IN THIS ISSUE
Academic Related News
New Majors and Minors
Systems Biology Major
The College of Arts and Sciences as approved a new BS in Systems Biology major. Some of the most interesting questions in science currently lie at the interface of biology, mathematics, and computation. Traditionally, workers in this area receive conventional training in a single discipline and then work to acquire knowledge in a second field during or after graduate school. Students in CWRU's Systems Biology program represent a new wave of researchers trained in an interdisciplinary fashion from the very beginning. This is one of the first such undergraduate programs in the country.
For more information on the new major, please visit the systems biology web site.
Cognitive Science Minor
The College of Arts and Sciences has approved the new Cognitive Science minor. Cognitive science brings the insights and methods of natural science, social science, and certain of the humanities to the study of the mind. Cognitive science programs have emerged in recent years in response to a call for an integrated approach that does not restrict the study of the mind to a single discipline
For more information on the new minor, please visit the Cognitive Science web site.
Health Communication Minor
Many students pursue undergraduate study in communication disorders as preparation for further study in other fields or in conjunction with study in other fields.
For more information on the minor, please visit the Communication Sciences web site.
Overloads
Remember students can take up to 19 hours without needing an overload. While the normal course load for students is still 14-18 hours, you are able to enroll in up to 19 hours. However, before you start enrolling in that many hours, I would urge you to ask yourself do I really need that extra course? Could I be spending time doing community service, volunteer work, research, etc., that I will not have time to do if I am taking 19 hours.
To take 20-21 hours, you must have at least 3.20 gpa. To register for 22 or 23 hours, a gpa of at least 3.50 is required.
If you meet the requirements to overload and you want to add a class now, you can e-mail me your request. Please include how many hours you are requesting, the class that you want to add and why. I may be able to approve your request online.
Changing an Incomplete Grade
If you received grades of I (incomplete) for any courses from the spring 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 spring semester. The latest deadline by which work must be completed and grades reported is Friday, November 9. 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 November 9 . Incompletes not completed by the deadline and for which no extension has been approved, will be converted to F grades.
Selection of Major and Minors
There are still many second year students who have not yet declared a major. Many of you may be ready to declare, but have not yet completed the paperwork. If this is the case, please complete the major declaration form by the end of September. This will ensure that your PIN for next semester will be sent to your departmental advisor. The instructions for declaring a major are below .
There are still some of you who are not sure what you want to declare. Have no fear, the Career Center can help!
Declaring your major- the Career center can help!
Discovery and exploration is part of the process of declaring a major. You can successfully complete this process with careful thought and reflection. The Career Center offers a range of assessment tools to help you clarify your major choice, identify career goals, and define interests and skills. In addition to the MBTI and Strong Interest Inventory, we offer the SkillScan Card Sort and Staff CV.
MBTI: The most widely used personality inventory in the world; the MBTI® instrument provides an accurate picture of a person's personality type. Understanding characteristics unique to each personality type, provides insight on how they influence an individual's way of communicating and interacting with others.
Strong Inventory: The Strong measures your interests in a broad range of occupations, work activities, leisure activities, and school subjects.
SkillScan Card Sort:This interactive tool will help you identify your natural strengths and key transferable skills for use in your career development.
Staff CV: The key to succeeding in a career is simple - choose one that you will ultimately love. This tool is designed to help you think about the way in which you like to work (your work preferences or values), so that you can be matched with a list of careers that let you do more of the things you like to do. Complete a 10 minute fun, graphical profile to measure your work preferences.
Our hope is that by accessing the services offered through the Career Center , you will discover what work you have a passion for, what energizes and motivates you, and how to describe your skills, talents and experiences.
The Career Center stands ready to guide you through your career search, so please visit our web site make an appointment to see a counselor or drop in during consulting hours: Tuesdays and Thursdays from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and Wednesday from 1:30 - 4:00 p.m.
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) or in the Resource Space in Wade or Fribley.
- 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 on pages A-6 and A-7 of the 2006 Student Handbook 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.
