Mr. Woolston:

I am a chem engineering sophomore and I was wondering if it is possible to take Math 223 instead of 234 and 235 next semester. Are there advantages to 234 and 235? Thank you, Justin Terry.

***********************************

Dean Woolston:

Could you check to see if I have to take EPD155 (Tech. Writing)? My Communications A requirement was filled on my placement tests, but does that satisfy EPD155?

Thanks,
Chris

(Sent to all advisees on first class day)

Valued students:

Welcome to all pre-engineering students from your advisors. We hope your transition back to school is a smooth one in every respect.

Bonnie, Eman, Evelyn and I will be sending you e-mails periodically throughout the semester to keep you informed about things pre-engineering students need to know. For example, there is a new-student orientation meeting today in an hour in 1800 Engineering Hall; if you are a new freshman,I hope you can come (sorry about the short notice!).

If you have recently transferred out of the college and get these messages in error, you can learn from them, too, but eventually your name will be dropped from the list. If it isn't, you should talk to one of us in pre-engineering to see what the problem is.

In any event, any time you have a short question that has a short answer,feel free to e-mail: egradvisor@engr.wisc.edu
and we will get back to. If you need to make an appointment, that's fine, too. Just call 262-2473 to make an appointment with any of us. And,if you would like to talk to a senior engineering student about most anything,feel free to stop by the Information Place during the day--it's the classroom on the east side of the Engineering Hall lobby.

Cheers, and hit the ground running!

Your advisors

(130 students responded to my message "What advice do you haveon advising?")

Subject: Re: Advising: Got any advice?

I just wanted to thank you for the advice and to tell you that e-mail really works to get a hold of you.
    - Lenny Adams

dean woolston,

did you hear? i was accepted into the electrical and computer engineering department. i wanted to say thank you for all the advising so far. the letter gave me a new assignment for an advisor so i won't be visiting you for scheduling help anymore. i appreciate all the advice and patience you had when helping me every semester. thanks again!  also, last time i came in to see you, i mentioned that i might be staying for the summer.you said there might be jobs available within the engineering school. i arrived back to madison on friday and i am taking ECE 207 for the eight week session. are there any more available jobs that you know of? pleaselet me know as i am very interested in finding some work while i am here.

fondly,

Ramona Steiner

*(reply)*

Ramona:

Yes, congratulations. I signed the action admitting you to the department,and I should have written a happy face just to let you know I was rootingfor you. Good job. I wish you much success, in hard classes such as ECE354, for example.

As for a summer job, as a matter of fact I do have a lead for you. Somepeople in the college are doing a conference for engineering educators,and they need a student for at least the next few weeks, if you are interestedin helping with the preparations and the time the people are actually oncampus. The contact is Sherri (last name totally unpronounceable); herphone number 3-3248. I spoke to her about you, and your interest in a part-timesummer job, so she should be expecting your call.

Again, congratulations. It was very nice of you to write.

dcw

Dean Woolston,

I have given my current situation much consideration. I know that if Iwere in this position three months ago engineering would have been thebest option for me. As it is, I now understand that however capable I amat succeeding in mathematics and/or engineering related courses, they donot interest me. I cannot study courses like these because essentiallyit is a waste of time for everyone concerned.

Also, since I first realized this, I have given a lot of considerationto where my interests lie, to who I am, and to where I want to take myselfin life. I have since come to the conclusion that persuing a degree infrench is the direction I would like to go. The only reason I didn't realizethis a long time ago is because I didn't think there were too many optionsout there after college for someone with just a french degree, so I thoughtan engineering degree would be a good compliment to that (which I supposeit is, but it's not the direction I want to take in life). I have sincetalked to several professors and my high school french teacher, all ofwhom have reassured me of all of the possibilities that actually are outthere.

I returned to Madison enthusiastic about the courses for which I haveregistered, which is the only thing I lacked last semester. I have courseswhich I will need for a french major, not just courses that I am takingonly because they are required (like last semester), but all of which alsocorrespond to my interests.

