ACADEMIC SUPPORT SERVICES
Computer Services
The University has developed a state-of-the-art fiber optic network connecting all major campus buildings including residence halls. Attached to this network are servers for administrative functions, academic computing, and research computing. This network is also connected to the Internet, providing all students access to Internet mail, Web servers and many more valuable network resources.From the University web site, students can activate and begin using SHSU computer accounts upon acceptance to the University. To ensure prompt communications, the University will send official statements and documents via the students' e-mail addresses. These accounts will remain available to students after graduation, allowing continuity for job searches and alumni interactions.
Client computers supported are PC and Macintosh workstations. Labs are operated by the Department of Computer Services and are open 24 hours a day during the week with extensive weekend hours. Software for campus computers is maintained on a combination of Windows 2000 and Linux servers and is available on all University computers connected to the Campus network (SAMnet).
Wireless access to the University computer network is currently available at specific locations across the campus. Computer Services is working with other departments on campus in an effort to ensure wireless coverage is available in all academic buildings on campus. Wireless service is provided via Cisco Aironet 802.11B wireless access points. Access to this network is restricted to those users with an authorized University computer account. For additional information on the wireless network please refer to the University wireless website at https://www.shsu.edu/~ucs_www/wireless.
Students are encouraged to apply for part-time employment with Computer Services. Opportunities exist to participate in building and maintaining the computing infastructure at the University. The Computer Services department employs more than 100 students as lab assistants, telephone operators, night time system operators, web designers, programmers, helpdesk assistants, and software/hardware technicians. These students gain valuable experience for the future and provide an essential part of the operations of the department and University. For more information visit: www.shsu.edu/~ucs_www/staff/grads.html.
SHSU's Computer Services website is www.shsu.edu/~ucs_www/. Questions regarding SHSU's computer resources may be addressed to helpdesk@shsu.edu.
Institutional Research and Assessment
The Office of Institutional Research and Assessment conducts research and analyses to support administrative decision-making and develops management information systems to provide information necessary for assessment of education and support programs at Sam Houston State University. The office maintains a library of reference materials on strategic planning and institutional research, designs research methodology to achieve specific institutional goals, and coordinates university-wide institutional research activities for strategic and tactical plans.
Reconciling the potential conflict between traditional collegiate values and accountability methods, the Office of Institutional Research and Assessment monitors institutional effectiveness activities, determines appropriate types of assessment, and helps ensure that assessment results are used in program improvement.
Library, Newton Gresham
The Library contains more than 1.3 million books, bound periodicals,
and government documents and a variety of formats, including multimedia,
microforms, microfiche, phonograph records, videotape, and newspapers.
The library subscribes to over 2,200 periodicals, an increasing number
of which are available electronically. As a depository for selected federal
and state government publications in a separate collection of over 230,000
print and non-print documents, the library also serves the citizens of
five adjacent counties. The Library’s Thomason Room houses over
12,000 rare books and other materials on Texas, the Southwest, Mark Twain,
Gertrude Stein, the Civil War, Library Science, Criminal Justice, and
other topics. Other groups of materials housed in the Newton Gresham Library
include paperbacks for recreational reading, current periodical issues,
new books, and a children’s literature collection. A multimedia
lab, music listening room, study carrels, electric coin-operated typewriters,
a small lounge area furnished with vending machines, and a copy center,
including a public fax machine are provided for the convenience of students
and faculty. Library holdings may be electronically accessed through an
online catalog from hundreds of library and campus computer workstations,
as well as remotely via the Internet.
The campus network may be used to search electronic periodical or other
databases for citations and information. The library maintains database
licenses for important databases such as ERIC, Sociological Abstracts,
PsycInfo, CJ Abstracts, NCJRS, Lexis-Nexis Academic Universe, and Biological
Abstracts and ScienceDirect. OCLC’s FirstSearch service makes databases
such as WorldCat, AGRICOLA, PAIS, and Business and Management Practices
available to SHSU students. TexShare, the statewide electronic resource-sharing
program, provides access to over 60 electronic databases and thousands
of full-text journal articles. A complete list of the electronic databases
and electronic journals can be viewed at https://www.shsu.edu/~lib_www/resources/datab.html.
These resources are available from home, campus offices and computer labs.
Access to online catalogs of libraries throughout the United States, including
nearby university libraries such as the University of Houston, Texas A&M
and the University of Texas is available via the Internet. Books, articles,
documents, and other items which are not available locally may be requested
through the OCLC interlibrary loan system, a database of over 35 million
bibliographic records to the world’s literature.
