Academic Advisement Information Center
The Academic Advisement Information Center (AAIC) was established to help students who have questions concerning change of major, selection of courses, or any of Rhode Island College’s academic policies and procedures. When necessary, the center refers students to appropriate departments. In addition, the AAIC sponsors workshops for faculty and staff on advising techniques and related matters. The center serves as official advisor to students who have not yet declared a major or who have not yet been accepted into the Feinstein School of Education and Human Development.
Academic Development Center
The Academic Development Center provides instruction and assistance to students interested in becoming more effective learners. The center’s services include tutorial help in reading comprehension, note taking, time management, and test preparation for admission and certification testing for the Feinstein School of Education and Human Development. Assistance with tests required by the School of Nursing is also available. Conversational meetings are offered for the development of speaking skills for ELL students. Additionally, academic counseling and learning strategies are offered to students who have or think they may have a learning disability. The center welcomes all Rhode Island College students.
Academic Support and Information Services, Office of
Rhode Island College provides a number of academic support and advising services within the following offices: Academic Advisement Information Center, Academic Development Center, Mathematics Learning Center, National Student Exchange Program, New Student Services, Tutorial Services, Writing Center.
Adams Library
The James P. Adams Library houses over 652,000 volumes, holds major collections on microfilm and microfiche, and subscribes to 219 print periodicals. The Library also provides access to over 95,000 eBooks, 51,000 periodicals in electronic format and 86 online databases, which may be used on or off campus. Located within the Library is the college’s Curriculum Resources Center, which includes instructional material and curriculum development resources for teacher education programs. These resources are available to students, college faculty, and Rhode Island teachers for review, evaluation, and classroom use. In addition, Special Collections, located on the fourth floor, houses the College Archives and other special materials including the Rhode Island and Cape Verdean collections.
There are 37 public computers available throughout the building, including two Apples. All are configured for easy connection to our databases (no log-in necessary) and with Microsoft Office applications. The Reserve desk offers 40 laptops for in-house use and 30 iPads which can be checked out for a 24-hour or two-week loan period. A Bloomberg station provides access to stock monitoring and financial use. There are three public printers, one of which prints in color, and five black and white photo copiers. Four of our photocopiers have the capability to scan directly to USB flash drives.
The Library is a founding member of the Higher Education Library Information Network (HELIN) which allows borrowing from all the eleven academic library members including Brown University, Bryant University, the Community College of Rhode Island, the Dominican House of Studies, Johnson & Wales University, Providence College, Roger Williams University, Salve Regina University, the University of Rhode Island, Wheaton College, and twelve special libraries in Rhode Island. Together the HELIN libraries contain approximately nine million volumes of resources. For materials not available in the HELIN consortium, the library can access other libraries in the United States and throughout the world through its Document Delivery Service.
In order to have access to the full range of library services, students are required to have a library-validated Rhode Island College ID card. Validation can be done in person at the circulation desk or through our online form at: www.ric.edu/librarycardactivation.
Information about the library’s collections, access to information databases on/off campus and library hours may be obtained through the Adams Library website at www.ric.edu/adamslibrary.
Career Development Center
The Career Development Center serves students and alumni in the career planning and job and internship search process. It also offers assistance with applying to graduate school, including program selection and help with writing the personal statement.
Individual counseling sessions are offered at the center, along with TypeFocus, an online system that helps students examine their values, skills, and interests to reach informed decisions about a major and career.
Workshops and programs are offered that help students develop competitive job search skills and strategies (e.g., résumé and cover letter writing, effective interviewing, LinkedIn accounts and networking).
Many resources are available 24/7 online such as job and internship postings and information about career fields. Employers seeking full-time, permanent, and part-time employees and interns are connected with students. Work-study and non-work study jobs are also available both on and off campus.
Current students and alumni may post résumés, view jobs/internships, and access the center’s online library at www.ric.edu/careerdevelopment.
David E. Sweet Center for Public Policy
The David E. Sweet Center for Public Policy at Rhode Island College provides research and consultation to external constituents and members of the community-at-large through a confederation of campus-based affiliates: the Alan Shawn Feinstein Institute for Philanthropic Leadership, the Child Welfare Institute, the Institute for Portuguese and Lusophone World Studies, the Outreach Programs, the Paul V. Sherlock Center on Disabilities, and the Rhode Island Writing Project.
Additional information about any of the center’s affiliates and services, or the Certificate Program in Nonprofit Studies, may be obtained from the director.
Faculty Center for Teaching and Learning
The Faculty Center for Teaching and Learning (FCTL) promotes the professional growth and development of faculty as teachers and as scholars of teaching and learning. It cultivates a public dialogue about teaching and learning across disciplinary lines and strives to build a professional community among teachers at Rhode Island College. The FCTL serves faculty at every stage of their professional lives in order to support a campus-wide culture committed to excellence in teaching and learning. The FCTL is by faculty, for faculty.
