DUS News - October 29, 2018
According to the PEW Research Center, Americans are more racially and ethnically diverse than in the past and women’s role in the labor force and leadership positions has grown tremendously. Moreover, Penn State has made a commitment to making Penn State a place that embraces human diversity. How do you benefit from this diversity? Professor Katherine Phillips at Columbia Business School argues that diversity makes us smarter and able to work harder. She also explains how diversity improves creativity and leads to better results. See this article highlighting Phillip’s findings. Even better—engage with others who are unlike you by attending events, connecting with organizations, or joining conversations about diversity.
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.
- October 29–November 14
- Spring 2019 registration for most DUS students - November 1 (Thurs)
- DUS Group Advising Session - Goal Setting and Decision Making - November 4 (Sun)
- Daylight Savings Ends - Turn clocks back one hour! - November 6 (Tues)
- Election Day - VOTE!
- DUS Group Advising Session - Exploration Workshop - November 9 (Fri)
- Late Drop Deadline - November 19–23
- Thanksgiving Break - No Classes
More events at dus.psu.edu/calendar.
Wondering where you can find a comprehensive list of Diversity and Inclusion events going on at Penn State?
Check out the All In Calendar!
Get even more from the All In Website!
DUS students who engage in their educations have multiple opportunities to be recognized. For example, DUS students in sophomore standing (at any campus) who have a cumulative grade point average above a 3.50 can apply for a DUS scholarship. (If that’s you, please apply!)
Students who have been thoughtful about their academic decisions are regularly nominated for a variety of leadership positions. At UP, DUS students are involved in Leadership Council, Peer Mentors, Engaged Scholars, and DUS Student Stories. At campuses, check with your DUS Advising Office, Student Activities Office or Financial Aid to find leadership and scholarship opportunities specific to your campus.
Finally, in recognition of academic excellence, all students who complete 12 or more credits in a semester with a 3.5 or higher are named to the Dean's List.
Election day is coming on Tuesday, November 6. Exercising your right to vote is a fundamental privilege and responsibility as a citizen. We encourage you to get out and vote and take part in the process of electing our public officials. Polls are open from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on election day. Polling locations may be busy, so please plan accordingly so you can vote, but still attend to your academic obligations.
If you are not sure of your voter registration status, polling location or district, you can look it up at votespa.com.
Learn about engineering majors at University Park during information sessions throughout the semester. Go to those that interest you, hear from students and faculty, find out about what you'd study in the major and what kinds of career opportunities there are, and tour the facilities. Upcoming major nights include:
Civil Engineering
Tuesday, November 13, 6:00 p.m.
207 Sackett Building
Biological Engineering
Wednesday, November 14, 6:00 p.m.
206 Agricultural Engineering Building
Now through Friday, Nov. 9, students may nominate advisers for the 2019 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 2019 Excellence in Advising Award will be recognized by the University in the spring.
DUS will be holding Group Advising Sessions throughout the fall 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:
- Exploration Workshop (multiple dates/sessions)
- Smeal Entrance to Major (multiple dates/sessions)
- Study Skills and Time Management
- Marketing Your Transferrable Skills
- Schedule Planning (multiple dates/sessions)
- Constructing Your Story: Minors, Involvement, Internships, and more
- Major and Career Planning (multiple dates/sessions)
- Goal Setting and Decision Making
- DUS Students and Study Abroad
Interested in entering the health professions field? Beginning Fall 2018, all first-year students interested in meeting one-on-one with a health professions adviser are required to attend a large-group advising session (Med Prep or PA Prep) prior to scheduling the advising appointment. All other students are encouraged to attend these sessions as well, as they contain valuable information about how to get started (e.g., prerequisite coursework, extracurricular experiences, etc.).
FA18 Med Prep & PA Prep Group-Advising Schedule (all sessions are the same - attend one):
Med Prep: Coursework, skills & experiences needed for medical/dental/podiatry programs
- Nov. 12, 6 - 7 pm, 201 Thomas
PA Prep: Coursework, skills & experiences needed for Physician Assistant programs
- Nov. 29, 6 - 7 pm, 201 Thomas
Additional information about health professions advising is available on our website: http://science.psu.edu/premed/advising