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The Division of Student Affairs at Providence College promotes the educational development of the student outside of the classroom. In addition to providing services which address the students’ personal needs while attending college, these efforts include the social, cultural, and recreational resources which make for a complete college experience.
Programs and services include personal and career counseling, residential life, student health, safety and security, student conduct, off-campus living, non-varsity athletics, student multicultural activities, and student activities, clubs, and organizations. Complementing student affairs is the Office of the Chaplain/Campus Ministry, which focuses on students’ spiritual growth and development.
Student Services
Personal Counseling Center
The Personal Counseling Center provides a professional counseling service for students who may be dealing with stress, anxiety, or other personal or emotional problems. The center offers individual counseling on a walk-in and appointment basis. In addition, the center makes available a wide range of resources including self-help literature, workshops, and counseling/support groups, as well as crisis intervention and assistance with substance abuse. For students requiring services that are more intensive or longer-term than what is offered by the counseling center, referral assistance is offered. All services are confidential within the limits of the law and professional ethics.
Health Services
The College provides health services to its students during the academic year. The Student Health Center is staffed by two nurse practitioners and one physician. Appointments are necessary to meet with one of the providers. The center provides laboratory services but does not provide x-ray or surgical services, treatment for major illnesses, or allergy shots. The staff refers students who need those services to either a local hospital or off-campus provider, and students assume financial responsibility for those services.
When the center is closed, from 4:30 p.m. to 8:30 a.m. (Monday through Friday) and 24 hours on Saturday, Sunday, and holidays, emergency medical services are provided by on-campus emergency medical technicians.
Complete Medical Record: All incoming freshmen and transfer students are required to submit a complete medical record on forms supplied by the College and signed by their provider. It is the responsibility of each student to update his or her medical record whenever there is a change in health status, insurance, or other relevant information. Every student is required to have medical insurance and must provide proof of insurance.
Services for Students with Physical Disabilities
Providence College helps students with physical disabilities to access the College’s educational programs and activities, including but not limited to its living spaces, classrooms, priority scheduling, and recreational activities. Specially-equipped dorm rooms and additional rooms in the apartment complex for upperclassmen are provided for those students who need them. Accommodations for transportation to off-campus College-related events may be arranged in advance through the Office of Student-Activities-Involvement-Leadership. Academic support services are also available to persons with disabilities through the Office of Academic Services.
The College provides services to students in compliance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, and relevant Rhode Island law. To protect the interests of students who are entitled to reasonable accommodations based on their disability, the College has established Student Procedures for ADA/504 Grievance Resolution:
Any student with a documented disability who believes he or she has been discriminated against on the basis of that disability may use this process to file a grievance with the College. The following process is designed to help the student and the College reach an understanding of the situation and resolve any differences in as cooperative, respectful, and timely a manner possible.
- Informal attempt to resolve
A student who has a grievance with a College employee (staff/faculty/administrator) is encouraged to first attempt to resolve the matter by meeting with that individual. The purpose of the meeting is to reach a mutual understanding of the student’s situation and the employee’s actions. The student has five business days from the date of the action being grieved, or the date the student learns of the aggrieved action, to initiate this discussion.
If the meeting with the allegedly non-compliant employee proves unsatisfactory, or if it is impractical to consult with that individual, the student should seek the assistance of the employee’s supervisor within 10 calendar days of the aggrieved action. The purpose of this interaction is for the supervisor to attempt to work with both parties to reach a resolution.
It is strongly recommended the student keep a written record/log of all attempts to reach resolution of the problem.
- Formal attempt to resolve
If no satisfying resolution is reached after the above informal attempts to resolve are made, or if the student chooses to bypass the above informal attempts, the student may file a formal complaint in writing with the Chairperson of the College’s Disability Services Committee. A formal complaint should be submitted as soon as possible, but certainly within a reasonable amount of time after the problem occurred.
The written complaint should be as brief and factual as possible, citing the date and time of occurrence, and the precise nature of the problem, along with the hoped-for outcomes or relief. A listing of all meetings in which attempts were made to resolve the problem must also be included.
