Academic Resources

Abilities Office

The Abilities Office is committed to inclusion, accessibility, and equal opportunity for all students with disabilities at CSU.  We provide accommodations to students with disabilities, as well as foster disability-inclusive excellence and success across our CSU community.  The Abilities office  coordinates reasonable and appropriate such as exam accommodations, note taking assistance, and interpreter services, etc.  Accommodations  and academic adjustments are for students with verified disabilities to ensure equal access to facilities, programs, services and resources of the university. The Office commits to assisting each student to realize his/her fullest potential. By providing students with academic accommodations, we remove obstacles to academic performance and allow for equal educational opportunity. In order to qualify for our services, students must submit an accommodation request each semester and have appropriate disability documentation on file with the office.

Abilities Office services are provided in accordance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and with Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and amendments.

Coordination is provided at no cost to all Chicago State students with verified disabilities.

Students who need special parking permits should apply at the Secretary of State driving facility located at 99th Street and King Drive. The Abilities Office is located in the Counseling Center in the Cordell Reed Student Union Building, Room 190, and the telephone number is 773-995-2380 (Voice) and 773-995-3761 (TTY).

More information can be found on our website at https://www.csu.edu/dosa/abilities/, and please do not hesitate to also send an email to abilities@csu.edu.

Academic Computing Facilities

Information Technology Division provides a wide range of academic computing services to students and employees. The primary computer laboratory is located in the Academic Library. This computer laboratory resides on multiple floors with a wide variety of computers spread across the four floors of the Library. The computers are equipped with Windows 10 operating system and software applications such as Microsoft Office, SPSS, Mathematica, Adobe, among others. Printing, scanning, and photocopying services are readily available on the first floor. Remote access to the library databases is also available with a CSU email username and password. Additional laboratories are operated by the academic departments throughout the campus buildings and are for use by the respective student majors. Wireless network is available in all University buildings for immediate connectivity to the Internet. The Helpdesk is located on the first floor of the Library and can be reached at 773-995-3963 or helpdesk@csu.edu. The Helpdesk is located on the first floor of the Library and can be reached at 773-995-3963 or helpdesk@csu.edu.

Office of Academic Support

The Office of Academic Support was established as a “one stop” academic support center for students and the anchor of retention efforts at CSU. In addition to monitoring the academic progress of students, the staff makes referrals to other support services on campus that assist students with qualifying examinations, study and learning skills, counseling, and personal development. Special activities are also offered for freshmen, which include the SuccessU program that admits students who do not meet regular admission requirements and Freshman Seminar, an extended freshman orientation course/program. The Office of Academic Support also collaborates with the Career Development Center, which prepares students for internships. Other activities in the Office of Academic Support include academic warning system, special basic skills workshops and support for students on Academic Probation. The Office of Academic Support is located in the Cordell Reed Student Union Building, Room 180, and the telephone number is 773-995-4521.

African American Male Resource Center

The African American Male Resource Center (AAMRC) aims to transform its students for success by providing sustainable opportunities for breakthroughs in the areas of academic achievement, professional development, cultural awareness, and personal advancement. Collaborating with other internal offices on campus-such as the Office of Academic Support and the Learning Assistance Center-the AAMRC serves as a liaison between Black male students and specialized student support services. Housed within a computer lab in the Student Union Building, the AAMRC offers resources and services that range from book rentals and resume building assistance to academic monitoring and interdepartmental referrals. The AAMRC also offers programs that centralize the experiences of African American males on campus. Teaching & Educating Men of Black Origin, the Du Bois Book Club, and the Ubuntu Leadership Institute are its primary programmatic offerings, each contributing to CSU’s core values of diversity, social justice, intellectual development, and creative learning. The AAMRC is located in the Cordell Reed Student Union Building in Room 150. You can reach the AAMRC by email at aamrc@csu.edu or phone at 773-995-3876.

