There is a remarkable correlation between certain student actions and success in college. Some of those are obvious (go to every class, check your Penn State email daily, turn in your assignments on time), but some are not. There is a wide range of resources available to you here, as well as a wide range of ways to get into trouble. Your help-seeking initiative can make a really big difference in your success. Take some advice from a college professor about how to anticipate and navigate your transition (back) to college.
News:
Seeking Help is Correlated With Being Successful
Schedule an Advising Appointment
Have a question or concern about your schedule for the upcoming semester? Schedule an appointment with your adviser. You can schedule an appointment with your DUS Adviser (at University Park and at some campus locations) online via Starfish (starfish.psu.edu). To do this, log in to Starfish. On the My Success Network homepage, Your Connections shows your assigned adviser, instructors, and others who are directly connected to you, including your assigned DUS academic adviser. If online scheduling is available, you can make an appointment with your adviser by clicking on the three dots next to their name in Your Connections and selecting “Schedule” or by clicking “Schedule Appointment” in your adviser’s profile. (If scheduling is not enabled in Starfish, you can always contact your adviser or your advising office directly.) Please see the step-by-step instructions if you need more help getting started with appointment scheduling in Starfish.
Important Dates:
- September 2 (Thurs)
- DUS Group Advising: First Semester on Campus? Tools You Need to Be a Successful Student - September 6 (Mon)
- Labor Day - No Classes - September 8 (Wed)
- Meet the HDFS Faculty - September 9 (Thurs)
- DUS Group Advising: How to Get Involved: How to Start the Semester Off on the Right Foot
- AI for Good Expo
- LION Bash
Resource Spotlight:
Starfish
Starfish facilitates communication among academic advisers, instructors, students, and others who are here to support student learning. Starfish provides students with a central location to connect to the people and services that can help them engage with their educations.
Events and Announcements:
DUS Advising for Fall Semester
University Park
There are three ways you can talk with a DUS adviser at University Park (Note: DUS students at other campuses should check how advising services are being offered where you are):
- 20-30 minute scheduled appointment with your assigned adviser over Zoom.
- Quick question advising with any DUS adviser over Zoom. No appointment is needed. Quick question advising will be held Mondays and Thursdays from 1:00–3:00 p.m. and Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 9:00–11:00 a.m. You can find the link to the Zoom room on the DUS appointments webpage.
- Email your assigned adviser.
Group Advising Sessions
University Park
DUS will be holding Group Advising Sessions throughout the fall semester as a way to discuss popular advising topics with groups of students. These sessions are open to all DUS students and will help you to learn more about the topic and to ask questions in a friendly, open environment. For more information on each session, including dates and times, visit https://dus.psu.edu/group-advising. All sessions are held in the Grange Building Lobby, unless otherwise listed on the website. Some sessions have multiple dates and locations available.
Fall 2021 Sessions
All sessions are at 4:00 p.m. ET and held in the Grange Building Lobby. (Note: masks will be required, regardless of vaccination status).
September 2: First Semester on Campus? Tools You Need to be a Successful Student
Please register in advance for the September 2 session.
September 9: How to Get Involved: How to Start the Semester Off on the Right Foot
Please register in advance for the September 9 session.
September 23: Undergraduate Research 101
Please register in advance for the September 23 session.
October 21: Interested in Smeal?
Please register in advance for the October 21 session.
October 28: Explore and Find the Right Major for You
Follow Us on Instagram
All Campuses
The Division of Undergraduate Studies is on Instagram! Follow us @PennState_DUS to see student/alumni stories, academic tips, events, announcements, and more. Share your own DUS story with us using #PennStateDUS for the chance to be featured.
Quick Question Advising
University Park
Have a question that can be resolved in a short 5–10 minute conversation? Join us for quick question advising via Zoom on the dates and times below. Some of these topics include: discussing adding/dropping courses within deadlines; getting a form signed; using LionPATH; reviewing entrance-to-major requirements; learning about general education information not related to schedule planning; and transferring credits. Quick question advising is not intended for in-depth conversations.
For students enrolled in DUS:
- Email your assigned adviser. Use your Penn State email.
- Click here for Quick Question Advising via Zoom - Please note that a DUS Adviser is only available during the times listed below. All times are Eastern Time.
Monday 1:00–3:00 p.m. Tuesday 9:00–11:00 a.m. Wednesday 9:00–11:00 a.m. Thursday 1:00–3:00 p.m. Friday No Quick Question advising.
For students not enrolled in DUS:
- use our online form to submit a question. Use your Penn State email.