Student Affairs Departments

Career Services

Assistance is available to all interested Avila students with needs and interests related to:

• Major selection and career decision-making

• Gaining practical experience and building skills

• Job-readiness (résumé and cover letter preparation, networking, interview skills, and other aspects of the job search process).

Off-campus part-time and full-time jobs and internships posted for Avila students may be viewed in the Career Services, as well as on monsterTRAK.com.

Career related books may be checked out from our Career Services library.

Lists of career web sites and a number of other handout materials are available along with corporate files and videos.

Employer fairs and interview days are co-sponsored with other local schools and are free of charge to Avila students and alumni.

Career Month programs and workshops are also offered.

Individual appointments may be scheduled to obtain personal assistance with any of the opportunities listed above by calling (816) 501-3666. For further information, visit our website at http: //www.avila.edu/info/src/career.htm.

Child Care Center

The Child Care Center, in conjunction with Avila Montessori School, provides for the child care needs of students, faculty and staff between the hours of 7:30 a.m. to 5: 30 p.m. Children must be 21/₂ to 6 years of age and must be toilet trained.The drop-in service cost is $4.00 per hour, per child, and $3.00 per hour for each additional child per family. Days of service closely coincide with academic calendar. For more information, please call (816) 501-3745.

College Skills

To ensure students success, Avila encourages students to meet with the College Skills staff for support and advice on how to enhance academic achievement and make the transition to the demands of college level learning. Students can explore such issues as writing, time management, note taking, test preparation and test taking, study strategies, reading comprehension, and many other academic skills. The College Skills staff also assists students and faculty in forming and facilitating study groups for any class offered at Avila University.

Professional and peer tutors are available to help students learn the content in a variety of courses including math, composition, science and computer science. Most tutoring is offered Monday through Friday between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., but tutoring is also available to all students Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday evenings in the Ridgway Academic Outreach Center located in Ridgway Hall across from Room 507.

For more information, or to schedule an appointment, contact the Student Resource Center at (816) 501-3666 or stop by the office in the lower level of Blasco Hall. Additional information is available on the website at: www. avila.edu/info/src/collegeskills/index.htm.

Counseling

Through the Student Resource Center in lower Blasco a licensed mental health professional is available to provide:

• Assessments

• Personal counseling dealing with a wide range of issues

• Support for those struggling with a personal crisis

• Referrals to outside agencies as appropriate

• Workshops, information sessions, and opportunities to share experiences and learn in a small group setting.

Individual appointments may be scheduled to obtain personal assistance with any of the issues listed above. For more information or to schedule an appointment, please call (816) 501-3666.

Disability Services

Avila University welcomes students with physical or mental challenges who can be successful learners and contributors to the Avila Community. To apply for accommodations in your learning environment (curricular and co-curricular), contact the Disability Services Office. The Coordinator of Disability Services welcomes questions, issues, and concerns. For more information, please call (816) 501-3666 or see the Disability Services web site at http: //www.avila.edu/info/src/collegeskills/services.htm.

Food Service

Dining hall hours are subject to change and are always posted outside of the dining hall main entrance. For menu details or operating hours contact the Food Service Office at (816) 501-3755.

The University, through a private contractor, provides a variety of food service programs and services for the campus. The primary food service facility on campus is the Dining Hall.

All resident students select a meal plan option. Currently resident students have the choice of a carte blanche meal plan or a block plan. Full details are available through the Student Life Office at (816) 501-3660.

Commuter students, faculty, and staff have the opportunity to select one of several commuter meal plans. Commuter meal plan information and contracts are available through Food Services at (816) 501-3755.

Health and Child Care Services

The nurse-directed health center is staffed by a registered nurse and offers free health services to all students. Services include minor illness/injury assessment, immunizations, treatment with non-prescriptive medications and medical supplies, emergency care, referrals to campus resources or appropriate community health care resources. Health counseling and education are provided on an individual basis or through group programs.

Health Services is the primary campus contact for student health insurance information. Information about the Child Care Center and Montessori School is also available from this office. For more information, please call (816) 501-3668.

Intensive Language & Culture Program (ILCP)

The Intensive Language & Culture Program is designed to prepare international students to study at a university in the United States. Students study twenty hours of English per week, which includes five hours in each language area: Speaking and Listening, Reading and Vocabulary, Grammar (Structure), and Writing (Composition). The program features three levels of instruction. Class size is usually ten students or fewer to ensure personalized attention. Additional English practice is available through one-on-one instruction by faculty and tutors. Students may register for ESL classes and courses in their major during the same semester. Up to seven credits of non-ESL classes in their chosen major may be taken, usually in areas such as computers, mathematics, and the arts. In addition, students learn about American customs and idioms, banking, shopping, telephone use, and local transportation. Upon successful completion of the ESL program, students may study for a degree full-time. The ESL program offers listening tapes and computer-assisted learning which gives students the opportunity to spend as much time as they like in learning English at their own speed. They also have the opportunity to experience American society through trips to cultural events, entertainment and sight-seeing spots, and shopping. For further details, contact the ILCP Department at (816) 501-3771 or (816) 501-3772.