Help Center
The Help Center provides comprehensive support for computer and printer problems along with a full complement of IT equipment and support for classroom instruction. The Help Center also assists conference planners with presentation media.
Henry Barnard Laboratory School
The Henry Barnard Laboratory School (HBS), which enrolls learners from preschool (age 3) through grade five, has served the Feinstein School of Education and Human Development, and the College, for 115 years. It provides opportunities for Rhode Island College education students preparing to become teachers to observe classes, to participate in clinical and practicum experiences, and to student/co-teach. HBS faculty participate in educational research activities, publish in literature of the field, and present at local and national conferences.
As a laboratory school, HBS seeks to be a model for other schools in the state and region. Faculty seek to develop, document, and disseminate new, effective practices for the field. The HBS preschool is a Reggio-Emelia-inspired program. Afterschool care for all learners is available. For more information, visit the website at www.ric.edu/hbs.
Information Services
Management Information Services (MIS)
Management Information Services provides technical support for the PeopleSoft administrative computer systems at the college. Additional database support is provided in areas not served by PeopleSoft along with scanning services for time sheets and testing.
User Support Services (USS)
User Support Services is responsible for distributing and maintaining desktop hardware, software, and multimedia resources. To assist and educate students, faculty, and staff in the appropriate use of technology, USS provides a primary point of contact for end-user support and offers a wide range of end-user services, including the Help Center, oversight of computer labs and electronic classrooms, and technology training. The college has two large walk-in computing facilities for student use. Located in Horace Mann Technology Center and in Whipple Hall where over 150 PCs and Apple Macintosh systems are available. In addition, hands-on instructional computing facilities are located in Alger Hall, Clark Science Hall, Craig-Lee Hall, Fogarty Life Sciences, Gaige Hall, Henry Barnard School, Horace Mann Hall, Nazarian Center, School of Social Work (Bldg 9), and Whipple Hall. Electronic classrooms are available for instructional use in over fifteen buildings.
Network and Telecommunications (NT)
Network and Telecommunications is responsible for the data and voice infrastructure on the Rhode Island College campus. The college has a gigabit Ethernet data network, with extensive wireless coverage; a Nortel digital phone system; and a modern data center, with redundant systems for business continuity.
Mathematics Learning Center
The Mathematics Learning Center has peer tutors available each day to assist students individually or in small groups with the Mathematics Accuplacer Examination, with mathematics courses, or with mathematics topics in another discipline. Students may make appointments in person or by phone.
New Student Services
The Office of Academic Support and Information Services is responsible for the orientation of all new undergraduate students. Orientation provides academic advisement as well as an introduction to campus life. For freshmen entering in the fall, orientation consists of a twoday summer program on campus. New transfer students participate in a shorter, more intensive orientation.
Outreach Programs
Outreach Programs offers six-month vocational training in the areas of health care, financial services, and insurance. The comprehensive curriculum includes internship coordination and support as well as a requisite course in job skills and job search. Focus is on job readiness and employability skills, culminating in a full portfolio of targeted résumés and job-search tools. All courses include the full support of staff trained in job procurement and retention as well as financial and computer literacy instruction. Additional course offerings include English as a Second Language, green business practices, remedial math, reading, and language.
Partnerships and Placements, Office of
In cooperation with academic departments within the Feinstein School of Education and Human Development, the Office of Partnerships and Placements is responsible for securing field placements and maintaining partnerships with school districts.
Tutorial Services
Any student having problems with mastering course content is encouraged to arrange for tutoring as soon as possible. Online Tutoring in Accounting, Bi-Lingual Math, Biology, Chemistry, Computers and Technology, Economics, ESL/Writing, Essay Center, Finance, Math, Physics, Spanish, and Writing is available. Many of the subjects are available 24 hours and 7 days a week. All tutorial services are offered free of charge and are administered through the Office of Academic Support and Information Services.
Upward Bound Program
The Upward Bound Program was first established at RIC in 1966. It is designed to instill in low-income, potential first-generation college students the skills and motivation to complete high school and to enter and graduate from college. Upward Bound is committed to providing equal access and opportunity to students from specific target high schools who meet federal eligibility requirements. The program enhances the intellectual, emotional, character, and motivational development of each participant by offering rigorous academic instruction, counseling, support services, and an environment that recognizes individual differences and academic potential.
For more information visit the Upward Bound office, or e-mail upwardbound@ric.edu, or visit the Web site at www.ric.edu/upward_bound.
Writing Center
The Writing Center is staffed by highly qualified student tutors. Tutors work with all writers, from freshmen to graduate students, in all disciplines. Tutors assist with any phase of writing, such as refining topics, writing for a specific audience, developing ideas, organizing material, revising drafts, and editing.
The Writing Center maintains a reference library of books, journals, and articles on writing theory, writing for specific disciplines, and other topics, including MLA, APA, and Chicago style manuals. Services are free to all Rhode Island College students, faculty, and staff.