The Discovery Program, operates as a bridge between academics, career-search and extracurricular activities, creating opportunities for students to enhance the quality of their learning experience. Discovery encourages students to cultivate educational, social and career interests and to explore ways of making meaningful contributions to society. Our professional staff, graduate assistants, and peer advisors (DAs) help provide easy access to academic support. Its administrative offices are located in the College-in-the-Woods Library, but Discovery services extend into campus residential areas and off campus, as well.
Discovery’s mission is to guide student exploration of their many academic and career interests. The programs under Discovery are: 1) Discovery Advisors (peer advising), 2) Discovery Centers (academic resource centers), 3) First-Year and Senior-Year Experience Courses, and 4) Community Service-learning
Discovery Advisors (DAs) are undergraduate and graduate students who provide their peers with academic and career exploration information. DAs assist students with course selection/scheduling and academic concerns and issues, provide information on experiential learning opportunities and encourage students to explore these options, help students connect with the BU community and its many extracurricular resources and experiences, and staff Discovery Centers, located in the College in the Woods and Hinman Libraries.
A student’s “primary resource for information” – information on campus activities, academics, and career exploration – a first step to get his/her questions answered. The CIW and Hinman Discovery Centers are open late hours to meet students’ needs (Sunday – Thursday, 5:00 – 8:00 pm).
There are also teams of Discovery Advisors who target transfer and commuter students to provide important and timely academic information, news, and updates.
CIW Library
Hinman Library
There are two types of Discovery courses: First Year Experience Courses and Senior Year Experience Courses. These courses give students an edge in building a sense of identity and community, as well as help prepare students for life after Binghamton University.
First Year Experience Course – HDEV 105
The First Year Experience Course, also called HDEV 105 College Students in Transition explores what it means to be a college freshman from a human development perspective. Along the way, students will meet faculty and staff from all over campus, discover what they do and how you can get more involved. Students will develop oral communication skills and establish connections to and within the university. Besides course sections for on campus freshmen, there are special sections for commuter and transfer students. HDEV 105 is a great way to get a jump start in becoming a part of Binghamton University.
Senior Year Experience Course
The Senior Year Experience (SYE) course is also called HDEV 476. The course is intended to address issues of transition from student to post-graduate study and careers. Students will assess competencies and increase effectiveness in achieving personal and personal goals. The course will include readings, autobiographical and analytical writing, discussion, guest speakers and creative problem-solving. Utilizing campus resources, students will be assisted in resume writing and career search strategies.
The SYE course is an engaging opportunity for seniors to reflect upon their BU experience and become productive and confident BU alumni. Junior and seniors are welcome to register for Senior Year Experience.
Discovery works closely with tutoring services through the Center for Learning and Teaching Office. Tutoring services are free. Examples of courses commonly associated with tutoring include Math, Sciences, Foreign Language, English, Social Sciences and other courses. Tutoring is provided by highly trained peer tutors who help students learn to think critically, problem-solve and maximize study time.
Tutoring services are available by appointment and walk-in. Stop by the College-in-the-Woods Library (Discovery Center) and complete a tutor request card. Once you have filled out the forms to request a tutor, you will be assigned within 24 hours.
We strongly encourage students requesting academic help to sign-up for and utilize tutors on a by-appointment basis by coming in early in the semesters so that they can work consistently and productively with a tutor in one-on-one or small group sessions. Ideally, walk-in hours should supplement regular tutoring contacts. The walk-in hours are limited by time and subject. There are more tutors available on a by-appointment basis, and we will make every effort to recruit additional tutors in order to accommodate student requests.
Discovery encourages students to learn outside the classroom. Discovery works with faculty and community agencies to promote learning through active participation in service experiences in the local community.
Discovery works very closely with The National Student Exchange (NSE) program, which provides opportunities for undergraduate students to study for up to one calendar year at another NSE member college or university. More than 190 colleges and universities participate throughout the U.S., Canada, the U.S Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, and Guam.
NSE is a chance to take courses not offered at Binghamton, enjoy a different geographic area, experience a different cultural/social environment, and explore graduate and professional schools on or near your NSE campus.
Placements begin in early March for the following academic year. Placements can be made throughout the year, but options will be more limited. Applications are available at the NSE office, College-in-the-Woods Library, Room 206.
For further information about NSE, please visit the Binghamton NSE program’s website including a complete listing of all participating universities and colleges.
Stop by the College in the Woods Discovery Center, located in the College-in-the-Woods library, or ask any of the 20 Discovery Advisors.
