TRUMBULL COLLEGE DEAN’S NOTES: April 15, 2024
Oh, how I love Spring in New Haven – there’s wild rain and wind, but then we have these truly stunning days. Hope you all are enjoying it! My favorite shade of green is what we’re starting to see around campus – the “new” green that emerges on the small leaves – isn’t it lovely? :)
I know you’re all swamped, but I wanted to start with a joyful weather report, because (in my opinion) this time of the term is so much better in the spring term compared to the end of the fall term! Longer days, being able to study outside – it’s the little things, right? We are almost there…next week is the last week of classes and then Reading Period & Finals. I know you can do it!!!
With everything else you have going on for this term, you’re also working on Registration for Fall 2024. As you have come to know, instructor/departmental action on this varies a lot, particularly with limited-enrollment courses. Some instructors will get back to you this week – others will be in touch much later. I teach a limited-enrollment course in the Fall, and I know I won’t have a chance to review those requests until next week at the earliest. I thought it might be helpful for you to have this context. Also, know that some instructors use the little notes in Course Search exclusively, while others utilize e-mail or other forms of gathering student info. It’s important to carefully review syllabi on Canvas! Wishing you all the best with this process.
I will be popping in additional open Zoom hour blocks over the coming weeks – they’re always listed at the top of my Calendly page in the little blurb. See below, too, for this week.
Finally, I wanted to share a montage from this past weekend. We built a weekend trip to New Jersey around a concert on Saturday afternoon (Zakir Hussain with Debopriya Chatterjee and Sabir Khan). It was amazing and was Sahej’s first concert! It was also a win, because Sahej cooperated and dressed up! ;) Have a great week and hang in there with everything you have going on!
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 Tuesday, April 16th (4-4:45pm), Thursday, April 18th (3:30-4:30pm) and Friday, April 19th (10:30-11:30am).
UPCOMING DATES AND DEADLINES
April 15 Fall term registration opens for Class of 2025, 8am
April 16 Fall term registration opens for Class of 2026, visiting students, and Eli Whitney students (without a class year), 8am
April 17 Fall term registration opens for Class of 2027, 8am
April 26 Classes end; reading period begins.
April 26 Last day to convert from a letter grade to Cr/D/F option for a full-term course and/or a course offered in the second half of the spring term.
April 26 Last day to withdraw from a full-term course and/or a course offered in the second half of the spring term.
ACADEMICS
Fall 2024 Registration Resources: Course registration deadlines, instructions, explanations of error messages, FAQs, and a growing library of system tutorials can be found at https://registration.yale.edu. In addition, the University Registrar’s Office has Zoom office hours to answer your Fall 2024 registration questions:
* Wednesday, April 17, 2-3pm
* Tuesday, May 14, 2-3pm
Yale Degree Audit: Access Yale Degree Audit through Yale Hub to check your progress toward the bachelor’s degree. Degree Audit displays the degree requirements that you have already completed and those that are still pending. The “Look Ahead” feature shows you how future course enrollment might apply toward your degree. Use the “Class History” (click ⁝ in the upper right corner) to confirm the courses in which you are enrolled. If you believe that academic information in your degree audit is incorrect, contact our office.
Enhanced Support for Data Science Literacy: Visit https://diss.yale.edu as you think about ways to meet your academic goals in data-intensive courses and opportunities– whether that’s simply fulfilling your QR requirement or something else.
Undeclared Class of 2027: The deadline to submit the Sophomore-Year College Advising Form by May 1st at 5pm. All first-year students without a declared major received an email last week with a personalized link to the form. More details at https://advising.yalecollege.yale.edu/your-adviser-advising/sophomore-year-college-advising-form. Students with a declared major are exempt.
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
Yale College Writing Center
https://poorvucenter.yale.edu/undergraduates/writing-center
Whether you are working on a reading response, research paper, application essay, or a creative piece, the Writing Center offers one-to-one consultations to help you at any stage of the writing process.
Professional Writing Tutor: Adam Reid Sexton at Trumbull. 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 7am 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! https://poorvucenter.yale.edu/residential-college-writing-tutors
Writing Partners. Writing Partners are Yale College or graduate students who are talented writers who love helping others. Writing Partners can meet with you to talk through ideas or give feedback on your draft on a first-come, first-served basis. Drop-In hours are in-person at Poorvu or over Zoom. You can also schedule a Zoom appointment. https://poorvucenter.yale.edu/undergrad-writing-partners
Fellowship Writing Partners. Planning to apply to a scholarship or fellowship program and would like to team up with a Writing Partner as you prepare your materials? Fellowship Writing Partners have been through the process themselves and will meet with you at least three times to help plan, revise, and polish your materials! Request a Fellowship Writing Partner here.
