DUS News - March 13, 2023
Now is a time of year when you might come up against some academic challenges. As humans, we’re wired to seek out safety, but we learn best when we push a little beyond our comfort zone. If one tiger lived in a zoo and one tiger lived in a jungle, which tiger would learn more? The jungle tiger! Outside of the safety of the zoo, the jungle tiger is forced to grow by living in a more challenging environment. External stress (like hunting for food, studying for an exam, or registering for a tough course) might make you want to seek a safer, more predictable option. The best learners know that, even with the possibility of making mistakes, these situations can be great opportunities for growth. No one can be a jungle tiger all the time, but some risks can take your learning to the next level. Your academic adviser can help you think through these challenges and which are worth facing.
Have you already decided on your major? If you meet the entrance-to-major requirements for your intended major (listed in the Bulletin), you can use "Update Academics" in LionPATH to make the change official! Students who are completing their second year at Penn State need to be moving out of DUS—if you're still unsure of where to go from here, meet with an adviser to finalize your plans.
Your instructors care about your success. If they’re concerned by something you’re doing or not doing in their class—your grades, attendance, participation—they can "raise a flag" in Starfish to share their concern with you and/or your adviser. Your instructors have been invited to raise flags and send kudos (positive feedback) to students in their classes over the last few weeks. This gives you a chance to see how you’re doing and make any needed changes before the end of the semester.
What Can I Do About It?
Try these strategies to take charge of your success:
- Talk with your instructor about their concern during their office hours. Be sure to review the syllabus before the meeting and reflect on the reason(s) for their concern. While it’s normal to feel nervous about attending office hours for the first time, there are plenty of tips to help with crafting the perfect email and office hours etiquette.
- Attend a Study Smarter session to learn the most effective study techniques.
- Use FREE tutoring services on campus.
- Schedule an appointment with your DUS adviser to discuss your progress, learn about additional resources, and create a plan for your success. We care about your success and want to help you thrive.
Following up on flags can help you to achieve your full potential! Don’t know if you’ve received a progress report yet? Check your Starfish dashboard or Penn State email for progress reporting messages from notices@starfishsolutions.com.
- March 14 (Tues.)
- Explore and Find the Right Major for You (Group Advising) - March 15 (Wed.)
- Study Smarter Workshop - March 21 (Tues.)
- Pre-Law Orientation Session (In-Person)
- General Education 101 (Group Advising) - March 22 (Wed.)
- Study Smarter Workshop
Do you have concerns about your own alcohol- or drug-related behavior or that of a friend? ScreenU is a free, brief, and anonymous online screening tool to help current students who are struggling with their use of alcohol, marijuana, or prescription drugs. ScreenU provides:
- Personalized, non-judgmental feedback,
- A list of helpful campus, community, and national resources for prevention, support, treatment, and recovery, and
- Tips to keep you and your friends safe.
Need more support (such as after an ER visit or conduct violation related to alcohol or drugs)? Penn State's BASICS program uses a non-judgmental, harm-reduction approach to help you explore your alcohol use and consists of two one-hour sessions with a Health Promotion and Wellness staff member. Students who do not have an alcohol or drug violation can take the BASICS program for free. Students mandated to take BASICS are required to pay the $250 program fee.
If you have questions or would like more information, please contact Health Promotion and Wellness at (814) 863-0461 or via email at promotinghealth@psu.edu.
Are you a first-generation college student at Penn State? Share your story! The First-Generation College Student Stories project is looking to collect the diverse stories and experiences of first-generation college students from across Penn State's University Park campus. A project by first-gen students for first-gen students, the project aims to connect first-gen students with one another, provide a platform for their voices, and educate the wider Penn State community on their experiences.
Interested in participating? Fill out this short form, and the project team will reach out to you with more information.
Contact Lillian Aronson at lza5211@psu.edu with any questions.
DUS will be holding group advising sessions throughout the spring 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 visit https://dus.psu.edu/group-advising. All sessions are held in the Grange Building Lobby, unless otherwise listed on the website.
Spring 2023 Sessions
All sessions are at 4:00 p.m. ET and held in the Grange Building Lobby.
March 14: Explore and Find the Right Major for You
Please register in advance for the March 14 session.
March 21: General Education 101
Please register in advance for the March 21 session.
March 28: Course Enrollment 101
Register to attend the Pre-Law Orientation Session on Tuesday, March 21, 12:00–1:00 p.m. in the Grange Building Lobby.
Pre-Law Orientation Sessions are open to all Penn State students considering law school. First- and second-year students must attend a Pre-Law Orientation Session prior to scheduling an individual appointment with the pre-law adviser or attending the Applying to Law School Session. Topics covered in the Pre-Law Orientation Session include:
- Preparing for law school and strengthening your application now (even if you are not yet certain that you want to attend)
- Skills required for law school
- Learning about law school
- Exploring legal practice
- Deciding whether to apply to law school
- Introduction to the LSAT and GRE (brief intro to this topic – more in the Applying to Law School Session)
- Law school application timeline (brief intro to this topic – more in the Applying to Law School Session)
- Pre-law advising resources
There are three ways you can talk with a DUS adviser at University Park (Note: DUS students at other campuses or at other colleges at University Park should check how advising services are being offered where you are):
- 20–30 minute scheduled appointment with your assigned adviser over Zoom or in person.
- Quick question advising (QQA) with any DUS adviser over Zoom or in person. No appointment is needed. Quick question advising will be held Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 1:00–3:00 p.m. and Tuesdays from 9:00–11:00 a.m. You can find the link to the QQA waiting room on the DUS appointments webpage.
- Email your assigned adviser.
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.