Faculty Advising

Effective academic advising is an essential component of an Ithaca College education. The College community is committed to providing the individual support, advice, and direction that students need to explore life and career goals and to develop educational plans. This advising relationship, as a collaborative, ongoing conversation, transcends mere course selection and attempts to assist all students as they explore academic programs, experience college life, focus on a major, and prepare for a lifetime of learning, citizenship, and service in a global community.

Each student is assigned a faculty advisor from their school or division. The faculty advisor maintains advisee records and provides information on major, minor, and graduation requirements. The advisor also refers the student to appropriate persons or offices when extra assistance is needed and can help locate information on academic policies, procedures, and deadlines. In addition to meeting with their faculty advisors during registration periods, students should actively seek their advisors’ assistance before academic problems develop. By working closely with their faculty advisors, students can be better informed about the wide range of educational opportunities available at the College. The most productive and enjoyable student-advisor relationships develop with frequent interaction and open communication.

Student Accessibility Services

Ithaca College seeks to ensure that all students have access to its programs and activities. Student Accessibility Services assists students in accessing reasonable accommodations and in determining which accommodations are appropriate.

Reasonable accommodations may include, but are not limited to, testing modifications, academic accommodations such as note-taking support, adaptive technology, materials in alternate format, special housing arrangements and referral for other support services.

The Office of Employee Relations and Equity Compliance oversees the College’s compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA).

For additional contact and location information, visit the Student Accessibility Services website or call 607-274-1005.

Tutoring and Academic Enrichment Services

Tutoring is available to all Ithaca College students free of charge through Tutoring and Academic Enrichment Services.  We assign tutors on a first-come, first-served basis.  We have a standard list of course offerings each semester, but may be able to provide assistance in other courses as well.

We call our peer tutors Learning Coaches, because they can coach you through challenging course material.  Endorsed by faculty and selected for their academic strength, our coaches use a variety of strategies designed to help you learn and enhance your critical thinking skills. 

To ensure their competence, we require our Learning Coaches to complete a training course based on standards set forth by the College Reading and Learning Association and other national organizations.  

Tutoring and Academic Enrichment Services is also home to the Emerging Academic and Professional Leaders Program.  This learning community offers academic assistance, professional development, and cultural support to students from diverse backgrounds in all majors.

For more contact and location information, visit the Tutoring and Academic Enrichment Services website.

Orientation

The Office of New Student and Transition Programs coordinates the Ithaca College orientation programs for students and their family members. These programs provide much of the necessary information for incoming students to complete a smooth transition to the Ithaca College community. During orientation students meet with an academic advisor, register for first-semester classes, and learn about academic procedures, support services, and resources available to them. Students and family members also engage in a variety of programs and activities facilitated by the orientation leaders and orientation staff during their time on campus. On the College’s receipt of the enrollment deposit, students receive information about signing up for summer orientation. Further information can be obtained by visiting the New Student & Transition Programs website.

Special Academic Opportunities

Qualified students can pursue special prestigious academic opportunities such as the Rhodes Scholarship, Truman Scholarship, Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship, Minority Leaders Fellowship Program, and the All-USA College Academic Team recognition. For information on the institutional nomination process and other details, contact the Office of the Provost. Students interested in the Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship should contact the Office of the Dean in the School of Humanities and Sciences.

Multicultural Academic Programs

The Ithaca Achievement Program (IAP) is a community of learners dedicated to personal and academic success. African American, Latino American, Native American, and Asian American (ALANA) students who choose to participate in this academic program receive academic support and career assistance tailored to meet their needs. They take part in a wide variety of educational, cultural, social, and community service activities to enhance their success. Students may join the IAP as entering first-year students or as rising sophomores or juniors. IAP participants who obtain or maintain an annual grade point average of 3.00 or better and complete all program requirements may be eligible to receive an Ithaca Achievement Grant, renewable each year, to reduce the loan portion of their financial aid packages.

The Martin Luther King Jr. (MLK) Scholar Program is open to academically talented students from ethnic and racial backgrounds that have been historically underrepresented in American higher education. Scholars receive up to full tuition in aid every year, with a minimum merit-based scholarship of $25,000. MLK scholar awards are renewable annually. MLK scholars are expected to:

• maintain a cumulative B+ average;
• participate in community service each semester;
• live in the Housing Offering Multicultural Experience (HOME) program, the College’s residential multicultural living learning community, during their first year;
• be eligible to travel with the program;
• complete a three-year independent research learning proposal;
• produce a leadership E-portfolio reflecting on service, travel, and leadership experiences;
• and participate in all required programs, including orientation, seminars, and meetings, and in at least 80 percent of other planned events and activities.

Library

The primary mission of the Ithaca College library is to enhance teaching and learning through the provision of flexible, diverse, and user-centered information services and resources. The library staff strives to create an organization that is receptive to change, recognized for efficient management, and committed to user service and satisfaction. Librarians provide research assistance via text, chat, and in-person consultations.  LibQuest, a web-based app, introduces students to library resources and services.  Instructional workshops focusing on introductory and advanced research in subject areas are offered across the campus. Course-related reserve materials are also available in print and electronically. The Library facility is organized to support a variety of user needs, with group study and quiet/silent study zones on individual floors.

In consultation with faculty and students, librarians develop a collection of materials in print, audio, video, film, and electronic formats, accessible through the library’s online research portal. A web-based interlibrary loan service provides access to materials not owned by the library.  The Digital Commons @IC highlights the scholarly work of students and faculty.

The library staff is committed to continually improving its services, resources, and facilities, maintaining a community dialogue on its website and purchasing new resources in response to user requests.  For current information on library services and resources, visit the Ithaca College Library website.

Writing Center

The Writing Center, located on the ground floor of Smiddy Hall, serves all students who wish to become better writers. It offers individual and small group tutorials to students needing assistance at any stage of the writing process in any discipline, from brainstorming ideas to revising drafts for clarity, coherence, correctness, and documentation of sources. Assistance is also offered in improving reading comprehension and refining written English skills for international students.

Information Technology

All computers in the library, classrooms, campus computer labs, and other College facilities are supported by the Information Technology office.  Every school in the College offers courses that include computing. Students studying such diverse topics as music theory, developmental psychology, finance, physical therapy, or writing will find opportunities to use computers for class. An extensive collection of programming languages, data analysis packages, and business programs supports the curriculum.  IT provides free workshops and consulting services to Ithaca College students, staff and faculty.

Information Technology supports student computer facilities located all over the campus. This includes Macintosh and Windows computer classrooms, along with a number of open-access labs staffed by student consultants. All Ithaca College students automatically receive a Netpass account for accessing email and other IC systems.

Ithaca College has partnered with Apogee, who provides reliable, high-speed wired and wireless (MyResNet) internet service in residence halls.

To learn more about contact and location information, visit the IT website.