TRUMBULL COLLEGE: September 8, 2025
Hi Trumbullians! We needed and got some rain, and now the incredibly weather continues! This has been quite the stretch of lovely weather – I’ll take it!
Please see my Saturday morning note about double checking that everything looks right on your fall term schedule. My authority to help with adjustments disappears precipitously the further we get from the end of Add/Drop. Thanks for your attention to these details. I hope all is well as we enter Week 3 of classes – I was working on grading today, so I imagine that the workload has suddenly picked up for everyone. Hang in there!
Have a wonderful week!
Meeting with me – please take note of my open Zoom hours (below)
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 Friday, September 12th (10-11:30am). Please check the little blurb on Calendly for my latest open Zoom hours.
Please note that I teach on Wednesday mornings during the fall term.
ACADEMICS
Please double check your Course Schedule and Yale Degree Audit to make sure you are officially registered for your courses. If your class list is not exactly what you thought it was, please %20alice.kustenbauder@yale.edu?subject=issues%20with%20my%20schedule">let us know immediately. Many problems that students have with the registration system can be remedied, but being prompt in informing us is essential.
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, 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 learn about – and access! – Degree Audit at https://registrar.yale.edu/student-records/degree-audit. 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 (5pm unless noted)
September 10 Withdrawal from Yale College on or before this date entitles a student to a full rebate of fall-term tuition (Undergraduate Regulations).
September 10 Final deadline to apply for fall-term Leave of Absence.
September 15 All students planning to complete degree requirements at the end of the fall term must file a petition by this date.
September 15 Students in their final term of enrollment must petition to complete the requirements of two majors by this date.
September 15 Students in their final term of enrollment planning to change their major, must by this date, declare as such in Yale Hub.
September 15 Students in their final term of enrollment planning to earn a certificate, must by this date, declare as such in Yale Hub.
September 18 Last day to withdraw from a course offered in the first half of the fall term without the course appearing on the transcript.
September 20 Withdrawal from Yale College on or before this date entitles a student to a rebate of one-half of fall-term tuition. See Undergraduate Regulations.
October 1 Applications for spring 2026 Term Abroad close.
TUTORING
Advising Resources: http://advising.yalecollege.yale.edu
Academic Strategies Program: https://poorvucenter.yale.edu/academic-strategies-program
Sc/QR Tutoring: https://poorvucenter.yale.edu/learning/help-with-stem/stem-tutoring
Language Tutoring: https://cls.yale.edu/programs/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 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!
Academic Strategies Program. Through the Office of Educational Opportunity, the Academic Strategies Program helps students navigate the “hidden curriculum” at Yale, the invisible set of underlying assumptions and expectations about how to do well as a student. They offer support groups, individual mentoring, and workshops; see https://poorvucenter.yale.edu/learning.
Yap Fest vs. Lock In (Don’t Rest): How to Do Well in Class. From big lectures to intimate seminars, different classes call for different skills and approaches. This workshop covers how to prepare, participate, take notes, and review effectively—so you can feel confident and prepare to thrive, whatever the course format.
