Sam Houston State University (SHSU) provides appropriate academic and student support programs, services, and activities consistent with its mission [1]. Along with services to foster student learning and scholarly endeavors, the University has programs, services, and activities in place to support development of citizenship, leadership, and social responsibility. The Divisions of Academic Affairs, Enrollment Management, Finance and Operations, Information Technology, Student Affairs, University Advancement, and the Department of Athletics contribute to “high quality education, scholarship, and service” [1] by developing university resources and infrastructures that support the intellectual transformation of students.
Division of Academic Affairs
The Division of Academic Affairs [2] provides coordination and support at SHSU for all academic personnel matters, programming, and other issues pertaining to the academic standards and mission of the institution. In addition to supporting the work of the faculty, this division is responsible for supporting and promoting student recruitment, success, and retention. The following are student support services that are within the Division of Academic Affairs.
Academic Success Center (ASC)
The ASC [3] offers a variety of academic support services to all SHSU students, although particular attention is given to first-year students, new transfers, nontraditional students, and students who come from families that traditionally have not had the resources to pursue an advanced education. Resources include the following:
The Success Center for Reading and Writing
In this center [4], tutors provide one-on-one and small group instruction for reading and writing. They help students on assignments ranging from English composition essays to science lab reports, résumés, scholarship applications, and job application letters. More advanced assistance is also offered for theses and dissertations. Help is given to students to learn preparatory prewriting, revising, and editing skills by working with them on the writing tasks they bring in. Assistance is also offered to faculty with their own writing and with constructing writing assignments for their students.
The Math Center
The Math Center [5] assists students with mathematical skills in order to help promote the learning and development necessary for achieving academic success and a lifetime of self-sufficient learning. Math tutors consist primarily of mathematics, statistics, and math education majors. Most of the tutors have completed Calculus II and many advanced mathematics courses.
Supplemental Instruction
The Supplemental Instruction (SI) program [6] helps to improve student retention and academic achievement by organizing dynamic and interactive peer-facilitated study sessions paired with traditionally difficult courses. All SI sessions are free. Regular participation has been shown to result in up to a full letter grade increase in course grades compared to students who do not attend sessions. Many students report that the study skills they gained in SI sessions for one course helped them in subsequent coursework as well.
SI sessions are offered in two formats: face-to-face, for on-campus courses, and Blackboard Collaborate, for distance courses. SI Leaders are students who have successfully completed the SI-supported course and have received in-depth training to facilitate study sessions based on a Supplemental Instruction model.
Bearkat Bridge
Bearkat Bridge [7] is designed for students who are preparing to take the Texas Success Initiative Assessment (TSIA) or who have taken the TSIA and did not receive scores showing college readiness. It is an online refresher program that helps identify concepts in math, reading, and writing that students may have forgotten and need to review. After completing the program, students who need to do so can take the TSIA again. If their scores then meet the college readiness marks, students can enroll in credit-bearing courses and avoid having to take extra developmental classes. Bearkat Bridge is online so that students (even those who have not yet enrolled in classes at the University) can work from home, but personal support is available online and in-person.
In partnership with SHSU Online [8], the ASC uses GoToMeeting to provide synchronous remote assistance to SHSU distance and correspondence students. The ASC’s services are available for all undergraduate and graduate students currently enrolled at SHSU, with locations on the main campus in Huntsville and at The Woodlands Center [9].
Continuing Education
Continuing Education [10] offers non-credit courses, both face-to-face and online, for personal and professional development [11]. Groups of courses are offered in Allied Health, Certified Nurse Aides (CNA) In-Service Training, Certified Public Management, Continuing Professional Education, Professional Services, and Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR).
The Continuing Education office (working with SHSU Online) also administers credit-bearing correspondence courses [12] for SHSU students. A variety of courses are available for SHSU and non-SHSU students [13].
Elliot T. Bowers Honors College
The Elliot T. Bowers Honors College [14] is designed to attract and retain highly competent and motivated students and seeks to create an intellectual and social climate that encourages students to develop their potential both in and out of the classroom. To this end, the Honors College creates a community of scholars, wherein both students and professors interact and challenge each other in developing their abilities. Specifically, the Honors College provides personalized instruction and mentorship opportunities, which supports the University's overall mission of high academic standards and community service. Graduating with Honors from SHSU provides definite advantages for students entering graduate or professional school, as well as those starting out in their chosen profession.
Annually, the Honors College sponsors the Undergraduate Research Symposium (URS) [15]. The URS provides all undergraduate students opportunities to work with other students and faculty, grow as emerging professionals within their fields of study, and share their research in a professional environment.
Enhancing Undergraduate Research Experiences and Creative Activities (EURECA) Center
The EURECA Center [16] advances the culture of scholarly and creative excellence by cultivating and developing faculty-mentored, discipline-specific inquiry among undergraduate students. The center educates undergraduate students about how discipline-specific inquiry enriches the academic experience and helps them realize professional goals. Funding for the center supports faculty and student collaborative research projects [17].
Sam Houston (SH) Establishing Leadership In and Through Education (ELITE) Program
The SH ELITE Program [18] promotes the academic and civic engagement of African-American and Hispanic men through various resources that specifically focus on academic, professional, and personal development; leadership development; and service engagement. The purpose of the program is to help improve the retention and graduation rates among minority men. Services include peer mentoring, mandatory advising, study skills, role models, leadership training, grade checks, team building, community service, management internships, a speaker series, and social activities.
