TRUMBULL COLLEGE DEAN’S NOTES: February 12, 2024
Hope you enjoyed the Superbowl last night and spent a lot of time outside over the last week with the wonderful weather we’ve had. I will take a sunny day any day, even if it’s well below freezing. ;) However, I’ll admit that I’m keeping my fingers crossed for lots of snow tomorrow…
I know many of you suddenly have midterms/papers/projects/thesis work in full swing. I wish you the very best with your work. You can do it!! And remember, self-care is very important! For some of you, get well soon – for everyone else, stay well! Here is my once-per-term reminder that orange juice is a great source of Vitamin C (I also love Vitamin C gummies)! Take care and have a good 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, February 16th (10-11:30am).
ACADEMICS
Double credit: If you are interested in petitioning to earn double credit in a single-credit course, please read the relevant section in the YCPS, and then consult with me. The deadline to submit this petition is Midterm (March 8th at 5pm), but I recommend that you do so well before that date.
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. You can confirm which courses you are enrolled in by checking your Degree Audit “Class History” (click the three dots on the upper right of the page). Degree Audit also 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.
February 28 Last day to withdraw from a course offered in the first half of the spring term (submission deadline 5pm)
February 28 Last day to convert from a letter grade to Cr/D/F option for a course offered in the first half of the spring term (submission deadline 5pm)
February 29 Courses offered in the second half of the spring term begin.
March 5 Applications for 2024 Non-Yale Summer Abroad close (submission deadline 11:59pm)
HOUSING-RELATED DEADLINES
Housing Intent: TODAY, Monday, February 12th, 5pm is the deadline to declare your intent to live on campus or off-campus for the 2024-25 Academic year. Review the information at https://housing.yale.edu/undergraduate-housing/room-draw and log in to Undergraduate Housing Portal to declare your intent. Any issues? Email %20alice.kustenbauder@yale.edu?subject=Trumbull%20INTENT%20issue">undergraduatehousing@yale.edu and cc: Alice.
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.
Assistive Tech Overview. Assistive Technologies is a segment of the Disability Peer Mentor Program. DPMP aims to create a sense of community and a network of support within the disabled communities at Yale. To learn more about DPMP or to request a mentor, follow our Instagram @yaledpmp. Monday, February 12, 4-5pm, Poorvu CTL Room 120A
So You Don’t Feel Like Doing Your Work. Have trouble staying focused and on task? Learn how to get motivated and keep engaged with your work while giving yourself the time you need to be healthy and grounded. Monday, February 12, 4-5pm, Poorvu CTL Room M104A
STEM Navigators: Introductory Genetics Lab Techniques. Are you unfamiliar with biology genetics & development lab techniques and would like more exposure/explanation of concepts from the course? Our STEM graduate mentors are here to help! Come to this workshop for clarification on the most confusing and tested lab techniques in introductory genetics & development courses! Monday, February 12, 5-6pm, Poorvu CTL Room 120A
Organize Your Time! When is the last time you asked yourself “How am I going to get all of this done??” You are not alone! This interactive workshop offers evidence-based strategies and the opportunity to start figuring out what will work best for YOU: you will not only to learn about ways to make the most out of your time, but also do some actual work toward your own scheduling and planning needs. Monday, February 12, 7-8pm, Poorvu CTL Room 120A
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, February 12, 7-9pm, Poorvu CTL, Room M104A
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. Tuesday, February 13, 4-5pm, Poorvu CTL Room M104A
STEM Navigators: Exploring STEM Careers Panel. So you’re a STEM major, but don’t know what career options are out there… have no fear! Come hear from experts in their fields (industry, consulting, MD/PhD, science policy/law) and ask them questions on how they went on their journey! Tuesday, February 13, 5-6pm, Poorvu North/Kline Biology Tower Room 101
ADHD Discussion Group. Share strategies and support with peers who understand your experience. This is open to both undergraduates and graduate students.
