Academic Advising
College of Arts & Science
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Dean's Welcome - Fall 2009
Welcome to Miami University and the College of Arts and Science! I hope that you had a great summer and that you are ready for the excitement of your first year as a student in the College.
Meeting new people, finding your way around campus, adjusting to new freedoms and new responsibilities, having fun: quite a "to do" list for this first semester. As Dean of your College, I want to add just a few more items to your list.
- Write a little note to yourself about your hopes, dreams, and expectations for the semester. Put it in your desk drawer, or post it on the wall. Take the time to reread it every few weeks. Note if you are staying on track, or maybe changing your expectations, or dreaming bigger dreams.
- Explore the breadth and richness of the course offerings in the College and across the University. Don't worry about being sure about a major. Wander around and find your passion. Let yourself experience the power of making a choice to focus on an area of study that feels exciting and interesting to you.
- Get to know at least one of your professors. Go to office hours or volunteer for a special project. Let your professors know who you are. The University will feel smaller and more personal as you make connections. You will understand more about your field of study as conversations move beyond the particular course you are taking this semester to other opportunities, for research, for study abroad, for additional course work, for internships or volunteer opportunities.
- Take advantage of at least one out-of-class opportunity each week. Sample a campus lecture from among the hundreds of guest speakers who will be brought to campus this semester. Go to a concert, or a play, or wander into a museum.
- Expand your horizons. Learn about an area of the world, a culture, or a people about whom you currently know very little. Become a bit more of a global citizen.
- Enjoy working hard. You will accomplish remarkable things over your time in the College and at Miami, just as other students have done over the past two centuries on this campus!
Sincerely,
Karen Maitland Schilling, Ph.D.
Dean
College of Arts & Science
Miami University