Student Life Division
Dean of Students
Working for all students at the University, the Dean of Students is a resource for both undergraduate and professional program students for questions, problem solving, or a first step when it is unclear where to go with a particular issue. The Dean assists individual students and student groups with a wide variety of interests and concerns, and ensures that student opinion is communicated throughout the University. The Dean welcomes students’ views on programs, policies and facilities.
Activities
Pacific University supports numerous student activities including intramural sports, concerts, lectures, cultural events, an outdoor recreation off-campus program (Outdoor Pursuits) and a variety of student groups and clubs. The Milky Way and the University Center are the two main locations for staging events like concerts, movies, and outdoor adventures. In addition, the University sponsors a myriad of student activities aimed at providing diverse opportunities. These include activities such as a traditional Hawai’ian Luau, Homecoming Week, International Around-the-World celebration, Noon Tunes and Wassail, a traditional holiday celebration.
Campus Wellness
Campus Wellness provides educational programming, consultation, support and advocacy for students. Some of the wellness topics covered include healthy relationship development, sexual violence prevention, substance use harm reduction and stress management. The Campus Wellness Coordinator is a confidential advocate who can offer support and resources for students who have had an unwanted sexual experience.
Food Service
ARAMARK Higher Education, the University’s dining services provider, offers dining options on both the Forest Grove and Hillsboro campuses.
Learning Support Services for Students with Disabilities
Learning Support Services for Students with Disabilities (LSS) coordinates educational accommodations for students with disabilities. In order to receive accomodation, academic standards require qualified documentation from licensed care providers or others who meet federal guidelines, and students are responsible for furnishing this documentation to the University through LSS.
Disabilities may be learning related, medical, physical or psychological, and may be permanent or temporary. Examples of accommodations include extended test time and segregated testing, accessible or alternate format course materials, and note-takers. The University complies with all applicable laws regarding disabilitys, and welcomes students to be forthcoming about their status and needs at any time.
Multicultural Interests
Multicultural Interests are a significant facet of the Student Activities department. Professional and student staff collaborate with student groups and the University’s Diversity Office on events that celebrate Pacific’s diverse cultural dimensions. Resources and guidance are available to student clubs that want to promote ethnic or cultural understanding, nurture diversity among the student community, or advance under-represented cultural perspectives. Any student with questions or concerns about these topics may use this office to reach an array of student organizations and University programs that share these goals.
Oasis (Relaxation Room)
Visit Oasis, an opportunity for students, staff, and faculty of Pacific University to practice and experience self-care in a unique sanctuary for soothing mind, body and spirit by relaxing in a full body massage chair, listening to soothing music while benefitting from a therapeutic light box, or using biofeedback technology to help alleviate stress and/or anxiety.
Office of Transfer Student Services
The Office of Transfer Student Services (OTSS) is open to assist undergraduate transfer students to transition successfully and thrive in their Pacific University experience – and to assist every step of the way towards graduation. In addition, as an advocate and representative for students, OTSS plays an active role in communicating and working with both internal and external constituencies about transfer student issues.
Outdoor Pursuits
Outdoor Pursuits runs almost 100 trips a year, taking students all over the Pacific Northwest and beyond. Trips are designed for all different skill levels including beginner trips in all activities and advanced trips like climbing Mt. Rainier. Gear rental also takes place through the Outdoor Pursuits office. Backpacking equipment, boats, stand up paddle boards and surf board are just a small sampling of the equipment available for rent. Our mission is to inspire a spirit of growth and exploration by humbly and skillfully guiding others on outdoor adventure trips that empower, challenge, and connect people to nature and each other.
Pacific University Bookstore
The Pacific University Bookstore, managed by Barnes and Noble College Booksellers and conveniently located in the University Center, carries all required texts and supplies for course work. The Bookstore offers several textbook options including text rentals, digital, used, and new texts. It also offers a great selection of trade books in both fiction and non-fiction. In addition, the Bookstore offers a wide selection of Pacific University emblematic apparel, office supplies, greeting cards and gifts.
