Sample Wording for Syllabi:
I want you to be successful in this course. Successful students do not try to handle everything alone; they seek out and receive support from others as needed. Many supportive people and services are available to help you as you strive to achieve your goals.
If you find yourself with questions relevant to course content or assignments, please start by reaching out to me. Here are some other great sources of academic support on campus:
The Center for Academic Resources: CARs provides one place for you to go (located in Mary Berry during the Dunn Library renovation) for help with all your academic needs. All the professional and peer educators in CARs want to help you achieve your goals in a respectful and caring environment. Information about the staff (professional and peer) and programs can be found on the CARs website: https://bit.ly/SimpsonCARs.
Peer Academic Coaches. Peer academic coaches support and help you to navigate your Simpson learning experience. If you have questions about resources, study strategies (time management and organization, note taking, and test preparation), managing all you need to do, or a need to process an experience related to your learning experience, peer academic coaches are a helpful resource. These students are here to lend you a hand! You can schedule meetings with a Peer Academic Coach via WCOnline – https://simpson.mywconline.com - go to the Peer Academic Coach schedule.
Peer Academic Leaders (content-area tutors): Tutors are available to support your learning in several disciplines and courses. They can help you with core course concepts such as understanding formulas and approaching problems, how to read textbooks and other course content, and how to successfully study course materials. You can schedule meetings with a Peer Academic Leader via WCOnline – https://simpson.mywconline.com - go to the Peer Academic Leader schedule.
The Simpson Writing Center (SWC) offers individualized assistance to all Simpson students across the disciplines, and we work on any form of written, oral, visual, or electronic (WOVE) communication. From brainstorming and organizing ideas to revising and polishing drafts, the SWC is prepared for all stages of the composing process. Now, we're not a drop-off-and-fix-it shop — we don't offer paid copyediting or automated error correction. Instead, trained peer consultants help you assess and develop your own work, and the process is highly collaborative.
You can schedule an appointment to meet in person or to have an Online Writing Lab (OWL) consultant read and annotate your paper within 24 hours. To learn more, go to https://bit.ly/scwritingcenter. To schedule an appointment, go to https://simpson.mywconline.com/. The writing center is located in Mary Berry 111.
Additional Academic Resources
Grammarly. Grammarly offers suggestions to correct your grammar and spelling and to help you write more concisely. Grammarly Premium also offers suggestions for rewriting sentences to improve clarity, word choice, tone, and more.
Simpson has a license with Grammarly so that anyone with a Simpson email address can use Grammarly Premium for free. To learn how to set up your own Grammarly Premium account, go to https://simpson.edu/internal/grammarly-premium.
Student Accessibility Services: I want everyone in this class to be successful. If you have a physical, sensory, learning, or psychological disability that can interfere with your education, I want you to receive the accommodations to which you are entitled by law. For me to provide reasonable accommodations to someone, their disability must be documented with Student Accessibility Services. I cannot assist a student with accommodations that I don’t know are needed, so if you need something, please make sure that you provide me with a copy of the letter from the Director of Student Accessibility describing your accommodations. If you have any further questions on the policies and services for students with disabilities, please refer to the academic catalog or go to http://simpson.edu/academics/student-accessibility/. Please note that Student Accessibility Services can also help if a temporary need for accommodations arises resulting from an illness or injury during the semester. If you have questions, are interested in registering with Student Accessibility Services please reach out to Karen Lynch, Director of Student Accessibility Services, at sas@simpson.edu.
Student Support Services: Student Support Services provides support for low-income students, first-generation students, and/or students with disabilities. SSS helps students achieve their goals by offering academic skills training, additional academic advising, financial literacy training, career and vocational planning, and more. To enroll in SSS, you need to apply. For details on eligibility and application information, visit https://simpson.edu/internal/student-support-services-english-espanol.
Using the Library @Great Hall: During the renovation of Dunn, the librarians and library services are in Great Hall above Pfeiffer Dining Hall.
Great Hall has a variety of study spaces along with the education methods classroom, curriculum lab, and children’s books/textbooks. Reserve check-out and interlibrary loan pick-ups are also in Great Hall.
There are three ways to request library materials:
Place a hold for a book online through our Discovery website (click the title of the item you want to request, then press the blue “Place Hold” button on the right side of the item page)
Send an email to askalibrarian@simpson.edu
Fill out a request form at Great Hall.
Library staff will pull the item and place it on hold for you. Items will be ready to pick up in 1 business day, and an email will be sent when the item is ready to pick up.
Library questions? Send them to askalibrarian@simpson.edu.
