 RESOURCES AND SERVICES The Library serves the pursuit of excellence in teaching and learning by providing Francis Marion's students, faculty, staff, and regional citizens with access to scholarly information. By providing this access, the Library is able to contribute uniquely to that portion of the mission of Francis Marion University that stresses its support of scholarly pursuits in the Pee Dee region of South Carolina. Rogers Library is the largest library in northeastern South Carolina, and its holdings include more than 380,000 volumes, 1,700 current periodicals, 490,000 microforms, and numerous electronic databases to access information from almost anywhere. Academic Computing Services provides information technology resources and services for the instructional and research missions of the University. Principally through the operations and development of the Academic Computer Center and the campus network, the department provides machine-readable content, access to that content, and guidance for its use. The Academic Computer Center is open to all enrolled students, faculty, staff, and active alumni at FMU. Access to the laboratory requires a valid University ID Card which is retained until completion of the computing session. In addition, most academic departments have their own student computer labs distributed across campus. Students must supply their own diskettes for using most software products. The most commonly used computer software is the Microsoft (MS) Office suite (Word, Excel, Access, and Powerpoint), but other specialized programs are available for use in the main computer laboratory. The software and documents available are copyrighted products and may not be reproduced, in part or in whole, for any purpose. Netscape and Internet Explorer are available for web browsing. Email for Students — Email accounts are provided for all currently enrolled students. Students are provided information about accessing email accounts by visiting the Academic Computing Center. The Cauthen Educational Media Center is dedicated to improving teaching and learning opportunities by providing non-print resources, technological support, and media-equipped teaching and conference facilities for the faculty, students, and staff of Francis Marion University. The Center supports the academic program by providing study facilities and instructional space in the Resource Area, supplying and maintaining media equipment, scheduling media-equipped classrooms, providing production facilities, and hosting campus and community activities. This facility contains two high-tech distance learning classrooms featuring two-way audio and video communications. The Dooley planetarium is located on the second floor of the Media Center. The Department of Mathematics offers a mini-lab generally in the afternoons Monday-Thursday for students enrolled in the Math Lab (the self-paced mathematics courses). These self-paced courses have two technology labs with both VCR tutorial tapes for all courses and a computer-assisted tutorial program for the Math 105 and Math 111 courses. The Department of Mathematics has created a computer lab for use as a classroom and a student resource center for mathematical work. These computers contain mathematics programs (MAPLE, MINITAB, EXCEL, GEOMETER'S SKETCHPAD, etc.) to empower students in the areas of mathematics and probability and statistics. The FMU Writing Center is available to help all students improve their current writing abilities and acquire the skills needed to succeed at writing tasks in academic and professional communities. English department faculty consultants and trained student consultants provide one-to-one assistance on a wide range of writing tasks and projects, including research papers for all disciplines, literary analyses, creative writing, lab reports, resumes, business letters, and graduate school applications. Students are invited to meet with a consultant at any stage of the writing process for guidance on generating a topic, building an argument, incorporating research, revising a draft, or learning about grammatical errors. The Writing Center encourages students to use writing as a means of personal expression and as a tool for learning in and beyond the university environment. The Writing Center offers more than 40 hours of tutoring services each week and several writing workshops each semester. Tutorials are available by appointment or on a drop-in basis. To meet with a tutor, please call 843-661-1528 or visit the Writing Center in Founders Hall 114-C. Writing Center consultants are also available in the evenings at the Tutoring Center, located in the Study Hall of the Allard A. Allston Housing Office Complex. Students are invited to visit the Writing Center's website for more information and links to online writing resources: http://www.fmarion.edu/writing/. The Tutoring Center is a free service available to all students. Located in the Study Hall in the Allard A. Allston Housing Office Complex, the Tutoring Center offers students the opportunity to seek assistance in all academic areas from trained peer tutors. Assistance is available to students on a walk-in basis from 3-9 p.m., Monday through Thursday, or by appointment (843-661-1675). The Teaching Materials Center supports the Teacher Education Program by providing a representative collection of curriculum materials. The collection ranges from pre-kindergarten through high school and contains materials that are current and appropriate for each subject area, each grade level, and each professional program. The comprehensiveness of this collection has been augmented by the Materials Center having been designated as an official Public Review Site for public school state-approved materials. Copies of all materials considered for approval by the State Department of Education are sent to the Center for review, and many of them are included in the collection. This extensive collection allows preservice teachers to create a broad range of lesson plans and activities. The Office of Career Development supports the educational goals of the University mission statement by providing a comprehensive, educational approach to career development and preparation as a life skill. Specialized services, programs, and strategies are designed and targeted for FMU students and alumni. The Office of Career Development develops and maintains relationships both internally (faculty and staff) and externally (business and community) and plays an integral role in the activities of these sources to facilitate the blending of academic, personal and career development of students, while providing a link for students to the world of work. A state-of-the-art resume referral service is available to seniors seeking full-time employment. The service includes resume postings on the Francis Marion University Internet Resume Book and is linked to a national job listing service - both available to employers on the World Wide Web. The DISCOVER career guidance program and other resources allow students to explore careers, research employers, and develop the skills and tools needed to conduct successful job searches. Job listings for part-time, summer, and experiential learning opportunities are also available, in addition to career workshops and "practice interviewing" opportunities. Students are encouraged to start using these services during their first year of enrollment to begin exploring their skills and interests as they relate to specific career fields. The Office of Counseling and Testing is responsible for meeting the personal
counseling needs of Francis Marion University students. Professional
counselors are available to help with personal, relationship, or
emotional issues with referrals made to community agencies as needed.
The office also coordinates the advanced-placement testing program
and administers several standardized tests utilized in certification
by graduate and professional schools. The Office of Counseling and
Testing serves as the focal point of academic services for students
with disabilities. All students with physical or academic disabilities
should contact the Office of Counseling and Testing prior to registration
at 843-673-9707. |
