Dean’s Notes 4-14-2025

April 14, 2025

TRUMBULL COLLEGE: April 14, 2025

Oh, how I love Spring in New Haven – there’s wild rain, wind – just downright blustery weather, 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, right?! Longer days, being able to study outside – it’s the little things… We are almost there…next week is the last week of classes and then Reading Period & Finals. Hang in there – you can do this!

With everything else you have going on for this term, there’s also planning for next term: Registration for Fall 2025. 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 Reading Period 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 to find those details! 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.

PLEASE NOTE: Though classes meet, Friday, April 18th is a staff holiday (Good Friday) and Trumbull Offices will be closed. Please follow my auto-reply, particularly if something is time-sensitive. Thank you!

Meeting with me:To make an appointment, please use the Calendly scheduling tool, https://calendly.com/dean_c, or 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 Wednesday April 16th (10:30-11:30am) and Thursday, April 17th (4-5pm). Please check the little blurb on Calendly for my latest open Zoom hours.

ACADEMICS
Advising Period continues through today, April 14th. This two-week period presents a great opportunity to connect with your advisers before Fall 2025 registration opens. Though the period ends “officially”, it’s still important to make these connections, if you haven’t already:

  • First-years and Sophomores: connect with your college advisers
  • Don’t yet have a major? Begin (or continue) exploring prospective majors. Many departments and programs will offer information sessions
  • If you have declared your major, check in with your department about your progress and anything that’s unclear in Degree Audit
  • SENIORS:  check in with your DUS(es) and Certificate Adviser about completion of your requirements for graduation!

Thinking about taking a Fall class outside of Yale College? Please take a look at these two important – and helpful! – sites:

Fall 2025 Registration Resources:  Course registration deadlines, instructions, explanations of error messages, FAQs, and a growing library of system tutorials can be found at registration.yale.edu.   In addition, members of the Registrar’s Office are holding an Open Zoom Registration Office Hour on Wednesday, April 16, 3:30-4:30pm. Drop-in with technical questions you may have about registering for next semester’s classes.

Yale Degree Audit:  Degree Audit displays the Yale College, major, and Certificate requirements that you have already completed and those that are still pending. Check out the “Look Ahead” feature helpful as you plan future courses or the “What If” to see what would happen if you changed your major, added a Certificate, etc.  Access Degree Audit through Yale Hub. If you believe that information in your degree audit is incorrect, contact our office.

UPCOMING DATES AND DEADLINES (5pm unless noted)

April 15 (Tu)      Fall term registration opens for Class of 2026, 8am

April 16 (W)      Fall term registration opens for Class of 2027, visiting students, and Eli Whitney students (without a class year), 8am

April 17 (Th)      Fall term registration opens for Class of 2028, 8am

April 25 (F)        Classes end; reading period begins.

April 25 (F)        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 25 (F)        Last day to withdraw from a full-term course and/or a course offered in the second half of the spring term.

August 26 (T)    Save the Date!  Required check-in meetings for upper-level students.  Plan your summer so that you’re back on campus in time for these mandatory meetings on the Tuesday morning before classes begin: Class of 2028 (9am); Class of 2027 (9:45am); Class of 2026 (10:30am)

TUTORING
Advising Resources:  http://advising.yalecollege.yale.edu

Sc/QR Tutoring:  https://poorvucenter.yale.edu/undergraduates/stem-tutoring-programs

Language Tutoring:  https://cls.yale.edu/programs/language-tutoring

Yale College Writing Center:
https://poorvucenter.yale.edu/undergraduates/undergraduate-writing-and-tutoring.  The Yale College Writing Center offers a variety of resources available to all students looking for support as they complete writing tasks during their time at Yale:

  • Adam Reid Sexton is the Trumbull College Writing Tutor.  His office is in room Basement 29.  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 share a Google doc of the material 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!
  • Writing Partners are Yale College or graduate school students selected for both their writing skills and their ability to talk about writing. They have drop-in hours at  Poorvu 6 days a week, offer Zoom appointments, and Weekly Partners for more robust writing goals. Whether you join the Writing Partners in person or online, please register for an account at WConline before visiting
  • The Writing Advice webpage offers a range of information and resources related to writing in Yale College. It includes sample student essays from a wide range of disciplines, allowing you to read good models as you learn to write in a new field, and also features extensive advice about writing with Turnitin.

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 undergraduates be active, empowered learners at Yale. Through 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.