Thursday, February 15, 4-5pm, Poorvu CTL Room 118A
Thursday, February 15, 5-6pm, Poorvu CTL Room 118A
Wait—Someone Will Pay Me to Do That?! (Arts and Humanities). Oh, the places you’ll go! Dr. Seuss might well have been talking about YOU if you come to this session. This workshop aims to demystify undergraduate fellowships/funding for Arts and Humanities students. You will learn from other Yale students about some of the big resources for Arts/Humanities funding, and together discuss how to find opportunities, how to talk with faculty and staff about your dreams; and why to make this a part of your Yale education. Friday, February 16, 2-3pm, Poorvu CTL, Room M104A
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, February 18, 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
Eldridge Industries Info Session. Join Yale Alumni for a brief virtual overview of the Eldridge, Eldridge culture, and the life of an investment associate. Tuesday, February 13, 5:30-6:30pm, Online event (register for link)
Boehringer Ingelheim Info Session. Learn about career opportunities across many disciplines at Boehringer Ingelheim. Wednesday, February 14, 11:45am-12:30pm, Online event (register for link)
FBI Coffee Chats. Yale students across all majors are invited to participate in 1:1 conversations with Agent Stacy Bowery about the FBI’s Honors Internship Program for Summer 2025. Thursday, February 15, 10am-1pm, Office of Career Strategy, 55 Whitney Ave, 3rd floor
FBI Summer 2025 Internship Info Session. The Honors Internship Program is a 10-week, paid summer internship, where participants work side-by-side with FBI employees at FBI Headquarters in DC or one of 56 field offices across the US. Thursday, February 15, 1:30-2pm, Office of Career Strategy, 55 Whitney Ave, 3rd floor
The Greater New Haven Chamber of Commerce Regional Workforce Summit. Opportunities to network with representatives from local companies and to attend Career Pathway Workshops. Visit GNHCC.com for more information and list of employers. Thursday, February 15, 3-6pm, Gateway Campus, 20 Church Street
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.
Fellowships & Funding Upcoming Events
Drop-in Hours: Learn about Summer Fellowships. Stop by the The Good Life Center to chat with Fellowship Outreach Coordinators, Grace & Sherry, about the upcoming summer fellowship deadlines and get any last questions answered! Enjoy some coffee and baked goods and learn about how you can take advantage of fellowship opportunities this year and beyond. Monday, February 12, 11am-12:30pm, Good Life Center at Schwarzman
Info Session for UK Fellowships: Rhodes & Beyond #1. Postgraduate study in the United Kingdom or Ireland offers all kinds of exciting opportunities, but finding the right fit is key. In this information session, you will learn about available opportunities and the application process, as well as resources to strengthen your application. Tuesday, February 13, 2-3pm, Online Event (click for link)
Office of Fellowships: Summer Fellowship Applications Drop-in Hours. Have a last minute question about the Summer Fellowships Common Application or the Summer Research Fellowships Common Application? Drop by these virtual advising hours to connect with Office of Fellowship advisers and staff. Tuesday, February 13, 2:30-4:30pm, Online (click for Zoom link)
Schwarzman Scholars Global Leadership Program in China: Info Session. Schwarzman Scholars is a fully-funded, one-year master’s degree and leadership program at Tsinghua University in Beijing, China. Wednesday, February 14, 1-2pm, 53 Wall St, Auditorium
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.
Study Abroad Deadlines. All deadlines are 11:59pm ET on the date listed below. Visit the Study Abroad website for more details and list of designated programs.
Summer 2024
Credit for Non-Yale Summer Abroad: March 5
Petition for Summer Programs not on Yale’s Designated List: March 5
Full Year 2024-2025 Abroad
Credit for Full Year Abroad: April 2
Petition for Full Year Programs not on Yale’s Designated List: April 2
Balliol College, Oxford University: Junior Year Abroad Program for English Majors: April 2
Fall 2024 Abroad
Credit for Fall Term Abroad: April 2
Petition for Fall Programs not on Yale’s Designated List: April 2
Study Abroad Upcoming Events
London School of Economics Summer School Info Session. Hear directly from the LSE Academic Director Peter Trubowitz and Q&A with staff and student ambassadors. This is not a Yale-specific info session, so please also visit the LSE page in Yale’s searchable program database for Yale-specific details. Monday, February 12, 12:30-1:30pm Online Event (register for link)
Ashoka University Summer Programme Info Session. The Ashoka University Summer Programme offers students the option to directly enroll at Ashoka University, a liberal arts university in the Delhi capital region of India, for six weeks of intensive studies.
