18 minute read
Engagement Outside the Classroom
Research shows that college students who are more engaged in their education, both inside and outside the classroom, tend to have more positive educational outcomes. When students invest time and effort in educationally purposeful activities, they are more likely to be satisfied with their educational experience, develop skills that will help with their career, and make progress toward graduation. Engaging student activities include internships, community service, club involvement, leadership programs, study abroad, cultural programs, and learning communities.
Hofstra invests a great amount of time and resources in getting students engaged in University life from their first day on campus. Students can go to museums or on walking tours of NYC neighborhoods through our Explore Next Door program, join a club at the Club Fair during Welcome Week, and attend cultural events related to our six Heritage Month celebrations throughout the year.
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While some students and parents think it’s best for students to wait a semester or two before getting involved in campus life, it’s actually beneficial for students to get involved during their first semester. Engaged students tend to manage their time better and are able to make connections with other students, as well as with staff and faculty who can serve as resources and sources of support as students navigate their college experience. Equally important, juniors and seniors should not feel like it’s too late for them to get involved in campus life – it’s never too late to take advantage of everything the University has to offer. All it takes is the initiative to do so.
While all academic departments and campus offices work toward this goal of student engagement, the offices highlighted in this section are focused particularly on getting students engaged in the co-curricular fabric of Hofstra. The next time your student tells you there is nothing to do, please point them toward the events and programs of Student Leadership and Engagement.
To help students reach their academic, professional, and personal goals, the Dean of Students Office directly supports the staff members who direct the following offices: • Campus Recreation • Community Standards • Commuting Student Services and Community Outreach (which includes Community Service) • Fraternity and Sorority Life • Intercultural Engagement and Inclusion • Interfaith Center • Orientation and New Student Programs • Residence Life • Student Leadership and Engagement
The Office of the Dean of Students fosters an inclusive environment that encourages holistic student engagement, development, and success inside and outside the classroom for each undergraduate and graduate student (professional students in the Deane School of Law and Zucker School of Medicine have their own student support administrative offices). We develop and provide programs and services that assist in creating a strong campus community in which people from all cultures, backgrounds, and perspectives feel welcome and celebrated, and we encourage students to become active citizens of Hofstra, the local community, and the world.
The Dean of Students Office promotes responsible and ethical decision-making that demonstrates integrity and respect for self and others. The office assists current students in managing their time at Hofstra and understanding the expectations and community standards they are required to uphold as they navigate their educational pathway. The Dean of Students Office advocates for students and is an administrative ally to students as they explore social, academic, and extracurricular engagement on campus.
The Dean of Students Office is located in Room 243 Mack Student Center, North Campus, and can be reached at 516-463-6913.
Community Standards
The Office of Community Standards is responsible for the development and oversight of Hofstra’s Code of Community Standards, which outlines the rights and responsibilities of all student members of the Hofstra community.
The Community Standards staff works with students who have violated University policy to encourage and support better decision-making skills and personal choices. The staff also provides guidance to students who report a violation of their student rights.
behavioral standards. Residential students, in particular, are expected to take a shared responsibility in developing behavioral expectations and in monitoring and enforcing these expectations within their floor/house/residence hall.
The Office of Community Standards works closely with Residence Life, Public Safety, and a number of other departments to uphold community standards and carry out the student conduct process in a manner that respects both the rights of the individual and those of the community at large. If a student violates these standards, Hofstra University may take appropriate disciplinary action.
The Code of Community Standards not only outlines proper conduct, but it also illustrates all the policies and procedures in our student conduct process. Students charged with violating University policy may face sanctions as a result of their actions. A complete version of the Hofstra University Code of Community Standards is available in the Guide to Pride and can be found at hofstra.edu/guidetopride.
Student Leadership and Engagement
The Office of Student Leadership and Engagement (OSLE) enhances the co-curricular life of the Hofstra community and helps students become more involved. We encourage students to participate in the many clubs, organizations, fraternities, sororities, leadership development programs, and campuswide events that are available to them. The best way to become a well-rounded student is to get involved! There are hundreds of conferences, lectures, workshops, cultural programs, seminars, concerts, dance parties, and social events that take place at Hofstra each semester. In addition, there are more than 220 student clubs and organizations on campus.
