Academic Support Services

ACADEMIC ADVISING PROGRAM

The Academic Advising program provides a comprehensive framework within which students explore the liberal arts curriculum and focus on a particular area of study. Students meet regularly with their general academic advisors during their first two years. These meetings provide opportunities to become knowledgeable about academic policies and procedures, to develop short- and long-term academic plans, to discuss academic progress, to select and schedule courses and identify additional resources on campus. This program has been thoughtfully crafted, based on developmental research and theory, with an appreciation of students’ individuality and the challenges students experience as they transition from high school to college.

Entering students will have the opportunity to participate in an assessment to help determine potential majors. This assessment is in collaboration with the Career Center, and the students will work closely with their advisor to review the results.

Generally, students declare their majors by March 1 of their sophomore year. They are then assigned a new advisor based on their area of study. The ultimate responsibility for fulfilling graduation requirements rests with the student.

ACADEMIC RESOURCE CENTER

The Academic Resource Center (ARC), located on the ground floor of the Cardinal Cushing Library, offers a variety of programs, resources and support to aid students in their quest for academic success. ARC services, offered at no extra cost, are designed to help students develop or enhance effective academic strategies based on their own strengths and needs.

One of the most popular ARC programs is the Peer Tutoring Program. Professors from every discipline in the College recommend students with the best academic performance and interpersonal skills to provide one-on-one tutoring and facilitate group study sessions. Students can sign up online or in person at the ARC for a single tutoring session or arrange weekly or monthly meetings with peer tutors. All Peer Tutors at Emmanuel College are trained and supervised by professional ARC staff. The ARC also offers professional Academic, Writing and Math Specialists to address particular student needs. Academic Specialists provide coaching and study skills assistance, including reading strategies and time management. Writing Specialists provide expert writing assistance in any discipline and at any stage of the writing process. The Math Specialist provides specialized support for courses in most disciplines that require math. ARC staff also host regular workshops, which are open to all students, on issues such as study strategies, adapting to college expectations and writing personal statements.

For more information, stop by the ARC on the lower level of the library, call 617-735-9755 or e-mail arcservices@emmanuel.edu.

ACADEMIC TECHNOLOGY

Emmanuel College offers robust technology support for our academic programs, including the extremely popular ECLearn (Canvas) e-learning platform and specialized

hardware and software for arts and sciences disciplines. Students also have access to high end technology including VR and 3D printing in our DiscoveryLab, and can check out cameras, laptops, recording equipment and more from the Library/Learning Commons.

CAREER CENTER

The Career Center is a campus-wide career center which offers a variety of resources to assist Emmanuel students in all phases of their career development. This includes individual career advising, a four-year career plan, job and internship postings on HireSaints—our career management system—and resources for academic major or career decisions, including online career assessments. All first year students take the required INT1001 Career Planning and Engagement course in the second semester of their first year. This course assists them in identifying and applying to internship sites and prepares them for successful experiences. In addition to supporting academic internships, students also have the option to explore careers in nonacademic, exploratory internships as well, through the INT1010 Independent Internship course.

The Career Center organizes a variety of employer-based events both on-and offcampus, such as: employer information sessions; part-time and summer jobs and internships fair; alumni panels; and joint career fairs through our collaboration with other career centers in Boston.

For more information on the Career Center or to set up an appointment, please stop by Wilkens Science Center, Room 316, call 617-735-9930 or schedule an appointment through HireSaints.

DISABILITY SUPPORT SERVICES

Emmanuel College is committed to providing full access of its educational programs for students with documented disabilities. We practice a nondiscriminatory policy and offer reasonable accommodations to students with documented disabilities. The Disability Support Services’ office ensures that students with disabilities can actively participate in all facets of college life. Our goal is to coordinate and provide a variety of services that allow all students to have access to the collegiate curriculum and experience. In addition, our focus and responsibility is to increase the level of awareness among all members of the College community.

For more information on disability accommodations, please contact Disability Support Services in the Academic Resource Center at 617-735-9923, disabilityservices@emmanuel.edu or visit the Emmanuel College website.

LIBRARY LEARNING COMMONS

The Learning Commons – which includes traditional library services as well other academic support services such as academic technology assistance – is focused on supporting learning and scholarship at Emmanuel. The Learning Commons offers ample study space, including individual study carrels, group study rooms and custom-designed tables with power and lighting. In addition, there are 24 PCs with specialized software available in the reading room for student use. The Library is open over 107 hours per week during the academic year, and offers extended hours during exam periods.

The Learning Commons staff takes pride in offering expert assistance in a warm, welcoming environment. Each full time staff member has at least one advanced degree in areas including information science,

history, education, instructional design and law. Every student receives information literacy instruction as part of their first year experience. Research librarians are also available for individual consultations by appointment or on a walk-in basis over 90 hours per week, including nights and weekends. Research help is also available via online chat, email or phone. Librarians also partner with ARC writing specialists to offer drop-in workshops on research and writing.

Our part time front desk staff at the Learning Commons have gone through extensive training in both IT and library services. Services available at the front desk include IT help, checking out books, dvds, games, cameras, chargers, and other media equipment, as well as course reserves.

The Learning Commons provides outstanding access to scholarly materials needed for any area of study. In addition to over 300,000 print and e-books, the College subscribes to thousands of journals, magazines and newspapers, as well as dozens of specialized scholarly databases which are available using your portal ID and password anywhere on or off campus, 24/7. The Learning Commons is also part of a consortium that includes numerous nearby colleges, so Emmanuel students, faculty and staff can borrow books from those libraries as well. In addition, as Boston residents, students have full privileges at the awardwinning Boston Public Library, located just 1.6 miles from campus. Our librarians also welcome suggestions for book purchases and can obtain books from libraries across the country to be delivered for student use. The Learning Commons partners with groups across the Emmanuel community to offer a huge variety of programs including poetry readings, author talks, tours, exhibitions, films, and more. In addition, the Janet M. Daley Library Lecture Hall (239 seats) provides a theater-style venue for lectures, film screenings, courses, programs and special events. Also on the first floor of the Learning Commons is the new DiscoveryLab, a student makerspace that includes 3D printing, button making, a Cricut machine, a sewing machine, electronics and more. The DiscoveryLab host a series of formal programming, as well as offering drop-in hours for students to learn, innovate and create on their own.