Athletics

The Chicago State University Department of Intercollegiate Athletics is an integral part of the university community following and honoring Chicago State University’s overall institutional mission. The Department of Intercollegiate Athletics strives for excellence just as academic units strive for greatness in teaching, research and services. This commitment to excellence - both on and off the field - is showcased throughout the department. The Department of Intercollegiate Athletics provides exemplary leadership, employs diverse and dedicated individuals and is committed to providing appropriate facilities and support services that allow student-athletes to compete at the highest level of competition, and reach their educational and academic objectives. The successful completion of our mission culminates with the graduation of student-athletes while producing winning programs that attain regional and national recognition.

The university is a member of the National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) at the Division I level. Intercollegiate sports for men are basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, indoor and outdoor track and field, and tennis. Intercollegiate sports for women include basketball, cross country, golf, indoor and outdoor track and field, soccer, tennis and volleyball.

The Department of Intercollegiate Athletics embraces the NCAA’s “Principles of Sportsmanship and Ethical Conduct” and believes that student-athletes, coaches, and staff should adhere to such fundamental values as respect, fairness, civility, honesty, and responsibility. The Department of Intercollegiate Athletics is also committed to nondiscrimination, and equal opportunity. The university provides equal opportunity to education, employment and participation in university-sponsored activities without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, or gender equity.

Integrity is indispensable to an intercollegiate athletics program, for without it sport loses its true meaning. The department believes that administrators, coaches, and student-athletes, in concert with all members of the university community, must share a total commitment to abiding by the rules of the NCAA and the institution.

Chicago State University offers scholarships to qualifying student-athletes. Questions regarding specific sports programs should be directed to the specific sports coach. For more information regarding Chicago State University Athletics call 773-995-2295 or visit our website at www.gocsucougars.com.

Breakey Theater

The Breakey Theater is housed in the Douglas Hall, Room 102. With a seating capacity of 300, the theater provides a space for recreational, entertainment, or ceremonial purposes. Breakey Theater is the home for displaying such talents from CSU Danceworks and the Music Department. It also serves as a classroom, performance, and rehearsal space for the Communications, Media Arts, and Theatre Department.

Campus Ministry

Campus Ministry seeks to support, encourage, and develop the faith/spiritual life of the university community, students, administrators, and faculty. Campus Ministry offers opportunities for Bible study, worship, counseling, retreats, community service, and peace and justice awareness.

Although the Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago and the Chicago Metropolitan Baptist Association sponsor the campus ministers at present, their ministry is extended to all members of the university, regardless of denomination. Campus Ministry is located in Douglas Hall, Suite 3062, and the telephone number is 773-995-3869.

Campus Recreation

Chicago State University’s Campus Recreation program is a division of the Athletics Department. Our mission is to enhance the quality of life of the individuals within the CSU community by providing a variety of fun-filled, health promoting, recreational and leisure programs conducive to wellness and personal development. The Campus Recreation program engages students, faculty, staff, alumni and the surrounding community to participate in these activities through the following structured programs and services: intramural sports, open recreation, sport clubs, special events, and instructional programs.

Current CSU students and individuals that have a current Alumni membership are automatically members of Campus Recreation for that semester. Campus Recreation also offers affordable membership packages to community members. Current membership with Campus Recreation includes access to the indoor facilities in the Jacoby Dickens Center and entry into our various recreational programs. Within those facilities and programs, members are able to take advantage of:

• Cardio and strength training equipment
• Group fitness, strength and aquatic classes
• Intramural sports
• Multipurpose courts
• Indoor track
• Locker rooms

For more information regarding employment, programs, and services please contact Campus Recreation at 773-995-2254, e-mail at campusrec@csu.edu, or visit our website at www.gocsucougars.com/campusrec

Career Development Center (CDC)

The Career Development Center (CDC) at Chicago State University prepares students to leverage their academic and leadership experiences through individualized support and access to employer partnerships.

We prepare students to DEFINE, BUILD, and ENHANCE individual growth for lifelong career success.