Graduate Studies
The Office of Graduate Studies [19] promotes academic, professional, career, and leadership development to create a culture of success for graduate students.
Orientation sessions are provided for all entering graduate students: those that will study at the main campus, at The Woodlands Center, or online. Care is taken that the needs of all entering graduate students are met. Videos that present orientation topics are also posted online.
Regularly scheduled scholarly workshops are offered to help improve research skills [20]. Instructional videos are available online to assist with thesis/dissertation formatting. More in-depth help is provided through events such as the multi-day Dissertation Boot Camp [21], in which students receive help from librarians, statisticians, editors, etc.; the 3 Minute Thesis (3MT) program [22]; and various Saturday events targeted to the specific needs of graduate students.
The office helps graduate students who are currently teaching assistants with teaching evaluation workshops and other workshops that address the improvement of online teaching. The Office of Graduate Studies and PACE (the Professional & Academic Center for Excellence) provide the Teaching Assistant Certification Series (TACS) [23], a curriculum of professional development for any graduate student interested in a future career involving teaching, especially those considering becoming university faculty members. This program does not involve additional formal coursework or tuition.
Graduate Studies also provides leadership and service opportunities for students in conjunction with the Center for Leadership and Service (CLS) [24]. Community engagement opportunities and access to a leadership library are also provided.
In order to serve online students at SHSU, Graduate Studies provides live web streaming of workshops and also records some of the workshops to then be posted online. Other workshops and services, such as the Dissertation Support Group and individual dissertation editors, are offered through Blackboard Collaborate for online students.
Graduate Studies provides opportunities for financial support for travel expenses and conference fees for students who present their research at state, national, and international conferences and provides travel expenses for students who must travel to destinations to collect data for their research [25]. Opportunities for financial support are also provided for students to purchase equipment, instruments, or other items needed to complete their research. Financial support opportunities extend to online students as well.
The Graduate Studies Bridge to ASPIRE scholars program [26] provides minority graduate students with mentoring and academic success programming to promote professional development and to strengthen the graduate school experience. The Road to the PhD program [27] also provides mentoring and professional development to doctoral students.
Graduate Studies provides opportunities for graduate students to be recognized for their excellence through Thesis, Dissertation, and Capstone Project Awards; Teaching Assistant Awards; and Research Awards. Students are eligible for all of the awards whether they are face-to-face students or online students.
McNair Scholars Program
The Ronald E. McNair Post-baccalaureate Achievement Program [28] provides talented low-income/first generation and ethnic minority undergraduate students with effective preparation for doctoral study. The McNair Program at SHSU encourages graduate studies by providing opportunities for undergraduates to define their goals, engage in research, and develop the skills and faculty mentor relationships that are critical to success at the doctoral level.
Office of International Programs (OIP)
The OIP [29] coordinates international activities at SHSU, including services that support the recruitment and retention of international students and the study and travel abroad of SHSU faculty and students. The OIP serves as a primary contact for international students and handles immigration procedures for those who want to attend SHSU. The office staff also provides various support services for international students, including airport pick-ups, campus and community activities, and the International Student Organization.
Within the OIP, Study Abroad [30] offers SHSU students opportunities for independent study abroad programs, exchange programs, and faculty-led programs, including trips to China, Costa Rica, Finland, France, Japan, Mexico, South Korea, Switzerland, and the United Arab Emirates. Study abroad fairs and information sessions are hosted throughout the year to raise awareness of the opportunities available to students. In addition, merit-based scholarships [31] are available to assist qualifying students in covering some of the expenses of studying abroad. The Study Abroad website offers numerous tips and resources for students interested in taking advantage of traveling abroad for study.
The English Language Institute (ELI) [32], which is under the OIP, provides ESL (English as a Second Language) courses for international students who want to improve their English language proficiency, academic skills, and cultural awareness. Most ELI students are preparing for admission into undergraduate or graduate studies at SHSU [33]. The ELI staff members also advise international students regarding visa issues, provide support services, and help international students integrate into the University [34].
Newton Gresham Library (NGL)
The NGL [35] is an integral part of the University’s learning and research mission and endeavors to create a physical and virtual environment that promotes the transfer and discovery of knowledge. The library holds more than 1.3 million books, bound periodicals, and government documents in a variety of formats, including multimedia, digital collections, microforms, microfiche, phonograph records, videotape, and newspapers. Other groups of materials housed in the NGL include paperbacks for recreational reading, current periodical issues, new books, and children’s literature. A multimedia lab, music listening room, study carrels, a small lounge area furnished with vending machines, and a copy center that includes a public fax machine are provided for the convenience of students and faculty. Library holdings information may be electronically accessed through an online catalog, Engine Orange [36], from hundreds of library and campus computer workstations, as well as remotely via the Internet.
In addition to the NGL’s general holdings, students may access a variety of special collections, including the Special Collections Department, which houses rare books and documents; the University Archives; the Music Listening Room; and Government Documents. SHSU students are also able to access Digital Collections online [37].
The NGL website offers numerous digital resources accessible by all SHSU students. “Ask a Librarian” [38] allows students to chat online with, text, email, or call a librarian on staff. Online research tools and guides [39] help students search for books, articles, and journals; cite sources; and utilize library services. Interlibrary loan [40] services offer students opportunities to request books and articles that are not held within NGL collections. Additionally, interlibrary loan can send SHSU books and articles to students taking classes exclusively through distance education or online formats.
