Support Services on Campus

UMass Amherst Library System

The UMass Amherst Library System has several sites, with holdings that include more that 6 million books, periodical volumes and government documents. The W.E.B. Du Bois Library is the largest site, and is the location for most reference materials, many collections and reserve materials. 

Videos covering many nursing categories, including communication, community, culture, family, fundamentals of nursing care, gerontology, health assessment, home care, holistic care, leadership, maternity, medications, pediatrics, psychiatric, research and restorative nursing are now housed on the third floor in W.E.B. DuBois Library. Please visit their website at http://www.library.umass.edu. 

The link listed above also provides a pathway to access online library databases and other resources. Please Note: Firewalls may preclude your ability to access e- journals!  Please take the necessary steps to ensure that you can access e-journals and other materials. 

Nursing Resource and Simulation Laboratories 

The Elaine Marieb College of Nursing has two state-of-the-art Nursing Clinical Simulation Laboratories (NCSL) in Skinner Hall and in our Springfield center. These labs have clinical simulation rooms, a community apartment with recording and two-way mirrors for instruction, hospital bed areas, and health assessment rooms. It includes high fidelity Sim Man© mannequins, Sim Baby©, Sim Junior Kid©, Noelle Maternity©, Adult Vital Sim©, Vital Sim Babies©, Vital Sim Kid©, and other types of equipment for student and faculty learning and teaching. 

The NCSLs offer the latest in simulation technology to develop a student’s clinical and decision-making skills in a safe and controlled environment. The UMass Amherst Elaine Marieb College of Nursing is a leader in this innovative teaching methodology. Faculty develop realistic clinical case scenarios and advanced simulation mannequins serve as simulated patients. Clinical scenarios related to all clinical areas such as maternal child health, pediatric, medical surgical and critical care nursing are implemented with students. Students are able to practice critical thinking skills related to the nursing process (assessment, diagnosis, intervention, and evaluation), safety issues including medical error detection, communication and/or team building. The NCSLs simulate a realistic patient environment where students and faculty engage in enjoyable learning experiences with the potential to improve the effectiveness, efficiency and safety of patient care. The simulations challenge and test student’s clinical and decision-making skills, helping them to develop as a baccalaureate nurse. Students also practice nursing skills on more basic mannequins. These skills might include: injections, wound care, intravenous therapy, catheterization, oxygen therapy, central venous care, tube feedings, ostomy care and health assessment skills. The NCSLs is dedicated to supporting the Elaine Marieb College of Nursing’s vision, mission, values and goals. For more information, please contact con-simlab [at] nursing [dot] umass [dot] edu (con-simlab[at]nursing[dot]umass[dot]edu ). 

Information Technology 

All students are required to have a NET ID, which is generated by IT once the students pay their deposit and are matriculated into the program. The NET ID will be sent via their non-UMass email address or to their home if there is no non-UMass email address on file. Consultants are available in each area to check out materials and to assist users with machine malfunctions and basic software problems. 

Additional software help is available from the IT HELP Desk in A109 LGRC (545-9400). Walk-in consulting for academic computing data analysis is available Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm, in LGRC room A121. For more extensive consulting, phone (413) 545-2836. A complete list of services can be viewed on their website at https://www.umass.edu/it/support. 

Campus Organizations and Resources 

Center for Multicultural Advancement and Student Success (CMASS): www.umass.edu/cmass 

The Center for Multicultural Advancement and Student Success (CMASS) opened doors in 2011 to support the student success and sense of belonging of first generation, students of color, multiracial students, and low-income students. Check out Your CMASS and the Cultural Centers to learn how you can benefit from our programs and services, or the Calendar to find out what is happening in our locations. Our programs and services are open to anyone. If you are not receiving our weekly bulletin yet we encourage you to join CMASS. 

Disability Services: www.umass.edu/disability 

Disability Services at UMass Amherst is committed to full access for all persons at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and embraces the philosophies of diversity and multiculturalism. 

Direct services are provided for all types of disability. Disability Services also provides information and referral on issues of accessibility, as well as training and staff development to the University community. 

Equal Opportunity and Diversity: https://www.umass.edu/equalopportunity/ 

Ombuds Office: www.umass.edu/ombuds  

Undergraduate Admissions: https://www.umass.edu/admissions/diversity  

Writing Center: www.umass.edu/writingcenter 

Writing Center tutors work with undergrad, graduate & postdoc, staff, and faculty writers on any academic genre at any point in the writing process. Tutors meet individually with writers in 45-minute consultations both face-to-face and online. After an initial conversation about the writing project, the tutor and writer read the text and discuss options for its revision. Writers often bring just an idea or an assignment to the Center and work with a tutor on how to begin writing. 

For additional campus organizations and resources, see the A-Z directory at www.umass.edu. 

Financial Aid for Undergraduates 

Financial Aid Services is committed to working with students and families to provide the best possible financial resources available. We want to ensure that a University of Massachusetts Amherst education is affordable. Many university scholarship opportunities, as well as other helpful financial aid and student loan pages, can be found at   https://www.umass.edu/financialaid/undergraduate/types-aid . There are also additional outside scholarship resources such as the College Resource Network  www.collegeresourcenetwork.com.  Scholarship availability varies year to year. Financial Aid Services can assist you with any questions you may have regarding your financial aid award, student employment, debt management, scholarship searches and financing options that may be available for your college education. Financial Aid Services can be reached at 413-545-0801; by visiting our website at https://www.umass.edu/financialaid/undergraduate or in person at 255 Whitmore Administration Building, M-F from 8-4pm.or in person at 255 Whitmore Administration Building, M-F from 8-4pm. 

In addition, certain nursing organizations such as the Nurses Educational Funds, Inc. (http://n-e-f.org/) and Sigma Theta Tau International (https://www.sigmanursing.org/) offer scholarships. Scholarships for baccalaureate students in good academic standing are available through the National Black Nurses Association http://www.nbna.org. The National Association of Hispanic Nurses has a scholarship program for students who are current members in good standing for at least 6 months before the scholarship application deadline in March (https://nahnnet.org/about/awards). The American Association of Men in Nursing also offers scholarships to eligible students. https://www.aamn.org. 

Actions