TRUMBULL COLLEGE DEAN’S NOTES: November 6, 2023
Two more weeks of classes before The Game and November Recess! Hang in there, Trumbullians! :) These two weeks might feel quite long. Please know that I’m here for you – to listen/talk, for support, and to cheer you on.
Halloween seems like a while ago! It was particularly amusing for us this year, because Sahej truly understood the connection between Halloween and candy this time around. ;) He had fun going around a neighborhood in Whitneyville with one of his buds from his preschool class at Calvin Hill. We had fun, too, as you can see from these pictures: family pic and condiments. I was a veggie burger, in case you’re wondering. It was nice seeing some of you in the dining hall once we made our way back to Trumbull.
Remember, although Preference Selection happened last week, Registration for Spring 2024 opens up next week – this is a good time to reach out to your College Adviser, Departmental Adviser and/or DUS, if you haven’t already.
TC’27 – Reminder that we have Fireside Chats starting TONIGHT! We have three groups tonight, two on Tuesday night and two on Friday night this week! Looking forward to seeing you at Head Hyder’s house.
THIS FRIDAY: The CIPE Summer Opportunities Fair is on Friday, November 10 | 1:30-4:00PM (Presidents’ Room, Schwarzman Center). Check it out!
Don’t forget, Wuzzy is in the office through Wednesday. :) Have a great week!
Meeting with me
To make an appointment, please use the Calendly scheduling tool, https://calendly.com/dean_c. Please reach out to Alice with any scheduling issues. For in-person meetings, please come to the office. We’re right here in Trumbull G104, which you can access across from Entryway A or through Entryway G. Zoom meetings (including open Zoom office hours) will be through my Zoom page: https://yale.zoom.us/my/skchandhoke.
My OPEN ZOOM office hours for each week are listed on the top of my Calendly page. When you click on the Zoom link, you will be placed into a waiting room. I will speak to students (one-on-one) in the order they “arrive”. My upcoming open hours are on Friday, November 10th (10-11:30am).
Please note that I teach on Wednesday mornings during the fall term.
ACADEMICS
Registration Office Hours: Members of the Registrar’s Office and Yale ITS are hosting Open Zoom Registration office hours on Friday, November 17, 10-11am. Feel free to drop-in with technical questions you may have about registering for next semester’s classes.
Yale Degree Audit: Yale Degree Audit (YDA) is a tool that tracks your progress toward the bachelor’s degree. You can access Degree Audit through Yale Hub. Degree Audit displays the Yale College degree requirements that you have already completed and those that are still pending. A “Look Ahead” feature shows you how future course enrollment might apply toward your degree. If you believe that academic information in your degree audit is incorrect, contact our office.
UPCOMING DATES AND DEADLINES
November 9 Last day to withdraw from a course offered in the second half of the fall term (e.g. BIOL 102/104) without the course appearing on the transcript.
November 9 Deadline for departments to push Preference Selection results
November 13 Spring term registration opens Class of 2024, 8am
November 14 Spring term registration opens Class of 2025, visiting students, and Eli Whitney students (without a class year), 8am
November 15 Spring term registration opens for Class of 2026, 8am
November 16 Spring term registration opens for Class of 2027, 8am
November 17 November recess begins after last academic obligation
November 27 Classes resume, 8:20am
TUTORING
Advising Resources: http://advising.yalecollege.yale.edu
Sc/QR Tutoring: https://poorvucenter.yale.edu/undergraduates/stem-tutoring-programs/small-group-and-1-1-tutoring
Language Tutoring: http://cls.yale.edu/foreign-language-tutoring
Writing Center/Tutors/Partners: https://poorvucenter.yale.edu/undergraduates/undergraduate-writing-and-tutoring; https://poorvucenter.yale.edu/undergraduates/writing-center
Trumbull Writing Tutor: Adam Reid Sexton is the Trumbull College Writing Tutor. Adam teaches three courses in the English department (The Craft of Fiction, Reading and Writing the Modern Essay, and Writing About Music) and is a Critic in the graduate School of Art. During summer 2022 he taught Writing About Music for Yale in London. Adam is also a writer; his next book, Difficult Listening, is due to be published soon.
To meet with Adam, please reserve a half-hour by logging on to https://www.yalewco.com/index.php, and be sure to email him the document you want help with by 7:00 a.m. on the day of your appointment. Include the instructor’s prompt, your focus for the meeting, and when the paper is due. Adam looks forward to working with you!
