IN THIS ISSUE
- Academic Related News
- Additional Opportunities and Programs
- Important Upcoming Dates
- Upcoming Campus Events
Academic Related News
Selection of Majors and Minors
As a second year student, it is important to continue the process of realistically assessing and carefully considering what interests you, matches well with your intellectual capabilities and satisfies you most as an academic enterprise. Declaring a major is a very important decision, however, it is not about finalizing your lifelong goals or setting in stone your career direction. Your professional experiences and graduate school choices will most likely have a larger impact on the direction of your career and line of work.
Your main task is to select an area that allows you to further develop, explore and hone your intellectual interests and capabilities. Selecting a major should help you achieve your academic and personal goals while at Case. Selecting a major involves asking questions, collecting information through discussions and evaluating your options honestly. There are plenty of resources available on campus to help you make this decision. If you feel ready to declare a major and it's just a matter of filling out the paperwork, I urge you to come by UGS and do this at your earliest convenience. Selecting a major will allow you to become connected with a department and receive valuable information about departmental related opportunities, it will also update your DPR to accurately reflect your degree requirements.
The Steps You Should Follow in the Declaration Process
- Pick up a "Major Declaration” or “Minor Declaration” form in the Office of Undergraduate Studies (Sears 357).
- Take the form to the department representative in your intended major for his/her signature and assignment of a major advisor. You can find a list of representatives in your Handbook for Undergraduates or hanging on the wall outside of Sears 357.
- Drop off the signed yellow copy to the Office of Undergraduate Studies to complete the process.
Retaining Your Scholarship
The retention standards for merit based (Full tuition, Trustee's, President's and Provost's) scholarships are different from the first year.
At the end of each academic year (June), the records of all scholarship recipients are reviewed. To have a scholarship renewed for the following academic year, a recipient is expected to satisfy two requirements:
- A minimum number of hours earned after enrolling at Case. For second year students the requirement is 54 hours by the end of the second year. This does not include AP/IB/transfer or Pre-College Scholar credit earned prior to enrollment at Case.
- A minimum cumulative scholarship gpa of 3.00. If you have used the repeat option remember your scholarship gpa will include both grades.
If you have a Provost's Special Scholarship, you must maintain academic good standing.
For complete scholarship retention information, is on page A-83 of the 2006-2007 Student Handbook.
Changing An Incomplete Grade
If you received grades of I (incomplete) for any courses from the fall semester, you are expected to make the work up as quickly as possible. The amount of time allowed by a professor for making up an incomplete should be consistent with the length of the your absence(s) in the fall semester. The latest deadline by which work must be completed and grades reported is Friday, March 30. Petitions for extensions may be considered by the Deans Committee in the Office of Undergraduate Studies only in cases where there are valid extenuating circumstances and a petition with appropriate supporting documentation has been submitted prior to March 30. Incompletes not completed by the deadline and for which no extension has been approved, will be converted to F grades
Course Repetition
If you are dissatisfied with a grade that you received in an earlier course, you may choose to repeat that course. You must notify the Office of Undergraduate Studies of your intention to do so by completing a Course Repeat Form. The form must be submitted by 5:00pm on the last day of class during the semester in which the course is being repeated.
If you use the Course Repeat Option, the first grade will remain visible on the transcript, but will be removed from the calculation of your cumulative grade point average and from the semester in which the grade was first earned. The second grade will then be used for calculation into the cumulative grade point average and the semester in which it was earned.
The first grade will remain visible on your transcript, but there will be a notation under the course saying "Grade Not Counted. Course Repeated."
If you have a merit based scholarship, both grades will be calculated into your scholarship gpa.
For complete course repetition information, see page A-79 of the 2006-2007 Student Handbook.
Educational Services for Students (ESS)- What can they do for you?
Located in Sears 470, ESS provides a variety of programs and services designed to enhance learning and student achievement.
Supplemental Instruction (SI)
The Supplemental Instruction (SI) program provides regularly scheduled, student facilitated study sessions for traditionally difficult courses at Case. SI leaders have successfully completed the course, are recommended by their professor, and trained by ESS. SI sessions are FREE and your participation is completely voluntary. Attending sessions allows you to ask questions, review notes, practice problems and prepare for exams in a relaxed environment. SI is currently available for select biology, chemistry, engineering, and physics courses. View more information about the Supplemental Instruction (SI) Program including the current SI schedule.
