Academic Advisement Center

The Academic Advisement Center, located in Room AC 2C01, provides advisement related to general education and academic major requirements. Students beyond the freshman year but undecided as to their major, new transfer students with 30 or more credits, and non-matriculated students receive their principal advisement in the Center.  The Center also serves as a resource for evening and weekend students who cannot meet with advisors in their major and houses the Committee on Academic Standards.

 Academic Advisors assist students to:

·    Make decisions related to their academic careers at York College.

·    Understand graduation requirements, and how they impact the            choice of courses.

-  Develop an academic plan for persisting to graduation.

·  Understand York College programs, policies, procedures and resources.

·   Explore various majors, and where they can lead after graduation.

·   Explore life goals, values, abilities, interests and limitations.

·   Prepare for graduate school.

The Academic Advisement Center can be reached by calling 718-262-2280 or via email at advisement@york.cuny.edu.

 Division of Student Development

The mission of the Division of Student Development is to complement the academic and service functions of the college by providing an environment in which community is developed and opportunities are provided. Within this community, students are encouraged to contribute responsibly to the college and the larger society. The programs sponsored by the division integrate students into college life and enhance students’ total development with particular emphasis on intellectual, ethical, social, career, emotional and personal development. The division also assists students in acquiring greater sensitivity toward others, an appreciation of cultural diversity and healthy lifestyles.

The Division of Student Development accomplishes its mission by:

1. assisting student’s successful transition to college;
2. creating opportunities for students to expand their aesthetic and cultural appreciation;
3. instructing students on how to mediate individual and group conflicts;
4. providing services for students with various health, disabling and/or learning difficulties;
5. helping students understand and appreciate racial, ethnic, gender and other differences;
6. designing opportunities for leadership development;
7. establishing programs that encourage healthy living and confront abusive behaviors;
8. providing opportunities for recreation and leisure-time activities;
9. helping students clarify career objectives, explore options for further study, and secure employment;
10. assessing the educational and social experiences of students to improve institutional programs;
11. establishing policies and programs that contribute to a safe and secure campus;
12. supporting and advancing institutional values by enforcing the university’s behavioral standards for students;
13. advocating student participation in institutional governance;
14. serving as a resource to the faculty in their work with individual students and student groups;
15. encouraging faculty-student interaction in programs and activities;
16. assuming leadership for the institution’s response to student crises; and
17. coordinating student development programs and services with academic affairs, administrative affairs, institutional advancement and other major components of the institution.

Office Of Counseling

COUNSELING DEPARTMENT

The Counseling Department is committed to providing a broad range of high quality, innovative, and ethical services that address the psychological, educational, social, and developmental needs of York students. The Counseling Department assists students in their educational endeavors by helping them to identify academic majors to support professional long-term goals and objectives while encouraging developmental and educational growth for success.  As a collaborative and empathic leader within Jamaica, Queens, York College students avail themselves to the rich and abundant multi-cultural community encapsulated within our school campus.  With an emphasis on promoting self-awareness, sense of civility, and respect for others, faculty within the Counseling Department, trained in the behavioral sciences, are skilled in the provision of services offered to our students.

Academic Advisement: Freshman & Transfer Students

All freshman and transfer students entering York College with 29.9 credits or less are seen for academic advisement in the Counseling Department.  The academic advisement process provides opportunities for workshops and personal dialogue between the faculty and each individual student. Within the scope of these processes and frequent advisement, basic curricula are adapted to meet the needs and objectives of each student. Advisors also assist in helping student’s identify their short and long term academic and educational goals for optimal success.

 Academic Performance: Grades & Probation

Any student who is having difficulty with classes and/or has been placed on academic probation MUST be seen by a trained professional in the counseling department.  If an academic block is placed on your account, students are urged to seek advisement as soon as possible. Trained counselors within the counseling department are authorized to lift academic blocks.

 Alcohol & Drug Prevention Counseling

Our trained staff can provide answers to your questions, referral information, and resources to accurate, useful, and trustworthy information. If you, or anyone that you know, has a problem with alcohol and/or drugs, please stop in to see us. We are here to help.

 Career Counseling

Available to all students’ requiring help in choosing a major and/or changing a major to meet occupational and/or professional goals and objectives.  Stop by to see a trained professional to better respond to any questions you may have. 

Crisis Counseling

York College maintains on-site counseling services for students facing a critical problem requiring immediate attention.  With a specialization in crisis counseling, trauma, and intervention, clinicians are trained in evidence-based methodologies to address your immediate concerns. Recommendations for referrals and other resources are also available as an adjunct to crisis counseling services.

