Academic Support Services

The Writing Center

The Writing Center offers free help with writing of all kinds, at all stages of the process. Our coaches are extensively trained students who can ask the questions and give the answers you need to improve your writing. You can either drop in or make an appointment online.

Writers of all sorts use the Center: first-year students revising their first papers; international students wrangling with English idioms and articles; LD students with proofreading to do; journalism and business students wanting to “cut the lard”; even seniors and graduate students working on their theses. The atmosphere is friendly and relaxed, but most of all helpful—a place to learn the ropes from peers who have been exactly where you are.

For students who love writing, the Center can also be a place to get teaching experience, help out your fellow students, and add a valuable line to your resume. To learn how to become a coach, contact the director, Timothy Mackin, at 802-654-2452, or visit our web site.

Tutoring & Study Skills

Many students receive support through peer tutors who are placed in courses with a high-demand, primarily in the sciences, math, statistics, accounting, and economics. These “attached tutors” offer weekly small group and drop-in sessions. Students may also access individualized peer tutoring in a variety of content areas by requesting support through the Academic Enrichment Commons.

In addition, we offer individual student meetings and some group programming on study habits, time management, motivation, and goal setting.

Accessibility Services

Services for students with disabilities are coordinated through the Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs. The Director of Facilities oversees facility accessibility issues and supports the services coordinated by Student Affairs. The Office of Accessibility Services coordinates academic services for students with disabilites. Any questions or concerns about such services should be directed to:

Learning Disabilities Policy

Saint Michael’s College is devoted to ensuring equal educational opportunities and a responsive campus environment for students with disabilities. Students wishing to disclose a learning disability or a disability that affects learning and who are in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, Sec. 504, may receive additional support. A clear understanding of strengths and weaknesses in learning and of the influence of the disability on current and past educational processes will afford a broader assessment of capabilities, challenges, and consonant needs. To ensure the provision of reasonable and appropriate accommodations for students with learning disabilities, students needing such accommodations must provide current and comprehensive documentation, including the diagnosis of the learning problem(s), a copy of the psycho-educational evaluation completed within the past four years that includes a measure of cognitive functioning, and current measures of reading, math, and written language achievement. Informational processing must also be assessed. The testing must be conducted by a certified professional, address the nature of the disability, and include the professional’s assessment of how the learning difference will influence academic success. The report must also include recommendations for reasonable accommodations. The earlier the information is received, the better prepared we will be to address specific needs.

Mail material to:
Mary Wright, Director, Accessibility Services
Saint Michael’s College
One Winooski Park, Box 367
Colchester, Vermont 05439
Or fax material to: 802-654-2974

Modified Second Language Requirement

The Modified Second Language Requirement is designed for students with language-based learning disabilities and learning disabilities that affect language learning. Such students who are pursuing a BA degree - and thus are typically required to take (or demonstrate proficiency in) two semesters of a foreign language - are offered an alternate requirement: two courses (taught in English) that focus on understanding world languages and cultures, and are linked by intellectual coherence in their appreciation of foreign languages and cultures.

Students participating in the Modified Second Language Requirement will demonstrate the following learning outcomes:

1. Comprehension of an area of the world and the culture associated with a foreign language
2. An awareness of language as a system that reflects culture and of ways in which language organizes through processes and information

Approval Process
Consult with Mary Wright, Director of Accessibility Services and Academic Support, to review your current and comprehensive documentation of a learning disability or disability that affects language learning. Basis for eligibility of this program of study may include but is not restricted to the following:

• A student who has had persistent dyslexia (from an early age to present)
• A student with severe phonemic awareness deficit
• A student with severe auditory processing disorders
• A student with severe difficulties in language skills
• A student with low nonverbal or verbal reasoning skills coupled with below average language skills (combinations may vary)
• A student with poor working memory and moderate to profound hearing impairments (combinations may vary)
• A student who received individual speech language therapy throughout grade school up to and including parts of high school who also has at best below average language skills (combinations may vary)
• A student with slow auditory processing speed coupled with moderate to severe language based deficits (combinations may vary)

Library & Information Services

The Durick Library provides facilities for research, collaboration, quiet study, and access to information resources in print and digital formats. The library includes an online research area, reference and circulation staff available to assist students, two computer labs, and spaces conducive to individual and group study. Seating capacity totals over 500, with 50 private study carrels. The college’s wireless network is available throughout the building. Research services include individual research consultations with a reference librarian, research instruction classes and workshops, and credit-bearing courses on research methods.