Distance learners may also access information and resources directly through the NGL’s Distance Learning Services page [41], which houses important information and forms for these students. In partnership with NGL, SHSU Online has also made widely available through Blackboard access to library resources for distance and correspondence education students. The library tab in Blackboard provides access to research and library guides, library citation guides, the NGL catalog, a chat feature (to speak instantly with a librarian), and instructions for contacting a subject librarian who serves as an expert liaison for a particular discipline of study at SHSU [42].
Finally, the NGL has also established a dedicated service center at The Woodlands Center location [43]. This satellite location houses a full-time reference/instruction librarian to provide students with the same resources and services that would be available to them through the main library location. Through these various distance education services, SHSU students have complete library support without having to visit the main library.
Student Advising and Mentoring (SAM) Center
The SAM Center [44] provides intrusive academic advising and mentoring to all students, regardless of location or learning modality, assisting them in discovering methods to set personal goals, establishing strategies to achieve their objectives, and enhancing skills to sharpen academic accomplishments, while providing incentives for realizing educational success. It is dedicated to helping students to excel in the academic environment and develop skills that allow them to compete in the workforce. In addition to academic advising, the SAM Center provides a wide-range of mentoring activities and an early alert system [45].
Using a multifaceted approach to academic advising, the SAM Center employs both professional advisors and faculty advisors. Students are able to schedule advising appointments through the MySam online portal, utilizing “Campus Connect.” The SAM Center also has walk-in times available each weekday. Academic advisors are available onsite at The Woodlands Center [46].
Academic advising is mandatory for students who (a) do not have an SHSU GPA (i.e., incoming freshmen, transfer students), (b) have a GPA below 2.50, or (c) have completed 90 credit hours or more (i.e., seniors); however, all SHSU students are encouraged to be advised each semester and avail themselves of the resources of the SAM Center.
Academic Improvement Mentoring (AIM) [47] is designed to facilitate students’ academic performance and acclimation into the academic environment, thereby increasing retention. Paired with professional academic mentors, students learn about available academic services and university policies and create personalized academic plans to enhance their studies. The service is available to all students via in-person meetings, email, phone, and/or Skype.
Early Alert [48] is a system for faculty members who have concerns regarding their students. Once notified via Campus Connect, advisors at the SAM Center actively reach out to students = offering services and aid in order to enhance the students’ academic performance.
SHSU Online
SHSU Online provides a wide range of services aimed at promoting student learning and success [49]. The center adheres to the principles expressed in the Principles of Good Practice for Academic Degree and Certificate Programs Offered Electronically [50], published by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB), which articulates a number of measures aimed at ensuring the highest possible quality in the practices of providing student services. SHSU Online’s role in the provision of student services takes many supportive forms in commitment to the success of all SHSU students, including distance, correspondence, and on-campus learners who enroll in online and/or hybrid courses.
SHSU Online provides online resources designed to teach students how to succeed in utilizing Blackboard, how to operate hardware and software used in online courses, and how to maximize the use of technology resources to the betterment of their online study efforts. Links to the library, Student Central (see below), and other important student resources are provided on the SHSU Online Campus [51] page. SHSU Online provides SHSU students with access to “just in time” self-help resources that enable them to research basic technical problems and to perform their own troubleshooting when possible. This service allows students to solve their own problems quickly and efficiently, while promoting a sense of autonomy and self-sufficiency in managing technologies used on a daily basis.
The Student Central portal [49] provides distance and correspondence students with information and/or links regarding numerous student services, including (a) Getting Started with Blackboard – Student Orientation (see below); (b) Career Resources for Students, which provides access to the SHSU Online Career Services listing [52]; (c) NBC Learn HigherEd [53], a digital library that provides students with easy access to thousands of rich, dynamic, and innovative resources that they can use to augment their research and study habits; (d) Technical Support (see below); (e) Financial Aid; and (f) a customized university library interface [54]. Through the Student Central portal, distance and correspondence students are provided access to an online campus community that integrates social media applications, discussions, and advice from former online students. Students have access to online resources, have the ability to share stories about their online learning experiences, and have the opportunity to discuss how to contribute to their online campus community.
Getting Started with Blackboard – Student Orientation [55], an SHSU Online-designed online student orientation course, encompasses multiple topics that are critical to online learning, including What is Distance Learning?, How To Be a Successful Online Student, What to Expect from Online Learning, Taking Tests Online, Participation and Collaboration in an Online Course, and Time Management Skills [56]. These online lessons are aimed at providing distance and correspondence students general recommendations for effective studying and success in an online learning environment.
In addition, Getting Started with Blackboard – Student Orientation delivers the following resources for distance and correspondence education students: (a) research-based tips for success in an online environment, (b) access to relevant and important policies and services as they relate to the online experience, (c) information concerning accessing assistance and technical support, (d) a thorough listing of the technical knowledge needed for success in an online course, (e) information and tools for assessing hardware and software capabilities, and (f) a digital tour of an online course to familiarize distance education students with their online learning environment.
SHSU Online provides abundant access to technical support [57] for distance and correspondence education students with the purpose of promoting proper student support in the online environment. Whether students are enrolled in fully online, hybrid, and/or web-assisted face-to-face courses, they can benefit from technical support measures led and implemented by SHSU Online. SHSU Online provides a technical support desk year round (excluding holidays), Monday through Friday, 24 hours a day; Saturdays, from 7 a.m. to midnight; and Sundays, from 1 p.m. until midnight. The support desk assists students via email, phone, and instant message/chat in using Blackboard and third-party software programs. SHSU Online also provides operational support through interactive video courses.