Through its pillars of Individual Development, Cougar Academy, Experiential Resources, and Job Location Development, the department is committed to developing students by:

• Providing career advising and counseling to undergraduate, graduate, and alumni.
• Developing student soft skills and workforce competency knowledge based on the N.A.C.E. Workforce Competencies.
• Producing opportunities to connect students with employers that are recruiting interns and entry level employees.
• Fostering a relationship with employers that will strengthen the employment pipeline from university to career.
• Supporting other university academic programs by providing workshops, career training, and updates on current employment trends in the various fields.

Students interested in Federal Work Study positions on campus must complete Professional Development Training with the Career Development Center.

Students interested in pursuing an internship or in need of fine tuning their professional skills should register with the CDC for an Internship Preparation Bootcamp. This bootcamp is offered each semester for 6 weeks. Students are encouraged to participate in these sessions and become better prepared for their internship/career experience.

The CDC is located in the Cordell Reed Student Union, Suite 230, and the telephone number is 773-995-2327. You may also contact the team at Careerdevelopment@csu.edu.

Community Outreach & Field Placement Services Office (COFPS)

The Community Outreach and Field Placement Services (COFPS) Office is located in ED 322. The primary mission is to provide a high quality field experience program for teacher education candidates in the College of Education. The COFPS office provides opportunities to assist pre-service and student teacher candidates for their diverse field experiences in urban, suburban and rural settings. A record of each teacher candidate’s field experiences is maintained in COFPS as required by the Illinois State Board of Education. In addition, the Office provides a range of outreach services to support enrollment, retention, and graduation.

Counseling Department

The Counseling Center) provides an array of mental health services  for students who are currently enrolled at Chicago State University. Services include:  assessments, individual counseling, crisis intervention, life coaching, case management, and consultation. Our mission is to provide high quality counseling services that support the mental health and well-being of students.. These services include private, short-term, and confidential mental health clinical counseling treatment  with licensed clinicians and supervised faculty and graduate-level peer counselor/social work interns who work with students to identify and address a variety of mental health needs and concerns  All of our mental health professionals are knowledgeable, understanding and empathic.

Our counselors and social workers provide psycho-educational, psychosocial, and experiential workshops as well as evidenced-based mental health resources and referral services. We work with faculty and staff to provide consultation regarding mental health concerns or crises that may occur in the classroom.

Our students are often facing a number of stressors that impact their holistic health including their emotional, mental and physical well-being. We are here to help students find their way through these difficulties so they may cross the finish line to graduation. We welcome all CSU students of various  genders, sexual identities, ethnic/racial identities, SES backgrounds religious affiliations, abilities, and other diverse backgrounds. We want students to be able to be their very best selves and recognize the importance of good physical as well as mental health in the journey towards personal, professional, academic, and lifelong success. All Counseling services are free of charge.

The Counseling Center is located in the Cordell Reed Student Union Building, Room 190, and services are available by appointment. The telephone number is 773-995-2383. More information can be found on our website at https://www.csu.edu/dosa/counseling/index.htm. Please do not hesitate to also send an email to counselingcenter@csu.edu.

CSU Email Accounts

All Chicago State University students are assigned CSU email accounts when they are admitted to the university. To activate the email accounts, students should navigate to https://iam.csu.edu and claim their accounts. If a student requires access to a computer on campus, the student may utilize the public lab located in the Gwendolyn Brooks Library.

Students are strongly encouraged to activate their email accounts immediately upon admission. Information concerning financial aid awards and disbursements, as well as other important information, is sent to students via CSU email accounts. Students enrolled in courses using Moodle Software must use the CSU email account to complete class assignments.

Educator Licensure Services

The College of Education has the responsibility of recommending students completing an entitlement program for educator licenses, and for additional endorsements at the time of licensure. No one may be recommended for licensure to teach or supervise in the public schools of Illinois who is not of good character, in good health, at least twenty years of age, legally present and eligible for employment, and who has not completed all requirements in the approved licensure program, including state licensure tests and compliance with the College criminal background check policy and related state and federal statutes.

