Honors Program
The Honors Program is designed for a highly select group of students whose high school record, rank in class and SAT scores indicate superior scholastic aptitude or who in their college work demonstrate unusual proficiency and scholarly interests through a superior grade point average. Open to matriculated Women’s College students, the Program provides a broad-base of knowledge in the liberal arts, while also challenging and enhancing students’ special interests and abilities.
Incoming Women’s College students who scored 1,000 or better on the verbal and mathematics sections of the SAT receive an invitation to join the Honors Program. Students who attain a 3.5 or better grade point average in their first semester of college receive an invitation to join the Program. Students with an overall 3.5 or better grade point average may enter the Program at any point through the completion of their sophomore year.
The Honors Program requirements include:
- Maintaining an overall 3.5 or better grade point average.
- Two Honors seminars.
- An Independent Research Project, presented publicly to the College community in the spring of the student’s senior year.
- One course taken in each of the following subject areas, of which four of the six must be designated Honors Sections:
- Social/Behavioral Science
- Natural/Physical Science
- Mathematics
- Philosophy
- Theology
- History
- The remaining College requirements must also be fulfilled:
- First-Year Seminar
- English Composition I
- English Composition II
- Fitness/Wellness
- Foreign Language
The Honors Program is administered by its Director, Dr. Margaret Roman, who is assisted by a faculty-student Honors Council. For more information about this program, contact Dr. Roman, (973) 290-4313. There also is an Honors Handbook, which provides detailed information on this Program.
Leadership Program
Educating women to assume leadership roles has long been an important aspect of the College of Saint Elizabeth’s Mission.
The College’s Leadership Program serves as a curricular and co-curricular program that brings together specially designed courses in leadership and extra-curricular opportunities that foster the development of specialized knowledge and skills.
Both comprehensive and flexible in its approach, the Program provides instruction and experiences that enable students to develop skills and increase their knowledge of human relations, communications, values clarification, personal development, planning and organization.
Graduates of the Program will acquire a greater understanding of themselves, a stronger commitment to others, and a higher degree of initiative in undertaking projects that will make a positive difference in the world in which they live.
Four one-credit courses are required. The required courses (descriptions for these courses are currently listed with the Womens Studies courses) for completing the Leadership Program are:
- LDSP111 Becoming a Leader (1)
- LDSP301 Leadership Theories (1)
- LDSP* Leadership Dynamics (1)
- LDSP* Applied Leadership (1)
Co-curricular requirements for the Leadership Program include:
- Involvement in Extra-Curricular Activities
- Selection of a College Mentor (sophomore year)
- Involvement in Community Service (must complete 15 hours) or completion of an internship (must be approved by Program Director)
- Attendance at Program Meetings (one per month)
- Participation in Leadership Development Opportunities
- Conferences
- Speaker Series
- Workshops (must attend at least 4 per year)
For more information about the Leadership Program, contact Dawn O’Leary Singerline at 973-290-4204 or dosingerline@cse.edu.
Educational Opportunity Fund Program
The Educational Opportunity Fund (EOF) supports talented and motivated low-income New Jersey residents.
EOF provides supplemental financial assistance for full-time enrolled undergraduate students who demonstrate exceptional financial need. To qualify, recipients must be admitted into the program at the College and complete both the EOF questionnaire and Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
Applicants to the program are evaluated for admission on the basis of financial eligibility, demonstrated commitment to education, and motivation. An interview with the Director of the EOF Program is required.
During the summer prior to the first year, all new EOF students attend a five-week residential Summer Academic Enrichment Program that provides an introduction to college life. Students develop academic skills, take courses for college credit, and participate in cultural, social, and recreational activities. During the fall and spring semesters, a program of support services in tutoring and personal counseling is offered.
For more information, contact the Admission Office or Carolina Gonzalez, director of the Educational Opportunity Fund Program (973) 290-4345.
Individualized/Self-Designed Major
Although most students choose one of the College’s established majors, for a limited number of students, a more individualized, self designed program better meets their specific goals and objectives. The individualized Bachelor of Arts major affords a highly motivated student the opportunity to create his or her own program of study in conjunction with faculty advisors and sponsoring programs.
Career opportunities vary depending on the focus of the major and students are able to pursue graduate studies in a variety of disciplines.
