Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is Discovery?

The Discovery Program, a joint venture of the Academic Affairs and Student Affairs divisions, operates as a bridge between academics, career-search and extracurricular activities, creating opportunities for students to enhance the quality of their learning experience. The goal of Discovery is to make Binghamton University a living-learning community – one where learning extends beyond the classroom door. Using a four year model, Discovery encourages students to cultivate educational, social and career interests and to explore ways of making meaningful contributions to society. Through Discovery peer advisors, tutors and staff, Discovery provides easy access to academic support, special courses and student-living services. Its administrative offices are located in the College-in-the-Woods Library, but Discovery Program locations extend into all the campus residential areas and off campus, as well.

2. What are Discovery’s Programs?

Discovery’s goal is to transform Binghamton University into a living-learning community – one where learning extends beyond the classroom door. Discovery’s mission is to guide student exploration of their many academic and career interests. The programs under Discovery are: 1) Learning Communities, 2) Discovery Advisors (peer advising), 3) First-Year and Senior-Year Experience Courses, 4) Tutoring, 5) Community Service-learning, 6) the National Honor Societies and 7) the National Student Exchange (NSE).

3. Who are Discovery Advisors?

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, work closely with the Residential Life staff to help students connect with the BU community and its many extracurricular experiences, and staff Discovery Centers.

4. What is a Discovery Center?

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 Centers are open late hours to meet students’ needs (Sunday – Thursday, 5:00 – 9:00 pm).

There is also a Discovery Advisor for local commuter students who is available in the OCC office (UUW 204)

5. Where are the Discovery Centers located?

CIW Library
Dickinson’s O’Connor Hall
Hillside Commons
Hinman Library
Mountainview Dining Hall
Newing Dining Hall
Susquehanna Choconut 101

6. What are Discovery Courses?

There are several types of Discovery courses: First Year Experience Courses, Senior Year Experience Courses and Learning Community course. All Discovery courses give students an edge in building a sense of identity and community.

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.

Learning Communities

Learning Community courses are taught by faculty who maintain a student-centered perspective that emphasizes collaborative learning, critical thinking, problem solving, reflection, and self-assessment. Importantly, Learning Community courses have a residential component. Students taking Learning Community courses live in designated halls within each of the five residential areas. There are three types of Learning Community courses:

  1. Linked Courses
    • Linked courses are two 4-credit classes brought together by theme and by parallel, cooperative approaches to teaching. Links generally consist of an introductory English course and an introductory social science course. Students live in designated halls associated with the individual linked pairs.
    • Students enroll in both courses, learning to make interdisciplinary connections. Through team-teaching and collaborative learning, students develop critical thinking, writing and reading skills.
    • Linked instructors explore key themes from varying perspectives, working with texts, media, and discussions to foster dialogue and ways of thinking which engage complex ideas in accessible ways.
  2. Hall-Based courses (HBCs)
    • Hall-Based Courses are courses or sections of lecture courses in which all students live in a designated residential hall.
    • In these 4-credit courses, which are generally math, chemistry, and biology, students attend class with members of their residential halls, developing tight relationships with their fellow residents.
    • Students have greater access to their teaching assistants (TAs) who hold office hours in the hall, sponsor review sessions before exams, and offer workshops relevant to careers in the academic disciplines.
  3. Science Combination Courses (SCCs)
    • Science Combination Courses (SCCs) are combined sections of chemistry and biology lecture courses in which all students in the sections live in one of the designated Learning Community halls.
    • Students enroll in both 4-credit courses, attending class with members of their residential halls and developing tight relationships with their fellow residents.
    • Students also have greater access to their teaching assistants (TAs) who hold office hours in the hall and sponsor review sessions before exams.

7. What Tutoring Services are Available?

Discovery offers tutoring services through it’s Center for Academic Excellence. 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.

8. What is Community Service-learning?

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.

9. What is the National Student Exchange?

The National Student Exchange (NSE) 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.

10. What National Honor Societies are affiliated with the Discovery Program?

The Discovery Program currently oversees two national honor societies.

Phi Eta Sigma is for students who have high academic achievement during their freshman year at Binghamton.

Tau Sigma is for students who transfer to Binghamton and who have high academic achievement during their first semester at Binghamton. These students must have at least one year of coursework at a previous institution of higher education.

Membership in both Honor Societies is by invitation only.

Where can I find out more information about the Discovery program?

Stop by any of the seven Discovery Centers, the Discovery Program office located in the College-in-the-Woods library, or ask any of the 28 Discovery Advisors.