Turnitin [58] and SafeAssign [58] provide online plagiarism detection services, which helps students learn how to avoid plagiarism by identifying uncited or unoriginal content in student drafts. NBC Learn HigherEd [53] is a digital library that provides students with easy access to thousands of rich, dynamic, and innovative resources that they can use to augment their research and study habits. Test protection services [59] ensure the integrity of exams taken off campus, without the need for SHSU distance and correspondence students to search for and attend an expensive, and sometimes distant, test-proctoring facility.
The University, through SHSU Online, also provides an online version of general student orientation for students who are unable to attend the orientation sessions on campus [60].
Student Success Initiatives (SSI)
The SSI office provides a variety of courses and support services designed to promote students’ intellectual, social, ethical, and leadership growth. These initiatives provide opportunities for all students to enhance their skills and to pursue continuous improvement in academics. Furthermore, selected non-academic support services are dedicated to informing and guiding students about issues and opportunities common to undergraduate students pursuing a college degree. In addition to providing custom group or individual mentoring and orientation sessions, SSI provides the following programs and services: University 1301, a three-hour freshman seminar; a program for students who are former foster youth, orphans, wards of the court, and/or homeless (FORWARD); a food pantry program; a P-16 college readiness initiative; a common reading program; New Student Convocation; and both residential and non-residential learning communities.
UNIV 1301
UNIV 1301 [61] is a three-hour elective freshman seminar focusing on enhancing the skills needed by SHSU students to succeed in college academic programs. The content of the course features the differences in students’ prior learning habits (e.g., study skills, research literacy, note-taking, writing, time management, and money management) and the learning habits necessary to think critically about applying skills learned to earn a college degree. Additionally, students have the opportunity to create a complete college course plan and explore career interests and future employment opportunities.
The FORWARD Program
The FORWARD Program [62] targets the needs of former foster youth, orphans, wards of the court, and homeless students by providing a support system to pursue higher education and to transition successfully through college. FORWARD serves as a recruitment, retention, and graduation resource to help these students build meaningful relationships that are important to a successful college experience. A cross-divisional campus committee focuses on matching student needs with available resources by enhancing and customizing existing campus resources and incorporating community partnerships and external resources. Committee members directly serve students through professional mentoring relationships, by recruiting at special events, by presenting at professional conferences, and through continual research and publication of internal and external opportunities and resources to enhance student success in college.
The SHSU Food Pantry
The SHSU Food Pantry [63] is a collaborative initiative supported by students, faculty, and staff at SHSU. The mission of the Food Pantry is to support students who struggle with food insecurity, encourage an educational understanding of food insecurity, and provide a space for students to volunteer and network with their peers. The Food Pantry at SHSU helps students overcome physical barriers to academic success and encourages mutual understanding and support for students across the SHSU community.
SHSU P-16 College Readiness Council Initiatives
SHSU P-16 College Readiness Council Initiatives [64] is comprised of a regional group of educators and community members. The goal of the SHSU P-16 Council is to work cooperatively with the area public schools and community colleges to ensure implementation of the college and career readiness standards and to create a college-going culture for all Texas students.
The Common Reader Program
The Common Reader Program [65] creates a common academic/intellectual experience for incoming students and upperclassmen; facilitates a campus-wide, cross-disciplinary conversation; and enhances the entire campus community (students, faculty, and staff).
New Student Convocation
New Student Convocation [66] is an annual event that serves as the official welcome for all new students entering into the SHSU academic community. Convocation is conducted as a formal ceremony akin to graduation, at which faculty appear in full academic regalia, wearing caps and gowns as they would for the graduating class. It is a community-building tradition that promotes student identification with the institution and facilitates a sense of class membership. It combines with graduation to provide meaningful and complementary “bookends” to the college experience, with both programs serving as celebrative rites of passage that represent a new start or beginning.
The Freshman Learning Communities (FLC)
The Freshman Learning Communities [67] provide an enhanced educational experience that fosters students’ intellectual development through increased interaction with fellow students, faculty, and staff. The FLC offer first-year college students a unique opportunity to become familiar with necessary academic and social skills through residential and non-residential structures. Students attend the same core classes, supporting each other in the classroom through study groups and socially outside the classroom.
Residential learning communities include the following:
Non-residential communities include the following:
The Testing Center
The Testing Center [78] helps promote the intellectual growth of students outside the formal setting of regular coursework by providing an array of computer- and paper-based testing services within a quality testing environment. Offices at both the main campus and at The Woodlands Center are available to serve the student population. In addition, remote testing services [79] are also available for students who need to complete the TSI Assessment or ACCUPLACER but are unable to travel to one of the two physical centers.
TRiO Student Support Services
TRiO [80]is a federally funded program at SHSU that offers first-generation, low-income, and/or disabled students registration assistance, a personal academic coach, individual tutoring, a textbook lending library, and seminars covering such topics as financial literacy, study skills, career exploration, and financial aid.
Division of Enrollment Management
The Division of Enrollment Management [81] works collaboratively with faculty, staff, and students to encourage participation and success in higher education among a diverse student population. The division focuses on attracting, enrolling, retaining, and graduating students to empower them to be productive citizens. Through cross-campus teamwork, the division encourages the cooperation and enthusiasm of faculty and staff in (a) administering and tracking programs that result in more students enrolling at the institution, (b) helping students attain their educational objectives, and (c) nurturing future loyal alumni who will contribute to the life of the institution. The division oversees the following student support services.
