Tech News for Students (Jan. 2024)
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Degree Planner: Your GPS to Graduation
You’re visualizing yourself in a cap and gown at the Pete; then your advisor informs you that you’re missing a required class and can't graduate. You decide your major wasn’t right for you after all, but how many extra semesters would it take to switch? The graduate programs you’re applying to have required courses you didn’t take.
Plan Your Path with Degree Planner
Your academic journey can have a lot of twists and turns. PeopleSoft/HighPoint Campus Experience (CX)'s Degree Planner lets you map out the courses you should take term-by-term in order to get your degree. Easily view the courses you still need to take and the recommended sequence to take them in. Degree Planner automatically updates based on your personal academic progress, degree requirements, course pre-reqs, and the semesters when certain classes are typically offered.
The What-If feature allows you to set up and generate reports to see how various changes would affect your progress. This flexible scenario modeling shows you what your graduation path would look like if you: change your major, add a minor, change the number of credits per term, etc.
Surveys
Matt Tang (CGS, '26) used Qualtrics for a research project where he sent surveys to Senators. From design and distribution to analyzing the results, it was a breeze. You can use Qualtrics at no cost for everything from registration pages and feedback surveys to research and outreach. Learn more at pi.tt/survey.
Prepare for Spring Networking Events with LinkedIn
PItt is planning amazing networking events and career fairs this spring term. Is your LinkedIn profile up to snuff to make a strong impression? Get some quick tips for improving your profile so networking contacts and employers take notice. Then, look for "Rocking Your LinkedIn Profile" events on the Pitt IT calendar from the Tech Ambassadors.
Supercharge Your Device
Does a class require software your device can't handle? Using an older machine that can't keep up with current apps? Virtual Student Computer Lab to the rescue! Just host a virtual lab machine via the internet, and we'll supply the RAM and computing power! Learn more about the VIrtual Lab.
New Semester, New Phishing Scams
Your instructors, friends, and RAs weren't the only ones eagerly awaiting your return to campus for the spring term. Scammers are also eager to flood your email with offers that are just too good to be true. They know that students are looking ahead to summer jobs and internships and may have gotten some cash gifts over the holidays. Be on the lookout for scams. Some recent examples include an offer for free stuff from an estate, a great job opportunity, and a fake incident notification. Look for phishing warning signs before you click and forward scam emails as an attachment to phish@pitt.edu.
Panther Bytes to Nibble On
Check out these bite-sized blogs about tech topics you should know. Read the ones you missed, and check back weekly through the spring term for new ones. Check out the articles you missed on topics like our best tech gifts of 2023, using LinkedIn to propel your career, and New Year’s tech resolutions that are actually fun to keep.
LinkedIn Learning: Bite-Sized Courses with a Big Impact
Your classes give you a strong foundation and extensive information, but they can't include everything. That's where LinkedIn Learning comes in. They can provide you with the introduction you need to professional and technical topics that your will support your career. Here are some of the newest courses available on the platform:
- How to Learn Faster
- Rise and Shine: Build a Powerful Morning Routine
- Five Fails a Day with Caroline A. Wanga
- Communication Foundation
- AutoCAD: Tips & Tricks
- Digital Marketing Trands
