96-98 Undergraduate Catalogue

General Information Part VII


Department of Residence Life
Student Financial Aid
Academic Policy Manual and Student Guidelines
Computer Services
Newton Gresham Library
Coorespondence Course Division
Texas International Education Consortium
General Conduct and Campus Regulations
Student Absences
Student Life Programs and Services

DEPARTMENT OF RESIDENCE LIFE

RESIDENCE HALLS

The Department of Residence Life operates over thirty residence halls or housing units, including three apartment units for upperclassmen and families. A housing brochure which provides complete details of the housing program at Sam Houston, including information regarding specific residence halls, applicable rates, an application, and policies, is available upon request from the Department of Residence Life, Sam Houston State University, P.O. Box 2416, Huntsville, Texas 77341. Additional information may be obtained by calling (936) 294-1812.

A student is required to be enrolled in the University each semester, including summer, in order to reside in University housing. Either the husband or wife must be enrolled in the University while living in family apartments.

A housing application form is included with the housing brochure and may be filed in person or by mail. A deposit of $75 and a $100 prepayment of rent are required with the application for housing. Assignments are made on a space-available basis according to the date of application. Prior to the beginning of a semester, the student will be mailed a residence hall or apartment assignment, the appropriate arrival and check-in hours, and other information. The housing contract will be in effect and must be adhered to for the academic year. In some instances, contracts may be drawn for a period of one semester, if approval is obtained in advance.

Should you become unable to fulfill your reservation, a refund may be made under certain conditions. Please refer to the Housing Application for specific details regarding refunds which are determined by the date the cancellation is received.

Payment for housing may be made in full at registration or in an installment arrangement. Payment of rent, deposit and/or prepayment may be made via MasterCard and/or VISA, if desired. A late fee of $10 is charged on all payments received after established deadlines. Information on specific dates of payments and amounts due may be obtained from Department of Residence Life.

University residence halls are closed during Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays and during spring recess.

SAM HOUSTON STATE UNIVERSITY COLONY APARTMENTS

The University maintains two-bedroom, unfurnished apartments for upperclassmen and families. The apartments are located on Avenue H across from the University Theatre Center. All single residents must be enrolled. At least one member of the married family, either the husband or the wife, must be enrolled in the University.

UNIVERSITY FAMILY APARTMENTS

The University maintains two-bedroom apartments for families with either the husband or wife enrolled in the University. The apartments are furnished with the exception of living room furniture.

FRESHMEN REQUIRED HOUSING AND MEAL PLAN POLICY

All freshman students are required to reside in University housing and to purchase a 7-day 20 or 15 meal plan during their freshman year, which will normally include the Fall and Spring semesters. Anyone signing an academic year housing/meal plan contract will be required to fulfill the terms of that contract. Exceptions to the Freshman Required Housing and Meal Plan Policy may be made by the Department of Resident Life, if:

1. Residence in University housing will impose a significant hardship, financial or otherwise; or

2. you are married and living with your spouse; or

3. you commute from the home of your parents, grandparents, or a married brother or sister; or

4. you are a veteran of military service.

Sufficient evidence to warrant consideration for a waiver of this requirement must be submitted to the Department of Residence Life prior to registration. Registration for classes will be permitted only after the necessary arrangements for the housing/meal plan are made or approval of waiver of this requirement is obtained. A denial of this request may be appealed to the Residence Life Appeals Committee. Charges for both services will be added to the student's account until approval is obtained. Any student that does not comply with the above policy will be subject to disciplinary action as specified by the Code of Student Conduct as published in Student Guidelines.

FOOD SERVICE

Four meal plans are available at the time of this catalogue printing; 20, 15, 10, and 5 meal plans. These meal plans offer the given number of meals per week (Monday through Sunday). Students who purchase the 20 meal plan receive "Bonus Points" towards the Bearkat Express. The Bearkat Express is a declining balance account in which a minimum of $25 is deposited and the cash price of food purchases is deducted from the balance. Bearkat Express funds are nonrefundable. Bearkat Express is welcome at any ARAMARK managed campus dining facility. The 5 meal plan is an ideal choice for commuters. Rates and additional information are available from the Residence Life Office.

