Support services for students
August 22, 2023
A link to this message was sent as part of the Provost’s Newsletter on August 23, 2023Support for Students
Listed below are some of Baruch’s most important support services available to our students. Descriptions with contact information and websites follow.
Academic Support for Students
- SACC – Student Academic Consulting Center – the College’s tutoring center
- The Writing Center
- Tools for Clear Speech (TfCS)
- Bernard L. Schwartz Communication Institute
- Baruch College Honors Program and Macaulay Honors College at Baruch
- Office of National & Prestigious Fellowships Advising
- William & Anita Newman Library
Other Support for Students
- The Baruch College Ombuds
- The Campus Intervention Team (CIT)
- The Counseling Center
- Office of Undergraduate Advisement and Orientation
- The Starr Career Development Center
- Student Disability Services (SDS)
Academic Support for Students
Please feel free to direct your students to these offices and/or to follow up yourselves for more information.
SACC – Student Academic Consulting Center – the College’s tutoring center
SACC supports the academic success of undergraduates at Baruch College through small group peer tutoring and other programs, serving students in a wide variety of subjects across the curriculum. The Center’s primary mission is to help students succeed during their college years and beyond by helping them develop as active, independent learners. Services are available both in person and online. The first step to accessing everything you need is to visit the SACC website at https://baruch.cuny.edu/sacc/. SACC’s director is Michele Doney.
The Writing Center
The Writing Center offers free support to all Baruch students; students can meet with a professional writing consultant one-to-one (in person, in NVC 8-185, or online, by video, audio, and text-based chat) and in group workshops. The Center’s consultants will work collaboratively with you to deepen your writing and English language skills. At any step in the process, they’ll help you become a more independent, confident, and versatile writer. You’re encouraged to schedule your appointment well in advance of when your writing is due. Visit the Writing Center website to sign up for a session or workshop. The Writing Center’s director is Dr. Diana Hamilton.
Tools for Clear Speech (TfCS)
The Tools for Clear Speech (TfCS) program improves the pronunciation, fluency, and pragmatic abilities of English language learners (ELLs) and non-native English speakers at Baruch College. Our participants achieve more effective and intelligible communication, developing skills that empower them to succeed in their classrooms, careers, and beyond. TfCS offers a range of free face-to-face and online services with our professional Speech Consultants, including One-to-One Sessions, small-group Focused Skills Series sessions, large-group Overview Workshops, interview and career preparation, and weekly Conversation Hours. In addition, participants can find extensive practice materials on our online platform Tools To-Go, and through our program podcast, Just to Be Clear. TfCS is open to all undergraduate and graduate students currently enrolled at Baruch (as well as faculty and staff). Visit the TfCS website for more information or email tfcs@baruch.cuny.edu. The TfCS director is Dennis (DJ) Dolack.
Bernard L. Schwartz Communication Institute
Although the Schwartz Communication Institute is not a stand-alone destination for the general student body, students working on communication-intensive assignments can use our online model speech and model slide resources for effective oral and visual communication, as well as our guide to online presentation skills. More broadly, the Schwartz Communication Institute works directly with faculty to devise customized course-support partnerships, often including supplemental support for students to practice and develop the communication skills they’re learning in your class. We welcome the opportunity to explore new course partnerships. Students and faculty can learn more about our work at blsci.baruch.cuny.edu or be in touch with the Institute’s director, Dr. Meechal Hoffman, who can be reached at: Meechal.Hoffman@baruch.cuny.edu.
Baruch College Honors Program and Macaulay Honors College at Baruch
In addition to serving approximately 400 Macaulay Honors College Scholars and 80 Baruch Scholars, the Honors Program invites students to join Honors once at Baruch through the general education-focused Provost Scholar program or the research-based Inquiry Scholar program. Honors courses encompass Macaulay Honors classes and Honors sections of regular courses. Additional information can be found on the Honors webpage or by emailing Baruch.Honors@baruch.cuny.edu. To learn more about teaching in Honors, reviewing Honors applications, or hosting an event for Honors scholars, contact Interim Director Harmony D. Osei.