Disability Peer Mentorship Program.  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. 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 Geoffrey Canales (geoffrey.canales@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. Our online mentoring schedule is live. 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.

Senior Thesis Power Hours.  Time for seniors to set goals and work together on their theses!  Monday, April 14, 7-9pm, Poorvu CTL Room 120A

National Postgraduate Fellowships: Are they for you?  This session will introduce fellowships available to graduating seniors. Including Rhodes, Fulbright, Marshall, Schwarzman, and others. Come along to hear from Office of Fellowship advisers and explore which fellowships may be a good fit for you.  Tuesday, April 15, 4-5pm, Poorvu CTL Room 120A

Eli Whitney ASP Study Group.  Come connect and study with the Eli Whitney community!  Wednesday, April 16, 1-3pm, Poorvu CTL Room 121 and Saturday, April 19, 3-4:30pm, Poorvu CTL Room 120A

Recommendations for National Fellowships.  Join the Office of Educational Opportunity and the Office of Fellowships & Funding for a conversation about national fellowships.  Wednesday, April 16, 4-5pm, Poorvu CTL Room 120A

Chronic Illness Discussion Group.  Share strategies, experiences, and support with peers who understand your experience. This is open to undergraduates and graduate students.  Wednesday, April 16, 5-6pm, Poorvu CTL Room 120C

ADHD Discussion Group.  Share strategies and support with peers who understand your experience. This is open to both undergraduates and graduate students.  Thursday, April 17, 5-6pm, Poorvu CTL Room 120A/B

Passing the Torch: A Celebration of FGLI Mentorship.  Join us for a celebratory evening where mentors and mentees in our FGLI community come together to reflect, share stories, and connect one last time before the year ends. Whether you’ve been guiding, growing, or just getting started, this event is for you. Come for the community, stay for the vibes—and enjoy delicious tacos from Tacos Los Gordos!  Thursday, April 17, 6-7:30pm, Poorvu CTL Room 120 A/B

STEM Navigators Sunday 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 20, 2-3pm, Poorvu CTL Room 121

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.  There are still several Career Fairs coming up this Spring!

OCS Resource Spotlight:  CareerShift.  CareerShift is a powerful tool for searching internship and full-time positions posted across thousands of employer websites and other public sites. It also allows the job seeker to find millions of contacts for networking (including Yale alumni) and find recruiters for various companies or by industry.

Meet with an Outreach Coordinator! Interested in learning more about fellowships and career resources, but unsure where to start? Meet with one of our Outreach Coordinators! OCs are Yale students with first-hand experience and knowledge of fellowships and career opportunities available at Yale. OCs hold office hours in all residential colleges on biweekly basis. Check out the Office of Fellowships Instagram for locations!

OCS Upcoming Events & Deadlines
Penguin Random House Careers Across Publishing Panel: Sales.  Join our expert panel for an engaging discussion on the world of book sales. Hear from staff in special markets, data analytics and title management, education and library and international sales. Our panelists will share insights on these unique areas of the industry. Learn about different career paths and discover the behind-the-scenes processes that bring books to the right readers at the right time. Perfect for publishing professionals, book lovers, and anyone curious about the multifaceted world of book sales.  Tuesday, April 15, 1-2:30pm, Online Event (register for link)

Connecting for Change: Yale Alumni, Student, and Community Partner Networking Event.  Join Dwight Hall, Yale alumni, and local community partners for an engaging networking event designed to connect students with professionals in social impact careers. This reception offers a unique opportunity to explore career paths, gain insights into internships, fellowships, and post-grad roles, and build relationships with alumni and mentors eager to share their experiences.  Learn more and register. Refreshments provided.  Tuesday, April 15, 6-7:30pm, Dwight Hall, 67 High Street, Lovett Common Room

Summer Experience Award Q & A Zoom Room.  Bring all of your Summer Experience Award (SEA) questions to this open Zoom Q & A session, hosted by Lisa Blees, Assistant Director, Programming & Internal Relations in the Office of Career Strategy. Wednesday, April 16, 7-8pm, Online Event (click or register for Zoom link)

National Organization on Disability: Virtual Career Fair.  This virtual career fair, hosted by the National Organization on Disability, is a unique opportunity to expand your network while learning more about internships, apprenticeships/programs, and full/part-time jobs for all majors and industries.  Thursday, April 17, 10am-1pm, Online Event (pre-register for link)

[Upcoming Deadline] Summer Experience Award (SEA).  The SEA is a non-competitive, one-time award:  $4k for a U.S.-based opportunity or $6k for an international experience. First Years, Sophomores, and Juniors on financial aid who have secured an eligible summer opportunity are eligible to apply.  Final SEA Deadline = Thursday, May 1

Looking for something else?  You can tailor a weekly OCS newsletter to match your specific interests. 

