University Services and Student Living
Library Services [top]
West Chester University has two libraries, the Francis Harvey Green Library at the corner of High Street and Rosedale Avenue, and the Presser Music Library, 121 Swope Music Building and the Performing Arts Center. Both libraries offer excellent environments for study and research. West Chester University library collections compare favorably with other major public and private libraries in the region. Total library holdings include more than 2.5 million items:
Print Materials
- More than 760,000 print volumes
- More than 1,400 print subscriptions
Audio-Visual Materials
- More than 10,000 films, videos, and DVDs
- More than 52,000 sound recordings
Internet-Accessible Materials
- More than 640,000 electronic books
- More than 5,600 electronic journal subscriptions
- More than 2.2 million art images
- More than 115,000 albums of streaming audio
- Full text of articles from more than 67,000 journals through licensed databases
- More than 926,000 microfilms, microfiche, and microcards
The library's website provides continually updated access to a wide array of resources and services, including OneSearch, a Google-like search of the vast majority of materials owned and licensed by WCU Library Services. PILOT (the library's catalog), more than 100 specialized databases, and materials digitized by the library can all be included in a single search using OneSearch. OneSearch and most library databases are available from any computer with Internet access. Off-campus users (i.e., users on a computer not connected to the WCU campus network) must enter a valid WCU authentication number in order to use many resources. Graduate students without a WCU network login or ID may request an authentication number on the library's Web pages. There is no charge for interlibrary loan, and materials not owned by the library may be requested over the Internet.
Special holdings in the Green Library include the Chester County Collection of Scientific and Historical Books, the Normal Collection (publications by faculty and alumni), and the Stanley Weintraub Center for the Study of Arts and Humanities. Important rare books include The Biographies of the Signers to the Declaration of Independence by John Sanderson and the first four Folios of Shakespeare. Also worthy of note are the collections of children's literature, instructional media, and the Philips Autographed Library in Philips Memorial Building.
Francis Harvey Green Library
The Green Library houses a Starbucks and the Graduate Study Lounge (FHG 608). Access to the Graduate Study Lounge is available through the Graduate Student Association. Key library services include reference (in-person, telephone, and e-mail), library instruction, electronic reserves, interlibrary loan, wireless laptops for use in the library, and access to coin-operated photocopiers and microform copiers. Most articles requested on interlibrary loan are delivered by e-mail. Most books and other physical material requested on interlibrary loan from other libraries must be picked up at the Green Library. Questions regarding library materials and services should be directed to the Green Library Reference Desk, 610-436-2435, refdesk@wcupa.edu.
Presser Music Library
The Presser Music Library contains the University's collection of scores as well as sound recordings, music books, periodicals, and microforms. Laptops are available for in-library use, and the facility also features the latest equipment for listening to sound recordings in analog and digital formats.
Housing [top]
West Chester University provides housing facilities for its graduate students on a limited basis for the regular school year and all summer sessions. Graduate students may live in either a North Campus residence hall (that houses predominantly undergraduate students), with a 24-hour quiet hour option, or in selected units of the South Campus apartment complex. Students in the residence halls must be on the University meal plan; apartment residents have the option of any meal plan offered or no plan at all. North Campus residence hall rooms are all double occupancy; apartments are designed for five occupants in combinations of double and single bedrooms.
The University, through the West Chester University Foundation, also offers other housing options on campus that are referred to as affiliated housing. University Hall, Allegheny Hall, and Brandywine Hall are suite-style residence halls on North Campus, and The Village apartments have four-bedroom units located on South Campus. These facilities offer all the same opportunities found in University-owned housing but are managed through an arrangement with University Student Housing, a subsidiary of the WCU Foundation.
Graduate students are expected to abide by all regulations appropriate to their living arrangements. Upon acceptance to graduate study, students may contact the Office of Residence Life and Housing Services for additional information and applications for on-campus housing. Students are encouraged to contact this office as early as possible since the availability of on-campus housing varies based on the time of year that the request is made.
For assistance in locating a dwelling or apartment off campus, students may contact the Off-Campus and Commuter Services program.