Weekly Writing Partners. Taking a writing intensive course or working on a long-term writing project and want to meet with the same Writing Partner each week? Request a Weekly Writing Partner here!
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 Karin Gosselink (karin.gosselink@yale.edu) for an appointment.
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. To request a mentor please email 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. Poorvu North is a collection of rooms in Kline Biology Tower accessed down the stairs opposite Steep Café. Questions? Contact us at academicstrategies@yale.edu.
Letters of Recommendation for National Fellowships. Are you applying for a national fellowship — such as the Fulbright, Marshall, or Rhodes — and feeling overwhelmed by the process of requesting recommendations? Join us for a discussion of how to identify strong recommenders, cultivate relationships with them, and ensure that the application process goes smoothly for both you and your recommenders. Tuesday, April 16, 4-5pm, Poorvu CTL Room 120A
ADHD Discussion Group. Share strategies and support with peers who understand your experience. This is open to both undergraduates and graduate students.
Thursday, April 18, 4-5 pm, Poorvu CTL Room 118A
Thursday, April 18, 5-6 pm, Poorvu CTL Room 118A
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. Thursday, April 18, 8-9 pm, Online Event (Register for Link)
Being FGLI in the Arts: Delilah Dominguez (community arts). Join us for a wonderful discussion about making a living in a different field but still remaining engaged in the arts and community arts programs. Snacks & Seltzer provided. Friday, April 19, 4-5pm, Poorvu CTL Room 120A/B
What Can I Do With a Social Sciences Major? Join a discussion with a panel of Yale College peers about exploring career possibilities in the social sciences. Friday, April 19, 5-6pm, WLH 001
STEM Navigators Study Hall. Snacks? While studying and meeting peers? Come complete your p-sets, study, and meet your peers in your STEM courses. Snacks and peer mentors are here to help you with any questions about majors, summer opportunities, or classes to take in the future! NOTE: Tutoring NOT provided by mentors! Sunday, April 21, 2-5pm, Poorvu CTL Room 120A
CAREER STRATEGY
The Office of Career Strategy (OCS) offers career advising, professional school advising, employment and internship opportunities, and career development resources. The office works with students and alumni to clarify career aspirations, identify opportunities, and offer support at every stage of career development. Check out OCS events, opportunities, and services at https://ocs.yale.edu/channels/student.
OCS Upcoming Events
African Impact - Summer 2024 Internship Coffee Chats. Take advantage of a 1:1 conversation with Clint Bartlett, Yale SOM alumni. The co-founder of African Impact is seeking a summer intern. Come get all your questions answered about this unique summer experience and see if it’s the right opportunity for you. Appointments will be 20 minutes each and are intended for individuals who are interested in pursuing the internship. Tuesday, April 16, 3:30-5:30pm, 46 Hillhouse Ave (Registration Required)
Education/Social Service Career Fair - MERC 2024. Are you searching for a job in education and related fields? The MERC Education Career Fair provides an exciting opportunity for candidates to interact with hiring personnel from across the country and internationally. FREE and open to the public. Same day registration is welcome. Thursday, April 18, 10am-1pm, Boston University, 775 Commonwealth Ave, Boston, MA
Avangrid (renewable, utility) Onsite Company Visit. Join Yale students for an exciting educational and networking opportunity with Avangrid, one of the largest utilities and energy developers in the world. Students will spend half a day touring a local substation before heading to their headquarters in Orange, CT for conversations with senior executives. Avangrid is also hiring for internship positions in business development and finance/investment. Lunch will be provided and carpool will also be arranged. Friday, April 19, 8:30am - 12:30pm, 524 Grand Ave, New Haven & Orange, CT (RSVP required)
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. Visit https://funding.yale.edu to learn more.
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, which will help you determine the kind of project you want to pursue. Read about Yalies who have previously won fellowships.
STUDY ABROAD
Yale Study Abroad helps students choose from hundreds of study abroad options including Yale Summer Session Abroad, Non-Yale Summer Abroad, and Year or Term Abroad.
