AdvisingHandbook

SMWC Student Senate

The Student Senate exists to serve as the official voice through which student voice may be expressed and empowered in the decision-making process, services, and programming offered at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College. The Student Senate is committed to understanding the needs of students and advocating on their behalf. Through continuous interaction with students, faculty, staff, and administration, the organization works to improve and enhance the quality of the student experience. The SMWC Student Senate provides numerous leadership opportunities. The Student Senate organizes and assists with co-curricular activities including homecoming, speakers, leadership development, and community service. The Oakley Student Center or OSC is a great place to hang out with friends, play pool or ping pong or event study. It is currently in a phase of transition as we recently changed dining services providers and they have offices here and will be upgrading the kitchen here. Additionally, the Sisters of Providence Archives located at the back of the space is in the process of relocated to the Rooney Center with th e College’s Archives. The college will then remodel the space into additional student space. The resident halls , Le Fer (built in 1923) and Le Bois (built in 2021), house up to 415 residential students. In Le Fer there is one resident assistant (RA) on each wing and in Les Bois there is one RA on each floor. The two assistant hall directors (AHDs) (graduate assistants) live in Les Bois. The RAs and AHDs provide on-call response to the residence halls on nights and weekends. The RAs and AHDs participate in 2 weeks of training preparing them to respond to student emergency and non- emergency situations. Students who disclose a problem with their roommate should first speak to the RA. From there, if the RA and the student cannot find a resolution, Cortney Cross and Aimee Janssen- Robinson will be contacted. The last effort is to make a room change. SMWC is a dry campus, even if a student is 21, so no alcohol is permitted on campus. As a Professional Advisor, if a student discloses a troublesome situation, you may send an Early Alert to make others aware of the circumstances. Aimee Janssen-Robinson receives the early alerts in addition to other staff and can request that residential life staff conduct a well-being check with the student of concern. When a student is found in violation of the Code of Student Rights and Responsibilities they will meet with the Director of Residential Life and Student Conduct. Following the conduct meeting the incident may be dismissed if the student is not found responsible. If the student is found responsible a sanction will be imposed. Sanctions range from online educational courses, fines, community service, and/or counseling sessions. Students who reside on campus are assigned a room based on their housing application as a new student. The rest of the time at SMWC, students participate in a housing lottery to choose their room for the following academic year. Between both residence halls, there are eight room layouts. Campus students have many services and amenities and a desk, chair, dresser, stackable twin bed, and a mattress are provided. Commuter students must live within 45 minutes of campus and live with their legal guardians. Commuter students must apply every year to be a commuter student. Otherwise, they must live on campus. There is a commuter lounge in Hulman Hall. Both residential Oakley Student Center