Section 2: Core Requirements

2.10 The institution provides student support programs, services, and activities consistent with its mission that promote student learning and enhance the total growth and development of its students.

Judgment of Compliance:
Compliance

Narrative/Justification for Judgment of Compliance:
Christopher Newport University is in compliance with this requirement. Christopher Newport University provides diverse activities, programs and services in support of student development and success. Programs and services enrich the life of the University, challenge traditional ways of thinking, enhance intellectual development and create an environment of respect and tolerance.

Comprehensive support services housed within the Division of Student Services include Admissions; Counseling, Coaching and Consulting; Financial Aid; First-Year Initiatives; Judicial Affairs and Community Development; Multicultural Affairs; Registrar; Residence Life; Student Activities; University Health and Wellness; and University Police. The Student Affairs component of Student Services, led by the Dean of Students, includes:  Counseling, Coaching and Consulting; First-Year Initiatives; Judicial Affairs and Community Development; Multicultural Affairs; Residence Life; Student Activities; and University Health and Wellness. The mission of Student Affairs is “to intentionally impact the campus community by enhancing the University's academic mission. As co-curricular educators and role models we provide CNU students with diverse opportunities to learn and develop so they may think critically about their values, beliefs and attitudes and become significant contributors to our community, nation and world.”

Orientation
Students are introduced to the university culture through a comprehensive orientation program required for all incoming freshman. The program includes a summer component, Setting Sail, and a fall component, Welcome Week. These orientation periods provide students and their parents with the knowledge, skills and confidence for a successful CNU experience.

Activities
The Office of Student Activities (OSA) works with recognized student clubs and organizations to develop and sponsor educational and social programming. The Campus Activities Board (CAB), under the guidance of OSA staff and funded by student fees, sponsors social and educational programs throughout the academic year to enhance the development of students. CAB goals are included in the support documentation for this narrative. The breadth and depth of mission and purpose of student organizations like CAB is left to the students, with support for new initiatives provided by OSA staff members. Larger campus – wide programs (Family Weekend, Homecoming, and Captain’s Ball) are the responsibility of the Office of Student Activities but supported by members of the Campus Activities Board, the Greek Community and other interested groups. Student involvement in the development and implementation of programs allows for their individual growth as they take on some of these operational responsibilities of program delivery. Evaluation of these larger programs is done using specific guidelines.

Recreational, academic, social, and spiritual organizations on campus are eligible for financial support for campus-wide programs and initiatives (See allocations process guidelines). In addition to funds for social programming, students may receive funds to attend or present at a conference. The policy states: “As an educational institution, CNU is committed to helping our students become leaders in their academic and professional endeavors. One way in which this support is demonstrated is through financial assistance for individual students to attend academic and professional conferences.”

Membership in social Greek organizations provides opportunities for community service, leadership development, academic support and the development of a social network that reaches far beyond the campus community. Greek membership at CNU includes approximately 9% of students. Recognized organizations include:

Religious life is also supported through organizations like Hillel, Intervarsity Christian Fellowship, the Baptist Student Union and Catholic Campus Ministries. Places of worship associated with these organizations provide community outreach as well. The Campus Ministers Association represents the various faiths in the community and meets about once per semester. While not a University committee, the group meets on the CNU campus and invites members of the University community to attend.

Residence Life
The Residence Life staff at CNU provides social and educational programs and services to residential students. Residents, according to the Residence Life website, “will live in a dynamic learning environment that will impact [their] college experience positively, facilitate relationship development with peers and emphasize [their] responsibility to the residence hall community. Students are given opportunities for growth and development through an array of services, programs and activities.” Resident Assistants provide educational programs and update educational bulletin boards monthly. In addition to such support provided residents, the resident assistant experience has proven to be a valuable developmental opportunity for students, often leading to graduate study and careers in student life.