Graduate School

A Graduate School Fair is hosted at York College during each Fall semester. If you need help in choosing a graduate school to further your education, stop by and ask to see a career counselor in the counseling department.

Individual Counseling

York College offers free psychological, short-term, individual counseling to all students having difficulty in coping with personal and/or academic concerns. Referral information and guides for additional resources are available.

 Veterans Affairs

The York College Office of Veterans Affairs (OVA) was created within the Division of Student Development to address the needs of our veterans. The Office for Veteran Affairs addresses special concerns, such as eligibility requirements, tutorial assistance, and academic credit for military experience.  Other services available include, but are not limited to:

 · Processing of the educational benefit application.

· Processing the change of program application and/or place of training.

· Processing the application for survivors and dependents.

· Certifying enrollment for all veterans.

· Interacting with all departments and offices at the college to protect veterans’ rights.

· Ensure appropriate services are provided.

Students who are eligible for veterans’ benefits should consider the following when planning their class schedule for the Fall and Spring semesters:

·To qualify for full-time benefits you must enroll for a minimum of 12 credits.

·To qualify for ¾ time benefits, you must enroll for a minimum of 9 credits.

· To qualify for ½ time benefits, you must enroll for a minimum of 6 credits.

For Matriculating Veterans (who have completed 12 credits at York College)

· 8 free elective credits will be granted for one year or more of active military service.

· 4 free elective credits will be granted for less than one year but more than six months of active military service.

 Please Note

· There is no automatic waiver of the Physical Education Instrumental course requirement (Physical Education 150) for student veterans.

· Students who wish to receive a waiver must present evidence of proficiency to the chairperson of the Department of Health and Physical Education.

· The Office for Veteran Affairs at York College is responsible to inform the Department of Veterans Affairs when a veteran has been dismissed from college for poor academic performance and/or for not making satisfactory academic progress.

· The OVA at York College serves as a liaison between the student and Regional Offices in Buffalo and New York City.

· A veterans’ counselor is available full-time and is available both days and evenings in the Counseling Department – Room 1G02.

Workshops

Workshops are available to help you succeed and improve your overall grade point average (GPA). Please see a counselor for scheduled workshops on stress management, study skills, test-taking strategies, and more.

The STAR Program (Specialized Testing & Academic Resources)

The STAR Program provides services and support to students with a documented disability aiming to ensure a “level playing field.”  The

STAR Program provides reasonable accommodations, such as extended testing time, large print text, use of a tape recorder, reader and/or scribes, note takers, and adaptive technology with appropriate documentation.  

The STAR Program is committed to student success and acts as an advocate for individuals with disabilities.  The STAR Program also works with students to establish the right combination of accommodations and services in an effort to foster full participation in coursework and in the larger college community. 

To better determine if you are eligible for any of these services, stop by the office and speak with a member of the STAR Program staff. 

Formerly the Office of Students with Disabilities, the STAR Program is part of Student Development and is located in Room 1G02.

CUNY L.E.A.D.S. (Linking Employment, Academics, Disabilities and Services)

CUNY L.E.A.D.S. aims to facilitate successful academic and career outcomes for CUNY students with disabilities.  The mission of the CUNY L.E.A.D.S. program is to link a disabled student’s academic accomplishments with his/her professional endeavors via career counseling, job coaching, internship assistance and more. 

CUNY L.E.A.D.S. also facilitates students’ involvement with A.C.C.E.S. (Adult Career and Continuing Services-Vocational Rehabilitation).  The York College’s CUNY L.E.A.D.S. Counselor is located in Room 1G02.  Stop by for additional information.

York Enrichment Services (YES)

York Enrichment Services is a TRIO federally funded grant program that provides services to students with documented disabilities.  YES provides personal and career counseling, academic advisement, mentoring, workshops, and computer training to students in the program.  The YES computer lab is used only by students in the YES program.  The Lab utilizes various types of assistive technology software.  YES is part of the Division of Student Development and is located in Room 1G02. Telephone: (718) 262-2274.

 Office Of Career Services

The Office of Career Services (OCS) at York College is committed to the principle that the development of any person’s career takes place over most of his/her lifetime. It is important that one learns to take charge of his or her career development.

This office focuses on providing career development assistance in a partnership effort involving students, faculty, business, industry and a wide variety of community agencies and organizations. The professional staff is available to help individuals increase self-understanding of their abilities, interests, values and goals. In addition, students are taught how to research careers and to develop the skills necessary to launch an effective job search.