Pacific Information Center (PIC)
The Pacific Information Center, commonly referred to as the PIC, is located in the University Center. The PIC strives to provide efficient, reliable, accurate and quick service for the Pacific Community. This includes, but is not limited to, faxing services, lost and found, parking permits, 2 hour and all day Tri-Met tickets, movie tickets and general information.
Student Counseling Center
The Student Counseling Center offers confidential individual and couples psychotherapy, mental health consultation, crisis services, and mental health promotion to enrolled Pacific University Students. Clinics are available in Forest Grove and Hillsboro. Students unable to access either clinic due to location or hours of operation are welcome to contact us for referral assistance. Concerns commonly addressed include adjustment to college, relationships, depression, anxiety, past or recent trauma, substance abuse, body image, and academic difficulties. Students experiencing urgent concerns may walk in during our advertised weekday walk-in hour, when no appointment is needed to see a counselor. Referrals to community resources may be made when additional services are required to meet the psychological needs of students. See http://www.pacificu.edu/studentlife/counselingcenter/ for hours and more information.
Student Government
Student government at Pacific provides ample opportunity for students to develop and exercise leadership, to make decisions, and to create a stimulating campus atmosphere.
The Undergraduate Student Senate (USS) and the Professional Student Senate (PSS) (see below), which support a plethora of student groups, provide oversight on the spending of substantial funds in their purview and maintain forums to elicit student feedback.
Undergraduate Student Senate
The Student Senate elects student officers who represent residents, commuters, international students and non-traditional students in a robust dialogue about issues affecting the quality of student experience at Pacific. The Student Senate oversees clubs and organizations, distributes scholarships for travel courses, sponsors major speakers, concerts and events, and maintains active communication with the Vice President for Student Affairs and the Dean of Students about policies, procedures and programs.
Graduate/Professional Programs
The Professional Student Senate (PSS*) has representatives from every graduate/professional program* at Pacific University. This graduate/professional student group meets regularly to advocate for student needs, both in and out of the classroom. PSS finances professional development opportunities for students, dispenses hardship funds to students in crisis, and sponsors multiple social and quasi-academic formats to encourage professional students to appreciate multiple disciplines by innovative interaction and collaboration. *PSS is funded by a student governance fee that is charged by most academic schools/programs. It is these schools/programs that are represented by this group.
Student Health Center
The Student Health Center (SHC) provides confidential health care services to all enrolled Pacific University Students, regardless of insurance coverage chosen by the student (see website for ineligible programs). The SHC is staffed by licensed Nurse Practitioners, Physician Assistants, Certified Medical Assistants, Medical Receptionists and an Administrative Director. Providers have prescription privileges and write prescriptions as needed. The SHC provides treatment of acute illness and injuries including colds, flu, bronchitis, urinary infection, acne, skin infections, allergies, headache, sprains, etc. Health maintenance services include sports physicals, general physicals, women’s health exams, family planning, sexual health testing and treatment, and immunizations. The SHC also provides treatment of stable chronic illness on a case by case basis including hypertension, asthma, depression, and anxiety. The SHC does not charge an office visit fee and costs are low for in-office labs, physicals, immunizations, birth control, and medications. Services are provided in two locations on campus in Forest Grove and two blocks from the Health Professions Campus in Hillsboro. More information is available at www.pacificu.edu/healthcenter.
Housing
On-Campus Housing (Forest Grove undergraduate students only)
Because learning outside of the classroom is as essential as learning inside the classroom, residential living is an integral part of the total Pacific undergraduate experience. Residence halls are designed to be living-learning environments where trained professional and student staff help students make smooth transitions to the next phase of their development. Fostering a climate of friendship and understanding among students with diverse backgrounds is a priority of the Housing and Residence Life program.
The University offers accommodations in seven on-campus residence facilities, all of which are smoke-free environments and supervised by Area Coordinators, who are professional staff members who live in the halls.
Pacific University admits students with the understanding that all students under 20 years old prior to the beginning of the fall term are required to live and board on-campus unless the student has fulfilled Pacific’s two year residency requirement. All students who sign a Housing Contract and move into housing are required to live and board on campus for the duration of the contract terms. All students are expected to uphold standards of community living, respect the rights and integrity of other members of the community. Conduct that is detrimental to the University community, that violates the Student Code of Conduct, or that transgresses civil law is ground for disciplinary action. If a student is asked to leave the residence halls for disciplinary reasons, room and board fees are not refunded.
