Academic Resources
Office of Admissions for Adult Programs
The Office of Admissions for Adult Programs is the primary point of contact for
prospective College of Graduate and Professional Studies students interested in all
academic programs offered on the Stafford campus. Prospective students should contact
the admissions office to schedule individual interviews, attend information sessions,
or request application materials. New students and students seeking readmission after
an absence of three or more consecutive semesters must apply through the admissions
office. The admissions office provides services that include:
- Information and application materials for degree and certificate programs;
- Monthly information sessions;
- One-on-one preadmission counseling;
- Review of applications; and
- Ongoing communication with prospective students throughout the admissions
process.
Office of Advising Services
The Office of Advising Services provides the support necessary for enrollment in and completion of College of Graduate and Professional Studies academic programs. Services include:
- Academic advising;
- Review and approval of course selections and registration;
- Review of previous higher education experience in relation to transfer credit;
- Specialized advising for students in academic jeopardy;
- Referrals for employment/career advising through the Professional Experiences
and Networking (PEN) Program in preparation for continued or new employment
after program completion; - Prematriculation advising in preparation for enrollment in specific courses and
programs; and - Assistance with completion of degree plans.
The Office of Advising Services also serves as a clearinghouse for all student services. Professional staff members are available to provide advising services to students on a scheduled or a walk-in basis. Additional services include financial aid referrals, disability service referrals, and academic skills workshops.
Career Services
The Office of Career Services supports students at the College of Graduate and
Professional Studies (CGPS) by offering personalized guidance designed to advance
their overall career development while they complete their academic studies. Personnel
in this office also offer several job related resources such as career fairs and a job-posting
database called eRecruiting for students seeking full-time positions. Career counselors
aid students in developing career goals by exploring their interests and identifying their
skills, values, and personality preferences with the use of career inventory assessments.
Some of the other services that the Office of Career Services provides include
interviewing programs, workshops, résumé and cover letter critique services, and a
resource center located in the CGPS library. Many of the resources and services can be
accessed through the Office of Career Services’ website at www.umw.edu/careerservices.
Computer Labs
The College of Graduate and Professional Studies has computer labs that are available for student use during regular College hours. The labs are managed by the University’s Department of Information Technologies support staff. All lab computers provide access to the Internet, scanning, and document printing, as well as instructional programs and the latest business and academic software.
Computer Networks for Academic Programming – User Policy
Users of information technology resources at the University of Mary Washington must use these resources responsibly and within limitations. Users who fail to meet their responsibilities or who fail to operate within the limitations may have their network privileges suspended or revoked and may be subject to other disciplinary actions. Using University-owned computers, networks, or other information technology resources constitutes acknowledgment that the user understands and commits to compliance with the following user policy and related policies and procedures.
Background
The UMW computer network consists of an institution-wide backbone, local area network, and many shared computers, as well as personal desktop computers and other computing devices. The various systems administrators work to ensure that network privileges are properly maintained for all University users. Users also must meet certain responsibilities and are subject to certain limitations, many of which are listed below.
Priorities of the Network
The UMW computer network and other information technology resources should
be used, and will be maintained and administered, in accordance with the following
priorities:
Highest and Primary: To support the education, research, and administrative
purposes of the University of Mary Washington.
Medium and Secondary: To support other uses indirectly related to the University
of Mary Washington, including personal communications.
Lowest and Least Important: To support recreation and entertainment.
Disclaimer
The University of Mary Washington will investigate reported violations of the rules
set forth below and will impose appropriate sanctions. However, the University assumes
no responsibility for user conduct.
Users should be aware that there are many services on the Internet that they might
find offensive or that involve risks. Users must accept responsibility for their own
navigation of the Internet.
Privacy
The UMW computer network is owned and operated by the University of Mary
Washington, an agency of the Commonwealth of Virginia. Faculty and staff must
recognize that computer-generated documents (e.g., old email) may be “public records,”
subject to provisions of Virginia’s Freedom of Information statutes. Furthermore, all
users must understand that electronic communications may not be secure and that
during the course of ordinary management of information technology services, technical
staff may inadvertently be exposed to the content of user files.
In specific and unusual circumstances, the content of user files may be examined
under the direction of a system administrator of the system holding those files. This may
be done only at the direction of the President or the Vice President for Strategy and
Policy. See related policy at www.umw.edu/policies/web/monitoring_employee_electr.
Safety
While unwanted or unsolicited contact cannot be controlled on the network, network users who receive threatening communications in violation of this policy or state or federal law should bring them to the attention of the Department of Information Technologies or the University Police.
Intellectual Freedom
The network provides an open forum for the expression of ideas, including viewpoints that are strange, unorthodox, and unpopular. Opinions expressed there must be presented in a manner that is free of obscenity (as defined by Code of Virginia section 18.2-372), forgery, and other illegal forms of expression, which are not acceptable uses of the University’s network and are in violation of University policy. In addition, expressions of opinion may not be represented as the views of the University of Mary Washington, and individual users are responsible and accountable for any material posted and transmitted on the network in violation of this or other University policies, or state or federal law.
