Services & Offices

Academic Advising

Champlain College places a high priority on student advising and considers it an integral part of the College experience. The advising process is designed to help students as they make important decisions related to their academic programs at Champlain and their career goals in general.

To this end, each student at Champlain is assigned a faculty advisor with whom they work to establish academic and professional goals and to select their courses for upcoming semesters.

Staff in the Registrar’s Office located in Perry Hall assist students in understanding their program evaluations and the requirements for graduation. They work closely with faculty advisors and program directors and are knowledgeable about the curriculum requirements for each program. They also assist students with registration processes and make referrals to College resources, as needed.

International Student Advising: In addition to the pressures normally experienced by college students, international students must cope with a new culture and a host of technical immigration regulations. The College has an international student advisor to help international students with these concerns and other issues.

Academic Support

Effective academic support outside the classroom can be as vital to academic success and an excellent college experience as what happens inside the classroom. Champlain College provides a range of academic support services, which can be accessed individually or through workshops. All of our academic services are designed to help students meet their educational and career goals and they are located in one, easy to access location:  the Grace Goodhue Coolidge House on Maple Street. The Coolidge building houses Champlain’s new S.M.A.R.T. Space (Study Mentors And Resource Tutors) and includes the following academic support services:

Academic Coaching  

Champlain’s professional academic coaches work with students in individual and group sessions on areas such as: self-advocacy, goal-setting, motivation, mindfulness, time-management, organizational strategies, study skills and test preparation, and reading comprehension skills. To make an appointment, contact academiccoaching@champlain.edu.

http://www.champlain.edu/current-students/academic-information/academic-support-programs_current-students/academic-coaching-program

Online Tutoring Through Smarthinking

The College has contracted with Smarthinking to provide real-time online tutoring to students on a 24/7 basis covering math, business, writing, sciences and offering a range of tutorials. Tutors, who are teachers with advanced degrees, are available for live sessions until 3 am. Students can access Smarthinking through the College portal.

http://www.smarthinking.com/solutions/higher-education

Tutoring for English Language Learners (ELL)

Champlain provides a professional educator trained in tutoring bilingual and multilingual students whose native language is not English. Tutoring is provided one-on-one and in small group settings and on-line. To make an appointment, contact Rebecca Baker at rbaker@champlain.edu.  

http://www.champlain.edu/current-students/academic-information/academic-support-programs_current-students/english-language-tutoring

Tutoring Labs with Student Tutors

Champlain supports several “Labs” staffed by trained students who provide content tutoring in the most high demand areas including: Accounting and Finance, Information Technology, Math and Writing. For more information and hours of operation, select the links below.

Accounting & Finance Lab  

Champlain’s Accounting & Finance Lab provides tutorial and homework assistant for students taking Math and Accounting courses.

http://www.champlain.edu/current-students/academic-information/academic-support-programs_current-students/accounting-and-math-lab

Information Technology Lab

The Information Technology Lab provides tutoring and homework assistance to students taking Information Technology courses through the ITS Division.

http://www.champlain.edu/current-students/academic-information/academic-support-programs_current-students/its-peer-assist-lab

Math Lab

Champlain’s Math Lab provides tutorial and homework assistance for students taking math courses. Stay five minutes or as long as you’d like.

http://www.champlain.edu/current-students/academic-information/academic-support-programs_current-students/math-lab

Writing Center 

The Champlain Writing Center is dedicated to creating a culture of writing across campus that values inquiry, creativity and public service. The Center provides free support to students, faculty and staff working on any writing project. To make an appointment, contact: writingcenter@champlain.edu or 802-383-6672.

http://www.champlain.edu/current-students/academic-information/academic-support-programs_current-students/writing-center

Mindfulness Practice and Stress Management Tools

The S.M.A.R.T. Space also offers group sessions and quiet spaces to practice mindfulness, biofeedback tools to learn stress management, light boxes (when prescribed by the Counseling Center), and other areas to de-stress and focus on studies.

