Southern New Hampshire University
Academic Support Offices Success in academic matters stems from participation between students and faculty members. Students who are willing to learn will find our academic support services a valuable part of that teaching-learning partnership. Academic support services at Southern New Hampshire University is comprised of four distinct offices: the Academic Advising Office, the Dorothy S. Rogers Career Development Center, the Office of Disability Services and The Learning Center. These four offices provide coordinated assistance to students as they become independent learners and successful both academically and in their chosen fields. Academic support services are available at no additional cost to all SNHU students. Students who want to achieve better academic and career results are welcome to discuss their needs with their academic advisors, instructors or a staff member in one of the academic support offices.
Undergraduate Day Academic Advising Office Advising is a service that is provided to all day students enrolled at Southern New Hampshire University. All first year students are assigned a first-year advisor to help them with the transition to university life and to address the situations that first-year students encounter. All first-year students are required to enroll in the university’s first year seminar course SNHU 101 First Year Seminar: Foundations of Critical Thinking, which is taught by their advisors. In addition, all first-year students are also assigned to a Peer Advising Leader (P.A.L.). P.A.L.s are upper class students trained and supervised by the Academic Advising Office and provide peer advising and support to first-year students. The P.A.L.s are “linked” to the first-year student’s SNHU 101 course. After the first year, students are assigned to faculty advisors in the department of their respective majors. Students still exploring their major options are assigned an advisor in the Academic Advising Office. The services of the Academic Advising Office are available to all students. Services include academic advising, educational planning, and workshops designed to help students with decision-making, goal-setting and planning related to their personal, education and career goals. Students who have questions about advising should consult with their advisor or the Academic Advising Office, located in Exeter Hall.
Dorothy S. Rogers Career Development Center The Career Development Center assists students with life and career planning during and after their college careers. Career planning and development is critical for today’s college students, who will be seeking career opportunities in an increasingly competitive job market. Career Development 26
Center services fall into two primary areas: cooperative education and career planning.
Cooperative Education Students in most majors at Southern New Hampshire University have the option of participating in cooperative education experiences, or co-ops. This “earn-and-learn” program supplies credits toward degrees and integrates classroom study with related on-the-job work experiences, some of which are paid positions. These opportunities bridge the gap between textbook theory and the actual practices of the work world and allow students to test their career choices. All students are encouraged to build co-op options into their academic programs, as they form the basis for enhanced career opportunities after graduation. Southern New Hampshire University offers co-op experiences in three, six, nine and 12 credit-hour blocks for most majors. Each co-op experience must be approved by a member of the university faculty and requires the completion of written assignments. Co-op experiences are coordinated and supervised by the Career Development Center in consultation with faculty and students and take place in all regions of the United States. When cooperative education experiences are taken during the academic semester, they may be integrated with regular classroom work. However, students often elect to do their co-op experiences during the summer months, allowing them to concentrate on full-time work for an extended period of time. There is a tuition fee for cooperative education that is based on the number of credit hours. The Career Development Center maintains a working relationship with local, regional, national and international employers. Students also develop contacts who will help them and the university create new options.
Career Planning Because deciding on a career is a systematic process that requires time and planning, the Career Development Center offers a developmental plan for undergraduates. Making effective career decisions requires careful self-assessment and investigation of career options. The Career Development Center’s professional staff offers workshops and one-on-one counseling year-round, from freshman year to beyond graduation. Career assessment inventories challenge career objectives and values that relate to personal goals and lifestyles. Traditional job search assistance is offered and contacts are made with representatives of business, government and industry to recruit employees on and off of campus. The office’s career library contains materials on trends, job-hunting techniques and employment opportunities. An employer database, a computerized career decision-making program and Internet job searching also are available. An early partnership with the Career Development Center will help students prepare to enter the work force.