University College

Yaw A. Asamoah , Dean

Amber N. Racchini, Dean’s Associate
D. Edward Zimmerman, Assistant Dean, IUP Libraries
Patricia A. Cornman, Assistant to the Dean, IUP Libraries
Kelly L. Heider, Chairperson, IUP Libraries
Luke E. Faust, Chairperson, Undergraduate Studies & Student Success
Craig R. Dillaman, Director of Academic Services
Brian Carothers, Instructional Design Specialist
Nancy R. Evans, Instructional Design Specialist
Hillary B. Stitt, Assistant Director for Student Success
Megan A. McCue, Assistant Director for Academic Services & Student Advocate
Allison Baker, Student Success Specialist
Jeremy B. Risinger, Student Success Specialist

Website: www.iup.edu/university-college

The University College was created to strengthen IUP’s tradition of nurturing student success by enhancing the support provided to all students. From its central location on campus, the University College provides accessible wayfinding experiences for students who are unsure of their academic path, and possibly their personal and career goals. The entire campus can utilize the University College staff and faculty to help students navigate their way through the wealth of academic services and resources available to them. Under a new structure announced in the summer of 2021, the University College now includes Academic Services, the Academic Success Center (ASC@IUP), Exploratory Studies, University Libraries, and the Department of Undergraduate Studies and Student Success.

The University College Includes:

ACADEMIC SERVICES

Craig Dillaman, Director
New Student Orientation (Office of)
Website: www.iup.edu/orientation
E-mail: orientation-testing@iup.edu

IUP provides an orientation program for all new students, including all entering first-year and transfer students. Students are expected to participate in the mandatory orientation program that provides information, resources, and interactions designed to ensure a successful first-year or transfer experience. IUP views student orientation as an opportunity to showcase the academic and student experiences that are important to initial success, satisfaction, and retention within the university. The first year at IUP is critical for our students’ academic success. During this time, students must develop academic competency in the college curriculum and adjust to the personal decision-making process college life affords. New Student Orientation is designed to assist with this important college adjustment. First-year and transfer students are expected to participate fully in the orientation program, including any overnight components and associated activities.

First-year Spring/Summer Orientation: The orientation, advising, and course registration program occurs during the spring or summer immediately preceding students’ matriculation on campus. This overnight, two-day program is designed to assess the student’s academic readiness for courses integral to the IUP curriculum and acquaint them with the IUP collegiate experience. A concurrent Parent and Family Member Orientation is also offered.

Transfer Summer Orientation: Transfer orientation serves to acquaint students with prior college experience with IUP resources to support their academic and career success. The program provides placement testing for students in selected majors, concluding with advisement and course registration. A concurrent Parent and Family Member Orientation is also offered.

Instructional Design Services
Website: https://www.iup.edu/instructional-design/
Email: Instructional-Design@iup.edu

Instructional Design Services provides instructional resources and support for all IUP instructors, administrators, and managers.

Services range from consulting and tackling instructional challenges to supporting faculty in planning and developing courses and projects, regardless of delivery method (e.g., online, hybrid, face-to-face).
Instructional Design Services also offers professional development opportunities focused on teaching, learning, and working with faculty experts in all content areas to create high-quality learning experiences for IUP students.

Course Planning and Forecasting

The Course Planning and Forecasting unit will focus on student academic needs as they progress through their time at IUP. This area will work with colleges & departments, the Office of the Registrar, Enrollment Management, Information Technology, and Office of Institutional Research in projecting course demands and addressing specific course needs to help students graduate on time.

Advising Support

The Advising Support unit will coordinate the efforts of the Center for Teaching Excellence, Information Technology, and the respective college leadership groups to provide information on best practices, technical resources, and quantitative data that can be used to guide academic advising initiatives.

ACADEMIC SUCCESS CENTER (ASC@IUP)

Amber Racchini, Dean’s Associate
Website: www.iup.edu/success

The Academic Success Center at IUP (ASC@IUP) supports the achievement of students as they attain their academic goals. ASC@IUP is a collaboration between the divisions of Academic Affairs, Student Affairs, and Enrollment Management. It serves as a hub through which students can navigate the network of offices and service providers across the university.