With such a wide variety of campus offerings, all your student needs is the motivation and desire to get involved. Being involved helps students more fully enjoy their college experience while they develop valuable leadership, organizational, and communication skills.
Clubs and Organizations
OSLE advises the Student Government Association (SGA) and more than 220 student clubs and organizations at Hofstra. Staff provide guidance on how to run a successful program. For OSLE policies, procedures, and forms, visit hofstra.edu/osle. Students may log in to GetInvolvedHU through My Apps in the Hofstra portal, which lists all the Hofstra clubs and organizations.
Fraternity and Sorority Life
Fraternity and sorority life at Hofstra provides an inclusive environment that challenges members to develop into leaders who uphold the values, oaths, and commitments of their collegiate fraternities and sororities at Hofstra. Fraternities and sororities forge and maintain relationships with alumni, volunteers, campus administrators, and the surrounding community. They create meaningful and purposeful experiences that foster a commitment to philanthropy, brotherhood/sisterhood, and lifetime membership. For more information on fraternities and sororities at Hofstra, visit hofstra.edu/greeklife.
Intercultural Engagement and Inclusion
The Intercultural Engagement and Inclusion staff works closely with students, faculty, and administrators to develop programs and initiatives that allow members of the campus community to explore their identity, enhance intercultural competence, and develop skills to build an inclusive campus climate. In addition to coordinating cultural-themed Heritage Months for the University, the staff is responsible for planning and implementing cultural awareness and diversity education programming for the community at Hofstra. This includes programming focused on all underrepresented communities, including LGBTQ+ and Black, Indigenous, and People Of Color (BIPOC); and faith-based awareness and advocacy. For more information, visit hofstra.edu/iei.
Leadership
OSLE offers leadership retreats and workshops for students who want to develop their skills and engage in co-curricular experiences. Some of the programs offered are the Blue & Gold Leadership Cohorts, peer mentorship opportunities, Lead with Pride skills series, senior seminars, and Community Governance Summit. For information on these and other programs, visit hofstra.edu/leadership.
Peer Opportunities
Hofstra’s Peer Alliance Program connects students through mentoring and co-curricular educational learning. We offer four mentor tracks: • Access • Commuter • Global (International) • Transfer
The alliance, which includes the Head Peer Education program, offers opportunities for students to grow through learning from their peers. Peer educators provide information on an array of diverse topics, as well as experiences that are challenging, rewarding, and meaningful to today’s Gen Z scholars. Our team includes the following head peer educators: • The Head Diversity Peer Educator is responsible for the creation, promotion, execution, and evaluation of programming and events involving multicultural identities at Hofstra. • The Head Disability Educator is responsible for creating and promoting programs relating to disability education and challenges that students with disabilities face at Hofstra. • The Head LGBTQ+ Specialist is responsible for the creation, promotion, execution, and evaluation of programming and events involving LGBTQ+ identities and issues at Hofstra. • The Head of Training is responsible for creating and presenting diversity, equity, and inclusion training for the
Hofstra community. • The Head of Programming is responsible for coordinating room reservations, managing programs, and updating all social media accounts. For more information about mentorship opportunities, visit hofstra.edu/peeralliance.
New Student Orientation
Hofstra University is planning our summer orientation for incoming first-year students as an on-campus, three-day, twonight program. We ask that you make travel plans only after your student receives a confirmation to their Hofstra Pride email. The program lasts three days, Tuesday through Thursday, and it introduces new students to all areas of Hofstra, including student services, faculty, academic advisors, and the campus culture. During the program, your student will learn about Hofstra’s curriculum and campus resources, meet faculty and advisors, register for classes, and connect with orientation leaders who are current Hofstra students. Parents and families participate in the Family Orientation program, which is separate from student orientation (see page 5). Information about Family Orientation is available at hofstra.edu/fo. Please note that students admitted for the spring semester attend Winter Orientation in January. Please ask your student to check their Pride email for updates on schedules, technologies that will be used, and online components that MUST be completed prior to New Student Orientation. Visit hofstra.edu/orientation, email orientation@hofstra.edu or call 516-463-4874 for more information about New Student Orientation.
