Student Services

The oversight of the residence life program, extracurricular activities, and various student services is coordinated by the Academic and Campus Life Division. The Dean of Students, whose office is located on the upper level of Decker College Center, and staff members are readily available to talk with individual students and groups; the goal of the Academic and Campus Life staff is to help students make the best use of the College’s and students’ own resources and opportunities.

A student’s residential experience is often an important facet of attending college, and the residence hall is far more than a place to sleep. Learning to live in close proximity with others, making new friendships, and becoming aware of the rights and responsibilities of all concerned are important aspects of a college education.

The College offers a variety of living arrangements. First-year students live on campus in traditional residence hall buildings; students admitted to the McDaniel Honors Program may select to live in Daniel McLea Hall. For upperclass students, there are three traditional residence halls comprised mainly of double rooms and some singles and triples. These are Albert Norman Ward Hall, Blanche Ward Hall, and McDaniel Hall. Daniel MacLea Hall is designed for suite-style living. Students may apply to live in substance-free areas or affinity housing. Other areas are reserved for members of a particular fraternity or sorority to live together as a group. First-year students, sophomores, and juniors are required to live on campus unless they live with their parents or are over age 25. Upperclass students may live in North Village and Garden Apartments shared by four, five, or six students and equipped with its own kitchen, or in the Pennsylvania Avenue College-owned houses that border the campus. All rooms are wired for campus-based cable TV and Ethernet, and are provided with a combination microwave/refrigerator. Smoking is not permitted anywhere in College residences. Information about campus housing can be found at https://www.mcdaniel.edu/student-life/housing. Deposited and current students can also access resources online at https://mcdaniel.erezlife.com.

The Residence Life program is directed by five professional staff members and 33 Resident Assistants (RAs). RAs are qualified and trained undergraduates whose job it is to live with students and be available to oversee the quality of life in their areas. Resident Assistants are responsible for advising individuals, assisting in health or safety emergencies, communicating campus policies to students, referring students to appropriate campus resources and reporting student concerns to administrative staff.

The Residence Life staff, along with the entire faculty and staff, assist in facilitating an environment of challenge and support. Students will be challenged by out-of-the-classroom experiences as well as academic experiences.

Residential students complete and online roommate preference form that includes questions about study habits, musical tastes, and other considerations available to new students prior to arrival on campus. The Residence Life staff uses the information in matching potentially compatible persons as roommates. Students may room with friends of their own choosing, but only mutual roommate requests will be honored.

While about 80 percent of the undergraduate students live in the residence halls, commuting students are a welcome and active part of the student body. Many live with their parents or guardians within reasonable driving distance. The College urges all commuting students to visit the Office of Student Engagement to learn about the services on campus tailored to their special needs. Commuters are encouraged to participate in the many extracurricular activities on campus.

During the week prior to the start of the fall semester, an orientation program is scheduled for all new students to welcome and assist them in acclimating to life at McDaniel College. Students will be welcomed into this community of scholars through a variety of intellectual activities including small-group discussions, lectures, and panel discussions. They will meet with faculty advisors and peer mentors, and have an opportunity to explore the range of academic offerings and programs that will match their interests and help them to meet their goals. Students will have the opportunity to begin new friendships and develop a multicultural perspective that will allow them to understand and value others. They will have a chance to become familiar with the layout of the campus, student government, student activities, student services, and the residence halls.

All residential students other than those living in North Village, the Garden Apartments (with a kitchen), and College owned houses are required to subscribe to a meal plan in Englar Dining Hall. Meals are served seven days a week and include continental breakfasts for students who prefer to eat later than the scheduled breakfast hour. Dining services are managed by AVI Fresh, and menus include many alternate selections for the diet conscious. Commuting students are encouraged to purchase partial meal plans, and parents and visitors are welcome to purchase individual meals.

