The Division of Student Affairs strives to advance the mission of the University by promoting its core values and connecting its work to the University’s strategic initiatives in ways that enhance the student experience.
The Division of Student Affairs is intentional about planning, creating program and learning outcomes and using assessment in the development of leadership skills and intellectual abilities, identification and exploration of personal interests, and preparation of our students for roles as future professional and community leaders. We are committed to the academic experience and collaborate across the University to implement innovative and student-centered programs, practices, and services to support student engagement and student success through the co-curricular experience.
Campus services
Information on Academic Advisement is included in the Academic Policies and Procedures section. Academic Advising is part of Student Academic and Career Services, which also houses the Center for Academic Excellence, Career Development and Accessibility Services.
Alumni Association
As a USJ graduate, you are - and always will be - an important member of the USJ community. The University of Saint Joseph Alumni Association is represented on the University’s Board of Trustees and is overseen by the Alumni Council. The Council invites representatives from all programs and the current student body, in order to support the total population of the University. Interested individuals should contact the Office of Alumni Relations at 860-231-5364.
The Alumni Council works with the Alumni Relations Office to effectively represent and serve the needs of graduates while encouraging their volunteer efforts on behalf of the University.
Archives
The Sister Mary Consolata O’Connor Archives, located in the Bruyette Athenaeum, collects and makes available materials that document the history of the University of Saint Joseph. Its collections include, but are not limited to catalogs, yearbooks, student publications, photographs, and artifacts. Contact archive@usj.edu.
Art Museum
Wednesday - Saturday: 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Closed Sunday - Tuesday
The Art Museum, located in Bruyette Athenaeum, houses a collection of more than 2,600 paintings and works of art on paper. The core of the collection consists of American paintings and prints of the early 20th century, including works by Thomas Hart Benton, Georgia O’Keeffe, and Milton Avery (the gift of Reverend Andrew J. Kelly in 1937), and European and American prints from the 15th to the early 20th centuries, including work by Albrecht Dürer, Rembrandt, George Bellows, Mary Cassatt, and Childe Hassam (the bequest of Reverend John J. Kelley in 1966). Since 2001, the collection has more than doubled in size to include later 20th century and contemporary art. Recent acquisitions have enhanced the Museum’s growing collection of photography and strengthened its representation of contemporary art by women, African American, Latin American, and Japanese artists. The Dr. Vincent J. and Gloria Marcello Turco ‘45 Print Study Room (open by appointment) makes the collection of works on paper accessible for study and research.
The Art Museum, described as “one of the liveliest campus museums in the state” by The New York Times, presents regular exhibitions drawn from its permanent collections, as well as loan exhibitions of historic art or contemporary work by artists of national and international stature. It offers a variety of student internships and work opportunities, and its collections and exhibitions provide rich resources for teaching and research.
Athletics - The O’Connell Athletic Center
Monday - Friday: 7:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Saturday: 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Sunday: 4:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Interested students may take part in intercollegiate team sports. The University of Saint Joseph athletic programs have established themselves as regional and national powers since we joined the National Collegiate Athletic Association in 1993.
The University of Saint Joseph is a member of the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC). In keeping with the University’s educational and athletic mission statement, all varsity teams compete at the Division III level. Students must be in good academic standing as determined by the University and must also maintain full-time status at USJ for eligibility on a varsity team.
The goal of athletic participation is to develop student-athletes academically, competitively, physically, and emotionally, including the development of leadership skills. The University of Saint Joseph offers varsity programs in the following sports: baseball, men’s and women’s basketball, men’s and women’s cross country, men’s and women’s lacrosse, men’s and women’s soccer, softball, men’s and women’s swimming/diving, men’s and women’s tennis, and women’s volleyball.
Bookstore
Monday - Friday: 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Saturday: 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
The bookstore carries a full line of supplies, clothing, gifts, snacks, health and beauty aids, and postage stamps, in addition to course-required textbooks. Students may purchase or rent their textbooks, as well as select clothing and gift items, through the Bookstore’s website: www.usj.bkstr.com. The bookstore buys back textbooks at any time, the price to be determined by supply and demand. Summer hours differ.
Bruyette Athenaeum
Hoffman Auditorium is open for performances, private functions, and events
Opened in 2001, the Bruyette Athenaeum hosts a year-round array of music, theater and dance performances, films, poetry readings, lectures, conferences, classes and seminars. Bruyette Athenaeum features the 364-seat Hoffman Auditorium, the Art Museum, the Winifred E. Coleman Lobby, an audio-visual lecture hall, a formal reception room, the University Archives, an art studio and music rehearsal rooms.