Students are responsible for abiding by all residence halls policies. A more detailed description of hall policies and protocols are available in the Residence Hall handbook which can be found on the Housing and Residence Life website.
New students who applied for housing will receive e-mail notification in mid-July to login to their “Residence” account to access their housing assignment and roommate information. Returning students select rooms in spring of the preceding academic year through lottery process and pay a $100 non-refundable housing lottery deposit to reserve their room for the following year.
Housing contracts are binding for a full academic year. Early releases are rare and must be approved by the Residency Options Committee.
Traditional Residence Halls
The four traditional residence halls (Clark, Walter, McCormick, and Cascade Hall) each have community lounges and free laundry. The halls are divided into smaller living units called “wings” and students in each wing vote on a variety of matters such as how to use activity funds or determining quiet hours. Students also are involved in governance and conduct matters. Trained undergraduate Resident Assistants live in each hall and assist students with the transition to college, with personal and academic concerns, and in mediating and solving residence life problems. Students in these halls live in single, double, or quad rooms or suites.
Apartment-style Residence Halls
Burlingham Hall, Gilbert Hall and Vandervelden Court offer apartment-style living in two, four and six-bedroom units with cooking facilities in most units. These co-ed facilities offer more independent living. They offer community lounges and free laundry.
Off-Campus Housing
Students who meet eligibility to reside off campus may review the following website to assist in their search: http://www.pacificu.edu/studentlife/housing/off-campus/index.cfm
Other University Services
International Programs
The Office of International Programs provides services to international students and scholars and to students participating in study-abroad programs. International Programs provides immigration and cross-cultural services to Pacific University’s community of international students, scholars and faculty. International Programs also coordinates and administers undergraduate semester and year-long study-abroad programs (see Arts and Sciences Study Abroad section), working with faculty to ensure academic integrity. The office also provides support and assistance to graduate and professional programs in the planning of overseas experiences. International Programs staff are active members of NAFSA: Association of International Educators, as well as other international education professional organizations, and represent Pacific University locally, regionally and nationally in professional conferences, workshops, meetings and other symposia.
International Student and Scholar Advising
International Programs staff are knowledgeable in the areas of F & J visa regulations and provide assistance to international students and scholars in complying with the complex and ever-changing immigration regulations. International Programs also provides services designed specifically to assist students with adjusting to the challenges of a new academic and cultural environment. These services include the provision of pre-departure information, airport pick-up, accommodation assistance, an orientation program and social programming.
English Language Institute
Pacific’s English Language Institute (ELI) offers an intensive year-round language study program for students learning English. Qualifying students may combine ESL and undergraduate classes to earn credit toward an undergraduate degree. The ELI is part of International Programs.
Athletics
Introduction
Pacific is a member of the Northwest Conference, one of the finest athletic conferences in the nation, and is affiliated with the NCAA Division III. Over one-third of the undergraduate student body participates in sports at the intercollegiate level. Pacific’s athletic programs have achieved excellence on and off the court or field of play. Since 2000, Pacific teams have won several team and individual conference championships. Pacific’s athletes also excel in the classroom, boasting many Northwest Conference and NCAA Division III Scholar Athletes.
Mission
The Athletic Program at Pacific is dedicated to providing the highest quality in programs and athletic experiences for student-athletes along with placing a strong emphasis on the principles of sportsmanship and gender equity. Opportunities for students include participation in physical conditioning, athletic competition and support or spectatorship at levels appropriate to students’ development and interests. The program is designed to complement students’ academic pursuits as co-curricular activities and to enrich their overall experience at Pacific University.
Intercollegiate Sports
Pacific offers 21 intercollegiate sports, fielding men’s and women’s teams in basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, swimming, tennis, track and field, and wrestling. We also offer men’s teams in baseball and football and women’s teams in lacrosse, softball and volleyball. For additional information visit: www.goboxers.com.