Welcome Week
Your Hofstra student’s transition continues with Welcome Week. This five-day program, which runs just before the fall semester begins, features academic, educational, and social programs to help your student get more comfortable on campus. New students are guided by their Welcome Week leaders and have the opportunity to meet new and returning students as well as faculty and administrators. For more information, visit hofstra.edu/welcomeweek or call 516-463-6914. For information about the Welcome Day program for parents and families, please go to hofstra.edu/welcomeday.
Explore Next Door Program
Explore Next Door, a program sponsored by Orientation and New Student Programs (ONSP), offers free trips to New York City and various places on Long Island for Hofstra undergraduate students. These trips introduce students to the cultural wealth of New York City and provide them with an opportunity to connect with students, faculty, and administrators outside the classroom. Past trips have included Mets and Yankees games, Broadway shows, and most recently, ballet and opera performances. Trips consist of 10-25 students, a student-leader, and a Hofstra faculty member or administrator, and are free of charge. ONSP provides tickets and transportation. Fall semester Explore Next Door trips are open only to new first-year and transfer undergraduate students. During the spring semester, trips are open to all undergraduate students. Additional information and registration dates for each event can be found at hofstra.edu/explorenextdoor.
Pride Athletics
The exciting action and competitive spirit of Pride athletics are a significant part of campus life. Hofstra University is home to 21 intercollegiate sports that compete at the NCAA Division I level in the Colonial Athletic Association and the Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association. These sports include baseball, men’s and women’s basketball, men’s and women’s cross country, field hockey, men’s and women’s golf, men’s and women’s indoor track, men’s and women’s lacrosse, men’s and women’s outdoor track, men’s and women’s soccer, softball, men’s and women’s tennis, wrestling, and volleyball.
Show Parent Pride at Athletic Events
• All Hofstra students with a valid HofstraCard are entitled to two (2) free tickets to every regular home game, unless otherwise noted. Students can reserve their free tickets online at HofstraTickets.com or by visiting the Ticket
Office located in the Mack Sports Complex Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. • Ticketed sports include: • Men’s and women’s basketball • Men’s lacrosse • All other sports are not ticketed and are free for anyone to attend. • Hofstra parents and families receive 25% off Hofstra men’s and women’s basketball season tickets! Be a part of the exciting action on campus and support the Pride! To take advantage of this special offer, call the Hofstra Athletics
Ticket Office at 516-HOF-TIXX (463-8499). • All parents and families may purchase tickets online at
HofstraTickets.com or by calling the Hofstra Athletics
Ticket Office at 516-HOF-TIXX (463-8499). Parents and families may sit with their Hofstra students.
• All sports besides lacrosse, golf, track, and cross country are played on the north side of campus. Lacrosse events are held at James M. Shuart Stadium, South Campus. Golf events are held off campus, and track and cross-country host events both on campus and off campus. Check
GoHofstra.com for schedule information for all sports. • We are constantly giving FREE stuff to Hofstra students at games. Visit GoHofstra.com/promotions to see the full schedule of promotional events!
Interfaith Center
The Catholic, Jewish, Muslim, and Protestant chaplains at Hofstra University work closely with one another and with students to offer a wide variety of faith-based programs. Activities include social events, dinners, religious services, holiday celebrations, guest speakers, community service projects, informal discussions, study groups, regional and national conferences, and retreats. The chaplains are also available for spiritual guidance and informal personal counseling. For more information, visit hofstra.edu/interfaith.