The Office of Residence Life and Housing Services is located in 202 Lawrence Center, 610-436-3307. University Student Housing Leasing Center is located in Brandywine Hall, 610-430-4988.
Off-Campus and Commuter Services [top]
Services to off-campus and commuter students include off-campus housing listings and the Off-Campus and Commuter Association, which provides special programming and resource materials. Additional services offered include landlord/tenant legal aid information and development of long-range plans to meet the needs of off-campus and commuter students.
Off-Campus and Commuter Services, coordinated by the associate director of Sykes Student Union, are located in 116 Sykes Student Union, 610-436-2984.
Off-Campus Housing [top]
Students who choose to live in the community must secure their own living accommodations. The Off-Campus and Commuter Services program will assist students in finding housing by providing up-to-date listings of available housing. These listings are available in 116 Sykes Student Union and may be accessed on the Web at www.wcupa.edu/och/.
Student Health Services [top]
The University maintains a Student Health Center staffed by physicians, nurse practitioners, registered nurses, health educators, and a nutritionist. The Health Center staff is available to meet emergency and first-aid needs, and to perform routine treatment of minor illnesses and minor surgical conditions. Student Health Services also offers programs designed to enhance wellness, disease prevention, and health education.
Part-time graduate students must pay the student health fee to be eligible for services. The University does not furnish other medical care or bear the costs of medical or surgical treatment or hospitalization. The community of West Chester has qualified physicians and excellent facilities at the Chester County Hospital.
Student Health Services is located on the second floor of Wayne Hall. Any emergencies during the night and on weekends may be treated at the Chester County Hospital Emergency Room. The Student Health Center phone number is 610-436-2509 and visits are available by appointment. The Wellness Education phone number is 610-436-3276.
Graduate students may take advantage of a group medical illness and accident insurance policy approved by the University. Under the same group plan, there is a separate summer policy. Visit the Student Health Services Web site for additional information and brochures.
Services for Students with Disabilities [top]
The Office of Services for Students with Disabilities (OSSD) offers services for students with physical and learning disabilities.
The OSSD is designed to assist students make a successful transition to the University. The office takes a proactive stance that encourages students to understand their needs and strengths in order to best advocate for themselves.
The OSSD is located within the Academic Programs and Services Division and coordinates services with the other units within the division, such as the Learning Assistance and Resource Center and the Academic Advising Center, as well as other University offices including the Writing Center and the Office of Residence Life and Housing. Liaison with governmental agencies and private practitioners for provision of services is also available through the OSSD. In order to ensure continuity of services, students should pursue such actions prior to enrollment. Students needing financial support for personal services or interpreters should register with the appropriate state agency at least six months in advance of matriculation.
Office of Services for Students with Disabilities
223 Lawrence Center
West Chester University
West Chester, PA 19383
610-436-2564
Services Provided for Students with Disabilities
- Central documentation file
- Optional comprehensive needs assessment
- Advocacy with faculty
- Alternative test-taking arrangements
- Note-taking support
- Taped texts assistance (Recordings for the Blind, Inc.)
- Adaptive technology
- Readers for visually impaired students
- Interpreters for deaf students
Information Services [top]
The Information Services Division provides computing, information, and network services to the entire campus community. A campus-wide network for data, voice, and video communication provides phones, data, and video connectivity for students, faculty, and staff. In addition to supporting many college and department-specific student computing labs, the Academic Computing Center on the ground floor of Anderson Hall serves as the focal point for instructional computing activity and manages public student labs totaling more than 200 workstations. The labs, which post their open hours on the Web (https://www.wcupa.edu/infoServices/serviceNow/), have consultants on duty to assist students. All computers support general-purpose applications such as word processing, spreadsheets, graphics, and database management systems (Microsoft Office suite) plus course-specific software such as SPSS, SAS, Minitab, Mathematica, Quark, and others. The labs also provide access to printers, digitizers, and optical scanners. Student laboratory facilities are also located in Sykes Student Union. Information Services provides many resources and services to promote the use of technology in the teaching and learning environment. More than 150 classrooms are equipped with presentation technologies. For further information, contact the IT Help Desk at 610-436-3350.
