Mar 29, 2024  
2023 Siena Heights University Catalog 
    
2023 Siena Heights University Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Special Programs and Services


   

The Experiential Education and Internship Program

The Experiential Education and Internship Program is designed to provide students an opportunity to integrate a practical work experience with their academic program of study. The program is open to undergraduate students pursuing a certificate, associate or bachelor degree at Siena Heights University who meet the University internship guidelines and registration requirements. Work experiences contributing to the development of the student may be arranged with industry, education, business, the arts, social services, government, and various other career fields.

All students must be in good academic standing and have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.0 to participate in the program. Students must also receive approval from their respective departments and the Career Services Office on the Adrian campus.

Library

The Siena Heights University Library offers a diverse and robust collection of electronic and print resources to accommodate students on and off campus. The library supplements this collection through participation in local resource sharing as a member of the Detroit Area Library Network (DALNET) and the Michigan Electronic Library Catalog (MeLCat), as well as traditional interlibrary loan with partners around the nation. In addition to its informational offerings, the library offers computers and printing, a conference room, a classroom and formal and informal study spaces to meet a broad range of student needs. The SHU Library staff is user-focused and available to assist students with everything from using library resources to research assistance and citation help. Students can access the library’s collection and gain more information about the library via the SHU library website. Links to the website are located on MySiena.

Ronald E. McNair Scholars Program

The Ronald E. McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement Program is designed to prepare talented undergraduate students for graduate school and doctoral studies. The McNair Scholars Program is one of seven national TRIO programs authorized under Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 and funded through the Department of Education. Currently, there are 179 programs at colleges and universities throughout the country.

The program is named for Ronald Ervin McNair, one of the first African Americans in the United States space program. Dr. McNair was a crew member aboard the space shuttle Challenger when it exploded on January 28, 1986. A physicist with a doctorate from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, McNair has become a symbol of academic excellence.

In order to be eligible for this program, students must be either a member of an under-represented group in higher education or be a first generation (neither parent has a bachelor’s degree) and low income college student. Additional requirements for applicants include the following: full time student, second session sophomore status, a 3.0 grade point average, declared major, and commitment to attend graduate school leading to a doctoral degree. The McNair program provides a summer research course, research opportunities, graduate school visits, faculty mentoring, and an annual stipend. McNair Scholars attend professional conferences, present their research findings and attend seminars on graduate school admission. Applications are accepted throughout the academic year.

Academic Support

Center for Student Success (CSS)

The Center for Student Success confidently encourages student success and persistence through competent, ethical, accessible, collaborative and purposeful advising and mentoring which helps students fill empowered to achieve their academic, social, spiritual, career and personal goals. CSS staff assist students to live the mission of Siena Heights University by helping students to become more Competent by enabling them to maximize their academic success through degree planning and helping to define and reach their personal, academic, and career goals; Purposeful by enabling them to discover a broad array of opportunities in and out of the classroom and requiring their participation in the decision making process, leading toward advocacy for oneself; Ethical by enabling them to become confident, responsible, ethical, self-reliant problem solvers and reflective lifelong learners.

Career Services

The primary mission of Career Services is to aid students in developing, evaluating and effectively initiating and implementing their own career plans. Careers Services assist students with engaging in self-assessments, obtaining occupational information, and exploring career fields that are relevant to each student’s plan. Integrating career planning into liberal arts core courses as well as senior seminars in a student’s major is vital toward assisting with each plan. Through sponsorships of on-campus employer recruitment, employment fairs, workshops including resume writing and mock interviewing, as well as use of electronic resources, all contribute toward helping the student to reach their career goal. Career Services also maintains an online job board for all Siena Heights University students and alumni.

Disability Resources

The Office of Disability Resources supports the mission of Siena Heights University by working with faculty and staff to provide a teaching and learning environment which respects the dignity of all. Students who have documented disabilities are provided support, including appropriate auxiliary aids and services, assuring them an equal opportunity to participate in the educational process at Siena Heights University in accordance with Section 504 and Title II of the ADA law (29 U.S.C. Section 794). Regular meetings are encouraged with students to assist them in reaching their academic goals.

First Year Experience

The First Year Experience supports the institution’s mission by helping students establish a foundation that creates experiences to personally and academically transition and connect first year students with the institution and community. This is accomplished by creating a teaching and learning environment that intentionally engages students in a way that promotes their personal development and holistically helps them to become more competent, purposeful, and ethical leaders which respects the dignity of all.

Student Support Services (SSS)

Authorized by Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 and funded by the U.S. Department of Education, this national TRiO program has been serving students on the main campus since 1979. This program is designed to prepare students for graduation from Siena Heights University with a baccalaureate degree. SSS participants will receive services from the first day they arrive on campus until the day of their graduation.

Tutoring Program

The University provides tutoring services for students who may need assistance in multiple subject areas. The Math Lab assists students in all areas of math; the Writing Center assists students with composition skills and writing assignments in all disciplines; the Language Tutor Program assists students in writing, speaking and comprehension of Spanish and/or other languages; and Academic Tutoring Services offers tutoring for students needing assistance in other disciplines not mentioned in the previously listed opportunities. Tutoring services may be accessed through the library or through the site director of the degree completion center.

The Writing Center

The Writing Center is a free resource on the Adrian campus. Staffed by talented undergraduate students, the Writing Center offers help at all stages in the writing process. Students are encouraged to visit the Writing Center for a drop-in session or to schedule an appointment. More information can be found at writingcenter.sienaheights.edu.

The aim of the Writing Center is to help students become better, more confident writers. Therefore, no practices will be followed that involve completing the work for students. The staff does not write on students’ papers, suggest specific details to add or delete, correct papers, suggest grades, comment on grades that have already been given, or work with students who admit to plagiarizing.

The Writing Center offers a variety of hours to accommodate class schedules, and students are encouraged to stop by or schedule an appointment.

The College of Professional Studies and Graduate College students have access to writing assistance through a dedicated Graduate Assistant assigned to assist students with scholarly writing. eTutoring services are also available. Students who wish to utilize these free services should contact their advisor.