Monday, September 8, 4-5pm, Poorvu Center CTL, Room M104A
Tuesday, September 9, 6-7pm, Poorvu Center CTL, Room M104A
STEM Navigators: Physical Sciences/Engineering Peer-networking reception. Join us at our Physical Sciences/Engineering peer-networking reception to meet professors, upperclassmen, mentors, and peers involved in the Engineering and Physics departments at Yale. Learn more about the major, classes, and other opportunities. Monday, September 8, 4-4:30pm, TEAL classroom at 17 Hillhouse
STEM Navigators: How to Succeed in Intro Physics. Are you taking introductory physics? Wondering how you can begin to tackle the coursework and lab without ever having taken physics? Come hear from students who succeeded in the course to know what works best and what to avoid when approaching intro physics & its lab at Yale. Monday, September 8, 4:30-5:30pm, TEAL classroom at 17 Hillhouse
ADHD Discussion Group. Connect with fellow Yalies who have ADHD to share study tips, time management strategies, and support each other through the unique challenges of college life. Discover resources and build a community that understands your experience. Monday, September 8, 5-6pm, Poorvu Center CTL, Room M104A
STEM Navigators: Biology Lab Techniques Workshop. Hoping to strengthen your biology knowledge and skills? Feeling like you want to gain a better understanding of lab techniques that you learned in class or are practicing in your reserach lab? Join our Biology Lab Technique Workshops and Study Hall sessions where you’ll work with graduate students in Biology to dive into essential biology concepts and lab techniques used in biochemistry, genetics, molecular biology, and more. Monday, September 8, 5-6pm, Poorvu Center CTL, Room 120C
How to Read Efficiently and Effectively for Your Social Science Classes. Social science texts can be dense, tricky, and time-consuming. This workshop breaks down how to identify key arguments, sift through details, and come to class ready to contribute—led by students who’ve developed strategies that really work! Monday, September 8, 6-7pm, Poorvu Center CTL, Room M104A
Senior Thesis Power Hours. Writing a Senior Thesis is HARD—but it’s way more fun with snacks, support, and friends who get it! Drop in anytime to this two-hour session, hosted by the Yale College Writing Partners and Academic Strategies Peer Mentors, for (1) Facilitated & structured focus time + breaks; (2) Delicious snacks + seltzer water; (3) optional 1:1 help from Writing Partners and Academic Strategies Peer Mentors; (4) the camaraderie you need to keep those ideas flowing. Monday, September 8, 7-9pm, Poorvu Center CTL, Room 120A
Essentials for First-Years 2: Organize Your Time. Time management isn’t just about being busy - it’s about making time for what matters. In this interactive workshop, you’ll learn strategies for balancing your coursework, extracurriculars, and life outside of Yale. With the help of ASP Peer Mentors, you’ll explore different approaches to scheduling, planning, and managing overwhelm - then start crafting a system that works for you.
Tuesday, September 9, 4-5pm, Poorvu Center CTL, Room 120C
Wednesday, September 10, 6-7pm, Poorvu Center CTL, Room 120C
Friday, September 12, 2025, 1-2pm, Poorvu Center CTL, Room 120C
STEM Navigators: Crash Course in Python. Are you taking a CS/statistics course that requires Python? Do you need a refresher, or perhaps you’ve never encountered coding before? This is the workshop for you - come learn the basics of Python, and how it might be useful in both your course and real life applications! Tuesday, September 9, 5-6pm, Watson Center, Room B52
Getting the Most Out of Your Language Classes. Learning a language takes daily commitment—and it’s easy to fall behind! This workshop offers peer-tested strategies for staying engaged, reviewing effectively, and building habits that support steady progress, even when the workload piles up. Wednesday, September 10, 4-5pm, Poorvu Center CTL, Room M104A
Stem Navigators: How to Talk to STEM Professors. Nervous about approaching your professors in your STEM classes? Want to know how to make the connections you need and get to know your professor better or learn more about their research? Come to this interactive workshop where you’ll learn to email, talk to, and meet with your STEM professors and other STEM faculty at Yale! Wednesday, September 10, 4-5pm, Poorvu Center CTL, Room 120B
Chronic Illness Discussion Group. A supportive space for students navigating chronic health conditions to share experiences, coping strategies, and resources. Connect with peers who understand the unique challenges of managing health while pursuing your Yale education. Wednesday, September 10, 5-6pm, Poorvu Center CTL, Room 118A
