Division of Student Affairs

The Division of Student Affairs offers support for students and creates an environment of inclusion on campus. The division formulates policy governing student life, provides programming, and oversees the operations of departments including Student Activities, Office of Academic Support, Housing and Residence Life, the Counseling Center, and others. It serves as a resource and referral center for any student concern and as a liaison for other administrative units of the university and students. The Division of Student Affairs provides leadership for and maintains close ties with students and student organizations. The department is staffed by persons with experience and training in student development and other areas of student personnel service. The staff is available to assist students in a variety of ways, including the interpretation of student life policies and the resolution of personal, social, and academic concerns.

Office of Student Activities

The Office of Student Activities provides academic, cultural, social, intellectual, and civic programming designed to enhance the academic experience of Chicago State University students. It is responsible for managing all recognized clubs and organizations, including but not limited to the Student Government Association and Fraternity and Sorority life. The office works to provide guidance and supervision to all students and provide diverse programming sponsored by the Office of Student Activities. These activities include Welcome Week, Homecoming, Thanksgiving Throwdown, African American History Month, Cinco de Mayo, Women’s Awareness Month, and other activities. The office collaborates with students, faculty, and staff to create an extraordinary student experience, to develop student leaders, and to create learning beyond the classroom that is aligned with the values and mission of Chicago State University. The office is located in the Cordell Reed Student Union Building, Room 260, and the telephone number is 773/995-2300.

Student Government Association

The Student Government Association (SGA) is the representative body for students and serves as an umbrella organization for all campus student organizations. The SGA exists primarily to address student concerns and needs, and to provide services that enhance overall student life and development. Working closely with a faculty advisor, the SGA is committed to the representation and advocacy of all students and serves as liaison to administration and other elements of the university community. All students are automatically members of the SGA and as such are entitled to vote during student elections and participate in all SGA sponsored events and activities. However, one must be voted into and hold an elected office in order to vote on SGA business. The office is located in Room 265 of the Cordell Reed Student Union Building.

Veterans Affairs

The Veteran Affairs Office at Chicago State University assists Veterans and eligible dependents with the processing of benefit information to secure the use of educational benefits. Programs sponsored through our office include:

Post-9/11 GI Bill
Illinois Veterans Grant (IVG)
National Guard Grant (ING)
MIA/POW Scholarships
The Montgomery GI Bill
Reservist Tuition Assistance
Administration Chapter 31 (Vocational Rehabilitation)
Veterans Administration Chapter 35
Reserve Office Training Corps (ROTC)

The Office of Veterans Affairs is designed to provide a variety of essential services and activities to veteran students. Services provided by the Office of Veterans Affairs include certifying enrollment, verifying information, processing appropriate applications and forms, adhering to and disseminating information about veterans and university policies, procedures and regulations, and maintaining current data on all veterans receiving Veteran Affairs funds to defray educational costs. In addition, the Office of Veteran Affairs Office at Chicago State University helps Veteran students make a successful transition to the university.

Women’s Resource Center

The Women’s Resource Center is a safe space for students who need support and advocacy services. When students are faced with difficult situations that may threaten their educational success, the WRC is available to help through our individualized case management services. The WRC is dedicated to student success, through a commitment to Engage, Embrace, Educate, Enlighten and Empower our students. The WRC offers advocacy services to the CSU community. Advocacy services include coordinating prevention, intervention and support efforts across campus and community systems to assist under-resourced students and students facing crises, life traumas, and other barriers that impede success. The university food pantry, as well as the university lactation space, is conveniently located in the Women’s Resource Center suite (Suite 160, Cordell Reed Student Union Building). For more information, please visit our website at https://www.csu.edu/dosa/WRC/ or feel free to contact the Women’s Resource Center at 773.995.4447 or wrc@csu.edu

Student Health and Wellness Center

The Chicago State University Wellness/Health Center is a comprehensive health and educational resource for the campus community. Directed by a family nurse-practitioner, the Wellness/Health Center is the campus community’s link to personal health and wellness. The center provides primary health care and wellness programs; encourages students, faculty, and staff to develop healthy lifestyles; serves as a health consultant and referral resource; and acts as a liaison for health issues that affect the university community. Students may be seen by a primary care provider by appointment for a nominal fee with a valid Chicago State University identification card. Telehealth appointments are also available. All students must submit an official immunization record to the Wellness/Health Center as part of the registration process.

Immunizations needed to comply with regulations, and the immunization laws are also available through the Wellness/Health Center. Information regarding the mandatory student health insurance is available through the student health insurance coordinator. The Wellness/Health Center is located in the Cook Administration Building, Room 131, and the telephone number is 773/995-2010.

Student Identity Verification Process

The verification of a 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 can be found on the URL below: http://www.csu.edu/itd/servicesoffered/iam.htm

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

Computers in the CSU domain
Cougar Connect (Intranet)
Moodle Course Management System
Course Evaluation
Email
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.

Research Compliance

Research is necessary for the creation of new knowledge in many areas of inquiry. Research Compliance is assured through several groups working in collaboration with the Office of Grants and Research Administration and the Office of the Provost. These groups address research integrity, protection of research participants, animal participants, research staff and the environment in which research is conducted.

Institutional Review Board (IRB). The mission of the Institutional Review Board is to protect the rights and welfare of research subjects, through review of research involving human subjects at Chicago State University. The mission of the CSU IRB is congruent with the University’s mission of academic excellence, which encompasses teaching, research, service, and community development including social justice, leadership and entrepreneurship. The IRB chair is appointed by the President and members are selected according to federal regulations. For more information about the IRB, please contact the IRB coordinator at irb@csu.edu .

The Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC). This committee oversees the University’s animal programs, facilities and procedures. University faculty, staff and students using animals in research, teaching and/or display must have IACUC approval to do so. Members of the IACUC are appointed by the president and assure that animal use is justified by benefits and minimize animal pain or suffering. For more information about IACUC, please contact Dr. Mark Erhart at MA-Erhart@csu.edu or call (773)995-2432.

Institutional Biosafety Committee [ IBC] This committee is to the safe transportation, storage and usage of biological materials including radioactive isotopes, genetically modified organisms, and other biological materials. For more information about IBC, please contact Dr. Andrew Maselli at amaselli@csu.edu, 773- 995-3895.

Research Integrity. The Research Integrity Officer, and the Deciding Official, both appointed by the President, assure research integrity and address research misconduct on campus, according to United States DHHS requirements. For more information, please call (773) 995-2339.