Family Fun: FREE Bowling & Magic Show at WSU

Posted on September 19, 2011 by Alisha

The Nontraditional Student Center is offering free bowling from 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m at the Wildcat Lanes in Shepherd Union this Friday, September 23. Later that night there will be two free magic shows in the Lair (room next to the Wildcat Lanes) at 7:00 p.m. and at 7:50 p.m. Cupcakes and lemonade will also be provided (for free!). So if you’re a skilled bowler, or if it’s a feat just keeping the ball out of the gutter, come bowl and enjoy this free event with the whole family.

Friday, September, 23 2011

5pm-10pm

Wildcat Lanes, Ogden Campus

Call 801 626-7794 for more information.

How to: Using the Credit Transfer Guide

Posted on September 16, 2011 by Alisha

Welcome wayward soul…

So let’s say that before you attended Weber State University you attended another college. Maybe you’re thinking about transferring from a Utah college, or you’re coming from an out of state college, or maybe you’re on the run from the police. Wherever you are coming from, you can help you find out how your credits will transfer.

So of course you’re wondering, “Will they accept PE 1538 Yurt Camping from Utah State University, Zombies in Popular Media from Columbia College Chicago, or PHIL 180 Philosophy and Star Trek from Georgetown University. Rest at ease because we’ll walk you through the process to figure out how your credits will transfer.

Using the Transfer Guide

To make things easier for you Weber State has made the user friendly Transfer Guide (for both students and non students) so you can find out how your courses will transfer to WSU. To use the guide, search for your school (Utah colleges are listed first and then everything else is in alphabetical order). Then after you find your institution, click submit and search by transfer subject. Scroll down to find the class number and the WSU equivalent will be listed to the right of the course. If you see a number followed by three Xs (i.e. 1XXX) for the WSU equivalent. This means we do not teach an equivalent course at WSU. You will receive credit for the course but it will be counted as elective credit. Other courses that do transfer will give you the course title and number. For example, BIOL 101 from UVU will transfer to WSU as ZOOL 1010 LS Animal Biology.

What if my course isn’t on the Transfer Guide?

If you cannot find your course in the Transfer Guide, the course probably has not been reviewed by the department. To have your course reviewed just submit an Equivalency Review Request and the rest will be taken care of.

Still confused?

Call the Admissions Office at 801-626-6743, email them at admissions@weber.edu, or stop by the Student Service Center, 2nd floor room 201. The admissions office will help you, they do this all the time so don’t hesitate to contact them.

TAKE IT FROM A RECENT GRAD: BEST GEN–EDS

Posted on August 12, 2011 by Sam DeMastrie

Look familiar?

As everyone knows, picking general education courses is somewhat akin to powering through a proverbial box of chocolates—you never really know what you’re going to get. What you expect to be the funnest class ever can sometimes turn out to be about as exciting as Math 1050, or vice versa. As a recent graduate, I feel it is my duty to impart to you some of my favorite* (valuable/interesting) general education classes, along with their credit type, pros/cons, and difficulty level.

Clint Eastwood, eat your heart out.

American Civilization

Course: History 1700
Credit Type: History / American Institutions

I’ve always been somewhat interested in history in general, but American history always seemed to lack the excitement and energy that European history has. However, American Civilization turned out to be a great class. I credit a lot of my positive experience to my professor, Dr. Gene A. Sessions, who always managed to present the history and tell stories in an exciting and unique way. He’s also hilarious, and makes each class wildly exciting and informative. I walked away from the class with a wealth of knowledge and a healthy respect for the history of this country.

Pros: Interesting and relevant subject matter taught by an amazing professor.
Cons: One of the few Breadth requirements, this class is always large and always full (currently, Dr. Sessions’ two History 1700 classes have a capacity of 150 students each)
Difficulty Level:

That totally looks like a Sagitarius...right?