Sixteen librarians, twenty-six support staff, and a number of student assistants provide reference, interlibrary loan, circulation, acquisitions, and other library services to the faculty, staff and students of the University, as well as to visiting scholars and off-campus users. The recently restored Peabody Memorial Library contains the University Archives and SHSU Collection of faculty monographic publications. A multimedia lab and classroom, staffed by Computer Services department, is available during regular library hours. The seventy networked workstations in this multimedia area may be used to access the periodical and information databases, as well as the library’s multimedia (CD-ROM) collection of over 500 library-use-only CD-ROMs. They are listed in the online catalog and are available to all library users. To assist library users in utilizing library material and services, over fifty printed guides and bibliographies have been developed by library faculty and staff. They are available in print format in the reference area, and accessible electronically from the library’s home page. The home page also provides access to information on the library’s services for off-campus and distance education students (https://www.shsu.edu/~lib_www).
Reading Center
The Reading Center was created to assist students, faculty, and stafrf with proffesional and academic endeavors. The primary goal of the instructors is to empower all students with effective reading strategies and the confidence to excel in their expository reading. To this end, the Reading Center tutors provide students with one-on-one and small group reading instruction. To fascilitate faculty members, instructors can make reading strategy presentations in the classroom. One-session workshops on various reading strategies will be offered throughout the school year.
In addition to serving undergraduates to develop reading strategies and/or prepare for the THEA, the SHSU Reading Center can also be used by those whose first language is not English to prepare for the TOEFL. Also, students preparing for post-baccalaureate educational endeavors can use computer-assisted tutorials for the reading/verbal sections of the GRE, GMAT, LSAT, PCAT, or MCAT.
The Reading Center is an entity of the Language, Literacy, and Special Populations Department in the College of Education. The staff includes a full-time Reading Specialist and graduate assistants who are trained as reading tutors. For assistance, visit the Farrington Building, Office 109, or contact the Reading Center by telephone at (936) 294-3114 or FAX (936) 294-3560. Web: www.shsu.edu/~rdg_www/.
Research and Special Programs
The mission of the Office of Research and Special Programs (ORSP) is to support the teaching, research and scholarly activities of the faculty. The office provides support to faculty and staff in preparing and submitting, to external entities, proposals for grants and contracts. ORSP assists the Research Council in overseeing the Research Enhancement Program. This program provides internal research support to strengthen faculty efforts to obtain external grants and professional development support to promote scholarly activities to further intellectual progress in the individual faculty member's discipline. Support for research and scholarly activities which may involve undergraduate and graduate students is considered a vital part of the success of the University's mission. OSRP protects the interests of the University by ensuring compliance with the rules and regulations set forth by federal and state governments, The Texas State University System (TSUS), the University, and granting agencies. ORSP assists the University's compliance committees that address the regulations and policies dealing with financial conflicts of interest and the use of humans and animals in research and hazardous materials.
Texas Research Institute for Environmental Studies
The Texas Research Institute for Environmental Studies (TRIES) serves as a research and educational facility for faculty and students at Sam Houston State University. The Institute hosts the University’s visualization laboratory as well as a full service analytical laboratory. Each laboratory contains state-of-the-art equipment to meet the demands of research and education at the University.
The visualization laboratory is focused on the development of virtual reality simulations, distributed processing, computer modeling and custom software development. The laboratory possesses multiple geographic information system (GIS) software packages that enhance the quality of research being conducted by faculty and graduate students. GIS can be applied to research that addresses issues relating to business, criminal justice, environment and anything containing a spatial component. The laboratory also possesses software used by Hollywood studios for the production of special effects in movies, which provides students hand-on experience with industry standard software.
The analytical laboratory at TRIES is a full-service laboratory capable of conducting research requiring organic, inorganic and biological analyses. The laboratory possesses multiple instruments to assist researchers in all venues of analytical analyses and serves as a resource for research as well as instruction.
Student Advising and Mentoring Center (Sam Center)
Located in Academic Building IV (south of the Lee Drain Building, corner of Avenue I
and Bowers Blvd.), the Student Advising and Mentoring Center (SAM Center) at Sam
Houston State University offers academic counseling and enrichment services to students.
The Student Advising and Mentoring Center is a resource dedicated to helping
students adjust to academic life at Sam Houston State University. Services available
include career testing, aid with time management and/or study skills.
The SAM Center also offers a GRE/GMAT review for graduate students and prospective graduate students to aid them in their pursuit of full graduate status.
The Center can be contacted by email at SAMCenter@shsu.edu or by telephone (936)
294-4444.
Academic Advisement
Students are encouraged to be advised each semester to progress properly towards their chosen degrees. Each academic department has experienced advisors who can assist graduate students in determining the appropriate courses to take.
Students are urged to review the academic calendar which provides the dates for advance registration. Students should schedule their advisement session with an advisor at an early date to ensure that the advisement procedures occur prior to advance registration.
