Student Services

The following pages contain information about these topics:

• Academic Advising
• Academic Support
• Policy Statement Regarding Students with Disabilities
• Veterans Administration Benefits
• Career Services
• Library Services

An academic advisor is assigned to every student who enrolls in the SHS program. The overall purpose of the formal advising is to provide students with a contact person who can help them to tailor and plan their academic program and to clarify the process, procedures and expectations involved with the SHS program. Academic advisors are assigned to students during the first term of their undergraduate program. Academic advisors and students work in partnership to achieve a students educational requirements and goals. An academic advisor:

• makes sure the student is meeting all requirements for graduation: general education, All-College Requirements and other program requirements, including transfer credits;
• monitors incomplete grades and progress toward completing coursework;
• assists in clarifying learning objectives and career plans;
• addresses problems regarding work/instructors/expectations; progress of portfolio; and the use of Support Center;
• counsels or refers student to appropriate source for assistance;
• serves as an advocate for the student.

Academic advisors are required to post office hours. A students academic progress is monitored by his/her academic advisor and the Academic Standards Committee.

Academic advising begins at the time of acceptance to the SHS program. The Admissions Committee reviews each applicant file and, in consultation with faculty and other academic advisors, makes recommendations for the academic program. Considered in this recommendation are the students academic history, professional human services trainings, licenses and certificates, writing assessment and other types of assessment as appropriate.

Each SHS campus has a student support structure that serves as a resource to provide students with support, advocacy, information and academic skills. The resources and support offered include assistance with writing assignments, time management, study skills, research projects and areas related to personal development and academic progress. Faculty and staff at various campuses also offer workshops periodically to help students with skills such as resume writing and career planning. Students in need of professional counseling may be referred to a list of community resources that have been identified by the College.

Springfield College School of Human Services is committed to providing an equal educational opportunity and full participation in College programs for persons with disabilities in accordance with state and federal laws. The College fully supports the anti-discrimination policies expressed in state and federal legislation for persons with disabilities. It is the Colleges intent that no person be subject to discrimination with regard to any College program or activity.

Springfield College School of Human Services recognizes the unique needs of students with disabilities and encourages these students to use the support services offered by the College to assist them in attaining their educational goals. The policy of Springfield College School of Human Services regarding admission and access to programs and activities prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability. Disabled students should refer to the SHS Student Handbook for further details regarding disability services and are invited to contact the School of Human Services Director of Student Services.

Reasonable accommodations are provided for students with disabilities on the basis of need if the disabilities are documented with appropriate evaluations administered by qualified professionals such as psychologists, medical doctors, or agencies specializing in the diagnosis of such disabilities.

Students planning to utilize VA benefits to pay for tuition must contact the VA certifying official at the local campus as soon as they decide to matriculate. They must speak with the official at the beginning of each term to have their enrollment certified. Recertifications are not done automatically. If a student decides to withdraw from a particular semesters classes or from the program, he/she must submit a written notice to that effect and indicate that he/she is receiving VA benefits.

The Career Center assists students and alumni in making career and life-planning decisions. A career development specialist serves as a liaison for SHS campuses. The specialist is responsible for coordinating services and programs focused on helping individuals become well-informed job applicants who are skilled and confident in presenting their credentials to employers. Resources and networking opportunities are available to assist students to identify and secure full-time professional employment. Job search skills can be sharpened by scheduling videotaped practice interviews, having resumes and cover letters critiqued via fax or e-mail and by using the Career Center library resources and the Internet. Students who register with the Career Center can establish a permanent reference file and easy access to the weekly job-listing bulletin and Job Hotline. The Career Center is open some Saturdays and evenings to more easily accommodate calls from SHS students at remote campuses. The center also accepts telephone appointments. Graduates are surveyed each year, and the placement results are published. While the Center will assist students and alumni with career services, it does not guarantee placement. The Career Center is located at the main campus in Springfield, Massachusetts. Students can contact the office at 413-748-3222.

Babson Library is Springfield Colleges library, serving the students, faculty and staff of Springfield College and all of its campuses. The library collection mirrors the curriculum and is especially strong in the areas of social services, education, psychology, health, physical education, recreation and sports. The library is staffed by professionals who assist in the use of library resources as well as provide library instruction and interlibrary loan and electronic reserve services. The library is a member of the Cooperating Libraries of Greater Springfield, the Western Massachusetts Regional Library System, NELINET, and the Massachusetts Library and Information Network, all of which provide greater access to resources for students.

The collection is housed in the Babson Library building on the main campus in Springfield, Massachusetts, which also includes spacious reading areas, lounges, and individual and group study areas. Students can make use of various library services, such as the Reference Desk and the Circulation/Reserves Desk. The building also houses an open computer lab and several electronic classrooms run by the Information and Technology Services Department. All campuses have terminals through which students can connect to the College network and the library network.

Babson Librarys home page is at www.springfieldcollege.edu/library. From here students can access the librarys catalog and its many databases. The catalog and databases are available on all campuses and most are also available from off-campus. Other Web pages provide information about library services and policies and allow students to request help from the reference librarians or to submit interlibrary loan requests. There is a special section, Distance Services, written specifically for students who take classes at campuses other than the main campus.

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