Services from Stern Center for Language and Learning

In addition to the College’s own academic coaches, students may access the services of the Stern Center for Language and Learning on Champlain’s campus for an additional fee, arranged directly with the Stern Center. The Stern Center’s academic coaches assist students with building skills in executive functioning, social thinking, writing, reading and math. Contact them directly http://www.sterncenter.org/contact for more information about their services and fees.

(http://www.sterncenter.org)

 Bookstore 

The Champlain College Campus Store is located on the first floor of the CCM building and is open 9:00am -7:00pm Monday through Thursday, 9:00am -5:00pm Friday, and 11:30am -3:30pm on Saturday. To contact the store, visit ChamplainCampusStore.com, call 802-863-8961 or email CampusStore@champlain.edu.

The campus store offers all required textbooks and course materials, as well as school and art supplies. There is also a wide selection of convenience items available, such as local coffee, snacks, drinks, stamps, and health and beauty products. The campus store offers a variety of exclusive Champlain College merchandise (t-shirts, sweatshirts, hats, drinkware, and more). For a wider merchandise selection, shop online at ChamplainGear.com. Suggestions for new items are always welcome.

With affordability in mind, the campus store proudly offers their Best Price Promise on textbooks, where competing retail prices can be beat by 10% (excludes peer-to-peer marketplaces). We encourage you to obtain your books through the campus store to receive the best service, the correct book, and the best price. Students who order their books from other sources will not be eligible for tuition refunds if those books arrive late and jeopardize their ability to begin their coursework.

The cheapest option for obtaining your books is typically renting your books, as rental prices can be up to 80%-off the purchase price. You can highlight, write, and take notes in your rental books. Rental books must be returned in reusable condition by the last day of finals each semester. Filling out a one-time rental registration (in-store or online) will allow you to continue to rent textbooks throughout your Champlain experience. A credit card is required as collateral when filling out your rental registration.

We highly recommend ordering online at ChamplainCampusStore.com once your course schedule is set. Online orders can be shipped to your home, or you can select free in-store pickup and have the books waiting for you when you arrive on campus.  For in-store pickups, you must bring your ID and/or emailed order confirmation. A separate line will be formed for in-store pickup orders to help you avoid the longer lines at the registers. Ordering your books early will give you a better chance of reserving cheaper, used copies before they run out of stock.

When placing an online order, you may see as many as five options for each of your required course materials, including renting or purchasing new, used, and digital texts. All options can be ordered online or in-store. During the first two weeks of class, all course materials can be refunded or exchanged with receipt and in the same condition as when they were obtained.

For those who prefer to get their books in-store, please bring your student ID with you, so that the store team can assist you with locating your course materials. The textbooks are arranged alphabetically by author’s last name. You can visit txbk.info/champlain to retrieve your list of required books sorted by author’s last name.

At the end of the semester, please bring your rented books directly back to the campus store by the last day of finals. While you can attempt to sell books to the campus store on any day, you will usually receive the best value during finals week.

Campus Dining Options

Campus Dining Services, located in the IDX Student Life Center, is open to all students. Residential students participate in the College’s Carte Blanche Unlimited meal plan and simply present their ID card to the cashier.  All residential student meal plans allow for unlimited access to IDX Dining. The Carte Blanche Unlimited meal plan includes $150 residential flex dining each semester for use at the retail food court in the CCM building called “EATS,” featuring Zime, The Grill, and Tres Habaneros. Additional flex dining dollars can be purchased online. The Carte Blanche Unlimited Meal Plan and Flex are not refundable and expire at the end of the school year.

Off-campus and commuter students may purchase a choice of commuter meal plans.

EATS and IDX Dining also accept cash, credit card and Champlain Cash card.

Sodexo Campus Services is proud to partner with Champlain College in providing quality dining experiences for all diets. Please visit http://www.champlain.edu/current-students/residential-life/dining-services for more information.

Career Collaborative

Career Collaborative is Champlain College’s centralized career center. It provides comprehensive, innovative career education to all enrolled students and alumni. Its team consists of professionals with specialized expertise in career development, financial acuity, recruiting and employer relations.

In active support and collaboration with academic faculty and College partners, Career Collaborative actively prepare students with industry relevant information and meaningful opportunities for the successful transition into internships and career relevant employment. Engagement starts even before students arrive to campus and continues throughout the lifetime as Champlain College alumni.

