DUS News - February 7, 2022

News: 

Exploration Series Topic #4: How Do I Make Decisions?

Everyone has a decision-making style as well as a decision-making strategy that they tend to follow. Is your style spontaneous, or do you collect all the information available and weigh the pros and cons? Is your strategy to follow your gut instinct, or is your strategy to plan carefully? Your style and the strategies you use as you explore majors will affect how certain you are of your academic goals.    

To Do:  Read and do the exercises in the Decision-Making Style and Strategy and Major Certainty documents. Bring them with you to your next advising appointment for an in-depth conversation about your decision making and major certainty. 

Last week's topic: How Do Majors Relate to Careers?

Next week's topic: How Can Gen Ed Courses Enhance My Education?  

 

DUS Max Time

You are allowed to be in DUS up to the end of your first four semesters. After that, though, you need to be out of DUS and into your major, especially if you’re planning to graduate on time.

If you started at Penn State during summer or fall 2020, this is your last semester in DUS, and you will be receiving letters from us about this. You should be working with your adviser to determine your next steps, and use "Update Academics" to declare your major!

Declaring Your Major—Also Known as “Update Academics”

If you have reached a decision about your choice of major and meet the qualifications to enter that major, you can use “Update Academics” in LionPATH to process a change into your major. Students who are completing their sophomore year need to be moving out of DUS. You can review the qualifications for your intended major by viewing the entrance-to-major requirements on your intended major's page in the Bulletin. 

Important Dates: 
Resource Spotlight: 

Service Organizations

Now that you're back on campus, you may be wondering how to get involved with leadership and service organizations at Penn State. Check out the DUS page on University-wide Involvement Opportunities for ideas and suggestions! 

 

Events and Announcements: 

Group Advising Sessions

University Park

DUS will be holding group advising sessions throughout the 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 will be held via Zoom.

Upcoming Spring 2022 Sessions

February 8, 8:00 p.m.: Undergraduate Research 101

Please register in advance for the February 8 session. 

March 1, 8:00 p.m.: Interested in Smeal?

Please register in advance for the March 1 session. 

March 29, 8:00 p.m.: Explore and Find the Right Major for You

Please register in advance for the March 29 session. 

Be an Outdoor School Counselor

University Park

Do you have an interest in the outdoors? Do you enjoy working with kids? Do you want to earn two credits for working one week as a counselor during this spring semester? Check out the Outdoor School (ODS) at Shavers Creek Environmental Center! Outdoor School is a four-day, residential program for upper-elementary school students run by Penn State’s nature center, Shaver’s Creek, and staffed by Penn State student counselors. To participate in Outdoor School as a counselor, Penn State students must first submit an application. Students who are accepted will be registered for SciEd 140 or RPTM 140, Outdoor School Field Experience for academic credit concurrent with ODS. Counselors attend two required training sessions prior to the start of Outdoor School. Course information and registration materials will be available at these trainings. During their week of ODS, Penn State students must commit to being on-site 24-hours a day, typically from 1:30 p.m. on Monday through 3:00 p.m. on Friday, with free time on Wednesday or Thursday afternoon. Counselors sleep in cabins and eat family-style meals with the school students. There is indoor hot-water plumbing. Have more questions? Check out their frequently asked questions page.

Interested? The deadline to submit an application is tomorrow, February 8!

Erickson Discovery Grant

All Campuses

Planning to do a research-related project over the summer? Apply for the Erickson Discovery Grant and earn money towards your project! The Rodney A. Erickson Discovery Grant Program supports undergraduate student engagement in original research, scholarship, and creative work under the direct supervision of a faculty member. The grants may be used to cover living expenses and project costs (supplies, materials, books, specialized software, travel for the purpose of data collection, etc.).

The application deadline is February 13, at 11:59 p.m. For more information about the grant program or to apply, visit the Erickson Discovery Grant website.

Presidential Leadership Academy

University Park

Are you a first-year Scholar looking for opportunities to gain valuable leadership skills?

The Presidential Leadership Academy (PLA) is a three-year leadership development opportunity for a select group of students. As Academy participants, students develop leadership fundamentals to thrive in an environment in which multiple dimensions of issues are explored, diverse viewpoints are welcomed and heard, and a fully informed and respectful discourse ensues. A highlight of the Academy is a two-credit introductory seminar led by Penn State's President.

This is a great opportunity to learn more about the PLA (including the application process) and meet current students and the director of the Academy. Deadline to apply is February 25, 2022.
 

Apply for the DUS Leadership Council

University Park

Do you want to develop leadership skills while helping other exploratory students find their niche in college? Do you want to give back to the DUS community while gaining professional communication skills? You may want to learn more about the DUS Leadership Council. To be invited to apply for the Leadership Council, you must be nominated by your academic adviser no later than March 1, 2022. Make an appointment with your adviser before this date to learn more about the opportunity and to ask to be formally nominated.

Eligibility requirements and more information can be found on the DUS Leadership Council website.

Become a Smeal Student Mentor

University Park

Smeal Student Mentors is an organization dedicated to assisting first-year students in Smeal with their transition to college. If you are a current sophomore with a 3.2 GPA or above and have a conditional or permanent offer to a Smeal major, consider applying to become a Smeal Student Mentor! In this role, you will help answer first-year students' questions about academics, getting involved, and taking advantage of Penn State's many opportunities and events. For more information and to apply to be a mentor, visit the Smeal Student Mentor website. Application deadline: February 28, 2022 at 5:00 p.m. EST.

Tip: This application requires an instructor or adviser recommendation. Set up an appointment with your intended reference, and give them at least two weeks prior to the application deadline to complete the endorsement form. 

HealthWorks Peer Health Educator

University Park

Passionate about health and wellness? HealthWorks, a peer health education outreach program in Health Promotion and Wellness, is currently recruiting student volunteers to become Peer Health Educators. The deadline for applications is March 4, 2022. Students from all majors are encouraged to apply.

The HealthWorks program offers student volunteers two unique opportunities to share and promote health information on campus. These opportunities include:

  1. One-on-one wellness services for students
  2. Outreach activities and educational workshops

To learn more about the Peer Health Educator position or HealthWorks, visit the HealthWorks website. 

Pre-Law Information Sessions

University Park

Students thinking about going to law school should sign up for an information session before scheduling an individual appointment with the pre-law adviser. Two kinds of sessions are available throughout the semester: “Pre-Law Orientation” and “Applying to Law School.” See details, dates/times, and registration instructions at Pre-Law Information Sessions webpage. All of the sessions will be held via Zoom webinar this semester. Note: These sessions fill quickly. 

City Semester Pittsburgh

All Campuses

Looking for a summer or fall internship and interested in sustainability? City Semester Pittsburgh applications are open for summer and fall 2022!

Enroll in this unique and immersive experience to earn credits while:

  • Interning with a community partner in a field of your interest
  • Learning alongside peers during the EARTH 412 Urban Sustainability course, including guest speakers, field trips, and engaging discussions on current issues
  • Making valuable connections with Pittsburgh leaders and potential employers

Learn more and apply now on the Penn State Center Pittsburgh’s City Semester website. Application deadline for summer enrollment is March 18.