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SHEPARD ACADEMIC RESOURCE CENTER FRESH NEWS ISSUE 10 JANUARY 2018 |
Welcome Back!
Congratulations on completing your first semester of college, and welcome back to campus! You now have great wisdom from your first semester, and have had a month to recuperate from the stress of last semester’s work. As we begin new classes, there are a few things we should consider.
Syllabi: These helpful pieces of paper are quite informative. The syllabus gives vital information, such as the professor’s office location, his or her office hours, and an accurate course description, often detailing the entire semester. It also provides a list of assignments for the upcoming semester. In order to plan your semester, you should write these dates on a calendar along with all other assignments. You can pick up a semester planner in the Shepard Center, BC room 101, to help you organize important dates for all of your classes. Be sure to check the syllabus for participation points. Some professors are sticklers for attendance and class participation.
Office Hours: Professors desire good communication with their students. For that reason, they set up office hours so that you can meet, talk, get to know one another and discuss any issues or questions that might arise. Many times, professors give comments on assignments, so that you know what went wrong and how to avoid those mistakes next time.
As you review your syllabi, compare your professor’s office hours with your class schedule. Do his or her office hours conflict with a class time? If so, now would be a good time to talk with your professor about alternate times to meet.
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Lead @ UP Interested in finding a leadership position on campus? Check out Lead @ UP! There are several leadership positions open for the 2018-2019 academic year. Leadership positions are a great way to give back to the UP community while building up your resume. Applications go live on Friday, January 19th and are due Sunday, February 18th, so apply quickly!
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Programs for First-Generation College Students
Are you a first-generation (FGEN) college student? The Shepard Academic Resource Center has programs, activities, and support specifically for FGEN students here at UP! Matt Daily is the coordinator of FGEN programs at the University of Portland, would love to meet with all FGEN students. Call or stop by the Shepard Center to make an appointment with Matt, and make sure to check out our FGEN programming!
NEW Spring Activities FairA Spring Activities Fair will be held on the Chiles Center Mezzanine this Friday, January 19th, from 4:00-6:00pm! Get involved while checking out the clubs and departments on campus. For any ADA accommodations or questions, please contact the Office of Student Activities at stuact@up.edu or (503) 943-7470.
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Looking for Scholarships?
Now is the time to apply for outside scholarships! Financial Aid can help you find outside scholarships to apply for! Call 503.943.7311 or go to the Financial Aid website.
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Career Center “Punch Your Way to Success” Goodie Bag Pickup
Did you complete your four punches but forgot to redeem your goodie bag during finals week? You may still stop by the Career Center this week to collect yours! Last day will be this Friday, 1/19. Visit our table at the Spring Activities fair THIS Friday for your first Spring Semester punch! More punches = More Amazon gift card raffle entries!
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| The Great Outdoors
Cabin fever and a desire to be out and about can cause a few problems. That’s where the University’s Outdoor Pursuits Program (OPP) comes into play. This organization schedules trips to local outdoor areas so students can get off campus and enjoy some of the sights in the area, regardless of skill level. To find out more about OPP programs, check out the OPP website or the OPP Facebook. Fitness Classes
Fitness classes have started up again for Spring Semester 2018 and all sessions are free. Call 503.943.8755 for more information or go to the Beauchamp Center website.
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Summer 2018 Study Abroad Opportunity for English Majors There are still seats available in the Summer Study Abroad Program directed by Dr. John C. Orr, Assistant Provost and Professor of English, this coming summer in Beijing. Students will take Modern Chinese Literature (in translation) with Dr. Orr as well as a course in Modern Chinese Cultural History. Both courses will count towards an English degree. In addition to the classes, students will take excursions all around Beijing: Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven, Ming Tombs, Summer Palace, Lama and Confucius Temple, and take an overnight trip to the Great Wall, as well as other day trips to nearby villages/cities, and two weekend trips, one to Xi'an and to Shanghai. This is a great opportunity to see and explore the world's next superpower, a place that you might not feel comfortable traveling to on your own. There is no Chinese language experience required, and the program fee will cover classes, housing, and all excursions. Students will pay for airfare and food. For more information and to discuss applying for the program, contact Dr. Eduardo Contreras via email.