The library’s collections include 450,000 books (including over 200,000 ebooks), access to 120,000 online journal titles, and over 20,000 streaming videos. A wide variety of online resources include research databases, multimedia databases and software applications. Most electronic resources are accessible through the library home page on the College website at www.smcvt.edu/library.

The Durick Library is open 94 hours per week while classes are in session, with extended hours during final exams. Online resources are available 24 hours per day via the campus network and off campus as well. 

Interlibrary loan services are available for books, articles, and other information resources not found in the library’s collections. Interlibrary loan requests may be made from most library databases and an online form is available on the library website.

The College’s Archives Department is located in the Durick Library. It houses Saint Michael’s Rare Book Collection and is the designated repository for official records of Saint Michael’s College and the archives of the Society of Saint Edmund. The Archives include official records and manuscripts; student records; college publications; administrative papers; video and audio recordings; microfilm; and photographs relating to the history of the College. The Society of Saint Edmund Archives includes official records for the Society and manuscript materials from individual members.

Contact information: Main number 802-654-2400. Reference Assistance 802-654-2405 or e-mail referencelibrarian@smcvt.edu. Library website: www.smcvt.edu/library

Information Technology

The Department of Information Technology (IT) is committed to creating a robust technology environment for the students, faculty, and staff of Saint Michael’s College. We support the mission and goals of the College by providing tools and services for our campus constituents: a reliable, secure, and fast campus network; support for the appropriate integration of technology into teaching and research; and the technology support for administrative operations of the College.

Mikenet, the campus network, provides internet access, access to academic and administrative software, printing services, and cable TV from Comcast. The complete list of software in use on campus and the services the department provides can be found at www.smcvt.edu/itweb.  Microsoft Office 365 provides student email. Nearly all residences, academic buildings, and administrative buildings have wireless network access. Mobile devices can access a large and growing number of academic and administrative systems. The Department of Public Safety provides the LiveSafe and Rave applications for emergency notification and campus security.

The IT website at www.smcvt.edu/itweb provides new students the information they need to begin using their devices on the campus network. We offer a student laptop purchase program which includes Dell and Apple laptops. Both models come with a four year hardware warranty, accidental damage protection plan and on-campus service. Please visit www.smcvt.edu/laptopprogram for more details.

Helpdesk phone: 802-654-2020

Helpdesk email: ithelp@smcvt.edu

Career Education Center

Professional career coaches provide assistance in career planning, graduate school searches and job/internship searching. We assist students from the time they arrive on campus, throughout their college career and as alumni. Students can take advantage of a four-year program to aid them in exploring career possibilities, gaining experience, and developing professional skills that employers seek.

The Career Ready Badge program is our comprehensive student development program that promotes student success through experiential learning in and beyond the classroom.  Co-curricular programs focus on skill development, particularly networking, giving students the opportunity to interact regularly with alumni and professionals in their field/s of interest.

Additionally, through the CEC, the On-Campus Student Employment Program offers a tiered employment system that allows students to advance and take serious responsibility within their work place.  Our dynamic alumni mentoring model offers excellent opportunities for students to develop skills for future internships and jobs.

From choosing a major, choosing a career and finding an internship, to job and graduate school searching, the Career Education Center partners with students, alumni, community partners and faculty to create opportunities for success in students’ careers and a life of Doing Well and Doing Good.