Office of National & Prestigious Fellowships Advising
Baruch’s Office of National & Prestigious Fellowships Advising provides assistance to all Baruch undergraduate and graduate students in developing their potential as candidates for nationally competitive fellowships. Nationally competitive fellowships provide funding opportunities to help students realize their goals. There are fellowships to fund study abroad; to fund professional development opportunities; to gain research experience; to fund graduate school; and to work for the good of their community. More information is available on the Fellowships webpage. Currently, the advisor, Valeria Hrimnak, is able to meet with students via Zoom or by Phone. Students are also welcome to email the Fellowships Advisor with any questions or requests for support at Valeria.Hrimnak@baruch.cuny.edu.
William & Anita Newman Library (Newman Library Building, 2nd floor; 646-312-1610)
Newman Library provides a wide range of information resources and services for students with strong emphasis on assisting students individually and in groups with finding, using, and evaluating information for specific purposes. Library faculty members are available for scheduled consultations with students, creating guides for specific assignments and course topics, and offering drop-in assistance at the Reference Desk. As information literacy and subject specialists, Library faculty can provide in-class presentations for courses. Instructors may request an in-class presentation by completing this form. Other services offered by the library include reserves for course materials and technology loans.
Other Support for Students
Please feel free to direct your students to the offices below and/or to follow up yourselves for more information.
The Baruch College Ombuds
NVC 8-283 Ombuds: 646-312-3815; NVC 7-263 Assistant to the Ombuds: 646-312-3974
The Ombuds office offers a confidential, neutral, and independent resource for faculty, staff, and students within the Baruch College community to voice concerns about conflicts that arise between members of the College. The Ombuds does not share information concerning any case unless permission is given by the person who brings the concern to the office. The Ombuds does not maintain permanent records of individual cases. While the Ombuds provides support to those who bring conflicts to their attention, the Ombuds has no power to create or change Baruch College policy or rules. Please feel free to email the Ombudspersons, Prof. Mindy Engle-Friedman (Mindy.engle-friedman@baruch.cuny.edu), Ombuds, and Glenda Hydler (glenda.hydler@baruch.cuny.edu), Assistant to the Ombuds, for in-person, zoom or phone appointments.
The Campus Intervention Team (CIT) works together as a support system to provide assistance to students in crisis. Any member of the college community (faculty, students, staff) can reach out to the CIT to report a concern about a student. The CIT is constituted to assist in providing support for students in crisis. (Faculty or staff concerns should be reported to the Office of the Provost or to Human Resources, respectively.) Concerned faculty, staff or students may fill out an Incident Communication Form if they have noticed student behavior which is perceived to be harmful to the student him/herself or to others, including: Unusual or erratic behavior in class; Extended absence from class by a typically engaged student; Written work with troubling themes or references; Verbal or written threats made by a student toward another student; Written or verbal expressions of suicidal ideation; Messages on social media with concerning language; Other actions which cause an alarm or call into question the safety of the student or his/her peers. All reports are confidential and will be handled by members of the CIT. To alert the CIT to a concern, complete and submit the Incident Communication Form. A member of the team will receive and review your submission. Please note that you may be contacted for follow-up information. Members of the CIT may be emailed at cit@baruch.cuny.edu or call us at 646-312-4570.
Bearcat Food Pantry was established in 2022 with the purpose of providing Baruch students who face food insecurity with access to healthy and nutritious food. Students can access the pantry by making an appointment or visiting NVC 1-116 during walk-in hours. The food in the pantry is regularly stocked with food from the NYC Food Bank and includes among other items, Kosher, Halal and Vegetarian options. If you have any questions about the Bearcat Food Pantry, please contact the Office of the Dean of Students at deanofstudents@baruch.cuny.edu.
