As the month of December, and subsequently early January, are quickly approaching, please take note of these important upcoming dates:
Friday, December 9, 2005 - Last day of fall 2005 class. Also, last day for continuing students to register for Spring 2006 classes without a $70 late penalty/fee.
Monday, December 12-Monday, December 19, 2005 - Final Exams week. Be sure and log on to MyUB to view your final exam schedule and consult with your instructors for any updated information regarding your exams.
Tuesday, December 20, 2005 - Winter Recess Begins. Make note that Spring 2006 classes begin on Tuesday, January 18, 2006.
Sunday, December 25, 2005 - Christmas holiday. UB is closed. BIRD and on-line services not available.
Saturday, January 1, 2006 - New Year’s Day. BIRD and on-line services not available.
Tuesday, January 3, 2006 - Fall 2005 grades available on UB transcripts.
Learn more about other student calendar listings of important academic, financial, and billing date information.
Posted November 29, 2005 in General
As final exam week is approaching, the Student Response Center has issued the following notice to students regarding final exam conflicts:
If you observe that you are scheduled for two exams during the same examination period or you have three exams scheduled on one day, then you have an “exam conflict.”
Contact the instructors of the courses and explain the conflict in exams. Usually, one instructor will be able to schedule an alternate time for you to take his/her exam. If you are unable to arrange the re-scheduling of your examination with faculty, then contact the appropriate Dean’s Office for assistance.
If your final exam is assigned to more than one classroom, contact the instructor during the last week of classes to determine to which room you are to report for the exam.
UB’s Methods of Inquiry (GSE 155) course is an excellent class about how to approach learning and thinking. There are still several sections of GSE 155 open this spring so don’t miss this opportunity to take an extremely informative class that will help you approach your studies!
As your final exams are quickly approaching, the Methods of Inquiry course asserts that successful students recommend 3 study techniques when preparing for exams. Remember to begin your test preparation early and be sure and utilize these successful techniques and tips.
1) Generate Questions – Turn information that you have to learn into questions that you need to answer. Generate questions from your lecture notes, readings, supplementary assignments, previous tests and quizzes, etc. This will help you to be more set up for review. If you can’t generate questions, you most likely don’t understand the material.
2) Concept Mapping – Take the information that you need to learn and put it into a picture format instead of simply reading the material. You want to be able to SEE the whole picture, how it all fits together, and not see things as random.
3) Create Mock Exams – You need to predict the questions the teacher is trying to ask you. Therefore, you want to use test preparation that will allow you to practice the kind of questions that you will see on the test.
Ideas for creating mock exams:
Find out the kind of exam that you are going to be asked to take. Is it essay, multiple choice, etc.? You want to prepare in the same format and with the same length that you will receive for the test.
Generate and predict test questions. Think from the teacher’s point of view and put yourself in the mindset of the teacher. Use the questions from your notes and text.
Practice the test. Time yourself. Make the conditions the same as what you will be given the day of your exam. If you experience test anxiety, try to put yourself in the same room where you will take the test and practice it.
Make sure you have an answer key for the test. Make a separate answer key to practice. Find out what you don’t know. Look up answers in your notes, texts, etc.
Go to the professor with SPECIFIC QUESTIONS. For example, be able to say “I understand this section, but this other section is where I am confused” or “this is an example of where I am stuck.” Ask your Teaching Assistant (TA) questions.
Study with friends, especially with a friend who loves the class. You can also make mock exams and exchange them with other students for repetition and review.
Review your mock exams daily and multiple days before your tests. Repetition helps memory and reduces anxiety. Nothing helps decrease stress as much as BEING PREPARED.
Use previous exams
Use passed tests as tools for future tests. Why did you make mistakes? You want to make sure that you do not confuse familiarity with understanding the material.
See your professor if you do poorly on a test.
Source: Ahuna, Kelly H. and Tinnesz, Christine G. (2003). Methods of Inquiry: Applied Critical Thinking. Dubuque, IA: Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company.
Posted November 29, 2005 in General
If you are not returning to UB this spring semester, be sure that you consult with an academic advisor to file the appropriate paperwork to let the University know of your change in status. If you are undecided about a major, remember to consult with Student Advising Services. If you have an intended or approved major, utilize the Advising Locations directory for your appropriate advising unit.
Upon consulting with an advisor, he/she will check to see if you qualify for an Undergraduate Leave of Absence.
If you are not eligible to file a Leave of Absence with the University, then you will be instructed to fill out the Not Returning to UB Form.
All students who will not be returning in the spring semester must also consult the When You’re Not Returning to UB Checklist, which provides a list of critical information that you must check on in order to ensure that you have not left anything unattended before you leave.
