Oct 10, 2024  
2015 - 2016 Graduate Catalog 
    
2015 - 2016 Graduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

The College: Services


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Dean of Students Office

S. Marjorie Thomas, Dean of Students
Campus Center, Room 109
(757) 221-2510
Web site: http://www.wm.edu/deanofstudents/

The Dean of Students Office assists all students, graduate and undergraduate, from their initial orientation to the College through successful completion of their academic and personal goals. The Dean of Students is an advocate for student needs and acts as liaison between students and academic departments. Staff members provide learning assistance counseling and workshops for students who are interested in boosting their time management and study skills. Student Accessibility Services for permanent or temporary diagnosed conditions are coordinated within this office (see Student Accessibility Services section). In addition, members of the staff work with students who are experiencing unexpected or difficult circumstances that may result in a need for a medical leave or mid-semester withdrawal.

The Dean’s office is responsible for managing all violations of the Student Code of Conduct and for training and advising the graduate and undergraduate Honor Councils. Staff members are available to discuss the community’s standards, the systems by which they are enforced, or concerns related to the conduct of students or student groups. Any member of the community may submit reports about student conduct to this office. The Office also coordinates the College’s responses to students who have experienced sexual harassment and sexual assault.  The Dean of Students Office publishes the Student Handbook, which includes statements of rights and responsibilities for all students. Information about other services available to students also is included. 

Student Accessibility Services (formerly Disability Services)

Lesley Henderson, Director of Student Accessibility Services and Assistant Dean of Students
Campus Center 109
(757) 221-2510
Web Site:  http://www.wm.edu/offices/deanofstudents/services/studentaccessibilityservices/index.php
 
Student Accessibility Services strives to create a comprehensively accessible living and learning environment to ensure that students with disabilities and diagnosed conditions are viewed on the basis of ability by considering reasonable accommodation on an individual and flexible basis in accordance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. The decision to request accommodation is voluntary and a matter of individual choice. Students seeking accommodation are strongly encouraged to contact Student Accessibility Services and submit all supporting documentation early to allow adequate time for planning.

Documentation of a Diagnosed Condition
Documentation serves two primary purposes. First, it establishes that the individual has a diagnosed condition, and therefore is protected from discrimination. Second, documentation must describe the current functional impact of the diagnosed condition so that potential accommodations can be identified.

All documentation of diagnosed conditions should consist of an evaluation by an appropriate professional that is not older than three years from the date of the first accommodation request. Included must be a clear statement of the diagnosis, the basis for the diagnosis, and the current impact of the diagnosed condition as it relates to the accommodation request. As appropriate to the diagnosed condition, the documentation should also include the following elements:

  • A diagnostic statement identifying the condition, date of the most current diagnostic evaluation, and the date of the original diagnosis.
  • A description of the diagnostic tests, methods, and/or criteria used including specific test results and standardized test scores, as well as the examiner’s narrative interpretation.
  • A description of the current functional impact of the diagnosed condition. This may be in the form of an examiner’s narrative, and/or an interview, but must have a rational relationship to diagnostic assessments. For learning disabilities, current documentation is defined using adult norms.
  • A statement indicating treatments, medications, or assistive devices/services currently prescribed or in use, with a description of the mediating effects and potential side effects from such treatments.
  • A description of the expected progression or stability of the impact of the diagnosed condition over time, particularly the next five years.
  • A history of previous accommodations and their impact.
  • The credentials of the diagnosing professional(s), if not clear from the letterhead or other forms. Please note that diagnosing professionals cannot be family members or others with a close personal relationship with the individual being evaluated.

Documentation of cognitive impairment such as Specific Learning Disability, Attention Deficit Disorder, or physical, medical, and psychological disorders affecting learning must include a comprehensive report of psycho-educational or neuropsychological evaluation meeting specified documentation criteria. (Please see the Student Accessibility Services website for a list of criteria.) IEP or 504 plans will not be considered sufficient documentation unless also accompanied by a current and complete comprehensive report.

Documentation prepared for specific non-educational venues such as the Social Security Administration or the Department of Veteran’s Affairs may not meet these criteria. Records from school divisions concerning students exiting from special education services under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) will be given due consideration in determining the presence of a qualifying disability and making accommodation decisions. All documentation of disability is considered confidential and will not be released without a student’s prior written consent.

