PM | Pop-Up Study Hall, ASSC 237
    • Come study with us! We will have school supplies, tea, snacks, a calming atmosphere, and student leaders available to provide advice on studying for upcoming exams.

  • 4:00PM-6:00PM | Pop-Up Study Hall, ASSC 237
    • Come study with us! We will have school supplies, tea, snacks, a calming atmosphere, and student leaders available to provide advice on studying for upcoming exams.
  • 11:00AM-1:00PM | Success Coach Drop-In, ASSC 2nd Floor
    • Success coaching sessions are offered in a judgement-free zone and tailored to support a student's needs. When juggling school and life responsibilities seems overwhelming, success coaches are here to help.
  • 11:30AM-1:30PM | Success Coach Drop-In, Student Union 2nd Floor
    • Success coaching sessions are offered in a judgement-free zone and tailored to support a student's needs. When juggling school and life responsibilities seems overwhelming, success coaches are here to help.
  • 12:00PM-2:00PM | Pause for Paws, Health Sciences Library, Hospital Hill 
    • Missing your furry friend from home? Want to de-stress with a pretty pooch? Stop by to say hello to our MO-KAN Pet Partners and take a break from studying for finals.
  • 2:00PM-4:00PM | Fall 2024 GradFest, SU Starbucks Lounge
    • Are you graduating in December 2024? Join various Student Affairs offices as they celebrate their graduating seniors in a come-and-go send off!
  • 6:00PM | Portraits of Childhood: Black Dolls, film screening and talkback of Black Barbie, SU Theater 1st Floor
    • The National Museum of Toys and Miniatures is thrilled to partner with Lagueria Davis, write and director of Black Barbie: A Documentary, for a film screening and talkback. This exciting conversation will be moderated by Natasha Ria El-Scari, Director of the UMKC Women's Center. Discover the untold story of the first black Barbie and the pivotal role trailblazing Black women at Mattel had in creating a doll who looked like them. 
    • Register for FREE here
  • 7:00PM-10:00PM | Late Night RooView, ASSC 2nd Floor
    • Join Academic Support and Mentoring, PAL, First Gen Roo, and Summer Bridge for an eveing of fun and finals preparation! Participants will get the opportunity to make crafts, utilize our self-care station, get a massage, and enjoy snacks. In addition, students can connect with tutors and writing studio consultants for support in preparing for finals. Stop by the even before Late Night Breakfast to connect with fellow Roos!
    • Raffle prizes will be given throughout the event, including "skip the line passes" to Late Night Breakfast!
  • 10:00PM-12:00AM | Late Night Breakfast, ASSC Dining Center
    • Join the OSI and UPB for a late night breakfast. Finals week is almost here, and we know you will need plenty of fuel to be successful. Take a break from studying and enjoy your favorite breakfast items, on us. 

  • 12:00PM-1:30PM | Be Gay, Do Art, Rainbow Lounge SU 325
    • Be Gay, Do Art is an LGBTQIA+ expressive arts support group. This group is designated to embrace creativity while creating a sense of community.
  • 2:00PM-4:00PM | DIY Holiday Ornament Making, SU Starbucks Lounge
    • Stop by to create a one-of-a-kind holiday ornament. Choose between several options like beaded snowflakes and nutcrackers, or start from scratch with a clear ornament ball ready for fillings. All supplies will be provided. Refreshments will be provided.

Kangaroo Pantry

It is hard to focus on completing coursework and studying for final exams/projects if you are hungry, or worried about how you are going to get enough food.

The Kangaroo Pantry at the Dr. Raj Bala Agrawal Care Center serves member of the UMKC community who are facing food insecurity.

If you need help accessing food, supplementing your groceries, or stretching your food budget the Kangaroo Pantry is for you. 

CARE Bags full of information, resources, and goodies to help you combat end of semester stress will be available at the following times and locations:

  • Wednesday, December 4 12:00PM-2:00PM | SU 2nd Floor Lobby
  • All Week, during operating hours | Kangaroo Pantry and Health Sciences District Satellite Pantry

Find out more about the Kangaroo Pantry

Tutoring & Writing Studio

UMKC Tutoring is a CRLA certified program that offers free one-on-one tutoring to UMKC students for many courses from a variety of subjects. Our peer tutors can help you understand important concepts, figure out the best way for you to study, and more!

Find out more about tutoring here

UMKC offers quality one-on-one writing consultations to students by creating a safe, comfortable and professional environment. Students can share their writing and thoughts and, in turn, consistently receive meaningful attention, criticism and instruction. Consultations last 30-60 minutes and benefit from students having their assignment sheet, rubric, and draft available during the consultation. Drop in appointments are also available in ASSC and MNL.

Find out more about the Writing Studio here

Off Campus Stress Busters

Need to get off campus? No sweat - there are things close by, and FREE, to help you take a breather from the stress of studying. 

Volker Campus

National Museum of Toys and Miniatures

The Ewing and Muriel Kauffman Memorial Garden

  • The garden features bronze sculptures by Tom Corbin among lush and colorful annual and perennial plantings, pruned foliage framed by stone walls, brick walkways, and playful fountains. 
  • Short 10-minute walk through campus and across Brush Creek

Brookside Trolley Trail

  • Runs along Brookside Blvd. through Countryside Park
  • Just one block west of UMKC School of Law

The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art

  • Free admission to museum, special exhibits may require purchased ticket
  • Short, 20-minute walk through Campus, Brush Creek, and Theis Park

Health Sciences District

Hospital Hill Park

  • Short, 8-minute walk through campus. 

Liberty Memorial

  • Expansive lanscape with multiple sculptured memorials and connection points to multiple paths/trails. Breathtaking view of downtown Kansas City.  
  • 25-minute walk or short, 8-minute drive. 

Union Station