Best Day Ever

Is this not the best day ever? It’s Friday before classes and there is parking on campus!  Sorry that you guys are missing it.

On to more important things – 28 students just transferred into MSE. Please join me in welcoming them to the best engineering department ever.

Important Reminders

1. I would like to ask that everyone take a close look at their schedule before Monday. Do you have everything you need? If not, come and see me.
2. This one is kinda sticky, so please pay close attention.
1. In previous terms we offered MSE 3054, Mechanical Behavior and MSE 4354, Strength and Fracture. Now Strength and Fracture has been added to Mechanical Behavior making it a 4 credit course.
2. If you took MSE 3054, Mechanical Behavior during the spring 2013 (last year) and did NOT take MSE 4354, Strength and Fracture you must see me immediately.
3. Seniors: be sure to run your DARs.
4. Independent Study and Undergraduate Research paper work is due to the COE by January 23. 
5. Monday, January 20 is a holiday. However, I will be here from 8:30 - noon. No appointment needed from 8:30 - 10, by appointment only from 10-noon. See scholar to schedule an appointment if needed. 

Important Dates

January 21, First Day of Classes (yeah)

January 27, Last Day to Add

March 3, Last Day to Drop

Helpful Tools

Now that everyone is refreshed we are here to start the spring term. But heading back to school after a break can be difficult.  Here are a few tips that may help you get off to a good start.

• Get your sleep pattern in check.
• No more sleeping in still mom comes home to make you lunch/breakfast. Get yourself up at a regular time all the time. This means, you will have to get yourself to bed at a regular time most of the time.
• Create a Schedule on a Calendar
• I don’t particularly care for calendars on smart phones (or iPhone), but whatever works for you, just do it. Put your regular schedule on a calendar now well in advance of the start of class.
• Balance
• Referring back to the calendar: when scheduling classes and study times remember to include time for yourself to provide balance to your life. This can include time at the gym, riding horses, walking a turtle. I don’t care – just make time for yourself.  (and yes, I know someone who walks his turtles.)
• Student Success Center 
• I always encourage everyone to take as many courses as they can that are offered by the Student Success Center.  But don’t listen to me…. One of your classmates took the Test-Taking workshop and her test grade went up an entire letter grade.
• http://www.studentsuccess.vt.edu/Academic_Success/seminarseries.html

Random 

http://cleantechnica.com/2013/09/19/nrdc-clean-energy-affordable-way-power-us/

Words to Live By

Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment – Buddha

Sandbox

 

My Schedule 

Scheduled meeting times are available 10-11:45 & 1:30-4:15.

To schedule a meeting please log into your Scholar account. Under the MSE Undergraduate Advising Tab use the sign-in tool to select a meeting time. Please know it will be necessary to click on “expand all recurring meetings” to see all available dates, then click on the date you would like to schedule a meeting and the available times will show. Currently, meeting times are available through March 7.