COM Undergrad News: March 2021
We’re approaching the midpoint of the semester! I want to send everyone a big “YOU GOT THIS!” as we move through the rest of the semester. If you need any resources — such as tutoring, time management, accountability and support — please see information in this newsletter about connecting to relevant resources.
The midpoint of the semester also means it is time to start planning for your next semester. That’s right — registration for Fall 2021 is here! Please review the information here on preparing for your advising appointment and look for additional information from your advisor.
As we look forward to graduation, registration and summer, we can also take a look back at the ways we have learned to adapt, the ways in which we have been resilient during this year of the pandemic. Over the past year we have learned new words such as zoom fatigue, said too many times to count, “you’re muted,” and learned how to be social and present while maintaining distance.
Make sure you take the time to celebrate yourself and all that you have accomplished this year. The accomplishments may not always seem large, but sometimes logging in to a Zoom class when you would rather be in bed is an accomplishment in and of itself.
Formal Advising and Registration: Fall 2021 Courses
March starts the period of formal advising for registration for Fall 2021 courses. Make sure you check your MyPack for your enrollment date. Advisors are sending out information regarding meetings. You will need to have your Fall 2021 courses in your Pack Planner as well as planning out your Spring 2022 (here’s an explanation of how to use the Pack Planner Tool). Planners need to be submitted at least 5 business days before your enrollment appointment or advising appointment, whichever comes first.
The key in registering is being flexible—looking for multiple sections of a class, or alternate classes to fill the same degree requirement. To find a course, look in the “add to cart” by “planner”. You will see all of the courses in your planner listed. Go to the “options” column, and then click on the content area in the column (e.g., “History I”). The list of available courses will open in a new pop-up window.
Please be attentive to your schedule–you should have 12 fully-enrolled (not waitlisted) hours. My advice is that you should enroll in 12 hours and can waitlist 6. Being waitlisted does not guarantee your spot in a class. The waitlist for a class is held until the last day to add without instructor permission. If you are waitlisted for 12 hours, you could potentially be in a situation where you may not be enrolled in any classes for the Fall 2021 semester if you are not able to move off of the waitlist.
As you begin preparing to register for the upcoming term, please remember that in order to be eligible to receive financial aid, the courses you enroll in must meet degree requirements. Degree-applicable coursework can include requirements for majors or minors, but does not include certificates. Non-degree coursework does not count toward federal and state financial aid eligibility. If you have any questions about these federal requirements, please see the following website for frequently asked questions and important information.
Note that summer registration is currently open. Enrollment dates in your MyPack is for your Fall 2021 registration only.
Academic Support
There are two options for academic support: the College of Humanities and Social Sciences Academic Support Center and the University Academic Success Center.
Humanities and Social Sciences Academic Support Center
Academic Support Center advisors are current graduate students in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences. They can assist in many areas, including strategies to handle academic difficulty, time management, and accountability. The advisors also monitor the chassacademicsupport@ncsu.edu email account for questions. Students can make appointments with the advisors directly on their calendars (see: https://chass.ncsu.edu/students/current/academic-support-center/), or can just email the advisor directly.
Ben Barkley (bdbarkl2@ncsu.edu):
Tuesdays: 9-5
Thursdays: 9-5
Fridays: 8-12
Helen Oluokun (hholuoku@ncsu.edu):
Monday: 9-3:30
Tuesday: 9-5
Wednesday: 10-2 then 2-3:30 OR 5-6:30 (alternating weeks)
Stacie Sanchez (smsanch2@ncsu.edu):
Monday: 9-5
Tuesday: 9-5
Wednesday: 3-5
Thursday: 3-5
Academic Success Center
The Academic Success Center is located on the second floor in D H Hill Jr Library (asc.dasa.ncsu.edu.) They are offering many programs this semester, including an academic peer mentoring program for students who want regular support with time management and study skills. They will also offer drop-in tutoring, group, one-on-one tutoring and writing appointments, and SI. The Academic Success Center space is on the 2nd floor of the DH Hill Jr Library, and is open for general student use at all times when the library is open. Please note that an NC State ID is required for building access and a mask must be worn at all times.
Managing Stress
We are in times of unique and compounding stressors, so I want to make sure you are taking care of yourself.
- The Counseling Center has created several self-care options that can be found here: https://counseling.dasa.ncsu.edu/resources/self-help-resources/self-care/.
- The Counseling Center also has several drop-in spaces (go.ncsu.edu/dropin)
- University Wellness and Recreation offer their Well Rec at Home series: https://wellrec.dasa.ncsu.edu/wellrec-at-home/
If you find that you are experiencing more sustained stress, the Counseling Center provides counseling for NC State students experiencing personal, academic or vocational problems. Psychological assessment and psychiatric consultation are also available. Services are primarily short-term in nature and referrals to other helping professionals and community agencies are made as appropriate. Strict confidentiality is assured. Many services are free to currently enrolled students of North Carolina State University. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the Counseling Center is not accepting walk-in appointments. Please call them at (919) 515-2423 to speak with a counselor. (https://counseling.dasa.ncsu.edu/)
If the personal behavior of a peer or friend concerns or worries you, either for the peer/friend’s well-being or yours, we encourage you to report this behavior to the NC State CARES team: Share a Concern
Upcoming Events
Communication, Rhetoric and Digital Media Symposium: Technologies of Race: Politics, Affect, Platforms | March 17-18
The Communication, Rhetoric, & Digital Media program at NC State will hold a virtual symposium March 17-18 and is entitled Technologies of Race: Politics, Affect, Platforms. Including wonderful keynotes from scholars discussing how online techno-cultures influence our understanding of race to issues of representation and affect in media, we also have panels of current graduate students discussing their academic work and alumni talking about career paths in and out of academia. Registration is free and found on the symposium website, along with a schedule, bios of our speakers, and contact information of our organizers. For more information and registration, please go to the symposium website.
