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| 2007-2008 UHCL Catalog |
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| 2007-2008 UHCL Catalog |
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OFFICE OF THE ASSOCIATE VICE PRESIDENT The Office of the Associate Vice President for Student Services provides support and direction for the offices of Student Life, Career and Counseling Services, Health and Disability Services, Intercultural and International Student Services, Student Information and Assistance, Financial Aid and Veterans Affairs Student Publications and the Writing Center. The Office of the Associate Vice President provides students with advocacy, information and help with any phase of campus life. The Associate Vice President is responsible for interpreting and implementing student life policies, resolving disputes and disciplinary problems and handling student complaints. The rights and responsibilities of students are published in Student Life Policies. Standards of student conduct are enforced to ensure the safety of individuals, protection of property and the continuity of the educational process. Copies of Student Life Policies are available from the offices of the Associate Vice President, Student Life, Dean of Students and online at www.uhcl.edu under the Students tab.
The student newspaper, the UHCLIDIAN, is published throughout the fall and spring semesters to provide news concerning university events and issues. The award-winning publication serves as a public forum and encourages students, faculty, and staff to submit story ideas and comments. For more information, visit the UHCLIDIAN Web site at www.uhcl.edu/uhclidian. The university's prize winning literary art magazine, Bayousphere, is also published throughout the fall and spring semesters. The magazine accepts works of fiction, non-fiction, photography, poetry and animating images from students, faculty, staff and members of the community. For more information, visit the BayousphereWeb site at www.uhcl.edu/bayousphere. Both publications have received numerous awards in state and national collegiate competitions from the Texas Intercollegiate Press Association and Columbia Scholastic Press Association. CAREER AND COUNSELING SERVICES Counseling and Testing Services Counseling and Testing Services are designed to help students improve personal, academic and professional skills related to academic success. The professional staff helps students meet these needs by providing short-term individual counseling sessions, seminars, workshops and small group experiences. Most services, including individual and group counseling, are free of charge and strictly confidential. The following services and resources are available to UHCL students:
Career Services assists students in establishing and/or advancing careers in their degree fields and in finding jobs while they are enrolled in school. Some services are available to alumni for a fee. Information on Alumni Career Services is available in SSCB 3.109 or at 281-283-2590. Career Services offers:
Cooperative Education (Co-op) is a planned learning experience designed to prepare students for careers by integrating work experience with academic study. Cooperative Education offers: The Cooperative Education program enriches student learning through experience gained from performing actual work assignments and developing professional skills in a work setting. The UHCL Co-op Program offers two work plans. The alternating plan allows students to alternate semesters of full-time classes with cooperative education work experiences. The parallel plan allows students to work part-time while attending classes. Students must be degree seeking and meet academic eligibility requirements as defined by individual schools. When enrolled in a cooperative education course, students will be considered full-time for purposes of enrollment verification, but not for purposes of determining eligibility for veterans' benefits or financial aid. Before participating in on-campus job interviewing, using joblines or co-oping, students are required to complete a Career Services or Co-op registration. Individual assistance is available by appointment and during drop-in hours. All other services are available during office hours from 8:30 am to 7:00 pm Monday through Thursday and 8:30 am to 12:00 pm Friday. OFFICE OF STUDENT FINANCIAL AID Students may seek financial assistance in the form of loans, grants, scholarships and part-time employment through the Office of Student Financial Aid. Veterans education benefits are also administered through the Office of Student Financial Aid. For detailed and specific information regarding all programs please refer to the Financial Aid section of this catalog. Students interested in applying for these programs may obtain information and forms from the Office of Student Financial Aid located in SSCB 1105. HEALTH AND DISABILITY SERVICES The Health Center provides a wide range of professional services for UHCL students. It is dedicated to promoting good health and to providing emergency services and short-term medical treatment to any student who becomes ill or injured. The Health Center has a women's health care clinic and a medical clinic that are supervised by a licensed Family Nurse Practitioner and a physician. These clinics are available on an appointment basis. Complete laboratory services and a limited pharmacy are also available. Students may also receive flu shots, immunizations, TB screening and routine injections. HIV testing and one-on-one counseling are offered and may be requested on an anonymous basis. Prevention programs include various screenings and health education on various medical issues. Alternative medicines such as acupuncture, and massage therapy are also available. The Health Center offers student health insurance to all currently enrolled students. International students are required to have health insurance and its charge is automatically added to the fee statement at the beginning of each fall and spring semester. International students may have this insurance waived if appropriate documentation has been noted. The goal of Disability Services is to provide full participation and a fully integrated university experience for all members of the campus community. Services include academic accommodations, alternative testing, technological and adaptive resources, peer mentoring, resource material, scholarships and advocacy. The Coordinator of Disability Services facilitates referrals to other offices, which provide students with counseling, advising, financial assistance and tutoring, as needed. To be eligible for services, a student must have recent comprehensive documentation of disability. Prior to the beginning of the semester, students should contact the Disability Office to ensure the availability of timely and appropriate accommodations. INTERCULTURAL AND INTERNATIONAL STUDENT SERVICES The mission of the Intercultural & International Student Services (IISS) Office is to provide leadership, advocacy and support, which facilitates the development of successful, well rounded, educated and accepting individuals. IISS promotes and enhances awareness of cultural pluralism through programming and serves as a platform that empowers underrepresented, first-generation and international students. IISS offers a variety of programs and activities at no cost to all UHCL students.
