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SHEPARD ACADEMIC RESOURCE CENTER FRESH NEWS ISSUE 3 SEPTEMBER 2018
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| Welcome!
We are sure you had a very hectic first week moving into your dorms and getting familiar with your classes. Hopefully all of the activity helped you get acquainted with UP as well as meet new people. We at the Shepard Academic Resource Center would like to formally welcome you to UP! The Shepard Center exists to aid students in the transition from high school to college life and many other academic needs that occur along the way. Although UP is a small university, sometimes you may need some advice, ideas of what’s happening on campus, or just an answer to a question that you can’t figure out who to ask. So if you have any questions or just want to know what’s going on, pay us a visit. If we can’t help you, we will be happy to direct you to someone who can. We are located in Buckley Center (BC) 101. Good luck with all of your classes!
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| Learning the Ropes
Truer words were never spoken, but with the Learning Commons you can get help with your math assignments, begin writing a paper, and record your speech for later review, all in one place!
The Learning Commons is centrally located in Buckley Center, room 163. Math tutoring is available for that last-minute statistics question you may have, or tutors can help you prepare for a test. Different math tutors are capable of tutoring in different areas. For example, one tutor may be able to help with Statistics, while another is capable of tutoring Calculus.
Writing help is offered from trained Writing Assistants who can offer you help on APA, MLA, and Chicago style, introduction and conclusion paragraphs, and general writing style. You will typically need to make an appointment with the Writing Assistants but if someone is available they are always willing to help.
The Learning Commons also houses the Language Lab, a resource for students studying Spanish, French, German, and Chinese. Tutors can help with conversation, homework prep and explanation, and correction of written assignments. Additionally, the Learning Commons provides tutoring in Business, Economics, Engineering, Sciences, Group Work, and Speech & Presentation.
If you ever find yourself fretting over that speech for Tuesday, that paper due Wednesday, the math test on Thursday, or the Spanish assignment due Friday, the Learning Commons is your one stop shop for tutoring and advice! Check out all of the Learning Commons services.
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Study Help with Learning Assistance Counseling
Sometimes the stress will just get to you. It’s easy to fall behind, feel confused or frustrated. Fortunately, help exists. If you are interested in improving your learning skills like time management, test taking skills and management of anxiety, you can check in with Bro. Thomas Giumenta, CSC, the learning assistance counselor in Buckley Center 163. You can schedule a private appointment by going to your list of classes in Moodle, finding the “Learning Assistance Scheduler” and selecting a date and time of your convenience and then saving your choice as you scroll down.
You can also come to drop in hours any morning from 9:00 am – 10:00 am and on Monday from 9:00 am – noon. All are welcome.
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Considering Dropping a Course, Understand the Rules
When thinking of changing your schedule or withdrawing from a class, be sure to check your requirements to graduate. Many times you will find that the class is necessary to fulfill core requirements or major requirements. Please see the Program Coordinator of your school (the College of Arts and Sciences, the Pamplin School of Business, the School of Nursing, the School of Engineering, or the School of Education) for more information.
Remember, if you want to withdraw from a class, you cannot go below 12 credits for the semester, or you will lose your full-time student status, which may affect your financial aid. Being below 15 credits can also affect your ability to graduate within four years. If you are still interested in withdrawing from a class after the first week of school, come by the Shepard Academic Center or Office of the Registrar to pick up and complete an Add/Drop form. Dropping a class after the first week of classes will result in a ‘W’ on your transcript. The deadline for class withdrawals is Wednesday, November 21st.
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Changing Your Preferred Name
If you would like to change your preferred name within the university system, you can email the office of the registrar to request this change. Simply email registrar@up.edu from your UP email address and indicate what you would like your preferred name to be changed to.
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Fitting In
UP is a community in which students, faculty, and staff participate in living, learning, working, and playing. All people are collectively involved in these activities. Since this community relies on people, everyone has a place where he or she fits in, whether it’s on the soccer team, in KDUP, or even just with friends in the dorm. Look at it as a jigsaw puzzle; people are the pieces that together make the community a whole picture. The puzzle cannot be completed without all the pieces.