Prayer and Reflection Spaces
Prayer and reflection spaces for Hofstra students are located in Room 201 of the Sondra and David S. Mack Student Center (North Campus) and Room 205 Roosevelt Hall (South Campus). These spaces are meant to provide a quiet space for students to use as needed between the hours of 9 a.m. and 10:30 p.m. The rooms require a valid HofstraCard to gain access. Questions about the spaces or student requests for support/access can be directed to StudentAdvocacy@hofstra.edu.
Catholic Community
Campus Minister: Gina Hackett Catholic Chaplain: Father Sean Magaldi The Catholic Campus Ministry at Hofstra supports a community of faith on campus based on the traditions and values of the Roman Catholic Church. Catholic Campus Ministry is dedicated to the holistic enrichment of its students through spirituality, service, and fellowship. Students have the opportunity to learn about and live out their faith in an open environment among their peers. All students are welcome to participate in our regular programs consisting of retreats, international and local mission trips, volunteer opportunities, Bible study, prayer groups, and social activities.
Jewish Community
Executive Director of Hofstra Hillel: Rabbi Dave Siegel Hofstra Hillel: The Center for Jewish Life on Campus enriches the lives of Hofstra’s Jewish students so that they may enrich Jewish people and the lives of others. Hillel creates a pluralistic, welcoming, inclusive environment for Jewish students, and sponsors a wide variety of programs and opportunities, including free weekly Shabbat dinners, social activities, the celebration of Jewish holidays, social justice projects, informal Jewish learning, free trips to Israel, leadership experiences, and internships. Programs are open to all members of the Hofstra community. Muslim Chaplain: Shaykh Ibad Wali The Muslim Chaplain’s Office works closely with the Hofstra Islamic Organization, Muslim Students Association (MSA), and Hofstra faculty and staff to organize weekly Jumuah (Friday) prayers, Quranic studies, celebrations of Islamic holy days such as Eid-al-Fitr (the festival marking the end of Ramadan) and Eid-al-Adha (the Feast of Sacrifice). The Muslim community also commemorates other Islamic events, such as the fasting month of Ramadan and Hijra, the Islamic New Year. Following Islamic traditions, the Muslim Chaplain’s Office encourages interfaith dialogue and interaction among all students and staff through social and cultural events.
Protestant Community
Protestant Chaplain: Reverend Joyce P. Brandon Dugger The Protestant community at Hofstra is a fellowship of students, faculty, and staff who come together to develop relationships and grow in their spiritual journey as Christian disciples. Fellowship meetings are held every Wednesday, and worship services are offered on Sunday evenings. In addition, throughout the semester, the Protestant community participates in community service projects and offers pastoral counseling, workshops, and biblical life coaching. Programs are open to the entire Hofstra community.
Student Employment
The Office of Student Employment offers varied employment opportunities for students throughout their years at Hofstra University. Through student employment, students can enrich and enhance their academic experiences by applying learned skills in a practical setting, while earning income to assist with college expenses. Students who work on campus: • Learn time management skills. • Improve communication skills. • Think critically. • Learn to work effectively with individuals with diverse backgrounds, experiences, and cultures. • Develop a sense of community. • Cultivate relationships that may pave the way to future opportunities. Additionally, on-campus employment provides students with: • Proximity to classes and residence halls. • Flexible work hours. • The ability to earn extra money to offset expenses.
Students may choose from a variety of positions and job responsibilities. Most academic and administrative offices on campus employ Hofstra students. Types of jobs include tutors; IT assistants; working in Events Management, the Library, or the Fitness Center; or working as a science or technology lab assistant. Resident safety representatives are the largest contingent of student employees; shifts are available 24/7.
Eligibility Requirements To be eligible to work on campus, a student must be matriculated and enrolled at least half-time, which is 6 semester hours for undergraduate students and 4.5 semester hours for graduate students. International students must be enrolled full time.
How to Apply for a Student Employment Position A student can either contact the hiring department directly or they can go to Handshake online. Handshake can be accessed through the Hofstra portal. The student will then follow the instructions on the job posting to apply. Most applications request a cover letter, resume, and class schedule to determine suitability. Assistance with creating cover letters and resumes is offered through the Center for Career Design and Development.