Lynch Hall features seminar rooms, classrooms, faculty offices and a lounge/study area. Linking both buildings is an outdoor sunken garden used for outdoor performances, and a patio that is a popular gathering place for students, faculty and audiences.
Bruyette Athenaeum serves both the academic needs of the University and the cultural needs of the community. Students may participate in a variety of artistic and cultural events. The center is home to student performance groups, including the Dance Ensemble and Queenes Companye (theater), and is the home venue for several regional performing arts organizations. The Bruyette Athenaeum is one of the largest student work-study sites on campus, with many student ushers, ticket sellers and technicians.
Additionally, the Center features a Performing Arts Series, which includes annual events such as the 5 X 5 Dance Festival, the outdoor summer Capital Classics Shakespeare Festival and the Chapel Series concert.
Career Development Center
Monday - Friday: 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Evening appointments are available if prearranged.
The Career Development Center provides students/alumni with the needed support to create, develop, achieve and manage professional and personal goals. The Center offers a holistic approach to counseling and coaching to encourage students and alumni to make more informed career decisions, overcome potential barriers and improve job performance. Experienced career development professionals provide guidance with writing resumes that get interviews, developing effective job search strategies and successful interviewing techniques that win the job. Additional services include: vocational and occupational interest assessment, career planning and management workshops, on-campus recruitment, career fairs, credit and non-credit internships, graduate school applications and help with selecting an academic major.
Contact us at: careercenter@usj.edu or 860.231.5893
Center for Academic Excellence
Monday-Thursday: 9:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Friday: 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Saturday: 10 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Summer and break hours vary.
The CAE serves as a resource to foster the academic success and the growth of learners and leaders. Professional and peer writing tutors assist students with writing and revising papers at all stages of the writing process, and support other writing needs including research documentation. Professional and peer tutors in content areas such as biology, chemistry, nursing, history, and fine arts, offer one-on-one and group tutorial appointments and study table sessions to help students review course content, develop papers and presentations, and prepare for tests and other assessments. The CAE also offers literacy support for college-level reading skill development and academic success support in areas such as time management, test-taking strategies and note-taking. Additionally, the CAE employs and trains 25-30 undergraduate tutors each semester, providing aspiring academic leaders an exceptional opportunity for personal and professional development. The CAE is part of Student Academic and Career Services, which also houses Academic Advising, Career Development and Accessibility Services.
Center for Wellness Development
The Perch
Monday - Friday
8:30 am - 4:30 pm
Located in McGovern Hall, Room 209
The Center for Wellness Development (CWD) offers a variety of educational outreach programming to enhance the healthy development of the mind, body, and spirit of the campus community. The Center provides wellness events/activities, coaching and motivational support, and educational materials and resources for personal growth and academic success.
The CWD also operates The Perch, a Wellness Room located in McGovern Hall, Room 209. The Perch is open to students and faculty/staff. It is a quiet room to rest, learn, study, and decompress from the stress of everyday life. Wellness devices are also available for use.
For more information or to schedule an appointment to meet with the Wellness Educator, email wellness@usj.edu.
Community Engagement and Spiritual Life
In keeping with the integrity and values of a Catholic institution, Community Engagement and Spiritual Life promotes the spiritual growth of students, faculty and staff of all faith traditions by providing an atmosphere where all members of the community can celebrate, explore and act on their faith. Retreats, prayer groups, guest speakers, liturgies, programming, and spiritual direction foster the exploration of faith. Community Engagement and Spiritual Life also provides opportunities for student leadership and community service experiences through mentoring, drives, shelters, marathons, and participating in local community events to build bridges of hope. The goal is to raise the awareness of the University community to social justice issues through hands-on involvement in outreach and service projects.
The Connor Chapel of Our Lady is open to everyone, as well as our Multifaith Prayer Room located in Mercy Hall 304. You can visit the office of Community Engagement & Spiritual Life in McGovern Hall, room 210. For more information, contact Lynnette Colón, director of Community Engagement & Spiritual Life, at lcolon@usj.edu and 860-231-5269.
Counseling and Psychological Services
Monday-Friday
8:30 am - 4:30 pm
Located in McGovern Hall, 2nd Floor, Suite 204
Counseling and Psychological Services provides confidential counseling, assessments and referrals free of charge to all students enrolled at USJ. Services may be provided in-person or on-line through a HIPAA compliant telehealth platform.
