College Advising at UC Santa Cruz

On Friday, December 2 at 2pm, Writing 2 is scheduled to open new seats up to a capacity of 25 for each section.
Writing 20 is scheduled to open to its capacity at noon on December 2.
Seats for both classes are expected to fill very quickly, so mark your calendar.  You may also want to visit the Writing Program website to see course descriptions and for information on classes that still have openings during the first week of winter: http://writing.ucsc.edu/courses/writing-2/index.html.

If you are NOT planning to return to UCSC for winter 2012, be sure to see your college academic adviser to petition to withdraw or take a leave of absence from the university. Notifying the university that you do not plan to attend via the withdrawal or leave of absence petition will cancel your winter registration fee and remove you from your enrolled classes. If you wait until the beginning of winter quarter to petition for a withdrawal or leave of absence, the effective date of your withdrawal or leave will be the date that you notify your college advisers that you are not attending UCSC (which, if after the first day of instruction, could result in thousands of dollars of registration fees).  For the petition and additional information online go to advising.ucsc.edu/student/loa.

This is the final day of instruction for the fall 2011 quarter.

Can you believe finals are right around the corner???  Final exams will run from Monday, December 5th through Thursday, December 8th.  The fall 2011 final examination schedule is available at the following link: http://reg.ucsc.edu/soc/2120/final_exams.html#ExaminationDates.   First you will see the Winter 2012 schedule, scroll down until you reach Fall 2011.  Planning out your finals will help you to be able to prioritize your studying and allow you to feel more organized.  Remember to take care of yourself during this time with healthy food, sleep, and little breaks now and then.  Stock up on pencils, blue books and scantrons so that you will be prepared!  Good luck!

This is the final day of the fall 2011 quarter.

You may begin checking your fall 2011 grades on your student portal on Tuesday, December 13th.  Colleges will conduct academic standing reviews once grades are received.  If you think you may fall below good academic standing after your fall grades are assigned, please check with your college academic adviser for important academic review information.

This is the deadline to pay for housing, dining, and undergraduate registration fees for winter quarter without incurring late fees.  Student Business Services does offer deferred payment options and can answer any specific questions you may have regarding your bill.  For more information visit: http://sbs.ucsc.edu/.

The campus is closed from Friday December 23rd-Monday January 2nd.  Please plan to conduct any university business before or after this time period.  Enjoy your holiday break!

Make a note that instruction for winter quarter begins Monday, January 9th.  See you in the New Year!

Finals week can be a daunting and stressful time for any college student.  Late nights, unhealthy eating, lack of sleep, tons of coffee, and intense cramming can leave you feeling drained and miserable by the time it is over.  Don’t let finals beat you down, take charge!  The following link from University of Illinois Springfield offers a “Finals Week Survival Guide”: http://trac.uis.edu/2011/04/finals-week-survival-guide.html.  Follow this guide and you will leave finals week feeling accomplished rather than defeated!

The UCSC Recreation Department is a subdivision of OPERS.  The mission of this department is to provide the UCSC community with an opportunity to gain skills, have fun, be challenged, and make personal connections through outdoor, recreational and hands-on learning experiences.  They offer a wide range of courses that provide opportunities for beginners as well as more experienced participants:
You can expect well-organized classes, activities and informal teaching. Be prepared to be active and involved.
Courses are led by Recreation Instructors and UCSC student leaders.
Instructors range from community members to program developers who have extensive experience in the activity, class or workshop they offer.
Those with all backgrounds, levels of experience and abilities are encouraged to participate.

For more information, visit the Rec Department website at: http://www.ucscrecreation.com/index.html.

The Division of Undergraduate Education is now accepting application for the following scholarship opportunities:

David L. Boren (NSEP) Undergraduate Scholarships
David L. Boren Scholarship awards undergraduate scholarships for study abroad in selected countries (Study in Western Europe, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand is excluded). Recipients will be selected on the basis of merit with consideration for: academic record, commitment to international education, language interest and aptitude, and the quality and appropriateness of the proposed program and its relevance to the National Security Education Program. This scholarship carries with it a service requirement.

