CR 2.10 The institution provides student support programs, services, and activities consistent with its mission that are intended to promote student learning and enhance the development of its students. (Student Support Services)
In Compliance
Shenandoah University provides a wide range of student support programs, services, and activities intentionally designed to enhance student learning and provide developmental opportunities. Some of these programs are coordinated through the office of the Vice President for Student Life; other programs fall under the aegis of the Vice President for Enrollment Management and Student Success.
The university Mission and core values provide the foundation for student support programs and services. Critical thinking, life-long learning, community service, diversity, excellence, integrity, and learning – provide the nucleus for decision making, program and policy development, and for the daily interaction with students.
Student Engagement: The Office of Student Engagement furthers the educational and inspirational mission of Shenandoah University by providing learning opportunities through student involvement and by promoting purposeful and inclusive co-curricular environments with shared experiences and expectations. The Office of Student Engagement is comprised of the Brandt Student Center, campus recreation and fitness programs, SU outdoors programs, intercultural programs, student involvement and leadership, and summer conferences and programs. The principal location of information on student engagement is the Student Engagement website (screenshot).
The Brandt Student Center is a popular place for students to gather and build community with one another. The facility includes fitness rooms, the campus bookstore, mailroom, game room, coffee cafe, and a snack bar. A large multi-purpose room is used for meetings and student events. The lower level includes spaces for student government as well as meeting and study rooms. The Office of Student Life is located here. Information regarding facilities and programs can be found on the Brandt Student Center website (BSC screenshot).
Student Organizations and Student Government: Shenandoah University encourages students to take an active role in student organizations and supports a variety of clubs and organizations to meet the needs and interests of its students. The University offers more than 60-plus clubs and organizations, including the Student Government Association. Organizations include those focused on professional involvement, academic excellence, religious practice, community service and multiculturalism. These clubs and organizations reflect the institutional values of personal development, leadership, diversity, community service and global outreach. Information on student clubs and organizations is found on the Student Club & Organization website (screenshot).
Student Activities: The goal of Student Activities is to provide all university students, faculty, and staff the opportunity to participate in enjoyable, organized, recreational activities (screenshot). The staff sponsors programs for students at all university locations, coordinates the work of the campus program board, and provides services to strengthen the registered student organizations. Fitness facilities and programs are located at the Winchester main campus, Health Professions Building, and the university’s facility in Leesburg. In addition, the Brandt Student Center, intramurals and low-risk outdoor adventure trips offer stress relief and healthy alternatives for leisure pursuits.
Outdoor Activities: SU Outdoors educates and inspires individuals to be responsible stewards of the natural world while engaging in adventure recreation. SU Outdoors introduces the campus community to a wide variety of outdoor activities, with offerings for all experience levels. Participants develop basic skills for safe and environmentally responsible exploration of natural resources in the Shenandoah Valley and beyond. Information on Outdoor Activities is found on the Recreation and Fitness website (screenshot) and in the Undergraduate Catalog p. 149.
Intercultural Programs: Intercultural Programs cultivates and promotes an environment that is open, interactive, safe and welcoming, and provides resources and educational opportunities for the Shenandoah community. The Intercultural Programs staff is responsible for assisting with the collaboration with the Office of Spiritual Life and Center for International Programs in the coordination, development and implementation of a variety of programs and services that assist in multi-cultural and religious engagement and social integration into the community. The overall goal is to heighten university-wide awareness of cultural norms and diverse customs and to provide resources for advocacy and change. To accomplish this, each program intern works cooperatively with religious student organizations and multi-ethnic student organizations as a means of increasing engagement and retention of Shenandoah students. These programmatic initiatives promote multicultural, international, and religious understanding in the Shenandoah University community in ways that are intentionally designed for enhancing the student experience.
