A&S News for Students
Dear Students,
Autumn has always been my favorite season. It’s not just because my birthday is in October. I look forward to the glorious colors of the leaves as they change, especially here in New England. I relish the colder weather. How can anyone resist Yo La Tengo’s beautiful love song, “Autumn Sweater,” the perfect accompaniment to the cooler air, so sonically soothing and cozy, like a favorite cardigan? And for baseball lovers like me, the fall always brings with it the excitement of the playoffs and World Series and, though I suspect this may turn some of you against me, that excitement is amplified for me when the Yankees are contenders, as they are this year.
But more than anything, autumn offers me a sense of aspirational possibility. Not exactly the sort of possibility that the spring brings with it, all gaudy and self-indulgent in its inevitable fecundity. It is, rather, the kind of possibility that demands effort and patience, the hope that Emily Dickinson was imagining when she called it “the thing with feathers.” Fall is the time to get to work, committing thought, energy, and creativity into projects that may not bear fruit right away, but will be all the more satisfying by virtue of the time and patience they have demanded of us.
Maybe that’s why I chose a career that is so closely tied to this seasonal cycle. The start of the academic year fills me with that same sense of possibility, with all its new and renewing opportunities to learn and to challenge ourselves. Now that we’re about halfway through the fall semester, I am sharing these thoughts because I imagine many of you are feeling the pressures of midterms and the cumulative weight of all the work you’ve taken on. When you’re in the thick of it, it’s easy to lose sight of the bigger picture and feel more than a little overwhelmed. But please do remember that the work you undertake now constitutes your own investment in the aspirational possibilities of autumn, and it will continue to bear fruit long after you have completed the assignments or taken the exams. And don’t forget to ask for help when you need it. There are plenty of offices in place to support you in your academic work.
Please seek them out. Wishing you all bright and vivid autumn, filled with possibilities, comfy sweaters, and the time to enjoy them.
Sincerely,
Jeffrey
URCC & Funding Resources
Undergraduate students are invited to apply for a place on the National Humanities Leadership Council, which offers professional development and mentorship opportunities.
Council members take part in a unique series of discussion sessions with thought leaders which explore the importance of humanistic perspectives in contemporary society. Selected students will have the opportunity to pursue specific individual or collective humanities projects and will network with professionals who represent a range of fields including academia, nonprofit work, the arts, science communication, museum studies and curation, and activism and advocacy.
Applicants are NOT required to have declared concentrations or majors in humanities fields. The Council is open to any undergraduate students from Brandeis with an interest in the humanities. Applications will be accepted through October 11, 2024.
Questions? Please contact Dr. Jacqueline Kellish, NHC Director of Public Engagement.
The Undergraduate Research and Creative Collaborations Office (URCC) can help you find topics, mentors, and funding opportunities for an original research or creative project in close collaboration with Brandeis faculty and researchers. Students can get involved in research in many ways, including as paid research assistants, through research grants
URCC's Research 101 Workshops can teach you how to get involved in research and creative projects at Brandeis: knowing when to start, identifying your interests, searching for research opportunities, and more. The workshops are led by Margaret Lynch, Director of Undergraduate-Faculty Research Partnerships. Snacks and drinks will be provided, too!
The URCC can help you get involved in an academic research project or creative project through opportunities such as paid research assistants, research grants and fellowships, and research for course credit. Start exploring your options now! Connect with Brandeis faculty and funding sources in the ForagerOne Brandeis research opportunities database.
Are you an undergraduate who wants to learn how to get involved in a faculty-mentored research or creative project at Brandeis? Have you recently started or will soon begin work on a research or creative project?
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Students interested in research can now contact a URCC Peer Research Mentor for advice.
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Peer Research Mentors can advise you on funding applications and preparing a talk or poster for the URCC Symposium.
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Interested students can sign up for the URCC Friday mailing to receive timely updates and updates on future workshops.
Academic News
The School of Arts and Sciences has a webpage where you can find all the latest programming related to the Presidential Election. You can see a comprehensive list of programming, voting resources, and more on the VoteDeis website.
Student Support
February 1, 2024
Sign up for a 30-minute, one-on-one financial literacy session!
Student Financial Services can answer questions about budgeting, managing debt, understanding your paycheck, W-2’s, and more. Use their online tool to book an appointment today!
Undergraduate Student News
The School of Arts and Sciences offers a number of ways for you to stay updated on news and events:
- Subscribe to our events calendar which offers department events exclusive to the School of Arts and Sciences, or click on one of the upcoming events to copy it to your calendar.
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