Thursday, February 15, 8-9am, Online Event (click for link)
Thursday, February 15, 9:30pm, Online Event (click for link)
Info Session for CET in Jordan: Summer Intensive Arabic Language in Amman or Research Option. Tuesday, February 6, 1-2pm, Online Event (register for link)
College Year in Athens Virtual Info Session. Tuesday, February 6, 5-6pm, Online Event (register for link)
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 learn more and browse Summer 2024 course offerings.
OTHER
Tsai CITY Innovator’s Toolkit Workshop: Launching Human-Centered Technology Startups. Join a seasoned Yale alumni entrepreneur, Vince McPhillip, for a practical workshop where you’ll discover how your humanities insights are invaluable in shaping the technology of tomorrow, translate your unique background into venture ideas with potential for global impact, and demystify the journey from a budding idea to achieving the coveted product-market fit. Learn how to develop your technical skills and attract the talent needed to realize your tech vision. Tuesday, February 13, 5:30-7:30pm, Tsai CITY, 17 Prospect St (click to register!)
Apply for Center for Language Study’s Fall 2024 Programs. The Yale Center for Language Study is now accepting applications for the Fall 2024 semester. The application deadline for either program is March 1st at 1pm.
* The Directed Independent Language Study (DILS) Program gives students the opportunity to study a language that is not currently taught in a Yale classroom.
* The Fields Program gives students the opportunity to pursue advanced-level language study within the context of their academic area of focus (generally in areas other literature if the language is taught at Yale, since advanced coursework in literature would likely be available).
Both are non-credit programs, open to all enrolled Yale students. In each program, students work with a Language Partner—a native speaker of the target language (not a formal instructor)—in two 1-hour sessions for 12 weeks. The sessions aim to develop linguistic and cultural competence through active conversation and practice of what you are studying independently. With a limited number of slots available, a selection committee reviews all applications for their merit and appropriateness, and notifies students of its decisions within four to six weeks after the application deadline.
Details on each program and how to apply can be found at these links:
* Directed Independent Language Study (DILS): https://cls.yale.edu/dils
* Fields Program: https://cls.yale.edu/fields
Please note that all applications must be received by the application deadline (this includes applications for continued study from current DILS or Fields students), March 1, 1pm.
2024 Terry Forum: The Place of the Liberal Arts in a Changing Climate. Recent years have seen a proliferation of new courses and majors addressing climate issues as well as overdue reckonings with the university’s implication in practices and legacies of extraction. This Forum aims at a more fundamental reappraisal of the enterprise of the liberal arts. If the liberal arts have traditionally been conceived as preparation for civic life, how should this enterprise respond to the multi-scale reconfigurations of civic life associated with climate change and to new ideas about the appropriate place of human beings within the biophysical order? How might the interlocking ethical, political, and epistemological challenges arising from climate change help to sharpen articulations of the aims—and limitations—of the liberal arts enterprise? What responsibilities do universities have to the places and ecologies they occupy? What might it mean for liberal arts educators and students to inhabit these places well? Wednesday, February 14, 4-6pm, Kline Tower, 219 Prospect St, 14th floor (registration required)
Volunteer Opportunity: New Haven Public School. Located in the Hill neighborhood of New Haven, Truman School serves 485 students in grades K-8. Over 80% of students are low income and many are new to New Haven and learning English as a second language. We are seeking 10-15 Yale students willing to make a commitment to tutoring and mentoring a Truman student. Training will be provided by Big Brothers Big Sisters and transportation to and from the school (114 Truman Street) will be provided by Dwight Hall. The enrollment process for volunteers includes an application, a brief informational interview, and a zoom training. Apply now if you would like to join a deeply committed group of educators and help these students succeed! Thursdays 2:30-5:30pm. Questions? Reach out to sophia.deoliveira@yale.edu.
