Academic Advising · Academic Community Cohorts · Academic Fellowships ·
Academic Success Initiatives · Pre-Health Advising · Myra Kraft Transitional Year Program ·
Student Accessibility Support · Student Support Services Program · BUGS Tutors ·
Roosevelt Fellows · Student Accessibility Support Fellows
Hello here's the latest from our department!!
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All Aboard the Organization Train
I received an email today stating that we were 7 weeks into the semester. 7 weeks? How can that be? Whether you wish your semester courses would never end or if they are getting the best of you, consider this your reality check on how fast the semester is going by. It is not too late to organize yourself, however, and here's how you can do it:
- Get caught up. Have outstanding work? Do it. Behind on some readings? Read them. Make this weekend the time you dedicate to getting old work done and behind you.
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Living in the present? Set yourself up for success and map out the remainder of the semester using this handy Semester Workload Calculator. This tool will assist you in looking at what your workload may be in the coming weeks.
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For a more specific organization tool focused on weekly assignments and to do's, utilize our Weekly Time Budget Worksheet. There is something very satisfying about crossing items off a to do list.
- Make it a point to visit your instructor or TA during their office hours to clarify assignments or go over material prior to exams or papers.
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Have you checked out the BUGS tutor schedule yet? Tutor schedules are online and tutors are waiting for you, especially the BUGS Study Skills tutor.
Carpe diem. Carpe notebook. Carpe laptop. Get to it.
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Academic Dates & Resources |
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Friday, October 15
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Last day for undergraduates to apply for midyear graduation. Last day for undergraduates to submit a Reduced Rate Senior application (deadline extended from October 1).
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Last day undergraduates may elect a pass/fail option for a class taken in the current term (5pm).
November 5
- Last day to add Module II classes.
Learn how to subscribe to the "Brandeis Academic Calendar" on your google calendar.
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Assistance with tests/quizzes during Covid Isolation/Quarantine
In an effort to assist students who need to take an upcoming exam or quiz while they are in isolation or quarantine for Covid, Student Accessibility Support (SAS) together with the School of Arts and Sciences have created a protocol for special support. This protocol is intended to preserve the health of the Brandeis community, while assisting students to meet the demands of their coursework.
If you go into isolation OR quarantine, a Brandeis Community Contact Tracer will contact you and ask if you wish to be placed on a list for assistance arranging an exam or quiz. You will need to say "YES" if you want help. If you request help, SAS will reach out to you and to the instructor and arrange alternate testing that will enable you to maintain isolation/quarantine as appropriate.
If you are already in quarantine or isolation and need to arrange to take a quiz or test, please contact Cara Streit, Director of SAS at carastreit@brandeis.edu.
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Dropping Courses in Workday
Beginning this fall: due to the university's shift to Workday, students will no longer need a consent code from an instructor in order to withdraw from a course. There is also no longer a "drop with a W" deadline; all courses dropped by the deadline will be removed from your semester schedule.
Before dropping, you are encouraged to talk with your instructor about expectations, strategies for success, and your standing in the course. Please take advantage of academic support opportunities, such as BUGS tutors, office hours with TAs and instructors, and the Writing Center.
Out of courtesy, notify your instructor and peers (if group projects, lab work, etc. are components of the course) if you decide to drop a class.
Students must maintain enrollment of at least 12 credits to remain in full-time status and remain eligible for financial aid.
Keep in mind that making changes to your schedule may impact your academic progress such as meeting rate of work and completion of major/graduation requirements. Minimum rate of work is 3 courses per semester, and 7 courses per year; completing 4 courses each semester, however, will keep you on track for graduation. Students are encouraged to talk with their academic advisor, major advisor, undergraduate advising head, and/or Roosevelt Fellow to discuss the impact of course changes on their academic plans.
If you find it necessary to drop below 12 credits in a given semester due to health reasons, please speak with your academic advisor about our medical underload policy.
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TONIGHT: Critical Conversation |
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Other Minds: Forming Community with Nonhuman Animals
Wednesday, October 6, 2021
Time: 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.
Location: Sherman Function Hall
We share this world with millions of species, many of which have complex social systems and high intelligence. Can these species’ communities inform how we approach global communal challenges, such as the degradation of the environment? What are the ethics and politics of forming multispecies communities, and can doing so help us develop a better world? This conversation will be oriented around the 2021 New Student Book Forum selection "Other Minds: The Octopus, the Sea, and the Deep Origins of Consciousness" by Peter Godfrey-Smith. In particular, we will explore the possibilities of building multispecies communities from the perspectives of philosophy, evolutionary biology, anthropology, neuroscience and literature.
Participants:
Moderator:
John Plotz, Barbara Mandel Professor of the Humanities
To obtain a complimentary copy of the book "Other Minds: The Octopus, the Sea, and the Deep Origins of Consciousness" by Peter Godfrey-Smith email Laura Parrillo at acserv@brandeis.edu.