Returning from Your Leave of Absence. Coming back after time away can be both exciting and overwhelming. This supportive workshop helps you ease the transition and reconnect with your academic life—led by ASP Peer Mentors who’ve made the return themselves and are here to walk alongside you! Wednesday, September 10, 6-7pm, Poorvu Center CTL, Room M104A
Finding Your Voice: Strategies for Speaking Up in Class (Micro-Workshop). Speaking in class doesn’t have to mean having all the answers! In this 30-minute session, you’ll learn how to prepare yourself to speak up in class, and practice strategies for contributing meaningfully to discussion. Afterward, stay as long as you like to reflect or prep, with support from Academic Strategies Peer Mentors. Wednesday, September 10, 7-7:30pm, Poorvu Center CTL, Room M104A
Eli Whitney Caffeinated Commons. Wrap up your week with community, conversation, and caffeine! Drop by this relaxed weekly hangout hosted by the Academic Strategies Program’s Eli Whitney peer mentors—sometimes there’s a theme or discussion, sometimes just snacks and good company. Whether you’re here to chat, decompress, connect, or set up your weekend, you’re always welcome. Thursdays, 4pm-6pm coffee provided. Thursday, September 11, 4-6pm, Poorvu Center CTL, Room 118B
STEM Navigators: Crash Course in R for Data. Are you taking a statistics/CS course or starting a research project that requires R? Do you need a refresher, or perhaps you’ve never encountered coding before? This is the workshop for you - come learn the basics of R, and how it might be useful in both your course and real life applications! Thursday, September 11, 4-5pm, Watson Center, Room B52
How to Do Yale as a Sophomore: Sharpening Your Focus and Leveling Up. You made it through your first year—now it’s time to build on that foundation. This workshop helps you reflect on your goals, navigate more advanced academic expectations, and make intentional choices about your time, energy, and direction. Led by ASP Peer Mentors who know that sophomore year is when things start to click—and when it’s especially important to stay intentional. Thursday, September 11, 6-7pm, Poorvu Center CTL, Room M104A
“I’m In”: Hack Your Brain by Understanding the Psychology of Time Management. If you know what to do but still can’t seem to do it, then this workshop is for you! With the Academic Strategies Peer Mentors, you’ll explore the mental habits and cognitive traps that make time management hard—and try out new strategies that can actually work with, and not against, how your brain operates. Friday, September 12, 2-3pm, Poorvu Center CTL, Room M104A
Strategies for Intro Econ. Intro Econ moves fast and can feel like a completely different way of thinking. This session walks you through how to tackle problem sets, study for exams, and stay grounded—led by peer mentors who know the challenges and how to meet them! Friday, September 12, 3-4pm, Poorvu Center CTL, Room M104A
STEM Navigators: Monthly Study Break- Mocktails and Mario Kart. Take a break from studying and join STEM Navigators for our Mocktails and Mario Kart Study Break! We’ll have shirley temples, virgin mojitos, and a mini vegetarian charcuterie board for everyone to enjoy while playing Mario Kart on the Swtich (board games will also be available)! Sunday, September 14, 2-4pm, Poorvu Center 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.
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.
Light Fellowship Information Session #2. The Light Fellowship provides full funding (tuition, room and board, transportation, and incidentals) for Yale students of exceptional promise to study Chinese, Japanese, or Korean at specific approved programs in East Asia.. Friday, September 12, 3:30-4:30pm, Zoom (click for link)
STUDY ABROAD
Study Abroad is fully integrated into your time at Yale. By spending a summer, semester, or full academic year studying abroad, you will be taking courses that earn graduation credit at Yale, maintaining your advising network on campus, and using Yale funding (as applicable). Plus – through navigating new environments, norms, and perspectives – you will strengthen your soft skills, including adaptability, resiliency, problem solving, resourcefulness, and intercultural communication. These valuable skills in turn aid your future endeavors when pursuing internships, fellowships, or graduate study. Yale Study Abroad is here to support you through the process from start to finish, and it’s never too early to begin planning. Get Started!