Peer Tutoring.
Peer tutoring is available to all Case undergraduate students. Peer tutors are undergraduate students who have been nominated by professors and trained by ESS to work with you on an individual and/or group basis regarding undergraduate courses at Case. You can schedule up to 5 free hours of tutoring per week. For a complete list of available tutoring appointments, or to request a tutor for a course not listed, visit Tutortrac.
SAGES Writing Crew
The members of the SAGES Writing Crew are veteran seminar students who can assist you with general writing skills and with specific questions about your essay assignments. Tutoring sessions are held at various locations, including the Kelvin Smith Library and the Arabica coffeehouse. View a complete list of available appointments.
Individual Consultation
In ESS, professional staff members are available to meet individually with you to discuss time management skills, critical reading, note-taking, and test-taking strategies. Contact ESS at 368-5230 to meet with an ESS staff member or visit them online.
Summer Classes on and off campus
Students have begun to ask about taking summer classes, both at Case or at a school close to home. If you are interested in taking classes at Case, the searchable schedule of classes will list summer classes soon. You will be able to get your PIN for summer classes from your advisor when you get your PIN for fall classes. Remember tuition is 1/2 price for the summer!
If you are planning on taking classes off campus, there are some polices and paperwork that you must follow and complete. Read the information in the student handbook or online and then if are you still interested, come to 357 Sears and pick up the Off-Campus Study Request Form or download the form . In order to complete the Off-Campus Study Request Form, you must collect course descriptions for the courses(s) that you are interested in taking and take them to the departments to have them evaluated.
The deadline for submissions of that request is April 15. Most colleges and universities begin to post summer schedules in February and March, and you need to wait to submit the form until you have actual course offerings to review. However, the sooner you complete the form, the sooner you will be notified if the course you are interested in taking has been approved.
For those of you who live in Cuyahoga County, please pay special attention to the specific residency restrictions listed in the student handbook.
ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNIES AND PROGRAMS
Scholarships available for Second Year Students
There are various scholarships and research grants for which second year students can apply including
Peter Witt Scholarship
Are you involved in the community? Do you perform community service work in Cleveland or the greater Cleveland area? Are you interested in city planning or social work? The Peter Witt Scholarship recognizes students in the College of Arts and Science who are active members of their community. The scholarship can provide up to $5000 or more to deserving students to use towards tuition in their third year.
Visit the Undergraduate Studies scholarship web page to see biographies of past winners, see the eligibility requirements and to download an application. The due date is March 9, 2007
Experiential Learning Fellowships
The objective of the Experiential Learning Fellowship program is to encourage and support undergraduate student projects (single or joint) in the humanities, arts, and social sciences for the purpose of providing opportunities for experiential learning to students seeking a major or minor in these disciplines. A wide range of student projects is eligible for funding, including but not limited to support of research projects, Senior Capstone projects, travel to research conferences to present research, or project-oriented travel abroad associated with completion of majors or minors programs in the arts, humanities, or social sciences.
Student Eligibility
Students may apply for an Experiential Learning Fellowship beginning the spring semester of their first year and every semester thereafter. Funded projects must be completed prior to graduation.
You can find complete information and application here.
PHI BETA KAPPA RESEARCH GRANTS
Phi Beta Kappa Research grants are for students in undergraduate or graduate degree programs of the College of Arts and Sciences. The Case chapter of the Phi Beta Kappa honor society sponsors research grants ranging up to a few hundred dollars for undergraduate and graduate students in the College of Arts and Sciences.
Application Deadline: April 3, 2007. You can you find more information and an application on the Undergraduate Studies Fellowship and Scholarship Website.
Merit Based Scholarships for Current Case Students
Case will award a limited number of scholarships for 2007-2008 and subsequent years for students who are currently enrolled at Case and who have completed a record of achievement, participation and leadership that distinguishes them from their peers.
What will be awarded:
- One Trustees' Scholarship
- Two President's Scholarships
- Four Provost Scholarships
Eligibility requirements include
- Applicants must be US citizens or Permanent Residents
- Applicants must be a first, second or third year student in 2006-2007 who have not previously received a Trustees, President's, Provost's or similar scholarship
- Students who entered as first year students in the fall 2006 will need to have earned a cumulative gpa of at least 3.75 and at least 30 credit hours at Case in the 2006-2007 academic year (AP, IB and transfer credit hours will not be considered).
