Chapter
12
SERVICES
FOR STUDENTS
STUDENT COMPUTING SERVICES - THE HUB
COUNSELING AND CAREER SERVICES
DIVERSITY PROGRAMS AND DISABILITY SERVICES
Clayton State University
offers a wide range of services to assist students with their studies, to
facilitate their transition to the academic environment, and to enrich their
college experience. Organizationally, these services are administered by
several different offices, but they are gathered in this chapter for convenient
reference.
Student
Information and Advocacy Center
The
Student Information and Advocacy Center is located in the front lobby of the
Student Center. Staff members are
available to assist students in accessing information, identifying appropriate
sources when assistance is needed and solving general problems that may be
encountered on campus. If more
information is needed than the Center can provide, students will be assisted in
identifying the appropriate person or office and setting up appointments. Forms are available at the Center for most
services needed by students. For more
information, please call 770-961-3401.
Library Building
LIBRARY
Clayton State University’s Library is located in a modern two-story
building of 56,000 square feet. The
library’s services and collections are housed on the upper level, with the
lower level of the building containing Media Services, the Center for Learning
Enhancement, and other offices.
The library has a
reference and circulating print collection of nearly 90,000 volumes. In addition, the library subscribes to 750
periodicals, back issues of which are retained in bound volumes or on
microfilm. Several microfilm and microfiche reader/printers are
available for scanning and copying the more than 180,000 microforms housed in
the library. Reserve materials and
audio-visual software may be checked out from the circulation desk; the
library owns more than 16,000 pieces of audio-visual software, including
slides, videotapes, audiotapes, compact discs, and filmstrips.
The library seats
450 persons at tables and study carrels, and specially adapted carrels have
been designed for audio-visual playback.
Sixty carrels are equipped with Internet connections. Other library facilities available to
students include a change machine, photocopiers, and an audiotape cassette
duplicating machine for non-copyrighted audiotapes.
The library is
currently open 81 hours per week with librarians and well-trained support
staff available to assist students in using library materials and equipment.
Bibliographies for many subject areas have been prepared and are available on
the library’s web page. Library
orientation classes are designed and conducted for those instructors requesting
them, and special sessions are created for students needing individual
attention.
Through the
OCLC/SOLINET network, the library has access to the book and periodical
holdings of nearly 14,000 academic, public, and special libraries. A welldeveloped interlibrary loan
program enables students, faculty, and staff to borrow books and copies of
articles not available at the Clayton State University
Library. Interlibrary loan service is
usually available at no cost or a very modest cost to the user and may be
initiated from the library’s web page.
The Clayton State University Library participates in GALILEO, the statewide
library initiative. GALILEO provides access to numerous periodical and
information databases and over 2,000 full-text periodicals. Additionally, the library subscribes to
several other electronic and CD‑ROM databases.
The library
utilizes an online catalog. Over
100,000 books, periodicals, and audio-visual materials are listed on this
computer database, all of which can be searched by author, title, subject, or
keyword.
The library
welcomes suggestions for improvements in its service and materials. Users may speak directly to the library
staff or may put their written suggestions or recommendations in the library’s
suggestion box on its web page.
MEDIA AND
PRINTING SERVICES
Media and
Printing Services, located on the lower level of the Library Building, provides
audio‑visual, multimedia, tape duplication, and printing support and
services to the University community.
Student printing is available in the lower level of the Student Center.
Center for Learning Enhancement
Located in
the lower level of the Library, the Center for Learning Enhancement (CLE)
offers a variety of academic support services—including standardized and
individualized assessments and supplementary forms of instruction, especially
in interdisciplinary academic skills.
Individual and group study areas; professional staff in communications,
math, and testing; peer tutors; and computerized and multimedia instructional
materials are available at no charge to currently registered Clayton State
students. Members of the community not
enrolled in the University have access to the Center’s resources through the Academic
Skills Tune-Up course offered twice each semester by the Office of
Continuing Education.
The Center
for Learning Enhancement provides a comfortable, supportive environment where
students work independently or with personalized assistance as needed. Students have access to group study
sessions, in-person and online workshops, skills-oriented courses, peer tutors,
educational software, audio and/or video instructional materials, text
resources, and a website (http://ctl.clayton.edu)
rich in interactive materials.
Particularly emphasized are those academic skills (reading, writing, and
math) important in every major, the use of educational technology, and the
development of study strategies for working through difficult concepts and
materials.
In addition to providing instructional support services, CLE oversees all standardized testing and secure WebCT tests given on campus. Assessment Services, located at the back of the Center, administers both paper-and-pencil and computerized tests, including:
·
entry placement exams
·
diagnostic/prescriptive tests
·
the Regents’ Test
·
the College Level Examination Program (CLEP) and other tests
providing credit by exam
·
competency tests satisfying the Georgia Legislative
Requirements
·
exit assessments for Learning Support courses in English,
reading, and math
·
writing assessments for admission to or progress in major
programs (e.g., Nursing)
·
selected outcomes assessments (e.g., ETS Field Test in
Business)
·
secure WebCT exams, and
·
independent study exams for college-level courses.
Through ITP Choice, Clayton State University requires all of its students to have ready access to multimedia notebook computers with full Internet/World Wide Web access. (See Chapter 4 for details.) Students use their computers in the classroom, on campus, at home, and at other remote locations to obtain information and to stay in touch with their instructors and fellow students. Clayton State University initiated the Information Technology Project to improve dramatically the quality of education for its students and make its programs, courses, and facilities more convenient and accessible.