Additional services available in the Library @Great Hall: research assistance, group work spaces, printing (both black/white and color), and check out bikes.
Help with Library Research: Librarians are a valuable resource when you are trying to find sources. Research consultations with a librarian offer expert guidance through the research process: topic selection and refinement, effective online database and web searching, locating and evaluating resources, and compiling a bibliography. Stop by the Research Assistance Center in Great Hall on the second floor of Pfeiffer; ask at the entrance service desk for specific directions. To schedule an appointment, email liz.grimsbo@simpson.edu.
Other Sources of Support
Inability to afford textbooks and food can both interfere with your ability to study effectively; however, there are sources of support available.
If you do not have enough money to purchase your textbooks, contact Tracie Pavon in Financial Aid. She can determine if you are eligible for a textbook grant from the Simpson Guild.
If you are having trouble affording food, there are several places to turn for help. There is a food co-op in the entry of Smith Chapel’s Dirlam Lounge. This space has 24-hour access, so you can access the food in the co-op at any time. In addition, there is a community refrigerator in the commuter lounge between Hillman and McNeill. This fridge is stocked by Helping Hand of Warren County.
Food insecure students (both those who do not have a meal plan and those who have run out of blocks on their food plan before the end of the semester) may be able to obtain food plan meals by contacting Tracie Pavon in Financial Aid.
If you lack a safe and stable place to live and believe this may affect your performance in the course, you are urged to contact Matt Hansen, Dean of Students and Director of Residence Life, for support.
Mental Health Support: As a student you may experience a range of personal issues that can cause barriers to learning. Some of the more common concerns include difficulty with friends, roommates, or family members; depression and anxiety; sexual identity; lack of motivation or difficulty relaxing, concentrating or studying; eating disorders; substance abuse; sexual assault and sexual abuse recovery; and uncertainties about personal values and beliefs. These mental health concerns or stressful events may lead to diminished academic performance and may reduce your ability to participate in daily activities.
Counseling Services can help you resolve personal concerns that may interfere with your academic progress, social development, and satisfaction at Simpson. To schedule an appointment please call (515) 961- 1332, email counseling.services@simpson.edu, or stop by the office on the second floor of the Kent Campus Center.
If you encounter stressful situations, you may find it more difficult to concentrate. Please reach out for help from one or more of the following resources:
Counseling Services: Counseling Services can help students resolve personal concerns that may interfere with their academic progress, social development, and satisfaction at Simpson. Some of the more common concerns include difficulty with friends, roommates, or family members; depression and anxiety; sexual identity; lack of motivation or difficulty relaxing, concentrating or studying; eating disorders; substance abuse; sexual assault and sexual abuse recovery; and uncertainties about personal values and beliefs. To schedule an appointment please call (515) 961-1332, email counseling.services@simpson.edu, or stop by the office on the second floor of the Kent Campus Center.
Physical Health Support: Health Services provides a variety of services including the items below. Please visit https://simpson.edu/internal/health-services for the complete list of services.
Emergency first aid services
Assessment of illness and injury
Referral and appointment assistance to appropriate health care providers (physicians, specialists, etc. at the student’s expense)
Over-the-counter medications and basic medical supplies at no charge.
Medical equipment at no charge: crutches, slings, ace wraps, ice packs, etc.
Free testing: Strep, Mono, Urine, Blood Glucose, Pregnancy
Emergency Contraception offered at discounted rate of $15
To make an appointment, email healthservices@simpson.edu or call 515-961-1604. If no one answers and it is urgent, call security (515-961-1711) and ask to have health services notified via phone.
Sexual Assault Response Advocates (SARA). SARA provides 24/7 advocacy services to anyone in need of support and/or assistance due to sexual assault. A SARA advocate is on-call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week when classes are in session. You can reach the on-call advocate at 515-330-6392 by phone or text. When classes are not in session the SARA line will direct you to contact Polk County Crisis and Advocacy Services at 515-286-3600. For more information, visit https://simpson.edu/internal/counseling-services-home-page/sexual-assault-response-advocates-sara.
Career Development: Career Development provides assistance with choosing a major, career planning, and applying for jobs and internships. To schedule an appointment, go to Handshake, click on Career Center, then select Appointments. You’ll find a link to Handshake on the OneLogin portal or by going to https://simpson.joinhandshake.com/login).
Campus Minister: If you have spiritual concerns or just want support from someone with a religious background, contact the campus minister, Mara Bailey. Her office is in Smith Chapel and her number is 515-961-1684. You can also email her at mara.bailey@simpson.edu.