Counseling Center
137 E. 25th Street, 9th floor; 646-312-2155
Through culturally-responsive and trauma-informed mental health services, the Counseling Center assists students in achieving their academic and personal goals. Counselors work collaboratively with students to improve their emotional well-being, balance priorities, enhance interpersonal relationships, and empower them with useful coping skills to attain success in and out of the classroom. Counseling services to students include intake assessments during first visits, short-term individual psychotherapy, group therapy, psychiatric medication evaluations and treatment, emergency and crisis intervention, outreach, psychological testing, internal and external referrals to other services, and consultations for faculty and staff. Students interested in services can request an appointment or call 646-312-2155. For other questions, please email the Counseling Center at counseling@baruch.cuny.edu. The director is Dr. Teresa Hurst.
Office of Undergraduate Advisement and Orientation
NVC 5-215; 646-312-4260
The Office of Undergraduate Advisement and Orientation provides comprehensive academic advisement to all Baruch undergraduates. The advisement staff promotes student-centered partnerships that encourage and support students both in their academic success and in meeting academic and personal goals. We are dedicated to helping students transition into college and navigate their academic careers. Our many programs include: early intervention programs for first-year transfers and freshmen, new student advisement sessions, academic probation workshops, and one-on-one advisement sessions. Our advisement activities include: walk-in advisement, student peer advisement, worksheet appointments, and e-advisement. We sponsor events and programs, such as the Majors/Minors Fair. We encourage and support students with information and strategies for utilizing the resources and services available at the college. The director of the Office of Undergraduate Advisement and Orientation is Dr. Sharon Ricks. For more information, call 646-312-4260, or send an email to academic.advisement@baruch.cuny.edu. We also encourage you to visit our website.
The Starr Career Development Center
NVC 2-150, 646-312-4670
The Starr Career Development Center (Starr) helps provide the services, resources, networks, information, and opportunities students need to choose their major and launch successful careers. From day one, Starr supports students with online tutorials, career counseling, resume reviews, mock interviews, employment expos and fairs, and hundreds of new jobs posted monthly. Starr offers approximately 600 workshops, information sessions and programs each year that facilitate students’ professional development and nurtures their knowledge of companies and industries. To access all virtual workshops, appointments, job fairs, and internship/job opportunities, students can log on to Starr Search, the online career management portal, located on our website. Starr Search houses a resource library containing access to a free video mock interview module and online portals such as FOCUS 2 where students can take free vocational assessments that will match their results to majors and careers. In addition, Starr runs a variety of award-winning professional development programs such as Peers for Careers, Bridge to Baruch for transfer students, Rising Starr Sophomore Program (RSSP), Passport to Partnership Program (P2P) for Accounting sophomores/juniors, Financial Leadership Program (FLP), the Max Berger Pre-Law Program, and the Technology Leadership Development Program (TLDP). For more information, please call 646-312-4670 or contact: careerdc@baruch.cuny.edu. The director is Dr. Ellen Stein.
Student Disability Services (SDS)
NVC 2-272; 646-312-4590
SDS is committed to providing full access for individuals with disabilities to Baruch’s programs, services, and activities in compliance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990, and the ADA Amendments of 2008. By advocating for and creating an accessible environment for students with disabilities, Baruch empowers students to become their own advocates. Once students have self-identified, applied for services, and provided documentation of their disability, our staff works to determine eligibility for academic adjustments and accommodations. Accommodations include but are not limited to: extended time for exams, less distractive testing environment, material in alternate format, assistive technology, class notes provided, sign language interpreters, and text/writing/reading software. Through our CUNY LEADS program we provide career counseling, resume assistance, interview skills workshops, and access to internships. Please refer students to disability.services@baruch.cuny.edu or call our office for assistance: 646-312-4590. Lillian Shmulevich, Associate Director, can be reached for questions and consultations.
Dennis Slavin
Associate Provost and Assistant Vice President
Baruch College, CUNY
646-660-6504 (phone); 646-660-6531 (fax)
Dennis.Slavin@baruch.cuny.edu
http://www.baruch.cuny.edu/provost/teaching_learning.htm