Matthew Carlson

***********************************************

Dean Woolston:

In response to how my semester is going:

Stats 333 is impossible. I'm sure you've heard that from a million otherstudents - just about everyone that has taken the class. i'm in J. Harrington'sclass, and I wouldn't advise anyone else to take his class. i'm not failingthis class, or even coming close, but I don't think he presents the materialin such a way as to prepare us for the test. There are people who feelthat way in every class, and there are always "geeks" in theclass who throw the curve with a 95% or something. I think there's definatelysomething wrong, though, when the highest grade is an 86% or 87%. I gota 64% on the first exam (2 pts away from an A) and a 46% on the last exam(a mid-C). I'm not complaining about the curve - I don't want a failinggrade, but that's the level I feel I should be at. A 46% doesn't tell methat I know the material.

Furthermore, my TA doesn't speak fluent english and is very difficultto understand. I've been to see him during his office hours a number oftimes, but it doesn't seem to help. I realize that this is another commoncomplaint, however, Johnson doesn't have any office hours.  He saidif we absolutly needed to see him, we could schedule an appointment, butthat we should be asking our TA for help with understanding the material.I've had to get a tutor to work with me on a weekly basis to teach me thematerial in a way that I'll be able to use it for the test. So I'm payingto go to class, and then paying for someone else to teach it to me. I don'tfeel like I'm slow in math and I've never had any problems before. In factwith the help of my tutor, the course material doesn't seem difficult. At first I thought, "It's just the way college is," but I don'thave to teach myself the material in any of my other classes, althoughI do study a lot. If I do poorly on a test in another class, it was becauseI wasn't prepared, not because the material wasn't presented clearly. Icame to Madison to get a good education. I knew it would be really competative,but I didn't know I'd have to teach myself. If I can pass on this informationto any future student, I would.

Thanks,

Sheila

I am Herman Chang, I am now in EGR1, I am a freshman whose intendedamjor is ECE. I am now planning the courses for the coming semester. Iplan to take Math 223, Physics 202, ECE 170, Com Sci 302 and EPD 101, totally15 credits. However, I want to take one more course. As I learn the basicmicro-economic in high school, I like to take Econ 101, however, it willexcess 18 credits. I am quite confused about my decision.

Also, I now have 22 credits and I want to take a placement test formy chem 103. Am I possible to take placement test before the end of thissemester. I am very interested in the Technical Communication Certificate(TCC) program after attending the lessons in EPD 100. I also want to takesome courses related to the program in the coming semester. What coursescan I take?  I would like to have an individual advising. What timeare you available. Would it be convenient to have the advising in afternoon,the coming Thursday. Please contact me at your earliest convenience.

Thanks. My telephone no is 2643987

I e-mailed this student about some recommendations I made during a meetingwe had, and here was the reply:

Mr. Lipschultz,

I went to the jazz class and it seems like I am going to like it! Iwent to the other math 251 class at the same time as mine, and the teacherseems pretty good (but it was really crowded). I think that I may juststay in my class and if I get confused I can always find help with anotherprofessor. Thank you so much for your help. I think that I may be visiting your office again in the next month or so to discuss possible minors.  Thanksagain!

-Ellen

(Sent to freshman and sophomores having difficulty in entrance to major courses)

To: wpl100@psu.edu
From: Wesley Lipschultz <wpl100@psu.edu>

Subject: Trouble with a class? What to do...

Hello! Wes Lipschultz, College of Engineering academic adviser here.I understand you are having some difficulty with a class that is an ENTRANCETO MAJOR COURSE for many engineering majors (or a class that is prerequisiteto an entrance to major course).

Have you talked with you professor to find out where you stand? Does the professor curve? Can the lowest test grade be dropped? Can any arrangementsbe made with the professor? Have you talked with an adviser?

If you have already done the above and have the situation under control,great! If not, READ ON...

Trouble in one of these courses is NOT something to be taken lightly,however it is not the end of the world, either.

THE LATE DROP DEADLINE IS FRIDAY, APRIL 11th

If you wish to drop the class or talk about strategies to improve yourgrade, come to the Engineering Advising Center in 241 Hammond...

Let me know if this message was helpful. Good luck!!!!

