Students experiencing difficulty in a given class have a plethora of resources to turn to both in CAS and at NYU. Below, you will find a list of the most common and useful resources students can turn to.
Course and Major Specific Support
If you feel uncomfortable or confused about how to phrase your concerns or where to start, reach out to us and we will support you through this process.
The professor: For many issues, going directly to the professor can yield the most productive and direct results. Although you might be nervous, you are most often your own best advocate and will be best suited to discuss your experience(s) in the class with the professor one-on-one.
TAs: Approaching one of your Graduate Teaching Assistants, assuming your class has them, can also be a productive way of addressing issues you are having in the same way approaching your professor directly can be.
*Note: Anytime you reach out to any of the people below, you’re encouraged to CC CAS Student Council on your email so that we can support you in the process.
Director of Undergraduate Study (or Program Director): Depending on the issue you are experiencing, approaching the department’s director of undergraduate study (DUS) with your concerns is another option if you are unable to resolve things with your professor. The DUS in your department will also be able to direct you to any departmental-specific resources that exist (e.g., tutoring).
Chair of the Department: Department Chairs are the chief administrative officer in a department. They will often work in tandem with the DUS to resolve conflicts, help settle grade disputes, or solve other issues students are experiencing in the classroom.
Dean for Students (mailto:cas.deanforstudents@nyu.edu): If you feel you would like another resource or have questions or concerns about how to proceed no matter the situation, staff in the CAS Associate Dean for Students can provide guidance to find a resolution.
The Office of the Associate Dean for Students also offers a select number of support groups for students experiencing various sorts of academic difficulty.
If you have questions about finding a faculty mentor who can help you explore your academic and research interests, the Office of the Associate Dean for Students can also provide guidance.
Academic Standards: In some situations, you may need to request an exception to policy in order to resolve your issue, e.g., requesting to withdraw or pass/fail from a course after the deadline. You will need to provide a justification of your request, and requests are only granted in cases with extenuating circumstances.
CAS Academic advisor/the CAS Advising Center: Your CAS academic advisor will be a great resource for you especially in helping you consider and review your options in terms of requesting a pass/fail, withdrawing from the class, or adjusting your schedule and how those options will impact your progress to degree. CAS Advising also offers walk-in hours if your CAS advisor isn’t available right away.
Preprofessional Advising Center: If you are considering law, health professions, or other professional training after graduation, CAS Preprofessional Advising Center can help you review your options and whether those choices might impact your postgraduate plans.
Departmental Advisor: Like your CAS advisor, your departmental advisor will be able to help you consider your academic options and will be a great resource to review your options within the major. Like the DUS, your departmental advisor may also be able to direct you to department-specific resources.
tutoring, writing, and research support
University Learning Center (ULC): The University Learning Center offers group and one-on-one tutoring sessions as well as study slams for a variety of classes in most majors. There are also regular Academic Skills workshops that may be helpful for you in dealing with a specific situation in a class or for your general academic life (e.g., time management, note-taking, study habits).
Writing in the Discipline (WID): WID provides several workshops each semester dedicated to helping students with their writing and cover everything from sentence structure and grammar to formulating a research question.
Writing Center: In larger courses, professors and TAs might not be able to review drafts of essays and other writing assignments. However, you can make an appointment at the Writing Center to discuss your project and essay drafts with trained tutors or faculty consultants.
Bobst: NYU Libraries can be a great resource when working on research projects and presentations. Aside from online Research Guides which will help you find databases for your particular discipline, subject librarians can help you refine your searches and find primary and secondary materials related to your project. Subject librarians have advanced degrees not only in library science but also in their respective disciplines.
Peer Support
Us! CAS Student Council are CAS students’ representatives not only in the College but also at NYU. Student Council is the liaison between CAS and NYU administration. Several of our subcommittees can be useful fora for conversations about issues students may encounter in the classroom.
Student Leaders/Peer Mentors: There are a number of peer leaders you may have already connected with through your time at CAS. Please continue to use your College Leader, Transfer Orientation Leader, Proud to Be First Mentor, AAP Mentor, International Student Mentor, or other mentors you've connected with for support.
All first-year students have a College Leader assigned to their Cohort who serves as a peer advisor throughout the first year. Each Cohort elects a Cohort President for the second year who can then serve as a resource person.
The Academic Achievement Program (AAP) features a broad network of student leaders who serve as peer mentors.
International Student Mentor Program offers peer mentoring and support to international students in the College.
Proud to Be First provides peer mentors to help support the transition and adjustment to college for first-generation college students.
Departmental/Related Student Groups: In many majors/departments, there are student-run groups and clubs (e.g., Women in Computing, Society of Physics Students). Your peers can be a great resource for navigating the major. These groups also sometimes hold study sessions and can generally be a good place for you to connect with peers to form your own study groups.
NYUnite: NYUnite is a new initiative to help you connect with other NYU students regardless of where you are in the world! All you have to do is complete the form here! Sign up today and start making connections!
WINS: Peer Undergraduate Mentoring Program (PUMP): The Program supports CAS women pursuing STEM majors by building a community in which women come together and meet others from across a range of STEM fields. With 150–200 mentees each semester, the program is overseen by WINS members and offers individual mentor/mentee meetings as well as several large events.