Fall 2020 Student Engagement
The College of the Liberal Arts is committed to connecting and engaging with students virtually this year. The college has planned several ways for students to engage with each other and connect with resources to facilitate their success. Recognizing the unique challenges facing students this semester, the college is committed to supporting students. Please review the information below to see examples of what the college has done and additional ways in which we plan to connect with students throughout the rest of the semester.
Meet the Dean 2020
At this annual event, Dean Clarence Lang reflected on his first year as dean of the College of the Liberal Arts, talked about the value of the liberal arts in today’s society, and answered questions from students.
Class of 2024
The College of the Liberal Arts has been, and continues to be, committed to connecting with the new incoming class of 2024. The following opportunities are ways in which the college has engaged with the class of 2024 to connect them with each other and provide them with opportunities to connect with upper-class students and additional resources from the College of the Liberal arts.
First-Year Welcome
All first-year students in the College of the Liberal Arts are enrolled in a non-credit course in Canvas to help them get acclimated to the University environment and the Liberal Arts community. In the Canvas course, they watch videos from faculty and staff leadership in the college, participate in discussion groups with their fellow students, receive important messages from their advisers, and learn more about all of the resources in the College of the Liberal Arts. Participation in the first-year Canvas course is required and will continue through the academic year.
Trivia Night
On August 26, the Liberal Arts Ambassadors hosted a trivia night for students. It was an opportunity for students to meet new people and test their Penn State and College of the Liberal Arts knowledge.
Drop-in Advising
Academic advisers and staff from the Career Enrichment Network were available for all students during the first two weeks of classes. All academic advisers for every Liberal Arts major and minor were available for virtual drop-in advising during the first week to answer questions related to courses and degree requirements. During the second week of the semester, the Liberal Arts Career Enrichment Network hosted 15-minute virtual career coaching appointments to answer students’ career questions and to review résumés.
First-Year Lecture 2020
The First-Year Lecture is an opportunity for students to hear from our award winning faculty members. The 2020 lecture was presented by Jill Wood, teaching professor of women’s, gender, and sexuality studies.
Upcoming Fall 2020 Engagement Opportunities
The College of the Liberal Arts is planning additional ways to connect with students for the rest of the semester. The following opportunities are great ways for students to connect with each other and with additional resources. To see all of our upcoming events, visit https://events.la.psu.edu/. Please encourage your student(s) to attend.
Peer Advisers
A group of Peer Advisers has recently been hired to further connect with the class of 2024. Peer advisers will engage with the first-year class to provide support and outreach, communicate important information, and plan events and programs to help folks meet each other. Students should check the class of 2024 Canvas course for additional information on how to connect virtually and participate in upcoming activities.
Liberal Arts Involvement Fair
On October 20, the College of the Liberal Arts will host an involvement fair to showcase the specific student clubs and organizations within the college. Encourage your student(s) to attend the virtual involvement fair and to get involved in one of the Liberal Arts-related student organizations.
Academic Advising and
Career Enrichment Network
Liberal Arts undergraduate advisers and career coaches from the Career Enrichment Network continue to be available. With registration for spring 2021 courses coming up, please encourage your student(s) to meet with their academic adviser to plan courses for the spring. Similarly, career coaches are available to discuss co-curricular activities such as internships, study abroad, and research. It is never too early to start planning for the opportunities.