-Wes Lipschultz
Engineering Advising Center
241 Hammond Building
863-1033
http://www.personal.psu.edu/faculty/w/p/wpl100

...Of all sad words of tongue or pen,
the saddest are these: "It might have been!"
-John Greenleaf Whittier

Here is one reply:

Wes,

the message was helpful. I would like to set up an appointment with you to discuss my grades and whether or not I should drop a class. Let me know when it would be convenient.

Thanks,

Alan

(The message below was to a student living 3 hours away. He was working on a faculty senate petition, and I said I would look it over.)

To: Bill
From: Wesley Lipschultz <wpl100@psu.edu>
Subject: Re: Fw: Here is my letter to the Senate
Attachments: C:\EUDORA\ATTACH\WITHDRAW.DOC;

Bill,

I have looked over the letter and edited it a bit. I bracketed the thingsI have changed so that you could see what I did and decide whether or notyou want to make the changes. A few comments:

In general, I think the letter explains in good detail what was goingon in your life when you left Penn State. However, you may want to definea little more clearly why you left and (VERY important) why you didn'tsimply withdraw from the semester before you left for Colorado...

...Wes

(This student sent me a list of questions, and I responded right in his e-mails as follows)

Hi James,

I will respond to each question below. I really would like to talk toyou in person about this, however, even if just a phone conversation. Thereare things that would be really hard to convey through e-mail. Also, whatI say depends on the major in which you are interested. I looked at yourGPA, and if you keep it where it is or bring it up a little bit, it ishigher than the cutoffs have been in years past for all majors except Cmpsc,Cmpen, and AE.

With these cautions, here are my responses to your questions:

James: My question is, if I don't receive entrance to the collegeof engineering, can I reapply at a later date?

Wes: To a limited extent yes: if you miss the cutoff, you canasked to be reconsidered after final Sp '98 grades are in (some peoplemake the cutoff but do not receive a "C" or better in somethinglike Math 141 at the end of the spring, in which case the space they hadopens up). If you do miss the cutoff, however, there is a very strong likelihoodthat the major will remain full and you will not get it.

James: What happens if I receive my second choice of major, andI really want my first choice? Could I deny entrance at that time, so asto take another semester's worth of classes to improve my GPA and bettermy chances at receiving my major of choice?

Wes: No, your only hope of entry into the major later on is thatsomeone would drop out and space would open up. Later GPAs do not factorinto the equation.

I hope this helps, and please feel free to call and set up either aphone or in person appointment with me. Take care!

-Wes

(A student e-mailed with a question about the Penn State Co-op program,so I replied as follows to encourage her to use the web as a source ofinformation)

To: Sandy@psu.edu

Hi Sandy, I'm typing this as I'm on the phone w/ you. Here's the co-opscoop:

http://www.engr.psu.edu/coop/

-Wes

Date: Thu, 25 Sep 1997 15:50:21 -0500
To: woolston@engr.wisc.edu
From: Amy Marie Pfaff
Subject: four year graduation

I received an e-mail about graduating in four years, and I had somequestions about doing it. I would like to major in geological. Many people have said that you can graduate in four years with an engineeringdegree, but that if you do, it often means not having internships and doing co-ops. They have all advised against graduating in four years and instead,getting the experience. I was wondering what you think about the four year plan, and what you'd suggest is better.

Thank you,

Amy Marie Pfaff

reply from dcw:

Amy:

That's a really good question. In favor of the four year agreement,I can say that it is a good thing for students to examine the curriculumand structure their education. But, I can also say that it may make studentsfocus on the wrong thing--how long it takes to get a degree is not as bigan issue as how much you learn.

I looked up your record, and you are definitely a smart person witha bright future. I wouldn't be surprised at all if you were to graduatein four years. But, the four year agreement says that if you coop or studyabroad the agreement doesn't apply. And for all I know, these are opportunitiesthat might become a big part of your career.

If you were to come in to talk, I could show you how to do your major in eight semesters, but I'm not sure I would want to persuade you to doit that way.

So, call 262-2473 to make an appointment if you like--attend a fouryear agreement meeting, too, if you like, but think for yourself on thisissue.