SUMMER HOUSING AND FOOD SERVICE

Summer accommodations vary from year to year because of renovation and maintenance schedules; however, facilities are offered to both single and married students. Rooms in large residence halls and efficiency apartments for single students, and apartments for families usually are open for summer school students. Assignments are made according to date of application.

Information concerning summer food arrangements (and additional information on housing) may be obtained from the Residence Life Office.

STUDENT FINANCIAL AID

The Student Financial Aid Office at Sam Houston State University is available to assist students in achieving their educational goals even when their personal or family finances are limited. While the student and his or her immediate family are primarily responsible for financing an education, the University recognizes its role in making a maximum effort to acquire additional funds for qualified students through a variety of aid programs.

Specific financial aid programs which the University administers are as follows:

SCHOLARSHIPS

University Scholarships

Transfer Scholarships

Departmental Scholarships

Designated Scholarships

Legislative Academic Scholarships

Student Property Deposit Scholarship

GRANTS

Pell Grant

Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant

Texas Public Educational Grant

Texas Public Educational-State Student Incentive Grant

EMPLOYMENT

Student Assistance (Institutional)

College Work Study Program (Federal)

LOANS

Short-Term Loan

Perkins Loan

College Access Loan

Stafford Student Loan

Parent Loans for Undergraduate Students

Emergency Tuition and Fees Loan Program

Various academic departments offer scholarships to students majoring in that particular discipline. Any student interested in a specific departmental scholarship may request further information from the chair of that department.

Detailed information on all assistance programs, eligibility requirements, student budgets, deadlines, and the method of aid processing is located in the Financial Aid Quick Reference bulletin. The bulletin, proper form(s) and application(s) for aid consideration may be obtained by inquiring in person in the Estill Classroom Building or by writing to the Office of Student Financial Aid, Sam Houston State University, P.O. Box 2328, Huntsville, Texas 77341-2328; (936) 294-1724. (Sometime during 1996-98, the Office of Student Financial Aid will be housed in temporary quarters pending renovation of the Estill Classroom Building.)

UNIVERSITY ACADEMIC POLICY MANUAL

AND STUDENT GUIDELINES

Sam Houston State University's Academic Policy Manual and Student Guidelines provide specific information pertaining to the educational procedures of the university and student conduct. Copies of these publications may be viewed at the Reference Desk in the Newton Gresham Library. Academic Policy Statements which may be of special interest to Sam Houston State University students include:

900823 Academic Grievance Procedures for Students

811006 Disabled Student Policy

861001 Student Absences on Religious Holy Days

810806 Student Educational Records

930226 Developmental Course Attendance

800521 Department Academic Distinction Program Policy

COMPUTER SERVICES

The University has developed a state-of-the-art fiber optic network connecting all major campus buildings. Attached to this network are servers for administrative functions, academic computing, and research computing. This network is also connected to the Internet, providing all students access to Internet mail, WEB servers, GOPHER servers, BBS's, IRC servers and many more valuable network resources. OpenVMS, Windows NT, and UNIX servers are available for use.

Computer accounts are available to all students. These accounts are kept active as long as a student is enrolled.

Client machines supported are PC and Macintosh workstations. These are contained in labs operated by the Computer Services department that are accessible by students 24 hours a day. Software for these client machines is maintained on a Windows NT server, and is available to all clients connected to the Campus network (SAMnet).

The administrative computer functions have been developed for the internal needs of the University and to serve the students with a convenient way to interact with the University. Examples are: telephone registration, electronic transcript transmission, and electronic funds transfer for financial aid loans. Also available for students is SamInfo, SHSU's campus-wide information system (CWIS). Through SamInfo, students may access libraries, change their addresses and majors, print their degree plans, and determine their university financial obligations.

Many students participate in building and maintaining the computing infrastructure at the University. More than 75 are employed by the Computer Services department during a year. They gain valuable experience for the future and provide an essential part of the operations of the department and university.

To access SamInfo via the Internet, TELNET SHSU.EDU with the username as SAMINFO. SHSU's WEB server address is https://www.shsu.edu. Questions regarding SHSU's computer resources may be addressed to HELPDESK@SHSU.EDU.

NEWTON GRESHAM LIBRARY

Fourteen librarians and 26 paraprofessionals provide reference, interlibrary loan, circulation, acquisitions, other library and information services to the faculty, staff and students of the university, as well as visiting scholars and off-campus residents. The Library contains more than 1.3 million books, bound periodicals, and government documents on open shelves.