Yale Academic Strategies Program/Office of Educational Opportunity
https://yaleconnect.yale.edu/PoorvuAcademicStrategies/club_signup
https://poorvucenter.yale.edu/academic-strategies-program
Our mission is to help all Yale undergraduate be active, empowered learners at Yale. Though peer academic mentoring, interactive workshops, and connections to resources, we hope to provide you with the tools that can propel you towards your goals.
STEM Navigators. Want to learn the best practices for succeeding in introductory STEM Courses? Join STEM Navigators, a mentoring network that provides you with information, events, and support to guide you through these crucial first courses. Sign up via this link: STEM Navigators sign up
Disability Peer Mentorship Program (DPMP). DPMP pairs students with peers of similar backgrounds to create networks of support for people with disabilities at Yale. The diverse experiences of disability in our community include physical & mobility disabilities, chronic illnesses, mental illnesses & psychiatric disabilities, neurodiversity & learning disabilities (including ADHD, dyslexia, autism), sensory disabilities & processing disorders (including vision impairments, blindness, and d/Deafness), and other conditions. You do not need to have a formal diagnosis to participate. Disability Peer Mentors help individual students develop critical self-advocacy skills, connect them to institutional resources, and find community around disability identity. Request a DPMP Mentor here.
First-year students can also request mentorship and guidance about Student Accessibility Resources through the SAS Peer Liaison Program.
Meet with our Learning Specialist. Have a learning difference or other condition that affects how you accomplish your academic work? We can talk with you about new approaches for meeting Yale’s academic challenges. Contact our new Learning Specialist, Geoffrey Canales (geoffrey.canales@yale.edu), for an appointment.
For First Years: College Transition Videos. Did you know that diving into your syllabi can help you succeed in your classes? What to learn the keys to performing well on p-sets? Learn about these topics and more through our college transition videos: https://poorvucenter.yale.edu/undergraduates/academic-strategies/first-years-workshops-videos-events.
Individual Mentoring. Get organized for the semester by meeting with an Academic Strategies Mentor. Mentors will help you develop a weekly study routine, offer strategies for approaching complicated readings and p-sets, and help you develop a plan for prepping for those first exams. Our online mentoring schedule goes live Monday, September 18. If you’d like to schedule a meeting before then, please email us at academicstrategies@yale.edu.
Workshops. Our famous workshop sessions are available in person and online! Register via the YaleConnect links below. FYI: Poorvu CTL M104A is upstairs from the York Street Entrance to Sterling Memorial Library. Poorvu CTL 120 A, B, C, and 121 are the classrooms on the first floor. Questions? Contact us at academicstrategies@yale.edu.
Exam Study Strategies. Reduce exam stress by learning new strategies for preparing and studying for midterms and finals. This workshop offers suggestions for preparing for and taking problem-based, short answer, and essay exams. Monday, November 6, 4-5pm, Poorvu CTL Room 120B
Public Speaking. Professors are increasingly asking students to engage in public speaking, from leading class discussion to more formal presentations. This workshop suggests preparation and performance strategies to help you do your best. Monday, November 6, 7-8pm, Poorvu CTL Room M104A
Senior Thesis Power Hours. The Academic Strategies Senior Thesis Power Hours are designed to help students stay motivated and accountable while working on their senior theses. They will be held throughout the semester to give students a chance to help each other with solidarity and accountability in the development and writing of their senior theses. The sessions are facilitated by an Academic Strategies Peer Mentor. Monday, November 6, 7-9pm, Poorvu CTL Room 120A
Managing a Heavy Reading Load. Feeling overwhelmed by piles of reading? Learn some essential strategies to make the most of your limited reading time. Have less stress and create more free time! Tuesday, November 7, 4-5pm, Poorvu CTL Room M104A
Procrastination: How to Work Through It. We all procrastinate. When your procrastination habits get in the way of your goals, however, it’s time for a change. This workshop offers strategies for identifying the sources of procrastination and pursuing productive habits that can get you back on track. Tuesday, November 7, 7-8pm, Poorvu CTL Room M104A
CIPE: Intro to Public and Community Service Fellowships & Careers. An introduction by CIPE to opportunities in fellowships and careers in public and community service. Wednesday, November 8, 4-5pm, Poorvu CTL Room 120B