To meet significant demand for service, CAPS utilizes a brief therapy model that is short-term with a limit of 16 sessions per academic year and focuses on helping students to effectively manage a specific problem, challenge, or to make a desired change. Sessions (except for emergencies) are by appointment, typically last for 45-50 minutes and occur once a week at a regularly scheduled time. When a student’s needs require long-term support, more intensive treatment, or a specific expertise not offered at CAPS, we partner with the student to transition to resources off-campus within the community.
Students seek counseling for many reasons including, but not limited to: stress, relationship issues, adjustment problems, depression, anxiety and other psychological concerns. For an appointment, call 860.231.5233 or email CAPS@usj.edu.
The personal growth, mental health, and safety of our students are important to our entire campus community. Therefore, it is common for other students and members of the faculty and staff to refer students for counseling. CAPS staff also provides training, outreach and consultation on various mental health topics to faculty, staff and students.
Health Services
Monday - Friday
8:30 am - 4:30 pm
Located in The Beekley Center for Student Health and Wellness on the first floor of the O’Connell Athletic Center
Confidential medical services are available at no charge, by appointment, to all enrolled undergraduate and graduate students. General medical services include evaluation and treatment of acute illness and injury, prescription and over-the-counter medications, in-office testing, urinalysis, and referrals for lab tests, imaging, and specialists. Reproductive and sexual health services include pregnancy testing, contraceptive counseling, testing and treatment for sexually transmitted infections, emergency contraception (aka Plan B), free condoms, and more.
To make an appointment, students should log in to myHealth, the student health portal, using their USJ credentials and select the “Appt” tab. To contact the office, secure message Health Services staff by using the “Messages” tab.
For additional up to date information about services offered, health requirements, and policies, visit the Health Services page on MyUSJ.
Information Technology
Monday - Thursday: 8:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Friday: 8:00 a.m. - 6:30 p.m.
Saturday: 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Closed Sunday
Information Technology provides technology solutions and support for students, faculty and staff. All students, faculty and staff are given a Microsoft Office 365 account, which includes email, access to Office products, and cloud storage. The office also provides technical services for classrooms, computer labs and access to virtual desktops and specialized software. IT manages a centralized ServiceDesk where students, faculty and staff can request technical support. The IT ServiceDesk is located in the main lobby of the Pope Pious XII Library.
Library
Standard hours during the fall and spring semesters:
Monday - Thursday: 8:30 a.m. - 10 p.m.
Friday: 8:30 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Saturday: 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Sunday: 2:00 p.m. - 10 p.m.
Hours vary during the year. Current hours are posted on the library website.
The Library supports the University of Saint Joseph community both on and off campus. Don’t go it alone when you have a research assignment, whether you need one article or you are compiling an annotated bibliography. A professional reference staff assists patrons in meeting their information and research needs. Librarians are available in-person, by phone, email or for online appointments. The library offers a variety of resources, including print books, electronic books, journals and databases. Interlibrary loans and course reserves supplement the collections. Visit our libguides to find links and instructions for the resources in each discipline: https://usj.libguides.com/. Located within a graceful Georgian brick building, the Library offers space for group or individual study. Also, there are networked computers and a printer. Find your favorite spaces. The Library building also houses the OIT ServiceDesk, Teaching and Learning Center, the Center for Academic Excellence, Academic Advising and The Career Development Center.
Main Phone: 860.231.5209 Research Questions: reference@usj.edu Other Questions: circ@usj.edu
Office of Accessibility Services
Office Hours: Monday - Friday, 8:30am - 4:30pm
Location: McGovern Hall Student Center, Office 201
Email: accessibility@usj.edu
Phone: 860.231.5730
The services offered by the Office of Accessibility Services at USJ are designed to meet the unique educational needs of all students with documented permanent and temporary disabilities. The responsibility and purpose of this office is to facilitate the reduction or elimination of disability-related barriers encountered by students with disabilities. The University of Saint Joseph processes requests for reasonable academic and housing accommodations to eligible students through the Office of Accessibility Services.
For additional information, please explore the Accessibility Services page on the USJ website.