Spring 2026 Study Abroad Bluebooking Event. Whether you’re pre-med, in the humanities, or somewhere in between, we’re here to help you organize your courses and find solutions to make study abroad fit your unique academic goals. Join the Study Abroad Student Outreach Coordinators in the Good Life Center to plan what your semester might look like. Snacks will be provided! Monday, September 8, 7-8pm, The Good Life Center Lounge, 55 Whitney Ave, 3rd Fl
Study Abroad: Taiwan Intensive Summer and Semester Language Programs (TISLP). Interested in studying Chinese in Taiwan? TISLP combines 18-20 hours of weekly small group and one-on-one language instruction with regular cultural workshops, excursions, interactions with language partners, and a weekend homestay with local host families to create a truly immersive learning environment. This program is tailored for individuals committed to rapidly improving their Mandarin proficiency. To optimize their immersion experience, students are expected to speak Mandarin at all times and spend an average of four hours on coursework each night. The program allows participants to advance an average of one full academic year in their language studies at their home universities. Wednesday, September 10, 1:30-2:15pm, 55 Whitney Ave, 3rd Fl, Rm 369
Study Abroad: Advanced Russian Language and Area Studies Program (Kazakhstan, Estonia, Armenia). The Russian Language and Area Studies Program (RLASP) provides intensive, immersion-based language instruction in several of the world’s most dynamic and exciting countries. Hosted by faculty from world-leading universities in Almaty, Kazakhstan; Tallinn, Estonia; and Yerevan, Armenia; the program provides approximately 20 hours per week of in-class instruction in Russian grammar, phonetics, conversation, and cultural studies for a semester, summer or academic year. Participants also complete coursework in the history and culture of their host country and may elect to enroll in Armenian, Estonian, or Kazakh language study. Attend this information session to learn more! Wednesday, September 10, 2:20-3:05pm, 55 Whitney Ave. 3rd Fl. Rm. 369
Study Abroad: Korean Intensive Summer Language Program (KISLP). KISLP is a program hosted by Chungbuk National University and is designed to maximize student gains in language proficiency and cultural understanding by combining intensive in-class learning with structured immersion activities throughout the program! Attend this information to learn more! Wednesday, September 10, 3:10-3:50pm, 55 Whitney Ave, 3rd Fl, Rm 369
OTHER
Join PUPY: Yale’s Pre-professional Animal Club. Like animals? Interested in vet med, conservation, or animal sciences? PUPY is Yale’s first pre-veterinary student organization, bringing together students who love animals and want to explore careers in veterinary medicine and beyond. Complete our Interest Form or email Mia Pineda.
Yale Farm Workdays. The Yale Sustainable Food Program welcomes visitors to the Yale Farm for Open Workday hours on Friday and Sunday afternoons, 2-4pm. Participants are welcome to drop-in on a come-and-go basis, but we ask that you stay at least 30 minutes for planned tasks. RSVPs are not required. Full details and fall semester dates are at https://www.sustainablefood.yale.edu/open-workdays.
YC3
Welcome: Wellness Wednesday. This month we are focusing on social wellness. How we can take active steps to be more aware in social settings, and experiences and how to grow connections and build community. This Wellness Wednesday is in collaboration with the Alcohol and Other Drugs Harm Reduction Initiative (AODHRI). Stop by anytime between 2-4pm & grab a snack and free giveaways! Wednesday, September 10, 2-4pm, The Good Life Center Lounge, Schwarzman, 2nd Floor
Showing Love from a Distance. Worried about balancing your life at Yale with staying connected to friends, family, and partners long distance? Join Angie Makomenaw, Community Wellness Specialist, for an interactive brainstorming session utilizing the Love Language framework. Together we’ll create a list of ways to support your loved ones. Friday, September 12, 12:30-1pm, The Good Life Center Lounge, Schwarzman, 2nd Floor
Yale Library
How To Find Scholarly Articles. Are you ready to find articles thoroughly and efficiently, while also avoiding paywalls ($$)? Learn strategies to find the best possible scholarly articles from Yale Library. Monday, September 8, 4-4:30pm, Online Event (register for link)
Cookies & Questions. Get answers to your most pressing library questions (and a free Insomnia cookie!) from a Library Peer Mentor. Wednesday, September 10, 8-9:30 Bass Library Service Desk
Introduction To Digital Humanities. This workshop will explore the history of the field of Digital Humanities, examine key methodologies, and discuss the process of working on a digital humanities project. Attendees will leave the workshop with a general understanding of digital humanities work and insights into how it can enhance their own research and scholarly endeavors. Wednesday, September 10, 11am-12pm noon, Bass Library, L06-A & L06-B
Let’s Find Books for Class. Save a trip to the bookstore by learning how to optimize Quicksearch to find books (including e-books and audiobooks). Bring your course syllabus! Thursday, September 11 12-12:30pm, Online Event (register for link)
Any student who attends at least 3 library workshops this semester will be eligible to receive a Yale Library tote bag. Learn more about the Workshop Incentive Program.
Students may also request a Personal Librarian or reach out to a Subject Specialist Librarian for individual support.