Bookstore [top]
The Student Services Inc. Bookstore is located on the ground floor of Sykes Student Union. The bookstore sells both new and used textbooks for all WCU courses, as well as school and art supplies. The store also stocks best sellers, a variety of general interest literature, and a large selection of reference books, study aids, and teacher aids. SSI Bookstore offers a complete line of official WCU imprinted clothing and an extensive array of gifts, greeting cards, groceries, snacks, and laundry supplies. Services include film processing, special orders for computer software and general interest books, UPS shipping, and daily book buybacks. All major credit cards and personal checks, accompanied with a valid ID, are accepted.
Bookstore hours:
| Mon.-Thurs. | 8 a.m.-6 p.m. |
| Friday | 8 a.m.-4 p.m. |
| Saturday | 11 a.m.-3 p.m. |
(Hours may be subject to change.)
The bookstore offers extended hours of operation at the beginning of each semester. As a shopping convenience, students may order textbooks and merchandise via the bookstore website.
Career Development Center [top]
The staff of the Twardowski Career Development Center is committed to supporting graduate student success by providing services that assist with identifying career options, researching and connecting with opportunities (including doctoral or other higher education programs), and developing the skills necessary to have a competitive edge in the job market in order to secure a rewarding position after graduation. The services for graduate students include individual appointments, workshops, resume and cover letter reviews, mock interviews, career fairs, job postings online, and an on-campus interview program. The center’s website contains links to a variety of job search sites grouped by industry to facilitate an effective online job search.
Twardowski Career Development Center is located in 225 Lawrence Center (second floor) and is open year-round. For additional information, visit www.wcupa.edu/cdc/ or call 610-436-2501 to schedule an appointment.
Multicultural Affairs [top]
The Office of Multicultural Affairs (OMA) is dedicated to the development of multicultural sensitivity, understanding, and appreciation of diversity. The office develops and implements programs and services aimed at addressing the needs and concerns of multicultural students. OMA also serves as a resource for other University offices regarding multicultural students and aids in projects focused on improving the general campus climate.
As an extension of the office, the Multicultural Center serves as a general gathering place for all students and is also a home-base for the OMA mentoring program, the Board of Governors Scholarship program, and many multicultural student organizations. The Office of Multicultural Affairs is located in the Multicultural Center in Room 003 Sykes Student Union, 610-436-3273. More information about programs and services is available at www.wcupa.edu/_services/stu.mca/.
Public Safety [top]
West Chester University is concerned about the safety and welfare of all campus members and is committed to providing a safe and secure environment. Campus security is the responsibility of the University's Department of Public Safety. Because no campus is isolated from crime, the University has developed a series of policies and procedures to ensure that every possible precautionary measure is taken to protect members of the University community while they are on campus. A full explanation of the University's security policies and procedures, as well as additional pertinent information, appears in a publication called "2012 Annual Report of Campus Security Policies and Procedures," which is available on the Web at wcupa.edu/dps/PDF/clery.pdf. A copy in print may be requested from the Department of Public Safety.
Emergency Alert Notification [top]
http://www.wcupa.edu/dps/emergencyManagement
In an emergency, the University will communicate key information as quickly and to as many people as possible using some or all of the following communication channels:
- text message to WCU Alert subscribers, http://www.wcupa.edu/wcualert/
- mass e-mails to faculty, staff, and students via WCU-assigned e-mail accounts
- posted on WCU's homepage
- recorded message on WCU's Information Line, 610-436-1000
- external emergency notification broadcasts
While the University has a wide variety of methods to communicate with the campus community, the text messaging service allows the University to use some of the latest technology to reach students, faculty, and staff in the event of any emergency. The WCU homepage at http://www.wcupa.edu will be the primary source for all up-to-date, official information concerning emergencies.