Within five business days of receipt of the request for a hearing, the Disability Services Committee will convene. The committee will review written submissions and provide the student with an opportunity to present his/her complaint. The committee may interview the person(s) against whom the complaint is made as well as other members of the College community as deemed necessary. Every reasonable effort will be made to preserve confidentiality to the extent possible. Members of the College community asked to provide information are mandated to cooperate with the committee. The student who has filed a complaint may be accompanied by an advisor who is a member of the College community. Advisors may not be attorneys, and certain employees may be precluded from serving as advisors. The advisor’s role is limited to providing support and consultation; the advisor may not actively participate in the hearing. The hearing will be closed to persons other than those who are directly involved. Within five business days of the conclusion of the hearing, the committee will submit in writing its recommendation to the respective divisional vice president.
Within five business days of receipt of the recommendation, the divisional vice president, who is not required to conduct a hearing and who may consider the matter on written submission, will issue a decision to the student and provide a copy of the decision to the committee chairperson.
If the student is not satisfied with the divisional vice president’s decision, the student may, within five business days, submit a written appeal to the College’s executive vice president, who is not required to conduct a hearing and who may consider the matter on written submission. Within five business days, the executive vice president will issue a decision to the student and provide a copy to the committee chairperson. The decision of the executive vice president is final.
The above procedural steps do not limit the student or any of the College community members directly involved with the problem from attempting to resolve the matter at any time during the formal complaint process. The time frames listed above may be adjusted for compelling reasons with explanation and notification to the student (i.e.: essential individuals and/or information are not readily available).
Use of this grievance procedure does not limit an individual’s pursuit of other remedies, including the right to pursue a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Civil Rights. Visit the following Web page: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/qa-complaints.html or call: 1.800.421.3481.
Safety and Security
The Office of Safety and Security operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, year-round. The principal objective of the Providence College Office of Safety and Security is to safeguard members of the College community and to protect private and institutional property on campus. As a service organization, the security department attempts to contribute to the transition to College community life by stressing the importance of crime prevention, the individual’s obligation to take necessary precautions, the cooperation of each member of the College community to safeguard personal and College property, and the care that must be taken to comply with fire regulations. Paper copies of the Annual Security and Fire Safety Report are available at the Office of Safety and Security.
Policy on Drug-Free Campus
Providence College, in compliance with the Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act Amendment of 1989, has adopted and implemented a program to prevent the illicit use of drugs and the abuse of alcohol by students and employees of the College, which includes enforcement of policies and standards of conduct with respect to behavior on College property, and behavior at any College-sponsored events.
Career Education Center
The mission of the Career Education Center is to help students identify, enhance, and accomplish their career, personal and professional development, internship, job search, and educational goals in the transition from college to life after PC.
Services include a number of distinct career development and job search programs, presentations by career experts, workshops, special events, how-to materials, and access to an extensive variety of library and online career, internship, and job search resources.
Students may meet individually with Career Advisors during daily “Quick Question” Hours or by appointment.
The Career Education Center focuses on the career development of students in the areas of self-assessment, major and career exploration, goal-setting, career networking, internships, and graduate school exploration, as well as helping students link their skills, interests, and values to entry-level jobs, long-term career paths, graduate and professional school programs, or all three. The Career Education Center hosts an extensive calendar of events and programs, and keeps students regularly informed through email, e-newsletters, social media accounts, and a detailed Web site. The Career Assistants, a group of trained student paraprofessionals, regularly sponsor career development seminars in the residence halls and provide individual peer advice to students.
Key programs include: the Major/Minor Fair; Fall Career & Graduate Fair & Internship Showcase; Spring Career & Internship Fair; the Academic Internship Program; the Winter Break Shadowing Program; Alumni-Student Networking Nights in Boston, New York, Washington DC and Providence; the President’s Council Executive Mentor Program; On-Campus Recruiting; and on-and off-campus career fairs and career related events.
Internships
The Career Education Center is the central campus resource for students interested in school-year or summer internships. Internships can be volunteer, paid, and/or for academic credit. Academic internships (three credits, 10-12 hours per week for one semester) are typically available to eligible juniors and seniors. Students interested in enrolling in an academic internship course should consult the academic department related to their internship interest and meet with the internship career advisor in the Career Education Center as needed for assistance with the internship process. The office posts internship listings in an online system called eFriars, as well as links to other online internship search resources. Further information regarding internships and academic procedures is available in the academic section of this catalog.
