Student Services

Center for Academic Achievement and Retention (CAAR)

The Josephine Steiner Center for Academic Achievement and Retention offers a variety of services and programs to the entire Hood College community to assist students who want to be more effective and efficient learners.

Academic Advising

The most important thing to remember about a student’s place in the advising system at Hood is that he or she must take ultimate responsibility for academic planning—of each semester, of each academic year and of degree completion.

Students are encouraged to explore various subjects or disciplines during their first year at Hood. During that time they are advised by the Freshman-Sophomore Advising Group, a designated group of faculty and staff who have expressed interest in working with students before they declare a major. Students must declare a major by the end of their sophomore year by completing the appropriate form with the Office of the Registrar and may declare as early as the beginning of the sophomore year.

Transfer students who declare their major upon entering Hood are assigned an academic advisor in their major field. Transfer students who have not declared a major are assigned to a faculty advisor in the Freshman-Sophomore Advising Group.

Improvement of Basic Skills: Reading, Writing, Mathematics

The Center for Academic Achievement and Retention staff evaluates all new students’ basic skills. The following courses are offered to students who need to improve their skills: GNST 099 and GNST 101; MATH 098 and MATH 099; and ENGL 099. Tutoring may be recommended to meet specific needs. Through CAAR, students can receive help when studying math and when writing papers as well as in many other subjects. Tutoring days and times can be accessed online via TutorTrac.

Placement Testing

Placement tests, also referred to as the Basic Skills Inventory, are required of all first-year students and are administered online by The Center for Academic Achievement and Retention. All first-year students are required to take placement tests in the following three academic areas:

Placement tests are generally not required of transfer students with an A.A. degree. However, if the student does not have the required prerequisites for college-level mathematics classes, the Math BSI will be required.

*Please contact The Center for Academic Achievement and Retention at 301-696-3569 if you wish to take a placement test for a language other than French, Spanish or German.

English as a Second Language

International students who have a strong command of English but need additional language enhancement may enroll in ENGL 100E/Advanced ESL Skills, which focuses primarily on advanced-level academic writing.

Students with Disabilities

Hood College actively supports the rights of students with disabilities to have equal access to education. In accordance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, Hood makes every reasonable effort to accommodate the needs of students with diagnosed disabilities.

Students with disabilities who will need accommodations must notify the Disability Services Coordinator as soon as possible. Early notification prevents delay in the initiation of services and ensures the student full access to educational activities. Students should present documentation of a disability from a medical professional, and this documentation should state accommodations the student requires to participate fully in the educational programs at Hood College. The Disability Services Coordinator will meet with the student to prepare an individualized plan for accessing the appropriate services. The student is then prepared to take on the responsibility of advocating for herself or himself, with support from the Coordinator.

Center for Career Development and Experiential Education

The Center for Career Development and Experiential Education provides a range of services and resources to members of the Hood Community. The Center offers assistance at all stages of the career exploration and decision-making process.

• Individual career assessment and counseling;

• Direction in finding community service opportunities with the local non-profit community;

• Guidance in locating an internship experience;

• Extensive online system of job and internship opportunities;

• Graduate, law and medical school guidance and assistance;

• Mentoring opportunities with alumnae and alumni;

• Workshops and fairs on career-related topics;

• A large career library.

Contact the Center for Career Development and Experiential Education at 301-696-3583 or careers@hood.edu for more information or visit  www.hood.edu/careercenter

Counseling Center

The Hood College Counseling Center serves as the primary mental health resource for Hood undergraduate and graduate students. Our mission is to create a supportive environment that encourages student growth, development, life skills, and psychological well-being. While being student centered, we strive to address barriers and challenges to student success. Services include individual, couples, and group counseling, crisis management, assessments, consultation and referral to off-campus resources. Students come to the Counseling Center with a wide range of concerns.

Office of Diversity and Inclusion

The Office of Diversity and Inclusion provides support for underrepresented student populations. The Director of Diversity and Inclusion advocates for populations such as students of color and LGBTQ and supports fair treatment for all students, faculty, staff, and guests through campus policy and best practices. Throughout the year, students are provided with a variety of services to help foster a more inclusive community. Such services include diversity training, workshops, seminars, referrals, on- and off-campus resources, and professional staff who support and advocate for issues of awareness, equality and inclusivity.

Cultural student organizations including the Black Student Union, La Comunidad (Latino/a Student Union), and the Queer Student Union are advised within this office. Support is also provided to the Muslim Student Association, Hillel (Jewish Student Union), Sisters Aspiring for Success, and the Delta Lambda Pi Honor Society. Programs coordinated by the Office of Diversity and Inclusion are History/Heritage Months, World AIDS Day, cultural awareness days, campus community standards education during orientation, a Diversity Leadership Recognition Ceremony, and Kente Donning/Latinx Graduation/Lavender Graduation Ceremonies.

The Office Diversity and Inclusion is located in the Student Life Suite on the second floor of the Whitaker Campus Center.

Health Center

The Health Center is staffed by a team of health care professionals, including two certified nurse practitioners. Medical and gynecological appointments are available Monday through Friday while classes are in session.

All registered students are eligible for services at the center. All undergraduate traditional-age (under 25 years) full-time students are required to have medical information, including a physical examination and immunization records, on file at the Hood College Health Center. Copies of the required health forms may be found on the Hood website at http://www.hood.edu/Campus-Life/Health-Center/forms.html

All medical records are confidential. Access to information is limited to authorized health center personnel, unless the student gives written consent or upon receipt of court-ordered subpoena. Medical records are destroyed seven years post-graduation or withdrawal.

The center operates on a wellness model, focusing on preventive care and education to help students develop skills to maintain a healthy lifestyle. The center staff provides outpatient care for illnesses and injuries as well as referrals for services beyond the scope of the center. Nursing staff members are available for consultation for faculty and staff.

International Student Services

The Primary Designated Officer (PDSO) and The Graduate School facilitate the successful transition for international students into the College community and support them to maximize the range and extent of their learning opportunities in academic, social, and cultural settings. The PDSO advises students regarding the maintenance of F-1 status (non-immigrant student), immigration petitions such as F-1 work permits (Optional Practical Training, STEM), reinstatement, change of status, medical leave and transfer procedures. Both The Graduate School and Student Life Division host cultural events for domestic and international students.

On-campus housing is available for both undergraduate and graduate international students. During Thanksgiving, winter and spring break, housing is available at no cost for international students living on-campus. Housing during summer is available on priority basis at a nominal cost.

The Graduate School is located on the third floor of Apple Resource Center.