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Executive Function Skills Group Do you have ADHD? Are you looking for more structure to help you get work done in your academic life? Interested in joining an informal, weekly educational group to help you plan ahead? A new Executive Function Skills Group is forming for Spring Semester 2018, facilitated by Accessible Education Services (AES) staff. You don't need an AES accommodation plan to join, but you do need a documented diagnosis of ADHD or ADD from your doctor/psychologist. Want to learn more? Schedule an intake meeting with Melanie Gangle, AES Program Manager, by visiting the BC 163 front desk or calling 503-943-8002.
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Learning Assistance Counseling Available Are you truly satisfied with your first semester grades? Do they truly pave the way for your future plans? If you would like to learn some new techniques for managing time, retaining more information from your reading, improving your memory skills and dealing better with test anxiety, please make an appointment with Brother Thomas Giumenta, the Learning Assistance Counselor for the Shepard Academic Resource Center. You can do so on line by finding the learning assistance scheduler which is located under “advising” at the top on your class list on Moodle. Click on to the learning assistance scheduler and select the date and time in January that most suits you. All are welcome. Drop-In Hours: SARC and Learning Assistance
Have a question for Brenda, Courtney, or Matt in the Shepard Academic Resource Center? You have the opportunity to ask without making an appointment. The SARC is offering drop-in hours at the following times. Stop by BC 101 and get those quick questions answered! Please note that there will be no drop-in hours for the first two weeks of classes, please call or stop by to make an appointment.
Mondays 1:30-3:30 (Matt)
Tuesdays 9:30-11:30 (Matt)
Wednesdays 9:30-11:30 (Courtney)
Thursdays 1:30-3:30 (Courtney)
Brother Thomas Giumenta, Learning Assistance Counselor, will also be offering drop-in hours this semester. He will be available on Mondays from 9am-12pm, and Tuesdays-Friday 9-10am in BC 163.
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Free Tutors! Get Help at the Learning Commons
Language Tutoring: Free tutors are available for Chinese, German, Spanish, and French. To make an appointment visit the Learning Commons website and email the appropriate tutor. You will receive an email from a language assistant within 24 hours with a link to the “Conference Goals” form. Get Math Solutions: The Math Resource Center in Buckley Center 163 has tutors available on a walk-in basis for many different subjects. For a listing of tutors and subjects, see the Learning Commons website. Paper Help: Writing is essential to any profession, from engineering to nursing. According to recent UP graduates, learning writing skills is a necessity no matter what your major. Before you can be effective in your workplace, you must first be able to communicate your ideas. Many professors have a certain format that they prefer in the papers they assign. Fortunately, style manuals are in the bookstore, library and online for your use, and these guides act as a reference book for format and citations. When class begins, ask your professor which style they prefer in order to avoid using the wrong style. The Writing Center is here to help you with your papers. Beginning January 22nd, writing assistants will be available to help with any kind of paper. Make an appointment online through the Writing Center website. Business, Speech, Nursing, and much more! To find out more about all of the assistance available in the Learning Commons, check out the Learning Commons website.
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Did You Know...
...Registration for summer sessions at UP is done through the Registrar’s office. Complete a registration form and have it signed by your advisor. Registration for summer begins March 5th. Follow the link for more information on summer courses. ...If you didn’t get the grade you had hoped for in a class last semester that you can repeat the class? In order to repeat a class and replace your previous grade, you must have had a C– or below and retake the class at the University of Portland. …The last day to ADD/ DROP with full refund is January 19th! Contact the Registrar with any questions at (503) 943-7321, Monday-Friday 8:30am-4:30pm.
Prevent Violence… do GREEN DOT!
University of Portland is committed to violence prevention. Green Dot gives every one of us the opportunity to reduce power-based person violence in our community and help keep each other safe. Visit GREEN DOT to learn more about UP’s commitment and how you can get involved.
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