No images? Click here
Happy February!
February 2023 | Newsletter
Hi Quakers!
We hope you are having a great Spring semester! Check out the many opportunities to get involved with The Office of New Student Orientation & Academic Initiatives and beyond!
See below for information about:
- Penn Mentor Meals Program
- FYE & SYE Grant Opportunities
- PHINS Recruitment
- Preceptorials
Read on for more details.
NSOAI Initiatives
Penn Mentor Meals Program
NSOAI's meal-hosting initiative, the Penn Mentor Meals Program, formerly known as Take Your Professor to Lunch, encourages students and their mentors to engage in conversation outside of the classroom and provide them with a meal free of charge!
Members can initiate a meal with mentors or mentees such as: current or past professors, teaching assistants, advisors, RAs, PHINS, Peer Advisors, and/or members of Penn’s professional staff!
Lunch is served at Lauder Dining Café. Mentor Meals are only available for lunch Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays.
Registration is open!
First-Year Experience (FYE) & Second-Year Experience (SYE) Grant Opportunities
Explore the opportunities that we offer beyond the classroom. We encourage you to apply for a First-Year Experience (FYE) and/or Second-Year Experience (SYE) grant. We can assist with marketing your events and funding up to $500!
The deadline to apply is Wednesday, March 1, 2023 at 11:59pm ET.
Upcoming Preceptorials
Preceptorials are not-for-credit sessions that introduce students to the intellectual and cultural resources of the University. They showcase the cultural, social, and intellectual richness of our shared community. Read below to register for upcoming Preceptorials!
Friday, February 24
11am-12:30pm
Zoom
Future Opportunities & Challenges in Pharmaceutical Research
This virtual Preceptorial will cover the areas of medical research that are, and will be in the near future, of greatest interest in the pharmaceutical & biomedical industries. This will be explained using hard data that is up-to-the-minute. Some important tools for studying and understanding the related science and other coursework to prepare for these and related careers will be discussed.
Friday, March 31
12-1:30pm
In-Person (Location TBA)
Philosophy and Chat GPT
The release of Chat GPT in November 2022 has led to a myriad of reactions, including many in educational spaces -- Penn included. In this Preceptorial, we will work collaboratively with each other and with Chat GPT on philosophical questions. In addition to exploring philosophical issues surrounding the nature of mind, intelligence, humanity, personhood, the ethics of AI, and other topics, the conversations we will have with Chat GPT will serve as a fascinating historical document to revisit in coming years as this technology evolves.
Student Leadership Opportunities
Peers Helping Integrate New Students (PHINS)
What are PHINS?
PHINS (Peers Helping Integrate New Students) are New Student Orientation Leaders who are trained to aid incoming Penn undergraduate students with their adjustment to life at Penn during New Student Orientation!
What are the benefits?
- Opportunity to engage with fellow Penn students and the Class of 2027
- Free early move-in (Saturday, August 19)
- Free PHINS merch!
- Free meals during NSO
- Leadership opportunity & a great resume builder!
What are the expectations?
- August 19: Move into College House
- August 20: Attend Mandatory PHINS Training on campus
- August 21-23: Be available to help w/ move-in efforts and support specific population programming
- August 23-28: Help w/ New Student Orientation (NSO)*
- August 28 - September 1: Option to help w/ Second-Year Orientation (SYO)
*All PHINS must be available on PHINS Phriday 8/25 from 9am-5pm, AND available to assist with the Philadelphia Museum of Art Event on 8/26
BE AN RA
Are you interested in being an RA? Click the link below to learn how you can apply.
Connect with NSOAI!
- Follow us on all our social media channels to keep up with The Office of New Student Orientation & Academic Initiatives!
- Explore our website and learn about all the programs we have to offer.
Check out all of our photos of NSO 2022 on Flickr!