Bearkat Orientation
Bearkat Orientation [82] features organized, purposeful, and positive introduction sessions for all new SHSU students and their families. These sessions help students become familiar with services and programs vital to their successful transition to full and active members of the SHSU community. Partnering collaboratively with other University offices and departments, these sessions help students gain the skills, information, and meaningful relationships important to successful long-term academic and personal outcomes. Students who are unable to come to campus complete an online orientation.
Career Services
The Career Services Office [83] assists current students of all academic levels and graduates of SHSU in their search for employment appropriate to their interests, skills, academic preparation, and personal aspirations. Opportunities and resources, provided both on campus and remotely [84], assist students in learning and implementing the life-long process of career exploration, choosing a career, and, ultimately, obtaining rewarding employment. Events and services offered by the Career Center [85] include the following:
Career Counseling
Career counselors are available at the main campus or The Woodlands Center to help students explore their interests and career goals. Help is offered to students to gain information regarding the best use of their degrees in their chosen fields and to decide what steps need to be taken next. Career Assessments (e.g., Myers-Briggs Type Indicator®, Strong Interest Inventory®) are also offered, which provide opportunities for students to discover how their personality type and interests can direct them toward career choices that best suit them.
JOBS for KATS
JOBS for KATS, an online job-posting system, is a powerful tool for success. Its many features include the following:
Mock Interviews
In order to prepare for future interviews, students may practice interviewing techniques. Mock interviews can be scheduled to identify strengths and weaknesses in order to help prepare students for the world of work through feedback from a career counselor. Students are also given tips on marketing themselves professionally and making a good first impression.
Career Fairs
Each year Career Services hosts a variety of career events open to all SHSU students and alumni, including Career Expo and Graduate/Professional School Fair (all majors), Fall and Spring Teacher Job Fairs, Victim Studies Job Fair, STEAM (Sciences, Technology, Engineering Technology, Agricultural Sciences, and Mathematics) Job Fair, Summer Camp Job Fair, Criminal Justice Job Fair, and Health Sciences Job Fair. Students can log onto JOBS for KATS before the event to see a list of the employers that are coming and the positions for which they are hiring.
On-Campus Interviewing
Many employers representing a wide variety of industries schedule on-campus interviews with SHSU students and graduates. Students can log onto JOBS for KATS to sign up during interview season.
Financial Aid and Scholarships
The Financial Aid Office [86] assists students with financial planning for their educational futures. Aid is available in the form of grants, scholarships, loans and/or work study. Most aid is based upon financial need, whereas most scholarships are merit based. Students have access to the Introduction to Financial Aid [87] and/or Scholarship Opportunities webpages [88]. Financial Aid counselors are also available to students who require additional assistance.
Veterans Resource Center
The Veterans Resource Center [89] provides resources and support for returning veterans and assists them with their transition into university life at SHSU. An on-campus Vet Success Counselor is available to help student veterans manage their educational benefits, explore career options, coordinate services, and locate needed resources. The Veterans Resource Center website also provides necessary forms [90] to all eligible students.
Division of Finance and Operations
The Division of Finance and Operations [91] is committed to meeting the division mission, goals, and objectives in a manner consistent with the SHSU institutional mission statement, philosophy, and strategic plan initiatives. The division constantly strives to provide a healthy, safe, well maintained campus for SHSU faculty, staff, students, and visitors.
Campus Safety
The SHSU Department of Public Safety [92] offers a variety of services to promote a safe campus environment. The KatSafe emergency notification system [93] immediately notifies students, faculty, and staff of critical situations via voice/text messages and emails. In addition, the campus is equipped with emergency call boxes stationed at strategic locations throughout the campus, including parking lots, walkways, and residence halls. Additionally, the University Police Department provides staff to escort students who do not wish to walk alone at night to and/or from campus buildings and parking lots [94].
Dining Services
Dining Services [95] provides SHSU students with a variety of on-campus dining options and a number of different meal plans [96]. Primary on-campus dining facilities [97] include the Old Main Market and General’s Market, all-you-care-to-eat dining facilities that offer a variety of fresh, healthy meals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner; the PawPrint food court [98], which houses C3 Express, Chick-fil-A, Einstein Bros. Bagels, Pizza Hut, Grille Works, and Subway; and South Paw [99], which houses Moe’s Southwest Grill. In addition, Dining Services operates two Starbucks coffee shops, located within South Paw and Newton Gresham Library. For those in need of a quick snack or supplies, Provisions on Demand (P.O.D.) shops are located within the College of Humanities and Social Sciences (CHSS) and Lee Drain Buildings. A third P.O.D. is located at The Woodlands Center. Additional lunch and snack items are offered in the CJ Café (located in the Criminal Justice Building) and in the Gaertner Performing Arts Center.
Division of Information Technology
The Division of Information Technology (IT@Sam) has multiple missions on the SHSU campus; among them are to support teaching and learning and to enhance the student experience by providing technology and services that exceed student expectations. The following student support services are provided by IT@Sam.
IT@Sam--Information Technology
IT@Sam [100] supplies the University community with the technology necessary to provide the highest level of services to students. The University uses a high-speed fiber-optic network that connects all major campus buildings and residence halls. Attached to the campus network are servers for administrative, academic, and research computing functions. The network utilizes a redundant ten-gigabit (10G) connection to the Internet that provides students access to email, web servers, electronic course delivery, and many more valuable network resources. Wireless access for SHSU students is available at most locations throughout campus, including common areas of university residence halls.
