Student Life

Student Government

Internal governance for student life is provided by the Student Government Association. Its executive officers and the members of the Student Senate are elected each year. They, in turn, appoint students to serve on a variety of student committees and on nearly all faculty and administrative committees at the University. A second elected group, Class Council, is responsible for social programming and many of the University’s traditional events. The Honor Council, with elected representatives from each class, presides over the Honor System.

Student Activities

Woodard Campus Center contains a recreation/lounge area with pool tables, air hockey, and internet stations, along with the commuter lounge, post office and student mailboxes, the Eagle’s Nest food court, and commuting student lockers. National touring acts, speakers, and other entertainers perform in the Great Hall. Lee Hall is home to “The Underground” where entertainment abounds throughout the week – from Bingo and trivia games to local bands, Karaoke, and open mic nights. The Anderson Center, opening in fall 2011, offers an exciting new venue for sports and major concerts and performers.

Residence Life

Fifteen residence halls and two apartment complexes offer students a wide variety of on-campus housing options. Each traditional residence hall is staffed with resident assistants trained to assist with University life and to provide educational and social programming. Each building is overseen by a master’s level assistant director of residence life. Residential students in traditional residence halls participate in Self-Determination by Community Standards which allows them to establish behavioral guidelines for their hall community and to hold one another accountable for upholding those guidelines.

Upper-class students have the option to create their own theme-housing communities through the “Conceptual Living” program. First-year students have a variety of opportunities, including First-Year Experience (FYE) leadership program and substance-free rooms/suites.

Eagle Landing, a new luxury apartment-style residential community for sophomores, juniors, seniors, and graduate students, opened in fall 2010. Student residents can select either academic-year or calendar-year contracts, and Eagle Landing remains open during all break periods. The complex features new furnishings including loftable beds, stainless steel appliances, and granite countertops.

Randolph and Mason halls, currently under renovation, will reopen in fall 2012 and will feature exceptional group gathering spaces and exciting living/learning communities.

Commuter Student Services

Commuter Student Services is committed to helping those who live off-campus have a successful experience at University of Mary Washington. We are dedicated to helping commuters feel connected, and supported. Our programs and services are designed to provide you with opportunities to meet other UMW commuters, be informed of campus events, make connections with campus units, staff and faculty, and have a resource when you have questions about off-campus living.

Multicultural Student Affairs

The University of Mary Washington continually and actively seeks a rich blend of cultural diversity in its faculty and staff, students, curriculum, and activities. The James Farmer Multicultural Center, named after the prominent civil rights leader who taught at the University of Mary Washington, specifically focuses on the academic and social well-being of underrepresented students through programming, mentoring, and leadership opportunities. The Center also offers a wide variety of cultural programming including the highly respected Cultural Awareness Series which spans the academic year. The programs and activities for the various cultural celebrations highlight and enhance the education and appreciation of differences across the campus community. The series culminates with the Multicultural Fair which attracts regional attendance.

While diversity is a goal for all University organizations, several specific interest groups on campus assist in promoting diversity within the University community and offer programs and resources that foster an awareness and understanding of cultural differences including the Asian Student Association, the Black Student Association, Brothers of a New Direction, the Latino Student Association, Islamic Student Association, Jewish Student Association, S.E.E.D. (Students Educating and Empowering for Diversity), PRISM (People for the Rights of Individuals of Sexual Minorities), and Women of Color. Through these many efforts the University strives to achieve greater diversity in its population and a full measure of respect for, and appreciation of, the cultural traditions of all people.

Health Center

The Student Health Center offers full-time students a self-care center and outpatient medical services Monday through Friday. A full-time physician, two nurse practitioners, and registered nurses, as well as access to local area specialists, give students a comprehensive medical resource. Students may incur additional charges for prescriptions, injections, medical supplies, etc.

Counseling And Psychological Services Center (CAPS)

The CAPS Center supports students’ personal growth and academic achievement through outreach and clinical intervention when student concerns interfere with academic, social, and personal functioning. The CAPS staff, licensed clinical psychologists and licensed counselors provides wellness oriented educational programs, crisis intervention, and both group and brief individual counseling to full time, degree-seeking students enrolled in the undergraduate colleges. Consultation services are available to all University students, faculty, and staff. All services are confidential and free of charge. Student concerns vary considerably and may range from typical developmental issues, including University adjustment, relationship concerns, and stress management to problems with depression, anxiety disorders, bereavement, and sexual assault.

Campus Recreation And Fitness Center

Students enjoy a comprehensive recreation program with something for everyone. Intramural sports events range widely from team leagues in basketball and flag football to retro events like dodgeball and kickball. The Eagle sport club program offers opportunities for intercollegiate competition in many sports including baseball, basketball, boxing, fencing, ultimate Frisbee, lacrosse, rugby, soccer, synchronized swimming, and tennis. Group fitness classes and a Wellness Resource Center are housed in the state-of-the-art Fitness Center along with cardiovascular, free weight, and circuit equipment. The Campus Recreation Field complex includes state-of-the-art synthetic recreation field surfaces with advanced lighting for intramural and sport club use, softball and baseball diamonds, a premier beach volleyball court, and associated facilities (bleachers, restrooms, and storage).