User Responsibilities
To enjoy the privileges of network access, each user of University information
technologies is expected to meet certain responsibilities and honor certain limitations. If
a user is found to have knowingly violated either of these principles, his or her network
access may be suspended. Depending on the seriousness of the violation, the user may
also be subject to other University disciplinary actions, and violations of federal or state
laws will result in referral to the appropriate legal authorities.
The following list of responsibilities applies to the use of all University-owned
computers and of the University’s networks; additional responsibilities may be associated
with specific networks, information technology services, and computers at the University.
- Users must operate within the appropriate federal or state laws and University policies and must not engage in any conduct that presents a risk to the operating integrity of the systems and their accessibility to other users. (See also “Responsibilities for Computing Devices Connected to the University of Mary Washington Network” at www.umw.edu/policies/network/devices.)
- Users must abide by the terms of all software licensing agreements and copyright laws. Users must not make copies of or make available on the network copyrighted material, unless permitted by a license.
- Users must not use the network resources of the University to gain or attempt to gain unauthorized access to remote computers, networks, or systems.
- Users may not use the University’s networks to access, produce, or distribute pornography in violation of the law.
- Any network traffic exiting the University is subject not only to provisions of this policy, but also to the acceptable use policies of any network through which or into which it flows.
- Users should notify the Department of Information Technologies at
(540) 654-2255 or it-abuse@umw.edu, system administrators, and the appropriate
authorities about violations of computer laws and policies, as well as about
potential vulnerabilities in the security of the computer systems and networks. - Users are to respect the rights of other users, including their rights as set forth in other University policies for students, faculty, and staff; these rights include but are not limited to privacy, freedom from harassment, and freedom of expression.
- Users may not place on any University-owned computer system any type of
information or software that:
– infringes upon the rights of another person; or
– gives unauthorized access to another computer account or system. - Users may not misrepresent themselves or their data on the network.
- Users are responsible for the use of their accounts. No user may give anyone else access to his or her account, or use a UMW computer account assigned to another user. A user must not attempt to obtain a password for another user’s computer account.
- Users are responsible for the security of their passwords. This includes making sure no one else knows it. A user who suspects someone knows his or her password should contact the Department of Information Technologies to have that password changed.
- Users of personal computers are responsible for protecting their work by making regular backup copies of their work files and storing the copies in a safe location. They should set the frequency of backup based on their ability to recreate information added since the last backup.
- Users must not attempt to monitor other users’ data communications, nor read, copy, change, or delete other users’ files or software, without permission of the owner(s).
- Users must not attempt to circumvent data protection schemes or exploit security loopholes.
- Users must not deliberately perform acts which are wasteful of computing resources or which unfairly monopolize resources to the exclusion of others.
- Users must not deliberately perform acts that will impair the operation of computing equipment, peripherals, other devices, or networks. This includes, but is not limited to, tampering with components of a local area network (LAN) or the high-speed backbone network, otherwise blocking communication lines, or interfering with the operational readiness of a computer.
- Users must not run or install on any of the computer systems of the University, or give to another user, a program that could result in the eventual damage to a file or computer system or the reproduction of itself. This includes, but is not limited to, the classes of programs known as computer viruses, Trojan horses, and worms.
- Users may not use the University’s computer systems or networks for solicitation of funds or for commercial purposes. This includes solicitations for charitable or community organizations.
- Users may not use the University’s networks to distribute chain letters.
This policy and related material supplement the existing policies in the Student
Handbooks, the Faculty and Adjunct Faculty Handbooks, the Administrative Faculty
Handbook, and the Classified Employees Handbook. These cover such acts as theft of
computer services (including copyrighted computer programs), theft or mutilation of
UMW property such as computer equipment, and the unacknowledged or unauthorized
appropriation of another’s computer program, or the results of that program, in whole or
in part, for a computer-related exercise or assignment. Ultimately, any and all network
conduct or misconduct is subject to the same policies that govern conduct in other
University venues, and it is regulated and dealt with as described in the handbooks cited
above.
Violations
Violations or suspected violations of the policies and principles enumerated above should be reported promptly to the Department of Information Technologies at (540) 654-2255 or it-abuse@umw.edu or to the appropriate University disciplinary system.
Externship
The externship requires a student to locate and study a prospective employer or employment opportunity based on the student’s selected concentration. Students research, observe, and participate in the organization’s processes related to their area of study to gain short, practical experiences and knowledge. An extensive final analytical report is required at the conclusion of the study.