Special groups of materials include paperbacks for recreational reading, children's literature, school curriculum material, and a public school textbook collection. The Library also houses a large collection of rare books on Texas, the Southwest, Mark Twain, Gertrude Stein, the Civil War, and Criminal Justice in the Thomason Room. The recently restored Peabody Building contains the University Archives.

Library holdings information is available through an online catalog that may be accessed from computer terminals located throughout the library and the campus. The Data Research Associates computer software is used for cataloging, acquisition, circulation and other purposes. The library subscribes to over 2,800 periodicals and is a depository for selected U. S. and state government publications. There are over 240,000 federal or state government documents in Newton Gresham Library.

Full access to bibliographic citations on a number of electronic databases such as ABI-INFORM, ERIC, Sociofile, NCJRS, and Psychlit are available from networked microcomputers throughout the campus area network. This same network provides access to the library holdings of thousands of other libraries in the world through the Internet. Material not available locally is easily obtained through the OCLC interlibrary loan system. It enables students and faculty to obtain books, journal articles and other materials from anywhere in the United States and many other countries in usually less than two weeks. Eligible faculty, staff and students may also use TexShare reciprocal borrowing and full-text article delivery services to obtain library material.

The Learning Assistance Center on the first floor of the library provides computer assisted learning, educational materials and tutoring services that will help students to pass the TASP (Texas Academic Skills Performance) Test. Focusing on reading, writing and mathematics skills, the TASP Test must be passed by all students before they enroll in courses beyond the sophomore level.

A number of guides and bibliographies have been developed by library faculty and staff to assist library users in utilizing library material and services. Also available are study carrels, two student lounges, typewriters, and a copy center with several photocopiers and a public fax machine.

CORRESPONDENCE COURSE DIVISION

Correspondence courses are offered for those students who wish to add to their academic program by individual study. A student is permitted to complete eighteen semester hours toward a bachelor's degree by correspondence course work. Correspondence courses may be completed in a minimum of sixty days or a maximum of one calendar year. All course work attempted for credit must be counted within the maximum semester load allowed by the University. Graduate level courses are not offered by correspondence. Correspondence courses do not earn residence credit.

Enrollment in correspondence courses may be completed at any time. Additional information, including a brochure listing the courses which are offered and an enrollment application, may be obtained by inquiring in person in 112 Bobby K. Marks Administration Building or writing to Correspondence Course Division, P.O. Box 2359, Sam Houston State University, Huntsville, TX 77341-2359. Telephone: (936) 294-1003, 294-1005, 294-3824.

TEXAS INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION CONSORTIUM, INC.

Sam Houston State University is a member of the Texas International Education Consortium, Inc. (TIEC), a non-profit organization which coordinates joint international educational activities in Texas for public institutions of higher education and engages in the separate and joint pursuit of international educational exchange. TIEC also assists institutions of higher education in Texas in building improved international education programs for students, faculty, visitors, and participants of other nations.

GENERAL CONDUCT AND CAMPUS REGULATIONS

It is expected that all Sam Houston State students are on campus for serious educational pursuits and that they will conduct themselves so as to preserve an appropriate atmosphere of learning. It is also expected that all students who enroll at Sam Houston State agree to assume the responsibilities of citizenship in the campus community. While enrolled, students are subject to University authority which includes the prerogative of dismissing those whose conduct is not within the aims and policies of the University. Students are responsible for abiding by all published University rules and regulations as printed in this catalogue, in the student handbook, Student Guidelines, and in other official University publications. Failure to read these publications will not excuse the student from the requirements and regulations described therein. In addition, students should be familiar with House Bill 141 of the 61st Legislature on Disruptive Activities and Senate Bill 24 of the 70th Legislature on Hazing, extracts of which can be found in Student Guidelines.

STUDENT ABSENCES ON RELIGIOUS HOLY DAYS

Section 51.911 of the Texas Education Code requires that an institution of higher education shall allow a student who is absent from class for the observance of a religious holy day to take an examination or complete an assignment scheduled for that day within a reasonable time after the absence. The student, not later than the 15th calendar day after the first day of the semester, or the 7th calendar day after the first day of a summer session, must notify the instructor of each scheduled class that he/she would be absent for a religious holy day. Refer to the Academic Calendar for the deadline date for notification by students to the faculty members of the student's intent to be absent on religious holy days.