Emergency Preparedness [top]
The University continues to review its safety policies and procedures and has developed new initiatives to address the issues raised by recent national tragedies. Although no college campus is completely safe, West Chester University has taken steps to enhance the safety of the campus community. It is important that all University community members understand how the institution will proceed and respond in case of a campus emergency. All students and employees should learn where to find emergency information and instructions, and be familiar with evacuation procedures for buildings where they live or work, as well as those they visit during the course of a day. The preparation people take now to learn, be aware of, and practice their own personal emergency plan is vital. Information about emergency preparedness and planning, as well as the University Threat Assessment Policy is available at http://wcupa.edu/dps/emergencyManagement .
Vehicle Registration [top]
All employees, eligible students, and visitors planning to use West Chester University parking lots must register their vehicles with the Department of Public Safety and purchase/obtain a parking permit/pass. Graduate students are required to purchase the appropriate parking permit depending on whether they are commuter or resident students. Student parking lots do not require a permit from 4 p.m. through midnight any day of the week throughout the year. Commuter students who have classes during that time do not need to purchase a parking permit.
The annual registration fee is established by the Council of Trustees. For parking regulations, "annual" is defined as September 1 until August 31 of the following year. Specific registration procedures will be announced yearly. A valid WCU ID/driver's license and vehicle registration must be presented at the time of registration. The parking permit is to be displayed properly from the rear view mirror as stated on the reverse side of the permit. Mutilated, defaced, lost, or stolen permits must be replaced. Contact the Public Safety Parking Services Office for the procedure and cost of replacing the permit. The operation and registration of a vehicle must conform to Commonwealth of Pennsylvania vehicle law and University regulations. For complete information regarding motor vehicles and registration, refer to the Motor Vehicle Regulations pamphlet available at Public Safety or on the Web at www.wcupa.edu/dps/parkingServices.
Speech and Hearing Clinic [top]
The Speech and Hearing Clinic, located at 201 Carter Drive, Suite 400, is maintained by the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders to train student clinicians under the supervision of licensed, certified faculty. The clinic provides evaluation, intervention, and consultation services to individuals with speech and language disorders, communication differences, and professional communication enhancement needs, as well as comparable services to those with various hearing disorders. The clinic also provides diverse community outreach and education opportunities for individuals and institutions. Clinic services offered are complimentary for students, faculty, and staff at West Chester University, as well as for students at Cheyney University. Those outside the University community may access clinical services in accordance with a modest fee schedule. Additional information or appointments can be made through the clinic office, 610-436-3402.
Sykes Union Building [top]
The Earl F. Sykes Union first opened in 1975 as the community center for West Chester University. A building expansion and major renovations were completed in 1995, providing students with a 102,000 square-foot facility.
The student union, as a facility and an operation, is designed to encourage all members of the campus community to participate in a wide variety of cultural, social, educational, and recreational programs. The multipurpose building features a 350-seat theater, bookstore, SSI Service Center, Multicultural Center, all on the ground floor. The first floor offers a dining area with seating for 350, an outdoor terrace, and a large food servery. Also included on the first floor is a 5,000-square foot multipurpose room designed for dances, concerts, banquets, and lectures, as well as the student union administrative offices, Information Center, and Off-Campus and Commuter Services.
The second floor houses the Student Affairs offices of the Vice President, Assistant Vice President, Fraternity and Sorority Life, Student Leadership and Involvement, LGBTQA Services, and Office of Student Conduct. The Student Services, Inc. Business Office and the department of Campus Activities, along with student clubs and organizations, are also located on the second floor.
The third floor Frederick Douglass Lounge Area features a 20-unit computer lab with quiet study and seminar space. Sykes Union also features 16 meeting rooms accommodating groups from 5 to 500.
For information concerning Sykes Union please call the Information Center at 610-436-3360/2984.
Women's Center [top]
The Women’s Center promotes a campus community that values the safety, equality, and intellectual advancement of women at West Chester University. The Women’s Center serves the diverse needs of WCU women and their male allies by providing
- confidential support, assistance, and safe space for WCU women in crisis;
- educational programs that address a wide range of social-justice issues that affect the success, well-being, and empowerment of women worldwide;
- leadership and volunteer opportunities for women that build confidence and enhance career goals;
- information and referrals about issues that disproportionately impact women, such as sexual assault, relationship violence, sexual harassment, unplanned pregnancy, and disordered eating; and
- special events, workshops, and training that promote awareness of the ways in which gender bias intersects with racism, classism, homophobia, and other forms of oppression.
