2021-2022 Academic Catalog 
    
    Mar 19, 2024  
2021-2022 Academic Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Student Resources



Clark Alert

Clark ALERT is Clark University’s emergency notification system, which uses a variety of methods to contact students, faculty, and staff, including:

  • Text messages (SMS) to mobile devices
  • Voice calls to mobile phones and off-campus phone numbers.
  • E-mails to Clark and non-Clark addresses

It is important that students verify their contact information to receive these important announcements/alerts.

Housing

On-campus housing is available for undergraduate and graduate students through the Office of Residential Life and Housing.

Clark University can provide housing for approximately 1,650 undergraduate and graduate students in eight residence halls and 10 houses. All students are required to live in University housing for their first four semesters unless they are commuting from home within the Worcester city limits or receive an exemption from Residential Life & Housing. Residential Life and Housing professional and student staff are available to assist students with a variety of personal, social, and academic concerns. The staff strive to create a living-and-learning environment through social, recreational and educational events and initiatives.

Dodd Hall is designated as an all-women residence hall. The remaining seven halls are coeducational by room, floor, or wing. There are three residence halls focused on the First Year Experience - Wright, Bullock, and Dana. Dodd and Hughes are mixed-year buildings that house both first-year students and upper-class students.

New student assignments are typically finalized and communicated to first-year and transfer student in early July. Each year, returning students participate in the room selection process in March/April to select their rooms for the upcoming acaemic year. Approximately, one-third of students commute from home or live in private apartments in the immediate neighborhood.

Priority is given to graduate students who are signing up for a 10-month contract and who complete their housing requests by June 1, 2021 for the Fall semester and November 1, 2021 for the Spring semester. Graduate students are housed in RLH Houses on-campus.

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.

International Center

The International Center at Corner House provides services and programs to support anyone who identifies as an international student or who has a connection to a country or culture outside of the U.S.  The International Center includes 3 different departments that are co-located in Corner House: American Language and Culture Institute (ALCI), International Programs, and the International Students and Scholars Office (ISSO). While each office has its own specialization, everyone who works in the International Center is committed to supporting the needs of the international community at Clark.  

The programs and services the International Center provides are centered on enhancing the international student and scholar experience. We organize programs that create connections across campus, create spaces to ask questions, and support linguistic needs and cultural adjustment in classrooms.

The American Language and Culture Institute (ALCI) provides academic support for students for whom English is not their first language who are interested in further developing their English skills. 

The International Student and Scholars Office (ISSO) serves the needs of international students, researchers, and faculty through immigration advising and document processing. The ISSO advises more than 950 international students, faculty, scholars and their dependents from over 90 countries.

Multicultural and First Generation Student Support

Multicultural and First Generation Student Support assists students of ALANA (African-American, Latinx, Asian/Desi-American, Pacific Islander, Native/Indigenous-American and Multiracial) descent and first generation college students in the development and implementation of their academic, leadership and career goals. Our team empowers students holistically by providing access to cultural capital and resources to communities that have been systematically and historically underserved. Through mentoring, training and providing community spaces, we advocate, empower students to find their voice and provide support as they actualize their potential.

Support services include the ACE (Advancing Clark Excellence) Summer Institute, Connections@Clark, one-on-one advising, and student success workshops centered on topics such as: time management, financial literacy, and navigating microaggressions. We also offer affinity groups such as Sisters in Stride (for women-identified students of color), FOCUS (for men-identified students of color), Queer & Trans Students of Color (for students who want to explore the intersections among gender, sexual orientation, and racial identities), and student-led affinity spaces based on interest. Through these programs and initiatives, we seek to develop socially-conscious, empowered leaders who embody Clark’s mission to Challenge Convention and Change the World. Students can visit our website at Clarku.edu/offices/multicultural or contact the office with any questions at aa_ace@clarku.edu.

ROTC

Clark University undergraduate students may participate and earn course credit  in the 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 provides on-campus medical care to undergraduate and graduate 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 a physician on call when Health Services is closed.

Students need to call 508-793-7467 to make an appointment at Health Services with a clinician for diagnosis, treatment, follow-up or counseling regarding health problems. Gynecological and contraceptive services are available. Same day appointments are usually 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, new-undergraduate student orientation, wellness, health services, undergraduate student involvement and leadership development, support for undergraduate students of color and first-generation students, personal counseling, and conduct.

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.

University Police

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 Facilities Management maintain a network of 106 cameras and 56 indoor and outdoor emergency telephones to ensure a quick response to security concerns. A safety escort service called ClarkRIDE is available for students from 4 p.m. to 4 a.m. during the academic year within a mile of the Clark campus. Clark Rapid Response Squad 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

The Clark OneCard is your official University identification and should be carried with you at all times. The OneCard looks like an ordinary University ID, but it’s much more than that. The 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.

When the OneCard is used as a CashCard -comparable to a debit card- it can be used on and off campus. On-campus services and amenities include Clark Dining Hall, Higgins Bistro, Clark on-line bookstore, the Clark Campus Store, and university printing. A list of off-campus venues where the CashCard is accepted can be found on the OneCard webpage: https://www.clarku.edu/offices/onecard-cashcard/.

In order to request a OneCard, visit https://www.clarku.edu/offices/onecard-cashcard/. Most FAQ’s can be found on our webpage. A missing or damaged OneCard should be reported to University Police or the OneCard office as soon as possible.  A fee is charged to replace lost or damaged cards.

Varsity Athletics

Clark’s 17 intercollegiate varsity teams compete as a member of the Division III National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) 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, soccer, swimming and diving, and tennis. The women’s varsity sports include basketball, cross country, field hockey, lacrosse, rowing, soccer, softball, swimming and diving, tennis, and volleyball. For more information view the athletics website at www.clarkathletics.com