Elementary Astronomy

Course: Physics 1040
Credit Type: Physical Science / Scientific Inquiry

Who doesn’t love staring up at the stars? Well, welcome to Elementary Astronomy! The classroom itself is a state–of–the–art planetarium and has the most comfortable chairs on campus. I really loved this class because it was different in every way from the average classroom setting. It was also a blast to have my mind blown every class learning about stars, galaxies, black holes, relativity, the laws of physics, and anything else to do with outer space. My professor, John Armstrong, was an amazing teacher and a hilarious person. His passion for physics really made the class fun and exciting. Don’t get me wrong though, it is a fairly difficult class. There aren’t any prerequisites listed, but you would definitely be ahead if you have a handle on math and physics.

Pros: High–tech planetarium star shows and very interesting lectures.
Cons: Not a very easy class, especially if you struggle with math.
Difficulty Level:

For more information on the Physics department, read my other blog article.

Omega–3's anyone?

Foundations in Nutrition

Course: Nutrition 1020
Credit Type: Life Science

Everyone knows that eating right is vital to maintaining a healthy lifestyle, but it’s not always easy to know exactly what to eat, or why. Foundations in Nutrition is a great way to get educated in the complex world of healthy eating. This is one of those classes that I really was not excited about taking, but over the course of the semester I learned to really like it and appreciate everything I was learning. Taking a class like this, you can’t help but apply what you learned to your own life, which is important if you aren’t totally satisfied with your own health. Be aware that the class does involve some minor mathematical calculations (regarding numbers and percentages on a nutrition label) and a good amount of traditional homework and studying.

Pros: Lots of valuable, life–changing information to be learned
Cons: Unless you’re a health nut, it probably won’t be the most exciting class you’ve ever taken.
Difficulty Level:

*Remember that this is all my own opinion and comes directly from my own experiences. You may not feel the same way about these classes and if you’re hesitant, contact an adviser to help you out. Good luck!

Tips from an Insider: Navigating the WSU Bookstore

Posted on August 8, 2011 by Alisha

So you just registered for classes and you need to buy textbooks, but you don’t know how. As a former bookstore employee, let me guide you through the process.

Print out your detailed schedule

The first thing you need to do is print your schedule. Log into your Weber Portal, click on the student services tab, then click view my detailed schedule under the Registration heading. Print off what’s called the detailed schedule. This has all the info for your course, so hold onto it.

Going to the Bookstore

Now you have some options, you can either go to the WSU Bookstore in Ogden (see directions below), the WSU Davis Campus Bookstore (2nd floor) in Layton, or you can shop online. My advice is to go as soon as you have your schedule. I’ll say it one more time for effect, GO AS SOON AS YOU HAVE YOUR SCHEDULE. This way you can avoid the crowds and you’re more likely to get used copies of the books you’ll need. If you wait for school to start, be prepared for a jungle of students all massed together foraging for books.

IF YOU SHOP ONLINE: The online searching method is really simple, you can search by department, course number, and section number. When you checkout, you can either choose the “Pick Up” shipping method (you pick the books up at the Ogden, Davis or West Center) or you can just have them mailed to your house. The online shop at the bookstore is a good way to see what your book looks like, so it will make it easier to find if you go in person.

Translating your schedule and locating textbooks

Ok so your schedule will look something like this. I’ve highlighted the department and course number in yellow. The number in green is your CRN (course reference number), which is completely unique to your class. So for this example we’re looking for ENGL 3500, CRN#21701. First go a few aisles in and look for signs above the book isles that say ENGL, then look for the course number 3500. You’re getting warmer, but wait, there’s more. Check the CRN. Sometimes professors teaching the same course will use different textbooks. So check the CRN to make sure you have the right book for your exact class. Keep in mind there may be more than one book listed on the tag for your class.

Tips from a bookstore insider

Use the new WSU online price comparison website to get good pricing on textbooks. On their website you can see the WSU bookstore’s prices right alongside those of Amazon, Half.com and other textbook retailers. Keep in mind shipping costs and added time as you plan for the first day of school. So it may be worth the peace of mind to just get your books at the WSU bookstore.

Make sure to keep your receipts. If the professor makes any changes for textbook requirements (which they do!) or if you drop a class, you can still get your money back as long as you return your books unopened and with your receipt before 4:30pm on the first Friday of the semester.

Remember you can always resell your books to WSU. However, for the best prices bring your books in during the scheduled Finals Buyback (the Wednesday of “Dead Week” through Finals week).

