Mount St. Mary's University: Student Life

Student Development
The Office of Student Development has responsibility for the overall quality of student life on campus. It is charged with creating and maintaining a thriving community for students in campus housing,with nurturing student empowerment, development of student leadership, promoting wellness and cultural activities for students, and with enforcing the Code of Student Conduct.

The Dean of Student Development oversees the Division of Student Development, which includes the Department of Public Safety Wellness Center, Student Activities, Residence Life, and Intercultural Development. Mount Saint Mary's recognizes the importance of integrating student life into the academic community. Consequently, the Division of Student Development reports to the Vice President and Dean of the College, the chief academic officer.

Campus Ministry
The U.S. Bishops' document Catholic Higher Education and the Mission of the Church envisions a Catholic college as "an enterprise wholly committed to evangelical ministry. To relegate this ministry to the institution's periphery in an isolated department or office of campus ministry is to fault the college's essential Catholic identity."

At Mount Saint Mary's the Office of Campus Ministry and Community Service works with all facets of the institution to facilitate this vision. Daily interaction with students, faculty, staff, administrators—in the classroom and in the dining hall, in committee meetings and at basketball games seeks to energize total campus involvement in evangelization grounded in gospel values.

The Catholic tradition holds that the depth of our faith powerfully affects the way we live and what we become. The gift of faith continues to grow through experience and reflection. The Office of Campus Ministry and Community Service is committed to providing a wide variety of opportunities for the members of the Mount community to deepen their spirituality through a vibrant liturgical life, enriching faith-formation activities, volunteer service opportunities, and learning-oriented community service.

The Office of Campus Ministry and Community Service is located in the Cogan Student Union Building (extension 5223). Annual informational brochures are available from the office.

Recreation and Athletics
Mount Saint Mary's provides a variety of facilities to the community for individual or group recreation. These include the Knott Athletic Recreation Convocation Complex (swimming pool, basketball/tennis courts, handball/racquetball courts, jogging track, aerobics/weight rooms, and other training facilities), various outdoor courts and fields, and an extensive intramural and club sports program.

Mount Saint Mary's also participates in intercollegiate sports at the NCAA Division I level in 18 varsity sports: men's and women's basketball, soccer, lacrosse, tennis, cross country, golf, and indoor/outdoor track; women's softball, and men's baseball.

Public Safety
The Department of Public Safety is located in the Campus Visitor Center near the entrance to campus. The primary responsibility of this service-oriented department, on duty 24 hours a day, is to ensure a safe and secure environment in which the business of the College can take place. Public Safety's main duties include response to emergencies, physical security, fire safety, crime prevention, and control of parking and traffic. The staff of Public Safety is trained in community policing and is prepared to respond to critical and emergency situations. Call extensions 5357 for regular services or 8111 for emergency service.

Visitor assistance, in the form of complimentary parking permits, directions, campus maps, and event information, is available.

Intercultural Development
In accord with the Catholic, liberal arts mission of Mount Saint Mary's, the Office of Intercultural Development affirms the unity of all peoples under God and honors the strength of diversity within our common humanity. Intercultural Development works with students, faculty, and staff at the College to foster an understanding of diversity as a condition of communal richness and intellectual excellence.

Intercultural Development seeks to help create a campus in which people from varied backgrounds and cultural traditions will flourish. In particular, Intercultural Development initiates academic and fine arts programming that highlights the history and culture of African Americans, Asian Americans, Hispanic Americans, and Native Americans. It works with faculty and staff to encourage greater understanding of international and immigrant peoples and of the history and present life of women.

Intercultural Development is not limited to programming. It offers workshops to enhance the campus understanding of diversity, and works with all campus constituencies to make Mount Saint Mary's an exciting and welcoming place for students of diverse backgrounds and experiences. The Office of Intercultural Development is committed to the welfare of Mount students. Its doors are open to students, parents, faculty, and staff.

Mount St. Mary's graduates are successfully employed in business, industry, government and educational settings or are accepted into the finest graduate and professional schools. The Career Center, located in Cogan Hall in the McGowan Center, provides a comprehensive list of activities and resources to assist students and alumni with career planning. Services include career advising, internships, resume and interview preparation, workshops, and graduate and professional school resources. The Center also offers numerous networking opportunities, including on-campus recruiting, volunteer and internship fairs, consortium job and graduate school fairs, and the Mount Alumni and Parenting Mentoring Service. Office hours are Monday - Friday, 9am - 5pm. Visit www.msmary.edu/careercenter for more information.