Hello Geology Majors,
I hope that you are doing well as we work through the eighth week of the Fall 2024 semester. The end of this week marks the half way point of the Fall 2024 semester, and I cannot believe how quickly the time has gone. As you continue to work through your classes, be sure to be using your resources! Use your instructors office hours! Form study groups with your classmates! Use the academic resources available for specific courses! Remember, you have access to Academic Success Coaches through CAST, and I can provide suggestions to find help if you need it!
The specific half way point of the Fall 2024 semester is this Friday, October 18th, and this is the deadline to change a course to or from the Pass/No Pass grading basis. If you need to change a course to or from the Pass/No Pass grading basis, you can do so in MyRed and the Enrollment Scheduler, and there are instructions about how to do so at https://registrar.unl.edu/student/registration/tutorials/#editenrollment.
The Pass/No Pass grading basis allows you to take a course without needing to worry about the course grade impacting your cumulative GPA. Thus, you can take an elective course that seems interesting without needing to know exacting what the course will be able or how the course will be taught. The Pass/No Pass grading basis can also give you an option with a course that is not going well for you during the current semester. You can achieve a Pass grade by finishing a course with the equivalent of a C or better letter grade, but you would achieve a No Pass grade by finishing a course with the equivalent of a C- or below letter grade. Neither Pass nor No Pass grades count within your semester or cumulative GPA, but you only earn course credit by achieving a Pass grade.
However, there are restrictions and limitations when using the Pass/No Pass grading basis. For example, there are many classes that are not offered with the option to be taken for a Pass/No Pass grade. Overall, you can use up to 24 credit hours of Pass graded courses for your overall College of Arts and Sciences degree, and there aren't any restrictions using Pass graded courses toward your ACE or CDR requirements.
The biggest restrictions on Pass graded courses being used for your requirements are within your major(s) and any minors. The Geology major does not allow any Geology course with a Pass grade to fulfill a Geology major requirement. Additionally, the Geology major not allow any course with a Pass grade to fulfill an ancillary requirement (Chemistry, Math, Physics, Additional Science) of the Geology major.
If you have questions about using the Pass/No Pass grading basis this semester, please let me know as soon as possible and before 5 pm on Friday, October 18th.
Zoom Drop-ins
On Friday, October 18th, Zoom drop-ins will only be from 10:00 am to 11:30 am instead of 10:00 am to 12:00 noon. I have a campus visit at 11:30-12:00 noon on Friday, which means that I need to end drop-ins early.
On Monday, October 21st, I will not have Zoom drop-in meetings at all, and I will be out of the office all day. I will be back in the office on Tuesday, October 22nd if you would like to meet on the last day of Fall Break.
Newsletter Feedback
If you ever have questions or feedback about anything in the weekly newsletter, please let me know by shooting me an email. Sometimes, it is difficult for me to know if these emails are actually being read and/or found useful.
Best wishes, Doug
Fall 2024 Advising Schedule
I will taking in-person, Zoom, and phone meetings in 45-minute blocks from 8:30 am to 12:15 pm and 1:15 pm to 5:00 pm every weekday when I am not taking Zoom drop-in advising meetings. I will also be taking Zoom drop-in advising meetings on Mondays and Fridays at 10:00 am to 12:00 noon. Zoom drop-in meetings are being coordinated by the College of Arts and Sciences with a schedule and a link to the Zoom room available at https://cas.unl.edu/drop-in-advising-schedule.
You can schedule a meeting with me by using the Student Success Hub via this link, by calling the College of Arts and Sciences Academic and Career Advising Center at 402-472-4190, by calling me at 402-472-4319, or by emailing me at dpellatz@unl.edu. You can find instructions for how to access and schedule meetings in the Student Success Hub system here.
CAS Student Spotlight
Do you want to be featured by the college? Share your story by filling out this quick web form and show others why Geology is for you. Showcase all the opportunities and experiences you are gaining with your Geology major.