Students in large measure shape the quality of life on the Manhattanville campus. Elected representatives of the student body — commuters and residents — comprise Student Government, which serves as a principal means of communication among the administration, faculty and student body. Student Government members serve on various College committees, ad hoc committees and faculty committees.
Life at Manhattanville centers around a diversity of activities — intellectual, social and athletic — designed to provide interesting and rewarding experiences that will enhance an individual's development.
Crime Statistical Information
The Advisory Committee of Campus Safety will provide, upon request, all campus crime statistics as reported to the United States Department of Education. Vice President of Student Affairs and Dean of Students Sharlise Smith-Rodriguez, will provide this information. He can be reached at (914) 323-5194. Crime statistics can also be viewed at the Manhattanville web site (www.mville.edu) or the Campus Safety Pamphlet, which is distributed. If a reported crime is investigated by the law enforcement authorities and found to be false or baseless, the crime is considered “unfounded” and is not included in our institution’s statistics. Manhattanville’s crime statistics detailed report can be found on the U.S. Department of Education:
(http://www.ope.ed.gov/Security/search.asp). OPE ID of Institution is 00276000.
Vice President for Student Affairs
The Vice President for Student Affairs oversees and coordinates the services of a number of offices whose focus is specifically on Manhattanville students: Athletics, Commuter Students, Counseling Center, Dean of Students, Disability Services, Higher Education Learning Program (HELP), Health Services, Residence Life, Student Activities, Duchesne Center, International Student Services, Transitional Program, Mentor Office, and the Manhattanville Advancement Program.
Dean of Students
As part of the Student Affairs Division, the Dean of Students provides programs and services to support the development of students’ personal growth. The Dean of Students oversees the management and leadership of the Office of Student Activities and the Centers for Academic Success. The Dean’s role includes interpreting and applying policies and procedures including the student code of conduct. The Dean of Students office is located on the first floor of the Berman Student Center. The Dean of Students can be reached at 914- 323-3134.
Counseling
The Counseling Center is located on the ground floor of Founders Hall. The College counselors are readily available to meet with any student experiencing psychological, interpersonal or academic problems that interfere with his or her educational and/or personal development. Since the college years and the transition to college can often be a stressful time, many students consult with a counselor to help make their experience at Manhattanville as valuable as possible.
The Counseling Center is staffed by psychologists and a psychiatrist, all professionally trained and experienced in working with college students. Both short-term and longer-term psychotherapy and group therapy is available. The services are free of charge, completely confidential and can be individually arranged. Daytime and evening hours are available. Group discussions focusing on specific topics can also be arranged.
In the event of a Leave of Absence for personal or psychological reasons, students may be required to meet with a clinician in the Counseling Center to be cleared for a return to the College.
Health Services
The Health Center, located on the ground floor of Spellman Hall, room G15, is serviced by physicians who specialize in adolescent medicine, as well as a highly qualified nursing staff. In addition, the staff provides gynecological services, men’s health services, and other support services. The Health center is open on weekdays, evenings, and on Saturday afternoon. Health services are not available on Sundays, holidays or during vacation periods. Some members of security are Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT) and are trained to handle health emergencies when the Health Center is closed.
The Health Center is responsible for providing for the health needs of the students. Its mission is to enhance the educational process by modifying or removing health barriers to learning, promoting optimal wellness, helping students make informed decisions, and assisting the student to be a self directed and good consumer of health care.
All full-time, registered undergraduate and English Language Institute students may use the Health Center free of charge. Students with special health problems or concerns and disabled students are encouraged to advise the Health Center of any health problems or special needs prior to arrival on campus; the staff may offer recommendations and/or arrange special accommodations which may make their residential and academic adjustments easier.
A completed physical examination form and immunization form containing proof of immunity to measles, mumps and rubella as specified by NYS Public Health Law #2165, and signed by the private physician are required at the time of admission to the College. For newly entering students, these forms are due in the Health Center before the start of classes. These forms are confidential and must be on file in the Health Center before registration or residence life may take place. Health evaluations by other health care providers may be required thereafter at the discretion of the College physician. Manhattanville College holds a membership in the Downstate College Health Association, the New York Health Association and the American College Health Association.
Office of International Students and Scholars
The Office of International Students & Scholars (OISS) provides assistance to international students (undergraduate, graduate, English Language Institute students and alumni) in many ways. Its staff counsels students on immigration matters, administers health insurance, provides tax information, assists with social security enrollment and guides students through the cultural adjustment process. The office also connects students to other services and activities available on the campus and in the community. The staff also educates students about their rights and responsibilities while in F-1 or J-1 student status. The OISS acts as an advocate for all students in non-immigrant status (i.e., F-1, A-1, G-1, E-2, L-2).
It is anticipated that by Fall 2014 Manhattanville will participate in the State Department’s J-1 Exchange Visitors Program and will provide services for incoming Exchange Visitor faculty in J-1 status.