Club Sports
The club sports program at Pacific is student-driven, satisfying needs not met by the varsity and intercollegiate athletic programs of the University. The purpose of the club sports program is to provide students with the opportunity to participate and compete in a sport at the club level, to develop organizational and leadership skills and to improve skills in and knowledge of a sport. Club programs offered include cheerleading, crew and handball.
Intramural Sports
Providing quality participatory experiences for the entire student body, the Intramural Program at Pacific offers several activities for men and women throughout the academic year. Flag football, volleyball and 3-on-3 basketball are offered in the fall, 5-on-5 basketball in the winter, and softball and soccer in the spring. Additional activities are announced on a yearly basis.
Facilities
Pacific University offers some of the finest facilities for student-athletics to practice and compete in on the West Coast. The Stoller Center, is the home for indoor athletic activities. This spacious athletic complex houses a gymnasium with three activity areas: a state-of-the-art fitness center; a field house with an indoor softball/baseball facility, including two batting cages, four volleyball courts, two basketball courts, two tennis courts and an indoor walking track; and three handball/racquetball courts, saunas and wrestling room. Locker room areas feature individual team rooms. The training room is equipped with whirlpools, electric stimulation unit, ultra sound and other top-flight equipment.
The new Lincoln Park Athletic Complex provides the finest in competition venues for Pacific’s outdoor athletic programs. A nine-lane, championship-size track, surrounding a state-of-the-art field turf surface for football, soccer and lacrosse, is the centerpiece of this facility. Baseball competes in the newly constructed Bond Field, a showcase facility featuring the 500-seat Chuck Bafaro Stadium. Softball plays in a brand new facility featuring a 300-seat stadium and other amenities that make the facility one of the finest on the West Coast. The state-of-the-art Holce Tennis facility was completed in the spring of 2009 featuring six courts, three covered and three outdoor courts. Swimming competes at the Forest Grove Aquatic Center, located beside the Stoller Center.
Tom McCall Center for Civic Engagement
The Tom McCall Center for Civic Engagement (CCE) works with Pacific University students, faculty, and staff, together with community organizations, to address significant social, political, or environmental issues. Civic engagement can facilitate learning, develop active citizens, and improve communities through activities such as service, advocacy, awareness-raising, action-oriented research, electoral participation, and political involvement.
Through civic engagement, students can gain new skills, insights on academic subjects, and experience useful for career exploration. The CCE student staff, known as the Civic Action Team Stewards, work with individual students and campus groups (such as athletic teams and clubs) seeking volunteer projects and other ways to contribute to community. The CCE also supports faculty who have embedded civic engagement into their courses and develops partnerships with community organizations to ensure that there are meaningful, collaborative opportunities for students to satisfy the civic engagement requirement for graduation.
Most of the McCall Center’s partnerships are with local community organizations, schools, governmental agencies, and political entities. Students can come to the CCE for help connecting with organizations focused on any number of issues (e.g., food insecurity, poverty, health, immigration, education, pollution, injustice, or invasive species removal). The CCE also supports domestic and international travel courses, such as a spring break course in Hawaii, as well as voter registration and education.
Center for Gender Equity
The mission of the Center for Gender Equity of Pacific University is to support gender equity through dialogue, programming, service, research, education, and advocacy in order to facilitate collaborative, humane, and sustainable University, local and global communities. CGE’s diversity of initiatives and its efforts to reach out to a wide variety of people on campus and in the community, regardless of gender or sexuality, make it an innovative and model program. CGE is both a service organization and a center for research. Pacific University’s Gender and Sexuality Studies minor is under the umbrella of CGE.
CGE is distinctive because, although it grew out of the national movement to establish women’s centers on college campuses, CGE’s focus is on men and LGBTQ issues as well as on women. CGE is sensitive to multicultural feminism and is interested in expanding the emphasis on gender equity internationally. For this reason we have established a sister-center at a women’s college in India. CGE also focuses on the Latinas in local communities. Go to www.pacificu.edu/about-us/centers/center-gender-equity.
Center for Peace and Spirituality
The Center for Peace and Spirituality at Pacific University provides students with the opportunity to engage in meaningful study, reflection and action based on the recognition that inter- and intra-personal peace are inherently connected and that concerns for personal spirituality are intimately related to concerns for one’s social, historical, cultural and natural environment.