Beyond the more objective determination of a diagnosed condition and its impact provided by external documentation, the College recognizes that input from the individual with this diagnosed condition is also a rich and important source of information on the impact of the condition and on the effectiveness of accommodations. Accommodation decisions are made on a case by case basis, considering the impact of a particular student’s diagnosed condition within the specific context of a college-level academic environment.

Senior Citizens

Senior citizens of Virginia who wish to take advantage of fee waiver privileges for attending courses in the School of Education are invited to contact the University Registrar for full details.

Student Health Center

Dr. Virginia Wells, Director
1 Gooch Drive
(757) 221-4386
Web site: http://www.wm.edu/health

The Student Health Center provides high-quality, primary medical care for full-time students. The Health Center delivers a wide variety of services, many of which are covered by the Student Health Center Fee included in the Tuition and General Fee assessment. There is fee for office visits, as well as a fee for certain services, labs, pharmacy and medical supplies. Information about fees and charges can be found on our website. All matters between a student and the Health Center staff are confidential and will not be released without the student’s written consent (except in the case of life threatening situations, medical emergencies, severe emotional or psychological distress, or when required and/or permitted by law).

Virginia state law requires all full-time students who are enrolling in a four-year public institution to provide a health history and an official immunization record. The College further requires all full-time students (including previously matriculated students) as well as any other student eligible for services as determined by their department (i.e. Language House tutors, students with an approved underload, or transfer students) to provide documentation of the same immunization requirements and health history. This form will not be accepted if the physician completing and signing the form is a family member. Previously enrolled students who are reentering as full-time students after an absence of 2 years or more must update their forms to meet current requirements. Additionally, enrolled students who are reentering as full-time students after an absence from campus of 6 years or more must resubmit the entire form. This information MUST be submitted on William and Mary’s Health Evaluation Form (PDF). In order to be eligible for medical care, graduate and undergraduate students must have paid a Health Fee for the current semester and completed the Health Evaluation Form. Failure to comply with this requirement will result in the following actions: prevention from registering for classes, ineligibility for non-urgent medical care at the Student Health Center, the assessment of a fine on your student account, and may also result in eviction from the residence halls and/or removal from campus (depending on the medical issue); and will include referral to the Dean of Students Office for violation of the Student Code of Conduct.

The College requires all full-time undergraduate and graduate students admitted Fall 2006 or after and all F-1 and J-1 international students to have health insurance coverage throughout the school year as a condition of enrollment. These students will be enrolled in the college-endorsed Student Health Insurance Plan and the cost will be billed to their student account in two installments (fall and spring semester) UNLESS proof of other adequate health insurance coverage is furnished. Students who already have health insurance for the entire academic year must submit a waiver request by the posted deadline each academic year and the waiver request must be approved to avoid being enrolled in the Student Health Insurance Plan. All other full-time undergraduate and graduate students admitted prior to Fall 2006 are not required by the College to have health insurance coverage but are eligible to enroll in the college-endorsed Student Health Insurance Plan on a voluntary basis. It is the student’s responsibility to verify whether or not the charge has been billed to your student account. If there is a billing error, you should contact the Student Insurance Coordinator immediately. To access the waiver or enrollment request forms and for more information about the insurance requirement or the college-endorsed insurance plan, please visit www.wm.edu/health/insurance.

Counseling Center

Dr. Warrenetta C. Mann, Director
Blow Memorial Hall, Suite 240
(757) 221-3620
Web site: http://www.wm.edu/counselingcenter/

The Counseling Center offers a range of brief services for William and Mary students in order to address psychological issues, personal concerns, interpersonal issues, and crisis intervention. Staff members are available to discuss any important personal concerns a student may be facing and work with that student to provide resources to address those concerns.

The staff of the Counseling Center is a diverse group of mental health professionals, including psychologists, counselors, and social workers. A sport psychologist is available for students interested in learning how to enhance their athletic or academic performance. All staff are trained and experienced in dealing with the problems of university students.

Appointments may be made by calling the Counseling Center at 221-3620 or by coming to the office in person. Office hours are 8 a.m.-noon and 1 p.m. - 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Emergency services during the fall and spring semesters are also available after hours and on weekends by calling the Campus Police at 221-4596 and asking to speak with the Counseling Center ‘on-call’ counselor.