Students are encouraged to take full advantage of the vast array of program offerings and events that will best prepare them for the competitive job market and professional life.

As part of Career Collaborative’s vast offerings, the following services are available year round:

• An industry-specialized Career Coach designated to your academic program and major

• Peer-to-Peer coaching and drop-in hours every day of the week to assist with your individual questions and needs

• Free enrollment in ResumeBooks and Career OneDocs for internship and employment matching

• Free online resources and tools, including career assessments, job-/internship search platforms, “how-to” materials to create or refine your resume, cover letter, career portfolios, social media presence, and many more.

Career Collaborative developed a distinctive career education program, called InSight, which teaches students the competencies and skills to highlight their professional brand and to successfully maneuver through the financial intricacies of life. The two areas of focus are called Career Positioning and Personal Finance. InSight is unique to Champlain College and is a required program for all traditional undergraduate students.

As part of InSight’s career curriculum, the following programs and events will offer students the opportunity to learn, practice and refine their qualifications and skills:

• A Work Study & Part Time Job Fair on the first day of classes

• Career Fairs in the fall and spring semesters

• A series of On Campus Recruiting (OCR) and On Campus Interviewing (OCI) sessions with employers throughout the academic year

• Mock Interview Days and individual practice interview sessions with faculty, campus partners, and employers

• Collaboration with our academic divisions and campus partners on Signature Career Events, such as Elevator Pitch Competitions, Senior Game Show, and Career Edventures

• A series of Career SMARTalks that cover up-to-date information on interviewing, career paths, industry information, and developing a professional career marketing strategy

For general questions, contact Career Collaborative at careercollaborative@champlain.edu or at (802) 860-2720. The office is located in the Garden House at 328 Maple Street (behind Juniper Hall) and is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m.

Counseling Center

Confidential counseling services are available for students who are dealing with personal issues, mental health issues or academic concerns. Counselors at the Counseling Center  can help students with concerns including, but not limited to, depression, anxiety, adjustment issues, alcohol and drug use, physical or sexual abuse, relationship concerns, stress management, sexuality, and crisis management. The counselors meet with students individually and at times in groups (with the consent of all participants).

The counselors can help students manage crises in a number of ways. A counselor can accompany a student to the emergency department at the hospital in the case of a psychological emergency, or in the case of a sexual or physical assault, to the police department or family court as needed. The counselors can assist students in making contact with appropriate campus officials and community agencies and resources as necessary.

Through the services of our psychiatric nurse practitioner (PNP), students with more significant mental health needs can be medically evaluated and treated. The psychiatric nurse practitioner works closely with the counselors, and is skilled at diagnosing and treating mental health issues, including prescribing medication when indicated. Students must be involved in an ongoing relationship with one of our counselors in order to access the services of our PNP.

Counselors will make referrals to community resources when appropriate and/or if the treatment recommendation is beyond the Counseling Center’s scope of practice. Prevention and education are important components of the Counseling Center and Accommodation Service. Programming is offered throughout the year.

Counselors can also provide follow up counseling in the aftermath of a personal crisis. Someone from the counseling staff is available 24 hours a day in addition to our own clinicians we collaborate with ProtoCall a 24-hour telephonic behavioral health service. The counselor on call can be reached through the College’s Campus Public Safety Office at (802) 865-6465.

Contact Information: Email: counselingcenter@champlain.edu; Phone: (802) 865-5731

Identification Card/Cash Card Office

Upon arrival on campus, each first-year student is issued an identification card. This card serves as the official College ID, library card and dining services card for those on a meal plan. For residential students, the card is encoded for access to their residence hall and room.

Online students may request an ID card by e-mailing a photo to: newstudentids@champlain.edu. Your picture should be a color individual head shot in .JPG format; no hat, no sunglasses. In the e-mail subject line, use firstname.lastname. Include an address where the ID card should be mailed.

All students must show their ID for access to the Fitness Center and to ride any of the Chittenden County Transportation Authority (CCTA) buses at no charge.