Posted November 29, 2005 in General
With UB being ranked among the nation’s leading research universities, it is committed to supporting research and creative work across all academic disciplines. As a result, to help undergraduates find research and other creative activities on campus, be sure and bookmark the Center for Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities (CURCA), as this site will be updated frequently as new opportunities become available.
If you are looking for faculty research opportunities, competitive scholarship information, and much more, then be sure and visit the CURCA site frequently!
November 11, 2005 - Is the last day to RESIGN from courses if you are a first semester freshman or first semester transfer student for the fall 2005 semester. To use the extended resign deadline, students will need to meet with an academic advisor to fill out appropriate paperwork so be sure that you see an advisor before 3 pm on Friday, November 11th if you would like to resign. Remember too that it is important to talk first with both an academic advisor and a financial aid advisor to understand how resigning from a course(s) could impact your academic and/or financial status.
November 24, 2005 - Thanksgiving holiday. UB is closed. BIRD and on-line services not available.
November 25, 2005 - Fall recess. UB is closed.
November 28, 2005 - Fall classes resume.
Learn more about other student calendar listings of important academic, financial, and billing date information.
Posted November 2, 2005 in General
Last Day to Add Courses without Financial Penalty – If you plan to continue and take classes in the spring 2006 semester, remember that you will need to register for at least one spring course by Friday, December 9, 2005 in order to avoid a $70 late penalty. If you have questions regarding the late penalty, contact the Student Response Center.
Force Registration – If a spring class is closed, you may be able to “force register” into a section by going directly to the department that offers that course. Locations of departments can be found by visiting the Undergraduate Catalog. Please note that not all departments “force register” students. Furthermore, some departments may only offer a waiting list if a course is closed, while other departments may not “force register” nor offer a waiting list for closed courses.
Override – An override is the permission to enroll beyond the maximum hours that can be carried in a semester. For a fall or spring semester, an override would allow a student to register for more than 19 credits hours. To be granted an override, a student must speak with an academic advisor to determine if he/she is eligible. If you have an approved major, you will need to speak with your department for approval.
An override for the spring 2006 semester cannot be granted by an advisor until Monday, November 21, 2005. Additionally, an override for a first semester student would not be considered until final grades are posted after a student’s first semester at UB.
Make an Appointment - If you haven’t already, remember that NOW is the time to be meeting with an academic advisor to help you select courses for the spring 2006 semester and to assist you with any other academic strategies for success. If you are undecided about a major, remember to schedule your appointment with Student Advising Services. If you have an intended or approved major, consult the Advising Locations directory for your appropriate advising unit.
Remember to follow these key instructions for assistance:
Ask your instructor for help.
Ask your teaching assistant (TA) for help.
Ask your instructor about getting paired with former successful students in the course who may be able to offer assistance.
Ask the department for contacts in the major who may be able to offer assistance.
Posts signs around the department that you are looking for tutoring assistance.
Form a study group and remember to study with those that love the class.
Hire a paid tutor. It will prove to be a worthwhile investment.
Be sure and utilize other Study Guides and Strategies to help you learn.
Derek Reformat graduated in June from UB with a Bachelor of Science degree in biological sciences and a minor in chemistry. He is beginning his first year of medical school this fall at UB’s School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. His advice to fellow UB students is “when in class always take notes. Even if you have printed out the lecture notes, it still helps to look, listen, and write about the material you are trying to learn. It will keep you focused on the material and you will be able to remember the material more easily.”
Check Out these Upcoming Career Panels
Careers in School Counseling, School Psychology & School Social Work
November 2, 3:30 pm, Room 330 Student Union
Careers in Media & Communications
November 3, 6 pm, Room 330 Student Union
Careers in Civil, Structural & Environmental Engineering
November 9, 4:30 pm, Room 145B Student Union
For a list of other career-related workshops and a multitude of other programs, consult the Life and Learning Workshops program.
Check Out these Academic Workshops Offered in November
“MAJOR” Decisions: Choosing an Academic Program that’s Right for You
November 7, 2-2:50 pm, Room 145C Student Union
How to Build a Schedule & Register for Classes
November 7, 4-4:50 pm, Room 109 Norton Hall
November 8, 4-4:50 pm, Room 280 Park Hall
November 9, 4-4:50 pm, Room 109 Norton Hall
November 10, 4-4:50 pm, Room 109 Norton Hall
November 14, 4-4:50 pm, Room 109 Norton Hall
November 16, 4-4:50 pm, Room 109 Norton Hall
November 17, 4-4:50 pm, Room 109 Norton Hall
November 18, 4-4:50 pm, Room 109 Norton Hall