Working in tandem with other centers and initiatives at Pacific, including the Center for Civic Engagement, the Center for Gender Equity and the Tom McCall Center for Policy Innovation, the Peace Center strives to bring to life the vision of the University: discovery, excellence, sustainability, diversity and global community. The center works to create a welcoming and safe environment for all students and community members to explore and express their spirituality in a context of inner and societal peace and justice.
Technology Information Center (TIC)/University Information Services (UIS)
The TIC is the technology helpdesk for students, faculty and staff. The TIC can help troubleshoot software and hardware problems with student computers, check out computer and audiovisual equipment to students, and help with any problems students may have accessing university technology resources (e.g. accounts, network printing, wireless, computer labs).
Go to http://www.pacificu.edu/uis/currentstudents for more information, including a complete listing of the IT resources available to students (see Information Technology Resources) and the personal computer requirements and recommendations for incoming students (see Computer Purchasing).
Tutoring and Learning Center (TLC)
Located in the Tran Library, the TLC provides friendly and supportive one-on-one and group tutoring services to our Forest Grove undergraduate students. Tutoring sessions primarily focus on writing, math, science, and foreign language skills, though other subjects may be covered as well, by arrangement. Services are provided on a walk-in basis and by appointment; they are offered at no cost. Tutors are advanced undergraduate students. Hours of operation: generally 7-10 PM Sunday thru Thursday; daytime hours generally Tuesday and Thursday. Go to www.pacificu.edu/about-us/centers/tutoring-and-learning-center.
Campus Compact
In 1996, Pacific University joined with five other Oregon colleges and universities to form the Oregon Campus Compact, a division of national Campus Compact: Higher Education in Service to the Nation. This is an organization of college and University presidents committed to helping students develop the values and skills of citizenship through participation in public and community service.
Campus Compact of Oregon has as its purpose the increase of campus-wide participation in community and public service, and the integration of community service and/or service learning as valued elements of education. It is committed to enhancing a sense of personal and social responsibility, citizenship, and awareness of societal institutions and structures by all members of the academic community while reinvigorating higher education’s concern for improving the quality of life in our society.
Faculty members, staff, and students may take advantage of Campus Contact services and resources including technical assistance for developing service learning courses and programs, mini-grants, a quarterly newsletter, resource library, and workshops on topics of interest in community service-learning.
Campus Public Safety
Campus Public Safety (CPS) is responsible for overseeing the safety and security of the campus community and property, with the expectation that community members will assume responsibility for their own safety by exercising good judgment and personal responsibility. CPS is staffed 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Officers provide safety escorts, assistance in dealing with emergencies, and educational programming on personal safety, protection of personal property and other crime prevention and awareness programs. CPS seeks to provide a safe environment at Pacific University through high visibility and close interaction with the campus community. An annual crime report is made available to all current and prospective students and employees of the University via the University website. CPS can be reached at 503-352-2230 or cps@pacificu.edu.
Libraries
The University Library is a vital center of research, learning, and discovery for the Pacific University community. With exceptional new facilities on both the Forest Grove and Hillsboro campuses, the Library offers strong collections and services to support both undergraduate and graduate scholarship, and our facilities serve as friendly gathering places as well. From our rich historical Archives, to government documents, to recreational reading, music and videos, to efficient, easy access to digital resources across our curricula, the Library is well-equipped to enrich our students learning experiences while at Pacific.
A committed group of Library faculty and staff work closely with students to assist them in finding, evaluating and using today’s wealth of information, as well as in effectively using new information technologies. Information literacy classes offer undergraduate students the opportunity to develop skills to prepare for successful lifelong engagement with a dynamic and ever-changing information environment. Library faculty work closely with the professional and graduate programs in Hillsboro, Eugene, Forest Grove and in distance courses to integrate information literacy competencies into the curriculum and to support students’ advanced research.