Resources and Academic Support for Second Year Students
Tutoring Services for Second Year Classes
If you find yourself either wanting to reinforce material presented in class or seeking guidance in understanding material, there are two excellent services available to you. You may want to consider attending SI (Supplemental Instruction) sessions taught by your peers or signing up for a Peer Tutoring appointment.
SI sessions are available for many courses, but these may be most relevant to you as a second year student: BIOL 121, BIOL 214 and 216 CHEM 223, PHYS 115, PHYS 122 and 221. The SI Session schedule will be available in the ESS office, Sears 470 and on its web site.
If you would like a Peer Tutoring tutoring appointment, visit the ESS web site and schedule your appointment on-line. Learn more about these services at the ESS web site or by visiting ESS in person in Sears 470.
Need better time management and study strategies?
If you made a resolution to be a better student this fall, then stop by ESS (Sears 470) or call 368-5230 to set up an appointment with an ESS staff member. We have some ideas on how you can maximize your study time! You’ll receive personalized study recommendations that match your learning style and semester course load. It’s free; it’s easy; stop by to set up an appointment!
Check out the ESS computer center (the PDELC) when you’re in Sears.
It’s open Monday through Friday, 9 am to 6 pm, and it’s a great place to study between classes. Work on individual projects or meet as a team! It’s not your usual computer center! We serve coffee and tea for 5 cents a cup! You can print academic papers for free! We have comfortable seating if you bring your laptop. Work on individual projects, or meet with your class teammates at our “kitchen table” in the center.
Retaining Your Scholarship
The retention standards for merit based (All 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. Remember the scholarship gpa includes all grades. If the Repeat Option was used in any class, the original grade in the course is also calculated into the scholarship gpa.
For a Provost's Special Scholarship, students must remain in academic good standing (See page A-81 of the 2006 Student Handbook to see the good standing regulations).
For complete scholarship retention information, see page A-83 in the 2006 Student Handbook.
Undergraduate Studies Extended Office Hours
The Residential Undergraduate Studies Satellite (R.U.S.S.) offices are located in Wade and Fribley. You can stop by R.U.S.S. and meet with a dean for quick advising information and academic resources. RUSS is open from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. on Monday – Wednesday for walk-in advising appointments.
ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNIES AND PROGRAMS
Submit a SatCo program proposal
Have a special talent or adventure you would like to share with the Case community? Want to build your resume and communication skills with presentations you have conducted? Submit a SatCo proposal Case offers Saturday College (SatCo) offers unique non-credit, no-tuition courses on a wide range of topics. The courses are open to all Case students, faculty, staff, and alumni as well as community members. Proposals due Sept. 9.
Want to Make a Difference? Become an ELP Mentor
The office of Student Activities and Leadership is looking for students who are interested in mentoring first year Emerging Leaders Program (ELP) participants. The ELP program gives first year students an opportunity to develop a foundation of leadership by providing skills, knowledge, and experiences essential for lifelong leadership engagement.
The ELP Mentoring Program provides ELPers with more opportunities to develop a foundation of leadership and allows mentors to leave their mark on the Case community by developing a valuable connection with its newest members.
An ELP Mentor is:
- A Role Model that will share his or her own experiences, relationships, and knowledge. The mentor's personal leadership network will assist the ELPer in building the foundation of his or her own network.
- A Reference that will assist in guiding the ELPer through the many possibilities that the Case leadership community has to offer.
- An Advisor that will challenge his or her ELPer to create a personal leadership journey. As the ELPer embarks on this leadership journey, the mentor will be there to support and provide feedback that is both positive and productive.
- A Friend and confidant who builds a trusting relationship through mutual experiences and quality time spent together.
Please refer to the ELP website for more information on what is expected of a mentor and for application information:
Applications are due by September 10, 2007. Please consider donating a couple of hours a week for a unique opportunity to shape a new Case student’s leadership and involvement experiences!
Research Internships for under-represented students in science and engineering
Underrepresented Students in the Sciences and Engineering are encouraged to apply for an OSEA undergraduate research internship here at Case Western Reserve University. The undergraduate research internships are funded at up to $900.00 per semester.
For more information and an application, please contact Sheila Pedigo in the SOURCE office (Sears 451). The deadline is September 14th.