The Licensure Office is responsible for monitoring the state licensure process for students completing an education program leading to teacher licensure or licensure in school administration, counseling, or social work. All candidates who complete all requirements of a licensure program will receive a recommendation for licensure once final grades and/or degrees are posted and within the compliance recommendations of Title IV of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 which prohibit discrimination based on race, color, creed, national origin, sex, handicap or lack of access to programs. Early and continual consultation and careful planning are essential for students who are seeking to satisfy educator licensure requirements. Additional information is located in ED 203 or call (773) 995-2519.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Chicago State University supports the principles of equal opportunity in employment and education. The university seeks to insure that no person will encounter discrimination in employment or education on the basis of age, color, disability, sex, national origin, race, religion, sexual orientation, or veteran’s status. This policy is applicable to both the employment practices and administration of programs and activities within the university. It is the policy of the university that no person shall be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or in any way be subject to discrimination in any program or activity in the university.

The Office of Labor and Legal Affairs handles complaints of discrimination. Any employee or student may at any time contact Legal Affairs to discuss an alleged discrimination complaint and/or to seek a formal or informal resolution of a complaint. The office is located in the Cook Administration Building, Room 318, and the phone number is 773/995-2462.

The Fredrick Blum Neighborhood Assistance Center

The Fredrick Blum Neighborhood Assistance Center (NAC) provides technical and research assistance to neighborhood-based, community, and economic development organizations. While housed in the Department of Geography, Sociology, History, African American Studies, and Anthropology and drawing heavily on the resources and skills of the department, the NAC endeavors to involve faculty and students from across the university. Thus, the NAC not only applies discipline-specific skills to the solution of neighborhood problems, but it also acts to increase the level of service to the community by the university.

Undergraduate and graduate students can become involved with the NAC through internships and work-study assignments. Students work with community organizations and faculty members on projects utilizing skills they obtain in their classes. Graduate students can become involved in NAC projects through funded research assistantships, and community-based capstone and thesis research projects. The main goal of the NAC is the fostering of self-reliant community development. This is accomplished by the following services:

• Assisting in the development of neighborhood planning projects in ways that enable neighborhood residents to develop their own strategies for neighborhood maintenance and revitalization.
• Performing food and social service access analysis, grant writing assistance, and database construction.
• Mapping assistance and spatial analyses using the department’s Geographic Information System (GIS) laboratory.

Gwendolyn Brooks Center for Black Literature and Creative Writing

The Gwendolyn Brooks Center for Black Literature and Creative Writing, founded in 1990, is a literary and cultural center invested in researching, teaching, and disseminating information about acclaimed Black writers, especially the life and works of Gwendolyn Brooks (1917-2000), former poet laureate of Illinois and distinguished professor of English at CSU. The Brooks Center’s mission is to promote the study of Black writers and to strengthen the humanities, especially literature, history, art, music, culture and health awareness, by engaging in collaborative and interactive programming for students, faculty, and the general public. The center’s broad selection of culturally insightful and academically stimulating programs includes the annual Gwendolyn Brooks Writers’ Conference, The Master Class Writer’s Series, and The Youth Poetry and Writing Festival. Please follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram and visit our CSU webpage for information on upcoming events and opportunities.

The Latino Resource Center

The Latino Resource Center (LRC) contributes to the University’s mission of promoting social justice and diversity through increasing opportunities to access higher education for Latino students. The LRC provides pre-college services and resources for high school students and their families; educational and inter/intrapersonal growth opportunities for college students; and cultural programming for the University community. In partnership with other University units and external partners, the LRC provides many resources that allow Latino students to reach their academic, professional, and personal goals. The Center fosters an environment of inclusion and support that enhances the college experience of all CSU students. The LRC is located in the Cordell Reed Building, Room 230A and the contact information is LRC@csu.edu and 773-995-2526.