Career Education Center Resources and Web Site
The Career Education Center maintains a career library; distributes numerous educational publications; keeps students informed of events and programs; and provides resources for self-assessment, major and career exploration, the internship search, the job search, and the graduate and professional school process. Resources include eFriars, an online system for internships and entry-level recruiting; FriarLink, an online networking group for connecting with alumni for career information and advice; a web page on the graduate and professional school preparation process; and a number of career, internship, and job-listing resources and links.
Residential Life
On-Campus Living
Beginning with the Class of 2019, all members of the freshman, sophomore, and junior classes must reside on campus, with the exception of those who commute from the home of a parent or guardian, are married, or have a compelling reason to reside off campus. All students who reside on campus must be full-time students in the day school and regularly attend the classes for which they are registered. All students who reside on campus must do so for the entire academic year; thus, residential students are responsible for all charges associated with that one-year commitment.
Students who have been approved for participating in study abroad or the Washington Semester program and require on-campus housing for one of the two semesters during the same academic year must apply and receive permission from the office of residence life or her designee. Exceptions to the provisions in this paragraph are for extraordinary circumstances only and rarely granted, and must be obtained in writing from the office of residence life.
The housing contract for resident students is binding for the entire academic year. Students residing in an apartment complex are charged a room fee and may elect any meal plan offered by the College. Students residing in the traditional halls or suites are required to purchase at least a minimum meal plan as prescribed by the College. The contract for room and board terminates 24 hours after one’s final examination in May. However, exemptions may be granted by the dean of residence life or her designee.
In the apartment complexes, suites, and traditional halls, rooms are fully furnished. Students are responsible for bringing their own linens, pillows, blankets, and personal items. The apartment complexes, suites and traditional halls follow the academic calendar and are closed during the vacation periods. Any exceptions to the aforementioned must be approved by the office of residence life.
Every residential building provides Internet access, cable TV access, a laundry facility, and study lounge space.
Traditional Residence Halls
The College has eight traditional residence halls with single, two-, three-, and four-person rooms, predominately occupied by freshman and sophomore students. These traditional halls are gender-specific by floor and/or building and are secured by the College’s card access system. Each building has its own unique setting and environment.
Apartment Complexes
The College has five apartment-style student residence buildings. Three buildings are comprised of six-person apartments, wherein there are three two-person bedrooms, while two buildings are comprised of four-person apartments (two bedrooms with two students per room). All apartments provide full kitchens (including a dishwasher) and are fully furnished. Not included in the full kitchens are a garbage disposal and microwave. Students are responsible for providing their own cookware, eating utensils, and cleaning supplies.
The Suites
In addition to apartment-style living, the College offers suite-style residence living. The suites feature two- or three-person bedrooms, with an adjoining common living area that accommodates four, five, six, or seven persons per suite (two to three bedrooms). Each suite provides an efficiency-style area equipped with a refrigerator, a microwave, sink, and countertop space.
Leadership Opportunities
Each residence hall provides ample opportunity for students to showcase their leadership abilities and contribute to their community. A student may apply to be a Resident Assistant, participate in the Hall Council, or take part in activities and events within his/her residence hall. In addition to fostering a positive community environment, the Office of Residence Life provides various student resources, including 24-hour-a-day, 7-day-a-week emergency response services.
Off-Campus Living
Providence College offers assistance and advice to seniors who wish to live off campus. The Office of Off-Campus Living provides students with assistance in securing off-campus accommodations and roommates. Assistance is available to students in all matters related to off-campus living, from landlord and roommate problems to legal concerns.
Beginning with the Class of 2019, all students who do not commute from the home of their parent or guardian will be required to live on campus during their freshman, sophomore, and junior years. Each year that a student wishes to live off campus, he or she must have permission from the office of residence life. Students are advised not to sign leases until that permission has been granted. Graduate students, married students, and local students living with parents are exempt from this permission requirement.