New International Students Orientation is offered prior to each Fall, Spring and Summer semester. A comprehensive program is offered to all new international students to the university. The orientation provides information regarding health insurance, visa regulations, cross-cultural adjustment, academic and peer advising. Airport Pickup services are offered for first time international students. Women's Services program is offered to women and others interested in women's issues. Programming is designed to promote gender equality and awareness. Advocacy and support are available for female students and others who need it. Celebrating Our Elders Scholarship Project Celebrating Our Elders Project awards scholarships to high school and community college students who write essays honoring Hispanic and African-American elders. National Coalition Building Institute's (NCBI) prejudice reduction/conflict resolution model is for students, staff and faculty. This program is a proactive systemic approach to sustain an effective diversity-training program. The training is intended as a university-wide ongoing mechanism for the UHCL community to provide an institutional response to racial and inter-group conflict. This is best accomplished by recruiting and training a leadership team of student leaders, administrators, staff and faculty who act as a fully empowered team to address campus issues. The Office of the Dean of Students is charged with providing programs and services that are designed to support students in both academic and co-curricular pursuits. The primary services directed by the Dean of Students include the following:
Once you are a student, you can get all of your admissions and registration needs attended to in one place - the Student Assistance Center (SAC). It's your "first-stop shop" to get answers about financial aid, registration, fees, transcripts, graduation, etc. The Office of the Dean of Students provides referral and support for students experiencing difficulties. This includes assisting students in resolving concerns and conflicts, making needed referrals, implementing student life policies and resolving disputes and disciplinary problems, including the Academic Honesty Policy. The University of Houston System has a policy that guides and directs all student travel. This policy, entitled "Travel by Students to Component University Funded Activity" (University of Houston System Administrative Memorandum - 03.E.08), is administered by the Office of the Dean of Students. The Purpose of the policy is stated as follows: This document outlines the policy to minimize risks of liability connected with travel by Students of component universities. This policy applies to travel in excess of 25 miles that is undertaken by one or more students presently enrolled in a component university that is organized and sponsored by the component university and that is travel funded by the institution and using vehicles owned or organization registered at the institution. Copies of the policy can be obtained upon request at the office, or by accessing the Dean of Students Web site. The Office of Student Life provides programs and services that enrich and support students' educational experiences by giving them the opportunity to express ideas, develop leadership skills and meet new people. Services provided include locker rentals, student ID cards, ticket sales to various university events and posting approval. The Student Life Office is comprised of the following components. A comprehensive orientation to UHCL is offered prior to each fall and spring semester for both undergraduate and graduate students. New students are strongly encouraged to attend this four-hour program which addresses such topics as how to register for classes, how to make the most of campus life and how to utilize the available resources. Students are also given the opportunity to tour the campus, as well as meet with faculty, staff and other students. International students are encouraged to attend both this orientation and the New International Student Orientation sponsored by Intercultural and International Student Services. Student Organizations & Student Government Association There are approximately 70 student organizations recognized at UHCL which represent most academic program areas and majors as well as social, recreational and religious interests. The Student Government Association (SGA), with representation from each organization, funds and assists student organizations. The SGA also appoints students to university committees and conveys student concerns and initiatives to the university administration. The Office of Student Life supports the varied activities of the organizations through leadership development programs, space allocations and fund disbursement. All students are encouraged to participate in the activities of these organizations. The Special Events Program provides cultural arts and special events, which enhance the artistic environment of the university and the region it serves. Activities include theater, music and dance productions, visual arts exhibitions, distinguished lecturers, WelcomeWeek Activities and the Chili Cook-Off. The UHCL community can be active by becoming a member of the Fitness Zone. The 3,000 square foot fitness center is located in the Student Services-Classroom Building. This center includes aerobic machines and free weight equipment while activities include different athletic tournaments, educational programs and the 100 Mile Run/Walk Challenge. UHCL's honor societies recognize students' academic excellence and achievement. UHCL honor societies are affiliated with national societies and invite students to membership based on the nationally recognized standards of their chartering organization. Some societies recognize accomplishments within specific disciplines while Alpha Chi, Phi Kappa Phi and Omicron Delta Kappa honor students from all academic disciplines. UHCL honor societies are:
University Forest Apartments is the only housing located on the UHCL campus. This 136-unit student housing facility is a two-story complex, which houses 288 students, faculty and staff. University Forest was built to provide comfortable living while providing students the opportunity to experience on-campus life. Three different types of apartments are available, allowing students to choose different living options. Individual leasing allows students the opportunity to have roommates and the financial security of only having to worry about their own rent. University Forest also has a twelve member staff that is on-call 24 hours a day to help in any way it can. The caring staff also provides a variety of programming that makes everyone at University Forest feel like he or she belongs to a great community. University Forest is ideal for the student who wants to meet lots of people. To receive information on how to apply, call 281-286-5959 or e-mailUFA@UHCL.edu Housing Office is open Monday - Thursday 8:30am - 6:30pm, Friday 8:30am - 5:00pm, and Saturday-Sunday 11:00am - 3:00pm. Writing Center The Writing Center, located in SSB 2105, is an instructional facility designed to assist the university community with writing skills. Peer tutors are trained to work with writers by teaching a range of strategies for understanding assignments, planning texts, organizing discussions, writing strong arguments, revising for meaning, learning documentation styles, and developing editing skills. Tutors use collaborative techniques to explore with writers the requirements and possibilities of academic discourse. The Writing Center also offers COLT, an online tutoring service with phone chat, IM chat, and e-mail response options for currently registered students. For more information, please contact the Writing Center at 281-283-2910 or /writingcenter@uhcl.edu/. |