Follow the arrow on the right to enter the bookstore on 2nd floor through the Union building . Or if you want to enter on the 1st floor take the path on the left and it will lead you the the main entrance of the bookstore.

If you took the route on the left you will be looking for this entrance (it will be on your right after about a minute of walking)

If you chose to enter on the 2nd floor, take a left right here! Get it?

Note: There are 2 floors to the WSU bookstore. The fun stuff; WSU apparel and foam wildcat paws are on the 2nd floor and the essentials; textbooks, computers, & school supplies are on the lower level. So look for the staircase in the back to get to the textbook department.

The textbooks are organized alphabetically by the departments starting with Art textbooks (who knew you needed textbooks for art!?) and ending with Zoology textbooks. So if you know your alphabet you'll be golden.

The employees don't wear name tags and aprons for nothing, so don't hesitate to ask them a question.

And just a side note, your class schedule and the shelf tag at the bookstore will not actually be highlighted. So don’t be shocked when you don’t see a cute colored schedule and shelf tag

If you can't find your book on the shelf tag, come to the information desk and an employee can look up the status of your textbooks.

Step 8—Use support services:
A Step-by-Step Guide for Returning Students

Posted on July 20, 2011 by Adam

Step 8: Use support services

First-Year Experience

If you’re new to the whole college thing, be sure to check out the First-Year Experience Program (FYE). This program includes a three-credit class (EDUC 1105-Introduction to the University) designed to help with your transition to the college experience. Improve your academic skills, explore majors and become familiar with campus resources. The class is offered at both WSU Ogden and WSU Davis.

Services for returning students

WSU offers a wide variety of programs and services for our diverse student population. Whether you’re just looking for a quiet place to study or you need a place to drop off the kids while you’re in class, there are dozens of services throughout campus that can help. Take a look at the list below to see what services may be helpful to you.
Here is a list of important offices sorted by campus location.

WSU Ogden

Bookstore

Shepherd Union Building, Rm. 101
801-626-6352

Testing Center

Student Services Bldg. Rm. 262
801-626-6803

Advising

Student Services Bldg., Rm. 140
Student Success Center
801-626-6752 (option 5)

Financial Aid and Scholarship Office

Student Services Bldg, Rm.120
801-626-7569

Multicultural Student Center

Student Services Bldg, Rm. 150
801-626-7333

Nontraditional Student Center

Shepherd Union Bldg, Rm. 322
801-626-7794

Veteran Services

Student Services Bldg, Rm. 154
801-626-6039

Student Support Services

Student Services Bldg, Rm. 265
801-626-7009

Women’s Center

Shepherd Union Bldg, Rm. 322
801-626-6090

Registration Help—Online

Lampros Hall
Computing Support, Rm. 218
801-626-7777

Registration Help—In person

Student Services Bldg
Registrar’s Solution Center,
Rm. 101
801-626-6100

Parking

Annex 5 (South end of campus)
801-626-6533

Wildcard/ UTA ed pass

Shepherd Union Bldg.
Information Desk
801-626-6367

WSU Davis

Testing Center

Rm. 215
801-395-3495

Advising

Enrollment Services: 801-395-3480

Bookstore

Rm. 201
801-395-3487

Services for Nontraditional Students

Rm. 260

(801) 395-3514

Services for Multicultural Students

Rm. 260

(801) 395-3514

Services for Women Students

Rm. 260

(801) 395-3514

Registration—in person

Rm. 241
801-395-3480

Parking

Bookstore, Rm. 201
801-395-3487

Wildcard/UTA ED pass

Student Services (2nd Floor)
801-395-3460

WSU West Center

Testing Center

801-689-4007

Advising

Enrollment Advisor: 801-626-7362 or 626-8975

Registration—in person

801-626-8975

You made it! Congratulations! You successfully went through steps one, two, three, four, five, six, seven and eight!

Step 7—Get ready for school:
A Step-by-Step Guide for Returning Students

Posted on July 19, 2011 by Adam

Step 7: Get ready for school

To make getting around campus easier once school starts, take some time to gather the essentials.