STUDENT LIFE PROGRAMS AND SERVICES

DIVISION OF STUDENT LIFE

The role of the Division of Student Life is to complement the total educational mission of the university by providing opportunities for students to develop and grow in an academic environment. This is accomplished by offering quality programs and stresses the holistic approach in co-curriculum involvement. Studies indicate that learning occurs in an environment conducive to social, recreational, educational, and intellectual interaction. A variety of Student Life programs are designed to foster such interaction with students, faculty, staff, and the university community. The goal of the division is to contribute to the learning experiences of our students, helping them to become educated, enlightened, and empowered in ways that they can achieve and contribute as productive citizens in college, community, and country.

Office of the Associate Vice President for Student Services/Dean of Student Life

The Office of the Associate Vice President for Student Services/Dean of Student Life provides administrative leadership, supervision, and coordination for the Division of Student Life. The division includes the following departments: Career Services; Counseling and ADA Services, which includes disabled student services; Health Center; Lowman Student Center; Public Safety-Services; Recreational Sports and Activities; Students' Legal Services; Student Activities Office, and the Office of Student Life.

Office of Student Life

The Office of Student Life represents student needs to the university administration, faculty, and staff and also transmits needs of these groups to the students. This office will assist students who have questions about any phase of campus life.

The professional staff is responsible for the administration of a number of policies and procedures found in Student Guidelines, the student handbook. These include student conduct and judicial processes, and certain provisions of the Family Rights and Privacy Act. In addition, the office is responsible for Who's Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges; the Freshman Leadership Program; Orange Key Program; Alpha Lambda Delta, a freshman Honor society; advising the Parents' Association; and working with the New Student Orientation Program. The office, in an effort to promote individual group development of students, co-sponsors educational programs and leadership development workshops.

The Office of Student Life is located in Room 335 of the Lowman Student Center, (936) 294-1785. Office hours are 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.

BEARKITTEN ACADEMY

SHSU offers students with children access to a convenient, affordable child care center. The goal of this new program is to make it possible for students with children to start or continue their education at SHSU. The Bearkitten Academy is a full-service, certified child care center, with qualified teaching and support staff. Emphasizing a solid education foundation, the center provides quality child care in a healthy environment which promotes learning and developmental growth for each child. Please call (936) 293-8877 for rates, hours of operation, and other information.

CAREER SERVICES

The Career Services staff assists students and graduates of Sam Houston State University in their search for employment which is appropriate to their interest, skills, academic preparation and personal aspirations. Opportunities and resources are provided to assist students in learning the life-long process of career planning, career choice and rewarding employment.

Various programs and services are offered which provide opportunities for students of all majors to learn about careers and to meet with employers. Specific services include on-campus interviews, database referrals to employers, credential file service (Career Files), job vacancy announcements and listings, practice interviews and individual assistance. Resume writing, interviewing skills, and the process of searching for a job are taught through regularly scheduled workshops as well as by individual appointment. The Career Planning and Placement Center sponsors special events such as the annual Career Fair, Teacher Job Fair, Teacher Interview Day, and the Summer Job and Camp Fair. The Center also participates in the National Minority Career Expo and the Texas MBA Job Fair.

The Career Library contains many resources to assist students in learning about careers and in finding internships, summer jobs, and professional employment. Printed materials of employers of new college graduates, information and applications from area school districts, job market information and applications for Federal and state governmental positions, and materials on summer camps and internships. Several series of books discuss career options and employment opportunities in all fields of interest and provide answers to the question, "What can I do when I graduate?" Numerous video tapes and books also provide information on job searching skills and specific employers.

The Career Services staff provides many free materials such as a resume workbook, a handbook for teachers, directories of employers, career magazines, brochures, literature from employers, and handouts on all the topics of job hunting. Career Services is located at the corner of Avenue J and 16th Street. Further information on career planning and placement services may be obtained by calling (936) 294-1713.

COUNSELING CENTER

Professional counseling services are available to students in the Counseling Center, North Annex of the Lee Drain Building. A team of professional counselors provides educational, vocational and personal-social counseling to individuals and small groups. Groups assist students with assertion training, social skills or shyness, eating disorders, and abuse victim assistance.

