Happy Holidays and enjoy your break! We will see you back on campus January 13th!

{Finals}

{Registration: Changing Your Schedule}

Let's say something came up and you now have to make a change in your schedule. Well, guess what? YOU can make that change!

From the start of your enrollment appointment through the first week of classes you can make changes online through your Student Center. There are 3 types of changes you could make:

1) Add: You've decided that instead of 12 credit hours, you'd like to take 15. Here's how:

• From the homepage of your Student Center, click "Enroll"
• Select "Spring 2014", click "Continue"
• Follow the Registration guide from our October 31st and November 1st

2) Drop: You've decided that you would rather wait to take one of your classes til the next semester. Here is how you would make that drop:

• From the homepage of your Student Center, click "Enroll"
• Select "Spring 2014", click "Continue"
• Towards the top, under your name, and under the tab that says "Enroll", click "Drop"
• Select the class you would like to drop, click "Drop Selected Classes"
• Select "Finish Dropping" and you have now dropped the class!

3) Swap: You decide that you want to drop Humanities II and add Humanities III but they are at the same time. Instead of dropping Humanities II and THEN adding Humanities III, just use the Swap feature to do it all at once!

• From the homepage of your Student Center, click "Enroll"
• Select "Spring 2014", click "Continue"
• Towards the top, under your name, and under the tab that says "Enroll", click "Swap"
• Under "Swap This Class" use the drop down box to select a course from your schedule that you no longer want
• Under "With This Class" you can:
• Click "Search" next to Class Search to search for a class in general
•  Next to "Select from Shopping Cart" use the drop down box to select a class, then hit "Select" to make the swap
• After selecting your courses click "Finish Swapping"
• You've just swapped your classes!

Always make sure that you check your Advisement Report or meet with your advisor before making a change to make sure it will keep you on track for graduation.

Dreams

As you are preparing for finals and getting worn down, just remember that you will be done in a week and half and don't forget this:

You can do it!

{Major Mondays: Criminology}

What is Criminology? Criminology is the study of criminal behavior and how society defines and responds to crime. Criminologists attempt to identify the causes of crimes as they occur in society and in individuals. They also study the political and social aspects of defining crime: what is a crime and who is a criminal. Criminologists also examine societal responses to crime by studying such topics as how the criminal justice system functions, the effectiveness of public policies and programs aimed at controlling crime, the portrayal of crime in the popular culture and related subjects. 

What do you do with a major in Criminology? The classes that you take as a Criminology major prepare you for a variety of opportunities. Many recent graduates are pursuing careers in corrections, juvenile justice, law enforcement and private security. You could also consider research and planning with a state or federal agency. Some students also go to Graduate school for Law, Sociology, Criminology, Criminal Justice, or Public Policy in order to work in public policy, research, teaching and law. 

What classes would you take? Your first class would be Introduction to Sociology. Some other required courses are Criminal Justice System, Research Methods and Criminology. You also get to choose most of your Criminology courses. Some of your options are White Collar Crime, Juvenile Delinquency, Homicide, Youth Gangs, Crime Analysis, Law and Society, Terrorism and Insurgency, Drugs and Individual Behavior and many, MANY more! 

Are there any recommended additional majors or minors? Some of the common majors and minors pursued in conjunction with Criminology are Sociology, Psychology, Political Science, Spanish, and Social Work. 

If you are interested in Criminology, take Introduction to Sociology (SOC 1000). It is actually a prerequisite for most Criminology courses and provides a good foundation for future courses. Also, be sure to check out their website here!

Selling Your Textbooks

At this point in the semester, you are probably wondering how to get rid of some of those textbooks you bought but won't ever read again. Don't worry, there are many ways to get rid of your textbooks and get money back in return! Here are just a few options for you:

Option 1) Sell the book to a friend that needs it

Option 2) Post the book for sale on Facebook

Option 3) Sell the book through an online retailer. For example, Amazon.com has textbook buyback that lets you ship your books to them for free and gives you the money in the form of an Amazon.com gift card. Gather more information here.

Option 4) Sell your textbooks to University Book & Supply and get cash instantly. You can even sell them books you didn't originally purchase through them! Textbook buyback begins on Monday, December 9th and extends through Friday, December 20th. 
(Helpful Tip: The earlier in buyback you sell your textbook back, the more money you usually get)

Do you have other ideas for selling textbooks that you think would be helpful? Comment below and share!