Job Opportunity: Pathways Summer Scholars Programs is seeking Yale students to serve as Teaching Assistants or Residential Advisors. Every year, the Yale Pathways Summer Scholars Programs welcomes over 150 local public high school students to campus free of cost to take part in STEM and Arts & Humanities classes with Yale faculty and students. Students will have the unique opportunity to learn about coding, neuroscience, engineering, art-making, art history, college essay writing, and more. Join us this summer in inspiring the next generation! For more information and to apply, search “Pathways” at www.yalestudentjobs.org:
Teaching Assistants (TAs). TAs help with logistical needs of the program, plan activities, serve as mentors and chaperones to students, and aid instructors in the classroom. To get a better sense of what Summer Scholars looks like, check out last summer’s Closing Ceremony videos for the STEM and Arts & Humanities programs! Prospective TAs must be able to commit to a one month-long commitment, July 1-August 2. This is a full-time position with an hourly wage; we’ll be working from 8:30am to 4:30pm five days a week.
We’re looking for folks with maturity, enthusiasm, organizational skills, a sense of humor and a genuine interest in young people and outreach. If you have worked or volunteered in education, tutored young people, or anything else that’s related, we want to hear it in your application. Previous work with youth is preferred but not required, and content knowledge in STEM or Arts & Humanities is not required.
Residential Advisors (RAs). During the STEM program, about 40 rising high school seniors are granted the special opportunity of living in one of the Residential Colleges, returning home on the weekend between each one week-long session. RAs live with students in the Residential Colleges and their primary responsibility will be to supervise and mentor residential students. They will also be asked to help with logistical needs, plan activities, and participate in college readiness programming. Each RA will be responsible for about 10 students. Prospective RAs must be able to make a three week-long commitment, July 1-19. This is a full-time paid position; with shifts starting at 3pm. Room and board are provided for the duration of the program in addition to a $1600 stipend.
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).
From YC3
Mindfulness Mondays. This new YC3 program explores 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 for beginners. Drop-ins are welcomed, but you’ll get more out of your practice if you come every week! Monday, February 12, 1-1:30pm, Good Life Center lounge in Schwarzman
Intro to Mindfulness (part 2 of 4). Have you ever tried mindfulness meditation? Would you like to cultivate your practice over the course of four weeks? The Mindfulness Institute for Emerging Adults MIEA (previously Koru) is an evidence-based four-session course designed to help you build the habit of meditation. Research shows that MIEA reduces stress, improves sleep, and boosts self-compassion with 10 minutes of daily practice. *Class meets once weekly for 1 hour. You must be able to attend all four classes to enroll* Thursdays (February 8, 15, 22, 29), 3-4pm, Good Life Center lounge in Schwarzman (click to register)
What’s Love Got to Do with It? Join Angie for an interactive discussion. Together we will answer the burning questions: what qualities do we want in a healthy relationship, how do we even find one, and how can we have a healthy argument. The first 10 attendees will receive a free copy of Unfuck Your Intimacy: Using Science for Better Relationships, Sex, & Dating book & workbook by Dr. Faith G. Harper. Tuesday, February 13, 3-3:45pm, Good Life Center lounge in Schwarzman
From the Yale Library
Drop-In With Library Peer Mentors. Get answers to your most pressing questions from Library Peer Mentors, fellow undergraduate students with experience and training doing research at Yale. Wednesday, February 14, 8pm, Thain Café, Bass Library
Zotero for Senior Projects. In this session, co-led by a librarian and two Yale students (YC’24 & YC’25), we’ll guide you through using Zotero, including some advanced techniques, to make your bibliographies a breeze. No previous experience using Zotero is required. Friday, February 16, 1pm, Bass Library L06A
Tour: Hidden Treasures in Sterling Library. Join a Library Peer Mentor for a 30-minute tour inside the 16-story Sterling Library stack tower. This tour is designed and hosted by students for students! Bring your Yale ID. Friday, February 16, 4pm, Sterling Library Nave (click to register)
How To Find Scholarly Articles. 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. Sunday, February 18, 1:30pm, Online Event (register for link)