Student Services
A faculty member helping some students in a design lab.

Academic Support

This web page outlines the different Academic Support options available for students including tutoring through the Academic Success Center, academic advising, Undergraduate Admissions information and more! Use the drawers on this page to read a bit about each Academic Support.

Center for Academic Success and Tutoring (CAST)

Center for Academic Success & Tutoring (CAST) offers learning support programs to assure high quality services to Montclair State University students. The quality learning is centered on the student as an individual. Therefore, CAST continues to construct a body of work focused on the academic needs of a rapidly growing student population.

The Center for Academic Success and Tutoring, certified by The College Reading and Learning Association (CRLA) and the National Tutoring Association (NTA), provides tutoring, supplemental instruction, and academic development services including coaching and workshops. Further-more, the national and international professional standards set by The CRLA are maintained through the application of innovative learning theories, tutoring practices, and cross-cultural training programs.

CAST is dedicated to providing an environment that promotes learning and professional growth where students and tutors work together in reaching their academic goals. The individual and group tutoring sessions are offered in most academic areas by master and peer tutors who have excelled in their particular subject areas and have been recommended by faculty. All tutors receive training on effective study strategies and tutoring techniques, and are evaluated on their skills to demonstrate a continual learning mindset.

The Center for Academic Success & Tutoring (CAST) offers Academic Development, Tutoring Services, Supplemental Instruction and learning support to Montclair students in collaboration with academic and administrative departments. Students are encouraged to take advantage of CAST tutoring which fosters active learning, reasoning, and critical thinking. Additionally, the tutors working at CAST are well trained in applying learning strategies and tutoring techniques to help students become more confident and competent learners while facing academic challenges head-on and mastering course content.

The Center advertises the tutoring schedule at the beginning of the semester and we encourage students to sign up for a tutoring account to take advantage of the ability to schedule in person and on-line tutoring appointments in our various tutoring locations.

Advising

Academic advising is a developmental process in which students and academic advisors engage that focuses on helping students achieve their academic, personal and career goals.

For more information, please visit the Academic Advising website.

Center for Student Leadership and Engagement

Student Leadership Programs is part of the Center for Student Involvement and encourages the development of student leaders through an intentional program of events, including retreats, seminars, courses, mentoring programs, learning communities, conferences, community service programs, and recognition and awards ceremonies. The office also encourages students to undertake leadership roles in clubs and organizations and student employment opportunities within the campus community, as well as to pursue leadership opportunities in state, regional, and national conferences and organizations.

Student Leadership Programs works in close collaboration with staff, faculty, and departments including the Educational Opportunity Fund Program, The Center for Advising and Student Transition Programs, Greek Life, Undergraduate Admissions, Social Justice and Diversity/Women’s Center, and Residence Life. Students are encouraged to interact with numerous areas of the MSU community and are encouraged to network with other students and faculty and staff to enhance their leadership experience.

Faculty can particularly be involved with Student Leadership Programs by presenting and facilitating at student workshops, programs and conferences and by serving as advisors to student clubs and organizations.

How can Student Leadership Programs help you as a faculty member?

Student Leadership Programs communicates frequently with student leaders through email distribution lists, as well as through the department Web site and is able to publicize programs or initiatives to help faculty reach student leaders. The office also provides opportunities for faculty to present, facilitate, and/or participate in student programs, workshops, conferences, and community service initiatives, including the winter Student Leadership Retreat and the fall Student Leadership Institute.

Center for Writing Excellence

The Center for Writing Excellence (CWE) is available to all university students, faculty, staff, and alumni who are committed to developing and improving as writers. Sessions with experienced writing consultants are designed to provide help on every aspect of the writing process, with the goal of enabling writers to achieve long-term improvement, confidence, and independence.

Conferences are generally a maximum of 25 minutes, and are available on a first-come, first-served basis. We can also schedule appointments in advance, and we are now offering online consultations. There is no charge for these services.

Colleges and Schools

Designated a Research Doctoral University by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education, the University’s 11 colleges and schools serve more than 21,000 undergraduate and graduate students with more than 300 doctoral, master’s and baccalaureate level programs.

Disability Resource Center

The Mission of the Disability Resource Center (DRC) is to unite the Montclair State University community in an effort to provide students with disabilities the excellence and equity in education to which they are legally entitled. Support from faculty is integral to the achievement of this mission. It is the hope of the DRC that sharing this information will promote collaboration between the DRC and faculty as well as provide you with some strategies, to see that all students are encouraged to meet their full potential.

Although it may seem simpler to just accommodate students directly without the involvement of the DRC, that approach can be risky. The DRC has the expertise to ascertain whether the request is appropriate and reasonable. If you provide an  accommodation without proper documentation, other students can challenge this treatment as preferential. Also, by providing an unsubstantiated accommodation, a pattern is set under which a student can claim to be “considered as having a disability” under the law. Therefore when students approach faculty about disability issues, it is strongly recommend that they are referred to the DRC.

Section 504 and the ADA are very specific regarding confidentiality issues. Students voluntarily affiliate themselves with DRC, and the responsibility to protect their confidentiality is taken seriously.

How can the Disability Resource Center help you as a faculty member?

Although it may seem contradictory to some that the DRC’s goal is to team with the faculty to accommodate the student; that is our true mission. The center advocates for students, but is also available to consult with and assist faculty in meeting the University’s legal responsibilities to students with disabilities.

The law permits dissemination of disability-related information on a “need to know” basis only. Therefore when faculty is alerted, the center is permitted to disclose only the existence, not the nature, of a disability and what accommodations are necessary to equalize access to learning for that student. Asking intrusive questions of the student or discussing the student’s disability with
others, no matter how well-intentioned, is a violation of federal law.

Education Opportunity Fund Program

Montclair State University’s Educational Opportunity Fund Program (EOF) provides access for motivated state residents from
underrepresented populations/areas that meet the income criteria and exhibit the potential for high achievement. The Educational Opportunity Fund Program provides quality academic support, leadership development, financial literacy, career enrichment, intentional counseling/advisement, and need based financial assistance to maximize the intellectual and social growth of all participants. The EOF community fully engages scholars in curricular and co-curricular experiences ultimately
producing active alumni dedicated to lifelong learning and global citizenship.

How can the Educational Opportunity Fund Program help you as a faculty member?

EOF Students are assigned EOF Professional Counselors who can be used as a resource for a student’s academic development
(tutoring, writing workshops, etc.). Progress reports are sent to faculty members for EOF students and other select special admit populations to ensure students maximize the use of their academic resources.

Experience Montclair

Experience Montclair (EM) is a University-wide initiative designed to provide activities, events and workshops to help students stimulate intellectual curiosity and career readiness through academic and co-curricular programming. This initiative promotes active student engagement starting in the very first semester. As students begin their transition to college life they will be presented with opportunities to explore areas of personal and professional interest in order to gain necessary skills for future employment and/or graduate study. By employing a competency-based approach, student engagement can be translated into competencies to make sense for students, administrators, family members and potential employers.

Important Dates

The Important Dates website includes important upcoming deadlines and dates for our students. Please review this information. Any additions will be announced via Red Hawk News sent to your University email account.