One counselor has specialized training to assist students with 12-step groups. Stress management training is an ongoing program accomplished with biofeedback equipment to assist students with test anxiety. Students who need to choose a major may benefit from interest tests and SigiPlus, a computerized career exploration program. Computerized programs assist students in determining deficiencies in study skills and providing remediation in the needed areas. Students are encouraged to utilize any of these services as the need may arise. All transactions in the Counseling Center are strictly confidential. There are no charges except for nominal fees for tests.

DISABLED STUDENTS SERVICES

The staff of the Counseling Center and ADA office (Americans with Disabilities Act) can assist disabled students with their various needs for assistance. Also, the Committee for Continuing Assistance for Disabled Students which is composed of representatives from the faculty and staff and is chaired by the Director of the Counseling Center, assists students with academic disabilities.

Students may, but are not required to, avail themselves of assistance provided for disabled students by contacting the Director of the Counseling Center and the ADA office at (936) 294-1720 for an appointment. Students may request assistance from individual faculty members, department chairs, or deans. If necessary, the faculty member or administrator contacted should refer the student who is seeking assistance to the Chair of the Committee for Continuing Assistance for Disabled Students, (936) 294-1720.

Students with disabilities may avail themselves of Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) and computer work stations with large-print and speech output capabilities in the Newton Gresham Library and the Counseling Center and ADA office. Students may also request registration assistance by calling the Registrar's Office (936) 294-1040 or admissions information by calling the Office of Undergraduate Admissions (936) 294-1828.

Telecommunication Device for the Deaf (TDD). Instruments for the deaf are located as follows with corresponding telephone numbers:

Associate Dean of Student Life: (936) 294-3785

Counseling Center: (936) 294-3786

University Police: (936) 294-3787

Office of Undergraduate Admissions: (936) 294-3788

Registrar's Office: (936) 294-3789

Faculty members will inform students of the existence of the Committee for Continuing Assistance for Disabled Students. Classes scheduled in buildings which are not accessible to the disabled will be rescheduled or rearranged as necessary through the Registrar's Office. Disabled students may also wish to become involved in Barrier Free, an organization which provides support and important information. Further information may be obtained by calling (936) 294-1376.

HEALTH CENTER

The Health Center, located at the corner of Avenue J and 16th Street, provides routine medical and minor emergency services to all currently enrolled Sam Houston State University students. The general operating hours are 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Patients are accepted, on a first-come-first-served basis, between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. and 4:30 p.m.

The cost of a physician visit is covered by the Student Service Fee paid at the time of registration and is, therefore, free of charge. There is a charge for laboratory tests, prescription drugs and certain procedures. These charges are due at the time services are rendered. These charges are at discount rates that are well below the general medical community. Primary Services: diagnosis, treatment, referral; routine health checks (except blood pressure), allergy injections; wound care/dressing changes; TB and HIV testing; women's exams; pharmacy; lab; health education and counseling.

In addition to medical treatment, the Health Center is available to all students as a resource for health education, prevention programs, and general health information. Students with questions about any health issue are urged to contact the Health Center.

In the case of emergency situations on campus, it is the policy to call the University Police, who will respond to your emergency and help assess the situation. In the case of severe injury or illness, please call 911 for emergency medical response. Emergencies requiring intervention should be taken to Huntsville Memorial Hospital emergency room.

Student health insurance is available through the Health Center. For applications, deadlines, information, and claim forms -- please contact the Health Center, telephone (936) 294-1805.

LOWMAN STUDENT CENTER

The Lowman Student Center is the community center for all members of the University family -- students, faculty, administrators, alumni, and guests. It is more than a building; it is an organization and a program, which together represent a well-considered plan for the community life of the University constituencies. The Lowman Student Center provides many of the services, conveniences, and amenities which members of the University community require in their daily life on the campus. Dining facilities, meeting rooms, a theater, an art gallery, a recreation area which includes table tennis and billiards, electronic games, a commuter lounge, study carrels, a music listening room, a reading room, TV rooms, and many other facilities are found in the LSC. The Student Center provides a convenient setting for informal association and interaction outside the more formal classroom setting.