Equally important is the support provided to faculty members in their role as academic advisors. ASC@IUP provides resources to faculty, using a variety of avenues, which are important tools for working with students.

Components of ASC@IUP include The Office of the Student Advocate, the ASC@IUP Walk-in Tutoring Center, supplemental instruction, peer mentoring, and the Hawks Q&A Center.

Student Advocate (Office of the)
Website: www.iup.edu/success/student-advocate/
Email: asc-inquiry@iup.edu

Building on a culture of student success and retention, the Office of the Student Advocate provides personal student support, outreach services to at-risk populations, and information/referrals to other campus resources for both students and parents. The Advocate assists currently enrolled students as they navigate university systems; addresses concerns about academic policies and life on campus, and provides referrals as appropriate, with the goal of assisting students to fully engage in the learning process.

The Student Advocate oversees the LEAD Peer Mentoring program which is available for all students. Through this relationship, mentees will have the opportunity to Learn, Explore, Advance, and Develop. Mentors are fellow students who guide students to resources and experiences across the university. All students have easy access to the Student Advocate, a staff member dedicated to helping students through any roadblocks they might encounter.

The Student Advocate also serves as the point-of-contact for any student seeking to withdraw from the university by coordinating the Total University Withdrawal process with other offices on campus. The Advocate strives to create a supportive environment and offers high quality services on behalf of the entire student population in collaboration with others across the university.

ASC@IUP Tutoring Center
Website: www.iup.edu/success

IUP offers several tutoring services for students, the ASC@IUP Tutoring Center provides free peer-to-peer tutoring with no appointment necessary and is located in Stabley Library. Students should refer to the Tutoring Schedule online at the start of each semester for specific tutoring times and locations. Supplemental Instruction (SI) and other discipline-specific tutoring can be found at other locations across campus.

Supplemental Instruction

Supplemental Instruction provides small-group study and review sessions for sections of courses with difficult content or high levels of failure and withdrawal rates.

Peer leaders guide students on how to learn course content. The sessions supplement, but do not replace, out-of-class preparation for the course. All students in designated course sections who want to improve their understanding of course content and grades are urged to participate weekly. As a group, students review notes, clarify text material, discuss ideas, complete worksheets, prepare for tests, and take practice exams.

Peer Mentoring
Website: https://www.iup.edu/success/student-advocate/peer-mentoring-program/

The LEAD and University College Peer Mentoring Programs provide students the opportunity to strengthen their on-campus experience by connecting them with an upper-class student mentor who is pursuing similar career goals, or has a similar background, concentration, or academic interest.

Hawks Q&A Center
Website: https://www.iup.edu/studentlife/hawks-q-a-center/

For those who are not sure who to ask, or are having trouble finding the right office, the Hawks Q&A Center is a one-stop shop for questions about IUP! The Center is here to unravel whatever feels complicated.

EXPLORATORY STUDIES

Amber Racchini, Dean’s Associate
Website: https://www.iup.edu/university-college/exploratory-studies/

The University College offers six subject-area-based, exploratory major options. Students select one, which will act as a starting point for finding the major that inspires them. College Mentors will help students identify their strengths and interests.

EXPL-STEM: Science, technology, engineering, or mathematics as well as programs in anthropology, geography, geoscience, and safety sciences
EXPL-AH: Arts such as art, dance, fashion merchandising, interior design, music, theatre; as well as Humanities such as English, foreign languages, history, philosophy and religious studies, and political science
EXPL-EDU: Communications, disability services, early childhood education, family studies, special education, and speech pathology
EXPL-HHS: Criminology, health and physical education, nursing and allied health, nutrition, psychology, sociology, and sports sciences
EXPL-BU: Accounting, economics and finance, hospitality management, management, and marketing
EXPL: disciplines from across the entire university

UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES

Kelly Heider, Chair
Website: https://www.iup.edu/library

The IUP Libraries include the Patrick J. Stapleton, Jr. Library, the Rhodes R. Stabley Library, and the Orendorff Music Library. Stapleton and Stabley Libraries form a combined structure located in the southwest corner of the Oak Grove. The Orendorff Music Library is located in Cogswell Hall.