Find a place to park

Figure out what lot you want to use for parking and purchase a parking permit through WSU Parking Services or at the campus you plan to attend. Park free at the West, Morgan and Kaysville Centers. NOTE: Parking is a hot-button issue at every school, not just Weber. Parking passes for central lots are expensive and they go fast. Your most economical permit option is the Dee Event Center permit (only $17 per semester). This pass lets you park at the Dee, take the shuttle and jump off at the stop closest to your building. Just make sure you pad your commute times a bit if you’re taking the shuttle. Parking on the streets is free in surrounding neighborhoods, but it always fills up very early. And the locals get cranky if you block their driveway (trust me).

Get your Wildcard and UTA Ed Pass

Visit the information desk in the Shepherd Union Building to get your Wildcard and UTA Ed Pass. Your Wildcard is your student ID. Bring proof of registration and a picture ID. Be prepared to fill out a form, pay a $10 fee and have your picture taken. Your Wildcard gives you access to the library, testing center, computer labs, health center, veterans’ benefits, gym and athletic events. The UTA Ed pass gives you free transportation on all UTA buses, Frontrunner and TRAX. Ride to school, work, the mall or even Salt Lake or Provo.

Get books and gear

WSU students get discounts on computer equipment and electronics at the WSU Bookstore. NOTE: Textbook and technology purchases are tax free at the WSU Bookstore. But you can probably find your textbooks for cheaper online, if you’re willing to put in the extra time and energy.

Now that you have read through step one, step two, step three, step four, step five, step six, and step seven it’s time for the last and final step, what you have all been waiting for. . . step eight.

Step 5—Talk with an advisor:
A Step-by-Step Guide for Returning Students

Posted on July 15, 2011 by Adam

Step 5: Talk with an Advisor

Schedule an appointment with an academic advisor to navigate the more than 230 certificate and degree programs that Weber State offers. An advisor can also help you pick out classes that will work with your schedule and tell you about student resources that may be helpful. This listing breaks down the advisors by college and program, so it’s easy to find one for your area of study.

If you have been to college before…

You can log on to our online advising tool, CatTracks, to see how your credits will apply to a degree.

If you already know what you want to study…

Talk to the advisor for your program.

If you are undecided or a general studies student…

You can schedule an appointment with an advisor at Ogden or Davis campus, or at the West Center.

If you are unable to find your major or program advisor online…

Call the Student Success Center to be referred to the appropriate advisor: 801-626-6752 (option 5).

If you’re new here, be sure to check out Step 1, Step 2, Step 3 and Step 4…

Now onto Step 6.

Step 4—Find out about financial resources:
A Step-by-Step Guide for Returning Students

Posted on July 14, 2011 by Adam

SPOILER ALERT, you may want to read Step 1, Step 2, and Step 3 first…

Step 4: Find out about Financial Resources

So this step is kind of a big one, a lot of people talk themselves out of coming back to school because they feel like they can’t afford it. Even if you think you make too much money to qualify for financial aid, you still have plenty of options. Basically there are three types of financial aid.

Grants

Grants do not have to be repaid if you maintain satisfactory progress. Since this is the best kind of aid to get, funds are limited. You should apply early (March 1) to maximize your chances.

Scholarships

As a new student, you are automatically considered for academic scholarships as part of your admission application. All other scholarships require a separate application.

Student Loans

Student loans must be repaid, and there are many different types to choose from. Student loans can be a great resource for returning students (see below).

It all starts with FAFSA

All financial aid options start with filling out an application at fafsa.ed.gov. Make sure you have your most recent tax returns and W-2’s when completing the forms. WSU’s school code is 003680. It takes about 10 days before the Weber State financial aid office receives your FAFSA info, then you’ll need to log in to your student portal and complete the WSU Financial Aid application. (Remember Step 2? This is why you have to be admitted as a student before you can qualify for aid.) After that, you can log on to the student portal to check the status of your application and accept your award.

A note on Student Loans

Sure, grants and scholarships are great, and you should always look for the free stuff first when you’re trying to pay for college. But if you’re not able to secure that kind of financial aid, you should think about student loans.