Optional conversion of the ID card to a CC Cash Card is available. The Champlain Cash Card is a debit account added to your Champlain ID card to purchase goods and services on campus, like laundry facilities and the bookstore, as well as at multiple vendors around town. The Cash Card balance is refundable to students when leaving Champlain College, less a $10 processing fee.

Students should keep their ID cards from year to year until graduating. Lost, damaged or stolen cards may be replaced for a fee.

Library Services

The Champlain College library is housed in the Robert E. & Holly D. Miller Information Commons and provides information services to support the research and instructional needs of the Champlain College community. The library provides books, periodicals, online journals, e-books and audiovisual materials, as well as laptop computers that students may use within the Miller Information Commons. In addition to these resources, the library staff provides reference services, interlibrary loan services and instruction sessions for students and faculty. The Information Commons houses computing labs as well as quiet study rooms for individual or group student use.

The library is open over 100 hours per week during the school year. Reference librarians are available to assist students during most open hours.

Hours for holidays and intersession periods are posted on the library Website before each break.

All library patrons must present a current official Champlain College ID card at the circulation desk in order to borrow materials or when asked by a staff member. Patrons are responsible for returning or renewing all items charged to their account on or before the date on which they are due. Patrons with overdue items will be unable to check out additional items and will be billed. The library will make reasonable efforts to contact patrons with overdue materials; however, it is the responsibility of the patron to know when materials are due and to return them promptly. The full list of library policies and procedures, as well as contact information for library staff, may be found on the library Website: www.champlain.edu/Library.html.

Military and Veterans Services

Veterans and Military Services Office

The Veterans and Military Services Office provides support to students who are veterans or currently in the military and their dependents. The office offers a wide range of services, which include:

• VA and military education benefits counseling
• Certification of enrollment to the VA
• VA financial processing
• Troubleshooting VA and military education benefit issues
• Advocate for military and veterans on campus
• Coordinate services with VA vocational rehabilitation counselors
• Assistance completing: Veterans Online Application (VONAPP), Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or other related applications

Military and Veteran Education Benefits

Champlain College is recognized as a military-friendly institution. We are committed to supporting our veteran and military students and their dependents through participation in numerous veteran and military education programs. These include:

• All versions of the Veterans Administration GI Bill
• The VA Yellow Ribbon Program
• VA Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Program
• Department of Defense Tuition Assistance
• ROTC Scholarships
• Affiliation with the University of Vermont ROTC Green Mountain Battalion

Office of Accessibility

The Office of Accessibility is a resource for students, faculty, and staff that leads the campus community in its commitments to recognize disability as a valued aspect of diversity that is integral to the campus community and society, to embrace access as a matter of social justice, and to design welcoming, accessible, sustainable, inclusive environments. The Office of Accessibility facilitates accommodations, training, collaboration and innovative programming.

The Office of Accessibility works to help Champlain College design barrier-free environments to the extent possible. Some barriers to access cannot be removed in a timely manner, at that point the Office of Accessibility works one-on-one with students to determine reasonable accommodations. This requires the student to actively engage in the interactive process with the Office of Accessibility and when needed, with faculty.

We believe that creating and maintaining usable, equitable, inclusive, sustainable learning environments is a shared responsibility of the campus community. We work with professors to  designing learning environments with usability in mind which benefits all students and increases access for all. Our goal is to allow students with disabilities to access their environments as seamlessly as non-disabled students.

Students with disabilities may use their accommodations however they are held to the same standard of academic achievement as all other students.The Office of Accessibility will assist Champlain College to make reasonable accommodations for an otherwise qualified student or applicant for admission.

In order to be eligible to receive accommodations in residence halls, classrooms or extracurricular activities, students must make a request for accommodation, provide documentation,and meet with the Office of Accessibility. It is the responsibility of the student to provide the documentation, meet with the appropriate staff and request their letter of accommodation be provided to faculty members each semester. More detailed information regarding the College’s accommodations procedures is available from the Office of Accessibility located in Skiff Hall (accessible by the front entrance on S. Willard Street)

(http://www.champlain.edu/student-life/student-services/accommodations-services.)

