Learning takes place in many ways beyond the classroom experience. Pierpont Community & Technical College encourages students to take advantage of the wide variety of academic, cultural and social opportunities that are offered. Each semester, new students are offered a “Welcome Weekend” experience, specifically designed to orient new students to college life in general. It is open to all students, regardless of whether they reside in on-campus housing. Upperclassmen (Freshman Counselors) mentor the new students and encourage them to ask questions and get involved. The goal of Welcome Weekend is to let new students know they have mentors who can help them navigate issues and concerns that may arise, and help them become familiar with the campus environment.
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Career Services provides students and alumni with a variety of benefits, including career exploration, life planning, and job searching assistance. Students can utilize career counseling and online software to clarify their options. An career resource library is also available. Career Services provides the following
- Assistance in declaring a major
- Personalized career counseling
- Information on employment trends, outlooks, etc.
- Internship/practical experience opportunities
- Workshops, career/job fairs
- Full and part-time job opportunities
- Assistance with Resumes Cover letters, and Interviewing
- Practice interviews (videotaping is available)
- Career resources library
- Establishment of credential file
All students and alumni are encouraged to take advantage of these resources. Career Services is currently in transition. Contact the Associate Vice President for Student Services for more information (304) 367-4503.
The purpose of the Academic Advising Center is to provide the Liberal Studies general student with comprehensive advising as well as interpersonal professional support. A concerted effort is made to address any academic concerns that may impede the student’s successful completion of degree requirements and to assist the student in the selection of an academic program.
- Formalized advisor-advisee conferences scheduled throughout the semester for undeclared students.
- Academic assistance and guidance on a drop-in basis for students with general advising concerns or questions.
- Summer advising of all new students, transfers, and readmitted students.
- Workshops sponsored by the Center relevant to maximizing academic success and to improving advising processes.
- Referral assistance to campus and community services.
Contact the Director of Advising, Assessment and Testing at (304)367-4990 or at advise@pierpont.edu.
Peer tutoring is available on a "drop-in" basis to all Pierpont Community & Technical College/Fairmont State University students through the Tutorial Services Center. All full-time and part-time students are entitled to free tutoring. Students with documented disabilities may be eligible for additional support services.
Students are encouraged to request tutoring for extra academic support and especially if they are in danger of failing a class. Each semester, peer tutoring is available for most basic required courses and for a variety of other courses. The center has individual tutoring areas equipped with dry boards, desks, and computers.
Students in good academic standing (sophomores, juniors, seniors) who would like to serve as paid "peer tutors" must complete an application, take a free, one-hour tutor training practicum online course, complete other required training, and meet established criteria and standards to qualify as a tutor.
The Peer Tutorial Services program is certified by the College Reading & Learning Association (CRLA). For information, check the Peer Tutoring Schedule located on the Tutorial Services website page or contact the Director of Tutorial Services in the Library, 2nd Level at 304-367-4081.
Professional tutors for Mathematics offer tutoring for all math courses and math related topics including study procedures, problem solving strategies, and overcoming math anxiety. Professional tutors for writing across the curriculum offer help with all writing assignments including essays, research papers, technical documents, and literary analysis. The services of the Math/Writing Center are free and available on a “drop-in” basis. For information, check the Professional Math Tutoring Schedule or the Professional Writing Tutoring Schedule on the website under Tutorial Services or contact the Director of Tutorial Services in the Library, 2nd Level at 304-367-4081.
Brainfuse is an online tutoring service available free to all currently enrolled students. To access Brainfuse , a student must log into Blackboard and select a course. Brainfuse is is located under the “Tools” link. Brainfuse offers 24/7 live help for math, writing and reading. It also offers help in a variety of other subjects.
Libraries may be used by all students, faculty and staff. The Ruth Ann Musick Library is located on the Fairmont Locust Avenue campus. An additional library is located at the National Aerospace Education Center (NAEC) at Bridgeport. These libraries function at the heart of the institution’s academic programs. Library staff members work closely with students and faculty to develop research skills and to provide a wide range of support services that enhance the learning experience. The libraries’ print and electronic holdings are designed to support the curricular needs of the academic program of study offered at both institutions and to encourage intellectual and personal growth.