In almost all courses at Clayton State University, instructors require that students use their laptop computers on campus, at home, or both. In some courses, CD-ROMs and the World Wide Web may supplement or replace traditional textbooks. All students have access to training in using the standard software load, and specialized instruction is available in software unique to specific programs. Students with questions can contact the help desk, known as The HUB, on a walk-up, e-mail, or phone-in basis (770-961-HELP).
Clayton State University offers
online courses that are available to students by distance learning through the
World Wide Web. The use of technology is helping to expand degree offerings
available at Clayton State University, especially in new programs such as the Information
Technology Career Ladder (ITCL), which leads to the Bachelor of Information
Technology (B.I.T.). Students may also register online for their courses each
semester and even pay their semester fees online.
Student Center Building
The Office of Counseling & Career Services (CCS) provides various services to help currently enrolled students successfully meet the demands of collegiate life, attain their educational goals, and advance themselves through the world of work. For more detailed information about services, visit www.clayton.edu.
CCS is the
official advising center for undeclared
students, who are served in close partnership with Arts & Sciences faculty
advisors. Freshman Scholars
(joint-enrolled students) also are advised in CCS. Advisors assist students with exploring majors and programs of
study; developing realistic educational goals and plans, considering
alternatives, and evaluating consequences of decisions; and clarifying Clayton State University
policies.
CAREER
EXPLORATION & DISCERNMENT
CCS provides
career exploration activities and resources that encourage, even challenge,
students to explore and discern their unique values, skills, and interests and
to explore available career and academic options. Useful information and decision-making tools guide students
through the process of making informed decisions and promote effective
decision-making within all of one’s major life roles. Career assessments support exploration and discernment
activities, and some require a nominal fee to defray expenses.
Students may
choose a comprehensive career-planning course-CAPL 1000-to participate in self-assessment
activities as well as receive instruction in writing cover letters and resumes
and conducting job searches.
CAREER
DEVELOPMENT (INCLUDING PORTFOLIO DEVELOPMENT)
Counseling
& Career Services has introduced new career development services (CDS) that
promote skill development and the use of career portfolios to document skills
so critical to recruiting employers.
Career development services guide students through steps to target
skills for development as well as identify learning activities to develop those
skills. Through sequential tracks,
students focus on essential skills most often sought by employers
(Advancement), target advanced skills for continued cultivation (Achievement),
and prepare plans for conducting a successful job search campaign
(Transition). Career development
services are designed to help students learn a skill development process and to
recognize and communicate how their skills apply to various settings.
The career portfolio project provides guidelines for students to document their own skill development activities and to highlight selected skills for top career choices. Special resources complement career development services, and nominal fees are charged to offset expenses.
When students desire individualized attention to explore careers, discern choices, develop career plans, and address other life concerns, individual coaching or counseling is available. In the process of helping students with their presentation of goals and concerns, counselors also help students to recognize how the coaching process itself can enhance their communication, critical thinking, problem-solving, and interpersonal skills. Coaching/Counseling is primarily short-term in nature, is strictly confidential, and closely follows established professional and ethical guidelines. Referrals to other helping professionals and community agencies are made as appropriate.
JOB SEARCH
RESOURCES & SERVICES
As Clayton State
students approach employment transitions, various job search resources and
services are available to help them identify prospective employers and conduct
an effective job search campaign. An
extensive resource collection of books, job search web sites, and videotapes
provides information about employment and professional skills. In addition, students can access a variety
of employment opportunity links from the Counseling & Career Services’ web
page (www.clayton.edu).
Other job search
services include the following:
·
Resume critique services.
·
On-line access–via MonsterTRAK.com–to employment
opportunities as well as experiential work/learn opportunities such as
internships.
·
Employment services, including on-campus recruiting and
interviews.
·
Web posting of student and graduate resumes through
MonsterTRAK.com/GeorgiaHire.com for access by Georgia employers.
·
The Career Expo, held each spring, which brings businesses
to campus for a day of career exploration and job search networking.
·
Career Opportunities, held each fall, a job fair hosted with
24 colleges of Georgia representing the Georgia Careers Consortium.
·
The Part-Time & Seasonal Job Fair, held each fall,
highlighting part-time, temporary, and seasonal employment.
Students and graduates who wish to participate in web posting of resumes and online job search opportunities can register and post their resumes at www.monsterTRAK.com free of charge. Request the Clayton State University password from the Office of Counseling & Career Services.
AND DISABILITY SERVICES
Student Center Building
DIVERSITY PROGRAMS AND SERVICES
The Office of Diversity Programs and Disability Services is available to address the unique needs of special student populations on the Clayton State University campus. The office assists minority students in their adjustment to student life and provides appropriate and reasonable individualized accommodations for eligible students with disabilities. The office works as an advocate for student interests by assisting students in improving academic achievement and encouraging student participation in programming efforts that provide an enriching academic experience in cultural diversity. Such programs have included cultural diversity training, the Tradition series of campus programming, Lyceum, and Spivey Hall events. The director works with the Regents’ Minority Advising Program, the Black Cultural Awareness Association, and the International Club. In addition, the office is involved in matters relating to policy and circumstances that affect minority students.
Any Clayton State
student (or person eligible for enrollment) who can provide appropriate documentation of one or more
disabilities may be eligible for services according to the Americans with
Disabilities Act, 1990. Disability
Services provides appropriate and reasonable individualized accommodations for
eligible students with disabilities.