Resources
Information needed for academic advisement of first-year students is found in University College. University College is the academic home of all new students at Winston-Salem State University until they complete the requirements necessary to declare a major. Services include academic advising (registration, selection of major, and all other academic concerns), learning support, supplemental instruction, tutoring, and more. The Academic Advising Center of University College is located in the Hauser Building.
In order to provide effective advisement to students who are no longer advised by University College, faculty members should be familiar with general graduation requirements and the programs of their own departments, as listed in the university catalog. Since students have six years to graduate under the requirements of the catalog in effect when they first enroll, advisors will need to keep previous catalogs and be aware of changes that have been made in requirements.
All faculty members should exercise care to be sure that the information they convey as advisors is correct and clear. Generally, students should be referred to their own advisors or department chairs for academic advice unless the issue is clearly one that involves another department.
The major computer facility is the Virginia K. Newell Academic Computer Center, which is located on the first floor of the Elva Jones Computer Science Facility. The center is staffed by an assistant who is on duty at all times to help patrons and to answer any questions that may arise. The Academic Computer Center is an open facility for students. All requests to reserve computer center resources must be processed and approved by the computer center manager. Priority is given to students during school sessions.
Other computer facilities/laboratories are housed and operated through the different academic units on campus, and a number of software packages are available. Call the appropriate departmental or program unit or the Help Desk for current information.
The Disability Services Office is designed to provide all persons with equal access. Assistive technology and other accommodations are available on an as-needed basis. Faculty members are asked to include on each syllabus a statement noting that students must register with the Disability Services Office prior to receiving accommodations. Students who register with this office will receive disability services.
The Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CETL) is a division of University College at Winston-Salem State University. CETL provides expertise, opportunities, instruction, and funding to help faculty members be more effective teachers. CETL seeks to improve students’ learning by enhancing teaching competences and resources through the integration of education, information, and communication technologies.
Some of CETL's core objectives involve providing solutions to issues such as high drop/fail/ withdrawal rates (DFW), responding to improvement needs of faculty or development needs recommended by their academic departments (e.g., assisting with implementing technology solutions in the classroom). CETL is a significant resource for faculty development and course improvement and provides support to faculty
teaching face-to-face, online, and blended courses. CETL also strives to improve the collegial atmosphere by facilitating communities of practice.
The Childhood Development Center and Lab School, which is open to the general public, provides year- round preschool development experiences for children. It also serves as a clinical setting for students majoring in various programs, including education, psychology, English, and art. Activities include reading, math, science, music, art, language arts, computer exposure, drama, field trips, and physical education. The program is administered by the School of Education and Human Performance. When vacancies are available, children with applications on file receive priority. A fee is charged. For more information, contact the director.
Overall maintenance and operation of university facilities and grounds is the responsibility of the Facilities Department. Services of the Facilities Department include housekeeping, management of building keys, routine and non-routine maintenance and repairs, set-ups for special events, moving and hauling, recycling and waste disposal, and motor-pool operations.
For each university building there is a building coordinator who assumes general responsibility and acts as the building liaison to the Facilities Department services. The building coordinator requests and issues keys and completes/submits a “Work Request Form” for building repairs and needs. Emergency repair needs that present imminent danger to life and limb or property should be reported directly to Security (336-750-2911 or on-campus extension 2911) and, if time permits, the building coordinator.
The Counseling Center provides vocational, personal, and social counseling and counseling for students with academic difficulties. Withdrawals from the university are also handled by the Counseling Center. Faculty members should encourage students to make use of the center’s resources, particularly if they suspect that a student is seriously upset or has not realized that help is available. The following guidelines may be useful in recognizing that a student should be strongly urged to seek professional counseling:
- A faculty member should make the counseling staff aware of any student who behaves in a manner that could be interpreted as inappropriate or different from previously observed behavior. The counselors will assess the individual and determine what steps are to be taken to provide
- If any student speaks or acts in a manner suggesting that he or she may inflict harm to self or others, that person should be referred immediately to the Counseling Center. This should be done even if only the slightest doubt exists in the faculty member’s mind about the individual’s
- A student may be referred directly or, if the faculty member prefers, by notifying the Counseling Center so that counseling staff can make contact with the student. In either case the counselors should be made aware of the nature of the situation. All information given to the staff will be held in the strictest confidence and in accordance with the privacy rights of both the student and the faculty
The Red Room is the faculty dining room located on the upper level of Thompson Center. Breakfast and lunch are available for faculty and staff.
