DUS News - November 29, 2021
You know that choosing your major is an important decision in your college career; it will shape your education and experiences during your time at Penn State and beyond. But what about your choice of a college minor? Do minors matter? Minors have many benefits and are great way to enhance your education and explore a new subject. When thinking about your minor choice, it is important to reflect on your goals, interests, and how your minor will complement your major coursework. In addition, some majors at Penn State require a minor. To search Penn State minors, take a look at the Bulletin for inspiration, and visit with your adviser to talk about planning a minor!
Have you already decided on a major? If so, you may be able to enter that major now. You can declare many Penn State majors as soon as you have earned a 2.00 GPA and completed at least 29.1 credits. This can be done through the "Update Academics" function in LionPATH. To see what the entrance-to-major requirements are for your intended major, visit the "How to Get In" section of the program page for that major in the Bulletin. As soon as you meet the entrance criteria, you can go on to Update Academics on LionPATH to officially declare your major.
Planning on a major with enrollment controls? Make sure you take a close look at the credit window, GPA requirements, and course requirements. And if you haven’t spoken with your assigned adviser yet about potential entrance-to-major requirements, now would be a great time in the semester to do so.
- November 30 (Tues)
- Giving Tuesday - December 1 (Wed)
- Education Abroad 101 Info Session - December 10 (Fri)
- Withdrawal Deadline
- Last Day of Classes - December 12 (Sun)
- SEN Grant Application Deadline - December 13–17
- Final Exams - December 17 (Fri)
- Update Academics turned off
Ready to declare your major (and possibly add on a minor)? You can do this through the “Update Academics” page on LionPATH. Visit the LionPATH Help page here for step-by-step instructions on how to change/update/declare a major, minor or certificate: https://tutorials.lionpath.psu.edu/public/S_UpdateAcademics/.
Update academics will be shut down beginning at 5:00 p.m. on December 17 and continuing through early January..
We in DUS are so grateful for all of our students, and we want to continue to give them the best Penn State experience possible. This year on GivingTuesday, DUS will be raising money for the Division of Undergraduate Studies Award for Exploratory Students. This award will provide eligible students with funds for textbooks, lab fees, and other expenses above and beyond tuition.
Share our DUS GivingTuesday page with friends and family to show your support, and follow our posts this month on Instagram @PennState_DUS for student stories about the importance of the DUS experience. Donations will be accepted from Nov. 15 through GivingTuesday on Nov. 30.
Are you passionate about helping others? Do you want to gain valuable workplace skills? Apply to be an academic peer mentor. Mentors will learn tactics to:
- Help mentees with time management, study-skill development, and more
- Learn and implement active listening and motivational interviewing skills
- Discover how to build a successful mentoring relationship and make referrals
Interested? Get started in four easy steps:
- Complete the APMP application online by December 3. (If you’re interested in APMP, save Mondays and Wednesdays, 2:30 p.m. – 3:45 p.m. on your spring 2022 class.)
- 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.
Now through Friday, December 17, students may nominate advisers for the 2022 Penn State Excellence in Academic Advising Award. Sponsored by the University Advising Council and the Office of Undergraduate Education, the award recognizes and rewards advising excellence.
One award is given annually to a faculty member and one to a professional academic adviser. All current full-time University employees with advising responsibilities and two years of advising experience at Penn State are eligible.
Students who wish to honor an adviser who has helped them navigate the University’s academic system, plan a fulfilling program of study, consider co-curricular experiences, and learn to manage their own educational journey at Penn State are welcome to complete a short, online nomination form.
Advisers selected for the 2022 Excellence in Advising Award will be recognized by the University in the spring.
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.
| Mondays | 1:00–3:00 p.m. |
|---|---|
| Tuesdays | 9:00–11:00 a.m. |
| Wednesdays | 9:00–11:00 a.m. |
| Thursdays | 1:00–3:00 p.m. |
| Fridays | No Quick Question Advising |
For students not enrolled in DUS:
- Use our online form to submit a question. Use your Penn State email.
Do you love Penn State? Do you want to share that love with everyone you meet? Consider joining the Lion Ambassadors. The Lion Ambassadors are Penn State’s Student Alumni Corps who aim to communicate the University’s history, personality, and traditions to students, alumni, and anyone with a love for dear old state. Applications for 2021 are now open and being accepted. Learn more about the Lion Ambassadors on their website.
Deadline to apply: Friday, December 10 at 11:59 p.m.
Stressed about the end of the semester and finals? Come de-stress with DUS on Monday, December 13 from 10:00–2:00 p.m. Visit the Grange Building Lobby at your convenience during this time and enjoy hot chocolate, cookies, and a free craft!
The Student Engagement Network Grant Program is now accepting applications for spring 2022! The SEN will be awarding grants of up to $3,000 to support student engagement experiences. Examples include financial support for unpaid internships or research opportunities, living expenses, travel costs, and conference fees. Grant funding can also be used to compensate a student working fewer hours in order to be involved in a student club or organization on campus.
Learn more and apply on the SEN Grant Program website. The application deadline is December 12.