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Are you expecting to miss one or more of your class periods this semester due a professional or personal reason? Instead of canceling the class, consider the “Don’t Cancel that Class” initiative, which will host your class in your absence by presenting on the topic of your choice.

The Student Loan Education Office, Margaret Sloss Women’s Center, Academic Success Center, Student Assistance, and Student Wellness have joined together to implement the “Don’t Cancel that Class” initiative. This initiative will serve as a centralized place for you to request a presentation from any of the above listed offices. To request a presentation please complete the Don’t Cancel That Class: Request Form

Please note that presentations are not guaranteed but are based on the availability of the presenters and most require two weeks advance notice. A confirmation email will be sent to you 2-3 business days after you submit your request.

Presentation choices:

Student Loan Education Office
1. Know Before you Owe: Student Loans 101. Learn about the various student loan options,
the basics of borrowing, repayment plans, forgiveness options, and more!

2. Your Credit Score: The Magic Number Explained. Learn about the importance of a credit
score and credit report and how it may influence some major decisions in the near future.
Students will leave the session knowing where they can check their credit score and report
for free!

3. How not to move back in with your parents: The Basics of Budgeting. Learn how to create
a budget and stick with it! Financial independence can be achieved after graduation by
making some adjustments to your financial choices now.

Margaret Sloss Women’s Center

1. The F-Word…. Feminism: Feminism has been defined many different ways. This
presentation will share the different definitions of feminism, identify who can be feminists,
and explore ways feminism contributes to society.

2. Who Needs Gender Roles When You Can Have Pizza Rolls (Pizza Rolls not included): This
presentation will engage participants in a conversation about gender roles by completing a
gender box group activity. Questions such as “Why do we associate colors with gender?”
will challenge participants to consider why society continues to put gender roles in a box.

Academic Success Center

1. Time Management: Strategies for effectively understanding time management, particularly
as it relates to study skills.

2. Exam Preparation: Strategies to be used throughout the semester to prepare for test,
suggestions for reducing test anxiety, and tips for test day.

3. Study Skills Overview: Discussion of basic study strategies such as note-taking, reading, and
information application to general courses.

Student Assistance

1. Interpersonal Violence. Learn more about rights and procedures, social norming, how to
help a friend and create a supportive environment, as well as reduce the risk of
perpetration.

2. Culture and Violence. Learn about how violence relates to diversity issue.

3. Advocacy and Creating Awareness. Learn about how to be effective in community outreach
campaigns through partnerships and various engagement methods.

Student Wellness

1. Eating the Moment: This is a lesson in mindful eating. The discussion will dissect mindless
eating versus mindful eating, explore the benefits of mindful eating, eating awareness,
craving control, emotional eating, and resources on-campus.

2. Facts on Tap: Critically important: this is an open, non-judgmental discussion on alcohol and
marijuana with the intention of creating an environment of wellness and safety at ISU. What
does our National College Health Assessment data from ISU students tell us? Small and large
group discussion on what this data is telling us and their student experiences at ISU and in
Ames. Individual reflection on where alcohol and marijuana fit into their personal life, ISU
experience and goals – also important to students who choose not to use substances as we
are all part of an environment and culture where this occurs around us. Resources will be
shared as well.

3. Wash that Stress Right Out of YOUR Hair! Foundations first! We will begin with discussion
of definitions, common stressors, signs, symptoms and healthy coping strategies. Let’s relax
and practice! We will engage in an activity of guided imagery relaxation, as well as
progressive muscle relaxation techniques.

4. Practical Spirituality & Emotional Well-being. An engaging presentation with interactive
discussion and exploration into the two distinct dimensions of wellness that we cannot
touch… they’re not tangible. By digging deeper into these mind and body elements of wellbeing,
we will explore 16 alternatives to consider as a means of incorporating practical
spirituality and emotional well-being into your daily life.