The self-designed major must not only be academically challenging and demanding, but it must also fit within the framework of the existing academic programs. The program of study must be coherent and characterized by intellectual diversity, scholarship, and creativity.
Students must have completed at least 16 credits at the College and no more than 64 to be considered for this major. Self-designed majors are generally created during the sophomore year. The major must be a minimum of 32 credits. Students must maintain a 3.0 grade point average in the major. Students completing an individualized major must also complete all of the general education requirements.
Procedure
In the first phase of the process, the student must engage in thorough research and discussion with faculty members and advisors to determine a clear direction for this major. The student then develops her own statement describing the purpose of this major as it relates to her academic and career goals. The statement is submitted to the Undergraduate Dean for approval.
Once this conceptual framework is approved, the student is able to work with the faculty members involved and the supporting departments to write a plan that includes specific courses. It is assumed that the plan will include course offerings from at least two academic departments. The plan must include all of the courses that will be taken as part of the degree, both general education courses and those in the individualized major. At least one half of the major must be at the 300 and 400 level. The plan should include a semester by semester list of courses.
When the plan is complete, it should be submitted in writing to the Assistant Dean of Undergraduate Programs for final approval. Once the plan is approved, any changes must be submitted in writing to the Assistant Dean of Undergraduate Programs for approval.
Disability Services
The College of Saint Elizabeth, in accordance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Americans with Disabilities Act, provides eligible students with documented disabilities equal educational opportunities and participation. The College is committed to insuring that no qualified person be excluded from participation in any College program or activity, be denied the benefits of any College program or activity, or otherwise be subjected to discrimination with regard to any College program or employment, access to facilities, student programs, activities and services.
While all students are expected to meet the College’s academic standards and requirements, the College encourages students with documented disabilities who want accommodations to submit the documentation early in the application process so that documentation may be assessed, interpreted and services arranged in a timely manner. Please contact the Coordinator of Disability Services for more detailed information about disabilities services.
Disability Services – Grievance Procedures
For complaints or appeals related specifically to services/accommodations for students with disabilities provided through the Office of Disability Services, as required under the American’s with Disabilities Act (ADA) or Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, the following procedures will be followed:
Grievances – Internal (CSE) Complaints
- 1
- The complaint should be submitted in writing and contain the name and address of the person(s) filing it, and briefly describe the alleged violation of the regulations. It should be filed with the Coordinator of Disability Services within ten (10) working days from the date of the alleged complaint.
- 2
- An investigation conducted by the Coordinator, as may be appropriate, shall follow the filing of a complaint. The investigation shall be informal but thorough, and it should afford all interested persons and their representatives, if any, an opportunity to submit evidence relevant to the complaint.
- 3
- A written determination as to the validity of the complaint and a description of the resolution, if any, shall be issued by the Coordinator and forwarded to the complainant no later than ten (10) working days after the filing of the complaint.
- 4
- The complainant can request an appeal in the instance of dissatisfaction with the resolution. The request for reconsideration should be made in writing to the Vice President for Student Life and Dean of Students within ten (10) working days of the resolution of the complaint.
- 5
- If a grievance is against the Coordinator of Disability Services the above procedures will be followed with the exception that the initial complaint will be made to the Coordinator’s immediate supervisor, the Vice President for Student Life and Dean of Students. In this instance, if a satisfactory resolution is not reached (following the same process listed above), appeals can be directed to the President of the College.
- 6
- The right of a person to a prompt and equitable resolution of the complaint filed shall not be impaired by nor shall the use of this procedure be a prerequisite to the pursuit of other remedies.
- 7
- These rules shall be construed to protect the substantive rights of interested persons, to provide a fair and reasonable hearing of the complaint, to assure that the College complies with the ADA and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act.
- 8
- The Coordinator shall maintain files and records relating to the complaint for a period of three (3) years.
Grievances — External (OCR) Complaints
Although the student is encouraged to attempt to resolve a grievance within the College process, the student has the right to file any grievance directly to the Office of Civil Rights (OCR) at any time.
The statute of limitations for filing with OCR is 180 days from the time the incident occurred. Forms may be obtained from the Office of Civil Rights.
Office for Civil Rights
U.S. Department of Health & Human Services Paterson Office
Jacob Javits Federal Building
26 Federal Plaza-Suite 3312
New York, NY 10278
Phone: (212) 264-3313
Fax: (212) 264-3039
TDD: (212) 264-2355
Division of Civil Rights
100 Hamilton Plaza
8th Floor
Paterson, NJ 07505-2109
Phone: (973) 977-4500
Fax: (973) 977-4511
TTY: (973) 977-1955
Seton Colleges Exchange
The affiliation of Seton Colleges, those institutions that trace their origins to the founding work of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, provides an opportunity for students matriculated in the Women’s College to arrange an educational experience in another part of the United States or in Canada. An exchange can take place for a semester or a year (exclusive of first year and the second term of senior year). Applications must be filed in the Office of the Dean of the Women’s College and Undergraduate Studies by April 15 for the fall term, and by November 15 for the spring term.
Exchanges can be arranged with the following Seton Colleges:
- College of Mount Saint Joseph – Cincinnati, Ohio
- College of Mount Saint Vincent – Riverdale, New York
- Seton Hill University – Greensburg, Pennsylvania
Media Services
Media Services is located on the lower level of Mahoney Library. This department provides a variety of services and workshops in the areas of traditional audio visual (A/V), television and synchronous distance education. Media Services provides instruction in the use of A/V equipment, document cameras, and digital media technologies for both individuals and groups. The department oversees video recording services for events and presentations, multimedia encoding services, and DVD and CD duplication services.
TVs/VCRs/DVD players and overhead projectors or document cameras are installed in classrooms on campus. Eighteen SMART-enabled classrooms have been established throughout campus. Services and equipment needs can be obtained either by submitting a request form to Media Services or by phone request at least 24 hours in advance.
Television Services
As part of Media Services, Television Services includes a professional television studio and editing facilities used in conjunction with College courses for the production of programming and student/faculty projects. Television Services also is responsible for the operation of the College’s cable television system. As part of its affiliation with Residence Life Cinema, the cable television system airs a selection of first-run feature movies on one of its local channels during the school year for the residential population.
Video Conferencing Services
As part of Media Services, Video Conferencing Services includes a state-of-the-art Interactive Television (ITV) classroom for compressed video distance education courses and related uses. This facility also is located on Mahoney Library’s lower level. Connectivity options on campus include the ability to interact with other New Jersey colleges as well as with corporations and other sites in New Jersey and throughout the United States. To enhance the teaching/learning process, portable conferencing equipment allows for audio and video conferencing capabilities in classrooms and conference rooms throughout campus. Web conferencing with the use of Wimba Live Classroom is also offered through Media Services.
Dolan Performance Hall
Media Services is responsible for the technical operations of Dolan Performance Hall in Annunciation Center. The projection booth offers professional level theatrical support, including a 32 channel audio mixer, an ETC Congo Jr. lighting board controlling a full complement of stage lighting and a variety of video and audio devices to enhance performances or presentation support. Media Services staff and student employees are responsible for supporting events and performances.
NJEDge.net
The College of Saint Elizabeth is a participating member of NJEDge.net, the statewide higher education network connecting the institutions of higher education in New Jersey with a broadband data and video network. Inter-institutional data, Internet and Internet2 connectivity at the College are all accessed through NJEDge.net. There are collaborative opportunities with K-12 institutions, colleges and universities in New Jersey and other states. Programs encouraging and demonstrating the integration of technology into the curriculum enrich the academic environment for undergraduate and graduate students.
The Conklin Academic Skills Center
The Conklin Academic Skills Center, an academic resource for students, offers a variety of services to help students achieve academic success. Trained tutors and academic specialists empower students to become life-long, independent learners.
Located on the second floor of Mahoney Library, the Center offers one-on-one and small group tutoring in a wide range of subject areas and supplemental instruction study sessions for targeted courses. Drop-in tutoring is also available on a limited basis for math and writing.
The staff conducts free workshops every semester on such study skills as test-taking and time-management strategies. The state-of-the-art computer lab offers self-paced software programs for practicing basic skills, and for preparing for GRE and MCAT exams. There is also a Study Behavior Inventory available for students who want to assess their study habits.