Campus Application Deadline: January 9, 2012
Award amount: The maximum award is $8,000 for a summer, $10,000 for a semester, or $20,000 for a full academic year.

Donald A. Strauss Scholarship
The Donald A. Strauss Scholarship Foundation allows juniors to pursue a public service project during their senior year by providing $10,000 for educational expenses. The project may be a new undertaking or an extension of the recipient’s current activities. UC Santa Cruz can nominate three students for the Strauss Award. To qualify:
• Students must have one full year remaining until graduation
• Students must have a GPA in the upper 1/3 of his/her class
• Students plan to devote a significant part of your lives to public service
Campus Application Deadline: February 6, 2012
Award amount: $10,000

Harry S. Truman Scholarship
The Truman Scholarship provides up to $30,000 in funding to students pursuing graduate degrees in public service fields. Students must be college juniors at the time of selection. The Foundation also provides assistance with career counseling, internship placement, graduate school admissions, and professional development.

Campus Application Deadline: January 9, 2012
Award amount: Up to $30,000

Morris K. Udall Scholarship
The Udall Foundation seeks future leaders across a wide spectrum of environmental fields, including policy, engineering, science, education, urban planning and renewal, business, health, justice, and economics. Scholarships are offered in any of three categories:

• To students who have demonstrated commitment to careers related to the environment; or
• To Native American and Alaska Native students who have demonstrated commitment to careers related to tribal public policy; or• To Native American and Alaska Native students who have demonstrated commitment to careers related to Native health care.
Campus Application Deadline: February 6, 2012
Award amount: Up to $5,000


Questions regarding the above scholarships should be directed to Undergraduate Honors and Awards Coordinator Marlene Robinson, marobins@ucsc.edu.  And visit our website: http://honors.ucsc.edu/scholarships.htm.

Drop-in writing assistance will be available on:
*Sunday, December 4th from 12-6pm
*Monday, December 5th from 3-6pm
*Tuesday, December 6th from 3-6pm
*Wednesday, December 7th from 3-6pm
All drop-in writing sessions will be held at the ARCenter, room 216

*No pre-sign-ups are available for drop-in writing during these times. Students will be assisted on a first come first served basis.

Drop-in math tutoring for MATH 2, 3, 11A, 11B, 19A, 19B, 23A, and 23B will be available at McHenry Library, room 1279 on:
Sunday, December 4th from 4-8pm
Tuesday, December 6th from 4-8pm
Wednesday, December 7th from 4-8pm

The ARCenter will be open as a study center beginning Sunday, December 4th at 9:00am continuously through Wednesday, December 7th at 11:00pm. Regular hours will resume on Thursday, December 8th. Free coffee will be available.

Any updates and changes to these services will be posted on the LSS website at http://www2.ucsc.edu/lss/.

Enrollment for winter quarter 2012 courses began on Monday, November 14th.  This is just a friendly reminder to check your MyUCSC for your enrollment appointment and make sure that you get enrolled in classes for winter as soon as your appointment will allow if you have not done so already.  If you are uncertain what courses to take or have questions regarding course selection, please do not hesitate to contact your college adviser.  It is highly recommended that you take care of your winter enrollment now, versus waiting for finals week or winter break, in order to avoid missing out on classes you need for progress.

No one can enroll in more than 19 credits until the first day of instruction of the quarter.  On the first day of classes for winter quarter (Monday, January 9th, 2012) students with a cumulative UCSC GPA of 3.0 or above may enroll in up to 22 credits without approval from their college.  You need college approval for an increased course load if you would like to:

1. Enroll in more than 22 credits and you have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above.
2. Enroll in more than 19 credits and you have a cumulative GPA below 3.0.

