Student Support Services

Bookstore

The campus bookstore is an academically oriented resource, where the need for, and interest in, reading and study engendered in the classroom can be supported and reinforced. It is also an on-campus source of many goods and services required by a university community. The main purpose of the campus bookstore is to provide for the sale of books and supply requirements connected with the academic programs of the university.

Computer Facilities

All facets of the hardware and software environment are upgraded and expanded to enable our students to keep pace with technology. Students have ample access to personal computers throughout the campus. Over 100 personal computers are available for use including: 21 laptops in the library, 6 laptops for commuters, 14 computers in the residence halls, and four computer labs containing 67 computers.Wireless access is provided in both the library and Banks Student Life Center. In addition, there is a wireless computer teaching lab for up to 21 students in the library. Each computer has Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Access, Powerpoint) available. All residence halls are wired providing each student with his/her own connection to the campus network. The labs are wired for connection to the campus network and Internet as well. Students are provided with a portal account by which they will have access to an e-mail account, calendar, current semester courses, clubs and committees, their own personal headlines, and are able to receive personal and campus announcements. Also, students are able to access their current semester grades, academic record, profile information, billing data, and class schedule, and register for courses online. The student technology help desk handles all commuter/residential student computer problems, residential internet connections, cable TV, and campus phone line issues. The help desk also provides a free antivirus program to all residential students.

Software and programming languages include SPSS, Java, Visual Basic, C++, C#, Cobol and Assembler.

Counseling Services

Counseling services are available to all undergraduate and graduate students. Services include individual counseling, group counseling, consultation services, referral services, and crisis intervention. Counselors also offer workshops on a variety of personal development topics and issues throughout the academic year. All services are free of charge and all counseling contacts are confidential. Records of counseling contacts are kept separate from a student’s medical or academic records.

The focus of counseling services is on personal and life development. Issues addressed through services typically include problems such as stress management, test anxiety, general anxiety, depression, eating issues, substance abuse, relationship problems, and family problems. Students who present with issues that need a more intensive, long-term treatment approach are offered off-campus referral sources where their needs can be more adequately addressed.

The counseling staff includes a licensed psychologists, a master’s level licensed professional counselor, a certified addictions specialist, a registered dietitian consultant, student peer advocates, and peer educators. The counseling center is located on the ground floor of Alumnae Hall. The hours are 8:30 am to 4:30 pm and by appointments. Appointments may be made by calling 570-674-6408 or dropping by the center. Evening and weekend appointments are available as needed. A counselor is available 24 hours a day for emergencies. Students may access the counselor on call after hours by contacting the office of safety and security at 570-674-6300 or by making the request through a resident assistant (RA). Students do not have to identify the reason for requesting the counselor on call.

Faculty, staff, and students who wish to refer a student for counseling services may contact the Director, Dr. Cindy March, at 570-674-6366, or in the case of immediate need, may walk the student to the center to access a counselor.

Learning Resource Center

The Learning Resource Center offers services to students who wish to improve the quality of their learning. The center offers comprehensive support services through the following programs: peer tutoring, professional tutoring, study skill support workshops, and math labs. Individual assessment and intervention services regarding study skills and learning strategies are also offered as well as developmental intervention programs for students on academic probation or for those who are not satisfied with their level of performance. The center is located in the lower level of Alumnae Hall. All services are free of charge.

Library

The Mary Kintz Bevevino Library is located at the heart of the campus between Mercy Hall and McHale Residence Hall. The library is named in honor of alumna Mary Kintz Bevevino, a 1987 graduate of Misericordia University. Dedicated in 1999, the Bevevino Library is a state-of-the-art research facility with wireless internet access, computers, and a variety of study environments.

The mission of the Mary Kintz Bevevino Library is to provide informational and instructional support to the Misericordia University Community. The library provides resources, services, and facilities in support of the university’s mission of providing quality academics, professional preparation, and service leadership.

The collection of the Mary Kintz Bevevino Library is classified using the Dewey Decimal Classification System. The library home page (www.misericordia.edu/library), provides access to the library’s online catalog, research databases and library services. The library offers casual seating, study carrels and tables throughout the building and group study rooms on the second and third floors. The main circulating collection is on the first and third floors. The circulation desk, multimedia room, and the Alden Trust Computer Classroom are located on the first floor. The second floor of the library houses the reference desk, the reference and periodicals collections, and the Center for Nursing History. The Sister Mary Carmel McGarigle Archives and the Catherine Evans McGowan Room are on the third floor. The Catherine Evans McGowan Room is used for seminars, multimedia presentations, community meetings, and other group activities.

The library offers information in a variety of formats including books, periodicals, electronic databases, microfilm, and audio and video recordings. The library houses over 70,000 print volumes, 19,000 periodicals and microfilms, and an expanding collection of electronic resources. Trained reference staff are available to provide research assistance. Individuals may request additional assistance by appointment, and faculty are encouraged to bring classes to the library for research instruction. The library schedules tours and group tutorials on specific databases or general bibliographic instruction upon request. Laptop computers can be borrowed from the circulation desk and used throughout the library. A printer is available for wireless printing.

The library’s schedule accommodates the academic schedule of the university. A valid Misericordia University identification or library card is required to borrow library materials. The library extends borrowing privileges to Back Mountain residents and other members of the local community with participation in the Friends of the Library membership.

Archives

The Sister Mary Carmel McGarigle Archives is located on the third floor of the Mary Kintz Bevevino Library and is open to the public. The archives was created in 1990 and named for the founding archivist, Sister Mary Carmel McGarigle. The objective of the archives is to collect, preserve, and provide access to records pertaining to the history of Misericordia University (formerly College Misericordia), the university’s founders the Sisters of Mercy, and the local community. The archives serves as a central resource for information collected about the diverse functions and historical records of Misericordia University offices, departments, campus organizations, and student activities. The archives contains over 1,000 linear feet of records and publications, and 50,000 photographic images. Archival collections are searchable through the Bevevino library online catalog.

The archives has grown as a result of generous donations from students, alumni, and the university community. The archives actively collects paper and electronic records, photographs, scrapbooks, publications, interviews, recordings, and other university memorabilia that support the library’s mission to better serve the needs of the university community. Contact the archivist at archives@misericordia.edu or visit the Archives Home Page at www.misericordia.edu/archives for more information. There are archival displays throughout the library and in other campus buildings.