The Market C convenience store and Hilltop Pub on the middle level of Decker College Center are open seven days a week, with extended evening hours. The Hoover Library features Caseys’ Corner, a Starbucks coffee shop located in the entrance lobby of the building.  All current hours of operation are available at https://www.aviserves.com/mcdaniel/

Counseling Services

McDaniel College Counseling Services, located in the Wellness Center (Winslow Center, 2nd floor), provides an opportunity for students to explore problems and concerns that interfere with their adjustment to and success in college. Students meet with a licensed mental health professional in a confidential setting. Counseling Services are available at the Wellness Center to all full-time undergraduate students during the academic calendar year.  After an initial assessment (intake appointment), the counselor will determine if the student’s needs are best met by Counseling Services or off campus resources.  Services include short-term individual and group counseling, crisis intervention, referrals, and workshops on a variety of topics.  The Wellness Center also provides campus wide substance use education and prevention programs.

Health Services

Health services are available to all full-time undergraduate students during the academic calendar year. Students must complete a health form, including current immunization records, prior to the beginning of classes  Completed forms should be sent to the Wellness Center. Completed forms may be mailed, emailed, or faxed to the Wellness Center.

The College requires all students to have health insurance, including international students who must purchase the College Student Health Insurance Plan.  If a student does not have health insurance, or if a family health insurance plan does not provide adequate coverage, the College offers a comprehensive health insurance plan. For more information please see the McDaniel College website.

The Office of Student Diversity and Inclusion works with students and student groups to increase multicultural awareness and to facilitate the growth and development of the entire campus community.

The Office of Student Diversity and Inclusion is particularly committed to the academic and personal support of underrepresented students. The Office offers a mentoring program designed to assist first-year students, leadership development opportunities, referral services, recruitment programs, a resource library, and information about scholarships and internships. The Office also advises culturally diverse student organizations and provides cultural programs and diversity training.

The CEO (https://ceo.mcdaniel.edu) is a one-stop shop for experiential learning that prepares students for their future. CEO staff and student mentors are committed to providing experiences and opportunities that help each student realize their potential, help them achieve their goals, and gain confidence for their future.

The CEO assists with:

• Career development (including resume/cover letter development, searching for internship and employment opportunities, networking with employers and alums, and making career-based decisions)
• Education abroad
• Competitive scholarships and fellowships
• Community engagement (including getting involved with volunteer and service-learning opportunities)
• Graduate school plans

For more information on services, visit the CEO website. Learn how to set up an appointment by visiting middle level of the Roj Student Center, emailing ceo@mcdaniel.edu, or calling 410-871-3305.

Education Abroad

The Associate Director of International & Off-Campus Programs in the Center for Experience and Opportunity (CEO) is the main campus resource for students interested in education abroad. This includes off-campus and overseas experiential learning (study abroad, internships, volunteer and service learning). The office assists students at every stage of the education abroad and application process, and also works with faculty preparing to teach at the Budapest campus or lead short-term study programs abroad during the College’s January Term. For information and a complete list of education abroad programs affiliated with the College, visit www.mcdaniel.edu/studyabroad.

International Students

McDaniel College has a long tradition of welcoming students from around the world into our academic community.  The international student advisor provides orientation programs for new international students upon arrival to campus and helps them with issues of personal or cultural adjustment and academic concerns throughout the year.  The international student advisor also issues F-1 visa-related documents to incoming international students as well as assists them on matters related to immigration status and regulations regarding employment in the U.S., social security cards, and travel to other countries. 

The international student advisor works with Professor Amy McNichols, the advisor of the Global Bridge Program, to help ease the transition and offer a view of American life and culture. For more information about becoming an international student at McDaniel, contact the Associate Director of Internaitonal & Off-Campus programs at ipo@mcdaniel.edu.

Conveniences

The College maintains services for the students’ and faculty’s convenience in Decker College Center. An Automatic Teller Machine (ATM) provides access to accounts with BB&T Bank or other banks in the MOST system. The College Store sells textbooks and other books, general college supplies, imprinted sports clothing, health aids, CDs, greeting cards, gifts, and many other items. The Post Office supplies each student with an individual mailbox; stamps may be purchased, and packages mailed and received.  The Market C convenience store sells a variety of food items, toiletries, and quick meal options like sandwiches and salads.