Internship (Professional Experiences and Networking Program)
The College of Graduate and Professional Studies offers students professional
internships within a project-based program designed to blend educational and
experiential endeavors. The program combines student skills and knowledge with faculty
expertise and corporate plans to produce quality products. Participants are graded based
on site supervisor evaluation, hours worked on the project, faculty advisor evaluation,
and quality of the required oral presentation and final project.
Internship credit awards range from one to six credits. No more than six internship
credits may count toward the minimum number of credits required in a major or
concentration. Undergraduate degree-seeking students who have earned at least 45
credits toward the degree with at least 12 credits completed at CGPS with a minimum
overall 2.5 grade-point average (GPA) are eligible to participate in the Professional
Experiences and Networking (PEN) Program. Graduate students must have completed
a minimum of 6 credits of course work at CGPS and have earned a 3.0 GPA or higher
as a degree student to be eligible for an internship project.
Students who are interested
and eligible to participate in the internship program should contact the CGPS internship
director.
Students who wish to complete an internship at an agency where they already
have completed an internship, or at an agency where they have been employed or
volunteered, or in a University administrative office, must seek approval from the
appropriate academic program director and the internship director. Instructions for these
specially approved internships are available in the Office of Advising Services.
Library
The College of Graduate and Professional Studies (CGPS) Library conducts library
user instruction designed to foster information literacy, critical thinking skills, and
lifelong learning. This instruction is accomplished by providing individual reference
service and employing interactive technologies, course-related library instruction, and
Web-based tutorials.
The library’s collection consists of a circulating book and video collection with the
focus on business, education, and information technology, noncirculating reference and
periodical collections, thesis archives, and course reserves. Faculty and students have
full access to the collections maintained at Simpson Library on the University’s campus
in Fredericksburg through document delivery or by visiting the Simpson Library. The
UMW Libraries’ shared catalog, VIRTUA, is available on the Web from the libraries’
home page, www.umw.edu/library.
Equipped with computers that are linked to the University’s network, the CGPS
Library provides access to the full array of Web-based resources made available by
the Virtual Library of Virginia (VIVA) and UMW Libraries. These databases are
proprietary, available only to paid subscribers or qualified users of the services. Students
can access these databases from any computer on either campus or from home with a
password. The library also supports an extensive interlibrary loan service.
Office of Disability Services
Through the University’s Office of Disability Services, the College of Graduate and
Professional Studies provides reasonable and appropriate accommodations to qualified
students with disabilities. These accommodations may include—but are not limited
to—extended time on tests, note taking assistance, sign language interpreters, enlarged print materials, permission to tape record lectures, and distraction-reduced testing sites.
In order to receive services, students must provide appropriate professional
documentation of a substantially limiting condition and discuss appropriate
accommodations with the director of disability services. Documentation guidelines for
specific disabilities may be requested from the office at (540) 654-1266 or viewed on
the website at www.umw.edu/disability. The director verifies the disability, assists in
arranging reasonable accommodations, and acts as a liaison among students, faculty, and
administration on issues relating to services or accommodations.
Testing
College Level Examination Program (CLEP) tests are available in computer-based
formats and may be scheduled individually through the testing coordinator at the
College of Graduate and Professional Studies (CGPS) at (540) 286-8012. Each exam
consists of two sections of 45 minutes each. Exam and site fees apply. A complete listing
of CLEP exams accepted by CGPS is available in the Office of Advising Services.
The University’s National Testing program provides a quality testing environment for
the hundreds of teachers, high school students, and graduate school applicants who live
in the Fredericksburg area. On scheduled Saturdays throughout the year, the PRAXIS
Series, the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) Subject Tests, the ACT, and the Law School
Admission Test (LSAT) are given on the University’s Fredericksburg campus.
To register for a national exam, candidates must contact the national office of
the exam they plan to take, as registration is not handled through CGPS. For more
information about these tests and to register, visit these websites: www.ets.org/praxis for PRAXIS, www.gre.org for GRE, www.act.org for ACT or www.lsac.org for LSAT.
Contact the University’s testing coordinator at (540) 286-8015 for more information.
Testing announcements, as needed, are posted on the UMW website at.
www.umw.edu/nationaltesting.
The Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) is scheduled individually and
is only offered at various computer-based testing (CBT) centers throughout the country.
Students interested in taking the GMAT should consult the GMAT Bulletin or go to
www.mba.com/mba/TaketheGMAT.
Writing Center
The CGPS Writing Center offers writing help free of charge to all CGPS students. Students can obtain assistance with all types of writing projects, from research projects to résumés, and with all aspects of writing, from brainstorming a research topic to proofreading a paper. The Writing Center’s trained tutors work with students one-on-one to improve writing performance during in-person or online sessions. While the Writing Center accepts walk-ins, appointments are strongly recommended. For best results, students should submit an electronic copy of their writing in advance and bring a copy of the professor’s assignment sheet to their Writing Center tutorial session. For more information, visit the Writing Center online at www.umw.edu/cgps/writing.