September 2009 Newsletter
Dear All:
We are about to close on the first month of the semester. Through my windows I can see a few leaves are changing color heralding the transition of seasons. Perhaps, in your communication with your student, you have already detected that they may be transitioning to a new and exciting stage of their life after experiencing life on campus, being exposed to new ideas and new perspectives, and meeting a student body that is as deep, diverse, and dynamic.
We have already passed an early but important deadline. Your students can no longer add a full semester course without special permission from the course instructor. That doesn’t mean, of course, that they can’t change their schedules for they still have a number of options: they can still add second eight week classes, drop classes, or even elect the credit-no credit option until the next big course scheduling deadline of October 16th. After that date, the end of the 8th week, students can no longer automatically drop a semester long course or elect the credit/no credit option. Between now and then we will expect your student will continue to connect to the course and receive feedback through quizzes, discussions, and, of course, mid terms. They should use all this information to assess whether they want, or need, to exercise any of those schedule changing options.
Each semester tends to move in distinct cycles. We are now in a “quiet” cycle between the frenetic first week of the semester and midterms. Most students should feel academically and socially settled in and now is a good time to pay their assigned advisor a visit. Sophomores should be already thinking ahead to courses that will help them transition into their chosen major and freshmen should come on by to chat about their adjustment but also to look ahead to wards Spring classes. Every DGS student should have, by now, been contacted two or three times already by their assigned advisor and, I can tell from the waiting room here, that many students are coming in to meet with their advisors. It is never too early to make an appointment with an advisor – right now it could be just to have a chat about how things are going in classes, how is life in the residence halls, how is the food, and what other activities are they involved in. These type of conversations help build a rapport between student and advisor but also provide us with very important progress information.
News about the DGS advising team
Dr. Mike Myers will be out of the office for a couple of weeks recovering from a medical procedure but his students are welcome to talk to any other member of the advising staff during Mike’s time away.
We also welcome a new advisor to the DGS team, Ms. Michael Parrish. Michael grew up in Missoula, Montana and attended The University of Montana, earning a degree in Cultural Anthropology before arriving in Champaign-Urbana in 2006. She recently graduated from Illinois’ Educational Organization and Leadership Department's Higher Education Program where her research focused on the intersections between social identity development theory, professional identity development, and supporting student development and on the use of media campaigns related to diversity initiatives on college campuses. Michael got her professional start in higher education in student affairs working in service-learning, civic engagement, and social justice education programs. From time to time she facilitates courses for the Program on Intergroup Relations at U of I. She is excited to be joining the dynamic academic team at DGS and we are excited to have her as part of the DGS and campus advising community.
Getting in touch with an advisor
Advising works best when it is a two way street. Advisors are either sending their students weekly newsletters or posting weekly updates to web pages. Advisors are also available for appointments and it is the students’ responsibility to make the appointment by simply calling the DGS office.
DGS advisors are not only available for appointments at the center, they are available around campus. We have five advisors that hold academic advising opportunities for students across a number of residence halls and other academic units. For more information as to where and when these advisors are “on the road” check out our Satellite Advising section.
For quick questions we have just introduced our Advisor On Call program. The Advisor on Call is available to answer quick questions in person or electronically and to sign forms (such as concurrent enrollment, study abroad, and late course add forms) at the center. Students can reach the Advisor on Call by using Instant Messenger or by popping over to the DGS office. Please be aware that the Advisor on Call is not intended to replace regularly scheduled advising appointments and course planning that can only be conducted in person by appointment. An Advisor on Call will be available Monday through Thursday - 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and on Fridays - 1:00 to 4:30 p.m.
Upcoming DGS events to help students’ major explorations
DGS hosts the 8th annual University of Illinois Majors & Minors Fair,
Tuesday, October 6th, 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. in Illini Union Rooms A, B, and C
This event which attracts well over a thousand students and hundreds of academic units is a great opportunity for a DGS student to explore the many academic programs available at Illinois. Representatives from majors, minors, graduate and professional programs, advisors, deans, faculty, and students will come together in one convenient location to answer questions and inspire. It’s a great forum to learn more about any areas of interest a student may have or to discover new ones. This even, developed by DGS, t is open to all Illinois undergraduates.
Hot on the heels of the M&MF will be an event only available to DGS students –the Apply Yourself Workshop.
The Apply Yourself Workshop is a student planned program designed to engage DGS students as they prepare to apply for a major. The workshop offers in-depth tutorials on essay writing, resume building, what major departments are looking for in an application package, and tips for formulation a plan while here at the University of Illinois.
Registration is required to participate and the event will take place October 14th, 2009 from 7:00pm – 9:00pm.
In closing...
If you have any questions or you have ideas about programs or policies you’d like me to highlight in a future newsletter please don’t hesitate to get in touch with me at jparrott@illinois.edu .
Cheers now,
Julian