- Students who entered Case in the fall 2004 or 2005 will need to have earned a cumulative gpa of at least 3.75 and averaged at least 15 credit hours for each semester since enrollment at Case.
Full eligibility requirements can be found on the application. Applications are available in the Office of Undergraduate Studies in Sears 357, the Office of Financial Aid in Yost 417A or can be downloaded from the Undergraduate Studies web site. Applications due April 27.
Study Abroad
Study abroad opportunities at Case span five continents. Study abroad offers you the opportunity to immerse yourself in another culture and university, as well as participate in internships and community service in a variety of fields, including business, engineering, policy development, and health education.
The Office of Undergraduate Studies will host several study abroad visitors on campus during the next few weeks. If you are at all interested in studying abroad, including those of you who are pre-med and pre-law, I would encourage you to attend. Stop by for a few minutes to learn more about their programs. All meetings will be held in 357 Sears from 1:30-3:30pm.
Institution |
Date |
Study Destinations |
| IES (Institute for International Education) |
Wednesday
January 31 |
Argentina, Australia, Austria, Chile, China, England, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, New Zealand, The Netherlands, and Spain.
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| Arcadia University |
Wednesday
February 7 |
England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales; Australia & New Zealand; Italy, Greece and Mexico.
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SOURCE (Support of Undergraduate Research & Creative Endeavors)
The SOURCE office has moved to Sears 451. Come and see us in our new space!
Attention Case School of Engineering (CSE) Students interested in undergraduate research: The CSE Alcoa Campus Partnership Program is seeking applicants for paid spring semester undergraduate research positions. Information can be found on the SOURCE website. The deadline is Friday, January 26. Additional information can be found at the SOURCE office (Sears 451) or the OESP (Nord 304).
Students interested in undergraduate summer research positions: Remember deadlines are approaching for a number of on- and off- campus positions. Please see the SOURCE web site for the most up to date list.
Students applying for SOURCE summer funding (deadline: February 15): “Helpful Hints For Completing the SOURCE Summer Funding Application” will be held on Thurs, Feb 1 at 11:30am in Sears 451.
Career Connection
“Pick a career. Pick a city. Pick Career Connection and you’ll be picking a unique and incredible way to spend your Spring Break!” If you are wondering what your career might be like once you finish college? Connect with a Case alumnus and
- Gain insight about a career field of interest
- Engage in professional development, networking, and information sharing with Case alumni
- Experience the world of work in a setting of the student's choice
- Chart a course for career development with the support of Career Center professionals
The application deadline is February 2. Visit the Career Center’s website for more details.
Interested in Becoming An Orientation Leader!
Attend the winter Leadership Conference to find out more...Whether you’ve served as a previous Orientation Leader or you’re thinking about applying for the first time, this session is a wonderful introduction of what to expect for Orientation 2007. Come find out how you can be directly involved in one of the most memorable college experiences for Case students. This session is highly recommended if you are planning to apply for an Orientation Leader position. Find out more about the winter Leadership Conference.
Get Experienced! Internship and Career Fair
The Case Career Center will be holding the “Get Experienced! Internship and Career Fair” on Thursday, February 22 from 11:00 am – 3:00 pm in the Thwing Center Ballroom. This is an excellent opportunity for second year students to speak directly with employers and administrators regarding summer internships and other experiential learning opportunities (practicum, co-op, volunteer opportunities, research, etc). In addition to networking, you will also gain valuable tips on how to merge your academic experience with real world experience. Three organizations will offer breakout sessions on experiential learning opportunities
- SOURCE: Undergraduate research and creative endeavors
- Center for Civic Engagement and Learning: Service learning
- (i)Cleveland: Local internships
Regardless, if you plan to work or attend graduate school, this event is for you. For more information, please contact the Career Center at 216-368-4446.
PreLaw: Are you considering law school?
If you are considering law school you should make an appointment with the Undergraduate Studies Pre-Law advisor, JoAnne Urban Jackson. You can contact Professor Jackson at prelaw@case.edu or call 368-2928 to make an appointment. Pre-Law is neither a major nor a minor, however there are courses here at Case that students who are considering law school often take. Currently there are 51 second year students enrolled in the PreLaw Blackboard site and Professor Jackson would like to add any additional students, who may be considering law school, to this site. By being on the site, you will be able to get notices of special events and opportunities, for example there is a FREE Practice LSAT test coming up that you may be able to take. It is Saturday, February 17. It is presented by both Kaplan and Princeton Review. Both will be administered on campus.