Multicultural Affairs
The Office of Multicultural Affairs (OMA) serves as an advocate for students of diverse backgrounds by promoting an environment of cultural understanding and inclusiveness. The Office of Multicultural Affairs is committed to providing educational, cultural and social opportunities that facilitate interaction among diverse groups; cultural education that enhances student awareness, understanding, and appreciation for diversity; and skills necessary for personal development and success. OMA sponsors guest speakers (like authors Walter Kimbrough and Lan Cao, flutist Galen, and actor Darryl VanLeer) as well as the Diversity Scholar Series every semester. Organizations like the Multicultural Student Association and the Gay-Straight Student Union also find support. Outreach also includes resident assistant training on cultural diversity, panel discussions on issues and the recognition and celebration of cultural heritage months.

Career Development
Until January of 2006, Career and Counseling Services was a combined facility under a single director. The newly created Office of Career Development (OCD) now provides professional development opportunities for students. These services include skills assessments, personality inventories, resume writing workshops, interview critiques, internship placement, and access to ecampusrecruiter.com. and Career Fairs each semester, encouraging students to make contacts and explore career or graduate school opportunities. A recently developed Business Plan serves to direct the initiatives and guide practices as this new office evolves.

Counseling, Coaching and Consulting
The newly created Center for Counseling, Coaching and Consulting (CCCC) provides opportunities for students, faculty and alumni to work through concerns, identify strengths and develop skills to achieve educational and personal goals. CCCC assists students dealing with academic pressure, relationship concerns, adjustment to a new environment, personal concerns, and work issues in order to ensure academic and professional success.

University Police
While the University Police have a primary function of ensuring the safety and security of the CNU community, they also provide student support programs, services and activities to promote student learning and development. The CNUPD has a student-based safety program to augment the services provided by certified police officers. Student Police Aides take part in specialized training to develop skills and prepare them for the varied responsibilities. The program serves as valuable experience for those interested in police work or employment with the FBI or other federal agencies. Each year CNUPD provides programs like RAD (Rape Aggression Defense System), a comprehensive course on awareness, prevention, risk reduction and avoidance of attacks, offered free to students by two trained members of the staff – a police officer and the Director of the Fitness Pavilion.

The police also provide alcohol awareness programs and information, bicycle registration services, and safety and security tips and resources. To assimilate into the campus community, police officers, in cooperation with the residence life staff and members of CCCC provide “Blue Light Specials” of free late night donuts in the parking lots of the residence halls during finals week.

Assessment
Assessment of programs and services throughout the division take on various forms:

The Office of Assessment and Evaluation also requires the submission of an annual plan and an annual report to demonstrate departments are evaluating programs and services. The plans and reports for the various departments within student services can be found in the support documentation included with this narrative.

New Student Union
The new Student Union, scheduled to open in July 2006, will relocate and enhance the efforts of the division. The building will house the Student Affairs team and 23 offices for clubs and organizations, as well as provide four meeting rooms, a ballroom and various programming spaces. The Student Union Board (SUB), an advisory board comprised of faculty, staff and students, has been working to provide insights and guidance on the opening and operation of this new facility (see addendum SUB) and represents yet another opportunity for student development and another means to support student interests and initiatives.

Cooperative Efforts
Cooperative relationships with academic departments complement the efforts of the Student Affairs staff. Examples include Setting Sail and Welcome Week orientation programs, cultural celebrations including Hispanic Heritage month involving members of the Modern and Classical Languages Department, Constitution Day programs involving faculty from the Government Department, and Backpack to Briefcase (money management seminars) involving faculty from the Luter School of Business.

Faculty members serving as advisors for clubs and organizations in cooperation with the Student Affairs team, enhance the student experience. For example, The Captain’s Log, the student newspaper, while independent, is advised by a tenured member of the English faculty.

Disability Support Services
CNU recognizes its responsibility to provide individuals with disabilities with an equal opportunity while maintaining the standards that are fundamental to its quality academic programs. Office of Disability Services:

Any student admitted to CNU who has a disability may request formal accommodations by following the instructions listed in the Disability Services Guidebook. The office is staffed by a fulltime coordinator, who provides guidance to faculty as needed.

