Student Services

Computers for student use are located in the Academic Hall. There are two computer labs: one on the first floor for lowerclassmen and another on the second floor for upperclassmen. The labs open every morning at 8:00 a.m. and close at 9:45 p.m. except on feast days. Assistance from the on campus IT Support Desk can be reached by email at techelp@inteducators.org or by phone at ext. 304.

At the beginning of each semester, groups of two to three students will be assigned to each computer, in order to facilitate scheduling for computer use during academic periods. Each group is responsible for the careful use of their assigned computer and is asked to post a small schedule showing times of regular use.

Copy services are available for students. Request formats for academic related copies can be found in the Academic Hall. Request formats for copies not related to academics can be found in Domus Mariae Residence Hall. Please fill in the format completely, attach the originals and leave them in the place indicated on the format.

The dining room is located on the lower level of the Domus Mariae Residence Hall. Three meals and a snack are served daily, including weekends. The times of the meals and snack are posted.

Food is not permitted outside the dining room unless it is for college-sponsored excursions, meals served at the picnic tables on the back lawn, or meal trays brought to those who are sick.

Students are expected to help serve in the dining room, clean up and set tables by turns. Students not serving are asked to remain seated and ask the servers for what they need. At the end of the meal those at each table are asked to cooperate by stacking the remaining dishes on the tray that the servers leave.

Food Trays for students who are ill
When a student is ill, the Dean of Students will assign another student to prepare a tray and bring it to her room. The same student will collect the dirty tray as soon as possible, out of courtesy for the one who is sick.

Special Diets
Meals to accommodate those with allergies, health issues or other concerns are prepared daily. Students may arrange this with their Dean of Students.

Domestic and international fax services are available for students through their Dean of Students. The fax number for the lower classmen is 401-949-2310 and for the upperclassmen it is 401-949-0291. Anyone who expects to receive a fax is kindly asked to request that the senders write the recipient’s full name clearly at the top of the fax. Incoming faxes will be delivered to students’ mail boxes.

During non-academic periods, students may gather in the student center located at the back of the auditorium. At different times throughout the year, board game tournaments are organized or classical and instrumental music played. The news is shown each night for those who are interested.

Each freshman student will be given a photo ID card as well as their Mater Ecclesiae College library card during orientation.

Mater Ecclesiae College is proud of its large number of students from abroad and offers special services for them.

Arriving at the College
Foreign students who have previously applied and been accepted and are arriving at the approved time can arrange for transportation from the airport with the college by communicating directly with the Vice Director of Student Affairs.

Visas
Students who need to apply for or renew a visa may request assistance from the Immigration Liaison Office. This office is able to organize new applications as well as renewals.

Passport Renewal
The Immigration Liaison Office also assists with passport renewals. All students desiring this service are asked to contact the office three months before the passport expiration date.

Translation
As a student gains English proficiency, she is offered simultaneous translation, as well as a study partner. She will be placed in an ESL class, plus one-on-one tutoring if needed. She will also receive help from her academic adviser as well as the Dean of Students.

Library
The primary mission of the Mater Ecclesiae Library is to ensure that faculty and students have access to the library and information resources that are necessary to support Mater Ecclesiae’s educational programs and fulfill its academic mission. The library also strives to meet the co-curricular intellectual, cultural, and social needs of the students and faculty and to serve its alumnae, administrators, and employees. The library committee welcomes all comments and suggestions.

Copies of the Mater Ecclesiae Library User’s Guide are available in all library locations and will introduce you to the library’s four locations and services. It also provides the library’s circulation policies and procedures and explains how to use the Athena software and where to find the information you are looking for.

The library areas are open daily from 9:00am to 9:00pm. The librarian is available from 9:00-5:00 Monday to Friday to answer your questions and to provide one on one bibliographic instruction. If you have a question outside these hours, please leave a note in the in-box on her desk and she will get back to you. The librarian also provides small group instruction sessions during the academic year.

Academic advisers
Each student has an academic adviser to help her on an ongoing basis. This individual attention is the most effective tool for academic success and a great aid for personal growth. Academic advisers help each student attain greater self-knowledge; set academic goals for developing their intellectual aptitudes and areas of interest; review their progress; and find workable solutions to overcome specific challenges or special learning needs. Each student can consult her academic adviser at any time for academic needs or academic policy concerns.

Academic advisement allows the Mater Ecclesiae faculty to be attentive to student needs, to motivate, and to help resolve difficulties, expand horizons, and provide direction in assignments and research. The main areas of focus include the following:

Habits of intellectual work (convictions, interest, and breadth of horizons)
Methodology of study (classes, study periods, memory, note-taking, disciplined reflection)
Intellectual skills (analysis, synthesis, reflection, application, judgment, use of memory)
Fulfilling personal potential (time management, intellectual capacity, dedication)
Assimilation of subject matter
Participation in foreign language, academic presentations, debates, academic contests
Development of writing and public speaking skills

Remedial ESL
Courses are available for all non-English speaking students to improve reading and oral comprehension, speaking, and writing skills. Students greatly profit from individual instruction received in the ESL classes that helps them to improve rapidly. In these classes they receive support in their academic work as well as help toward conversational proficiency in English.

Video and Audio Cassette Collection
Due to various student requests, the library now has a large collection of video and audio cassettes for supporting language learning. Most of the topics complement course work. See the librarian.

Postal Services are available to students. Outgoing mail may be left in the place indicated by each Dean of Students. Student mail will be delivered to their personal mail box located in the Domus Mariae Residence Hall. Large packages that do not fit in the personal mail boxes will be delivered to the student by her Dean of Students.

Students may request the use of a vehicle by filling in the proper form at least five days in advance, specifying the dates and times the vehicle is needed. This form is then passed to the corresponding Dean of Students for approval.

All those using a vehicle must have previously had their license reviewed by the business manager’s office and have been approved on the Mater Ecclesiae insurance policy. Those who are on the list of approved drivers are required to attend all meetings held for drivers and to adhere to the procedures and rules that regulate the use of vehicles.

Drivers are asked to check the vehicle before departing, using the checklist provided, and to report any damage or maintenance problems immediately upon return. All drivers are asked to return the vehicle with at least ¾ tank of gasoline.

Drivers are asked to park college vans in the Academic Hall parking lot and the college cars and mini vans in the Domus Mariae Residence Hall parking lot. Please avoid driving or parking on the grass.

All drivers must respect the handicapped parking areas and keep all exits clear.

In the Domus Mariae Residence Hall students may store their luggage by leaving it in the marked area outside the dormitories on the second floor. Each student will be assigned a closet, a long term storage space, a book shelf, and a mail box.

In the Academic Hall students will be assigned a desk in which they may store their personal belongings as well as shelf space in the lockers located in their classroom.

Out of courtesy to fellow students and the cleaning staff, students are asked to keep their personal belongings in order and avoid leaving anything on the floor. Any student in need of more space is asked to request this with from her Dean of Students.