The Women’s Center is located at 220 Lawrence Center. For more information, including opportunities for student volunteers, internships, and paid employment, call 610-436-2122.
Graduate Student Association [top]
The Graduate Student Association (GSA) is the student government of all persons enrolled in graduate programs. The primary objective of GSA is to promote the overall well-being of graduate students at West Chester University. All graduate students are members of the association by virtue of their graduate status. The GSA office is located in Sykes Student Union.
International Education [top]
The Center for International Programs (CIP) serves as the hub for all global activities at West Chester University. The office provides guidance and assistance to international students and exchange visitors from more than 35 countries, faculty developing their own faculty-led study abroad programs, and domestic/international students seeking opportunities to study or conduct an internship abroad. It maintains certification from the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) to issue immigration documents leading to F and J visas as well as coordinates the University-based English as a Second Language (ESL) program. The Center for International Programs is located at 101B Old Library. More information is available by calling 610-436-3515 or e-mailing international@wcupa.edu.
Institute for Women [top]
The Institute for Women was initially designed to serve as the parent organization to represent the interests of women on campus. The institute is an independent body headed by a director and board of directors. Along with the Commission on the Status of Women, Women's Center, and Women's Studies Program, the Institute for Women engages in campus activities for the benefit of women students, faculty, and staff.
The institute sponsors a number of activities to enhance the self-esteem and career success of women at the University: the Woman-in-Residence Program, Graduate Grant, and Endowed Book Fund. The institute prepares periodic reports on the status of women at the University and also secures Charlotte W. Newcombe Scholarship Grants for mature second-career women. The Institute for Women offers an annual grant of $750 to a woman graduate student who is accepted into a master's degree program at West Chester University. Application and reference forms may be obtained online from the Office of Graduate Studies in McKelvie Hall. For more information call Dr. Adale Sholock, director, at 610-436-2122.
Veterans Affairs [top]
Under the provisions of Title 38, West Chester University is an accredited university for the education of veterans. The University cooperates with the Veterans Administration to see that honorably separated or discharged veterans receive every consideration consistent with either degree or nondegree admission standards. The University participates in the new G.I. Bill’s Yellow Ribbon Program.
All veterans, certain dependents of disabled or deceased veterans, and war orphans who wish to obtain educational benefits under the appropriate public laws must register with the Veterans Affairs Office at initial registration. Veterans must renew their registration with this office at the beginning of each subsequent semester and each summer session. The Veterans Administration requires students who are veterans to schedule at least nine credits per semester in order to receive full benefits under the G.I. Bill.
A representative of the Veterans Administration is in the office of Financial Aid, 25 University Avenue, to counsel and act as a liaison between students and the Veterans Affairs Office in financial and other matters.
The WCU Veterans Center is located at 624 South High Street. A gathering space is available for veterans to meet with one another, support each other in their educational pursuits, and facilitate conversations between them as they share their experiences.
The Frederick Douglass Society [top]
Drawing its content from our campus history of social consciousness and its structure from a variety of models in public life, the Frederick Douglass Society of West Chester University is an organization of faculty, staff, and students who embrace Frederick Douglass' quest for freedom and inclusiveness. Named in 1983 for one of the 19th century's most distinguished advocates of human freedom, the organization is oriented toward self-help and improvement by offering a collective voice in the affairs of the University. Its programs also aim to stimulate other groups on campus to enrich the climate. The society annually raises money for scholarship funds, including the Frederick Douglass Junior Ambassador Scholars of West Chester University. It also seeks, by the example of Douglass, to promote an intellectual standard that is not only grounded in excellence but profoundly rooted in the public mission of higher education.