IT@Sam has 16 computer labs across the main campus and The Woodlands Center [101]. Three general use labs are available for students at extended open hours: two on the main campus and one at The Woodlands Center. These labs are equipped with high capacity printers, scanners, web cams, DVD burners, and USB ports for access with flash drives as well as other peripheral items. These labs have both Windows PC and Apple Macintosh systems available for use. Additionally, there are nine labs on the main campus and four labs at The Woodlands Center that are dedicated to academic instruction and are open for general use when no classes are scheduled. One of these labs is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. All IT@Sam labs are available for enrolled students, faculty, and staff to use. Lab schedules are posted online and outside each lab. All IT@Sam labs have standardized software to ensure that the student experience in the lab environment is consistent. Printers in the IT@Sam labs are configured for wireless printing, allowing printing while personal devices are connected to the University’s wireless network, SamNet.
Students are able to activate and begin using SHSU computer accounts and other technology resources upon acceptance to the University, and they may access a wide array of services from the University website. Each student is provided a personal computer environment that is accessible from any campus computer as well as remotely. Through the University’s MySam portal [102], students may check their status and progress with such items as admissions, program requirements, financial aid, and grades. To ensure prompt communications, the University also provides official statements and documents via the MySam portal, as well as through notices sent to students’ SHSU email addresses. Students’ SHSU email accounts remain available to them after graduation, allowing continuity for job searches and alumni interactions.
Technology tutorials are available for IT@Sam services [103], and they include such topics as configuring wireless printing, forwarding SHSU email, changing passwords, and establishing a remote desktop connection. Students can access services through the IT@Sam website or the main SHSU website.
Division of Student Affairs
The role of the Division of Student Affairs [104] is to complement the total educational mission of the University by providing opportunities for students to develop and grow in an academic environment. The mission of the division is to engage students by providing innovative programs, facilities, and services that help students grow, develop a sense of belonging, and enhance the quality of their lives.
As an integral partner in the educational process, Student Affairs provides quality developmental programs and services for students. Departments within the division embrace a student development philosophy that emphasizes a holistic approach in co-curricular involvement. The goals of the division are fivefold:
Bearkat OneCard
The official ID card of SHSU is the Bearkat OneCard [105]. It has been designed to be an efficient, multi-purpose card that provides students easy access to the University’s facilities and services. The OneCard provides access to residence halls, dining services, parking facilities, the library, the health center, recreational sports, athletic events, and other University services. The manner in which financial aid refund disbursements are made is selected when enrolling for the Bearkat OneCard. The Bearkat OneCard also offers students the option of securing a free online checking account and may be used as a debit card.
Center for Student Leadership and Service (CLS)
The mission of the CLS [24] is to provide students with intentional, structured training/educational opportunities that will expose them to the concepts of leadership theory, skills, and application, as well as to promote community service as an integral aspect of education. The program encourages students to develop their own leadership identity/philosophy through ongoing education, experiential training, and personal development. The development opportunities also foster university engagement within the larger community and encourage students to put leadership into practice.
The CLS, through its Leadership Initiatives, provides students with intentional developmental opportunities and effective services that promote and support academic and co-curricular learning. CLS leadership programs include Discover Your Strengths seminars, Emerging Leaders Program for transfer students, a Leadership Library, and Leadership Over Lunch workshops and presentations [106]. CLS service programs include Bearkat Service Break, Arbor Day, MLK Day of Service, Tree of Hope, a ¬Volunteer Opportunities Fair, a community agency listing, Welcome Week, and various opportunities for conference experiences [107]. Leadership Initiatives also supports more than 235 registered student organizations [108], which include the following categories: academic, cultural, programming, recreational, religious, service, social fraternity, social sorority, and special interest. Through involvement in these organizations, students are able to apply classroom learning to the real world, develop leadership skills and abilities, build résumés and expand career opportunities, and make lasting friendships and social connections with their peers.
The Student Employee Leadership Institute (SELI) [109] develops student employees through intentional learning opportunities related to work experience. Each spring semester, a cohort of student employees from the Division of Student Affairs and various other departments on campus engage in structured developmental opportunities that address learning in the following areas: knowledge acquisition/application, cognitive complexity, intrapersonal development, interpersonal competence, humanitarianism/civic engagement, and practical competence. Participants’ supervisors also play a mentoring role in applying learned material to the work environment.
Counseling Center
Professional counseling services are available to students in the Counseling Center [110]. Individual or group counseling is available for personal, educational, or vocational concerns. Students of all levels can receive help in choosing a major, managing stress, developing study skills, and reducing test anxiety. Students can also work on a range of personal concerns including alcohol abuse, eating disorders, and physical or sexual abuse. Services are also available for international students who seek support in adjusting to life at an American university.
Dean of Students
The Dean of Student’s Office [111] contributes to the overall intellectual, social, and personal development of students through student advocacy, leadership programs, and policy development. The Dean of Student’s Office represents student needs to the University administration, faculty, and staff, as well as transmits needs of these groups to the students. The office assists students who have questions about any phase of campus life. In an effort to promote both individual and group development of students, the office co-sponsors educational programs and leadership development workshops. Staff members are also responsible for the administration of a number of policies and procedures found in Student Guidelines [112], which include student conduct, the judicial process, and certain provisions of the Family Rights and Privacy Act. Additional programs and responsibilities that fall under the auspices of the Dean of Student’s Office include Greek Life [113]; Raven’s Call [114]; the Office of Parent Relations [115]; Bearkat Family Weekend [116]; Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges [117]; Freshman Leadership Program [118]; Orange Keys [119]; The Students of Concern (SOC) Team [120]; Parking Appeals Committee [121]; Alpha Lambda Delta [122], a freshman honor society; The Parents’ Association [123]; and the Student Government Association [124]. This office also houses the University’s official Title IX Coordinator [125].