Access to online databases, nearly 30,000 full text electronic journals and 10,000 ebooks is available around the clock via the Library’s web portal. In addition to its core collections of materials (both print and electronic), the Library’s resource-sharing partnerships allow our students to quickly obtain materials from across the region – and from around the world. To encourage both independent research and collaborative learning, the Library offers comfortable study spaces on both campuses, and a 24-hour study center and computer lab in the Forest Grove facility. An information commons is located in both the Hillsboro and Forest Grove libraries, offering computer access and research assistance to all students.
Our new University digital repository, CommonKnowledge, is the home of the collected scholarship and creative works of Pacific University faculty, staff and students. Outstanding undergraduate student scholarship, as well as the theses, dissertations and research projects of our graduate and professional students, is showcased in CommonKnowledge. These largely open access collections, along with the open access journals hosted by the Library in CommonKnowledge, support the idea that shared information is essential to the “progress of knowledge” in our global community.
Through its collections, services, staff, and innovative use of technology, the Library encourages exploration and discovery and strengthens the University’s commitment to teaching, learning and scholarship.
Old College Hall and the Pacific University Museum
Old College Hall was completed in 1850 and is the oldest permanent structure on the Pacific University campus. It is among the oldest collegiate buildings in the western United States and continues to serve as a gathering place for members of the University and surrounding communities. This compact two-story structure with its signature octagonal belfry, or cupola, is symbolic of pioneer efforts during territorial days. In 1974, Old College Hall assumed its rightful place on the National Register of Historic Places.
As part of Pacific’s centennial celebration in 1949, the second floor rooms of Old College Hall were converted into museum galleries. The Pacific University Museum exhibits artifacts relating to the history of the institution. Many interesting objects donated by alumni and friends of the University are displayed here. Personal items from founder Tabitha Brown and President Sidney Harper Marsh are among the collections on exhibit. Treasures from various foreign cultures are also featured in the museum, reflecting Pacific’s missionary heritage. Old College Hall is open for tours on the first Wednesday of the month. Visits also can be arranged by appointment through the Office of the President.
Career Development Center
A full range of career-related services and opportunities is offered to students, alumni, employers, and other constituents through the CDC, located in Chapman Hall. Individual sessions are available to students and alumni seeking full-time employment opportunities, part-time and temporary work, internships, summer jobs, fellowships, and opportunities for graduate education. Over 100 workshops and programs are offered each year, in collaboration with faculty and staff, alumni, and members of various professional communities, on topics such as resume preparation, interviewing strategies and job search techniques. On-campus and community service work-study employment also is coordinated at the CDC. http://www.pacificu.edu/about-us/centers-institutes/career-development-center.
The CDC also manages the Alumni Career Network, a database profiling over 1000 alumni interested in lending career networking assistance is available to students and alumni.
Student Media
Student publications and the campus radio station provide valuable opportunities for Pacific students wishing to gain management and production experience in these fields.
The Pacific Index, the campus newspaper, gives students the opportunity to gain valuable writing, editing, advertising, and business experience. The Index is published bi-weekly.
- PLUM (Pacific’s Literature by Undergraduates Magazine) includes poetry, graphics, articles, photography, short stories, and other works contributed by students. It is published each year and is sponsored by the English Department.
- Silk Road, an international literary magazine, is edited by Pacific undergraduates in conference with graduate students from Pacific’s Masters of Fine Arts in Writing program. Silk Road publishes poetry, essays, and fiction submitted by creative writers from across the globe.
- Pacific’s radio station (KPUR) is broadcast via the internet at www.boxermusic.fm. Boxer Radio is managed and operated by students of Pacific University.
- Video Activism provides an opportunity for any student on campus to get involved in video production. In this class, students work together and independently to create video projects that can potentially promote social awareness or positive change. In this class, students work together and independently to create video projects that can potentially promote social awareness or positive change.
Veterans’ Educational Benefits
The certifying official for all Veteran’s Administration (VA) benefits for students is located in the Business Office. Prior to the start of classes, eligible students should contact the Business Office to make arrangements or for more information about VA benefits, including the Yellow Ribbon program. Receipt of most VA benefits does not reduce the amounts of other financial aid for which students are eligible.
Any veteran receving GI Bill benefits while attending Pacific University is required to obtain official transcripts from all previously attending schools and submit them to the Registrar’s Office for review of prior credit.
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