UHD 2000/2001 Catalog UHD Catalog Home | General Information | Student Affairs Table of Contents | Previous Section | Next Section | Index | How to Use the Online Catalog Student Services Student Activities Special Services 15 The University of Houston-Downtown’s Division of Student Affairs offers a wide variety of services, programs and activities designed to augment the academic experience of students and to facilitate their development as whole persons. Dean: Ann McDonald, PhD Student Services Admission and Records Director—vacant Scholarships and Financial Aid Lisa Beaudo, BA, Director The Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid provides assistance for qualified students in obtaining scholarships, grants and loans and college work-study aid to support their educational activities. For information regarding specific programs and requirements, see Scholarships and Financial Aid. Counseling, Career and Student Health Services Caroline Jurgens, EdD, Director Counseling Services offers individual, couples and group counseling for a variety of academic and personal concerns. Appointments are recommended; however, walk-ins are welcomed. Emergency counseling is also available during regular office hours. Groups for support on particular issues can be formed with enough student interest. Examples of groups that have successfully met and helped students include the Black Women’s Support, Relationship, and General Counseling Groups. Study skills and test anxiety groups are also popular. Psychiatric and other referral services are also provided free of charge. Strict confidentiality is observed. Career Services provides support, information, and counseling to students who wish to explore career options. This office can help students develop academic and extracurricular programs to support and enhance their career interests. Information about self-help, personality style, majors, undergraduate and graduate schools, labor market trends, and career options can be accessed. Employer literature, listings of employment opportunities, and access to the Internet are also available. Services include: Career counseling, coaching, and advising Interest assessment Presentations, workshops, seminars and classes Information about majors and careers Monthly career newsletter Career resource library Resume review, assistance and referral Preparation for interviewing, job search and on-campus interviews Practice (mock) interviews Current part-time and full-time job listings Career Connections job listing service Fall and Spring career fairs Field experience opportunities Field Experience Field Experience offers qualified students an opportunity to integrate classroom learning with work experience. The program grants semester credit hours which may apply toward the graduation requirements of degree programs. Work experience, through the Field Experience program, reinforces and complements a student’s academic field of study. A student wishing to enroll in a Field Experience course must have completed at least 60 semester credit hours, be in good academic standing, and meet specific departmental requirements including approval by the department chair. No more than six semester credit hours in Field Experience instruction may be applied toward graduation. Procedures for enrolling in Field Experience courses are available in each academic department and in Career Services (370-N). 16 Student Health Services focuses on health promotions and disease prevention. Our clinicians provide the same primary care found in most physicians offices (including women’s health), and offer referrals to specialists in the community when necessary. Routine laboratory services, pregnancy testing, confidential HIV testing and counseling are provided. The pharmacy will fill in-clinic prescriptions at low cost and also offers some non-prescription medications for sale. Our nurses provide counseling on a wide variety of health issues and offer special screenings and services throughout the year. Educational brochures on a variety of health related subjects are also available. Applications for student health insurance may be obtained at the office of Student Health Services, Room 380-North. Information Center The Information Center generally serves as the central resource, referral and visitor center for the UH-Downtown community. As part of its specialized services, the center provides UHD students and prospective students with information and assistance regarding enrollment procedures, classes, schedules and general information about the university. It serves as the hub and coordinating body for all New Student Orientation Programs, and the “Connections” mentoring program. The center also issues IDs and ID updates for students, faculty, staff and alumni. Students may obtain a Class Schedule, Student Handbook, a Catalog, or a TASP Bulletin from the Center. They may also purchase Scantron forms, and blue books when the Bookstore is closed. Student Activities Thomas Corti, PhD, Director While formal educational experiences provide students with one facet of learning, the Office of Student Activities encourages and challenges students to become involved in other components of campus life by participating in student organizations and activities. The Office of Student Activities coordinates the functions of the Student Government Association, Campus Activities Board, a variety of clubs and organizations, Crossroads Festival, Culture on the Bayou, Sports and Recreation and the leadership development series. Participation in organizations and/or programs offers the individual student an opportunity for long-term leadership development and personal growth within the UH-Downtown community. Student Government Association The Student Government Association (SGA) is the representative body for all UH-Downtown students. The SGA is composed of three branches of government: the executive, the legislative and the judicial. The SGA is responsible for nominating students to serve on university committees and is responsible for chairing the Council of Organizations, which is the representative body for all clubs and organizations. The SGA is involved in the policy development activities of the university through its participation on shared governance committees. Campus Activities Board The Campus Activities Board (CAB) is the programming body that serves the UH-Downtown community through a variety of educational, social and multicultural programming and activities. CAB strives to bring quality innovative programming that appeals to all segments of the university community. Any student interested in developing creative ideas to enhance the overall programs on the campus is encouraged to volunteer with CAB. Student Organizations The varied personal and professional interests of UH-Downtown students are aptly reflected in the range of active clubs and organizations on campus. Professional organizations and departmental clubs provide opportunities for individuals with similar interests and goals to meet. There are also social clubs, cultural organizations and special interest groups. All clubs offer students educational opportunities, as well as personal enjoyment. Student Publications The Dateline The Dateline is a student-run newspaper. With guidance from a faculty advisor and the Student Publications Advisory Committee appointed by the president, students are provided with a wide range of experiences in journalism. Students may write for the newspaper as part of their course work on a freelance basis. Bayou Review The Bayou Review is a literary journal, with biannual publication of poetry, essays, reviews, photos and drawings. The journal seeks to promote arts and humanities at UH-Downtown and to provide a forum for students who