News for College of Forestry Students
Has your first full week of Fall term been too much? Are you enjoying all of your classes? Do you need to explore a different route?
You may add/drop a class by Sunday, October 2nd at 11:59pm without departmental approval and with a full refund through MyOSU. The Office of Registrar can be found in the Kerr Administration building room B102. Their office closes on Friday at 5pm.
Don’t miss out on this opportunity. After October 2nd refunds will decrease each week.
Academic coaches work with students to provide necessary information about classes, programs, events, and future job possibilities. If you are interested in learning more about academic coaching here is a short video.
The Academic Success Center‘s mission is to support the university’s learning environment and promote student success through graduation and beyond.
Appointments can be made for academic coaching throughout the term. It is recommended that a series of three appointments will have greater impact on students to reach their goals. Skype appointments are now available for students who are commuting or are studying at our distance campuses.
If you would like more information about academic coaching visit here. To schedule an appointment contact the Academic Success Center at 541-737-2272 or go check it out in Waldo 102.
The 2016-2017 school year is now under way. Whether you are a new or returning student the beginning of a school year is always stressful. Don’t forget to attend the great Welcome Week events.
The College of Forestry is hosting two great events next Thursday, September 29th:
The College of Forestry has been moving throughout the summer because of the construction project of Peavy Hall into the new Forest Science Complex which should be complete by Spring 2018.
To keep updated with the transition visit: http://oregonstate.edu/ua/ncs/archives/2015/jan/osu-launches-initiative-forest-science-complex
Although the college is now scattered throughout campus, you will always be able to reach us. Advisors are located on the 4th Floor of Snell Hall and the Student Services Office is in Snell 133. Self-Learning Centers can be found in Snell 129 and Snell 123.
Oregon State University’s Commencement Ceremony is officially 15 days away! Commencement is a great time for families and friends to experience Beaver Nation. That means that campus will be flooded with people! Here is the general information you need to know about graduation:
On the morning of Commencement, the College of Forestry is hosting a Continental Breakfast for all graduates, friends, and family. The breakfast will be in the Peavy Hall Courtyard from 8:00-9:15 am. After the breakfast, graduates will be escorted to the MU Quad to line up for the processional into Reser Stadium. Be sure to RSVP for breakfast by emailing jessica.fitzmorris@oregonstate.edu. RSVP’s are due by June 3!
The College of Forestry graduates will be seated behind the Agricultural Sciences graduates, pictured below:
After graduation, all graduates and the guests are invited to the president’s reception in CH2M Hill Alumni Center.
Congratulations to the Class of 2016
Although it may seem like midterm season just ended, it is never too early to start studying for final exams. Actually, studying early will help you to be more successful on your finals because you aren’t cramming at the last minute. Here are a few tips for how to study for final exams!
1.Verify the details
Figure out sooner rather than later when and where your finals are. You will already be experiencing some anxiety on the day of the exam, so worrying about where you are going should not be another source of anxiety since that is one thing that is in your control. You can find the finals schedule here, or it should also be in your course syllabus.
2. Get some sleep
Pulling all-nighters the night before the exam when you haven’t studied previously won’t actually help and can also be detrimental to your health. Fatigued brains do not retain information, nor do they recall it well. When you sleep, that’s when memories are stored and can be called on later. So, even if it is a shorter night, make sure you are sticking to your normal sleep schedule.
3. Eat well!
Just like sleeping is important, so is giving your body the nutrients it needs to perform well and remember things you are studying! Scheduling time to eat throughout your study days will also give you a break once and a while to keep your mind fresh and prevents you from burning out.
4. Stay active
If you are someone who usually works out, goes for walks or hikes, or runs, make sure to schedule time during your finals study schedule to continue to do these things. Physical activity actually clears your mind and will allow you to focus once you come back to your study material.
5. Distribute your time
Many of you probably have more than one final exam during finals week. Naturally, we want to study hardest for the first one we have and not worry about the second one until the first one is over. However, according to TIME magazine, “research has shown that human brains are not designed to focus narrowly for long stretches of time. So, plan to work on an individual subject for an hour or two, and then switch. You do not have to split your time equally.” Revisiting study material more frequently in shorter time blocks will help the information “set” in your memory.
6. Silence your social media accounts
We are the generation of distraction. Our brains are not meant to multi-task well, so when we are reading a chapter of a textbook or a section of a study guide and stop every five minutes to respond to a text, send a tweet, snap a picture and add a cool filter, or upload our summer break plans to Instagram, we are actually diminishing the content we just read. Consider using social media accounts as a reward. For every 30 minutes of studying you do, you get 10 minutes to socialize via whatever platform you use. However, make sure to set a timer, because we all know the black hole of the internet, and pretty soon you end up binge watching cat videos on YouTube.
Final exams can be stressful, but the more prepared you are, the less stressed you will be!