Learning Assistance Center

The Learning Assistance Center (LAC) serves CSU students by providing them with free access to tutors and other resources necessary to achieve academic success. Located on the fourth floor of the Gwendolyn Brooks Library, LIB Room 450, the LAC offers drop-in tutoring services for writing and math, appointment-based tutoring for a variety of disciplines, technology access and support, study hall space, and information and referral services to a variety of other campuses. The following are some of the services provided to CSU students:

• Tutoring in a wide variety of subjects by certified tutors.
• Facilitation of study hall hours.
• Coordination of academic peer assistance and informal study groups.
• Proctoring exams for online students.
• One-on-one research support and instruction.
• Technological and media support in subjects such as math, writing, foreign languages, etc.
• Online tutoring (available since Fall 2018)

The LAC is open seven days a week during the academic term. During breaks, the hours of operation are reduced. Please check the website at http://www.csu.edu/LAC/appointments.htm for up-to-date information on hours and to schedule an appointment.

Center for Teaching and Research Excellence (CTRE)

Chicago State University’s Center for Teaching and Research Excellence (CTRE) promotes faculty excellence through all stages of the faculty member’s academic career: it fosters a community of practice, encourages innovative research; enhances the teaching and learning process; integrates technology effectively; and improves service to the university and community. The CTRE offers year-round faculty development workshops, awards faculty development grants and hosts other events that celebrate faculty. Contact us for more information or assistance: https://www.csu.edu/CTRE/index.htm, ctre@csu.edu or 773.995.2501.

Online Learning

Online Instruction was developed to service mature, self-motivated and busy adults in need of a flexible educational schedule, for students needing to take courses which are free of time and space limitations or courses that require minimal campus classroom attendance (hybrid courses). Chicago State University’s highly recognized full-time faculty and adjunct lecturers teach online courses in several colleges and in various disciplines. Additionally, Chicago State University’s College of Education offers 3 totally online master’s degree programs.

Students enrolled in online programs still pay mandatory fees.

Interested parties should call the Office of Online Instruction in the Center for Teaching and Research Excellence at 773/995-2960 or visit our website at: https://www.csu.edu/onlineinstruction/

Specific Requirements

Chicago State University (CSU) offers online and hybrid undergraduate courses in many of our programs. These courses are designed for technologically literate students who have an interest in either taking classes without having to be on campus or taking classes where you visit campus a few times throughout the semester. Taking online courses require students to have immediate access to the Internet, electronic mail, and electronic discussion sessions. Online courses also require students to have immediate access to a CSU email account. Interested students who do not feel prepared to take courses in the online environment can inquire about receiving training from the Office of Online Instruction (elearning@csu.edu) to prepare for taking courses at Chicago State University. Students are also encouraged to visit OASIS (http://www.ilcco.net/oasis/) and take their assessment to better understand what is needed to participate in an online course.

Student Identity Verification Process

The verification of student’s identity begins at the time of admission or initial course registration. When the student is initially accepted at CSU, a unique BANNER user Id is created for the student. The Identity and Access Management (IAM) system creates a new profile for the student. Students claim their account on an online system. During the account claiming process, students are required to enter their Student ID Number, Date of Birth and last name. This process allows the student to set up their own passwords which expire every 150 days.

Students are required to change or reset their passwords using the online system only. The Information Technology Department (ITD) assists students in resetting passwords if needed. Access to the Course Management System is through Cougar Connect and requires the use of the student’s username and password. Data transmission of login information is secured using standard encryption technologies. Students are given information regarding best practices related to setting up and maintaining the security of passwords on the IAM screen. Instructions to claim accounts and password resets, contact Information Technology Helpdesk at: helpdesk@csu.edu.

The user account setup using this online IAM system can be used to access the following online resources at CSU:

1. Computers in the CSU domain
2. Cougar Connect (Intranet)Moodle Course Management System
3. Course Evaluation
4. Email
5. Online Courses

The United States Federal Higher Education Opportunity Act, Public Law 110-315, requires colleges to establish policies to ensure that a student who registers in an online course is the same student who participates in and completes the program and receives academic credit for the course. When Chicago State University students enroll in an online course, their participation in the course is restricted to using the Moodle Course Management System, which requires a secure login and password to enter.

Tuition and Fees

See the separately published listing of Tuition and Fees. For further information, contact 773-995-2960 or visit www.csu.edu/tuition.

Special Academic Programs & Opportunities