All students are encouraged to register with this office during their first semester at York College in order to gain maximum benefit from the following services:

• Career counseling

• Career development courses

• Personal interests, skills, and value inventory

• Inclusion in national databases for internships, summer jobs, part-time jobs, full-time jobs and career opportunities

• Workshops on resume writing, interviewing skills and job search techniques and business etiquette

• Seminars on discipline related career opportunities

• Career and job fairs

• Computer-assisted career development tools

• Career resource center

• On-line access to up to the minute updates on all of the above.

The Resource Center is located in room #3M01 and the administrative staff are in #3E03. You may check for current office hours and information concerning special events and services by going to our website at www.York.cuny.edu/career

 

Student Support Services (SSS)

Student Support Services provides services to eligible students with a need for academic support. Students who are from a low-income family or first-generation college students (i.e. neither of their natural or adoptive parents have a bachelor’s degree), especially freshmen, are strongly encouraged to apply.

To help participating students succeed at York, SSS offers the following services and activities:

1. Individualized or small-group tutoring in most academic subjects;
2. Confidential personal counseling;
3. Computer and Internet skills training;
4. Academic advisement and assistance in course selection;
5. Assistance with financial aid applications;
6. College success skills workshops;
7. Freshman orientation and mentoring;
8. Computerized career exploration and guidance;
9. Textbook exchange program.

Student Support Services is located in Room 3E03. The telephone number is 262-2423.

Health Services Center

The College Nurse serves as the Director of the Health Services Center, Community Health Outreach Program Coordinator, and liaison to hospitals and clinics.

Emergency and first aid treatment are rendered to the sick and injured; counseling and educational literatures are available for a variety of health related areas including nutrition, weight control, preventive medicine, family planning, etc.

All accidents that occur on campus must be reported to the Health Services Center and/or the Security Office within 24 hours of the incident or the next working day. If the student is incapacitated, a telephone call would suffice to secure an accident form, which must be completed and returned to the center immediately for processing.

All students are required to show proof of immunity to measles, mumps and rubella, and a signed response form for meningitis. The latter form can be secured from the Health Services Center. Certifying documents are received and maintained in the Health Services Center. In an effort to secure a baseline health status for each incoming student, a physical examination is requested. Physical examinations are important for the student’s well-being and should be submitted to the Health Services Center annually. Forms may be secured from the center. The Health Services Center is located in the Academic Core Building, Room1F01.

Office of Student Activities

A variety of groups—academic, social, athletic, cultural, recreational, political, and special interest—adds an additional set of valuable learning experiences for students and faculty.

Each group established on campus must meet approved criteria to gain status as a college chartered organization. In the same way, programs and events which occur on campus should fit within the general framework of the college’s policies and provide additional settings for personal interaction. Students are encouraged to develop programs which center on current issues facing college students.

Faculty advisors assist and consult with students in the development of programs, and provide resources and assistance as needed. Student organizations and their events are meant to enhance the maturational development, leadership skills, and socialization processes. There is a strong focus on understanding the nature of groups and organizational behavior with many groups focusing on the development of cultural heritage and the promotion of cross-cultural appreciation.

The Office of Student Activities is also responsible for the advisement of Student Government and the oversight of the student newspaper Pandora’s Box and the on-line radio station YCRadio. The Office of Student Activities is located Room 1E01. The telephone number is (718)262-2286.

 

Student Government

Student leadership is an important part of the campus social and academic life.  York College Student Government Senators are elected by the student body.  They meet and discuss critical issues that impact students from an academic and social standpoint. Senators serve on the York College Faculty/Student Senate, York College Association, York College Auxiliary Enterprises, Technology Fee Committee and various other committees that affect the campus environment. Members of the Student Government also participate in a leadership training conference where they are taught skills and techniques that help them become better leaders. Student Government Offices are located in Room 1G04.

Student Clubs

Student clubs and organizations are a vital part of the total York College experience and are chartered to serve the diverse needs and interests of our student body.  They are avenues for forming friendships, as well as an opportunity for cultural expression, career development and leadership training.  Any group of students wishing to organize a club at York College is required to register with the Office of Student Activities and be chartered by the Student Government Association.

The Student Gameroom

The purpose of the York College Student Activities Gameroom is to provide an area with various resources where a student can come and relax, free of the sometimes stressful academic campus environment.  The Gameroom has many different activities including: billiards, assorted card games, board games, Playstation 3 and Xbox 360 video gaming systems, an arcade gaming system, and two plasma television screens which have cable programming.  The Gameroom is located in room A/C 1F19-20 and is open Monday through Thursday from 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. and on Friday from 11:00 a.m.–5 p.m. 

