The University offers many services, resources, and programs that enhance student life experiences under the administrative supervision of the Division of Student Services. Directed by the Vice President for Student Services, Student Services departments and programs provide students opportunities to learn and develop through out-of-class experiences. Co-curricular programs coordinated by the departments serve to complement the academic mission and enrich the overall educational experience of students through the interweaving of students’ academic, interpersonal, and developmental experiences.
Mission of The Office of Student Services
The Office of Student Services offers students opportunities to grow as individuals and as students. In providing these opportunities, the expectation is that students will develop broad competencies in personal growth and development, interpersonal development, leadership and service development, environmental and cultural development, and understanding and commitment to social justice for all humankind.
Student Handbook
The Xavier University Student Handbook provides general information that facilitates adjustment to college life. All students are required to know and comply with all guidelines, policies, and regulations contained in the Handbook. The XU Student Handbook is available online. Each student is expected to have a copy which can be obtained from the Student Services Offices in the University Center.
Activities
Athletics and Recreational Sports
As part of the overall development of its students, Xavier provides an outstanding athletics program. Xavier has intercollegiate varsity teams in basketball, tennis and cross country for men and women, and volleyball for women. The team mascots are Gold Rush for the men’s teams and Gold Nuggets for the women’s teams. The University also offers Campus Recreational Sports programs in intramural or club sports, fitness and informal recreation. These activities vary in skill level to attract and involve students, faculty and staff with differing interests and abilities. The balanced athletic and recreational sports program is an important educational experience and provides excellent training for students in all departments of the university.
Organizations
The Office of Campus Activities provides a comprehensive co-curricular program that encourages the personal development of students and enhances their educational experience through student life activities. Social, cultural and entertainment programs are designed to provide personal growth and development for students outside the classroom. This unit also coordinates and supervises the development of guidelines and procedures for University-recognized student clubs and organizations; it also provides programs that enable and empower leadership and life skills through activities such as retreats, conferences and workshops.
Services and Resources
Campus Ministry
Xavier University is a Roman Catholic institution. The Office of Campus Ministry (OCM) offers religious programs and activities for the entire University community and all religious affiliations. Opportunities are provided for students, faculty and staff to meet with the OCM staff to plan and prepare spiritual activities. These activities fall into several areas which include: spirituality, fellowship, and community outreach. Campus Ministry programs and staff members strive to foster spiritual development, provide religious education and continuing faith formation for the University Community. The Campus Ministry staff supports and fosters the development of emergent leaders shaped by religious and moral values for leadership and service of others. More information about Campus Ministry can be found on its website: (http://www.xula.edu/campus-ministry/).
Center for Student Leadership and Service
The Center for Student Leadership and Service houses New Student Orientation, Service-learning, XU LEADS (Leadership Education and Developmental Skills) and Volunteer Services. The Center for Student Leadership and Service is designed to promote student leadership and civic engagement by complementing the academic curriculum with practical application of classroom theory and methodology. The Center for Student Leadership and Service contributes directly to the University’s Mission by implementing programs that will prepare students to assume roles of leadership and service in society. The ultimate purpose of the Center is to educate students so that they may become facilitators of social change.
Xavier University’s Offices of Academic Affairs and Student Services collaborate in the planning and implementation of the First Year Experience (FYE), a holistic, year-long series of curricular and co-curricular activities focused on internalization of, and identification with, what it means to be a Xavierite.
The FYE begins with the completion of the application and ends with the beginning of a student’s sophomore year at Xavier. All components of the FYE are based in the unique history, mission and core values of Xavier. Each is designed to enhance the transition of the student from dependence to independence and interdependence. The components emphasize the knowledge, skills, and values that characterize a Xavierite. More details may be found in the FYE Handbook.
New Student Orientation serves to assist the University’s “new” students - entering freshman, transfer and non-traditional students - in maximizing their potential and achieving personal and academic growth. Students are provided with a suitable referral source, a vital support system away from home, and a liaison with all areas of the University community. These efforts are facilitated by Peer Deans, student volunteers who mentor and act as liaisons to new students on campus and assist in planning Orientation. The ultimate goal is to instill in new students the importance of taking advantage of all resources available to them and becoming well-rounded students.
Counseling and Wellness
All students may obtain professional, individual, and group counseling through the Counseling and Wellness Center. Counseling is free and confidential to the full extent allowed by law. Students are assisted by counselors in exploring feelings, attitudes, motivation, academic abilities, study habits, time management, test taking, and stress coping skills, as well as many other areas of need. Career exploration through the Strong Interest Inventory is also available.
The Counseling and Wellness Center Staff includes professionally-trained certified counselors and a licensed clinical social worker. Referral services are available when needed. Emphasis is placed on aiding students and on maintaining a confidential counseling relationship.
Xavier’s Wellness Program for students, staff and faculty is coordinated through this office. The Wellness Program encourages students to be the best that they can be in every area of their lives - physically, mentally, emotionally, socially, spiritually intellectually, academically and occupationally. Wellness programs include a Wellness Awareness Week (fall), a Wellness Awareness Day (spring), a weight reduction program (The Biggest Loser), and a Recovery Day Celebration. In conjunction with Student Health Services, the Counseling and Wellness Center provides a cessation program for smokers. Many wellness reading materials are available, which include information on various topics, including: HIV/AIDS, nutrition, stress management, smoking, drug abuse, conflict management and assertiveness training. The Counseling and Wellness Center also sponsors Wellness Peer Counselors, a student organization which helps other students, staff and faculty learn how to live a wellness lifestyle.