As a department of Sam Houston State University, the LSC seeks to provide co-curricular and informal educational experiences by hosting distinguished speakers, top quality performing artists and cultural events in an effort to make free-time activity a cooperative factor in education. In addition, many opportunities for personal involvement and professional experience on a volunteer basis are available to students through the many programs that are presented in the LSC.

Distinguished speakers, top quality performing artists, and cultural events provide co-curricular and informal educational experiences in an effort to make free-time activities a cooperative factor in education. The LSC also serves as a unifying force in the life of the University cultivating and nurturing an enduring regard and loyalty to the University.

PUBLIC SAFETY-SERVICES

University Police

University Police Officers are licensed peace officers as defined under the laws of the State of Texas and thereby have the authority as peace officers. Their primary jurisdiction, under H.B. 391, includes all counties in which property is owned, leased, rented, or otherwise under the control of Sam Houston State University.

The University Police Officers subscribe to the Law Enforcement Code of Ethics, a portion of which reads, "As a law enforcement officer, my fundamental duty is to serve mankind; to safeguard lives and property; to protect the innocent against deception, the weak against oppression or intimidation, and the peaceful against violence or disorder; and to respect the Constitutional rights of all citizens to liberty, equality, and justice". In this endeavor, the University Police earnestly solicit the support of the faculty/staff and students. Many officers are students thus providing a balance within Public Safety-Services from a student's perspective.

In addition to University regulations, all the general and criminal laws of the State and the United States are declared to be in full force and effect within the properties of Sam Houston State University. All persons are responsible for compliance with these laws.

All thefts, vehicle accidents, or other offenses that occur on campus should be reported immediately to the University Police. The University Police Building is located at 843 S. Sam Houston Avenue (Sam South) -- Telephone Number 294-1794. Police Officers are on duty 24 hours every day. The Business Office hours are 7:30 a.m. until 5:00 p.m., Monday - Friday.

Safety Office

The University Safety Office is responsible for administering safety programs designed to assure a safe and healthful campus environment for all students, faculty, and staff. These programs include fire, health, and occupational safety, as well as safety audits and investigations of any unsafe conditions or safety hazards reported within the campus community. Any person noting a safety hazard on our campus is urged to report the condition to the Safety Coordinator as soon as possible, telephone (936) 294-1921. The Safety Office is located in the University Police Building, 843 S. Sam Houston Avenue (Sam South).

Parking Permits

Students, full or part-time, who operate or expect to operate a motor vehicle, motor cycle, or motor assisted cycle on University property, regularly or occasionally, are REQUIRED to register the vehicle with the Department of Public Safety-Services and obtain a parking decal assigning a designated color area for parking. The University reserves the right to require proof of ownership of the vehicle being registered. Parking and Traffic Regulations and Information governing the operation of motor vehicles is issued with each parking permit and is available in administrative offices. Failure to read the regulations is not an excuse for failure to comply with the regulations.

RECREATIONAL SPORTS AND ACTIVITIES PROGRAM

The Department of Recreational Sports and Activities offers broad-based recreational programming in the areas of Intramural Sports, Open Recreation, Aquatics, Club Sports, Outdoor Recreation, and Special Events. Facilities managed by the Department of Recreational Sports and Activities include the Health and Kinesiology Center (which houses four basketball courts, 1/8-mile indoor running track, ten racquetball courts, weight room, and courts for badminton and pickleball), eight outdoor McAdams Tennis Courts, two outdoor sand volleyball courts, Bernard G. Johnson Coliseum, two outdoor and one indoor swimming pools, and three athletic fields used for Intramurals. In addition, the Department is responsible for the Pritchett Field Complex which includes two athletic fields used by club sports, an outdoor running track, and a weight room.

The Intramural program offers a variety of team, dual, and individual sports. In addition to two separate leagues for those with a competitive motivation and a recreational league, there are three divisions--men's, women's, and co-recreational. The Informal Recreational program is designed to offer opportunities in self-directed recreational pursuits. Informal "free play" is an ideal alternative for those not interested in team affiliation, nor the commitment needed for club sports. The Outdoor Recreation program offers an extensive outdoor recreation rental program (tents, canoes, etc.) and the trip program (backpacking the Big Bend or skiing in Colorado are examples). The Club Sports program accommodates individuals who have an interest in competitive sports such as soccer, volleyball, and rugby. Special events such as concerts, sports trivia bowl competition, and fun days are also a responsibility of the Department.