Commuter Life
Commuter students comprise approximately 20 percent of the Manhattanville community. They are encouraged to participate in all aspects of campus life, including academic and student organizations and other on-campus activities. Student lounges located in Brownson Hall, lobby of Spellman Hall, Library, and Berman Student Center provide spaces to study individually or in groups, as well as a place to relax and meet other students between classes. Food services are available at Benziger Dining Hall during normal meal times, the Pub, the Brownson Cafe, and the Library Cafe. Please contact the Office of Student Activities at 914-323-5154.
Residence Life
The College employs eight full-time professional staff members, including five Resident Directors, a Director, an Associate Director and an Administrative Assistant. There are 32+ student Resident Advisors who have been trained extensively in interpersonal, counseling, and helping skills and are available to help students adjust to campus life. Resident Advisors provide extensive programming on a range of topics during the academic year.
The Office of Residence Life is open 9 am to 5 pm, Monday through Friday; however, a Resident Director is on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week. In addition, there are Resident Advisors on duty, daily, from 7 pm to 9 am on weekdays and 7 p.m. to 7 p.m. on weekends in each of the buildings. The staff is readily available to handle emergencies, as well as any other problems such as homesickness, depression, roommate conflicts, etc., that may arise.
Student Activities and Organizations
Manhattanville College offers an array of co-curricular activities designed to enhance the personal development of its students and the quality of their lives outside the classroom. Students have the opportunity to grow socially, intellectually and emotionally through programs developed by the Office of Student Activities and through the many student-run organizations on campus.
Student organizations at Manhattanville fulfill the cultural, intellectual, social and recreational interests of the student body. Among the approximately 50 organizations on campus are the International Student Organization, Amnesty International, Philosophy Club, Black Student Organization, and the Latin American Student Association. The elected officials of Manhattanville Student Government Association represent all clubs and organizations. Students with an interest in print media may choose to serve on the Touchstone newspaper staff or may work for the Tower, the campus yearbook. The campus radio station, WMVL, satisfies those with an interest in broadcasting and/or music. Any six students may start a club. All clubs are open to all students.
The Office of Student Activities also offers a New York City Trip program on the weekends and during the semester. This program allows Manhattanville students to purchase tickets for a Broadway show or sporting event at a discounted rate. Transportation to and from campus is provided for each event at no charge to the student.
Connie Hogarth Center for Social Action
Professor of Sociology David Eisenhower, Professor of Political Science Ken Pittman, and long time community organizer Connie Hogarth founded the Connie Hogarth Center at Manhattanville College in 1997. Connie Hogarth, for whom the Center has been named, was the Executive Director of the Westchester People’s Action Coalition for over twenty years. The Hogarth Center has an office in Founder’s Hall where its student leaders and participants meet weekly.
The organization’s mission is, “to help the next generation of college-educated activists acquire, in the course of their undergraduate training, the practical skills and knowledge necessary for work in some field of social change.” The Hogarth Center’s mission is carried out in student activities designed to raise awareness on campus of current social issues. In recent years, students at the Center have organized film series, lectures, and teach-ins on a variety of issues and have attended local and national assemblies. Speakers who have been invited to campus by the Hogarth Center have ranged from New York environmentalists and UN representatives to international human rights activists.
Assistant Professors of Sociology Beth Williford and Elizabeth Cherry currently serve as faculty advisors for the Hogarth Center. In addition to helping students hone their organizational skills, Professors Williford and Cherry offer a one-credit seminar focused on the Hogarth Center lecture series, which is offered every fall and spring semester.
The Hogarth Center relies on two sources of funding: private fundraising and the allotment distributed through the Office of Student Affairs for student clubs. Currently, the Hogarth Center depends mostly on the private fundraising to meet the Center’s needs.
Duchesne Center for Religion and Social Justice
The Duchesne Center promotes the development of ethically and socially responsible leaders for the global community by emphasizing community service and reflection as inseparable components of this development. Community Service, Academic/Service-Learning, Global Citizenship, and Religion and Spirituality are Duchesne’s four core areas designed to enhance the Manhattanville student college experience embedded in social responsibility. Each core area offers students the chance to connect service, leadership, and civic participation with academics, resulting in learning opportunities that build upon awareness of social, economic, political, and religious issues, skills for interacting with diverse communities, and the ability to be catalysts for change.
In furthering its goal to create a diverse community, Duchesne works closely with student organizations, academic departments, administrative offices, and community agencies to promote the exploration and celebration of culture and positive inter-group relationships. Through partnerships with social service, private and government agencies, the Duchesne Center also sponsors programs and opportunities for national and international service-learning.
Duchesne Center programs provide a safe space where respectful, honest dialogue takes place and learning is a daily experience.
New York City Trips
Manhattanville’s beautiful campus is a mere 28 miles from New York City. The College likes to treat New York City as its “other” campus. Student Affairs plans a variety of trips to NYC each week ranging from theatre tickets to sporting events. A free van transports students to and from the City on Saturdays. All freshmen participate in at least three trips to the City in the first semester.
Westchester County
Westchester County offers a wide selection of movie theatres, restaurants, retail, and concert halls. Manhattanville’s free Valiant Express bus offers reliable and frequent transportation for students to White Plains and the railroad station.