York College Radio Station

The York College Radio Station (YCradio.org) was created within the Division of Student Development to give students a recreational and academic resource that fostered interest in broadcast production and communications technology.  Together with support from the Departments of Institutional Technology and Communications Technology, and the Broadcast Journalism program, it was established in the fall of 2009.  YCRadio.org currently streams on campus, but the college is pursuing the ability to broadcast worldwide.  The station can be accessed through the York College website and is programmed with music, sports talk shows and other interesting topical shows. 

 

York College Women’s Center

The Women's Center is a resource center that strives to provide supportive services for the growth, development and well-being of women students as they pursue academic and lifelong goals. The Women's Center was conceptualized and designed as a respite space for women students. Groups and individuals have always been encouraged to utilize the space in an effort to create and foster community. The Women's Center develops and implements a wide range of events and activities intent on educating and promoting competency through educational, social and cultural programming. The Women's Center  accomplishes its mission in part through informational seminars, workshops, colloquiums and conferences which focus on a plethora of diverse topics. The Women's Center has a comprehensive listing of resource literature and information of interest to contemporary students. The Women's Center is committed to offering students and community partners an opportunity for employment and volunteerism. The Women's Center offers a warm and friendly environment where both female and male students are welcomed.

 

Male Initiative Program

The purpose of the York Male Initiative Program and Men's Center is to provide a system of support, through various resources, that contribute to the improvement of enrollment and graduation rates of under represented populations, and particularly male students. Coordinated efforts to recruit students from various areas in the community, is one of our main goals. The other main goal is to provide various systems of support that lead to continuous satisfactory progress towards degree completion. The cornerstone of the program is our Mentoring Program, in which students have the opportunity to interact with other role models on our faculty/staff, and in the college community.

The programs of the York College Male Initiative Program are:

·        Pi Eta Kappa – an academic fraternity and honor society

·        Back-On-Track – a teacher development program that provides SAT assistance to high school students

·        The Barbershop – group mentoring program

·        P.R.I.D.E. – an after school program for middle and high school students in temporary housing

·        V.I.T.A. – free tax-prep program for students, seniors and local residents

Route to Success – a collaboration with the NYC Department of Probation and the Queens District  Attorney’s Office, that attempts to disrupt the pipeline to prison cycle among under-represented populations.

The Men's Center is located in Room 3M02. The telephone number is 718 262 3772.

York College Association

The York College Association, a State-chartered corporation with a board of directors consisting of students, faculty and administrators, was formed to provide support for college-related events and programs which cannot be funded by the tax levy budget of the College. The major source of funds, which the Association budgets are a portion of the General Fee paid by each student at registration. It is the policy of the Association to consider funding activities and programs that are deemed beneficial to the student body as a whole. Any organization which is primarily social in nature or has a restricted membership is not eligible for support by the Association.

Intercollegiate Athletics

Statement of Philosophy

York College is a member in good standing of CUNY Athletic Conference (CUNYAC), The Eastern Collegiate Athletic Association (ECAC), and the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), Division III. The York College Intercollegiate Statement of Philosophy seeks objectivity, shuns bias, fosters scholarship for life-long learning, and celebrates cultural diversity. In principle and practice, the Intercollegiate Athletic Program integrates ethical behavior and attitudes, and through competitions, promotes wellness and, as part of the athletic experience, engages the athlete in community service.

The Intercollegiate Athletic Program places equal importance on the goals and objectives of competition and spectatorship, and collegiality and competitiveness as a “love and enjoyment of sport,” not merely competition for the extrinsic award. The York College Cardinals are guided by the principles of sportsmanship, mutual respect and discipline, and are challenged to achieve as individuals and as members of their respective teams.

To this end, the college places emphasis on in-region, regular season competition and the CUNYAC championships. At no time do the goals and objectives of competition out-weigh student athletes’ physical, mental and emotional well being. Guided by the principles of fair and equitable treatment and the NCAA requirement of gender equity, York college sponsors 13 competitive teams: five men’s teams, six women’s teams, and two varsity teams.

York College embraces the philosophy of Division III competition and honors academics first and athletics second.Student athletes at York College are encouraged to be scholar athletes as evidenced by the academic good standing requirement of the college, which exceeds the minimum grade point average for graduation and applies to all athletes regardless of curriculum level, and fosters life-long learning.