Dcw

To: woolston@engr.wisc.edu
Subject: Any Advice

Dear Mr. Woolston,

First let me introduce myself, my name is Pat Olsen. I'm a freshmen in your EPD 101 class. I was wondering if you could give me some helpfuladvice in future planning, or if you could refer me to someone who couldbetter assist me. Here's my situation. I'm planning on either going pre-medor pre-dental. However, if a student wants to do this they must declare a major or have a "back-up" plan, as I'm sure your aware of. Here's where my problem lies. I know I want to declare a major inengineering but I haven't narrowed it down yet. I would like to go intoBio-Medical Engineering here. The problem is I don't know if UW reallyhas it yet. I overhead some other engineers saying that UW has the programand 25 students are in it this semester and 25 more are going to enternext semester. I also heard since so few students get accepted that itis really difficult to enter that program. Is this all true?

I was talking to another engineering student in mechanical engineeringwho said that most companies don't hire BME's as under-grads they usuallyhire BME graduate students. Is that true? That same student is taking theroute of mechanical engineering undergrad and BME at a graduate level.Do you think that's the right route to take? Can a mechanical engineerget hired at the same position a BME would get hired at? Also, do you thinkthat some of the engineering courses would overlap with the pre-med, pre-dentalpre-requisites. Thank you so much for your time. If you can't answer myquestions I understand. I just appreciate you taking time to read this.I realize your a very busy man. Thanks again.

Your student,

Pat

Mr. Woolston,

I would like to talk to you about some courses I plan to take in thespring semester. Please give me an apporopriate time for the same. Friday12:10 pm suites me if this time adjusts with your schedule please confirmand oblige.

Regards.

Antonio

Dear Jason:

As your academic dean, I am very alarmed by your decision to registerfor 19 credits for the current semester.  Since you are on probation,your foremost goal must be to achieve a reasonably high gradepoint thissemester. Accumulating a large number of credits is not important at all. Please call 262-2473 to make an appointment so that we can discussa safer path toward your academic goals.

Donald C. Wooston

Assistant Dean

*****

reply:

Dear Dean Woolston,

I thought a quick note would be in order to explain why I am taking19 credits, and why I am on academic probation. There are a few extenuatingcircumstances as to why I did so poorly last semester. The most prominentis I have a brother who was diagnosed with an advanced form of a very rarebone cancer. I would be back home in Minneapolis for weeks at a time lastsemester, so I got behind often, and had trouble catching up. In retrospect,I should have taken the semester off, but oh well.
I was an honors student coming out of high school, so the work load isnot a problem, and has not been so far to keep up. I have a single roomthis year, so finding a place to study for long periods of time is notand will not be a problem.  I appreciate your concern, I hope to seeyou at advising later in the semester.

Sincerely,

Jason Schilling

(This e-mail was inadvertently sent to 1300 pre-engineering students!)

Chuck Winter and I invite you to celebrate the end of the semester atthe Union Terrace next Thursday afternoon 5:30 to 7:00 pm. There will beno program, awards or agenda. Congratulatory remarks will, however, beencouraged, since we have once again successfully pushed the rock up thehill! Please join us to toast briefly a successful 1996-1997 before weworry about 1997-98. Feel free to bring a friend.

Dear Robert:

As your academic dean, I am very alarmed by your decision to registerfor 19 credits for the current semester. While it is clear to me that youhave decided to pursue a major outside of engineering, I still must remindyou that you have to do well this semester academically if you are to haveoptions for future semesters.

Since you are on probation, your foremost goal must be to achieve areasonably high gradepoint this semester. Accumulating a large number ofcredits is not important at all. I have 1200 students, and only eight havechosen to take over 18 credits. I don't believe you should be one of them.Obviously, the choice is yours, but I would hope that you rethink yourstrategy. Please call 262-2473 to make an appointment so that we can discussa safer path toward your academic goals.

Don Woolston

Assistant Dean, Pre-Engineering

reply:

i don't know what this is but i am in elementary ed. and i have an advisorand its not you. i am taking fourteen credits this semester, not nineteen. i think you got me confused with someone else.

reply to reply:

Robert, you are right on all counts. I'll check middle initials nexttime. dcw

Thanks for your help a while back as far as the advisor holds are concerned,I have successfully transfered to L&S and plan to major in economics.Could I please be taken off your e-mail bulk list and also off whateverlist engineering organizations use. I am getting more e-mail from organizationssuch as polygon than I know what to do with. At least it doesn't wastepaper.

