Welcome to A&A: College Overview
After completing this module, you will know more about:
- Student success resources within the College of Arts and Architecture
- Academic advising & Academic Planning
- Course scheduling and preparing for their advising appointment
Borland Building, University Park
Overview
The academic adviser and the entire student success team in the College of Arts and Architecture are here to help your student succeed both inside and outside of the classroom. The more your student interacts, the better advice we can provide while guiding them on their Penn State journey. In the following pages, you will learn about opportunities for your student to connect and stay connected with their adviser and others success partners in the College of Arts and Architecture. We are here to help your student thrive, and we are thrilled they will be joining us this summer or fall!
Agenda
In this module, you will open pages to learn more about:
- A&A College resources
- Academic Advising
- Academic Planning and Entrance to Major
- Course Scheduling and preparing for your advising appointment
- What’s next after orientation?
- Knowledge Check to complete the A&A Module
Let us say again: Welcome to the College of Arts & Architecture (A&A)!
We are a small college within the large University. With approximately 40,000 students at University Park, and 8,000 entering first year, only about 300 first year students at UP are in A&A. Your student will have the wide-ranging opportunities that the large university offers like clubs and organizations, education abroad, and everything that comes with a large campus -- including world-class faculty -- and the small community of the A&A college. You get a small campus/community feel within the context of the large university.
What makes us Arts & Architecture?
Your student is joining a unique community of artists, designers, educators and performers.
Our College is made up of schools and departments. This includes the Department of Art History, The Departments of Architecture, Landscape Architecture, and Graphic Design that are housed within The Stuckeman School. The School of Music, School of Theatre, School of Visual Arts and the Integrative Arts Major.
What majors are represented in each of the different areas?
The Department of Art History
Integrative Arts
School of Music
School of Theatre
School of Visual Arts
Digital Arts and Media Design (BDES)
Stuckeman School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture
College of Art and Architecture Student Success Team
Borland Building, University Park Campus
The student success team consists of academic advisers (college, school, department & major), career and engagement officers, multicultural affairs specialists, professors, deans, unit directors, and fellow student leaders. You will find there are many people here to help your student as they navigate their college career.
The Academic Affairs and Outreach office, located in 104 Borland, is a great resource if your student needs additional layers of support or a referral to appropriate resources. 814- 865-9523
Interim Associate Dean of Undergraduate Affairs and Outreach
Dr. Darrin Thornton
dht2@psu.edu
Assistant to the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs & Outreach
Cori Donaghy
cxh271@psu.edu
Academic Advising Manger
Kyrie Harding
kyrie@psu.edu
Academic Adviser (Theatre & Music)
Margaret Higgins
mah68@psu.edu
Director of Enrollment
Kelly Praskovich
kjp137@psu.edu
Multicultural Affairs
Curt Marshall
cem2@psu.edu
Career Strategies & Student Engagement
Kendall Mainzer
krm22@psu.edu
Administrative Support Assistant
Diane Kerstetter
dlk2@psu.edu
Administrative Support Assistant
Angela Smith,
ajf7@psu.edu
Administrative Support Assistant
Jenny Blew
jcb28@psu.edu
Academic Advising in A&A
How will an academic adviser assist your student?
The role of an adviser at Penn State will be different and more extensive than advisers and guidance counselors from your students prior learning. The more they see their adviser and get to know their adviser, the better the recommendations the adviser can provide. The best guidance comes from these pros! While it will be tempting for them to listen to friends and other students, or to only use online information, please encourage your student to talk with their adviser. Advisers know the University and the options. They can share ideas -- maybe even some ideas they didn't know existed!
What can your student expect in meeting with an adviser:
- Discuss their educational goals
- Help your student understand the nature of academic programs
- Understand your students particular concerns affecting academic progress
- Help your student to follow appropriate University procedures and to understand their purposes
- Help your student to plan a course of study and give advice about courses and the adjustment of course loads
- Help your student to understand the relationships between General Education, University requirements, majors, research opportunities, internships, study abroad programs, and other academic experiences
- Refer your student to other resources as needed
Remember: Advisers advise, students decide! Your students' academic choices and future are in their control. We want your student to be successful and are here to help, but they take the lead!
What is your student's role in the advising process?
- Learn and use information to assume final responsibility for course scheduling, program planning, and the successful completion of all graduation requirements
- Seek academic information to meet educational goals, and use the resources available to you in LionPATH, the University Bulletin, and Canvas
- Become knowledgeable about relevant policies, procedures, and rules of the University, college, and academic program
- Be prepared when contacting their adviser
- Consult with an adviser at least once a semester to decide on courses, review the accuracy of the degree audit, check progress towards graduation, and discuss the suitability of other educational opportunities provided by the University
Tips for your students first semester:
- Check their Penn State email frequently and use their Penn State email for all university business.