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Academic Services Unit Updates |
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Student Accessibility Support (SAS) Updates
SAS Assignment Accountability Hours have started!
Fridays 2-3:30 p.m.
Mondays 2-3:30 p.m.
Enter the weekend with some work already accomplished! Join our Graduate fellow, Anik, in the Usdan 2nd floor tutoring lounge (breezeway between Academic Services and Usdan West) or on Zoom for some structured time to work independently, in a quiet community with other students. It's like a study hall, but for college! Physical space is capped to 7 students. RSVP to Anik at anikchartrand@brandeis.edu if you'd like to attend in person to make sure space is available. We plan to expand these hours if there is interest.
New Affinity Groups
Groups are meeting for students who identify with neurodiversity, neurodivergence, autism, and related experiences.
Check out this new affinity group and help shape it into whatever our community needs it to be! A grad student member will help organize and facilitate while the group evolves. It will start on Zoom, but can develop and change based on the comfort level of those who attend.
Report an Accessibility Issue.
New requests for accommodations.
If you have never requested accommodations, but are interested in exploring that option, please call the Academic Services main phone line at 781-736-3470 or email access@brandeis.edu to schedule an appointment with an Accessibility Specialist.
Peer Notetaking accommodation.
If you are approved for a peer notetaking accommodation through SAS, please know that our team is working hard to find notetakers for your requested courses. If you have not received the online form yet to request notetakers and believe that you should have, please reach out to SAS directly (access@brandeis.edu).
Academic accommodations and mental health.
Did you know that a mental health diagnosis can qualify you for academic accommodations? Connect with us at 781-736-3470 or access@brandeis.edu to talk about the process and find out if this might be a resource you can use!
It is not too late! Requesting fall accommodation letters.
We have already reached out to all of our students registered with SAS regarding requesting accommodation letters for the Fall 2021 semester. Please reach out to access@brandeis.edu if you have any questions about the process or did not get an email prompting you to request your letter.
Meetings offered both in-person and Zoom!
We are happy to let students know that meetings with SAS are being offered both in-person and virtually via Zoom. Please let us know your preference when you schedule a meeting with us! We are following Brandeis's COVID-19 policies and will let you know if this changes at any point during the semester. Additionally, please keep in mind that for in-person meetings, masks must still be worn.
SAS Fellows.
The SAS Fellows are returning for the Fall 2021 semester! Stay tuned for more information regarding their drop in office hours!
SAS is on the gram!
Follow us on Instagram (@brandeis_sas) for SAS updates and disability justice content!
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BUGS Tutors- A Great Resource |
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The BUGS tutors are ready and waiting for you! Tutoring for the Fall 2021 semester has started. Scan the QR code below to access tutor bios and schedules. If you have questions you can contact the Program Manager, Amy Harris via email.
BUGS (Brandeis Undergraduate Group Study) is a program of the Academic Services Office open to all Brandeis undergraduates which offers tutoring at no cost to students. These peer tutors lead sessions to review course material, discuss study strategies, and help prepare for assessments.
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Academic Advising
Please see the detailed information in the above article regarding dropping semester courses in Workday. The deadline for dropping courses is Friday, November 12.
If you wish to discuss your semester or degree progress with an academic advisor you can book appointments in the following ways:
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Book a 30 Minute Appointment (schedule is 1-3 weeks out).
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Book a daily 20 Minute Daily Appointment
- Call 781-736-3470
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Email acserv@brandeis.edu
Also, check out the Roosevelt Fellow website for office hours, bios, and information on all the ways Rosie's can help you.
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Academic Fellowships
The primary goal of Academic Fellowships at Brandeis is to support students’ academic growth and development. The process of applying for a competitive fellowship or research opportunity can help you clarify your goals and set in motion a plan to achieve them. As fellowship advisors, we can help you learn more about which opportunities are a good match for your interests and then guide you through the application process, from developing your initial ideas all the way through writing your proposal or essays and ultimately submitting your application. We work with students in every class year, from any background, with any GPA, and in any area of interest. Whether you are just beginning your academic journey or already have a specific research project or fellowship application in mind, we look forward to helping you make the most of the available opportunities at Brandeis and beyond! To keep up-to-date about current opportunities and upcoming deadlines, make sure to follow us on Instagram @brandeisfellowships or "like" our Facebook Page.