All students living off campus, including commuter students, are required to register their local off-campus address, current telephone number, and e-mail contact information with the Office of Citizenship and Off-Campus Living by the beginning of the second week of classes by emailed housing@providence.edu.
Office of the Chaplain/Campus Ministry
The chaplains, staff, and student leaders who make up the Campus Ministry team at Providence College bring together students, faculty, and staff for prayer, worship, and learning. Campus Ministry promotes the building of a genuine Christian community through a vibrant sacramental life, which includes daily and Sunday celebrations of the Eucharist and regular opportunities to celebrate the sacrament of reconciliation. Through its many services and programs, Campus Ministry helps students explore their faith and serve their community. The goal of Campus Ministry is to help students integrate spiritual, academic, and personal growth.
The chaplain of the College is a Dominican Friar, who together with the other chaplains and campus ministers, is responsible for the pastoral care of the entire College community. The chaplain is always available to help and support students in times of crisis or difficult decision making.
The chaplains and campus ministers reach out to students of all faiths to offer pastoral support and promote full spiritual and personal development. Recognizing the impact we can have on society by working together and sharing the gifts with which we have been blessed, Campus Ministry offers members of the College community many opportunities to work for social justice through reflection groups, prayer vigils, and direct volunteer service to the local community.
Campus Ministry also seeks to help train future leaders for society and the Church. This is done through the retreats program, as well as through lectures, workshops, and opportunities for involvement in ministry to the College faith community.
Activities & Organizations
Student Organizations and Activities
One of the advantages of a small college is the rich campus life with many undergraduate interests. The size of Providence College permits and engenders a warm, friendly relationship among students, faculty, and administrators.
Life for a Providence College student is much more than just a classroom and textbook experience. The College is committed to providing engagement opportunities to help students learn and develop into well-rounded individuals with a wide variety of interests. The co-curricular activities at Providence College provide students with opportunities to apply in a practical way what they learn in the classroom.
The College offers hundreds of co-curricular activities, including a wide selection of pre-professional and academic clubs such as the Finance Club, the American Marketing Association, and the Biology Society. Students can become involved in the spiritual aspect of campus life through Campus Ministry. They can choose from several performing arts clubs and related activities including the Dance Club, the A Cappella Club, and the Blackfriars Theatre, and from a broad range of language, cultural, and political clubs such as the College Democrats and College Republicans, and the Board of Multicultural Student Affairs.
Students who want to serve the community can choose from a number of service organizations such as Urban Action and Best Buddies. Or, they may join specific issues/interest clubs such as a campus branch of SOAR (Students Organized Against Racism).
Student Congress
Student Congress is the only organization on campus that represents the entire student body in all facets of College life. The Student Congress also has representation on various standing committees of the College. The president, vice president, treasurer, and secretary are elected annually by all students. Class officers and representatives are elected by each class. All officers serve for a one-year term.
Board of Programmers
The Board of Programmers (BOP) sponsors cultural, social, and recreational programs designed to promote human flourishing and to complement academic programs. Popular programs include bi-weekly coffeehouses, lectures, concerts, and trips to the Providence Performing Arts Center, Fenway Park, and Broadway.
Slavin Center
Slavin Center, the student union, is one of the main hubs of the Providence College campus and is home to the College’s many student organizations and clubs. It also houses a variety of offices and facilities that provide services to students, from the Office of Student Housing (Residence Life and Off-Campus Living) and the Providence College Bookstore to the Career Education Center and ‘64 Hall, which serves as a meeting room, lecture hall, and function hall. The Alumni Hall Food Court is accessed through the lower level of Slavin Center. The Balfour Unity Center, also in lower Slavin, features multicultural art, hosts programs, is a place to study, and a popular meeting space for student clubs and organizations. Slavin Center is wireless so students may check e-mail, do homework, or surf the net from one of the many seating areas, all while enjoying a cup of coffee from Dunkin’ Donuts, located on the lower level. The Living Room features a fireplace and is a cozy place to study or hold informal meetings. During the academic year, Slavin Center is open twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week.