Intramural Sports Program

The intramural program at Avila University is designed for the participation and enjoyment of the entire Avila Community, regardless of ability. We strive to realize the benefits of social recreation and competitive involvement. This includes faculty, staff, undergraduate, graduate students, and alumni. It is our goal to maintain a safe and fun environment. The philosophy of intramural sports is “COMPETITIVE FUN.” Activities start in September. If you have questions or ideas, please call (816) 501-2421.

Montessori School

The Avila Montessori School provides schooling for children age three to six (3-6), including kindergarten. Enrollment options are available in both full-day and half-day sessions. Certified Montessori teachers instruct classes. Days of service closely coincide with the academic calendar. Before and after school care is available through Avila Child Care Center.

FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO ENROLL YOUR CHILD IN THE CHILD CARE CENTER OR THE MONTESSORI SCHOOL, CONTACT HEALTH AND CHILD SERVICES AT (816) 501-3676 OR (816) 501-3668.

Orientation for New Students

New Student Orientation facilitates the transition of all new students into the collegiate environment with an emphasis on educational, intellectual, cultural, and social opportunities. For more information, please call (816) 501-3660.

Residence Life

As an integral part of the Student Life Office, the residence hall program strives to complement a student’s academic program through a community living experience. Along with the convenience of living on campus, living in the residence halls allows you to interact with students of diverse backgrounds, cultural experiences, and lifestyles.

Each residence hall consists of a fully air-conditioned environment, accommodating up to 225 students, professional live-in staff, and professionally trained student staff. Lounges and kitchen facilities are located on each floor, and the residence hall complex contains laundry facilities, exercise rooms, piano practice rooms, a computer lab, and an Academic Outreach Center. Each student room comes complete with basic cable television service, local telephone service, and data port connections for Internet access.

Additional information about the residence halls, including the community living standards, staff contact information, and processes and procedures can be found in the Residence Life section of the Student Handbook. To find out how to become more involved in Residence Life, contact the Student Life Office at (816) 501-3660.

Security

The campus is staffed by professional contracted security officers 365 days a year, 24 hours a day. Campus security officers are provided through a contract service with JACO Security, a duly licensed private security company. Security officers can be reached via an office phone at ext. 2466. For emergency or immediate response contacts, security needs to be called at (816) 501-2474 or ext. 2774. Security also carries a pager, which can be reached at (816) 840-1815. A voice paging system will receive the call. Callers should give their name, a message describing the situation, their location, and phone number. The security officer will contact or meet callers as needed.

If the situation calls for immediate emergency response from local authorities, call 911 (Campus phones – dial 9-911).

Security also is available for escorts on campus, incident report filing, automobile jump starts, parking lot assistance, crime statistics and safety education. All campus crimes or incidents must be reported to Campus Security or the Student Affairs Office at (816) 501-3627.

Student Activities

The Office of Student Activities supports approximately 30 student organizations that sponsor activities such as social events, entertainment, speakers, trips, recreation, films, leadership development, workshops, publications, resource libraries, and service learning. Our goal is to create leadership and involvement opportunities where students can enhance leadership skills and personal development. The Office of Student Activities also coordinates the operation of the Marian Center and New Student Orientation activities. For more information, please call (816) 501-3660.

Student Life Office

The Student Life Office includes Residence Life, Conference Services, Food Service, Student Activities and Organizations, New Student Programs, Intramural Sports Program, and Central Reservations. Obtain a student ID card, reserve a room or a student activity van, sign up for an Intramural sports team, obtain a residence hall contract, learn more about commuter meal plans, or join a club at the Student Life Office. For more information please call (816) 501-3660.

Student Resource Center (SRC)

SRC staff members are campus professionals who provide a wide range of student services including:

• Academic support through college skills and tutoring

• Personal Counseling

• Intensive Language & Culture Program (English as a Second Language)

• Career Services

• English and math placement exams (by appointment only, including evenings and weekends)

• Disability Services.

While services are diverse, all focus on helping Avila students succeed. To schedule an appointment or for more information, please call (816) 501-3666 or visit our website at http://www.avila.edu/info/src/career.htm.

Upward Bound

The Upward Bound Program is a TRIO Program funded by the U.S. Department of Education that serves low income and first generation high school students in their preparation for successful entry to colleges and universities. The Director and staff work with university faculty, staff and students to execute a program involving year-round tutoring, in addition to a summer, six-week, residential learning and living experience for students on campus. For more information, please call (816) 501-2438.

Wellness

Wellness activities and programming are available to all student, faculty, and staff. Programming is designed to promote wellness and non-competitive recreational opportunities. The Wellness advisor and student assistants plan forums, classes, and activities. For more information, please call (816) 501-3668.