DUS News - March 18, 2019
Now is a time of year when you might come up against some academic challenges. How you handle those challenges matters a lot! Will you let your brain default into lizard mode, or will you harness that challenge to learn something new? The amygdala – or lizard brain—is the part of the brain that controls basic survival instincts. External stress (like being hunted by a lion, or facing exam grades and entrance to major requirements) triggers that lizard brain into doing things that might not be your best options. The best learners let their lizard brain fears indicate when there is an opportunity for growth and harness that primal fear to take smart, human action. Your academic adviser can help you think through these challenges, and look for the learning opportunities they present.
You should consult with an academic adviser if you’re considering late dropping a course to fully consider the ramifications for your degree progress, financial arrangements, and potential opportunities. The Late-Drop Checklist can help you think through the potential consequences of dropping a course prior to your advising conversation. Be sure to read up on Late Course Drop policies.
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.
- March 19 (Tues)
- Group Advising Session - What Gen Eds Do I Need? - March 20 (Tues)
- Group Advising Session - Improve Your Study Skills - March 21 (Thurs)
- Study Smarter, Not Harder - March 26 (Tues)
- Group Advising Session - Afraid of Choosing the Wrong Major?
- Major Fair
- HDFS Alumni Panel - April 5 (Fri)
- Late Drop Deadline - April 6 (Sat)
- Black and Latino Male Empowerment Group Symposium
More events at dus.psu.edu/calendar.
Have you had an alcohol violation on or off-campus? A visit to the ER for alcohol or other drugs? Are you concerned about a friend's behaviors? Penn State's BASICS program and ScreenU tool are resources for current students. The BASICS program uses a harm-reduction and non-judgmental approach to help you explore your alcohol use. The BASICS program consists of two one-hour sessions with a Health Promotion and Wellness staff member.
ScreenU is a free, anonymous online screening tool to help students who are struggling with the misuse of alcohol, marijuana or prescription drugs. ScreenU is brief and provides personalized, non-judgmental feedback as well as a list of helpful campus, community and national resources for prevention, support, treatment and recovery. ScreenU also provides participants with tips to keep themselves and their friends safe.
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.
*Students who do not have an alcohol violation can take the BASICS program for free. Mandated students are required to pay the $250.00 program fee.
Would you like to learn how to study more effectively in less time? Study Smarter, Not Harder is an interactive workshop that 99% of students who previously attended would recommend to a friend. Study Smarter, Not Harder will be held Thursday, March 21 at 6:00 p.m. in 111 Wartik Lab. You’ll learn how to create good learning habits, effective strategies for processing information, how to break down course material into manageable concepts, and the most important factors in successful learning.
A representative from the Business Career Center will hold drop-in hours in the Grange Building every Wednesday from 12:30–2:30 p.m. Stop by for tips on resumes, cover letters, career events, and resources. They will also be in the HUB on Mondays from 12:30–2:30 p.m. These opportunities will start on March 13 and go through April 24. No Appointment needed. For assistance at other campuses, visit your campus career center.
Still exploring majors? Come to the annual Major Fair on Tuesday, March 26 from 4–6:30 p.m. in Findlay Commons, East Halls. The annual Major Fair gives students an opportunity to learn about majors, minors, and certificate programs at University Park. Open to all undergraduates, the fair features information tables, free material and giveaways, a chance to connect with representatives of different majors and ask questions, and the opportunity to find out where and how to meet with academic advisers in all colleges. The Major Fair is a great way for students to learn about ways to relate their interests to academic options at Penn State. For additional details, contact Brittany Rossi, DUS Academic Adviser, at bkb21@psu.edu or 814 865-7576.
Registration is not required, but if you are interested in attending, we would appreciate it if you could please complete the sign up form.
Interested in a major in Human Development & Family Studies? Come hear from several alumni of the program and see where their degree has taken them! Reception with cookies and time to talk to the panelists after the event.