The Office of Learning Resources (OLRS) is committed to enhancing student learning, supporting academic success, and helping students become critical thinkers and lifelong learners. The OLRS, under the Division for Enrollment Management and Student Success, implements and coordinates student peer tutoring programs, study skills development courses and workshops, services for students with disabilities, student tutoring and academic counseling. Services are free to all students enrolled in the university and are available for all students at all Shenandoah University locations. For students at the Winchester location, OLRS offers evening and weekend hours for student meetings and support. At the university’s Northern Virginia Location, staff will travel to hold meetings and make needed presentations. Online students may contact OLRS electronically through video chat or by telephone as needed. The main office is located in the Academic Enrichment Center, Howe Hall.
OLRS sponsors Men United for Excellence (MUE), a peer-mentoring program at Shenandoah University, begun in 2007 at Shenandoah University. Men United for Excellence is a retention initiative designed to address the documented retention risk of African American males in higher education. The OLRS also sponsors Alpha Lambda Delta, a national honor society that recognizes academic excellence during a student’s first year in college.
Departmental services are publicized at university staff and faculty meetings, at student orientation, in various campus publications, and on the university website. The Handbook of Services for Faculty, Staff, and Students (screenshot) outlines disability services and access to them.
The service and programming of the OLRS are based on the needs of our student through surveys and group meetings, as well as local, state, and national trends. Staff stay informed about needs and trends through membership in National College Learning Center Association (NCLCA), Southern Association for College Student Affairs (SACSA), Association for the Tutoring Profession (ATP) and National Orientation Directors Association (NODA), Association on Higher Education and Disability (AHEAD), as well as interaction with other regional colleges and universities.
The Office of Spiritual Life provides programs, special events, and pastoral support to enhance the spirituality of the student body. The Office of Spiritual Life seeks to answer the call located in its foundational statement to practice “the highest ethical standards in its interactions with the community and with students of all faiths.” The goal of the Office is promote learning around religious diversity and encourage our community to experience different cultures through dialogue, experience, and participation. Spiritual Life regularly participates in interfaith community service opportunities through Stop Hunger Now (August and March), Mission Possible, and mini-mission days. Spiritual Life seeks to “educate and inspire” university students, faculty, and staff through regular religious celebrations on campus. Additionally, some services on campus are intentionally interfaith, such as The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Service of Remembrance and Celebration. Information on Spiritual Life is posted on the unit’s website (screenshot)
Interfaith celebrations are advertised through the SUN-e, which is the university’s e-newsletter; the weekly email blast to students and their parents called “Our Student Life now”; and on the Spiritual Life and Facebook pages. The needs of the students drive Spiritual Life programming, worship, and community service. The Office regularly assesses each program with a series of questions that can be used by our students to help us determine what they need and whether we are meeting our goals to educate and inspire. The questions after each program, mission opportunity, or special service are “finish the sentence” surveys. They include: “I liked…,” “I learned…,” “I was inspired to…,” and “I wish….” These questions not only provide feedback in the areas of education and inspiration, but they also help the Office learn what was well liked and where students wish for improvements.
Career Services works with students in all aspects of the career development process, from choosing a major to career changes. The unit works with to turn students into lifelong learners regarding career development. Services offered to students and alumni include career exploration, experiential learning through internships, volunteer and part-time opportunities, as well as graduate school search assistance, resume building and interview skills workshops. Services are provided on-campus as well as off-campus via email, telephone and Skype sessions. Career services share information with the community through their website (screenshot) the Career Services Weekly e-newsletter (example), Facebook, Twitter, Blackboard and the campus e-newsletter, the SUN-e. In addition, Career Services targets faculty, staff and student organizations for specialized programming. The unit builds relationships with employers in support of student and alumni development. Career Services also celebrates student success by serving as an advisor to the Omicron Delta Kappa national Leadership Honor Society.
