DUS News - March 28, 2022
Face masks are now optional in all indoor spaces, except in areas where the law requires them to be worn. Academic advisers and other employees at Penn State who work in their own individual offices may request that visitors wear masks while in their private offices, and faculty may request that their students wear masks during classes. We ask that community members cooperate respectfully with these requests
Please see Penn State News for more information on the updated masking protocols.
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.
Your GPA is the numerical representation of how Penn State calculates your academic performance as a student. Your GPA opens doors to potential opportunities for co-curricular activities, scholarships, and academic actions such as declaring certain majors. To see how your GPA measures against your definition of success, you can use the GPA calculator in LionPATH to estimate where you may stand at the end of the semester. Contact your academic adviser if you have questions or concerns!
- March 29 (Tues)
- DUS Group Advising - Explore and Find the Right Major - March 30 (Wed)
- Study Smarter Session - March 31 (Thurs)
- EmpoWOMENt Summit
- Jeopardy: Explore Energy and Mineral Engineering Majors - April 7 (Thurs)
- Study Smarter Session - April 8 (Fri)
- Late Drop Deadline
If you are thinking about late dropping a class (or have already dropped one) talk to a Student Aid representative about the potential effect of a late drop on your future financial aid.
At University Park, a Student Aid representative will be in the Grange Building from 1:00–4:30 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays through the rest of the semester. Student Aid representatives are also available in 314 Shields Building, Monday–Friday from 9:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m. throughout the year.
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. Visit the DUS group advising website for full details. All sessions will be held via Zoom.
Upcoming Spring 2022 Session
March 29, 8:00 p.m.: Explore and Find the Right Major for You
DUS has an ongoing goal to ensure that all DUS students have access to quality academic advising. To enhance and strengthen how we support you through academic advising, we invite you to complete a brief survey. We value your thoughts and will use the information gathered to carefully assess and further develop our approach to supporting students. Your voice matters, so please take a few moments to complete the survey. Thank you.
Interested in learning more about the majors in the Energy and Mineral Engineering department? The John and Willie Leone Family Department of Energy & Mineral Engineering (EME) is hosting a Jeopardy!-style contest on Thursday, March 31 from 5–6 p.m. in 26 Hosler and via Zoom to help students learn more about their engineering majors.
Trivia questions will cover the department's four engineering majors: Energy Engineering, Environmental Systems Engineering, Mining Engineering, and Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering.
Those attending in-person can participate on teams to compete for small prizes. The contest will take about 30 minutes, and will be followed by a mixer event to meet current EME students and ask one-on-one questions. Food will be served.
Like to write? Enter the Penn State University Libraries Short Stories spring 2022 writing contest. Themed "Written in the Stars," the contest invites creative writers from across the University to submit original stories and poems for the chance to be published in the short story dispensers across the commonwealth. Submission deadline is April 4. Visit the contest website for full details and to submit your short story.
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 acceptable 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.
In case you missed it, we've made a few small changes to our Quick Question Advising (QQA) process at University Park and want you to know about them.
- All QQA is now held only via Zoom during the hours listed below. Note that this only applies to University Park. Each campus advising office manages appointments differently.
- After you check in to the waiting room using the link below, check your Penn State email continuously for an "Adviser is Ready" notification with connection instructions for Zoom. Join the Zoom room immediately upon receiving the email.
QQA hours for spring 2022:
| Monday | 1:00–3:00 p.m. |
|---|---|
| Tuesday | 9:00–11:00 a.m. |
| Wednesday | 1:00–3:00 p.m. |
| Thursday | 1:00–3:00 p.m. |
| Friday | No quick question advising. |
Click here to sign in to QQA waiting room - Please note that a DUS Adviser is only available during the times listed above. All times are Eastern Time.
The Division of Undergraduate Studies is excited to announce the launch of our new diversity webpage. On the webpage, you will find diversity, equity, and inclusion resources, inspiration from peers, thoughts from our staff, and ways of connecting to the larger Penn State community. Included in this effort is an option for you to Connect with us” for help navigating cultural difficulties, exploring your identities, feeling seen and heard, and more.
What do “diversity, equity, and inclusion” mean to us?
Diversity, equity, and inclusion are at once incredibly simple and profoundly complex concepts, goalposts, and action items. Let’s define our terms.
- Diversity can be thought of as everything you are—identity markers, life experiences, ways of thinking and being—and everything that you are not. Diversity grows in an environment where respect, acceptance, and valuing are abundant, and where everyone can come with their full self and expect to be listened to and included.
- Inclusion is bringing everyone into the fold. It takes the diversity that is present and creates policies that allow everyone to be successful, cultivates a community that allows everyone to be—and feel—valued and heard, and provides equitable influence in key decisions.
- Equity is helping everyone get their needs met, proactively addressing barriers to success, and dismantling systems that contribute to unjust outcomes. It is creating the circumstances, policies, community, and support necessary to ensure that everyone is able to achieve their definition of success.
In DUS, diversity, equity, and inclusion are hallmarks of our work with all students and the larger Penn State community. We are here to support you as you discover what the principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion mean for you and your journey. Remember, we are Penn State… and we cannot be Penn State without you.
Shana Clarke
Assistant Director for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
The Division of Undergraduate Studies
Join the Student's Restorative Justice Initiative as they present Restorative Circles. Restorative practices create space for dialogue that builds community and affirms the humanity of all involved. Sessions are held in 236 Chambers from 6:00–7:30 p.m. on the following dates:
March 31 - Forgiveness
April 14 - Sexual Assault
April 28 - Religion/Spirituality
Learn more and register online.
Are you passionate about helping others? Do you want to gain valuable workplace skills? Apply to be an academic peer mentor. Mentors will:
- learn and implement active listening and motivational interviewing skills
- discover how to build a successful mentoring relationship and make appropriate referrals
- help mentees with time management, study-skill development, and more
- learn how to set and maintain appropriate boundaries while fostering a nurturing mentoring relationship
Interested? Get started in four easy steps:
- Complete the APMP application online by April 15. Keep Mondays and Wednesdays, 2:30 p.m. to 3:45 p.m. open on your fall 2022 schedule.
- Earn a B or higher in a one-credit preparatory course.
- Attend a mentorship interview.
- Begin mentoring students.
For questions about the program or the class, contact spc83@psu.edu.