Contact Information: Email: accessibility@champlain.edu; Phone: (802) 865-5764

GRIEVANCE PROCEDURE REGARDING ACCOMMODATION SERVICES

Students with grievances related to an accommodation determination, procedures for accommodations, or provision of accommodations are encouraged to resolve the complaint with the Office of Accessibility, (802) 865-5764, whenever possible. If the student’s grievance is directly related to the actions of the Office of Accessibility, they may immediately file a grievance with the Assistant Vice President for Diversity, Community and Inclusion.

To file a grievance, the student must notify the Assistant Vice President of Diversity, Community and Inclusion in writing of the complaint, copying the Office of Accessibility. The notice should state the nature and details of the complaint, the names of other witnesses or participants, and the remedy the student seeks. The request must be signed by the student and filed within 30 days of the alleged violation.

Once a complaint is filed, the Assistant Vice President for of Diversity, Community and Inclusion Student Life will convene a committee to hear the case. The committee, by majority vote, will determine whether a violation occurred. If the committee determines a violation has occurred, the committee shall recommend an appropriate remedy for the situation. The Assistant Vice President of Diversity, Community and Inclusion will decide whether to accept, reject, or modify the recommendation of the committee, and will take action in accordance with his or her determination.  The decision of the appeal process is final.

Students also have the right to register a complaint with the Office of Civil Rights. The Office of Civil Rights may be contacted at the following address:

U.S. Dept. of Education
Office of Civil Rights
POCH 222
Boston, MA 02109

Students may also register a complaint with the Vermont Human Rights Commission, at the following address:

Vermont Human Rights Commission
14-16 Baldwin Street
Montpelier, VT 05633-6301
(802) 828-2480 (voice/TDD), (800) 416-2010 (voice)

If a student feels that any action has been directed against them because of a disability or perception of a disability by College faculty or staff, or another student, the student may contact the Office of Diversity and Inclusion (802-860-2784) and/or initiate a complaint under the College’s harassment, discrimination and hazing policy and complaint procedure (see Discrimination, Harassment and Hazing Prevention Policy).

Office of Community Standards

The Office of Community Standards promotes student learning and holistic development by helping to create a campus culture of respect, civility, and responsibility. We strive to create opportunities for students to respect the dignity of all members of the Champlain community, to respond with honesty and integrity, and to accept responsibility for their actions.

Hearing Officers facilitate one-on-one meetings to discuss alleged violations of the Standard of Conduct, hear student perspectives, explore personal responsibility, hold students accountable and provide educational and restorative outcomes.

The Office of Community Standards also recruits, trains, and oversees the Conduct Review Board. The Conduct Review Board consists of students, staff, and faculty. Hearings are sent to the Conduct Review Board in place on an individual Hearing Officer as deemed appropriate.

The Office of Community Standards also vets reports as they arrive through the Incident Reporting Form found in the Champlain online portal. These reports are then forwarded on to the appropriate resources on campus. Note: These reports are not intended for emergency response and are only checked Monday through Friday 8AM to 4:30PM. For immediate response please contact Campus Public Safety or 911.

We endeavor to strike a balance between the needs of an individual student and the Champlain community. We believe graduates of Champlain College will take this learning with them into the workplace as engaged global citizens.

Contact Information: Email: communitystandards@champlain.edu; Phone: (802) 860-2706

Office of Diversity and Inclusion

Champlain College’s Office of Diversity and Inclusion (ODI) aims to create a welcoming, accepting, and affirming environment for all students, while providing support to all underrepresented student populations.The Office of Diversity and Inclusion works in collaboration with Academic Affairs, students, faculty, staff, community members and other departments within the Division of Student Affairs, Diversity and Inclusion to create and support a diverse and rich community that provides many opportunities for all to be engaged,  involved, supported, heard and celebrated. The office is located in the IDX Student Life Center.

ODI works to create a safe, equitable, supportive and empowering community for all, regardless of identity, and our team is committed to enhancing student academic and personal achievement through graduation and beyond. The office works in partnership with other college offices to support and enhance students’ exploration and pursuit of academic, professional and career interests, while in college and beyond.