The Department also provides employment opportunities for students who are interested in part-time work. Over 300 student positions are filled annually in the areas of Intramural Officiating, Facility Supervision, Aquatics, and Special Events.

The informal relationships which are established through involvement in sport and recreational activities are an integral part of a student's life. The Department of Recreational Sports and Activities invites students to become active participants in one or more of the various forms of leisure time activities available. For information pertaining to any of these Recreational Sports activities, stop by the administrative offices located on the first floor of the Health and Kinesiology Center or call (936) 294-1985 or 294-1966.

STUDENT ACTIVITIES

The Department of Student Activities provides leadership and advisement to the Student Government Association, Program Council, student organizations, fraternities, sororities, multicultural and international student services, and the general student programming population. The Department offers quality programs and services that embrace a student development philosophy. The Department also provides an environment conducive to learning through involvement in co-curricular activities.

The Department plans and implements campus leadership training programs for student groups, plans university-wide student programs, and coordinates the university's master calendar of activities. It helps students understand university policies and procedures, provides technical assistance in planning student events.

There are approximately 190 registered student organizations at Sam Houston State University. Professionally trained staff assists students in choosing a particular organization according to their needs or interests.

For more information, contact the Department of Student Activities located in Room 316 of the Lowman Student Center, or call (936) 294-FUN-1.

Multicultural Programs

In order to provide the Sam Houston Sate University community with diverse cultural experiences, the Multicultural/International Student Services Office coordinates the programming for Black History Month, Hispanic Heritage, and International Student Programs. The specific purpose of these programs is to: (1) promote cultural awareness in the University community, (2) enhance and cultivate leadership, social and academic skills through participation in cultural programs, (3) assist in the retention and graduation of students of color, (4) provide a vehicle by which culturally diverse students can share ideas and talents through a variety of workshops and presentations, and (5) facilitate individual experiences so they explore, identify and evaluate their beliefs and values.

Program Council

Many opportunities for personal involvement and professional experience, on a volunteer basis, are available to students through the Student Center Program Council. The Program Council is the student programming board that creates and sponsors many entertaining events and activities on campus. By utilizing the time and ideas of students, the Program Council plans a variety of social, cultural, and recreational activities. Membership is open to any student interested in the opportunity to develop leadership skills, to participate in presenting campus programs, and to meet other students with similar interests.

Student Government Association

The Student Government Association exists for the sole purpose of serving the student community. It is the political voice and liaison for the student body. The University recognizes the need and worthwhile contribution of student input in all facets of the university decision-making processes. The Student Government Association has long been active in this regard and has worked for the betterment of student life and academic quality. The student body participates in the development and management of a well-rounded program of student activities by electing the Student Government Association officers and Student Senators. Each college within the University elects its representatives, the number being determined by the percentage of students majoring in the academic departments within the academic college.

Student Organizations

A variety of student organizations provide University students an opportunity to become involved in campus life. Information regarding University-recognized organizations can be obtained from the Office of Student Life. University recognition is renewed each fall and spring, therefore, the listings are subject to change.

STUDENTS' LEGAL SERVICES

This office advises enrolled students about their legal problems. All legal matters may be discussed in complete confidentiality. At the present time, we offer these services to students in the areas of greatest need -- landlord-tenant, consumer protection, and other miscellaneous interpersonal disputes.

The Legal Advisor will consult and guide students through their legal problem(s) via self-help procedures and written materials concerning their legal issue(s). By guiding the student through the procedures required in an administrative or judicial proceeding, it is anticipated that the student will be able to effectively deal with these problems both currently and in the future. However, when the problem is of such a nature that legal representation is immediately needed, referral to a practicing attorney in that area of specialization is made.

Mediation services, a fast, economical and confidential way to resolve disputes, is offered. Students sit down with a trained neutral third party (a qualified mediator) who facilitates an agreement between the parties. Mediation allows the Students' Legal Advisor to help in the area of student to community disputes, but more importantly in the area of student to student disputes.

The Legal Advisor's office is located in the North Annex of the Lee Drain Building. Consultation is by personal appointment only; however, the Legal Advisor has scheduled appointment times that allow students with various schedules to obtain an appointment.

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