2015-2016 Academic Catalog 
    
    Nov 12, 2024  
2015-2016 Academic Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Student Resources



Housing

Clark University provides housing for approximately 1,750 undergraduate and graduate students in eight residence halls and 14 houses. All first- and second-year students are required to live in University housing unless they are commuting from home. Residential Life and Housing staff are available to assist students with a variety of personal and academic concerns. The staff strive to create a living-and-learning environment through social, recreational and educational programs. Dodd Hall is designated as an all-women residence hall. The remaining seven halls are coeducational. All residence halls are smoke free. There are four residence halls focused on the First Year Experience; Wright, Bullock, Dodd, and the Johnson Sanford Center. Special-interest housing opportunities include substance-free housing (called Wellness Housing), and the quiet house. On Campus housing spaces are available for graduate students through the Office of Residential Life and Housing. Incoming students have priority for this housing.

New student assignments are emailed in mid-July. Each year, returning students participate in the room selection process in April to select their rooms. Approximately, one-third of Clark students commute from home or live in private apartments in the immediate neighborhood. Students without prior arrangement for University-owned housing are urged to arrive before registration to seek suitable housing in the area. A listing of available apartments is available online through the Office of Residential Life and Housing.

International Students and Scholars Office (formerly the Office of Intercultural Affairs)

The International Students and Scholars Office (ISSO) serves the needs of international students, researchers and faculty through immigration advising and cultural adjustment programs. The ISSO staff advises more than 900 international students, faculty, scholars and their dependents from over 90 countries on matters relating to immigration as well as academic, social financial and personal concerns related to daily life in the United States.

Academic Advancement

Clark University provides enhanced services for the ALANA and first-generation college student communities.  At Clark University, the acronym “ALANA” represents students of African, Latino/a, Asian, and Native American descent.  The Academic Advancement staff assists students in the development and implementation of their academic and career goals.  ALANA and first-generational college students are invited to attend the ACE (Academic Clark Excellence) Summer Institute, a pre-orientation program designed to prepare them for the rigorous Clark academic experience.  The program includes previewing academic courses, building a mentor network around leadership and academic relations, developing personal and social relationships with peers and understanding the community climate of Clark.  In addition, all ALANA and first-generation college students are invited to attend various workshops (i.e. financial aid and networking) throughout the academic year.   

Army and Air Force ROTC

Clark University students may participate in Army and Air Force Reserve Officers’ Training Corps at Worcester Polytechnic Institute. U.S. citizens, who are physically qualified, earn their degree from Clark University and satisfactorily complete the ROTC program, will be commissioned as second lieutenants in the U.S. Army or Air Force. Students may request an educational delay of active duty in order to attend graduate school. First-year and sophomore students can compete for two and three-year scholarships, which are primarily based on academic performance and major. Students interested in Army ROTC should contact the Military Science Department at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) phone number 508-831-5268 or email armyrotc@wpi.edu. Students interested in Air Force ROTC should contact the Department of Aerospace Studies at WPI, phone number 508-831-5747 or email afrotc@wpi.edu.

Health Services

The Clark University Health Service is a primary-care outpatient clinic that provides on-campus health care to full-time matriculated undergraduate students. It is staffed by physicians, nurse practitioners, registered nurses and support staff. The clinic, located at 501 Park Avenue, is open Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. There is always a physician on call when Health Service is closed.

Students may make an appointment at Health Service with a clinician for diagnosis, treatment, follow-up or counseling regarding health problems. Gynecological and contraceptive services are available.

Massachusetts law requires all full- and part-time students to enroll in a qualifying student health-insurance plan offered by the University or another health-insurance plan with comparable coverage. Failure to submit proof of comparable coverage will result in a student being automatically enrolled in the Clark plan and charged accordingly. In compliance with state law, students may not register for classes until they are enrolled in an insurance plan.

Dean of Students Office

The Dean of Students Office is concerned with the well-being of students living and learning in a community of scholars and works to maximize the quality of student life at Clark. The staff coordinates services related to housing, residential life, ALANA student support, new-undergraduate student orientation, wellness, academic advancement, health services, student activities, personal counseling and judicial affairs.

The deans are available to meet with students on the wide variety of issues that they encounter during their time at Clark. The Dean of Students Office publishes a student handbook, which outlines student support services and the Code of Student Conduct.

Campus Security

The Clark University campus is served by a 12-member police force duly appointed by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts department of State Police. University Police are armed and have full arrest and policing powers.

Police take an active approach to campus security, offering students, faculty and staff educational programs on how to take precautions appropriate to an urban setting. University Police and Physical Plant maintain a network of 61 indoor and outdoor emergency telephones to ensure a quick response to security concerns. A safety escort service is available for students from 4 p.m. to 4 a.m. during the academic year and on a limited basis over the summer within a quarter mile of the Clark campus and to/from Union Station. Clark Emergency Medical Services is a student run organization comprised of both EMTs and First Responders providing rapid medical care 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, when classes are in session.  Clark University, as mandated by federal law, reports annually on the security of its campus. A copy of the Campus Security Report is available here:  Campus Safety Report

Clark OneCard

An identification card is issued during orientation to all new students without charge and is an official college ID. The Clark OneCard looks like an ordinary University ID, but it’s much more than that. The magnetic strip on the back of the Clark OneCard acts as a key to a number of services on campus including access to residential and academic buildings, athletic facilities, Dolan Field House, Dana Commons, Goddard Library, meal plans, and the CashCard Program.
The CashCard Program works like cash and can be used at both on- and off-campus venues. On-campus venues include Clark Dining Hall, Higgins Bistro, Clark Print & Copy Center, Clark Bookstore, and university print fees. For off-campus venues, please visit www.clarku.edu/onecard.
The cardholder should report a lost or stolen card immediately to University Police or the OneCard office located at 151 Woodland Street, 2nd floor. Visit www.clarku.edu/onecard for current office hours or to make an appointment. A fee is charged to replace lost or damaged cards.

Keys and Key Security

Room keys and mailbox combinations are issued to students upon arrival at Clark. Fees are charged for the replacement of keys that are lost during the year. It is mandatory to return room keys before leaving campus at the end of the academic year.

Varsity Athletics

Clark’s 17 intercollegiate varsity teams compete as a member of the Division III National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC, and the New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference (NEWMAC), which includes Babson College, Emerson college, MIT, Mount Holyoke College, Smith College, Springfield College, United States Coast Guard Academy, Wellesley College, Wheaton College and WPI.

Men’s varsity sports include baseball, basketball, cross country, lacrosse, rowing, soccer, swimming and diving, and tennis. The women’s varsity sports include basketball, cross country, field hockey, rowing, soccer, softball, swimming and diving, tennis, and volleyball. For more information view the athletics website at www.clarkathletics.com