Questions relating to Academic Advisement can be directed to either the department of the graduate’s choice or to the Director of the Student Advising and Mentoring Center, located in Academic Building IV. Telephone: (936) 294-4444 and e-mail: SAMCenter@shsu.edu.
Testing Center
Located in Academic Building IV, Room 102 (south of the Lee Drain Building, corner of Avenue I and Bowers Blvd.), the Testing Center at Sam Houston State University provides test site opportunities for students to utilize through a variety of state and/or national standardized college entrance, vocational, guidance, state-mandated, and/or placement exams. Mailing address: Testing Center, Sam Houston State University, Box 2240, Huntsville, TX 77341-2240; telephone (936) 294-1025; web address: www.shsu.edu/~tst_www/.
This section addresses some of the testing choices a student may utilize for counseling purposes, program entrance, and/or receiving college credit. SHSU accepts a maximum of thirty (30) hours of undergraduate course work credit through a combination of national standardized exams and/or locally designed departmental exams (except when transferred from another college or university).
College Level Examination Program (CLEP). Sam Houston State University is an open national testing center for the College Level examination Program (CLEP). Additional information may be obtained by contacting the Testing Center at (936) 294-1025 or by visiting the CLEP website at www.collegeboard.com/clep.
The DANTES Subject Standardized Tests (DSST) Program. The DSST Program is a credit-by-examination testing service used by colleges and universities to enable students to earn college credit in subjects they have learned outside the traditional college classroom. Sam Houston State University is a testing site for DSST exams. Additional information may be obtained by contacting the Testing Center at (936) 294-1025 or by visiting the Thomson Prometric website at www.getcollegecredit.com.
Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT).This test is required for admission to graduate study in the College of Business Administration at Sam Houston State University. Registration for this test may be arranged by calling 1-800-GMAT-NOW or by visiting the GMAT website at www.gmac.com. For additional information about the GMAT, please contact the College of Business Administration’s Coordinator of Graduate Studies at Box 2056, Huntsville, TX 77341-2056; phone: (936) 294-1239; FAX: (936) 294-3612; e-mail: busgrad@shsu.edu. The College of Business Administration’s web address is coba.shsu.edu.
Graduate Record Examination (GRE). This test is required for admission to most programs of graduate study at Sam Houston State University. Registration for the computer- based examination may be scheduled by calling 1-800-GRE-CALL or by visiting the GRE website at www.gre.org. Additional information may be obtained by contacting the Testing Center at (936) 294-1025.
Law School Admissions Test (LSAT). This exam is required for admission to law school. The exam is given at SHSU three times per year with all registration handled through the testing company. Additional information may be obtained by contacting the Testing Center at (936) 294-1025 or from the Law School Admission Council’s website at www.LSAC.org. Miller Analogies Test (MAT). The Miller Analogies Test is a test often accepted and/or required for graduate school admission and is administered in the Testing Center. Additional information may be obtained by contacting the Testing Center at (936) 294-1025 or by visiting the MAT website at www.milleranalogies.com.
Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Officers Standards and Education (TCLEOSE) Tests. Prospective police officers and/or jailers may take tests that are required by the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Officers Standards and Education for certification by the State of Texas. An Endorsement of Eligibility form, signed by the instructor of the course or academy, must be provided by the student before the test(s) may be administered. This test is administered by the Testing Center and individuals may schedule an appointment or obtain additional information by calling (936) 294-1025.
Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). The TOEFL is required of non-native speakers of English. The TOEFL is administered several times per year, and there is a fee for administration and scoring services. The test is available in paper-based, computer-based, or internet based formats. For more information refer to the appropriate edition of the TOEFL Information Bulletin or visit their website at www.toefl.org. For further information, contact the English Language Institute, Box 2030, Sam Houston State University, Huntsville, Texas 77341; telephone: (936) 294-1028; website: www.shsu.edu/~www_eli/.
Writing Center
The Writing Center was created to help individuals become better writers and develop more confidence in their writing abilities. To this end, the Writing Center tutors provide one-on-one and small group writing instruction. The Sam Houston Writing Center helps all University students, staff, and faculty.
Graduate students may seek assistance for any type of writing needs ranging from M.A. theses, and Ph.D. dissertations to lab reports, case studies, research papers, as well as resumes, scholarship and job application letters. Writing Center tutors do not merely correct a student’s writing, but rather help students learn prewriting, revising, and editing skills. The Writing Center also provides distance tutoring for graduate students enrolled in off-campus or internet classes.
The Writing Center ’s staff includes full-time members of the English faculty, and graduate
and undergraduate students from a variety of majors who are trained as writing
tutors. Tutors have received training in working with non-native English speakers.
Contact the Writing Center: telephone (936) 294-3680, fax (936) 294-3560, email
wctr@shsu.edu, website www.shsu.edu/wctr.