-John Hastings

**************************************

To: WPL100@psu.edu

From: "Eric" <Eric@psu.edu>
Subject: hey..uh...

Hello, who are you? Why do you keep sending me stuff? I dont know anythingabout engineering. Is this a secret admirer thing? I'm straight. Let melive in peace.

-Eric

From: "VW" <vw@psu.edu>

To: <wpl100@email.psu.edu>
Subject: Chem 15
Date: Wed, 27 Nov 1996

Wes:

This is Vernon Walsh. I met with you on Tuesday morning, 11/26, to discussmy schedule for next semester. There are no chem 15 sections available.Is it possible to place me into one because it is required by my major?Please let me know what can be done to solve this problem. My phone numberis 862-2585. I will be leaving today but can meet with you anytime Monday.

Thanks,

Vernon

To: ggg@psu.edu

From: Wesley Lipschultz wpl100@email.psu.edu>
Subject: diversity credits and your schedule

Hi George! I talked to the Dean, and even if you can take a test forChinese credit, we will not accept it in Engineering as Diversity Focusedcredit. Also, I was talking to the my colleagues about your schedule, andthey recommended not to take math 250 along with the other courses in yourschedule (spcomm 004, math 230, cmpsci 201, econ 004, and physics 203).I also see you have changed your schedule since we last talked. Why CSE271?  It counts for Computer Engineering and Electrical Engineering,but not Mechanical (unless perhaps as a technical elective, and you wouldhave to talk to the Mech. Engineering Department about that). You alsohave put Math 251 in your schedule. There is no need to schedule all ofthese courses at once. Why not lighten your load? You are taking more challengingcourses in one semester than most students do. E-mail me back if you haveany questions.

-Wes

The following is actually from an e-mail sent to me by a universityemployee, but it captures the problem perfectly:

Date: Fri, 26 Sep 1997

To: mma1@psu.edu, dxa6@psu.edu, jcc2@psu.edu, fxp2@psu.edu,
gjh1@psu.edu, ldh1@psu.edu, jmp9@psu.edu, lnm1@psu.edu,
mjm1@psu.edu, mzd1@psu.edu, alr3@psu.edu, jks5@psu.edu, jrp5@psu.edu,
ris1@psu.edu, scs1@psu.edu, lms4@psu.edu, rgs1@psu.edu,
blw1@psu.edu, dld11@psu.edu, jlb2@psu.edu, lac2@psu.edu,
gck1@psu.edu, vbk1@psu.edu, kzm3@psu.edu, alp5@psu.edu,
pmr1@psu.edu, mls5@psu.edu, cxt4@psu.edu, dly1@psu.edu,
dmy1@psu.edu, djm2@psu.edu, ljw1@psu.edu, tlb1@psu.edu,
gas9@psu.edu, mys4@psu.edu, ynt2@psu.edu, jac3@psu.edu,
rzb3@psu.edu, cec5@psu.edu, geg3@psu.edu, ael6@psu.edu, taa3@psu.edu,
mbw2@psu.edu, mea1@psu.edu, mlg5@psu.edu, dmf9@psu.edu,
prb3@psu.edu, apr2@psu.edu, jwg6@psu.edu, dje4@psu.edu, pqc2@psu.edu,
atn1@psu.edu, cxr16@psu.edu, tdh1@psu.edu, dqg2@psu.edu,
lxr2@psu.edu, tcs5@psu.edu, cxj2@psu.edu, mhs1@psu.edu,
jxw4@psu.edu, arw1@psu.edu, dqc2@psu.edu, bat1@psu.edu,
def4@psu.edu, cek3@psu.edu, kjn4@psu.edu, jff1@psu.edu,
czs9@psu.edu, tjr3@psu.edu, rdw3@psu.edu, dln8@psu.edu, seg7@psu.edu,
mib2@psu.edu, csb1@psu.edu, jej1@psu.edu, clm6@psu.edu,

From: Joe Employee <JJE@psu.edu>
Subject: College addition

Please add the following to your list of openings:

Psy 213, Section 001

-Joe