ODI provides diversity, inclusion, equity and social justice focused programming and works closely with the Division of Student Life and larger campus community to further outreach, advocacy and education and offers an inclusive and welcoming physical space and our staff can provide guidance and support, as well as referrals to college and community resources.

The Office of Diversity and Inclusion sponsors a wide-ranging variety of programs and events. Student Support Initiatives include outreach and advocacy for all students, with a special focus on underrepresented and non-dominant groups through the CARE program, the ODI mentoring initiative, Quest (men of color affinity group) and Shades of Me (women of color affinity group). The ODI also collaborates with and supports campus affinity groups such as INCLUDE (LGBTQ student group), PAUSE (student activism group) Stiller Women in Business, the Alternative Name Project and Rainbow Alliance (Employee affinity group).

The ODI provides direct success support to students of color, New Americans and underserved students, while partnering with and connecting other special populations and non-dominant groups (women, LGBTQ, veterans, academic accommodations, first generation college students, students from different religious affiliations, etc.) with support services and advocates across campus (Student Life, Financial Aid, Counseling, Accessibility, Health and Wellness, etc.)

Contact Information: Email: diversity@champlain.edu; Phone: (802) 860-2780

Residential Life

One of the chief purposes of residential life at Champlain is to provide a positive environment in which students can prepare for their careers. The College is firm in its resolve to maintain this positive educational environment, and expects all residential students to conduct themselves with the highest regard for their fellow students and for College policy as outlined in the Freedom of Expression Statement, the College’s Standard of Conduct and the Diversity Value Statement.

Residency at Champlain College is reserved for full time students. Housing priority is given to Champlain College undergraduate students. The opening and closing dates for residence halls follows the undergraduate calendar. The privilege of enrollment at Champlain or residency in housing may be withdrawn from a student at any time, on any grounds, if the College considers such action best for the welfare of the institution and/or the student. Disciplinary cases involving residential students will be investigated by the Office of Community Standards and resolved in accordance with the procedure outlined in the section titled Conduct Review Process, unless the College decides to take interim or permanent action without following such process, as referenced in the Standard of Conduct.

Residential Life staff not only oversee the day-to-day maintenance of the residence halls and implement College regulations, but also provide valuable guidance and support to residential students. They are committed to creating respectful, diverse and inclusive communities. Very often, they can quickly and directly resolve any concerns.

The major responsibilities of Residential Life staff are to get to know each resident and to actively help each resident become a part of the College community; to build a fun, responsible and engaging community among students within each residence hall; to develop a working knowledge of College resources and refer students to appropriate personnel when necessary; to discuss, clarify and enforce the College’s residential policies and procedures as published in these policies; and to be on duty and available in their residence halls 9:00 p.m.-7:00 a.m. daily. Residential Life staff are expected to perform rounds of the building when on duty.

In addition, Residential Life staff generally: attend workshops, training sessions and staff meetings; open and close residences before and after vacation breaks; and report maintenance, safety and security needs as they arise. Any information about the latter should be reported to Residential Life staff.

Contact Information: Email: reslife@champlain.edu; Phone: (802) 860-2706

Student Health Center

The Student Health Center is available to help you with health concerns or problems, either directly or by referral to an appropriate physician. Please call for an appointment. You are welcome to walk in, but we may not be able to see you immediately, in which case we would schedule you for a return appointment. A nurse practitioner is on campus weekdays from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The Student Health Center is open to all students, whether covered by the College insurance program or through their parents’ or guardians’ policies. There is no charge for visits to this office.

Notification of Illness: It is the responsibility of you or your physician to report serious illness or hospitalization to your parents or legal guardians; you should not assume that anyone else will notify them.

In addition, it is your responsibility to notify your instructors of any illness that prevents you from attending class or completing assignments, and to arrange to make up any classes you miss. The Student Health Center cannot excuse you from class. However, in the event of a serious illness, the Nurse Practitioner, working with staff from the Counseling Center, will help to contact faculty and make appropriate plans for your continued academic success, as practical and given academic requirements. The staff in the Student Health Center will also work with your health care providers in coordinating your treatment and recovery to the extent appropriate given the nature and scope of the College’s residential and academic programs.

