Emergency
Locator Service
Emergency assistance
in locating a student is provided by the Office of the Vice President for
Student Affairs during normal school hours, from 8:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m.,
Monday through Friday. The University Police Department will provide emergency
assistance in locating students on weekends and after 5:00 p.m. on weekdays
(678-915-5555).
Student
Housing
Southern Polytechnic
State University has two air-conditioned residence halls that provide space
for approximately 440 students - 80 women and 360 men. All rooms are occupied
by two students. Single room contracts are not usually available unless
medically-required, and then only as space permits.
In addition to providing a convenient and economical "home" on the campus, the residence halls also meet the student's physical needs of shelter, comfort and attractive surroundings. Living in the residence halls contributes to the educational development of each student through exposure to other students of varied backgrounds, experiences, and personal philosophies. Harmonious living, broadened horizons, and increased human understanding are all desired results of the residence experience.
The housing program is supervised by the Director of Housing and Residence Life who is assisted by professional staff and resident assistants. The primary function of the residence staff is to create and maintain a desirable environment for all residents.
Application
All new students who
have applied for admission to Southern Polytechnic State University and
who have requested information about on campus housing will be sent a Residence
Hall application. As space in the residence hall is limited, it is important
to make requests for on-campus housing early. The completion and return
of the Residence Hall application with a $75 deposit, sent to the Business
Office, indicates a request for housing. It does not guarantee housing.
When the completed form and deposit have been received, a notification
of housing status will be sent by Housing and Residence Life.
All new student assignments are made from a "waiting list." The waiting list is comprised of the Residence Hall applications once they have been received and dated by the Business Office and forwarded to Housing and Residence Life. The latest dated form is placed at the bottom of the waiting list, thereby ensuring that the student with the oldest request for housing is assigned the next available space in the halls.
New
Student Assignments
When housing space
is available to those on the waiting list, the Housing and Residence Life
Office will send a residence hall contract for completion. This contract
must be returned by the date specified at the top of the contract to ensure
a reservation of space.
The Director of Housing and Residence Life is responsible for all room assignments. Preferences for a specific residence hall will be honored whenever possible. Mutual roommate requests should be so marked on the application forms of both students. Consideration of a roommate request will be given providing the request is mutual and space is available.
Deposit
Refund
Students may request
a refund of their security deposit up to the time a contract has been offered
for the academic term for which they are requesting housing. Deposits are
refunded once a contract is fulfilled and if on-campus housing is no longer
desired. The deposit is forfeited if the contract is broken.
Student
Health Services
Limited out-patient
services for minor illnesses are provided by the school nurse who is on
duty Monday through Friday in the clinic located in the Recreation and
Wellness Center. If the nurse cannot provide sufficient medical treatment,
she may refer the student to a medical facility located near the campus.
Due to the limits on the health services provided by Southern Polytechnic
State University, each student is encouraged to have adequate sickness
and accident insurance through either a personal or family insurance policy.
International students are expected to have health insurance protection.
Southern Polytechnic State University is not responsible for any medical
expenses incurred by international students beyond those which are covered
for any student paying the Student Health Fee.
Student
Counseling Services
The Counseling Office,
located in the Student Center, offers a variety of services to students,
including help with personal/emotional, career, and academic concerns.
Personal concerns such as anxiety, depression, relationship problems, low self-esteem, low self-confidence, and communication issues can make it very difficult for students to gain the most from the university environment and from their classes. Professional counselors provide individual sessions for students seeking confidential assistance with these and other personal and emotional issues.
Part of the career development process involves increasing our self-understanding in such areas as our values, life goals, interests, and skills. The Counseling Office helps students increase their self-understanding and learn how to match their personal characteristics with the work environments that a university education makes possible for them.
Many students find university work more difficult than they expected and find that it strains their abilities. The Counseling Office assists students with academic skills in the following areas: stress management, overcoming test anxiety, test-taking strategies, academic motivation, and enhancing memory by understanding learning style.
The Counseling Office makes available to students a variety of tests that are adjunctive to counseling services. With the student's consent, these instruments are used by counselors when they feel that the data provided will facilitate the student's use of the service.
Counselors provide outreach programs on many topics, including stress management, assertiveness training, dealing with the blues, relationship building, and special student concerns.
All counseling services are free of charge, confidential, and are available on an appointment or a walk-in basis.
Specific
Learning Disability
The Counseling Office
is also responsible for providing special assistance for students diagnosed
as having specific learning disabilities. To become eligible for special
services at Southern Polytechnic State University, a student must verify
the specific learning disability by having a psychological evaluation on
file in the Counseling Office. This evaluation must:
Special services and considerations are available, under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and through the Counseling Office, to any learning disabled student at Southern Polytechnic State University. All such services are implemented on an individual basis. Resource programs and aids also include the Learning Resources Center, the central Computer Labs, the math help sessions, and the general faculty.
Career
Services
Placement
The Southern Polytechnic
State University Career Services Office provides a centralized placement
service for graduates and also assists students seeking full-time or part-time
employment. The Office provides assistance to students in preparing for
the job search and obtaining employment suited to their career goals and
aspirations. Services offered by the Career Services Office include assisting
in resume preparation, and interview skills development. In addition, the
Office maintains a library of employer and occupational information as
well as a part-time and temporary job opportunities listings.