- Become familiar with LionPATH, Starfish, the University Bulletin, and Canvas.
- Be responsible and professional in all interactions with Penn State faculty and staff.
- Schedule an appointment with their assigned adviser several weeks ahead of the date they are able to register for the next semester’s classes.
- Contact an adviser at the first sign of difficulty.
How does advising work and who do I see in A&A?
Every student is assigned an academic adviser based on major or expected major. Each adviser’s drop-in and scheduled appointment hours vary. This information can be found in starfish.psu.edu.
Below you will find the contact information for advisers in each program or major. Your student should see their adviser at least once a semester (do you notice we keep repeating this!).
Should your student have any issues or problems connecting with their adviser, they should contact Kyrie Harding, Academic Advising Manager for the College of Arts and Architecture (contact information below).
ADVISING CONTACT INFORMATION
School of Visual Arts
Art Education, Art, Digital Art and Media Design & Photography
Angela Rothrock
210 Patterson
arb184@psu.edu
Stuckeman School
Architecture, Landscape Architecture & Graphic Design
Robin Bierly
121 Stuckeman
rab55@psu.edu
School of Music & School of Theatre
Margaret Higgins
104 Borland
mah68@psu.edu
Art History, Integrative Arts & College
Kyrie Harding
104 Borland
kyrie@psu.edu
Academic Planning & Entrance to Major
Understanding the path to degree completion is important for your student! Their adviser can partner with them on this quest, but it is important for them to have ownership. Again, we can’t stress enough how important it is for your student to get to know their adviser and have an appointment with them at least once a semester (yep, we said it again!).
The Penn State Bulletin is an excellent guide for this journey! Key information including, program requirements, suggested academic plans and “how to get in” (if not direct admit) are all found within the bulletin.
What does your student need to do to enter a major?
If your student is in the School of Visual Arts, School of Music, or majoring in Graphic Design, Art History or Integrative Arts, they will have specific requirements to complete before applying or entering their major. Entrance to major requirements can found in the Arts and Architecture section of the bulletin under the entrance to major/“how to get in” portion *and* will be further explained in their individual academic advising appointments.
Students admitted to the following degree programs are direct admit majors, Acting, Theatre (BFA), Theatre (BA), Musical Theatre, Architecture and Landscape Architecture. However your student may still need to refer to the entrance to major sections for possible minors or concurrent majors. Check it out!
Course Scheduling and Preparing for your Advising Meeting
We are very excited to help your student schedule! Their adviser will help them schedule appropriately at their advising appointment.
How will your student plan courses for their first semester and beyond? What tools can be used in academic planning?
View your students A&A major in the bulletin and check out the "suggested academic plan" section to see a sample of how the program requirements might be sequenced over the next eight semesters. Remember most A&A majors are highly sequenced and courses must be taken in a progression.
What's Next in A&A?
Your student should attend the orientation college meeting, connect virtually with their academic adviser, and watch their Penn State email! More information about connecting with our student leaders (Arts Ambassadors & College of Arts & Architecture Buddy System) as well as welcome events at the start of your summer and/or fall semester will be shared soon.
Music Recital Hall, University Park Campus
The student success team consists of academic advisers (college, school, department & major), career and engagement officers, multicultural affairs specialists, professors, deans, unit directors, and fellow student leaders. You will find there are many people here to help your student as they navigate their college career.
The Academic Affairs and Outreach office, located in 104 Borland, is a great resource if your student needs additional layers of support or a referral to appropriate resources. 814- 865-9523
Interim Associate Dean of Undergraduate Affairs and Outreach
Dr. Darrin Thornton
dht2@psu.edu
Assistant to the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs & Outreach
Cori Donaghy
cxh271@psu.edu
Academic Advising Manger
Kyrie Harding
kyrie@psu.edu
Academic Adviser (Theatre & Music)
Margaret Higgins
mah68@psu.edu
Director of Enrollment
Kelly Praskovich
kjp137@psu.edu
Multicultural Affairs
Curt Marshall
cem2@psu.edu
Career Strategies & Student Engagement
Kendall Mainzer
krm22@psu.edu
Administrative Support Assistant
Diane Kerstetter
dlk2@psu.edu
Administrative Support Assistant
Angela Smith,
ajf7@psu.edu
Administrative Support Assistant
Jenny Blew
jcb28@psu.edu