STEM Navigators: “Let’s Join a Lab” CVs & Emails. This workshop is part of the 3-session series, Let’s Join a Lab! Are you struggling to write a CV, or email those intimidating lab PIs and STEM professors? Come to this workshop where we’ll go over the process together - just bring your research interests and your laptops! Wednesday, November 8, 4-5pm, Poorvu CTL Room 118A
Academic and Professional Communication Learn strategies for writing for professional and formal academic audiences. Thursday, November 9, 4-5pm, Poorvu CTL Room M104A
How to Break it to Your Parents that you Want to Study the Arts or Humanities So you’re interested in the arts or humanities, but you—or others in your life—are concerned that they are not practical or profitable enough to spend time studying. This is a common Yale student dilemma! This workshop guides you through a series of reflective questions about why the arts and humanities matter, and how the skills one learns through studying them (whether or not one majors in them) can positively affect the course of one’s education, career, and life. You will leave this session with new vocabulary with which to articulate the value of pursuing these areas, along with a framework for continuing to determine your own path through them. Friday, November 10, 2-3pm, Poorvu CTL Room M104A
Imagining Your Summer Interested in summer study abroad, fellowships, or internships, but don’t know how to get started? Hear from students who have done these things to help you identify some possible summer opportunities. You will leave with a clearer idea of what is possible and the resources you can access to make your vision happen. Now is the perfect time to start planning! Friday, November 10, 4-5pm, Poorvu CTL Room 120B
CENTER FOR INTERNATIONAL & PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE: https://cipe.yale.edu
Check the CIPE weekly digest for what’s going on this week, including deadlines, events, and opportunities. Follow CIPE on Instagram and Twitter.
Yale students have a free subscription to the Daily Chatter, a great resource for keeping up with global news presented from a non-partisan perspective.
OFFICE OF CAREER STRATEGY (OCS)
Students can engage with the Office of Career Strategy (OCS) in ways that align best with their personal academic and professional path. OCS can help you brainstorm career paths, apply for positions, network with ease, negotiate offers, and consider graduate school.
For the most up-to-date information, sign up for newsletters from our Career Communities, Affinity/Identity Communities, and Applying to Graduate School Communities.
OCS Upcoming Events
Federal Bureau Investigation FBI Information Session | Wednesday, November 8, 10-10:45am | Office of Career Strategy, 55 Whitney Ave, 3rd floor
Federal Bureau FBI Investigation Coffee Chats | Wednesday, November 8, 11:30am-1pm | Office of Career Strategy, 55 Whitney Ave, 3rd floor
SYNECTIC Medical Product Development - Internships - Information Session | Wednesday, November 8, 5-6pm | Yale CEID, 15 Prospect St
Summer Opportunities Fair | Friday, November 10, 1:30-4pm | President’s Room, Yale Schwarzman Center
STUDY ABROAD
Study Abroad Upcoming Events
London School of Economics (LSE) Summer Info Session | Tuesday, November 7, 12-1pm | Online (Registration Required) The London School of Economics (LSE) Summer School offers high quality teaching, a stimulating environment and the opportunity to meet with people from all continents. Join us for a virtual presentation by LSE staff to learn more about this summer opportunity. To attend this event, you must register in advance. You will be sent the link for the meeting after registering. Questions: summer.school@lse.ac.uk
SIT Info Session: A Conversation about Identity While Abroad | Wednesday, November 8, 1-2pm | Online Join SIT Study Abroad admissions officers Jamal Barbari and Sarah Wiggins and recent SIT alumni for a panel discussion about identity while abroad. Students will share how their identities impacted their time abroad and how going abroad has shaped their identities. Register at https://tinyurl.com/2pbxk9wc
Summer Opportunities Fair | Friday, November 10, 1:30-4pm | President’s Room, Schwarzman Center Make the most of your summer with Study Abroad, Summer Session, Fellowships, and Career Strategy! Stop by the annual Summer Opportunities Fair to learn about hundreds of amazing internship, study, and funding opportunities in the U.S. and abroad for Summer 2024. Drop by at any time during the fair to chat with staff, faculty, and students to find experiences that are right for you.
Thinking about studying abroad? Head to the “Get Started” tab to search programs that fit your personal and academic interests, check application deadlines, review costs and funding options, get advice on your plans, and more. Learn about fulfilling distributional and major requirements with study abroad coursework here.