The Department of Public Safety has responsibility for safety and security of university students and staff at all locations. The Department is staffed by 18 officers, 17 of whom are full-time. At least three officers are on duty between the hours of 11 p.m. and 2 a.m. each day and at least two officers are on duty at all other times during the workweek. Public Safety officers are stationed on the main campus, at the John Kerr Building and the Health Professions Building on a routine basis. There are security cameras covering exterior areas of academic buildings and residence halls on main campus, the Health Professions Building, Northern Virginia Campus Building and Solenberger Hall, located on the downtown mall in Winchester. The Department provides several safety services to the community, including blue light emergency phones at several campus locations, a Safe Walk/Safe Ride escort program, “In Case of Emergency” specialized instructions, an Emergency Operations Plan available on the SU website and safety presentations for students, staff and faculty. All residence halls may be accessed with ID card only. Hall entrances are monitored via computer with photos attached to each record. The Department of Public Safety oversees all emergency response and disaster recovery planning on campus, and maintains contingency plans for all departments and buildings on campus. The Emergency Operations Plan outlines the institutional response to an active shooter on campus, bomb threats, terrorist attacks, pandemics, tornadoes, fire, and other potential threats. Since 2009, the university has partnered with E-2 Campus Alert to provide the campus community with emergency notifications by e-mail, text or instant message. All Shenandoah University students, faculty, staff, and parents are invited and encouraged to participate. The free service is intended to quickly notify the campus community with important safety information in the event of an emergency. In addition, campus loud speakers have been installed to send audible alerts/messages to the university in case of an emergency. Shenandoah’s residential facilities are within four miles of a firehouse and the Virginia State Police have an auxiliary office in the Edwards Residential Village. The university holds “table-top” exercises to better plan for a possible risk situation. Recently, partnerships have been strengthened with local law enforcement and emergency first responders to ensure and facilitate safety matters with regard to the university community. In accordance with the Clery Act, the department publishes an annual report available to all members of the community. These reports normally indicate a very low incidence of crime on campus. The Public Safety website (screenshot) provides additional information.
The Office of Residence Life facilitates co-curricular learning opportunities in student housing. At Shenandoah, students are required to live on campus during their first two years of residence. Some students will decide to reside on campus for additional years during the remainder of their undergraduate education or graduate school. The residential life staff typically consists of 36 undergraduate resident assistants, 5 graduate resident directors, and three full-time professionals. The staff is trained in providing mentorship, advising, support services, and educational programming to aid in students in navigating success in their collegiate experience. Information on Residence Life can be found on their website (screenshot).
The residence life staff organizes and plans monthly programs in each residence hall. Typical topics consist of wellness, alcohol education, sexual health, career planning, study skills, decision-making, healthy relationships, financial literacy, networking, and conflict management. Residence life programming encourages students to be critical thinkers, ethical decision-makers and life-long learners. The staff provides programming that meets student developmental needs in the residential community. First year students are provided with programs that meet transition and social connection needs, while upperclassmen programs focus on career planning, study skills, and life skills after college. The staff aims to provide programming that enhances classroom learning and allows students to practice life skills that are applicable in non-classroom settings.
Additionally, the Office of Residence Life supports students that are considering residing off-campus with advisement on financial planning, safety, and other key considerations that impact their student success. Services and activities for Residence Life are publicized during orientation, in the Undergraduate Catalog p. 132, 149, and on the university’s website.
Wilkins Wellness Center: The mission of the Wilkins Wellness Center is to provide compassionate, high quality health care and health education to the university community. Located on the lower level of Racey Hall, the Wellness Center provides an ambulatory health clinic staffed by a health-care administrator/paramedic, a registered nurse, a part-time nurse and a part-time nurse practitioner. The staff works with students to educate them to make healthy choices and to engage them to be critical, reflective thinkers regarding their own health. Health services are offered to all students, including health evaluations, treatments, immunizations and educational programming. In addition to the ambulatory clinic on the main campus, the Wilkins Wellness Center staff provides health and counseling services at other locations, including the Health Professions Building and the Northern Virginia campus. The Wellness Center provides health resource information to students on the Wellness Center website, in the Undergraduate Catalog p. 150 and Graduate catalogs p. 129, handouts and brochures, and through email updates to all students.