International Study Award (ISA). The ISA can help fund an approved study abroad experience for eligible students. To learn more…
(1) Watch a recording of a recent ISA info session (use your Yale netID at the SSO login option)
(2) The ISA website is a great resource to learn how the ISA is calculated, what it covers, what to do if you need to pay a deposit before you receive your ISA, and more.
(3) Contact isa@yale.edu with any questions about the ISA and using that funding to pay for your study abroad experience.
Sign up for the ISA newsletter here to stay up-to-date on ISA deadlines and information.
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. Get a passport photo at the Yale ID Center (55 Lock Street).
The current estimated wait time for U.S. passport processing is 6-8 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.
YALE SUMMER SESSION
Yale Summer Session (YSS) offers a broad range of courses, taught by Yale faculty, for Yale College credit in New Haven, online, and abroad. Visit https://summer.yale.edu to apply, browse courses, and more.
OTHER
The 2024 Yale Sexual Climate Survey. Yale is surveying students about their perceptions and experiences of the campus community, sexual misconduct, campus resources, and bystander intervention. This confidential survey will inform Yale’s prevention, education, and response efforts. Your response to the 2024 survey is critical: with everyone’s help, we can gather the fullest data possible. Please visit tinyurl.com/sexualclimatesurvey and fill out the survey now. Yale will report on the results in Fall 2024. For more details about the survey and Yale’s resources, please see titleix.yale.edu. For information, advocacy, and support, contact SHARE (203-432-2000).
16th Annual Mandi Schwartz Bone Marrow Drive. Mandi Shwartz was on the Yale Women’s Ice Hockey team in the early 2000s, but was diagnosed with Leukemia in the fall of her Junior Year. In search of a marrow donor to save Mandi’s life, Yale began their annual bone marrow drives to encourage students and members of the New Haven community to join the national registry. Unfortunately, no perfect match was found for Mandy. In 15 years of annual drives, Yale has added nearly 10,000 potential marrow or blood stem cell donors to the NMDP Registry and helped save at least 96 lives! Take 10 minutes out of your day to swab your cheek and join the NMDP registry with the potential to save somebody’s life! Wednesday, April 17, 10am-5pm, Beinecke Plaza
Summer Job Opportunity. Yale Alumni Association is looking for Reunion Clerks to work the 2024 Yale College Reunion weekends! The job is live in SEO, and you can view the posting and apply here. This position offers a great opportunity to network with Yale alumni, staff, and students. This is a paid position, and Reunion Clerks are eligible for perks such as post-term housing (May 10-June 3), meal stipends, and Yale College Reunion swag!
Residential College Seminars Selection Committee. Residential College Seminars offer unique and innovative courses outside traditional departmental structures. Yale College students who serve as RSC Committee Members review and select residential college seminars, guided by a student coordinator who facilitates communication and leads meetings within their College. Committee members are expected to attend one training meeting at the beginning of the fall term and invest approximately 10-15 hours per term (primarily in the first three weeks). Questions? Email college.seminar@yale.edu. Interested undergraduates apply by May 1st: https://yalesurvey.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_56nKjGh2IWnVU8K.
Yale Farm Workdays. The Yale Farm welcomes you for Friday and Sunday workdays throughout the month of April. See https://www.sustainablefood.yale.edu/open-workdays. No RSVP required, but please arrive no later than 3pm:
- Friday, April 19, 2-4pm
- Sunday, April 21, 2-4pm
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).
Prize Opportunities
The Office of the Secretary compiles lists of types of prizes for which undergraduates are eligible. As our office is alerted about specific ones, we will include them in the Dean’s Notes.
Elizabethan Club Essay Prize. The Elizabethan Club awards a monetary prize for the best undergraduate student term paper and/or senior thesis/project on a subject of interest to the Club, e.g. outstanding work:
- on literature, arts, or culture of the Renaissance
- on interpretations, adaptations, or criticism relating to literature, arts, and culture of the Renaissance
- work based on research done in the Elizabethan Club Collection (at the Beinecke Library).