Upon entering the Stapleton/Stabley Library complex, students are greeted by a smiling face at our Information Desk. Here, you can get help with your research or ask any question about IUP. We won’t stop until we get you an answer! Once inside, grab a cup of coffee and a snack at the Commonplace Coffeehouse & Roastery before you find a space on one of four floors for quiet or group study.

Undergraduate students have a wealth of resources and services available to them through the IUP Libraries!

Resources

The Stapleton/Stabley Library collection includes over half a million books and e-books, 26,700 children’s books, over 100,000 print and electronic journals, and 30,671 audiovisual materials. Special Collections and University Archives, located on the third floor of Stapleton Library, collects, organizes, preserves, and provides access to research materials, rare books, artifacts, items related to the institutional history of IUP, and so much more!

The Orendorff Music Library features a large commons area with comfortable furniture for quiet and group study. The music collection includes more than 7,000 volumes of monuments and collected editions, 3,000 reference books, 12,000 circulating books, 30,000 scores, 10,000 LP sound recordings, and 5,000 compact discs.

Most of our collections are accessible in digital format through our website using your MyIUP username and password. Print format-only materials may be checked out for 30 days.

Services

Need help finding resources for an assignment? Meet with a librarian (https://iup.libcal.com/appointments/) in our Research Consultation Room or via Zoom.
Need to grab a book at the library but don’t have much time between classes? Use the Get It – Request (https://www.iup.edu/library/circulation/get-it–request-iup-books/) feature in the Discovery Search or Library Catalog to have your books waiting for you to pick up at circulation services on the first floor of Stapleton Library.
Need a computer? Work at one of our desktops located throughout the library or borrow a laptop from circulation services.
Need help writing a paper? Meet with a tutor in the evenings at the satellite writing center on the first floor of Stapleton Library.
Need to produce a video for a class assignment? Reserve Studio 1b, an innovative video production facility designed for one-button recording and production at circulation services.
Need to work on a project with some classmates? Reserve a group study room at circulation services.
Need a book or journal article for one of your classes that isn’t part of our collection? Place an item request through interlibrary loan (https://www.iup.edu/library/interlibrary-loan/).
Need to access a book your professor placed on reserve? Visit circulation services.
Need to become more information literate? Take a class with Professor Drummond, our Undergraduate Information Literacy Librarian, or help yourself through our Library Help for Students (https://libraryguides.lib.iup.edu/ILforstudents) LibGuide which includes videos and tutorials designed to improve your research skills.

According to the Association of College and Research Libraries (2017), students benefit from library instruction in their initial coursework, library use increases student success, collaborative academic programs and services involving the library enhance student learning, information literacy instruction strengthens general education outcomes, and library research consultations boost student learning. So, what are you waiting for? Start taking advantage of the many resources and services IUP Libraries provide. We’re here to help!

UNDERGRADUATE STUDIES AND STUDENT SUCCESS

Through its curriculum, programs, academic support and advising, the Department of Undergraduate Studies and Student Success provides IUP students with courses and services designed to enhance the development and success of all students.

Student support services provided include:

Advising. Each student in the University College has a first-year College Mentor.

College Mentor. This is a professor who will work with the student to monitor their academic progress and assist them in navigating the many university offices and their services.

Help with selecting a major. Dedicated programming in the Career and Professional Development Center and Pathways courses.

Student Success courses. During the first year, students are enrolled in courses that are taught by professors from different departments with a goal of building skills for academic success throughout their college career, while finding the pathway to a major.

Peer mentoring. Peer Mentors are fellow students who guide new students to resources and experiences across the university, helping them to make connections with each other.

Academic support. Students have access to academic support services such as tutoring, supplemental instruction, and skill-building workshops. The Student Success Series bring students together to learn about campus resources and to meet others.

Act 101 Program

Students identified as eligible for Act 101 support may be admitted to the Act 101 Program. Please see detailed information on the IUP website: https://www.iup.edu/devstudies/academic-support/act-101/