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Undergraduate Advising & Academic Support Center
Associate
Dean:
Pamela Marsh-Williams
609
Goodell Building, 545-6493
The
Undergraduate Advising and Academic
Support Center (UAASC) is an umbrella agency
for a variety of academic programs and ser-vices
for undergraduates and graduates. The Bachelor's Degree with Individual
Concentration (BDIC) program is an affiliated unit to UAASC. The academic
support services encompassed under UAASC are described below. The director
of UAASC is an associate dean in Academic Affairs,
and is also the director of Pre-Major Advising Services.
Pre-Major Advising Services (PAS)
Director: Pamela Marsh-Williams
Assistant
Dean:
Richard Pioli
615 Goodell Building, 545-2191
All students who have not
declared or been admitted to a major are considered to be in a "pre-major"
status, and receive advising and undergraduate
dean services through PAS. All pre-major students are served by
an academic adviser in PAS, who will be a member of the University faculty
or professional staff. The undergraduate deans in PAS are faculty advisers
who have authority to make certain decisions concerning academic discipline
and requests for exceptions to regulations.
Advisers assist students in making informed choices
about campus programs and course selection, forming academic plans to
meet long-term and short-term goals, and identifying other resources at
the University. Advisers also help students make decisions about coping
with academic difficulties (such as a cumulative average below 2.0), and
petitions for exceptions to regulations (such as late withdrawal from
a course). Students may meet with an adviser on an appointment basis,
or on a drop-in basis when advisers are available.
PAS can help identify problems that are interfering
with a student's academic success, and find support for the student's
development. The undergraduate deans and advisers in PAS coordinate efforts
with the specialized programs for ALANA students, disabled students, and
students receiving support services from other agencies, to provide a
cohesive framework for decision making and referral.
Each year PAS co-sponsors a "Majors Fair" to give easy
access to information about a wide variety of departments and programs
on campus. PAS offers regular new student orientations, assistance with
preregistration, and help with admission to majors that have identified
pre-major tracks, such as Psychology, Communication, and English.
Domestic Exchange and Five College Interchange
Programs
Coordinator: Sheila Brennan
614 Goodell Building, 545-5351
These two programs extend
a student's educational opportunity beyond the campus.
Through the Five College Interchange Program, a University
student can experience a smaller classroom setting and participate in
a wide range of academic programs offered at four local liberal arts institutions
(Amherst, Hampshire, Mount Holyoke, and Smith colleges) at no extra cost.
Through the National Student Exchange Program, students can experience
a different geographical and academic setting at one of the 160 participating
colleges and universities across the country. Both programs offer opportunities
for students to work with a diverse range of faculty members, to gain
access to information from the facilities at another campus, and to take
advantage of the many academic and cultural programs that are offered
locally and nationally.
Students interested in participating in either program should contact the Domestic Exchange
Program and Five College Interchange Program Office for information and
advice.
Learning
Disabilities Support Services
Director: Patricia Silver
Berkshire House, 545-4602
Learning Disabilities Support
Services (LDSS), part of the Undergraduate Advising and Academic Support
Center (UAASC), supports students with learning disabilities on campus
and coordinates support services on their behalf. Staff
members of LDSS meet with each student with learning disabilities
upon admission to the University, to develop an individual written plan
and to determine appropriate support services. The student is an active
participant in decisions that affect his or her academic functioning,
and the final document is a cooperative effort.
Testing for various types of learning disabilities
is available through Counseling and
Assessment Services on a space-available
basis. CAS cannot guarantee that testing can be completed in time to meet
academic or other deadlines faced by the student. A fee is charged for
most testing services. If a student needs to have
test results completed within a limited time, he or she should consider
using a state certified testing center outside the University.
Each semester presents students with a different set
of challenges. Students with learning disabilities are encouraged to maintain
regular contact with LDSS even if they are not availing themselves of support services. Students with learning
disabilities receive support
in a variety of ways, such as one-to-one tutoring, oral exams, additional
time for exams, taped lectures, etc. They also receive counseling around
their area of disability.
In addition to the initial intake and Individual Written
Plan, LDSS helps students to write
an accommodation sheet, which supplies information to faculty about
a student's learning needs and lists recommended modifications. LDSS also
serves students by training and monitoring
tutors, monitoring students, acting as faculty liaison, reviewing
diagnostic information, coordinating campus services, and writing policy
and procedure. LDSS coordinates an interdisciplinary approach to working
with students with learning disabilities through ongoing meetings, with
other campus services.
Counseling and Assessment Services
Director: Sally Freeman
123 Berkshire House, 545-0333
Counseling and Assessment
Services (CAS) provides a broad spectrum
of clinical and skills-related services to all students of the
University.
CAS is staffed by professional psychologists, a neuropsychologist,
a psychotherapist, and supervised advanced graduate students in psychology.
Services are available to students in the areas of psychological counseling
and therapy, diagnostic assessment, career counseling, biofeedback, and
stress management. In addition, workshops
are scheduled each semester which focus on motivation, improving
academic achievement, career concerns, time management, and stress reduction.
CAS is also an approved site for the administration of national testing
programs.
CAS provides academic support services to students
with documented psychological disabilities and neurological disorders.
Calls concerning this should be made
to 577-2457. Staff also provide consultation, education, and training
to University staff on issues related to psychological disabilities.
CAS provides a range of diagnostic assessment services
for students who are referred on the basis of academic and learning problems.
Comprehensive test batteries designed to assess the presence of learning
disabilities, Attention Deficit Disorder, and a variety of psychological
disorders which can interfere with learning, are available to students
at the University. The diagnostic assessment report that each student
receives is complete with individualized recommendations that are specifically
relevant to the campus and its resources. Fees for these assessments are
covered under the University's Supplemental Health Plan; a variety of
additional payment options are also available.
All students who might benefit from these services should either call 545-0333 or come to Room 123 Berkshire House to make an appointment
for intake services, available Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Students who may have questions regarding any CAS services are encouraged
to visit or call.
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