Grad

The Bearcat's Declassified Resource Survival Guide: Online Edition


Written by Chris Pasion, graduate assistant to The Graduate School.

Hey Bearcats! Remember that nifty campus resources article the Bearcat concocted for you earlier this semester? Well, that wasn’t the full story...

A photo of students walking along Main Street between classes.

UC offers a number of online resources which can be used to help you further your research, land your dream post-grad job or internship, obtain free eBooks and software, and for many other purposes. Be sure to utilize these services to get the best out of your experience on UC’s virtual campus!

CampusLINK

Stay up-to-date on all the goings-on on campus by getting connected on CampusLINK. CampusLINK is the online home for organizations, offices, and clubs; it is where they can spread news of any events they have coming up, important dates to know, as well as share anything pertinent to someone looking to get involved with their organization. CampusLINK is a great one-stop shop for all things campus life!

UC Libraries Online Resources

Looking to find sources for your thesis or dissertation? UC has an online scholarly research catalog of articles, books, journals, and databases on the Libraries webpage. This function is key for doing any sort of research no matter the field of study; the “research guides” function allows you to tailor your search to find exactly what it is you need. Through this service, UC gives you access to sources and publications that you would otherwise need to pay for to use. 

In addition, you can access all of this off-campus.

Safari Books Online

Don’t want to get hit with a $300 charge for that Organic Chemistry book? Try searching for your book on Safari Books Online. This database compiles a host of eBooks from many different disciplines and is a great way to access books for free without the headache of scouring the web for the cheapest used copy.

Safari Books Online can be accessed through the libraries catalog described above in the “Databases” section.

Student Software from IT@UC

IT@UC offers students discounted rates on select software that is commonly used in classes. Microsoft Office 365 and the Office Suite are offered free downloads; MatLab, SAS, and other analytics and data tools are available at various discounted rates; Accessibility tools such as Read & Write and ZoomText are also readily obtainable; there is something here for everyone.

Screenshot of Blackboard's Canopy page, where many of the resources are listed.

Many of the online resources found in this list can be easily accessed on Canopy.

LinkedIn Learning

LinkedIn Learning (formerly Lynda.com) is a video platform that is often touted as the “professional’s YouTube”. Learn from experts in any given field on how to solve problems or work complex software. This can be used for academic study, but the types of professional videos found on the platform is so wide-ranging that it can be readily used for any personal projects or other interests as well. Do not miss it!

Bearcat Guardian App

The Bearcat Guardian app is a safety app that converts your cell phone into a safety device. This app will send you emergency notifications from Public Safety, allow you to set a “guardian” who can monitor your location as you move from one place to another and notify UCPD of any issues, or send anonymous tips to UCPD using text or images, among other features. In order to help keep campus secure and maintain a level safety, this app is essential.

Handshake

UC uses Handshake as its primary platform for student to meet with recruiters and career centers to meet and share opportunities; if you are enrolled at UC, you have a Handshake account. This service is a great networking opportunity to reach employers and find internships or post-grad work!

Academic Writing Center’s Online Services

The Academic Writing Center offers a few online services to assist with your editing needs. They offer online tutoring sessions that can be done over video conference where a tutor will work with you in real-time to work through your paper or project. In addition, they have a Tutor Feedback service where you can submit essays (six pages or less) to be looked over by a tutor and sent back to you with edits within 48 hours. This service is invaluable to those looking to get feedback on their writing from trained, working professionals!

In addition to these resources, you can visit The Graduate School website to read up on popular UC lingo that can help someone new to UC, as well as learn more about Cincinnati and what it has to offer.