Ferguson Center for the Arts
The Ferguson Center for the Arts is a premier performing arts venue. Approximately 5% of 100,000 sold tickets for the 2005 – 2006 performances were purchased by CNU students at a reduced price. The Center holds a minimum of 5% of the seats (primarily in the front rows) for students. The Center also promotes master classes and discussions for CNU students with many of the professional artists.

Student Research Opportunities
The Undergraduate and Graduate Research Council (an Academic Affairs Committee) sponsors student research related events in the fall for faculty and students. Each spring, the UGRC hosts Paideia, a one to two day conference where students present research papers and projects. A proceedings of each conference is published.

The Honors program and the Office of the Associate Provost for Research and Graduate Studies each sponsor funded opportunities for students to pursue original research in their majors. All students may compete for Honors Summer Research Stipends to undertake research stemming from any class already completed. In its three years of existence, this program has given 20 awards, usually of $1000. Likewise, all students are eligible to compete for International Research Assistantships, which enable them to work with graduate faculty at the University of Brussels for six weeks during the summer. The Associate Provost sponsors an Undergraduate Summer Research Award Program. Proposals are reviewed and twelve are selected for the Award. The student receives a $750 stipend and the student’s faculty mentor receives a $500 stipend. The faculty mentor works with the student throughout the summer on the student’s original research plan. Summer 2006 was the fourth year of this program.

Support Documentation:
Office of Multicultural Affairs
Fall 2004 Diversity Scholar Series Schedule
Spring 2005 Diversity Scholar Series Schedule
Office of Multicultural Affairs Goals and Objectives 2005
Office of Multicultural Affairs Assessment Plan for AY 02 – 03
Office of Multicultural Affairs Assessment Plan for AY 03 – 04
Office of Multicultural Affairs Assessment Plan for AY 04 – 05
OMA Speaker Series
OMA Revised Mission Statement  

Center for Counseling, Coaching, and Consultation
CCCC 03-04 Assessment Plan
CCCC Director Evaluation
Fall 2004 Freshman Seminar Series Brochure
Fall 2005 Freshman Seminar Series Brochure
2004 Student Survey
2005 Student Survey and Office Evaluation
Healthy Living 101
Sexual Assault Week 2005
Monthly Summary Report-September 2004
Monthly Summary Report-September 2005

Office of First-Year Initiatives
Setting Sail 2005 Schedule
Welcome Week 2005 Schedule

Office of Judicial Affairs and Community Development
Judicial Training Schedule

Office of the Registrar
2004-2005 Goals and Objectives
2005- 2006 Goals and Objectives 

Office of Residence Life
Academically Focused Educational Programs FA05 -Residence Life
Fall 2005 OCCS Educational Programs & Bulletin Boards -Residence Life
Fall 2005 Programming Statistics -Residence Life
Housing Facility Questions from Satisfaction Surveys
Programming Planning Tool Evaluation Form
2002 – 2005 Student Satisfaction Surveys
Residence Life Assessment Plan 02-03
Residence Life Assessment Plan 03-04
Residence Life Assessment Plan 04-05
Residence Life Assessment Plan 05-06

Office of Student Activities
Method for Assessment of Campus Wide Events
Campus Activities Board Goals
Campus Activities Board Manual
Club and Organization Recognition Form
CNU Student Activity Fee Conference Fund Application
CNU Student Activity Fee Conference Fund Information
Fall 2005 Activity List
Funds Allocation Process
Request for Student Fees Support
Student Activities Assessment Plan 2005 – 2006
Student Activities Assessment Record 2004 - 2005
Student Union Board  

Office of Disability Services
Office of Disability Services copy of webpage
Disability Services Guidebook

University Police
University Police Assessment Plan 2002-2003
University Police Assessment Report 2002-2003
University Police Assessment Plan 2004-2005
University Police Assessment Report 2003-2004

Additional Live Web Resources:
None