With the University’s decision to shift classes online starting next week, we wanted to reach out to let you know that we are still available. Starting immediately, and until in-person classes resume on campus, all advising appointments will be held via Zoom. Please read through the following information thoroughly to ensure you know how to best connect with advisers in the College of the Liberal Arts. If you already have an upcoming meeting scheduled with an adviser, we have edited your existing appointment in Starfish from an in-person meeting to a Zoom meeting. Check your email for a confirmation of this update. If you schedule a new appointment going forward, you will need to select “Zoom” under the drop-down options for “where.” Once you submit your appointment, you will get an email confirmation.

In both situations above, you will receive a confirmation email with a new calendar alert that includes the Zoom connection information. This information will allow you to conduct your advising appointment via Zoom as either a video conference or a phone conversation. Please follow the steps below depending on your Zoom meeting preference:

• Zoom Video Conference – Click on the link provided in the confirmation email calendar alert. You will be brought to a virtual waiting room, and your adviser will start the meeting from there.
• Zoom Phone Conversation – Dial the phone number provided, wait for the prompt to enter the meeting ID number, and follow the steps indicated. You will then be placed on hold temporarily until your adviser starts the meeting.

Remember that we may be finishing a previous appointment when you initially connect, so please wait while we finish that up. We will start your appointment as soon as possible and ask for your patience as we all adapt to this new format. Thank you in advance for your understanding as we all work through this together.

Also be aware that since drop-in advising isn’t available in the new format, advisers will be adding additional appointment slots to our calendars for the next few weeks with the hope that you will be able to find a time to meet with us. We will also continue to be available via email, but please know that there will likely be a delay in our response to emails due to the influx of emails we expect to receive. We will respond to emails as quickly as possible and appreciate your patience and understanding until we respond to yours.

As we work our way through this unprecedented situation, we encourage you to make sure you are taking care of yourself and others during this time. Also, please be sure to follow the University’s continued updates at https://sites.psu.edu/virusinfo/. We look forward to reconnecting in person once residential classes resume on campus. In the meantime, stay safe and please keep in touch with us as needed.