Thinking about studying abroad for a semester or year but worried about the time you’ll be missing at Yale? You’re not alone. Check out So You Want to Study Abroad by Edmund Zheng! Edmund’s article addresses this common concern based on his experience of returning to Yale after a semester abroad.
Need to Get or Renew Your Passport? Don’t wait to ensure you have the necessary travel documents! All passports should be valid at least 6 months beyond the end date of your anticipated study abroad program. Even if you are not yet sure that you will study abroad, you should have a valid passport at least three months in advance, if possible.
U.S. citizens should visit the U.S. Department of State’s website for information about applying for or renewing a passport. You can apply at the Yale Station post office in New Haven or the New Haven Free Public Library. You can also get a passport photo from the Yale ID Center (55 Lock Street). Passport photo services at the Yale ID Center do not require an appointment.
Current estimated wait times for U.S. passport processing are 10-13 weeks, and expedited processing is estimated at 7-9 weeks. This process starts once the State Department receives your application and does not factor in mailing times. For additional information, visit our Travel Planning & Logistics page.
FELLOWSHIPS AND FUNDING
Yale and outside funding options can help support research, study abroad, public service, unpaid internships, and self-designed projects, in New Haven and around the globe. Postgraduate fellowships support independent projects, graduate study, and much more. The Office of Fellowships and Funding helps students identify funding opportunities and navigate the application process.
Customize your Fellowships and Funding Newsletter for timely opportunities in your areas of interest: https://funding.yale.edu/connect/newsletter-review-subscription
Fellowships/Funding Upcoming Events
Yale College Postgrad Fellowships - Info Session #3 | Monday, November 6, 4-5pm | Online Event Attend this information session to learn about Yale College Postgraduate Fellowships for research, study, and projects after Yale.
Light Fellowship Information Session #5 | Tuesday, November 7, 1:30-2:30pm | 55 Whitney Ave, 3rd Floor, Room 369 The Richard U. Light Fellowship Program fully funds Yale undergraduate, graduate, and professional school students pursuing intensive language study in Chinese, Japanese, and Korean for terms ranging from a single summer to a combined summer plus academic year. Learn more about the Light Fellowship.. Attending a Light Fellowship Information Session is a requirement in order to be eligible for the Light Fellowship.
CIPE: Intro to Public and Community Service Fellowships & Careers | Wednesday, November 8, 4-5pm | Poorvu CTL Room 120B An introduction by CIPE to opportunities in fellowships and careers in public and community service.
Summer STEM Research: How to Find the “Right” Mentor | Thursday, November 9, 12-1pm | Zoom Attend this information session to learn about the funding opportunities and mentorship resources available from the Yale College Science & QR Center to support Summer STEM Research, both at Yale and abroad. Hosted by Dr. Alexia Belperron on behalf of the Yale College Science & QR Center.
Thomas C. Barry Travel Fellowship Info Session | Thursday, November 9, 12pm | Tsai CITY, 17 Prospect Street Students interested in the Thomas C. Barry Travel Fellowship are invited to attend an info session. This travel fellowship supports:
Who: first-years, sophomores, and juniors
What: self-designed projects, internships, research or public service
Where: emerging market countries or disenfranchised communities in the USA.
When: spring term 2023 or spring term plus summer 2023.
MacMillan Center: Informational Session for AY and Summer Funding | Friday, November 10, 12-1pm | Zoom Presenters will answer questions about the 40+ grant and fellowship programs available to students, and the many ways these programs provide various research, language study, and internship, and independent study opportunities for the academic year and the summer. All MacMillan Center funding opportunites are listed in the Student Grants Database.
Summer Opportunities Fair | Friday, November 10, 1:30-4pm | President’s Room, Yale Schwarzman Center Make the most of your summer with Study Abroad, Summer Session, Fellowships, and Career Strategy! Stop by the annual Summer Opportunities Fair to learn about hundreds of amazing internship, study, and funding opportunities in the U.S. and abroad for Summer 2024.
Drop by at any time during the fair to chat with staff, faculty, and students affiliated with our four units; the Office of Career Strategy, Study Abroad, Yale Summer Session, and Fellowships – to find experiences that are right for you.
Fellowships/Funding Resource of the Week
Not sure where to begin the fellowships process? Refer to this step-by-step guide on How to Apply for Fellowships.
The first step in planning a strong fellowship application is to identify your short-term or long-term personal and academic goals. Identifying your goals will help you determine the kind of project you want to pursue.