Tuesday, March 26
22 BBH Building, Pike Auditorium
7:00–8:30 p.m.
Education abroad is an invaluable experience offering personal growth and intercultural development, cultivating strong global citizenship, leadership, and perspective. If you are interested in studying abroad, Penn State's Office of Global Programs is a great place to start. They offer a set of Steps to Study Abroad, which includes information about Study Abroad 101 Sessions, and a Program Search. If you are serious about study abroad, please note that Application Deadlines are approaching quickly! Make an appointment with your Academic Adviser to learn more today.
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 are held in the Grange Building Lobby, unless otherwise listed on the website.
Topics include:
- Improve Your Study Skills (multiple dates/sessions)
- DUS Students and Study Abroad
- Exploration Workshop (multiple dates/sessions)
- Marketing Your Skills to Get a Job (multiple dates/sessions)
- Major and Career Planning
- Smeal Entrance to Major (multiple dates/sessions)
- Standing Out: Choosing Minors and Involvement Opportunities
- Schedule Planning
- What Gen Eds Do I Need? (multiple dates/sessions)
- Afraid of Choosing the Wrong Major?
Penn State University Libraries Short Stories spring 2019 writing contest is open for submissions now through Friday, April 12, with the contest theme "The Other Side." Creative writers University-wide can submit original stories and poems and the public can vote for their favorites at psu.short-edition.com. Oh, there are five $100 prizes and honorable mentions too! Read the full PSU news story here.
Sponsored by the Multicultural Resource Center, this symposium will feature voices of Black and Latino male students, faculty and staff through presentations and panel discussions.
Featured speakers include:
- Carlos Zalaquett, Ph.D.
- Wayne Gersie, Ph.D.
- Marcus Whitehurst, Ph.D.
Date: Saturday, April 6
Time: 9–3 p.m. (Breakfast and Lunch provided)
Location: 208 Business Building
No registration required.
The Black and Latino Male Empowerment Group is a facilitated open discussion environment for African American and Latino men to meet biweekly within a safe space. The Black and Latino Male Empowerment Group explores shared experiences as Black and Latino men on a majority campus. The goal is to assist men of color with identifying ways to fully embrace the Penn State experience through academic success, the development of community service initiatives, and relationship building, while taking advantage of all academic and social opportunities within the University.
To learn more about the group, visit: http://equity.psu.edu/mrc/black-latino-male-empowerment-group
For more information about the symposium, contact Alex Kenney: ajk5460@psu.edu or 814-865-1773
Interested in doing undergraduate research but not sure where to start? Students looking to learn more about how to become involved in research as undergraduates are encouraged to attend workshops organized by University Libraries and the University Fellowships Office.
The workshops cover everything undergraduate students need to know, including how to define research and discover opportunities, research ethics and emotional intelligence, designing an effective research poster, and preparing to present at the Undergraduate Exhibition.
Research opportunities are available for undergraduates in all fields of study. While inquiry in the social sciences may look different from the arts, which look different from engineering, the process of discovery and asking questions is similar across the disciplines. Previous experience with research is not required to participate in the workshops.
For a full list of workshops, please see the news article: https://news.psu.edu/story/555960/2019/01/25/academics/workshops-available-help-undergrads-get-research
For a full list of research and fellowship opportunities, visit https://ufo.psu.edu/calendar/list
Health Promotion and Wellness is now offering free Wellness Services for students. The services are designed to help students increase knowledge and learn new skills that contribute to healthy behaviors and academic success. Services are available for:
- Healthy Relationships and Sexual Health
- Nutrition/Healthy Eating
- Physical Activity
- Sleep
- Stress (Relaxation and Time Management)
Each service includes three 1-hour sessions and are held in the Wellness Suite, Room 20 IM Building. Trained peer educators deliver the services. Schedule an appointment by calling 814.863.0461 or by using the myUHS page. For students who are unable to make it to University Park, call in appointments as well as Skype/Zoom appointments are available.