Sports at York College

Under the auspices of the Department of Health/Physical Education and Gerontological Studies Services, the intercollegiate athletic program at York College supports varsity teams including Men’s and Women’s Cross Country, Men’s and Women’s Volleyball, Men’s and Women’s Basketball, Men’s and Women’s Indoor Track Field, Men’s and Women’s Outdoor Track Field, Men's Soccer, and Men’s and Women's Swimming, Softball and Tennis. These teams compete with colleges from within CUNY and other metropolitan area colleges. York College is a member of N.C.A.A., Division III, Metropolitan Tennis Conference, CUNY Athletic Conference, North Eastern Collegiate Volleyball Association (NECVA) and the Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference. It is expected that new teams will be organized in accordance with student interest and financial ability. Men and women are encouraged to participate in the intercollegiate athletic program. Practice times are usually between the hours of 4:00-6:00 pm. Potential athletes should attempt to register for early classes. Student-athletes are required to register for and maintain the minimum number of credits (12 credits/hours) during the competitive season. Athletes should also register for independent study, Physical Education 291-294 (one course per sport season). A maximum of four credits is permitted. Student-athletes must be medically and academically cleared before participating on any intercollegiate athletic team.

Sports Medicine

Sports Medicine coverage is provided to all York College athletes by the Athletic Trainer (AT) or certified Athletic Trainer. The Athletic Trainer acts in conjunction with the Office of Public Safety in case of emergency or injury. The Athletic Training Office is open to all student, athletes, faculty and staff.

Intramurals at York College

York College provides a wide variety of intramural activities. These activities may include basketball, badminton, volleyball, table tennis, swimming, weight lifting, tennis, soccer, and track and field. Students can also request other activities as well, by speaking with the aquatics, intramurals and recreation manager.

York College Office of Alumni Affairs

York College has a growing group of more than 22,000 alumni with backgrounds as diverse as their ambitions.  The York College Alumni Affairs department is dedicated to serving this alumni community and strives to build lifelong relationships.  Alumni Affairs works to strengthen the extended York College community through an active and effective network of activities and communications.  The department was officially staffed in July 2009 and provides the following services:

·            An Annual Class Reunion Program

·            Manages the Annual Fund

·            Produces the Alumni Directory

·            Creates the Annual News from York Alumni Newsletter

·            Maintains the York College Cardinal Alumni Network (YCAN) FACEBOOK page

 

Student Discipline

Student discipline is a matter of concern for the entire College Community. In June 2004, the CUNY Board of Trustees approved a new policy on academic integrity. The policy provides definitions and examples of various forms of academic dishonesty and outlines procedures of sanctions for violations. Academic dishonesty is prohibited in The City of New York and is punishable by penalties, including failing grades, suspension, and expulsion.

Definitions and Examples of Academic Dishonesty:

Cheating is the unauthorized use or attempted use of material, information, notes, study aids devices or communication during an academic exercise. The following are some examples of cheating, but by no means is it an exhaustive list:

• Copying from another student during an examination or allowing another to copy your work.
• Unauthorized collaboration on a take home assignment or examination.
• Using notes during a closed book examination.
• Taking an examination for another student, or asking or allowing another student to take an examination for you.
• Changing a graded exam and returning it for more credit.
• Submitting substantial portions of the same paper to more than one course without counseling with each constructor.
• Preparing answers or writing notes in a blue book (exam booklet) before an examination.
• Allowing other to research and write assigned papers or do assigned projects, including use of commercial term paper services.
• Giving assistance to acts of academic misconduct/dishonesty.
• Fabricating data (all or in part).
• Submitting someone else’s work as your own.
• Unauthorized use during an examination of an electronic devices such as cell phones, palm pilots, computers or other technologies to retrieve or send information.

Plagiarism is the act of presenting another person’s ideas, research or writings as your own. The following are some examples of plagiarism, but by no means is it an exhaustive list:

• Copying another person’s actual words without the use of quotation marks and footnotes attributing the words to their source.
• Presenting another person’s ideas or theories in your own words without acknowledging the source.
• Using information that is not common knowledge without acknowledging the source.
• Failing to acknowledge collaborators on homework and laboratory assignments.
• Internet Plagiarism includes submitting downloaded term papers or parts of term papers, paraphrasing or copying information from the internet without citing the source, and “cutting pasting “ from various sources without proper attribution.

Obtaining Unfair Advantage is any activity that intentionally or unintentionally gives a student an unfair advantage in his/her academic work over another student. The following are some examples of obtaining an unfair advantage, but by no means is it an exhaustive list:

• Stealing, reproducing, circulating or otherwise gaining advance access to examination materials.
• Depriving other students of access to library materials by stealing, destroying, defacing, or concealing them.
• Retaining, using or circulating examination materials, which clearly indicate that they should be returned at the end of the exam.
• Intentionally obstructing or interfering with another student’s work.

Falsification of Records and Officials Documents

The following are some examples of falsification, but by no means is it an exhaustive list:

• Forging signatures of authorization.
• Falsifying information on an official academic record.
• Falsifying information on an official document such as a grade report, letter of permission, drop/add form, ID card or other college document.