You may think, “No one is noticing me or spending time with me,” or “why does it seem like everyone else has a ‘friend group’ but me?” First and foremost, know you are not alone. There are many students on campus feeling the same exact way as you are. Try and take a moment to look at the bigger picture: you are at an amazing university providing you with an amazing education, with many people supporting you throughout this journey! On another note, try and also step outside your comfort zone. Take the initiative to notice someone else. Just think, this is only your first week at UP; freshmen want to meet other people and upperclassmen want to meet freshmen. No one thinks you're weird if you introduce yourself to someone new while standing in line at the Commons or while waiting for class to start. Try meeting new people in one of the many clubs on campus, or through campus activities, such as movie nights or intramural sports.
UP is a friendly community, so take advantage and meet people. Remember, you are in college now. You are out on your own. People are expecting you to be disciplined and responsible. You are out of your high school comfort zone, and so are all your classmates — so step up to the challenge and meet more people. Over time you will begin to feel more comfortable with this next chapter in your life! The first few months transitioning into a new routine in a new environment is tough for everyone, but that is why we at the Shepard Center are here to help in any way possible. Make sure to stop in to our BC 101 office to say hi and maybe have a conversation with a student ambassador or staff – we were all freshman at one point too!
Check out Student Activities and Intramural Sports at UP.
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Did You Know? - Fall Break - Every year, the University of Portland has a dedicated Fall Break. This is an entire week off halfway through the semester. For Fall 2018, this break will take place Oct. 15-19. Residence Halls will remain open at this time for those wishing to stay on campus.
- For more scheduling information, be sure to check out the Important Dates from Residence Life and the University Calendar.
- You can reserve a music practice room through the Music Department
- You can sign up for intramural sports at the Beauchamp Center
- You need to carry your student ID card with you at all times so you can always get into your dorm?
- That UP considers your UP email address your official email address? You should check it at least once a day for official announcements and emails from faculty or staff.
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Hellenic Studies Minor
This interdisciplinary minor enables the student to explore various dimensions of ancient Greek thought and culture in order to foster a greater understanding of the student's relationship to the cultural heritage of the Western world. To give the student a sense of the breadth and depth of Ancient Greek thought and culture, the minor offers courses in History, Theology, Philosophy, Political Science, Mathematics, Communication Studies, Fine Arts, and Theater. Scholarships are also available for eligible Hellenic Studies minors! For more information, please contact the Director of the Hellenic Studies Minor, Dr. Alejandro Santana at santana@up.edu or go to the Hellenic Studies Minor website.
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Pilots After Dark After a long summer of waiting, Pilots After Dark is back! Pilots After Dark provides UP students with late night fun every Friday and Saturday night in the Pilot House. Students can expect local bands, trivia, karaoke, comedy, and more. The events are always free and all students are welcome to enjoy the late night food options and—if you’re over 21—the Pilot House bar. For ADA questions, please email Jake Murphy at murphyja@up.edu.
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The Career Center and the Shepard Academic Resource Center bring you Destination: Declared--a 4-week workshop series designed to help you explore majors and choose one that will be a good fit. We will kick off this series by taking the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator personality assessment to help you understand how your personality influences your career and major decisions. You will also have the opportunity to talk with other students about your decision and develop an action plan. Where: Career Center, Orrico Hall (Lower Level) When: 4:15-5:15 PM Thursday, September 20th Thursday, September 27th Thursday, October 4th Thursday, October 11th Participation in all four sessions is expected. If you are not officially Undeclared, but you are wondering if your major is the right fit, we would be happy to talk with you at the Shepard Center! Stop by BC 101 or give us a call at (503) 943-7895 to set up an appointment.
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Clark Library: Things to know as you get started at UP Welcome to UP! The Clark Library is at the center of campus and you are likely to visit multiple times a day to do things like studying, checking out course readings, scanning and printing, using a group study room, relaxing in a comfy chair, and more. Library staff and student assistants like to help, so don’t hesitate to ask us questions. We also have library chat, so you can ask from anywhere at any time. The Library provides access to a wide array of information including books, ebooks, eJournals, dvds, and streaming videos. A good way to sample what is available is to search the library catalog, UP Library Search. There are also helpful subject guides on the library website. Computers are an essential part of the college experience and the Library has the largest lab on campus with 50 computers on the main floor. If you prefer Macs, there are 15 Macs in the Digital Lab on the upper floor. If you forget your laptop or charger, we have some available to borrow from the Service Desk on the main floor. We look forward to getting to know you during your UP career!
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