The libraries provide easy access to over 270,000 items including books, magazines, journals, newspapers, government documents, compact discs, videos, and other multimedia, and to over 170 electronic databases. Over 70,000 electronic books are available, full text and online, through the catalog. Subscriptions to over 50,000 journals, magazines, and newspapers are accessible through online databases. Over 250 print titles are also available.
The libraries have an online, web-based catalog of all holdings, MARLO, available at http://marlo.fairmontstate.edu.
This catalog is searchable from any location in the world, through the use of a web browser, and also contains the holdings of the public school libraries, the public libraries of Marion County, and holdings of the Glenville State College Library.
The librarians offer instructional programs and training sessions, including orientation, that cover the use of the library’s resources, methods of dealing critically with available information, and ways in which the library can provide information, both through traditional means and by the latest electronic methods. Training in the use of information gathering on the Internet and through other electronic information resources is available to all users.
The library on the Fairmont Locust Avenue campus is open over 110 hours a week during fall and spring semesters and over 65 hours a week during the summer sessions. At least one professional librarian is available or on call most hours that the library is open. The librarians provide individualized assistance with projects, research questions, and papers.
If students and faculty need research materials that are not available in one of the libraries, the items may be requested through Interlibrary Loan, either online or in person. Users may place requests online, using ILLIAD, and may track the progress of requests. Using a major bibliographic database (OCLC), library staff members handle requests quickly and efficiently. Fax equipment, the posting of articles online to a secure website for borrowers, and ARIEL (Internet transfer of documents) are all used to improve response time. With another tool, Odyssey, any journal article that is electronically transmitted to the libraries can then be electronically transmitted to the student or faculty members desktop.
The librarians at Musick library maintain the libraries’ web pages providing access to information resources that are available to all students and faculty online. Resources include electronic books, journal indexes, full text journals, videos, encyclopedias, general and specialized reference works, style manuals, newspapers, government documents, and bibliographic indexes in all areas of the sciences, social sciences, humanities, and technology. Specialized assistance in locating resources is available and students and faculty may phone or email questions for the librarians. Access to library assistance is available via chat, using IM (instant messaging). All online resources are available remotely from any location with Internet access, through the use of the UCA (Unified College Account username and password). For information on help, contact (304)367-4121 or 367-4733 or email: library@pierpont.edu.
Fairmont State University (FSU) maintains four residence halls which accommodate approximately 900 students. Each residence hall provides a learning environment which is designed to enhance academic and social life. Contracts are for the entire academic year and prices vary by residence hall. For additional information, contact Residence Life at (304) 367-4216. Annually, Pierpont and Fairmont State will determine Pierpont Student requirements for housing.
College Park Apartments, which consist of 110 rental units, is also located on the campus. Apartment tenants are required to sign an 11.5-month lease and abide by all rules and regulations as described therein. Prices vary based on apartment type. For more information, contact Residence Life at (304) 367-4216.
- All freshman students are required to live in campus housing unless approved for an exemption to the residency policy. Approved exemption information is available on the Residence Life website. Admitted students can easily apply for housing or an exemption by using the secure online tool located in Pierpont Portal. All students must receive written confirmation of their release from the campus residency requirement before making housing arrangements off-campus. Students requesting exempt status from the residency policy must submit the request at least 30 days prior to the start of the semester indicated in the request.
- Students must pay an application deposit in order to complete their application and reserve a room. Housing assignments are completed based upon the student’s date of completed application. All residence hall and apartment applications and assignments are made for the entire academic year.
- At any time after the application is complete, students may request a release from their contract for the following conditions: Graduation, Withdrawal for the remainder of the academic year, Marriage, or a New Medical Condition that cannot be accommodated on campus. Financial aid is not considered during the release request process. Individuals must submit a written contract release request according to the approved conditions listed above. Release requests can be submitted at any time. The deposit refund deadline for the fall semester is May 31st. The deposit refund deadline for the spring semester is November 30th. The deposit is forfeited if there is no written cancellation or release request by the semester deadlines. The deposit, less any damages, will be returned at the end of the occupancy period.
- All residence hall students and their parents or guardians are responsible for being familiar with the code of behavior and all other regulations that are listed and explained in the Student Handbook.
- The institution reserves the right to limit the number of students in the residence halls under its control.
- Students who live in the residence halls must purchase a Meal Plan for the Dining Hall.