Department of Communication Mobile Gaming Research Lab Spring ‘21 Lecture Series April 7, 2021 | 1:30-2:30 p.m. EST
Please join us for the Mobile Gaming Research Lab’s Spring ‘21 Lecture Series webinar. To celebrate the release of the Retro Mobile Gaming Database, this webinar will feature scholars whose research is at the intersection of mobile games, archives and history. The talks will explore the history of touch-based mobile game interfaces and how Pokémon Go contributes to the creation of digital memory.
Internships and Employment Opportunities
University Housing, Village Mentor
University Housing has posted an application for the Village Mentor role for the NC State Villages.
Village Mentors are integral to the Village experience and engage residents around common learning experiences through curricular and co-curricular experiences. Village Mentors foster deeper exploration of their assigned Village’s academic and or cultural/identity-based vision. Village Mentors establish a peer-to-peer relationship with Village participants to provide support, spark curiosity, and promote the development of knowledge and skills. Through specialized training in their Village’s pedagogical framework, Village Mentors will engage residents through activities, events, and programs that provide village thematic learning, academic support, and holistic student development.
For more information about the Village Mentor role and the application, interview and hiring process, please visit the University Housing webpage: https://housing.dasa.ncsu.edu/about-university-housing/work-with-us/village-mentor/.
SECU Public Fellows Internship Program
The SECU Public Fellows Internship Program at NC State is now accepting applications for paid ($13 per hour) summer internships in rural North Carolina communities. These internships will sharpen your skills with free professional development and help you discover more about yourself through the StrengthsFinder assessment, all while you live and work to make a difference in an NC community. Applications close March 26, 2021, but students are encouraged to apply early as employers may hire on a rolling basis. Search “SECU Public Fellows” in ePack or visit go.ncsu.edu/SECUSummer.
Position opening: Communications Coordinator at Johnson Lambert, LLP
We are currently searching for a Communications Coordinator to work with both the Marketing and HR teams to design and develop communications content (e.g. social media, email campaigns, etc.) related to culture initiatives and promoting careers at our firm. Bachelor’s degree in Communication, Graphic Design, or Marketing preferred, along with experience in managing professional social media, email campaigns, and graphic design software. The company has 8 locations nationwide, including Raleigh, but this position can work remotely!
Johnson Lambert is a progressive public accounting firm with an outstanding company culture and great benefits (25 paid days off per year, half day Fridays in summer, paid benefits, 401K match, and more). For more information and to apply, visit their website: https://www.johnsonlambert.com/careers/open-positions/.
Internships available at NC Clean Energy Technology Center
These positions are available on ePACK as well.
Energy Policy Research Assistant (Remote, Part-Time Student Internship)
Transportation Program Assistant (Remote, Part-Time Student Internship)
Energy That Works Program Assistant (Remote, Part-Time Student Internship)
Student Involvement Opportunities
Department of Communication Ambassadors Program
Are you a student who would love to share your experience at NC State with both potential and new Communication Students? If so then consider becoming a Department of Communication Student Ambassador!
As a Student Ambassador you would assist the Department as a volunteer at student events such as orientations, open house, new student welcome events and admitted student events. The only experience necessary is an interest in interacting with people and sharing your experience at NC State and as a Communication student. Students want to hear from you what it is like to be a student here at NC State and in the Department of Communication!
As a Student Ambassador you will gain experience in public speaking, resume skills, and give back to the NC State and Department of Communication Community. You will also be recognized as a Student Ambassador at our Departmental Graduation.
If interested, please contact Cynthia Zuckerman-Hyman (cezucker@ncsu.edu) for additional information and application.
Alternative Spring Break
There are many opportunities to build community and stay connected! See the Alternative Spring Break site for more information: https://leadandengage.dasa.ncsu.edu/asb-2021/.
Undergraduate Research
The Office of Undergraduate Research is now accepting proposals for summer project funding. Are you conducting research, scholarship, or a creative project this summer? Submit your proposal now for a chance to be awarded up to $2,000 to support your work. Proposals must include an outline of your project as well as a budget and be supported by a mentor. Templates are available on the Office of Undergraduate Research website and within the proposal system. For more information and to apply, go to https://undergradresearch.dasa.ncsu.edu/projectfunding/.
Scholarships
The TRIO Ronald E. McNair Scholars Program is now accepting applications to complete our 2020-21 cohort and we would like to ask for your assistance in identifying applicants. TRIO McNair is a federally-funded program designed to increase the number of students from underrepresented groups who go on to graduate studies leading to the completion of their doctoral degree.
The application and all materials are due on March 31st. Our application is now available online and as a downloadable file. As a part of the application, we have now included an eligibility checklist to assist students in determining their initial eligibility* for the program (*does not guarantee acceptance).
Attached you will find the promotional materials, the application, and the faculty recommendation form. Please feel free to share this information with faculty, staff, and students. More information and application materials are available on our website: https://trio.dasa.ncsu.edu/mcnair-scholars-program/future-mcnair-scholars/ or https://trio.dasa.ncsu.edu/mcnair-scholars-program/future-mcnair-scholars/application-guidelines/
We also invite any students to join us for one of several information sessions and can register at go.ncsu.edu/reminfo