{De-Stress Days}

Feeling stressed out for finals? Wellness and Recreation Services is sponsoring De-Stress Days in Maucker Union during finals week to help you de-stress and get refocused.

When: Monday, Dec 16 - Wednesday, Dec 17

Time: 11:00am - 2:00pm

Where: Maucker Union Ballroom

What are some of the events being offered?

Mini Massages

Walking the Labyrinth

Crafts

Much More!

On Monday, December 16 the Cedar Bend Humane Society will have puppies and kitties for you to pet and play with outside of Chats.

Be sure to stop on by and take some time to De-Stress!

How to Avoid Burnout

Do you feel mentally exhausted? Are you struggling to even physically begin to study for your finals? You're not alone. During this time of the year, most students experience some form of burnout. Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines burnout as a physical or mental collapse cause by overwork or stress. To help you overcome burnout during these last few weeks of this semester, we've put together a few tips!

1. Get plenty of sleep. In most cases, staying up until 2:00 am to finish that paper hurts your stress level more than it helps.

2. Exercise. Working out or moving around wakes up your body to help you feel more energized. This can be something as simple as taking a longer route to class!

3. Stay positive. Negative thoughts can make you more stressed out, so try to frame your thoughts in a positive way.

4. Take deep breaths. Sometimes all you need to do is take a minute to take a deep breath to refocus you on your work.

5. Eat healthy. Don't skip meals to study or do homework. Keep healthy snacks on hand so when you feel tempted to snack, you can let yourself indulge and not have to stress more about your unhealthy habits.

6. Talk about your concerns. Share your thoughts with a close friend or family member to get your thoughts out of your head. If you feel extremely stressed and helpless, contact the UNI Health Center to set up a meeting with a counselor for additional help, (319) 273-2676. Try to avoid venting over social media, if possible!




Sources:
http://blog.cengage.com/?top_blog=tips-for-students-managing-and-avoiding-stress-in-college&channel=Eloqua&elq_mid=7233&elq_cid=1970129

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/burnout

Finals: When Are They?!

Finals week is getting close. Now is the time to figure out when you have your finals. The finals week schedule is not the same as every other week. You only meet once for each of your classes and it could be at a different time. But how do you figure out when you meet?

Option 1) Look in the course syllabus calendar. In most cases the instructor will including the date and time for your final.

Option 2) Use the final examination schedule from the schedule of classes. It's included here. How do you read it? You look first for the time that the class usually meets, then the days of the week it usually meets. Once you find that and go across, it will tell you the date and time for that final! Here's an example:

I have class usually at 9:30am on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Answer: My class starts in the  9:00 hour of Tuesdays and Thursdays which means my final is from 8:00-9:50am on Wednesday, December 18th!

Here is the Final Examination Schedule:

{Q & A with an RA: Bailey Jimmison}

In what building are you an RA? Rider  

Where are you from? Davenport, Iowa

What is your major? Year? Junior Psychology Major

What one thing that helped you in your transition freshman year? I struggled with my balance of time between visiting home and staying at school. I was consumed with being a new young adult yearning for independence and not realizing that I didn’t visit home often. It is a difficult balance of time. The transition to college isn’t as easy for your parents as you may think it is. People think parents are like “cha-ching jackpot bailey moved out!” when in reality they are going through their own transition of not having you around daily. Just be aware that transitioning to college can affect other people and you may not even know it. That’s my advice to just keep in your pocket.

 Where is your favorite place on campus? My room is my favorite place on campus, I mean don’t get me wrong the union is always entertaining in some form or fashion, (I love people watching) but my room is versatile it is my place to chill, do homework, listen to Broadway show tunes really loud, take a nap, be a dancin’ fool when no one is around, or even just kick back and read a book AND it gives me the opportunity to express myself and truly make UNI feel like my home away from home.

{Major Mondays: Psychology}

Psychology is the study of human behavior (normal and abnormal) and the cognitive, emotional, social, and biological processes related to that behavior. As a Psychology major at UNI you have the opportunity to explore the different aspects of psychology that interest you the most. The Psychology Department offers the opportunities to conduct research, be a part of some student organizations and possible serve as a Teaching Assistant or Research Assistant. You could major OR minor in Psychology. You could also get the Industrial and Organizational Psychology Certificate. Psychology is a very diverse field that fits a variety of career paths.