Weekly Hour Maximums Students are permitted to work a maximum of 25 hours per week during the academic year and 30 hours per week during school breaks and summer. International students are permitted to work up to 20 hours per week during the academic year and 30 hours per week during school breaks and summer. However, we find that most students will work 10-12 hours per week.
Required Payroll Forms If a student has never been paid by Hofstra before, the student will need to complete both federal and NYS tax forms and the federal Form I-9. The student will need to present original, unexpired documents verifying eligibility to work in the United States such as a passport, birth certificate, or Social Security card. We cannot accept photocopies or faxes of identification. If your student intends to obtain a position through the Office of Student Employment, they are required to produce original copies of the required documentation BEFORE they will be permitted to work.
Federal Work-Study Federal Work-Study (FWS) is a form of financial aid. Unlike other forms of financial aid, the FWS award must be earned through a job. All of our hourly student employment positions are Federal Work-Study (FWS) eligible. Eligibility for FWS is determined by Student Financial Services; students must file a FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) to be evaluated for Federal Work-Study, as well as other types of aid, each year. If a student is eligible for Federal Work-Study, the student’s financial aid award letter will list the dollar amount of the Federal Work-Study grant. The student may also check the Hofstra portal to see if they were awarded Federal WorkStudy grant money. For further information regarding financial aid packages, students may contact Student Financial Services (SFS) at studentfinancialservices@hofstra.edu or 516-463-8000. To identify their SFS counselor, students can visit hofstra.edu/findmycounselor. The Office of Student Financial Services is located in Room 206 Memorial Hall.
Types of Positions Hourly These positions include Federal Work-Study and undergraduate and graduate positions that are paid on an hourly basis. Extracurricular Hofstra University offers a multitude of positions generally recognized as extracurricular. These positions – which are part of a student’s overall educational experience at Hofstra – are not employment positions. They are voluntary in nature and may include a stipend. Examples of extracurricular activities include: • Athletic team student managers • Musical performances • Commencement activities • Mascots Leadership Positions Educational leadership and mentoring opportunities for students may offer stipends or housing. These positions have their own eligibility requirements. Students must check with each department to find out more information. Some examples are: • Resident Assistants (RAs) are leaders within the residence hall community that work to support the mission of the Department of Residence Life. These individuals work to develop and present social and educational programming to create a sense of community for those who live on campus. • Peer Mentors - Hofstra’s Peer Alliance Program connects students through mentoring and co-curricular learning. Past offerings have included mentor tracks such as Global (International), PRISM (LGBTQ+), Commuter,
Transfer, Access, and Diversity Peer Mentors. • Orientation Leaders are student leaders who are engaged by the University over the summer to welcome and provide orientation for new incoming and transfer students. Orientation Leaders receive housing over the summer, as well as a stipend. • Welcome Week Coordinators - Each summer, a group of students lead the first-year students through their first big week at Hofstra University. Welcome Week
Coordinators work through the summer to plan the events of Welcome Week, and the leaders have the opportunity to mentor and guide first-year students in their initial days on campus, connecting them to appropriate resources and easing their transition to college.
Graduate Assistantships A Graduate Assistantship is a student employment position that provides a graduate student with experiential learning in a variety of administrative and academic settings. Graduate Assistants are appointed by semester. Reappointment is subject to departmental approval, performance of duties in a satisfactory manner, continued registration for at least half-time credit hours, and good academic standing. The Graduate Assistantship includes as compensation a tuition waiver and a stipend. All matriculated Hofstra students pursuing a graduate degree are eligible to apply. The tuition waiver is valued per credit at the lowest current graduate tuition rate. All students are required to pay registration and applicable fees. Please visit hofstra.edu/ studentemployment, click on See Available Positions, and select Graduate Assistantships.
The Office of Student Employment may be reached at 516-463-6782 or student-employment@hofstra.edu. Visit hofstra.edu/studentemployment for further information.