Health Services
The Student Health Center [126] provides comprehensive routine health services and education for all currently enrolled students who have paid the medical service fee, which covers the cost of office visits. Students may schedule appointments in person or by phone. The Health Center serves students in the following areas: primary health care, women’s services, dental services, preventative and travel health, nursing services, laboratory and phlebotomy, pharmacy services, and student health insurance. Modest fees are charged for laboratory tests, prescription drugs, certain procedures, and supplies. In addition to medical services, the Student Health Center offers health education, prevention programs, and general health information.
Lowman Student Center (LSC)
The LSC [127] is conveniently located at the center of campus and offers several dining options and a variety of meeting facilities and services. The University Bookstore [128] is located on the second floor, along with the Art Gallery and Information Center. The LSC also houses the Kat Klub [129] entertainment center, a spacious ballroom, theater, food court, and 15 conference rooms. The LSC provides wireless computer access, as well as computer work stations on the first and second floors. Students may consider joining one of the many organizations that meet in the LSC. By getting involved and connected, students may meet other students with similar interests, make new friends, gain valuable leadership experiences, and improve their academic skills.
The LSC houses a variety of offices and student support programs, including Student Activities (see below), which provides advisement to student organizations and offers quality programs and services that embrace a student-development philosophy. There are more than 260 registered student organizations at SHSU. Additionally, the LSC houses the offices of the Vice President for Student Affairs [130], Dean of Students [111], the Program Council [131], Student Legal and Mediations Services [132], and the Student Government Association [124].
Recreational Sports Program
The Department of Recreational Sports [133] offers broad-based, student recreational programming in the areas of Intramural Sports [134], Aquatics and Safety [135], Club Sports [136], Outdoor Recreation [137], Fitness [138], and special events. The department manages the Recreational Sports Center (RSC) [139], which houses departmental staff offices, a 34-foot climbing wall and boulder, a 10,000-square-foot weight room, multipurpose rooms, four basketball courts, a 1/8-mile indoor running track, ten racquetball courts, and courts for badminton, volleyball, and pickle ball. Additional student facilities include an outdoor heated swimming pool, eight outdoor tennis courts, two outdoor sand volleyball courts, the 6,100-seat Bernard G. Johnson Coliseum [140], the 345-acre University Camp [141], and three athletic fields used for intramurals and club sports. The department is also responsible for the Pritchett Field Complex [142], which includes two athletic fields and an outdoor 1/4-mile running track.
Residence Life
The Department of Residence Life [143] provides services that contribute to students’ physical well-being and enhance their intellectual, emotional, cultural, and social development. Residence Life provides economical housing that offers services and conveniences that permit students to make maximum use of their time for intellectual, personal, and social development. Residence Life also seeks to facilitate greater awareness, understanding, and acceptance of individual, cultural, and lifestyle differences [144]. The University provides residence halls, housing units, an apartment complex for upperclassmen, and meal plans [145]. Approximately 3,300 students are housed within the 26 residence halls and apartments. Residence Life also provides resource personnel to aid students in seeking solutions to problems and difficulties that arise, serve as role models, facilitate personal development, and assist in the development of an educational atmosphere.
There are ten Living Communities within the residence hall system accommodating students in various majors or shared experiences: Bearkat Learning, Honors, Criminal Justice, Victim Studies, Health Sciences, First Generation, Military Science, Pre-Law, Educational Learning, and FAMC Creative [146].
Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD)
SSD [147] promotes full and equal access on the part of students with disabilities to educational and extracurricular programs and activities at SHSU. It is centrally located in the Lee Drain North Annex.
SSD provides academic accommodations, auxiliary aids and services, and consultation and referral services for students with disabilities at SHSU. Students requesting SSD services submit current documentation of their impairments that is consistent with the SSD General Documentation Guidelines and complete the SSD intake process, per the Procedures to Request Services.
SSD affords students with disabilities the opportunity to reach their full potential through the following:
SSD seeks to foster a supportive and inclusive environment for students with disabilities though the following:
Student Activities
Student Activities [148] provides students with involvement opportunities that promote and support academic and co-curricular learning. It includes the Program Council (PC) [131], the Center for Diversity & Intercultural Affairs [149], Spirit Programs [150], and a variety of special events. The department plans and implements large-scale programs [151] such as Welcome Week [152], Bearkat Spirit Friday [153], Bearkat Alley [154], Homecoming [155], Firefest [156], the Tree of Light [157], Miss Sam Houston [158], Sammy Palooza [159], and The Sammys [160]. Staff members also assist students in understanding University policies and procedures and provide support in planning student events.
Program Council (PC)
PC [131] is the official programming board of SHSU. It is a student-run organization devoted to creating educationally distinct programs that encourage the development of leadership and life skills through interaction among a diverse student body. PC develops students outside of the classroom by offering numerous opportunities to become leaders and by empowering students to contribute to and serve the SHSU campus. It works with numerous campus departments and organizations to provide programs to the student body throughout the academic year.
The mission of PC is aimed at achieving and maintaining a balance between a professional and social atmosphere in order to challenge students continuously to grow and apply learned knowledge to any situation. This student programming board seeks to create fun, innovative programs by the students and for the students in order to satisfy their needs and develop individuals holistically.