have an interest in creative writing. Volunteer Center The UHD Volunteer Center is to promote public service and to organize and support volunteer opportunities in our community. The UHD Volunteer Center: Serves as a clearinghouse of volunteer opportunities for UHD student organizations, individual students, faculty and staff, as well as other interested UHD community. Serves as a liaison between the university and the community. Fosters individual student development. Provides various leadership development opportunities for students. Sports & Recreation The purpose and mission of Sports & Recreation is to provide members with programs and facilities that offer vigorous, fun-filled, health-promoting, physical activity conducive to wellness and personal development. Through a well-equipped recreational facility, fitness programs, intramural sports and sport clubs activities, our members will be motivated to embrace a health life-style, which may ultimately enhance their quality of life. 17 Membership The programs and services of Sports & Recreation are open to all UHD students, faculty and staff at no additional fees. Alumni Association members may purchase a Sports & Recreation Membership at an annual $30.00 fee. Facilities The three-level, 30,000-square-foot Jesse H. Jones Student Life Center includes two ball courts, equipped for full or cross court basketball, volleyball, badminton, and indoor soccer, a multipurpose studio designed for aerobics and martial arts, and a fitness center with state of the art weight equipment and cardiovascular units. Lockers and showers are available. See a Sports & Recreation Staff Member for locker rental information. Fitness Programs Fitness programs are offered at various times throughout the week to Sports & Recreation Members. Such programs offer informative instructions from certified instructor in the various areas available. Some fitness programs require an additional fee. Aerobics, Karate, Tai Chi, Tae Kwon Do and Latin Dance are only a few of the fitness programs offered. See a facility schedule for scheduled programs. Intramural Sports Intramural sports programs are designed to provide opportunities for UHD members to participate in organized sports activities. Individual and team sports are offered in over 20 different sports. Leagues are created for competitive and just-for-fun participants alike, and there are several activities where men and women combine for co-recreational sports. Sport Clubs Sport Clubs provide members with opportunities to share common interest and pursue active involvement and improvement in a sport or activity. Clubs are encouraged to represent the university at local, regional and national competitions. Gameroom The Gameroom provides a place for students to relax and unwind between and after classes. Students may choose to play billiards, ping-pong, foosball, darts, video games, chess, cards, listen to the CD jukebox or watch television in one of two TV rooms. The snack bar serves frito pies, nachos, hot dogs, pretzels, popcorn, soda and candy. The Gameroom conducts various tournaments, programs and parties. Tournament winners may go on to represent UHD in regional competition. Locker Rental Lockers, located on the 2nd, 3rd and 4th floors, are available for students to rent. Per-semester rates are $5 for small, $7 for medium and $10 for large lockers. Students must first pay in the Cashier’s Office and take their receipt to the Gameroom. Lockers are assigned on a first-come (with receipt), first-served basis. New Student Orientation introduces new students to the academic community at UH-Downtown. It is designed to meet the special needs of all students entering the university for the first time and to help make the new student’s transition to the university a smooth and enjoyable one. New Student Orientation programs are offered for the summer, fall and spring semesters. Programs occur early in the summer for new students entering the university during a summer session, later in the summer for those entering in the fall, and during the fall for those students preparing to enroll in the spring semester. Orientation also offers currently enrolled students the opportunity to develop their leadership skills and make new friends by becoming leaders in the program. Connections is a mentoring program available to all first-time students during their first semester at UH-Downtown. A new student is linked with a university student who serves as the new student’s mentor. Mentors help new students achieve success during their first semester at UH-Downtown by pointing out useful resources, offering helpful hints for personal and academic growth, providing support, and serving as friends and advocates (as needed). Special Services International Students Within the office of Admissions and Records, the Office of International Admissions supports the academic and cultural experience of international students at the University of Houston-Downtown. The office processes admission applications and provides immigration counseling. To ease the transition to living and studying in the United States, the office coordinates a special orientation for incoming international students and offers personal assistance whenever possible. The office also provides cultural programming and immigration workshops for international students and serves as a resource to students and faculty with information about studying abroad, international exchange programs and conferences. Testing Services UH-Downtown, state, national and correspondence tests are administered by Testing Services personnel. Locally prepared tests include the Writing Proficiency Examination and the foreign language (French and Spanish) placement examinations. Several national tests are provided by testing personnel, including the General Education Development (GED), College Level Examination Program (CLEP), Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), Law School Admission Test (LSAT), Medical College Admission Test (MCAT), Texas Academic Skills Program (TASP) and Graduate Record Examination (GRE). Registration generally requires at least one form of picture identification, and deadlines are about one month prior to test dates. Registration information and forms for most tests are contained in test bulletins available in Testing Services, Room 379-North. 18 Partners in Leadership (PIL) Partners in Leadership is a semester-long leadership development program offered to culturally diverse groups of UH-Downtown students. Selected students, in partnership with faculty, staff and community leaders, engage in experiential leadership training and seek ways to become agents for positive change in society. This program is currently offered during the fall semester. The P.I.L.A. (Partnership in Leadership Association) is an alumni organization of the Partners in Leadership program. The goal of the association is to share what has been learned in the program with the UH-Downtown community and the larger community. Preventing the Abuse of Substances and Self (PASS) A special program, Preventing the Abuse of Substances and Self (PASS), provides confidential services aimed at prevention of alcohol and drug abuse and other addiction-related behaviors. Free substance-abuse screening, individual counseling, group counseling, workshops, outreach, consultation and referral services are offered. The PASS counselor is a certified alcohol and drug abuse counselor and may be contacted in person or by calling the PASS confidential line at 713-221-8989. Interested students may join the PASS Posse, a volunteer group devoted to fighting the war on drugs. Houston Resource Center (HRC) The Houston Resource Center serves as a clearinghouse for both internal and external scholarship information.