Federal students loans offer benefits not typically found in private loans. These loans can help pay for part or all of your college expenses. You’ll never get financing terms this good for other major purchases (auto, home, appliances, etc.). So why not take advantage of this kind of borrowing for your education? Federal student loans offer:

Low fixed interest rates.
Income-based repayment plans.
Deferred payments while you’re in school.
Grace period once you leave school.

Make the investment in yourself, these loans are a great option for students who may not qualify for scholarships or grants. Remember, you should always exhaust federal student loan options before considering a private loan.

Yes, this is confusing…but it gets easier.

Navigating your way through the financial aid process can be very tricky (and intimidating) at first. Figuring out how to pay for college is one of the top reasons why people talk themselves out of coming back to school. But this gets easier. Once you’re in the system, it’s easier to renew and reapply for aid in the future. As a student, you’ll get very comfortable working around the student portal. And remember, there is always a deadline coming up and you have the chance to start this process every year. The financial aid office is very helpful, don’t be afraid to contact them if you have any questions.

Now…on to Step 5.

Step 3—See where you stand:
A Step-by-Step Guide for Returning Students

Posted on July 13, 2011 by Adam

If you haven’t already, you should check out Step 1 and Step 2…

Step 3: See where you stand

Take the Accuplacer exams (if necessary)

So now that you’ve been accepted to Weber State, it’s time to see what classes you can take. After you apply, you’ll receive an acceptance letter that will tell you if you need to take a placement exam before signing up for classes. The Accuplacer placement exam is a simple test to access your knowledge and skills in certain subjects. It’s basically a way to make sure you don’t take classes you don’t need (or that you’re not ready for yet).

There is a math test for Accuplacer ($10 fee) and a reading comprehension test ($5 fee). They each take about an hour, depending on your skill level. You can take the Accuplacer exams at several locations, visit the testing center site for details.

Set up your eWeber Account

eWeber is WSU’s online student portal. This is where you’ll:

register for classes.
check your transcript.
access your student e-mail account.
check your financial aid status
pay tuition.
review your grades.
and much, much more!

Get your eWeber account started here.

NOTE: If you’re using multiple email addresses, you can forward your Weber e-mail to another e-mail address by clicking on the “Options” tab and then selecting “Mailbox Management.”

Now on to Step 4…

Little Known Resources: WSU’s Outdoor Program

Posted on July 7, 2011 by Alisha

Looking for Summer Fun?

For all your outdoor family fun and outdoor gear this summer check out WSU’s Outdoor Program. The Outdoor Program is Ogden’s personal outdoor gear closet. They have everything from canoes and tents, to bocce ball sets and even rock climbing shoes! The Outdoor Program has rentals to accommodate many summer recreational activities. WSU’s rentals include . . .

Camping necessities
River and lake equipment
High adventure outdoor gear
Sport sets

How can I rent WSU’s outdoor gear?

To get equipped for your next adventure, visit the Outdoor Program’s Rental Center and check out all the rentals WSU has to offer. After you have decided on what to rent, stop by the Outdoor Program anytime Monday –Saturday, 8am to 6pm. They are located on 41^st and Taylor, in Annex 9 on the WSU Campus (see map below). Or if you would like to reserve your equipment over the phone, call 801-626-6376. Community members are welcome to rent from the Outdoor Program but if you’re a wildcat you can rent at a discounted price with your Wildcard. When renting don’t forget to bring your drivers license, and a debit or credit card for the deposit.

If you're thinking that's a house. You're right! The Campus Rec Outdoor Program is in a house. And just in case you're wondering, even though it is a house the workers don't actually live there.

Just beyond that little grove of trees.

The parking lot is for Wilderness Rec Center customers. That's you. So enjoy it while it lasts cause everywhere else is permit only.

You don't need to knock because it's not a real house. Just walk right in.

This guy knows everything about outdoor gear so don't be afraid to ask questions.

Wet suits over your clothes are not a great idea in the middle of the summer. FYI

"Just around the river bend, my river trip is just around the river bend!" Think I would make a good Pocahontas?

Rafting last Friday on the Snake River. Thanks to my wet suit from Wilderness Rec I didn't die of hypothermia with 47º water! (And yes I do wear purple on Weber Wear Fridays even when I'm not on campus.)