Read about Yalies who have previously won fellowships.
OTHER
Blood Drive this week. The American Red Cross at Yale will be hosting a blood drive in the Dwight Hall Common Room this week:
Tomorrow, Tuesday, November 7 (10:00am - 3:45pm)
Wednesday, November 8 (10:00am - 3:45pm)
Friday, November 10 (10:00am - 3:45pm)
If you would like to donate, you can schedule an appointment here. If prompted, use the code “DWIGHTYALE” to register for a time slot. We highly recommend students interested in donating to book an appointment, as walk-in slots may not be available. The decision to donate can save a life, and we greatly appreciate your consideration! If you have any questions, please email Jared Rhee (jared.rhee@yale.edu), the Donor Outreach Coordinator.
Walden Peer Counseling. Walden Peer Counseling is one of the oldest anonymous and confidential hotline and walk-in peer counseling services in the US. Staffed exclusively by Yale undergraduates, we are available to talk about anything that’s on your mind. We are open every weekday and weekend night during the academic year when classes are in session; the hotline operates from 8pm to 8am every night. Our office, in the Welch B basement, is open from 8pm to 1am Sunday through Thursday. The number for the hotline is (203) 432-TALK (203-432-8255).
Yale College/Yale School of Environment 5-Year Program Info Session. Students interested in the 5-year joint program between Yale College and Yale School of the Environment are invited to an info session and lunch on Tuesday, November 7, 12:00-1pm at Burke Auditorium, Kroon Hall, 195 Prospect Street. If you cannot make it in person, you may attend virtually via Zoom (the link will be sent out 30 minutes prior to the session start). For more information: Register by clicking here. Questions: linda.evenson@yale.edu.
B.A.-B.S./M.P.P. Global Affairs Information Session. Applications for juniors to apply to the Jackson School’s new 5-year joint BA-BS/MPP program will open by January 1. Yale undergraduates (first-years through juniors) who are interested in learning about the program are encouraged to join us at 5:30-6:30pm on Tuesday, November 7 at Horchow Hall, 55 Hillhouse Avenue. We’ll discuss the curricular aspects of the program as well as reasons why you should consider applying. Register for the information session or, if you cannot attend, complete an inquiry form. Students who do either will receive future updates about the BA/BS-MPP program, including any future information sessions.
From YC3
Cafecito with La Casa: Monday November 6, 4-5pm, at the Good Life Center in Schwarzman Center. Join YC3 for a cup of cafecito (coffee) and pastries at La Casa. Stop by to learn more about YC3 and chat with us about various topics and how YC3 can support you.
Wellness Wheel and Wellness Signs Workshop: Thursday, November 9, 4-5:15pm at the Good Life Center in Schwarzman Center. Interested in learning more about astrology and how it can build connections? This workshop helps students understand the importance of wellness in their life, by using a fun concept to introduce the wellness wheel; a tool that will help you not only organize your life but prioritize areas of wellness by your astrology sign. Please click on the link to register: https://cglink.me/2dA/r2145584
From the Yale Library
How To Find Scholarly Articles | Online Are you ready to find articles thoroughly and efficiently - without relying on Google Scholar while also avoiding pesky paywalls? In 30-minutes, learn strategies to find the best possible scholarly sources from Yale Library’s databases, including Quicksearch Articles+ and subject-specific databases.
Monday, November 6, 7pm | Register: https://schedule.yale.edu/event/11436151
Saturday, November 11, 1pm | Register: https://schedule.yale.edu/event/11436196
Pro Search Strategies In Google Scholar | Online An overview of advanced search tips and tricks in Google Scholar including how to cut down your results from 2.5 million to 2500 to 25, how to improve the relevancy of your results by using advanced search operators, and how to troubleshoot when you can’t access an article.
Tuesday, November 7, 12:30pm | Register: https://schedule.yale.edu/event/11155515
First Steps with Zotero | Online Join us for 30 minutes to learn about Zotero, free software to help you manage your research.
Tuesday, November 7, 8pm | Register: https://schedule.yale.edu/event/11436188
Demystifying The Literature Review | Online Learn how to conduct a literature review for your research papers, independent projects, and fellowship applications. In this 45-minute workshop, students will learn: why a literature review is important, how to conduct a literature review, and ways to evaluate and synthesize your sources.
Wednesday, November 8, 1pm | Register: https://schedule.yale.edu/event/11300339