Public Safety
The Public Safety Department has a director and staff of 14 full-time officers. The department provides security on our West Hartford campus 24-hours a day, seven days a week. The office is on the lower level of McDonough Hall
Contact information;
- Emergency Line 860.231.5222, 24 hours, 7 days a week
- Anonymous Tip Line 860.231.5742
- Routine Calls 860.231.6766
- Director 860.231.5396, Mon. - Fri., 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Teaching and Learning Center (Faculty)
Monday - Friday: 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Also by appointment
The Teaching and Learning Center works with faculty to enhance and develop all aspects of pedagogy and instructional design to meet the needs of USJ’s diverse learners. It encourages the effective use of technology as a teaching and learning tool and helps faculty in scholarly pursuits and supports their professional development. The center provides support with the development, delivery, and student engagement in USJ’s traditional, hybrid, and online courses and programs. Remote and in-person consultations are available.
Contact: tlc@usj.edu 860-231-5852
Student life
Commuter Students
The University community is dedicated to serving the needs of commuter students. All University lounges are available for the comfort and convenience of commuters. Commuter students may also purchase a meal plan or individual meals in the dining commons located in McGovern Hall. University parking decals are required for student vehicles and may be purchased at the Office of Public Safety. All events and programs are open to commuter students.
Convocation and Investiture
Convocation is a University-wide event scheduled during the first week of the fall semester. During this ceremony new students and returning students are welcomed to the institution and the new academic year in a traditional academic ceremony.
A unique tradition at the University of Saint Joseph is Investiture, which the Oxford English Dictionary defines as the “action or ceremony of clothing in the insignia of an office.” This ceremony, usually held in October, marks the University’s recognition that juniors have achieved advanced academic standing. Students who have completed 54 credit hours by the end of the semester prior to Investiture are clothed for the first time in the cap and gown, the garb of the scholar.
Residential Life
The University of Saint Joseph strives to create an atmosphere of community within its residence halls. The University provides on-campus living accommodations for full-time undergraduate students. In this atmosphere, students develop life management skills and learn the art of personal choice. Residence halls are staffed with professional staff members, Residential Life Coordinators, and student staff members, Resident Assistants. Hall staff members guide the students in adjusting to University life, provide them with ongoing support, and help establish and maintain a fully functional residential community.
Returning students reserve rooms during the spring semester each year at room selection. To participate in room selection, students must complete the annual housing contract. New students are assigned a roommate on the basis of information provided to the Residential Life Office in the housing application process. All students are notified during the summer of their residence assignments and roommates.
All new students requesting to live on campus must complete and submit to Health Services all required health forms by August 1st for the fall semester and January 5th for the spring semester. These forms must be on file in Health Services before a student will be permitted to pick up keys and move into a residence hall.
The University provides rooms to resident students when the University is in session, beginning the day before classes begin and ending within 24 hours following the student’s last final exam. All residents must enroll in a meal plan each semester.
The residence hall and the dining hall are not open during the Thanksgiving, Christmas, or Spring vacations. The University reserves the right to determine whether the residence halls or the dining hall will be open during any recess of one day or more.
The University assumes that students who chose to live in a residence hall agree to live within the norms established to insure the rights and responsibilities of each student. It is important, therefore that students who contract for living space on campus understand that if they chose a lifestyle not consonant with the guidelines for residential life living, the Assistant Director of Residential Life and the Dean of Student Life will require that they live elsewhere.
Office of Student Activities
The Office of Student Activities programs helps students to develop intellectually, socially, and emotionally through active involvement in leadership positions, group membership, and event planning. Students who participate in student activities benefit from meeting diverse people and questioning ideas, beliefs, and assumptions regarding campus-based and global issues. They also develop their interpersonal, communication, and social skills.
Student Government Association
As the representative body of the students, the Student Government Association works for effective communication among students, faculty, and administration. It channels student opinions, ideas, and concerns to the administration for consideration and action. In addition, students representing SGA sit on a number of joint faculty, administrative, and student committees. SGA encourages leadership by providing funds annually for students to attend workshops, by encouraging students to take leadership roles in organizations, and by ensuring that each student has a voice on campus.
New Student Orientation
New Student Orientation (NSO) is designed to facilitate the successful transition of new students to the University of Saint Joseph through academic, social, and Core Values programming. NSO prepares students to actively engage in their USJ education, and supports students and their families in understanding the opportunities and services available to USJ students.
NSO is led by a committee of representatives from Enrollment Management, Student Affairs, and Academic Affairs, and is supported by a team of student orientation leaders along with staff, faculty, and administration.
All incoming undergraduate are expected to attend New Student Orientation. Orientation sessions take place in the June and August.
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