University Libraries

Swem Library

www.swem.wm.edu

Carrie Cooper, Dean of University Libraries
(757) 221-4636

The Earl Gregg Swem Library actively participates in the teaching and research missions of the College of William and Mary by providing services, collections, staff, and facilities that enrich and inform the educational experience, and promote a lifelong commitment to learning.

The library fulfills this mission by helping students, faculty, staff, and visitors find information and learn research skills; selecting and acquiring the best resources for the College’s curricular and research needs; and organizing, preserving, and providing access to these resources efficiently and effectively.

Hours for the library, various departments, and branch libraries are posted at https://swem.wm.edu/about/hours. Because these hours may vary, especially during interim periods and holidays, please check the posting or call (757) 221- 4636 to confirm hours before you visit.

Swem Library includes networked and wireless connections throughout the building. There are more than one hundred computers, including laptops, in the library. Numerous group study rooms are available for collaborative use.

Collections and Reference Services

Contact (757) 221-3067 or www.swem.wm.edu/services/reference/

Government Information Services

Specialized indexes for microform collections of government titles are available in the department. Contact the Government Information Department at (757) 221-3065.

Circulation Services

Please visit the library’s home page [www.swem.wm.edu] and click on ‘Your Records’. Contact the Circulation Department at (757) 221-3072.

Reserve Readings

Reserves Department at (757) 221-3072.

Interlibrary Loans

Interlibrary Loan Department at (757) 221-3089.

Media Center

Contact the Center at http://swem.wm.edu/services/media/ or (757) 221-1378 or sms/text 757-561-0791.

Special Collections Research Center

Special Collections at http://swem.wm.edu/scrc/index.cfm.

Swem Departmental Libraries

For more information about Swem’s departmental libraries, please visit http://swem.wm.edu/libraries.

  • Chemistry Library, Integrated Science Center Room 1022, (757) 221-3119, contains approximately 12,000 volumes and journals.
  • Geology Library, contains 17,000 volumes, journals and over 21,000 maps, but all materials have been transferred to Swem Library or the off-site stacks and materials are available via Swem Library’s online catalog, http://swem.wm.edu/.
  • Music Library, 250 Ewell Hall, (757) 221-1074, contains more than 18,000 sound recordings, 10,000 pieces of printed music, and video recordings of musical performances and musical instruction.
  • Physics Library, 151 Small Hall, contains over 30,000 volumes and journals. Anyone with card access to the building can use the library 24/7. Other William and Mary libraries include the Business/Professional Resource Center (757) 221-2916, http://business.wm.edu/prc/; Education/Learning Resource Center (757) 221-2311; Law (757) 221-3255, http://law.wm.edu/library/home/index.php; and Marine Science (804) 684-7116, www.vims.edu/library/.
  • The Law Library-the oldest in America-is home to the historic Thomas Jefferson Collection, as well as primary and secondary source materials covering the entire breadth of Anglo-American law. (757) 221-3255.
  • The Mason School of Business Library, located on the second floor of the stunning Alan B. Miller Hall, offers the latest online tools, journals and videos for studying real-world business practices. (757) 221-2916.
  • The William J. Hargis, Jr. Library at VIMS holds the ever-expanding collection of marine science reports, studies, theses and scholarly papers produced by VIMS staff and students. (804) 684-7116.
  • The Education Library re-located to its new home in the cutting-edge School of Education building in 2010. (757) 221-2311.

Information Technology

www.wm.edu/it/
(757) 221-4357 (HELP)

The College of William and Mary’s Information Technology department is devoted to assisting students and providing invaluable resources through one-on-one consultations, the Technology Support Center, and our extensive web site. With these points of interaction, we hope to help faculty, staff, and students become proficient users of campus technology. IT maintains a wide range of computing support for students, from answering questions about personal computers, to PAC Labs. We offer guidance and training in the areas of software setup and use, network connection and navigation, and general computer operation.

Public Access Computing (PAC) Labs

http://www.wm.edu/offices/it/services/computerlabs/locations/index.php

PACLabs are provided across campus to efficiently attend to the needs of the College’s students, staff, and faculty.

Academic Software

www.wm.edu/offices/it/a-z/software/index.php

The Software Repository has a collection of free and licensed software for the W&M community.