Second year students of all majors are invited to apply for participation in Career Connections 2008!
Career Connections is a career exploration program specifically designed for second year students. The experience culminates in an informational interview or shadowing experience with a Case alumnus during Spring Break.
Through participation in Career Connections, students will:
- Gain insight about a career field of interest
- Experience the world of work in a setting of the student’s choice
- Engage in professional development, networking, and information-sharing with a Case alumnus
- Chart a course for career development with the support of Career Center professionals
For details about the program, please attend an information session:
October 30, 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. or November 1, 5:00 p.m. -6:00 p.m.
Program elements include:
- Myers-Briggs Type Indicator and Strong Interest Inventory interpretation
- Conducting of research on a specific professional field
- One day shadowing or informational interview with a Case alumnus working within a career field of interest in a location of your choice
- One-on-one appointment with a career counselor to discuss next steps in the Career Planning process
I learned a lot about the different careers available to someone with my major, and what I can do here at Case to better prepare for the workforce. I highly recommend the Career Connection! It’s a great way to learn about possible careers from somebody who has been in your shoes before. -- Colin Haneman, Mechanical Engineering, shadowed an Independent Contractor, Pyle Dynamics
My alumni host definitely helped me by gladly answering any questions I had throughout our three days together. Furthermore, I was fortunate that virtually all of her colleagues at the relatively small foundation testing company where she worked were equally willing to have me shadow them. Because of this, I was able to see a wide range of engineering applications such as product development, manufacturing and testing, data analysis, and marketing. Coming into contact with such a wide range of skills helped me immensely because I am still uncertain as to what specialty I want to pursue in civil engineering. I recommend this program to anyone who wishes to get a firsthand look into the career that he or she is considering. –Michael Russo, Civil Engineering, shadowed the Director of North America Retail, SCA Personal Care
Program participants have connected with a psychotherapist, marketing consultant, technology investment associate, portfolio manager, manager of insurance, head of adolescent medicine, and more!
For more information, visit the Career Center website
National Scholarship/Fellowship Opportunities for Second Year Students
There are several national scholarships and fellowships that are available to second year students or for which you need to apply in your second year. The scholarships range from study abroad opportunities to research opportunities. Listed below are 4 opportunities for second year students. If you are interested in fellowships and scholarship opportunities that are available for your 3rd and 4th years or for after graduation, now is the time to begin planning. Check out the full list of national scholarships on the Undergraduate Studies web site.
FREEMAN-ASIA (Freeman Awards for Study in Asia) is designed to support American undergraduates with demonstrated financial need who are planning on studying overseas in East or Southeast Asia. Freeman-ASIA Award recipients are expected to share their experiences with their home campuses to encourage study abroad in Asia by others, and to spread greater understanding of Asian peoples and cultures within their home communities. Deadlines vary depending on when you plan on studying abroad.
GOLDWATER SCHOLARSHIPS* (Sophomores and juniors) - November 1. The Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Foundation aims to attract outstanding students into careers in mathematics, the natural sciences, and engineering. Current sophomores (planning to graduate in 2087) and juniors (planning to graduate in 2007) are eligible for consideration. A Goldwater Scholarship provides $7500 per year. Candidates should be outstanding students who have an interest in pursuing a research career in science, math, or engineering. Preferred are students who have already been engaged in research or have some ideas about specific problems or areas they would like to investigate via research. The University is permitted to nominate no more than four students for this national competition, so there is PRELIMINARY SCREENING . Preliminary applications are available in the Office of Undergraduate Studies or can be downloaded. The preliminary application includes a couple of questions from the "real" (long) application, and must be submitted to Dean Hamel in Undergraduate Studies by November 1.
NSEP SCHOLARSHIPS (DAVID L. BOREN SCHOLARSHIP)* - (First year students, sophomores, juniors, graduate/professional school students) - Winter deadline. NSEP (National Security Education Program) scholarships support summer and school-year study abroad for students studying in Asia , Africa , the Middle East , Russia , Eastern Europe , and Latin America . Language study MUST be part of the program. All majors are eligible, but preference is given to specific majors. Recent "favored majors" were: engineering, science, computer science, management, international studies, political science, anthropology, psychology, sociology, and history. It is likely that the current competition will have similar preferences. PRELIMINARY SCREENING : Meet with Dean Hamel in September or October to identify an appropriate study abroad program and to review NSEP application requirements.