For college students, group projects are a common assigned task in many classes throughout one’s undergraduate career. While we like to joke that the above photo is true, sometimes it can turn into the reality if a group project is not taken seriously. The raw truth of the matter is this: group projects also exist in real life, in our future careers.
There, I said it! What the professors say is true. That being said, here are some tips to help ensure your group project due at the end of the term (that I know you have procrastinated until now) will be a swimming success!
1.Figure out the best means of communication.
Based on who you are working with, you need to decide what is going to be your primary means of communication throughout the remainder of the project. With so many different channels of communication (emails, text messages, instant messaging, phone calls, Facebook groups), it is important to figure out which method works best for everyone.
2. Set check-ins and deadlines.
Setting multiple deadlines before the entire project is due helps to break down the tasks into more tangible action items. This also allows the work of the project to be split up among all of the team members. When assigning action items to team members, consider also assigning a secondary team member to help with that task. The secondary team member will also be responsible for making sure it is completed in a timely manner if for some reason the primary team member falls ill, has a family emergency, or decides to drop out mid-way through the project. Don’t forget to check-in with members of the group in between deadlines to make sure everyone is on the same page and everyone’s questions are answered.
3. Take the lead.
Anyone can be a leader. Don’t be afraid to step up to the challenge of doing your share of the group project and help coordinate dates/times for everyone to meet to work on the project together. They key to being successful in the leadership position is to follow up. If you say you will do something, make sure it happens. That will build your credibility and keep the team dynamics more positive.
4. Don’t be afraid to ask your professor for help.
Asking for help does not make you look unprepared, not knowledgeable, or silly. On the contrary, asking your professor for help on a project shows that you are dedicated to doing the best work possible. It can also help clarify the overall goals and expectations for the final project. Professors want you to do well, so asking them how you can do well and then doing what they say can only help your group.
5. Stay positive.
Group project take a lot of time, energy, and can cause stress. During the more difficult times, focus on the positive aspects of the project. This is something that you can discuss with a prospective employer during a job interview about a time that you worked in a team. Additionally, you are getting to bond with others in your class. Keep in mind, the people you are going to school with are going to be the future professionals in your field- always leave a good impression.
Group projects don’t have to be scary or stressful; they can be conquered through effective communication, tackling big projects in smaller steps, taking the lead on various parts of a project, asking for help when you need it, and staying positive throughout the entire process.
Good luck finishing up those group projects!
Have you ever thought about continuing your education after your undergraduate career? Is an advanced degree right for you? There may be many other questions you have about what it is like to be a graduate student at Oregon State University or how to navigate the overall process.
To get your questions answered, come to Furman Hall, Room 101 on Thursday, May 19th from 5:30-6:30 pm! The OSU Graduate School is hosting a presentation to cover the basics of a graduate education. Snacks will be provided!
Please call the OSU Graduate School at 541-737-4881 with any questions you have about this event!
National Get Outdoors Day is May 21, 2016 at Peavy Arboretum, north of Corvallis and now is your chance to sign up as a volunteer! This event is expected to bring out many children and families from our community to explore the outdoors and to become inspired by the natural world through hands-on projects and activities.
Volunteers just like YOU are what make this event a success each year! Follow the link below to officially register as a volunteer. After you register and as the date gets closer reminders will be sent with more information.
http://oregonstate.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_eDrid2PH5i7v3ut
If you have any questions about this event or your involvement, please contact Matt McPharlin, Event Volunteer Coordinator at Matt.mcpharlin@oregonstate.edu.
Moms and Family Weekend is NEXT WEEKEND, April 29-May 1! As a college student, there are many things that we get to experience and Moms and Family Weekend is a great chance to share those experiences with your family!
You’re invited!
The College of Forestry is hosting an open house on Friday, April 29th from 2-4 PM in the first floor knuckle of Richardson Hall. At the open house, families can learn about the variety of resources and programs available to all College of Forestry students, including advising resources, student clubs & organizations, diverse perspectives in forestry group, forestry ambassadors, international programs/internships, OSU research forests, and the NEW Forest Science Complex!
This is a free event and refreshments will be served. Bring your family to Richardson Hall to show them all of the exciting opportunities that are offered here in the College of Forestry!
Click here to see a full schedule of all of the events happening on campus for Moms and Family Weekend!
The Corvallis Housing Fair is quickly approaching! Make sure to mark Thursday, April 14 from 11:00 am-3:00 pm in the SEC Plaza on your calendar to learn how to become a “preferred renter” in Corvallis and upon successful completion of the program, receive $50 off your initial rental deposit with participating property managers!
Hosted by ASOSU and Corvallis Community Relations, the 2016 Corvallis Housing Fair presents an opportunity for OSU students to interact with property managers located within Corvallis and identify potential rental housing options. Campus and community agencies will also be present to provide critical information for students as they seek to integrate responsibly into the Corvallis community, many for the first time.
If you plan to live off-campus next fall, the Corvallis Housing Fair is something you cannot miss! We hope to see you there!