Insurance: When you were billed for admission to Champlain College, you received information detailing the provisions of a College sponsored insurance plan. If you participate in this group policy and wish to make a claim, you must submit the claim as soon as possible after the onset of any illness, accident or injury that requires medical attention beyond that provided by Champlain College. The staff in the Student Health Center can help you fill out the claim form. Keep in mind, however, that the College sponsored plan is a secondary insurance policy that is to be used only after you submit a claim through your parents’ or your own primary policy.

The Student Health Center will not bill your insurance plan for services we provide. However, if the Student Health Center submits labs to a local laboratory as part of your plan of care, we will ask you to provide your insurance information so that the laboratory can bill insurance as appropriate.  Further, if Student Health provides you with a prescription for medication to fill at a local pharmacy, you will need to use your insurance to fill the prescription.

Medical Leave Policy: See Re-enrollment and Re-admission to Champlain College.

Contact Information: Email: healthservices@champlain.edu; Phone: (802) 860-2700

Student Support Services

The Office of Student Support Services is committed to working closely with students seeking support, resources, and encouragement as they complete their degree.  The goal of the collaboration is to identify barriers to success and to outline possible solutions or manageable plans to address those barriers. The office works to enhance student experiences while at Champlain and increase retention and completion rates.

Student Support Services provides consistent, on-campus support personnel to help students navigate administrative systems and resources. The office works in close collaboration with other departments (Registrar’s Office, Counseling Services, Financial Aid, Student Health and Wellness, Faculty Advisors, community agencies, academic support services, and many other departments) to ensure students have access to all possible resources.  

Student Support Services supports all students, however, focuses primarily on students who are:

• Single parents through the Single Parents Program.

• First generation (whose parents or legal guardians have not completed a four  year bachelor’s degree).

• Living off campus (commuting).

• Recipients of federal, state, and/or college specific scholarships and grants (PELL Grant, Vermont First, VSAC aid, etc.).

• Students receiving accommodation services or counseling support that are looking for additional connection and/or resources.

Common challenges addressed by the office include but are not limited to:

• Academic problem solving & planning.

• Financial concerns.

• Connections to resources on & off campus (Counseling, Student Health and Wellness, housing, state benefit systems, among others).

• Student wellness and family situation support.

Student support services provided:

• One-time or on-going meetings with students.

• Managing the Single Parents Program.

• Coordinating Champlain College’s Angel Fund for student emergency expenses.

• Sponsoring commuting student programming and the Commuter Student Advisory Board (CAB).

• Collaborating with other departments to offer pre-orientation and orientation programs focused on student success.

Contact information: Email: hwatson@champlain.edu; Phone: (802) 860-2723

Women’s and Gender Center

The Women’s and Gender Center (WGC) provides a comfortable, inclusive, and fun place for students to hang out, meet new friends, and have meaningful conversation. Students of all gender identities and sexual orientations are welcome to call this place home. The WGC also facilitates educational and supportive programming around three major themes: Empowerment and Leadership Development, Gender Identity and Sexual Orientation, and Sexual Violence Prevention.

The Center collaborates across the institution to bring important conversations and events to campus, such as gender identity and pronoun trainings for staff and faculty, a campus-wide International Women’s Day program, and conversations on consent. Primary areas of focus are educational programming, advocacy, affinity space, and human connection and support. While many of our services and programs are geared towards students with non-dominant gender identities and/or sexualities, our center and programming are available for all students to learn and grow together in an inclusive environment.

In collaboration with HOPE Works, the WGC offers ongoing victim advocacy for survivors of sexual violence. All students are welcome to schedule a time to meet on campus with a confidential advocate. Advocates can provide emotional support, answer questions, and give you information about your options. People of all identities and experiences are welcome. Visit the WGC Advocacy Services page for more information or to make an appointment.

To stay connected, you can view the WGC’s programming calendar or sign up for the biweekly newsletter. Feel free to visit the WGC in Skiff Annex, Room 102, email the WGC at womensandgender@champlain.edu, or call 802-383-6600 to learn more. The WGC is open Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm.