Other Academic Support Programs

Career Preparation

Learning Commons, Hannon Library

541-552-6131

inside.sou.edu/careers

Southern Oregon University students are encouraged to take an active role in their career development as early as their first year at SOU.  SOU CareerLink allows students to find internship and employment opportunities on campus, in the Rogue Valley, or across the country. Career Preparation also provides access to Optimal Resume, a tool that guides students through the process of creating great resumes and cover letters, and Focus 2, a web-based career planning resource that helps students assess their skills and interests and find careers to match their unique strengths.  Career Preparation coordinates career-related events such as an annual career fair, and the Career Preparation Coordinator is available to work with students during individual appointments or through group presentations and workshops.

Information Technology

Computing Services Center

541-552-6900

helpdesk@sou.edu

http://support.sou.edu/

In support of the academic mission of the University, the Information Technology (IT) Department provides technology and information resources for the entire campus community. Assistance and training is provided to students, faculty, and staff in the use of administrative systems, computer hardware, software, technology-equipped classrooms, and telecommunications.

Students have access to the campus network, a wide array of facilities, and both online and in-person services. Internet access is available throughout both campuses of the University, including our residence halls and family housing, via wired and wireless networks. Most classrooms on campus are technology-equipped. Students are provided with an email account and network storage for their files.  Registered students automatically receive accounts to access all online services, including the SOU network, email, learning management system, and other web services. Use of computing facilities and services is free to enrolled students.

Students may access email, network files, courseware, and administrative systems from anywhere they have an Internet connection. A wide variety of services is available for students to conduct business with the University online. These services include bill paying, registering for courses, running a degree evaluation report, purchasing parking permits, accessing grade information, ordering transcripts, and more.

There are approximately forty computer classrooms and labs across both university campuses for both general and curriculum specific use, including specialized software needed for hands-on experience. A virtual lab is available both off-campus and on-campus from any supported device. Open lab computing is available in the Computing Services Center and the Hannon Library. Printing stations are available throughout campus. Students pay a fee for printing. The IT Help Desk is available in-person, over the phone, and online to assist and advise students on a wide range of technology and computing issues.

Stevenson Union 322

541-552-6336

intprogs@sou.edu

inside.sou.edu/international

The Office of International Programs (OIP) provides support to the Southern Oregon University campus community by offering the following services and programs:

• Study Away Programs, International Internships and Advising
• International Student Recruitment and Admissions
• International Student & Scholar Services and Advising
• SOU’s Intensive English Program (IEP)
• Passport Acceptance Facility (PAF)

Study Away Programs, International Internships and Advising

Many students consider the time they spend studying or working abroad to be one of their richest college experiences. Opportunities range from short summer sessions to year-long programs in 60 countries. Study away and internship programs are easily arranged and enable students to live overseas while earning college credit at SOU. Financial aid applies to most programs.

The Study Away Advisor and a knowledgeable team of Study Away Peer Counselors educate SOU students about the wonderful and diverse opportunities to study, and intern, abroad. Program durations range from three weeks, a quarter/semester, a year or longer. The advisor provides information about selecting a program that best suits a student’s goals and guides the student through the application process.  The Study Away Advisor is part of the International Programs professional staff and assists with issues that may arise pre-departure or on-site. Please visit our website or stop by the office for more information about the services and programs we offer.

International Student Recruitment and Admissions

International Student & Scholar Services and Advising

The International Student Advisor, the International Student Services Coordinator, and the International Programs Coordinator assist students to successfully transition to SOU, Ashland, and the U.S. The OIP advisors and coordinators are the primary contacts for students seeking help understanding admission requirements, visa regulations, financial issues, on-campus housing, and other important topics. The international student services team partners with students to organize social events and other activities throughout the year. International students are encouraged to remain in close contact with the OIP support staff during their enrollment at the University.

SOU’s Intensive English Program (IEP)

The Southern Oregon University Intensive English Program (IEP) is for non-native speakers of English who need to improve their English language proficiency.  Courses provide students with the opportunity to develop oral and written proficiency for academic study at SOU. The IEP has six levels. New students take an English Placement Test to determine their appropriate level. Upon successful completion of the IEP, students meet English Language Proficiency admission requirements and matriculate into regular academic classes.

The IEP is part of Southern Oregon University.  Undergraduate students who do not have the required English proficiency are eligible for Conditional Admission will enroll in the full-time IEP.  All visa and other U.S. government documents will be handled through the SOU Office of International Programs. IEP students are not required to submit TOEFL, IELTS, or other scores in order to receive a Conditional Admission to SOU.  For more information on the IEP program, please visit our website or call 541-552-6336.

Passport Acceptance Facility (PAF)

Learning Commons

Hannon Library, 1^st floor

The Learning Commons is open to all students attending Southern Oregon University. The mission of the SOU Learning Commons is to help underprepared students prepare, prepared students advance, and advanced students excel. The principal services offered in the Learning  Commons include tutoring in math and writing (other subject areas will be added soon), a variety of classes designed to help students improve their learning and study skills, and workshops aimed at providing information and support around a variety of topics, including FAFSA preparation, career preparation, capstone and internship information, and much more.

Hannon Library and Learning Commons

Hannon Library provides resources central to students’ instructional, research, recreational, and general information needs while attending SOU. In 2005, the University completed an extensive expansion and renovation of Hannon Library that nearly doubled the size of the building to 123,000 square feet.  The project upgraded the library’s technological infrastructure and created a beautiful facility that is now the centerpiece of the campus.

Hannon Library’s Learning Commons, with a focus on student success and supporting student learning, provides students with a single point to receive math and science tutoring, get help with writing papers, explore career opportunities, use computers, find information resources, and receive research assistance. Highly-trained student workers in the Math and Science Lab and Writing Center provide one-on-one tutoring. The office of Career Connections provides resources to assist students from all academic programs and class years identify and achieve their individual career goals.

The Learning Commons also provides access to a wide array of desktop computing software and electronic information, with expert staff to assist patrons with using these technologies for research, writing, and presentation. This area also provides laptops and iPads for check-out.

A well-trained and enthusiastic staff of librarians and paraprofessionals assist students with reference needs, finding electronic and web information resources, interlibrary borrowing, and materials checkout. Librarians aid students in developing their research and information evaluation skills, providing specialized instruction on library research in a wide range of classes. Subject specialist librarians also offer in-depth research assistance in specific disciplines.

Hannon Library holds approximately 340,000 printed volumes in the general collection, with over 25,000 electronic and print journal, serial, and newspaper subscriptions. The large federal and state government collections total 300,000 items. Some 620,000 microforms provide additional materials, ranging from popular magazines to historical materials of scholarly interest. Through Hannon Library’s online catalog, students can search for items in SOU collections. Students can also search for and request items from Summit, a catalog of more than 30 million items held by a network of 39 academic libraries in the Northwest.

An extensive array of electronic information resources – including full-text databases, e-books, e-journals, and indexes – can be accessed from on- and off-campus. Other electronic and multimedia resources include films, library web pages, and music CDs. Special collections include the 8,000-volume Margery Bailey Collection of Shakespeare and English Renaissance materials, an extensive Native American studies collection, a collection on wine and wine-making, a local history collection covering the six counties of southern Oregon, and children’s literature and art print collections.

The Southern Oregon Digital Archives (SODA) contains sixteen collections of texts, photographs, documents, and maps that have been scanned in-house and are freely available on the web. These collections focus on Southern Oregon history, arts, culture, and environment. Some collections were created with regional partners including Southern Oregon University departments, the Southern Oregon Historical Society, and the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. Additionally, yearbooks, catalogs, commencement programs, and other materials from the University Archives can be viewed online.

The library also houses permanent art and cultural exhibits. The Lily Hearn History of Writing and Printing collection showcases methods of writing, dating from 2034 B.C.E. to 1791 C.E.  The Jack Schuman Collection of Musical Instruments exhibits many musical instruments from around the world. Betty LaDuke’s Children of the World Collection features over 100 paintings and photographs. Meera Censor’s Peacemakers of the World Sculpture Collection highlights both well-known and obscure figures in history. In addition to these larger exhibits, there are numerous individual pieces of art on display throughout the building. The library also houses a gallery for temporary exhibits.