UDALL SCHOLARSHIPS* - (Sophomores and juniors) - Winter deadline. The Morris K. Udall Scholarship and Excellence in National Environmental Policy Foundation aims to encourage outstanding students to pursue careers related to environmental public policy and to encourage outstanding Native American and Alaska Native students to pursue careers related to health care and tribal public policy. Current sophomores (planning to graduate in 2010) and juniors (planning to graduate in 2009) are eligible for consideration. A Udall Scholarship provides $5000 per year. Typical majors or areas of study include environmental engineering, the natural sciences, natural resource management, and the social sciences. The University is asked to nominate students for this national competition, so there is PRELIMINARY SCREENING and application process. Interested students should make an appointment to meet with Dean Hamel, or the Faculty Representative Richard Baznik in September or early October.
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. If you are interested in studying abroad for the fall 2008 semester, the deadline for applications is Friday, February 1st.
If you are interested in studying abroad, visit the Study Abroad web site or feel free to stop by 357 Sears and explore the Study Abroad Office; no appointment is needed. You can also email the JYA Office and make an appointment to talk with our student staff. All of the students have studied abroad and can give you some really good first hand information about their experiences.
Important Upcoming Dates
| Classes Begin |
August 27 |
| Late Registration Fee ($25) Begins |
August 28 |
| Last Day to Withdraw Without Financial Penalty |
August 31 |
| Labor Day-NO CLASS! |
September 3 |
| Late Registration and Drop/Add End |
September 7 |
| Fall Break |
October 22-23 |
| Midterm Grades Due |
October 22 |
| Deadline for Removal of Spring 2007 "I" grades |
November 9 |
| Deadline for Class Withdrawal |
November 9 |
| Academic Advising for Spring 2008 Begins |
End of October |
| Registration begins for Spring Begins |
November 12 |
| Last Day to Submit Pass/No Pass ballot |
December 7 |
| Last Day of Classes |
December 7 |
| Reading Days |
December 10, 14 |
| Final Exams Begin |
December 11 |
| Final Exams End |
December 19 |
| Final Grades Due |
December 21 |
Click here fore a complete 5 year academic calendar.
UPCOMING CAMPUS EVENTS
Second Year Tailgate Party
Second Year Experience (SYE) Tailgate, Location - Village at 115 behind House 4, Saturday September 22 at 6:00 pm. Come and support the Case Football team as they take on The College of Wooster in the annual Baird Trophy game. Come out to show your Spartan spirit. Cook out with all of the fixings, Hall Council leaders and representatives from Academic Affairs and Student Affairs Offices will be present to hand out information and to talk about their resources.
SatCo - Save the Date
The Fall 2007 SatCo classes will be on September 22-23. Visit the SatCo website to see what programs will be offered and to register.
Support Your Fellow Student Athletes
From football to soccer to volleyball, many of your friends are competing on varsity athletic teams. Show your Spartan spirit and come out and cheer for them! Check out the Athletics web site for a complete listing of schedules.
FAMILY WEEKEND
Save-the-date November 2 - 4
Every fall, Case parents and family members come to Cleveland for a weekend of fun, entertainment, and education.
Activities are designed so students and families can interact with one another and connect through faculty-led seminars, Cleveland excursions, and social events on campus.
Invite your family! Registration begins Sept. 10.
Public Affairs Discussion Groups
The Center for Policy Studies at Case hosts a public affairs discussion group Friday's at 12:30 pm in the Inamori Center in Crawford Room 9 (basement). Discussions run the gamut of topics from medical issues to the environment to the courts. The discussion this week is on Finding a Cure: The Case for Regulation and Oversight of Electronic Health Record Systems.
This is a great way to learn about issues that are of interest to you as you move forward in your college and professional career as well as to meet other people interested in similar topics.
For more information about these and other Center for Policy Studies programs, please visit the Center for Policy Studies website.
|