FELLOWSHIPS AND FUNDING
The Office of Fellowships and Funding helps students identify funding opportunities to support activities such as research, study abroad, low-paid/unpaid internships, independent projects - and navigate the application process. Visit https://funding.yale.edu to learn more.

Fellowships & Funding Upcoming Events & Deadlines
National Postgraduate Fellowships: Are they for you?  This session will introduce fellowships available to graduating seniors. Including Rhodes, Fulbright, Marshall, Schwarzman, and others. Come along to hear from Office of Fellowship advisers and explore which fellowships may be a good fit for you.  Tuesday, April 15, 4-5pm, Poorvu CTL Room 120A

Recommendations for National Fellowships.  Join the Office of Educational Opportunity and the Office of Fellowships & Funding for a conversation about national fellowships.  Wednesday, April 16, 4-5pm, Poorvu CTL Room 120A

[Upcoming Deadline] ISA Final Deadline.  After receiving admission into or Yale approval for your summer study abroad program, you will have access to the (ISA) International Study Award request form as one of your required pre-departure forms in your Yale Compass account. No late applications accepted. Final Deadline = Thursday, May 1, 11:59pm (Eastern)

[Upcoming Deadline] MacMillan Center Academic Year Fellowships for Language Study. This fellowship supports a year of language study for areas not covered by Light and FLAS fellowships, of languages or proficiency levels not currently offered at Yale.  Application Deadline = Thursday, May 1, 1pm (Eastern)

STUDY ABROAD
Don’t wait to ensure you have the necessary travel documents! 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. As a point of reference, the current estimated processing time for a U.S. passport  is 6-8 weeks. International students should research passport renewal for their country of citizenship and be aware of how renewal may impact their U.S. student visa. Visit the Study Abroad Office Travel Planning & Logistics for additional information.

OTHER
Join the 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). Complete the online application by today, Monday April 14th. Questions?  RCseminar@yale.edu.

Seeking Schwarzman Sessionists for Fall 2025.  Schwarzman Sessions generate inspiring and interdisciplinary conversations over a nourishing lunch. Community connections are the driving force of Schwarzman Sessions, and we are excited to invite you to propose a Session for Fall 2025. Applications are free and open to the public; the deadline is today, Monday April 14th. We welcome submissions from Yale students, faculty, and staff, as well as members from the wider New Haven community. 

Sign up to participate in the Speech Competition. The Yale College Speech Competition takes place Monday, April 28, 2025. Sophomores, juniors, and seniors are eligible for prizes of up to $1000 for delivering a short speech of their own composition. The deadline to sign up at this link is 11:59pm on Monday, April 21. Please contact alfred.guy@yale.edu with questions.

The Yale Peabody Museum invites student proposals for the Fall 2025 Student Exhibition. Individuals or pairs of students who are interested in developing, curating, and creating a museum exhibition to be on display October 2025-March 2026 should submit the proposal form to peabody.student.programs@yale.edu by Friday, April 25th. Concepts need not be limited to topics in science, though successful proposals will thoughtfully relate to the Peabody Museum and make use of Peabody collection objects and specimens. See the Head of College’s March 27th email for full details.

Yale Farm Workdays continue through Sunday April 27th. Visitors are welcomed at the Yale Farm, 345 Edwards St, for Open Workdays on Friday and Sunday afternoons (2-4pm) this Spring. You may drop by for any length of time; RSVPs are not required.  Just bring a water bottle and wear weather- and work-appropriate clothing.