Some of the employers who recruit at Southern Polytechnic State University are Scientific-Atlanta, Bell South, Hewlett Packard, Georgia Department of Transportation, Lockheed Martin, Milliken and Company, Shaw Industries, Johnson Controls, Southwire Company, Lockwood-Greene, Springs Industries, Weyerhauser, and Westinghouse.
To ensure productive career decision making, students are encouraged to make use of the Career Services Office as early as possible during their stay at Southern Polytechnic State University. Degree candidates should begin the job placement process three terms prior to their graduation.
Students interested in part-time or temporary employment should visit the Career Services Office and survey the jobs listed. In addition to being listed in the Career Services Office, part-time jobs are posted on the university web page. Some of the jobs require technical expertise; however, many require no experience. Most students seeking part-time employment are able to find suitable work in the metro area.
Alumni placement is also offered through the Career Services Office. Employment opportunities are posted in the Office and through the university home page. Resumes of alumni seeking employment can be maintained by the Career Services office for employer referral.
Cooperative
Education
Southern Polytechnic
State University offers its graduate students the opportunity to gain valuable
work experience related to their academic majors through a university-work
sponsored graduate cooperative education program. The graduate co-op plan
is provided on an optional alternating-semester basis in most degree programs.
Graduate co-op is founded on the principle that learning takes place through
practical experience as well as through academic achievement. In addition,
the graduate co-op programs help students in their career decision making
process and provide substantial support for education expenses.
The graduate co-op program can be started with industry in a number of ways: student contact, university referral, or industry initiation. The university Career Services Office refers students to employers after they have been accepted as a graduate co-op applicant, however, acceptance as a graduate co-op applicant does not guarantee a student's employment in a graduate co-op position. The employer has the final decision regarding offering co-op employment. Upon acceptance of a graduate co-op position, the student is expected to remain with that company for a minimum of two semesters.
Graduate co-op salaries are determined by the employer and normally increase with job responsibilities. Board and lodging during work terms are the responsibility of the student, but in most cases employers can provide assistance in locating suitable accommodations. Students with metro-Atlanta assignments may live in Southern Polytechnic State University residence halls. In addition, students with local graduate co-op work assignments are eligible to participate in all extracurricular, intramural, and health service activities on campus with the payment of the regular student athletic, activity, and health fees. Although no credit is awarded, graduate co-op students are viewed by the university as active, continuing full-time students during their periods of approved work experience for insurance and financial aid purposes.
Cooperative Education is available for graduate students on a limited basis. Graduate co-op students must have and maintain a 3.00 scholastic average, have completed a minimum of 10 hours in the graduate program at Southern Polytechnic State University and must be able to complete at least two co-op work periods. Graduate co-op students are responsible for developing their own work positions, which must be approved by the student's academic department as well as the Career Services Office.
The
Student Center
Southern Polytechnic
State University's Student Center includes food service and dining areas,
a 500 seat theater for films, concerts, lectures, and entertainment productions,
and bookstore and post office operations. Also provided are offices for
the Department of Student Activities, Student Support Services, a large
recreation room, and additional meeting rooms, lounges, and TV/video viewing
areas.
The student center is the focal point for the majority of entertainment activities provided by the Campus Activities Board including concerts, dances, and videos. Also, the student government, newspaper, yearbook, radio station, and fraternity/sorority offices are located here. The Student Center is where the Southern Polytechnic State University community comes together to eat, meet, relax, and be entertained.
Recreational
Sports
The Department of
Recreational Sports maintains a comprehensive program of activities that
appeal to the leisure time interests and needs of the campus community.
Activities available through the intramural sports program include competitive team sports leagues such as flag football, volleyball, basketball, and softball. There are also individual competitive tournaments such as billiards, golf, tennis and a free-throw contest. In addition to the intramural sports program, the department offers a club sport program, a wellness program, special events, and an outdoor recreation program. The outdoor recreation program sponsors various adventure trips throughout the year and a camping equipment rental program.
Recreational
Facilities
The Recreation and
Wellness Center, opened in the Summer of 1996, offers many recreational
opportunities to the student. A state of the art weight room that includes
free weights, selectorize, and cardiovascular equipment highlights the
facility. To go along with the weight room, the facility boasts a large
multipurpose gym that holds 2 basketball courts, 2 volleyball courts, 4
badminton courts, and a perimeter jogging/walking area. The Recreation
and Wellness Center also has 2 racquetball courts, locker room/shower,
and a pool complete with an outdoor sunbathing area. The pool can be used
for recreation, lap, and competitive swimming. The Department of Recreational
Sports and Campus Health Services are housed in the Recreation and Wellness
Center.
The Southern Polytechnic Outdoor Recreation Complex provides 3 softball fields and one large multipurpose field for student use. The intramural sports program makes use of these fields throughout the year with their flag football, soccer, and softball leagues. Also included in the complex are 9 tennis courts and a half-mile jogging trail. The Southern Polytechnic Tennis Team uses the tennis courts for matches and practice.
Athletic
Facilities
The Athletic Gymnasium
is home to the Southern Polytechnic Runnin’ Hornets Basketball Team. The
gymnasium is open for student use throughout the year. A locker room and
showers are available. The Athletic Department offices are located in the
Athletic Gymnasium.
The Walter Kelly, Jr. Field is home to the Southern Polytechnic Baseball Team.