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Saginaw Valley State University

Faculty Handbook

Academic Support Services and Resources

Academic Calendar and Important Dates

Academic Advisement Center

The Academic Advisement Center assists students in planning and organizing successful academic careers by helping them understand General Education and academic program requirements and guiding them in selecting courses. Some departments and special programs also offer formal student advising.

In addition to assisting with course selection, the Academic Advisement Center performs informal degree audits, provides referrals, clarifies academic policies and procedures, discusses the impact of changing majors, etc. Location: Wickes 117 | 989.964.4070

Accessibility and Accommodations Resources

The purpose of the Office of Accessibility Resources and Accommodations (ARA) at SVSU is to support our students’ educational experience by helping them access accommodations and services. We mean to do this by removing barriers that might inhibit our students’ ability to have a positive university experience. Location: Wickes 260 | 989.964.7000

Campus Mental Health & Wellness Center

The Campus Mental Health & Wellness Center is here to support the Saginaw Valley State University student body through counseling, groups, workshops and consultation services for faculty and staff.  College years can bring a great deal of excitement and transition. Oftentimes, students experience new pressures and experiences, feeling uncertain, overwhelmed or down. Our staff members are licensed and experienced mental health professionals ready to help guide our students' wellness.  Please reach out -- we are here to help. Location: Curtiss Hall | 989.964.7078

Center for Excellence in Teaching & Learning (CETL)

The mission of the Center for Excellence in Teaching & Learning (CETL) is to collaborate with faculty, departments, and other academic units on campus to advance and support excellence in teaching and academic innovation initiatives.

The Center serves as a hub for the exchange of ideas and facilitates collaboration among faculty and departments across disciplines with a goal to foster a culture of innovation that enhances student learning.

Location: Zahnow 231 | 989.964.2622

Gerstacker Academic Commons

The Gerstacker Academic Commons (GAC) offers all students' free academic programs, services, and resources that provide thoughtful conversations about disciplinary knowledge, university culture, and student success.

Located on the second floor of the library, the GAC is a welcoming and inclusive face-to-face and online space that connects students with peer and professional tutors who provide academic assistance in a wide range of courses and disciplines.

We provide essential tools and support for students of all academic levels through one-on-one tutoring, review sessions, service learning, workshops, supportive study spaces, and print/web resources. As a space for collaborative knowledge making, the GAC promotes diversity, equity, and inclusion through fostering the academic and professional growth of all students, with attention toward mentorship, communication, critical thinking, and creativity. Location: 2nd Floor Zahnow Library.

The GAC includes:

 

The Melvin J. Zahnow Library

Melvin J. Library Zahnow Library is a vital resource and information center for faculty members, researchers, and students. It plays a crucial role in supporting the academic and research needs of the faculty, contributing to the overall success of our university community. This section of the faculty handbook provides essential information about the University Library, its services, and how faculty can make the most of its resources.


Mission The Melvin J. Zahnow Library supports the SVSU mission by promoting knowledge advancement for further intellectual and personal growth.

Library Services and Resources A comprehensive array of services and resources are available to meet the specific needs of faculty members. These services include:

  1. Information Literacy Instruction: Librarians provide tailored in-person and remote workshops and training sessions to enhance faculty members' and students' information literacy skills. Librarians focus on teaching techniques to effectively locate, evaluate, and utilize information resources for research projects and other assignments.
  2. Research Support: Librarians offer specialized research assistance to faculty and students which includes navigating relevant information through databases and managing citations.
  3. Access to Online Databases and Journals: The library subscribes to over 130 databases which include thousands of online journals, e-books, and streaming videos for access to scholarly information in a wide range of disciplines.
  4. Interlibrary Loan (ILL): When a resource is not available within the library’s collections, ILL service allows faculty and students to borrow materials from many other libraries in Michigan and in the United States.
  5. Physical Collections: The library’s General Collection is located on the 3rd and 4th floors and is arranged by the Library of Congress’ call number system.  Although thousands of e-books are available, print books are added when appropriate or by faculty request. A small backfile of journals, newspapers, and multimedia resources supplement research and teaching needs.
    • Borrowing Privileges: Faculty members have extended borrowing privileges and can check out materials for more extended periods compared to students. However, they are encouraged to return items promptly to maintain the availability of resources for all users.
    • Copyright Compliance: Faculty members must comply with copyright laws and respect intellectual property rights when using library resources and distributing materials to students.


    Faculty Engagement and Collaboration Faculty are encouraged to actively engage with library staff and services. Collaboration between faculty and librarians is essential to ensure that the library meets the evolving needs of the academic community. Faculty members are welcome to propose new acquisitions, request specialized workshops, and provide feedback on library services to enhance its overall effectiveness. Each discipline has a liaison librarian to enhance collaboration.

    For a list of subject liaison librarians, visit http://librarysubjectguides.svsu.edu/ll

    In addition, faculty may request to join the Library Faculty Committee (3-year commitment) to support library initiatives and planning. For more information visit https://librarysubjectguides.svsu.edu/libraryadministration/lc 

    Contact Information For inquiries, assistance, or collaboration opportunities, faculty members may reach out to the Zahnow Library staff with the following contact information or by visiting https://librarysubjectguides.svsu.edu/ContactsandHours

    The Melvin J Zahnow Library is committed to providing excellent service and support to faculty members and staff looks forward to partnering with them in their academic endeavors and research pursuits.

    Resources for Faculty

    List of useful resources for Faculty.

    Secretarial Services

    Faculty secretaries, located near faculty offices, are available to help prepare documents, order supplies, distribute mail and memos, maintain general office supplies and forms, copy materials, and perform other traditional office tasks. See your department chair for more information.

    Testing Center

    The mission of Saginaw Valley State University’s Testing Center is to provide quality testing services to students that adhere to the National College Testing Association (NCTA) Professional Standards and Guidelines.  The testing environment will be free from distractions, accessible, technologically enhanced and aligned with the testing policies of each faculty member and testing organization. Location: Zahnow 308 | 989.964.2820