To request an increased course load, contact your college adviser.  In most cases, approval will not be granted until after your fall grades can be reviewed.

Please note: UC regulations indicate that 3 hours of academic work per week is expected for each earned credit.  Twenty credits will necessitate about 60 hours of academic work per week (including class time).  So take this into consideration before enrolling in 19+ credits!

A common question that comes to college advisers from students is, “I’m thinking about transferring.  What do I do?”  The first step you should take is to consider these questions:

• What academic advantages will transferring give me?

• What goal am I trying to achieve by transferring?

• What are the pros and cons of UCSC and the prospective transfer institution?

• Have you shared this idea with your family?

It can be hard to adjust to any college or university, especially in your first quarter.  Evaluate whether or not your desire to transfer is based on general college transition issues or specifics regarding UCSC.  Your RA, NA, or CA and college adviser can be great resources and sounding boards for helping to ease those college growing pains you might be experiencing, so take advantage of their expertise! 

If transferring still looks like an option you seriously want to consider, then the first step you need to take is to research the prospective university or college and their admissions policies.  Your best resource will be contacting the admissions department at the prospective school.  A visit to the institution is always a strong recommendation as well.

The deadline to remove an Incomplete grade from your record from the spring quarter or summer session is Thursday, December 8th, 2011, the final day of the fall 2011 quarter.  If you received a grade of “I” (Incomplete) in a Spring 2011 or Summer 2011 course, it is time to finish your work if you haven’t already done so!  (Not sure if you have an Incomplete? Check your MyUCSC now.)  Contact the instructor to clarify what is required to complete the course.  You must complete the work for the course AND file the “Petition for Removal of an Incomplete” before the last day of the quarter, Thursday, December 8th, 2011.  (Your instructor can set an earlier deadline for work due to them.)  The petition is available online at http://reg.ucsc.edu/forms.htm; a $10 fee will post to your student business account upon filing.  Complete procedures can be found in Chapter 4 of The Navigator.  If you do not complete the work by the end of fall quarter, your Incomplete will lapse to a “No Pass” or an “F” depending on which grade option you selected.

At an instructor’s discretion, an Incomplete grade notation may be assigned for work that is of passing quality but incomplete by the end of fall term.  The deadline to complete the work must be negotiated with the instructor and must be not later than the last day of winter quarter 2012.  Incomplete grade notations are typically given for emergency reasons or unforeseen circumstances. If the course work is not completed by the deadline, the “I” lapses to an “F” or “NP”.  Because an Incomplete grade carries no credit, talk with your college academic adviser about the possible consequences on your academic standing.  If an Incomplete grade is truly necessary for your situation, you must make your request with your instructor no later than the end of the quarter, Thursday, December 8th, 2011.  Faculty members generally appreciate any efforts you might make to contact them well before the end of the quarter. 

With finals knocking on the door, it is timely to look at a few simple tips that can make test taking easier.

1. Always study in a quiet environment that is well lit. 
2. Studying should begin at least ten days in advance.
3. Give yourself manageable sections to study each day.  This way, it will not be overwhelming.
4. Know ahead of time exactly what to study for.  The professors or TA’s often give ideas as to what the test will be like.  Take advantage of this!
5. Quiz yourself on the material you studied, without using your books or notes.  Doing this will give you an idea of how you will do on the test.
6. Allow yourself a 15-20 minute break for every hour of studying.  During this time, relax and do something enjoyable.
7. Before the exam, eat properly and get plenty of rest.

Following these tips will help you when it comes to test time!

The Multicultural Engineering Program (MEP), also know as the MESA Engineering Program, is the university level component of the statewide Mathematics, Engineering, Science Achievement (MESA) program.  At UCSC, MEP is supported by the Baskin School of Engineering with its goal to promote diversity and facilitate the retention and graduation of a diverse population of students, especially groups which continue to remain the most underrepresented in engineering studies.

Read More →