You can sign up at Kaplan or at Princeton.
Present a SatCo Program this semester!
Looking for resume builders? Present a workshop, host an event, or plan a forum for Spring SatCo on Saturday, April 14 or Sunday, April 15. Program proposals are due by March 1. For more information visit the SatCo website
Case SERVES
Want to be involved in your community? Not sure how to find places where you can volunteer? Case SERVES (Students Exploring Regular Volunteer Engagement through Service) is designed to offer students flexible, weekly opportunities to get involved in community service. You can participate once a week or once a semester. Case SERVES Student Coordinators lead the volunteer groups each week and even provide transportation to the site via the office van. Projects have included helping children with homework and computer education at after-school programs, working on outdoor restoration projects, and assisting at a hunger center. For registration and current Case SERVES sites, check out the Center's website
Important Upcoming Dates
| Classes Begin |
January 16 |
| Late Registration Fee ($25) Begins |
January 17 |
| Last Day to Withdraw Without Financial Penalty |
January 19 |
| Late Registration and Drop/Add End |
January 26 |
| Midterm Grades Dues |
March 12 |
| Spring Break |
March 12-16 |
| Deadline for Removal of Fall 2006 "I" grades |
March 30 |
| Deadline for Class Withdrawal |
March 30 |
| Academic Advising for Fall 2007 Begins |
End of March |
| Last Day to Submit Pass/No Pass Form to Undergraduate Studies -5pm |
April 30 |
| Last Day of Classes |
April 30 |
| Reading Days |
May 1, 2 |
| Final Exams Begin |
May 3 |
| Final Exams End |
May 10 |
| Final Grades Due |
May 12 |
| Final Grades Due |
May 13 |
| University Commencement |
May 20 |
Click here fore a complete 5 year academic calendar.
UPCOMING CAMPUS EVENTS
14th Annual Academic Happy Hour-
Are We Ethical? Responsibility in Our Relationships Within the Case Community and Beyond
President Eastwood will facilitate the Fourteenth Annual Academic Happy Hour. The annual Academic Happy Hour brings together students, faculty, key administrators, and staff for a conversation with the President on a topic of importance to the university community. This year, undergraduate leaders will lead discussion groups that will examine how ethics and integrity are reflected in our relationships on campus and beyond. We will share our reflections with President Eastwood at the end of the session.
Friday, February 2, 2007 12:30 - 1:50 p.m. Thwing Ballroom
Lunch and Beverage Provided
Wittke Award for Excellence In Undergraduate Teaching
The Wittke Award is presented each year to two Case Western Reserve University faculty members who have demonstrated excellence in undergraduate teaching. To nominate your favorite professor, click here.
The Carl F. Wittke Award was established in 1971 in honor of Carl Wittke, a former faculty member, dean, and vice president of Western Reserve University. The Wittke Award is presented each year to two Case Western Reserve University faculty members who have demonstrated excellence in undergraduate teaching
The winners of the 2006 Carl F. Wittke Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching were Robert Brown, Department of Physics; and Laura Tartakoff , Professor, Department of Political Science.
Nominate a a faculty member who has really made an made an impact on you or helped your achieve you academic goals.
Jackson Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Mentoring
The J. Bruce Jackson, M.D. Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Mentoring was established by J. Bruce Jackson, Adelbert '52, in honor of Dean Carl F. Wittke. Dr. Wittke served as an advisor, mentor, and friend to Dr. Jackson when he was an undergraduate student at Western Reserve University. The Jackson Award recognizes outstanding advising and mentoring of undergraduate students at Case Western Reserve University.
The winner of the 2006 J. Bruce Jackson, M.D., Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Mentoring was Beverly Saylor, Department of Geological Sciences and to Ignacio "Doc Oc" Ocasio, Department of Chemistry.
Nominate someone who has really had an impact on your personal or academic life at Case
Annual Faculty/Staff vs. Student Basketball Game
Save-the-date: Friday, March 2, 5:00pm -6:30pm in Horsburgh Gym
Will Case undergrads be able to come back after their huge upset loss last year! Come cheer on fellow classmates and enjoy watching your favorite faculty and staff members attempt to bring home another win!
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