Faculty Handbook
Division of Student Affairs
Vice President for Student Affairs
The Vice President for Student Affairs is responsible for the entire area encompassing Student Affairs. Student Affairs is responsible for the fiscal and budgetary processes in this Division, as well as the recruitment, selection, and evaluation of support staff for the following student services areas: AccessAbility Services, Intercollegiate Athletics, Campus Ministry, Campus Police, Career Development Center, Counseling Center, Health Services, Housing and Residence Life, Pre-Collegiate & Access Programs, Recreation, Intramurals & Club Sports, Student Activities Office, Midtown Student Center, Westside Campus Center, Substance Abuse Prevention Program and University Judicial Affairs.
University Police
The Director of University Police reports to the Vice President for Finance & Administration and is responsible for directing a campus wide program of police and public safety protection to provide for the safety and quality of campus life for students, faculty, staff and visitors to the University.
Dean of Student Affairs
The Dean of Student Affairs reports to the Vice President for Student Affairs and is responsible for developing, supervising, evaluating and coordinating the following activities: AccessAbility Services, Campus Ministry, Career Development and Placement, Counseling, Diversity Programs, Health Services, Housing and Residence Life, Student Judicial Affairs, Student Activities and Organizations, and Student Orientation.
AccessAbility Services
The Office of AccessAbility Services directs and coordinates all necessary services for students with disabilities that impact on their educational experience. The office provides advocacy, early registration, confidential counseling, empowerment counseling, complaint processing, accommodation planning, accommodation referrals, referrals to other university services, exam proctoring, accessibility, and other services that are of value and consequence to students with disabilities.
Assistant Dean of Student Affairs
The Assistant Dean of Student Affairs reports to the Dean of Student Affairs and is responsible for working with all Greek organizations, multicultural student programming, serves as the appeals officer for judicial affairs, co-chairs the parent program and is involved in New Student Orientation.
Campus Ministries
Three religious denominations have ministries at WestConn (Catholic, Protestant and Jewish), and each welcomes students to come in and chat or join in services and outreach programs to the community.Career Development Center
The Career Development Center reflects an innovative approach to providing career-related services to students at WestConn. Currently, there are three major career components: 1) Career Planning and Placement designed to offer students help with job search, resume and interviewing strategies, 2) Cooperative Education and Internships designed to offer students practical work experience, closely related to their academic major, and 3) Career Development Workshops on many specialized career development and job search topics.Counseling Center
The Counseling Center offers confidential, short term, multi-cultural counseling for personal, career and academic concerns.Health Service
The University Health Service Office provides quality health care services, including primary and preventive care, and promotes health awareness for WestConn’s students and academic community through educational programs and counseling.Housing and Residence Life
When people are asked what decisions most influenced their coming to and enjoying college, responses often center on their choice of where to live. Many students see this decision as a defining moment not only for their success at a college or university, but for their personal development as well. Once the decision to live on campus is made, it is important to find the residence hall that best suits the student’s needs. There are now six halls at WestConn: three on the Midtown Campus and three on the Westside Campus.Office of Judicial Affairs
This office administers the university’s student discipline process. This office serves as liaison to all university departments regarding matters pertaining to student conduct. All WestConn students are expected to adhere to the policies and procedures outlined in the Student Code of Conduct and Statement of Judicial Procedures. Formal complaints, as well as any inquires concerning the student discipline system and student discipline records, should be directed to this office.Student Activities Office
The Student Activities Office is the main point of contact for students wanting to form a new club or organization and those currently involved with one. This is where clubs register and receive information and support. The office also provides assistance with leadership development, university policies and event planning. The Student Activities Office also coordinates programs, events and activities on campus organized by and for students.
Intercollegiate Athletics
WestConn offers a variety of opportunities for the student athlete to excel at the local, regional and national levels of competition. Different sporting events are scheduled throughout the academic calendar year to provide participation by interested parties. Opportunities are provided for male and female teams. The men and women both belong to the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III. The football program is a member of the New Jersey Athletic Conference. The 13 other intercollegiate athletic programs are members of the Little East Conference. In addition, the men and women’s programs hold membership in the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC). The University belongs to conferences and associations appropriate to the specific athletic activity.
Campus Center—Westside
This facility serves as a student center for the Westside campus. It provides a full-service cafeteria and dining area, fitness center, ballroom, multi-purpose meeting and conference rooms, student activity space, computer lab, lounge areas and related campus-life and student-life facilities. The building also features The CLUB, a new concept in late-night dining, with Seattle’s Best Coffee, pastries and entertainment, all set in a beautiful lounge with wireless Internet availability.
Pre-Collegiate & Access Programs
The Pre-Collegiate Programs insure that middle and high school students have the opportunity to develop the academic potential required for college admission. The Educational Achievement & Access Program provides under-prepared students, applying to the University, with the opportunity and support they need to obtain a college education, which includes a challenging introductory five-week summer program that assists students in developing their academic skills.
Recreation, Intramurals, and Club Sports
Life’s about balance-get out and get active! The Recreation Department here at WestConn is dedicated to providing the campus community with a multitude of various recreational activities to encourage physical fitness and promote a positive well-being. The Intramural and Club Sports programs provide opportunities for individuals who share a common interest in a recreational sport, to improve their skill level and overall knowledge of the sport or activity. Our university is unique in that the WestConn community can utilize athletic facilities on two different campuses.
Student Center--Midtown
The Student Center houses the bookstore, dining facilities, student services such as the Career Development Center, Counseling Office, Campus Ministries, AccessAbility, Student Activities Office and some of the student organizations on campus. There is also a game room, computer and TV lounges, a 170-seat theater, classrooms and meeting rooms.
Substance Abuse Prevention Program (CHOICES)
The Substance Abuse Prevention Program (CHOICES) provides services to students including: 1) confidential screening and assessments for students currently abusing substances; 2) confidential help and information on the symptoms, resources and treatment available on campus or within the community; 3) peer support groups; 4) educational programs that positively affect attitudes and behaviors regarding alcohol and other drug use on campus and throughout life. The office also houses a video and lending library for students.