From YC3
Seamless Transitions: Budgeting 101.  Managing your finances becomes more crucial to your wellbeing after Yale. We’ll cover how to build a realistic post-grad budget, factor in expenses like rent and student loans, and make informed decisions about money management as you leave college. Attend this workshop and get a free sloth t-shirt! Tuesday, April 15, 3:15-4pm, GLC Lounge in Schwarzman

From the Yale Library
Next Steps with Zotero.  Learn how to get the most out of Zotero’s advanced research management features for your unique needs, including how to read and annotate PDFs, remove duplicate citations, filter with tags, and how to integrate Zotero with Microsoft Word and Google Docs.  Monday, April 14, 8-8:30pm, 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 15, 1-2:30pm, Thain Café, Bass Library

Button Making with Book Covers. Take a break and learn how to hand-press 1” buttons using images from the library’s discarded book covers. All Yale students are welcome; no registration required. Wednesday, April 16, 8-9:30pm, Thain Café, Bass Library (register if you want an email reminder)

How to Find Scholarly Articles.  Are you ready to find articles thoroughly and efficiently – without relying on Google Scholar, while also avoiding paywalls ($$)? Learn strategies to find the best possible scholarly articles from Yale Library.  Thursday, April 17, 7-7:30pm, Online Event (register for link)

Hidden Treasures in Sterling Library.  Join a fellow Yale student to learn tips & tricks and find hidden ‘gems’ inside the 16-story Sterling Library stack tower!  Registration & Yale ID Card required.  Thursday, April 17, 3:30-4:15pm, Sterling Memorial Library Nave

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.  Sunday, April 20, 1:30-2pm, Online Event (register for link)

Browse all upcoming Library Workshops.  Attend at least 3 in one semester to be eligible for a Yale Library tote bag or water bottle.

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 ● 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. Anonymized essays must be submitted by Monday, April 21, 4pm as an email attachment to julia.divincenzo@yale.edu.  Submit an electronic copy of a completed paper or thesis, double-spaced typed (maximum of 40 pages: not including thesis abstract, images, figures, and bibliography) with the subject line “Elizabethan Essay Prize, Undergraduate”. Papers should be anonymized by removing all identifying information. Questions? Seniors who won’t complete their senior essays by April 21? Contact julia.divincenzo@yale.edu.

Williams Prize in East Asian Studies.  The Williams Prize in East Asian Studies is awarded to an undergraduate senior in any department for an outstanding paper completed during the current academic year on a Chinese, Japanese, or Korean subject. Papers will be judged on use of primary sources, quality of writing, and depth and originality of scholarship. It is expected that essays nominated for the Williams Prize will make substantial use of materials in East Asian language(s) in any medium, including transcriptions of interviews.  Essays that focus exclusively on Asian American topics normally will not be considered eligible for consideration. Course papers may be submitted.  Please submit the following to nicholas.disantis@yale.edu no later than Wednesday, April 30th at 5pm:

  1. One electronic copy of your paper
  2. Written endorsement from a faculty member of the Council on East Asian Studies (The endorsement must be sent directly from the faculty member to nicholas.disantis@yale.edu)
  3. A Separate Page That Lists
    1. your complete legal name
    2. current campus mailing address and telephone/cell number
    3. Yale College affiliation
    4. UPI number
    5. Student Identification (SID) number
    6. other prizes or awards that your paper is being considered for at Yale

The Richard Maxwell Prize for Translation and Translation Studies.  Open to any undergraduate in Yale College, a $500 prize shall be awarded annually to the best Literary Translation or to the best essay in Translation Studies. “Literary Translation” encompasses all genres, so long as the chosen work is substantial, while “Translation Studies” is understood to include theoretical and historical questions involving language, culture, and medium. Submissions that combine actual translation and reflections on issues raised or exemplified by the process are welcome.  Submissions must include: (1) a cover letter with basic information about the student’s studies/major and about the context in which the essay/translation was written; (2) a translator’s introduction describing the intellectual and  historical context of the translated text, along with some consideration of its technical features; (3) a copy of the translated text(s) in the original language, as an appendix to your translation; (4) annotation, as deemed relevant, for literary translations.  Please submit a PDF file for consideration to sabrina.whiteman@yale.edu (and cc’d to lisa.tomlin@yale.edu) by 12pm (noon) on Thursday, May 1st.  The prize will be presented along with other Comparative Literature prizes at the department’s Spring reception in early May.
The Richard Maxwell prize for Translation and Translation Studies commemorates the scholarly and pedagogical legacy of Richard Maxwell (1948-2010), an exceptionally wide-ranging undergraduate teacher, scholar and critic. He was an historian of the novel, of visual culture, and of urban life, and a critic of poetry and film.  During his final illness he dictated an experimental novel about architectural, literary, and film life in 1950s Los Angeles. Richard Maxwell believed deeply in the discipline of Comparative Literature and the ideal of world literature, and he championed his Yale students as aspiring translators, critics, and writers.

Type: 
Dean's Notes