Counseling Center: The Counseling Center provides confidential counseling to students in order to improve their psychological development and coping skills, so as to make acceptable progress towards successful degree completion. A second major goal is to educate the entire university campus regarding the signs and symptoms of mental health and alcohol and other drug issues. Individual and group therapy is available without charge for all students in degree-seeking programs. Services are provided at all campus location, in person, by phone, email and by encrypted web service (VSee telemedicine platform). In addition, the Counseling Center conducts psycho-educational programs in residence halls and in classroom situations. During orientation, presentations are made to incoming students and their families. The Center promotes its services through a campus-wide brochure , the campus electronic newsletter (SUN-e), the student newspaper (The ‘Doah) and the Counseling Center website (screenshot). In addition, the Center works with community agencies to provide referral resources. Staff stays abreast of collegiate mental health trends through attendance at local, state and national meetings. Titanium Schedule emergency records software is used to provide confidential assessment of services provided. The Counseling Center is co-located in the Wilkins Wellness Center.
Dining Services: Food service options for students include a marketplace concept in Allen Dining Hall on main campus that offers a board program for residents as well as meal plan options for non-resident students. Cash and flex-plan options are available in the dining hall, in the Hornet Grille, and in the Campus Coffee Café. Student meal plans and cash options are also available in the Health Professions Building Café. Students are encouraged to take advantage of the Hornet Card that can be used for purchases in the campus bookstore as well as various locations in the Winchester community.
International Students: International students receive specialized support services such as immigration record keeping, advisement, transition support, and advocacy through the International & Cross-Cultural Center (ICC) (screenshot). The ICC works toward providing, supporting and facilitating international education and services for intercultural students, faculty and staff. The department works to coordinate services and programs necessary to facilitate international and cross-cultural education in its broadest sense. Services include pre-arrival information, orientations and assistance with visa issues and immigration matters. ICC partners with other offices, departments and divisions to nurture international growth and develop programs to help students and scholars adjust to a new university, community, country and culture. The office is located on the main campus at Shenandoah University, in the International Cross-Cultural Center, Cooley Hall.
Welcome Week and Orientation: Welcome Week is designed to help the incoming student become acclimated to campus life, settle in and meet new people. Welcome Week typically begins on Move-In Day in August, when new residential students check in at the residence halls. As part of Welcome Week, the Navigator program provides a one-stop shop for information regarding technology, parking, meal plan, student accounts and any remaining registration issues.
Supporting Documents
University Mission Statement
Undergraduate Catalog 2014-15 Residence Life p. 132, 149
Undergraduate Catalog 2014-15 Wellness Center p. 150
Graduate Catalog 2014-15 Wellness Center p. 129
Brandt Student Center screenshot
Student Engagement screenshot
Spiritual Life screenshot
Health and Wellness screenshot
Campus Safety screenshot
Dining Services screenshot
Disability Services screenshot
Career Services screenshot
Internationals Students Services (iCC) screenshot
OLRS screenshot
Residence Life screenshot
Student Peer Tutoring screenshot
Outdoor activities/Recreation and Fitness screenshot
Campus Activities network screenshot
Counseling Services screenshot
Handbook of Services screenshot
Registration form for Disability Accommodations
Welcome Week (Arts and Sciences)
Welcome Week (Business School)
Welcome Week (Conservatory)
Welcome Week (Nursing)
Welcome Week (Respiratory Care)
Career Services Newsletter example
Intercultural postcard
Alcohol Wise brochure
Flex Dollars (dining options)
Navigator postcard
Rape Aggression Defense (RAD) 2014
Residence Life Shopping List
Sexual misconduct (student) (family)
Spiritual Life Brochure
Move-in Day Map
Wellness Center Brochures (1)
Wellness Center Brochures (2)
Counseling Center Brochure (1)
Counseling Center Brochure (2)
SUN-e
The ‘Doah Student Newspaper screenshot
Dining Services brochure
SU Student Life Facebook page
SU Spiritual Life Facebook Page