McPhail’s Entertainment Facility
Slavin Center houses McPhail’s Entertainment Facility, a multipurpose student facility where students can gather throughout the week to socialize with friends, grab a snack, shoot a game of pool, or watch the big game on a wide-screen TV. A number of special entertainment offerings are promoted on a weekly basis throughout the academic year.
Athletics
Providence College has a rich athletic tradition. The Friars play an active role in intercollegiate athletics through membership in the NCAA, ECAC, HOCKEY EAST Association, America East Conference, and The BIG EAST Conference. The Dunkin’ Donuts Center, with a seating capacity of just under 12,000, serves as the home court for the men’s basketball team.
On-campus athletic facilities include the Peterson Recreation Center, the Joe Mullaney Gymnasium in Alumni Hall, the recently renovated Schneider Arena, and four large field and recreational areas. These include the Marjorie D. Lennon and Rev. Joseph L. Lennon, O.P. Field (an artificial-turf field) for intercollegiate and recreational purposes, and the new Hendricken Field, which includes the Ray Treacy 100-meter track, as well as a turf field for rugby and soccer.
Intramurals, Club, and Recreational Sports
Students who wish to participate in non-varsity sports have a wide variety of intramural, club, and recreational sports to choose from at the College.
Intramural sports provide safe, physical competition in a variety of sports and skill levels and encourage respectable competition and good sportsmanship. The Intramural Athletic Board (IAB) is composed of approximately 15 students who support the Department of Recreational Sports in organizing, scheduling, and overseeing intramural competition.
Among the sports currently offered to both men and women are: flag football, ice hockey, soccer, 3-on-3 basketball, 5-on-5 basketball, softball, and wiffleball. Co-ed sports include tennis, volleyball, and ultimate frisbee. The IAB frequently hosts a number of one-day tournaments to introduce new sports for participation.
Club sports include men’s and women’s rugby clubs, men’s and women’s volleyball, ultimate disk, men’s ice hockey, racquetball, golf, figure skating, wrestling, men’s basketball, cycling, running, and the sailing club. Physical fitness, recreational activities, and fitness classes are also provided based on established interest. A variety of fitness classes are offered, as well as personal training. Other programs which have been occasionally offered include self-defense and swimming lessons. The intramural and recreational sports program provides additional instructional classes as interest is expressed by suitable numbers of the campus community.
Peterson Recreation Center
The Peterson Recreation Center is the hub of all intramural athletics and recreational activity at Providence College. The Center is available for use by all eligible members of the College community. It is home to the Cuddy Racquetball Complex, and the Taylor Natatorium, a 25-meter pool. The Cuddy Racquetball Complex has three courts with observation windows and a fitness studio where both academic dance classes and group fitness classes are taught.
Alumni Hall-Joe Mullaney Gymnasium
Alumni Hall is the home of Joe Mullaney Gymnasium, which has a 2,620-seat capacity and serves as the home court for the women’s basketball and volleyball teams. It also serves as the practice court for the men’s basketball team. It provides offices for the athletics and military science departments. It also houses strength and conditioning facilities, a food court, and other learning and training facilities.
Concannon Fitness Center
Opened in September 2007, the Concannon Fitness Center is a 23,000-square-foot addition to the Peterson Recreation Center and Alumni Hall. It features a three-story glass atrium, 11,500 square feet of space on the first level for cardiovascular and selectorized strength equipment, 4,600 square feet of space on the second level for cardiovascular equipment and plate-loaded strength equipment, and 2,700 square feet of space on the second level for free weights. The Center also includes a 3,600-square-foot varsity athletics weight room.
Friar Field Hockey and Lacrosse Complex
The Friar Field Hockey and Lacrosse Complex is an artificial-turf facility that opened in September 2005. This multi-million dollar facility serves as the home of the Friar field hockey and lacrosse teams. It also is used by intramural teams. The artificial-turf field was dedicated as the Marjorie D. Lennon and Rev. Joseph L. Lennon, O.P. Field in 2010. Located beneath the complex is the Peterson Garage.
Schneider Arena
Schneider Arena, with a seating capacity of 3,030, is the home of the Friar hockey teams. The arena provides student activities such as ice skating and intramural hockey.
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