Honor Societies [top]
The University actively hosts several academic and honor-based societies. Undergraduates encompass the membership of these organizations, but a graduate student who is already a member may participate in activities. The organizations currently recognized are Beta Alpha Psi, Pi Kappa Delta, Lambda Pi Eta, Chi Sigma Iota, Omicron Delta Pi, Kappa Delta Pi, Chi Alpha Epsilon, Sigma Tau Delta, Alpha Mu Gamma, Gamma Theta Upsilon, Sigma Gamma Epsilon, Phi Alpha Theta, Phi Epsilon Kappa, Omicron Delta Kappa, Alpha Upsilon Alpha, Pi Mu Epsilon, Pi Kappa Lambda, Sigma Theta Tau, Sigma Pi Sigma, Pi Sigma Alpha, Psi Chi, Pi Gamma Mu, Phi Alpha, Alpha Kappa Delta, Delta Alpha Pi, Alpha Phi Sigma, Pi Delta Phi, Sigma Delta Pi, and Sigma Iota Epsilon. Additionally, the fraternity and sorority community recognizes Gamma Sigma Alpha, Rho Lambda, and Order of Omega honor societies.
Campus Recreation [top]
A new Student Recreation Center, located at the corner of North Campus Drive and South New Street, opened fall 2012. The 72,575 square-foot facility provides students with a wide variety of recreational activities promoting health, fitness, and wellness. The building features state-of-the-art fitness equipment with cardio and strength-training pieces on a two-level, 12,000 square-foot area. Other amenities include an elevated three-lane walking/jogging track; two gyms for basketball, badminton, and volleyball; a multiactivity court for indoor soccer, floor/roller/field hockey, basketball, volleyball, and tennis; three fitness studios; two fitness assessment rooms for personal training; racquetball/squash courts; a three-story climbing wall; a café; and social lounge area.
The Student Recreation Center will also be the site for several intramural sports and sport club events as well as a venue for open recreation – a time for students to just stop by to play “pick-up” games.
For more information, please contact the Department of Campus Recreation at 610-436-1732.
Department of Counseling and Psychological Services [top]
The Department of Counseling and Psychological Services (the Counseling Center) is located on the second floor of Lawrence Center (610-436-2301). All currently enrolled undergraduate and graduate students may walk in for a brief, triage assessment at which time a determination is made to help the student receive the most appropriate mode of treatment (e.g., individual, group, or a referral off campus). The Counseling Center includes licensed psychologists, consulting psychiatrists, and graduate-level trainees with whom students may discuss their concerns in strict confidence.
COUNSELING SERVICES
Since the Counseling Center provides services for a wide range of concerns, each student's experience will be tailored to his or her needs. Students may wish to improve their interpersonal skills, resolve personal conflicts, or clarify their educational or vocational choices. Any of the following approaches may be implemented to address a student's concerns:
- Individual psychological counseling consists of a brief form of treatment in which the counselor and the student engage in a one-to-one experience. The focus is typically on resolving personal or interpersonal conflicts. The goal is to improve the student’s expertise at making meaningful choices and recognizing patterns of behavior that can be changed for the better. Counseling also may help students avoid choosing behaviors that restrict personal growth and undermine their well-being.
- Group counseling consists of a small number of peers and one or two co-leaders. Such groups meet weekly with a goal of improving interpersonal relationships. In addition, some groups have a very specific focus. Past groups have included students who have experienced the death of a parent or family member, an examination of bad habits that block personal growth, eating disorders, and assertiveness training. An updated list of ongoing groups can be found on the Counseling Center’s webpage (www.wcupa.edu/counselingcenter).
- Individual career counseling consists of a one-to-one experience that focuses on clarifying the student’s interests and career aspirations. Career choice is most solid when it is an outgrowth of better understanding oneself. Such understanding is advanced by the thoughtful exploration of values, interests, and abilities.
- Testing may include psychological or vocational interest tests which can help clarify educational choice and career planning. The student and counselor can determine whether such testing might be helpful. The Counseling Center does not offer disability testing; please contact the Office of Services for Students with Disabilities (OSSD) for off-campus sites.
- Consultation services for staff and faculty are available on a limited basis. Psychologists may be able to assist with crises, program planning, group and interpersonal communications, and referrals to other agencies.