- Room and board fees must be paid in full for a semester before the first day of classes.
- Break housing is available for an additional fee during Thanksgiving, winter and Spring break periods. Reservations must be completed at least two weeks before each break period. Late requests may not be considered. Contact the Residence Life Office for information if you are interested in break housing.
- In cases where a preponderance of circumstantial evidence exists of policy violation or criminal action, the student’s room will be searched in accordance with the Student Handbook.
- Any residence hall student who is suspended or expelled from the institution and/or a residence hall for disciplinary reasons will be responsible for paying for the remainder of the housing contract.
- All residence halls are smoke-free.
- Alcoholic beverages or illegal substances are not permitted in the residence halls or campus apartments.
- Residence Life has developed a plan to manage overflow housing. Occasionally, demand for housing exceeds our capacity. In this case, double bedrooms in Bryant Place will be tripled temporarily in order to provide overflow housing. Temporary triples will be emptied as soon as possible. Students housed in temporary triples will receive a housing discount based upon the amount of time spent in the temporary housing assignment. Information regarding discounts is available through the Residence Life Office.
The Fairmont Locust Avenue campus provides a 940 space parking garage for students as well as parking spaces in defined areas throughout the campus. Parking decals are required and are included in tuition; they can be picked up in the Turley Center. Students receive parking maps at the time of admission and they are also available from the Department of Public Safety. Visitor and/or day passes can be purchased from the Dept. of Public Safety. Additional information may be found in the Student Handbook.
The student Falcon Center, centrally located on the Fairmont Locust Avenue campus, provides an environment where students and employees can comfortably interact with one another while enjoying a variety of fitness and wellness programs, eating areas and study lounges. The campus bookstore, copy center, convenience store, dining services, food court, smoothie bar and much more are available for both students and employees.
Included in the recreation/fitness areas are: 7,000 square feet of fitness equipment with cardio-theater; five multipurpose courts marked for basketball, volleyball, badminton and indoor soccer; multi-purpose rooms offering a variety of fitness classes; 25-yard fitness/lap pool, jacuzzi, sauna, and outdoor sunning deck; four-lane cushioned jogging/walking track and spacious locker rooms with lockers that may be rented. Throughout the year the Falcon Center offers special events such as health fairs, 5K run, weight lifting competition and many more. A complete intramural and sport club program is also offered to the students. Students enrolled at off-campus sites, or as virtual students may contact the Falcon Center desk to determine cost for use of the equipment.
The bookstore on the Fairmont Locust Avenue campus is located on the second floor of the Falcon Center, carries all textbooks and school supplies needed for classes and a selection of Pierpont wearing apparel and gifts. Other items available include diploma frames, flash drives, graduation supplies, decorative frames, general reading books, reference and test prep books, blankets, blank note cards, school spirit items, plush animals, dorm room supplies, and much more. Computers and computer software at educational discounts are available www.efollett.com/software ; students may charge their textbooks and supplies to their student account and may also order textbooks, clothing, and supplies online through our website: (go to www.pierpont.edu ; click on Current Students and then Bookstore.)
Marketplace-style breakfasts, lunches and dinners are served Monday through Friday in the Dining Hall, located on the third floor of the Falcon Center (the student activity center). Brunch and dinner meals are available on weekends and on some holidays. Students on meal plans are to attend meals at this location or may use their Flex Dollars to buy food or groceries at one of the retail venues on campus. Commuter students may also dine in the Cafeteria, as all menu offerings are priced a la carte, in addition to the one-price, all-you-care-to-eat option. Commuters have another option - purchasing a “block” of meals, available in blocks of 20, 30 or 50, to be redeemed as the student desires and valid throughout the semester. Every meal plan participant must present his/her student ID card to the cashier to show payment for a meal. To learn more about the dining options and to make suggestions, call the Dining Services office.
The Nickel is located on the second level of the Falcon Center that provide additional dining options, especially for those in a hurry. Meal Plan participants may elect to use some of their Flex Dollars at any retail food outlet. The Main Street Market, located down the hall past the Nickel, beyond the big screen TV, carries a large inventory of grocery and sundry items, snacks and fountain and bottled beverages, along with a 100% fruit juice based Royale Smoothie Bar.
A Starbucks Café is located in the Musick Library. Operates during the Fall and Spring Semesters only.