Work from any department is eligible and nominations can come from faculty, advisors, or the students themselves. You do not need a member of the Club. Essays must be submitted by Monday, April 22, 4pm. More information and submission instructions are at https://earlymodern.yale.edu/resources/elizabethan-club-yale-undergraduate-graduate-student-essay-prize. Questions? julia.divincenzo@yale.edu
Yale College Speech Competition. The Yale College Speech Competition takes place Monday, April 29, 2024. Sophomores, juniors, and seniors are eligible for prizes of up to $1000 for delivering a short speech of their own composition. Please use this link to sign up—the sign-up deadline is Monday, April 22, 11:59pm. After you sign up, you’ll be assigned a two-hour block between 9am and 5pm on April 29 (you must be available for the entire two hours)
The Buck-Jackson Prize: Awarded to a Sophomore for the best original oration on a subject of a patriotic nature. [Note that this does not need to be on an American subject.]
The Henry James TenEyck Prize: Awarded to orators among the Junior Class on a subject of the speaker’s choice.
The David C. DeForest Prize & Townsend Premiums: For the Senior[s] “who shall write and pronounce an English oration in the best manner.” [Note that there are no special requirements for an “English oration.”]
Please contact alfred.guy@yale.edu with questions.
From YC3
In April, YC3 is hosting a new “Seamless Transitions” series, designed to help students who are making a transition (graduating, moving off campus, studying abroad etc.) If you attend 2 of the 8 “Seamless Transitions” workshops you will receive a limited-edition sloth t-shirt (while supplies last). Please note you must attend the entire workshop to be entered for a T-shirt. If you need to request an accommodation for one of the “Seamless Transition” workshops, please email goodlifecenter@yale.edu
Mindfulness Mondays. Come explore meditation skills that can help benefit the body and mind, while being effective for stress management solutions. Research shows that meditation practice can help reduce stress, improve sleep, and boost self-compassion with 10 minutes of daily practice. This space is useful for continued learning of experienced meditators and even for beginners. Drop - in is welcome, but you’ll get more out of your practice if you come every week and engage in the series! Monday, April 15, 1-1:30pm, GLC Lounge in Schwarzman
Drop-In to Mindfulness. Come explore meditation skills that can help benefit the body and mind, while being effective for stress management solutions. Research shows that meditation practice can help reduce stress, improve sleep, and boost self-compassion with 10 minutes of daily practice. This space is useful for beginning and experienced meditators. We will learn and practice two meditations per class. Drop-ins are welcome! Wednesday, April 17, 3-3:30pm, GLC Lounge in Schwarzman
Seamless Transitions: How to Establish a Routine in a New Environment. Interested in learning skills and strategies to set yourself up for success in a new living environment (i.e summer internships, graduating and starting a new job etc.)? Come join this 30-minute workshop to learn skills to set up a routine, your space and feel rooted in your new environment! Thursday, April 18, 12-12:30pm, GLC Lounge in Schwarzman
Seamless Transitions: Decision Making – how to Make & Feel Good About Your Decisions”. Do you often feel indecisive or hesitant when having to make a choice? Do you sometimes feel fearful of making the wrong decision? Do you feel overwhelmed by having too many options to choose from? YC3 is here to help you feel confident thinking through your options and making a well-informed decision in all aspects of life: academic classes, relationship dilemmas, finances, living accommodations, etc. Thursday, April 18, 3-3:45pm, GLC Lounge in Schwarzman
Seamless Transitions: Financial Literacy. Interested in learning skills and strategies to set yourself up for success in a new living environment (i.e summer internships, graduating and starting a new job etc.)? Come join this 30-minute workshop to learn skills to set up a routine, your space and feel rooted in your new environment! Friday, April 19, 3-4pm, Watson Center,60 Sachem St, Room A74
From the Yale Library
Advanced Search Techniques. In 30 minutes, learn skills to research like a librarian, including how to use advanced search techniques to find books and articles in Quicksearch. Monday, April 15, 7pm, Online Event (register for link)
Latte With A Librarian. Meet with a librarian for a drop-in research consultation. Any student who asks a library or research-related question will receive a FREE Yale Library mug. Tuesday, April 16, 12:30-2pm, Bass Library
First Steps With Zotero. In 30 minutes, get started using Zotero, free software to help you manage your research, take notes, and create a bibliography. Wednesday, April 17, 7:30pm, Online (register for link)
Tour: Hidden Treasures In Sterling Library. Learn how to get around to find what you need and discover lesser-known special collections hidden in plain sight! Friday, April 19, 3pm, meet in SML Nave