More information about the services of the Counseling and Wellness Center can be obtained on the website (http://www.xula.edu/counseling/index.php).
Disability Services
Academically qualified students who have disabilities are encouraged to attend Xavier University of Louisiana. Students requiring special assistance or consideration in order to meet program or degree requirements should advise their dean’s office of the nature of their disability as soon as they have been admitted to the university.
The Counseling and Wellness Center provides a variety of services for students with a disability (temporary or permanent physical disability). Some of the services available include registration assistance, orientation assistance, accessibility assistance, referral to testing services and coordination of accommodations, such as extended time for testing and a distraction-reduced environment.
Students with disabilities are encouraged to contact the Office of Disability Services immediately to make the necessary arrangements. Write to Xavier University Counseling Center; Attn: Disability Services; One Drexel Drive, Box D; New Orleans, LA 70125; (504) 520-7315.
Health Services
The mission of Student Health Services is to provide the most efficient and effective medical care on behalf of Xavier students with the emphasis placed on mitigating illness. The goal of Student Health Services is to assist students in the development of good physical and mental health and provide educational information related to maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
The following immunizations are required for all students entering the University:
- Tuberculosis (Tb) skin test (less than 6 months)
- Measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) (2 doses)
- Tetanus-diphtheria (less than 10 years)
- Meningococcal meningitis vaccine (less than 5 years)
The immunizations listed above are required for all new students, students who have been out a semester or more, and recent graduates of the university who are reapplying for graduate or undergraduate credit.
These immunizations, in addition to the Immunization Compliance Form, must be submitted to Student Health Services prior to registration. Forms are available in Student Health Services and at: http://www.xula.edu/student-health/health_requirements.php.
Health insurance is MANDATORY for ALL undergraduate students. It must provide coverage in the New Orleans area for both physician office visits as well as the emergency room. Students are billed for the student health insurance prior to registration. Students can waive the insurance if their private insurance meets University criteria. The waiver process can be completed online and is available on the Student Health website (http://www.xula.edu/student-health). This information is also available in the new student packet. If additional information is needed, contact Student Health Services at 504-520-7396.
Student Health Services offers a caring environment with a range of healthcare services, including primary health care, acute care (non-life threatening), a women’s clinic, allergy shots, and health and wellness education.
Services provided in Student Health are unlimited to all currently enrolled Xavier University students.
Residence Life
Residence hall living allows students to meet and learn from a variety of interesting people and be in the heart of campus life. Resident students at Xavier are close to the library, university center, classes, dining halls, and all the facilities and programs designed to help students adjust and prosper at college. With over 1,100 students residing on campus, resident students will never be at a loss for people to meet and things to do.
Currently, Xavier offers four facilities for students interested in campus residency. All rooms in Xavier’s various residence halls come furnished with beds, desks, dressers, and wardrobes. Also included are basic cable service, laundry facilities, Internet access through a direct link to the campus network, mini computer labs, and telephone jacks that provide on-campus and local telephone service.
New students should apply for residence through the Admissions office. Returning students apply for residence through the annual re-application process each spring for the upcoming fall semester. All residents who re-apply and have cleared their fiscal accounts with the university receive their residence assignment at the end of the spring semester. Those students who do not immediately receive assignments are usually assigned over the summer. Transfer students are housed on a space available basis. All residents must complete a housing agreement for the academic year. The University reserves the right to use residence halls between semesters and during summer breaks. Storage is not available. All inquiries regarding housing should be addressed to the Office of Housing and Residence Life.
University Center
The University Center is a 100,000 square-foot facility that has space to support student programs, offices, student lounges and meetings rooms. Serving as the hub of campus activity, it features offices for student organizations, conference rooms, campus mail service, a game room, campus dining services, a large study area that converts to a showcase lounge in the evenings, and much more.
University Police
Xavier’s Office of University Police is responsible for maintaining a safe and secure campus environment. Students must understand that personal safety and security begin with the individual. The University Police Office is open 24 hours per day and serves as the information center to visitors entering the campus. Officers patrol the campus on a regular schedule by foot, bicycle, and vehicles. Officers also serve as crime prevention practitioners by re-enforcing safety and security information to Xavier’s students, faculty, and staff. The Office of University Police offers several crime prevention and safety awareness programs throughout the year. The Office of University Police is a sponsor of a nationally accredited crime prevention program, “Rape Aggression Defense for Women,” and has two certified instructors on staff.
Campus Emergency Alert Systems
Xavier University of Louisiana utilizes the BB Connect communication service to deliver all emergency messages and other time-sensitive notifications to students, faculty, and staff employees. The service enables the university to schedule, send, and track messages via four different forms of communication:
- Personalized voice messages to landline phones, cell phones, and e-mail addresses;
- Text messages to cell phones, PDAs, networked digital signage, and other text-based devices;
- Text messages to e-mail accounts; and
- Messages to TTY/TDD receiving devices for the hearing impaired.
Also, the university has installed “Code Blue” outdoor call boxes to provide additional security on campus. These are outdoor telephone stations around campus that allow pedestrian students or other campus visitors who may be in danger to communicate an emergency directly to campus police and be seen via a video link.
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