Ram Food Court is located on the lower level of Thompson Center. Menu favorites include sandwiches, grilled items, soups, and a variety of snacks and beverages.
Ram City Coffee Shop, which is located in the Atkinson Science Building, features coffee, beverages, fresh bakery items, grab-and-go sandwiches and salads, microwavable meals, fresh fruit, and dessert parfaits.
Two C-Stores: The Amon Café C-Store, which is located in the Rams Commons, and Rams On the Go, located in the Commuter Lounge on the first floor of Thompson Student Center, feature grocery items, frozen foods, health and beauty supplies, snacks, and beverages.
The WSSU Catering Department provides catering services to faculty, staff and students. Services include served meals, buffets, receptions, coffee breaks, and box lunches.
Identification cards for both faculty and students are made in the Ram Card Office, located in Thompson Student Services Center.
The Office of Information Resources serves the faculty, staff, and students by facilitating the acquisition, installation, and maintenance of communications and technology services for teaching and learning, research, outreach, and administrative operations.
The Computer Help Desk provides implementation, monitoring, and support for all university desktop computing systems.
Network and Telecommunication Services include the setup and ongoing maintenance of voice mail and telephone networks on campus.
The Technology Integration Group is charged with providing the faculty, staff, and students with technical solutions and training for classroom management systems, professional development, and technology aimed at the direct support of instruction. Training for faculty and classroom support is scheduled by appointment.
Video & Classroom Technology Services (VCTS) provides teleconferencing and distance learning through interactive video to faculty, staff, students, and the administration. See the VCTS section below.
The Office of Institutional Planning, Assessment, and Research (IPAR) has, as its primary mission, the collection of data (from both internal and external sources) and the analysis, distribution, and presentation of this information for use in planning, decision-making, and policy formulation at Winston-Salem State University. A major function of this office is to respond to requests for data from members of the university community and to assist personnel in other units with research and assessment methodology, analysis, and evaluation. The Assessment branch helps units set up assessment plans for their goals and learning outcomes and maintains the institution’s electronic repository of assessment plans, data analysis, and use of data for unit and program improvement. An annual Fact Book and other data sets and analyses are available on the IPAR web site. Faculty members needing university data or statistics not apparent on the web site may fill out an on-line request for this information.
The O’Kelly Library supports and enhances all university programs through its current collection, various electronic services, and interlibrary loans. Faculty members are encouraged to ask about orientation sessions, special bibliographies, e-books, electronic databases, research assistance, and other special services tailored to the requirements of faculty and/or individual research or research requirements for classes. Books and articles, including photocopies, may be placed on reserve for student use at the Circulation/Request desk. Reference books and unbound periodicals may also be placed on reserve.
The library requests prior notification of major research or other library assignments so that the library staff can help clarify assignments and broaden students’ understanding of the research process. Several rooms and areas in the library may be reserved for meetings, classes, or for group study sessions.
The Office of Sponsored Programs provides leadership, information, direction, and technical assistance to faculty and staff seeking external funding for research or educational projects. Any faculty member planning to develop a grant proposal should contact this office.
Students purchase textbooks from the WSSU Bookstore. Each semester, faculty members should fill out textbook adoption forms, which are available in the departments, and return them to the bookstore before the designated deadline.
The Teleconference Center provides teleconferencing and distance learning through interactive video to faculty, staff, students, and the administration. Services include courses and seminars broadcast live via the NC-REN (North Carolina Research and Educational Network), NCIH (North Carolina Information Highway), and Video over IP (Internet Protocol).
VCTS also provides two-way interaction with participants at remote sites throughout North Carolina, the United States, and the world. There is a charge for ISDN Videoconferencing. Locations for these services include the John and Lillian Lewis Microelectronics Center on the ground floor of Anderson Center, the Elva Jones Computer Science Building, and other venues on campus.
Other services provided by VCTS are assistance in downloading and viewing webinar and satellite programs, technical assistance with audio/video equipment, coordination of multi-media technology for instruction, and short-term loans of multi-media equipment for use in or out of the classroom. Available items include laptops and projectors, digital cameras, camcorders, DVD players, and document cameras. Contact VCTS for specific information on short-term loan items and current services.