Clubs

Through the Inter-Club Association, the Student Government Association recognizes over 130 social, cultural, political, religious, and other special interest clubs and organizations which offer a wide range of activities throughout the year. Also, students find it easy to start new groups. In addition, most academic departments support interest clubs or honorary societies.

Student Publications And Broadcasting

Student-run campus publications and radio provide outlets for students to share their thoughts and talents. The University has a weekly newspaper, The Bullet; a yearbook, The Battlefield; a literary magazine, Aubade; an opinion editorial magazine, Polemic; and a campus radio station, WMWC.

Service Learning/Community Service

Service learning has become an integral part of the University of Mary Washington experience and is utilized in many academic classes. Service projects with various local agencies offer opportunities to learn about individual and cultural differences while serving the community. Students are able to select one-time special events or on-going volunteer opportunities during their tenure.

University Bookstore

The University Bookstore is proudly owned and operated by the University of Mary Washington. Profits support the enrichment of UMW students’ lives by contributing to Student Life programs, intramural sports, recreational activities, and repair and maintenance of non-academic buildings and grounds. The Bookstore offers a one-stop shopping experience, featuring used and new e-books, course packs, textbooks, computer supplies, and other instructional materials required for courses at UMW. The Bookstore boasts a 47 percent volume of used textbooks. Books can be sold back at the end of each semester for an even greater savings. In addition, the store carries a large selection of general reading books such as current novels, classics, faculty authors, local history, and recommended outside reading. Also offered are school supplies, clothing, gifts, UMW insignia and convenience items, including health and beauty aids, various sundries, beverages, snacks and much more.

The store offers MS OfficePro 2010 for PCs and MS Office 2011 for Macs, through an academic license that allows up to a $300 savings over retail prices.

Textbooks and services for courses taught on the Stafford campus are available online through MBS Direct at bookstore.mbsdirect.net/umw.htm. Students may also call MBS Direct at 800/325-3252.

University Police

The University Police offer around-the-clock law enforcement and security for the Fredericksburg campus. They employ a community policing philosophy that includes outreach efforts to the University and local community. The 13 full-time sworn officers are certified by the Commonwealth of Virginia to enforce state and local laws and ordinances as well as University rules and regulations. The University employs security personnel at the Stafford campus during class and library hours, with back-up from UMW and Stafford County Police Departments, as necessary.

Judicial Affairs And Community Responsibility

The Office of Judicial Affairs and Community Responsibility educates students about conduct issues affecting the University community, and holds students accountable, through informal and formal disciplinary procedures, for conduct that might disrupt their learning or the learning of those around them. Educational programs about alcohol and other drugs, relationship violence, ethics, and the judicial process in general are available through this office. This office supports, upholds, and complements the Statement of Community Values and the University’s overarching academic mission.

Athletics

The University has 23 men’s and women’s NCAA Division III teams for intercollegiate competition. Men’s intercollegiate teams compete in baseball, basketball, cross country, lacrosse, rowing, soccer, tennis, swimming, and indoor and outdoor track and field. Women’s intercollegiate teams compete in basketball, cross country, field hockey, lacrosse, rowing, soccer, softball, swimming, tennis, volleyball, and indoor and outdoor track and field. Men and women compete together in riding. UMW competes in the nine-member Capital Athletic Conference (CAC). In 2009-10, 13 UMW teams or members of those teams advanced to national championship tournaments. UMW captured eight conference championships, eight athletes were named CAC Athletes of the Year, 10 coaches were named CAC Coach of the Year, and four athletes were named CAC Rookie of the Year. UMW has won 11 CAC All-Sports Awards since 1991 and 12 Eagle athletes achieved All-American status in 2009-10. Over 50 percent of all athletes achieved a 3.0 or better grade-point average, five athletes were named Academic All-Americans, and six athletes were named to the Virginia Academic All-State Team for academic and athletic excellence.

The Goolrick physical education building provides a basketball gymnasium, dance studios, an intercollegiate swimming pool with electronic touch time system, an auxiliary gymnasium, an 8,000-square-foot weight training room, a handball-racquetball court, three competitive volleyball courts, two indoor batting cages, and two athletic training rooms. A comprehensive 15,000 square foot fitness center is also connected to Goolrick and is open seven days per week. A six-court indoor tennis center is a great resource for student athletes and the campus community. State-of-the-art outdoor facilities include fields for baseball, soccer, lacrosse, softball, and field hockey; cross country courses and a running trail; 12 lighted tennis courts; and an eight-lane, 400-meter Rubaturf all-weather track.

For Further Information

Additional information on Student Life will be found in the University of Mary Washington Student Handbook, updated annually and available at www.umw.edu/studentaffairs/resources/student_handbook.