What do you do with a major in Psychology? Many Psychology majors will pursue Graduate school for a variety of areas like Mental Health Counseling, School Counseling, Social Psychology and many others. There are also routes that do not involve Graduate school. You could work in human resources for businesses, community health centers, correctional programs, non-profit organizations, youth or women's shelters, in family services and many others! If you have a particular area you are interested in you can easily combine Psychology with another major or minors. Some common pairings include Family Services, Sociology, Criminology, Business, Biology, and Political Science.

What classes might you take? You will take a core set of classes consisting of Intro to Psychology, Careers in Psychology, History & Systems of Psychology, Research Methods, and Psychological Statistics. You will also take a variety of Psych classes of your choosing from 5 subject areas: Biological, Social/Developmental, Applied, Abnormal/Individual Differences, and Cognition and Learning. Some of the classes you could take include Drugs and Individual Behavior, Social Psychology, Psychology and Law, Behavior Modification, Motivation and Emotion, and much more!

Check out the website here!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Next week you have the entire week off! Use that time to be productive, relax and recharge so that  you can come back on Monday, December 2nd ready to finish the semester strong. :)

Apply to be an RA, Today!

RA Application Pro-Tips:

• Applications are DUE on Friday, December 13 at 4:00 pm.
• A Career Services Workshop will be held on Tuesday, 11/19 at 8:00pm in the Towers Seminar Room. It provides a unique opportunity to get prepare yourself for the interview process!
• Join the Facebook page facebook.com/groups/RA.Selection/ for updated events, info regarding the process and to RSVP to various events held by the planning committee to prepare you for the process!
• Check out the following website for position description, timeline, and to apply!http://uni.edu/dor/admin/general-information
• There are TWO RA: Q&A Panels coming up on 12/4 and 12/5! What a cool opportunity to ask current RAs questions about their positions and their experiences.
• If you have any questions, email reslifejobs@uni.edu

Q&A with an RA: Julie Svendsen

In what building are you an RA?  Noehren Hall

Where are you from? Kristiansand, Norway

What is your major? Year? Business Management, Senior

What one thing that helped you in your transition freshman year? My RA, Abbey Roth

What is something you struggled with in your transition to college? How did you overcome it? I was so scared that college was going to be so hard that I over studied everything and got exhausted. I overcame it by realizing that it is okay to procrastinate in small amounts. I started to put away my school books when I knew that I was going to procrastinate, because then when I did study I felt more refreshed and like I had taken an actual break.

{Major Mondays: Political Communication}

Political science is the study of government and governing systems. Political communication is a combination of political science and communication. Students majoring in political communication take 36-37 credit hours which includes an internship experience. You would take a set of core politics and communication courses and then two areas of concentration for the rest. This is a great major for those interested in careers in public affairs management.

What do you do with a major in Political Communication? Some of the jobs in this area include public relations for governments and non-profit organizations, campaign management, political journalism in electronic or print media, political speech writing and advertising, survey research or public opinion consulting. You have a myriad of options to consider!

What classes would you take? You would take a combination of politics courses and communications courses. Some examples include Political Communication, Rhetoric and Civic Culture, Introduction to American Politics, Campaigns and Elections, Freedom of Speech, Civil Rights and Liberties, Modern Presidency, and much, MUCH more!

You can gather more information on their website here!

Thoughtful Thursday

At this point in the semester, homework has been piling up, you've been worried about scheduling your classes, and you are probably just ready for a break. In recognition of this, we are going to switch it up and give you some wise words from Dr. Seuss.

{Major Mondays: Earth Science}

The Department of Earth Science offers a B.A. in Earth Science, Environmental Science and Earth Science Teaching as well as minors in those areas. As an earth science student, you would have courses in five curricular areas: Geology, Astronomy, Meteorology, Environmental Science and Earth Science Education. You have opportunities to conduct field research, use the two on-campus observatories, use up-to-date computer forecasting models, and much more!

What do you do with a major in Earth Science (non-teaching)? Individuals that have majored in earth science work as explorers for new mineral or energy resources which is important today. You may consult on engineering or environmental problems, conduct research, work as a naturalist or be a museum curator. There are a multitude of possibilities!

What classes would you take? Astronomy, General Chemistry I, Elements of Weather, Introduction to Geology, and Earth History are some core courses. Some elective options include Measurement and Analysis of Air Quality, Volcanology, Air Quality, Earthquakes and Tsunamis, Weather Analysis and Forecasting and much more!

You can gather more information on their website here!