Center for Diversity & Intercultural Affairs (CDIA)
CDIA [149] provides support and enhances the SHSU experience for underrepresented students and the campus community as a whole through student organization advising and development, diversity education, and cultural programming. The specific purpose of these programs is to promote cultural awareness in the University community; to enhance and cultivate leadership, social, and academic skills through participation in cultural programs; and to assist in the retention and graduation of students of various backgrounds (based on culture, gender, physical ability, race, religion, and sexual orientation).
Spirit Programs
Spirit Programs [150] consist of Co-Ed Cheer, All-Girl Cheer, Orange Pride Dance Team, and the “Sammy the Bearkat” mascot program. These teams provide support at various athletic events, including football, volleyball, and basketball games. They also engage students at more than 350 events during the course of the two long semesters. In addition to these events, Spirit Programs members are active in community service efforts and make numerous campus appearances. They compete nationally within their respective associations and together hold 15 national titles.
Student Government Association (SGA)
The SGA [124] exists for the sole purpose of serving the student community. It is the political voice and liaison for the student body. The University recognizes the need for and worthwhile contribution of student input in all facets of University decision-making processes. The SGA has long been active in this regard and has worked for the betterment of student life and academic quality. The student body participates in the development and management of a comprehensive program of student activities by electing the SGA officers and student senators.
Student Legal and Mediation Services
Student Legal and Mediation Services [132] provides students with legal advice and conflict-resolution skills, so students can focus primarily on their educational goals. The University has an attorney on staff dedicated to advising currently enrolled SHSU students about their legal rights and responsibilities. This service is available to students seeking counsel prior to signing or entering into a legal relationship, as well as those who may be in the middle of a controversy, assuming they are otherwise unrepresented by counsel. The office educates students about their legal rights, their responsibilities, and conflict-resolution skills in anticipation that the student will be able to deal effectively with these issues both currently and in the future. If outside legal representation is needed, the office refers students to local attorneys. Student Legal and Mediation Services also offers mediation services with a mediator, who helps facilitate agreements between parties. All matters between the office and the student are confidential.
Student Legal and Mediation Services is the recipient of the prestigious 2016 J. Raymond Schiflett III Award for Outstanding Office of the Year by the University Student Legal Services Association-Western Region.
Student Money Management Center
The SHSU Student Money Management Center [161] inserts personal financial outreach programming into the co-curricular agenda of the student body. The topics suggested by the State of Texas Legislature include, but are not limited to, budgeting, managing credit cards, spending, saving, repaying and consolidating loans, paying taxes, planning for retirement, and insuring and financing healthcare and other benefits. The outreach is provided through personal coaching, workshops, and classroom settings.
Athletic Department
The role of the Athletic Department [162] is to develop student-athletes as complete individuals and educated citizens who are fully prepared to contribute positively to society, while also providing a positive image for students, faculty, staff, alumni, and the community by competing at the Division I level of college athletics. The department has a variety of success initiatives that are targeted at SHSU's student-athletes.
Learning Enhancement Center (LEC)
Located in the Ron Mafrige Field House at Elliott T. Bowers Stadium, the LEC [163] is a support center for Bearkat student-athletes. It is equipped with 26 computers and large study tables. The LEC is a natural gathering place for student-athletes who come for academic advising, to study, to check course assignments on line, be tutored, or to relax between class time and practice. The LEC is staffed by the associate athletic director for student services and assistant athletic director. The two work as a team in advising student-athletes and coordinating the Sam Houston student-athlete services program. Working in conjunction with Career Services, student-athletes receive advice and develop skills related to résumé writing, interviewing, and searching for employment. Seminars are provided each semester and supply SHSU student-athletes with hands-on advice as they prepare to enter the job market.
Mandatory Academic Advising for Student-athletes
Student-athletes receive assistance with scheduling courses, registering, interpreting their degree plans, and understanding their NCAA academic/eligibility requirements. All student-athletes are required to be advised at the SAM Center first, then within the Athletic Department. All student-athletes that have 90 hours or more are required to be advised for graduation status approval.
Monitoring of Academics
Academic progress is monitored by grade-checks (three times per semester) and meetings with an academic advisor to discuss progress, grades, and strategies for academic improvement.
NCAA Student Affairs Life Skills Program
The NCAA Student Affairs Life Skills Program [164] provides a mandatory class for all incoming freshman student-athletes to enhance their opportunities for success while attending SHSU. The NCAA Student Affairs Life Skills class is structured to cover topics that ease student-athletes’ transition into college athletics, academics, and their subsequent careers.
Tutorial Assistance for Student-athletes
Tutorial assistance for student-athletes [164] is available in all academic subject areas for all student-athletes. Tutors’ availability is structured to meet the student-athletes’ schedules. Student-athletes are required to bring their textbooks, notes, and class outlines for the tutors to reference. Student-athletes also use the tutorial services of the academic departments and Academic Success Center.
Division of University Advancement
The Division of University Advancement [165] is responsible for enhancing the visibility and image of SHSU. The primary goal is to strengthen relationships between the University and its various constituents and to present a compelling case for involvement with and support of SHSU. This division supports students through the Sam Houston Memorial Museum.
Sam Houston Memorial Museum
The Sam Houston Memorial Museum [166], established in 1936 as a Texas centennial project, is an integral part of SHSU and is dedicated to preserving the memory of General Sam Houston (1793-1863). The museum offers many educational opportunities for SHSU students.