Critical Language Scholarship Program
The Critical Language Scholarship Program (CLS) is an intensive summer study abroad opportunity for American undergraduate and graduate students to learn languages essential to America’s engagement with the world. Students spend eight to ten weeks abroad studying one of 15 critical languages (Arabic, Azerbaijani, Bangla, Chinese, Hindi, Indonesian, Japanese, Korean, Persian, Portuguese, Punjabi, Russian, Swahili, Turkish, and Urdu). The program includes intensive language instruction and structured cultural enrichment experiences designed to promote rapid language gains. Most languages offered by the CLS Program (9 of 15) do not require applicants to have any experience studying critical languages. CLS, a program of the U.S. Department of State, is part of a wider government initiative to expand the number of Americans studying and mastering foreign languages that are critical to national security and economic prosperity. CLS plays an important role in preparing students for the 21st century's globalized workforce and increasing national competitiveness. Any students interested in applying this fall for a grant in the summer of 2022 are encouraged to contact Director of Academic Fellowships Meredith Monaghan as soon as possible.
Fellowships Email List:
If you are thinking about applying for a fellowship in the future, or just want to learn more about what opportunities are available, you may wish to sign up for our weekly newsletter, where we share information about particular fellowship opportunities, application tips, deadline reminders, and more. To opt into this list, please email Director of Academic Fellowships Meredith Monaghan.
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It's a Facul-Tea Party with the Roosevelt Fellows
Tuesday, October 19 at 12:00 pm
Shapiro Campus Center Multipurpose Room
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Join the Roosevelt Fellows as we grill some of your favorite professors for answers about their college years. Learn how your experiences may not be so far off from theirs!
After our faculty panel, do some grilling of your own. You’ll have opportunities to sit down with professors, enjoy a catered lunch from Panera, and ask your own questions!
Faculty include: Don Katz, Maria Miara, Elizabeth Bradfield, Harleen Singh, and Dan Breen. Join us in the SCC MPR on Tuesday, October 19th at 12pm as we hear all the tea from our professors’ college years.
Use the QR code on our flyer or the button below to RSVP by Friday, October 15 so we can reserve a lunch for you.
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Resources & Events from Campus Partners |
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Registrar's Office News
Advanced Placement (AP) exams have been uploaded for most first semester students at this point. If you would like to take the next steps toward claiming your AP exams for credit, please email Taylor Seidel (tseidel@brandeis.edu).
Additional information regarding AP exams, including the AP chart can be found on the Registrar's Office website.
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Library News & Resources
Research Help: As you start working on research assignments, the Library is here to help! Ask questions at any stage of your research process:
- How do I choose or narrow a research topic?
- How do I find sources?
- How do I cite my sources?
- How do I conduct a literature review?
- How do track down sources that are hard to find?
Sign up for a library workshop:
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Workshops Offered by the Writing Center |
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The Writing Center is a teaching space designed to celebrate writing and to help writers grow their skills. We provide free services to support every stage of the writing process. Writers can come to us to get advice on anything from understanding writing assignments to brainstorming and outlining arguments to final reviews before assignments are due. We can assist with a huge range of writing projects from lab reports and essays to cover letters, dissertations, and beyond.
For more information regarding appointments and services visit the Writing Center website. Here is some information on upcoming workshops:
Getting Started with your Literature Review
Thursday, October 7
12 PM ( via zoom)
A workshop presented by Brandeis library writing center. Best for PhD & graduate
Students and seniors working on a thesis.
Job Materials Workshop
Monday, October 25
2:00 p.m. (Goldfarb Library)
and
Thursday, November 4
1:00 p.m. (Goldfarb Library)
This workshop will provide students with tips and tricks for successful job materials. Also, reading job ads, building resumes and cover letters. A part of the workshop is to
put these tips into practice and will give students time to work on their own materials.
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Rich/Collins Community Leadership & Impact Fellowship |
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The Department of Community Service is recruiting undergraduate students to apply for the Rich/Collins Community Leadership & Impact Fellowship Program. This is a one-of-a-kind, prestigious leadership opportunity where undergraduate students can apply for grant funding (between $500-$4,000) to implement a community impact project during the Spring semester, while receiving a $600 personal stipend and engaging in a close-knit cohort leadership development series. You can see great examples from previous projects on our website. As you'll notice, the list of possibilities are endless. That being said, this year we are intentionally encouraging projects that support the Waltham community and racial justice work.
This Fellowship is a one-of-a-kind, prestigious leadership opportunity for Brandeis students only. All undergraduate students in good academic standing are eligible to apply. The program strives to be inclusive and accessible, providing a modest stipend of $600 to all successful applicants.
If you have any questions about this Fellowship, please email RCCliff@brandeis.edu or Community Service Specialist, Samantha de Melim (sdemelim@brandeis.edu) who is overseeing this initiative. For those interested in learning more, please attend one of the information sessions outlined below.
Rich/Collins Community Leadership and Impact Fellowship Important Dates:
*Must attend or meet with DCS staff to apply
- Open Office Hours: Friday, October 14th, 9:00-5:00 PM EST SCC 314
- Application Workshop: Wednesday, October 20th, 10:00-12:00 PM and 1:00-3:00 pm in the SCC 314
- Application Deadline: Monday, October 24th at 11:59 PM EST online
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