1.4 Resources to Use

Using Face-to-Face Resources

The Michael Schwartz Library

The library is probably the most important and useful resource you have on campus. Entrance to it is located on the 1st floor of Rhodes Tower and it consists of eight floors. At the library, you will find many resources including the following:

• Access to electronic resources, including the web, at more than 100 PCs within the Library.
• On-demand access to over 29,000 journal titles available on Library PCs and from your home computer.
• An on-site collection including 975,000 print volumes and an additional 1,000,000 items, such as sound recordings, video recordings, DVDs, and microforms.
• Friendly staff ready to help you with your information needs.
• Evening and weekend hours.
• In-person and online borrowing privileges for books from 85 OhioLINK libraries.
• Access to the SCHOLAR Library catalog, the Web, and other electronic resources from your home computer.
• The latest research databases.
• Free interlibrary loan service, providing access to an almost unlimited number of library materials owned by other libraries world-wide, through a web-based interface putting you in control of your own borrowing activities. (“Welcome to the Library” by the Director Glenda Thornton)

Research Guides are provided for ENG 100/101 and ENG 102 as well as links to help you cite sources, access course textbook reserves, and access eBooks. You can even get a library tour or access online library tutorials to help you succeed in not only your writing classes but all of your classes.

Be sure to visit the library and see how else it can help you succeed!

The Writing Center

The Writing Center is located on the 1st floor of the library in the back left corner. You can make an appointment through Starfish, by calling 687-6981, or in person at RT 124. The Writing Center is open Monday – Thursday from 9:30am – 7:00pm and on Fridays from 9:30am – 4:00pm.

The Writing Center is not an editing service. Rather, it is a place to go and get feedback about your writing, not only your grammar. In order to get the most out of your 30-minute session, we suggest the following:

• Bring a paper with instructor feedback;
• Write at least two questions on the paper about issues you want to address;
• Bring the assignment and/or rubric so that you can get help talking out organization;
• Be polite and be on time.

The Writing Center is an excellent place to get help for all of you classes and for all assignments including but not limited to; lab reports, research papers, group projects, writing assignments, and grammar.

The Digital Design Studio

The Digital Design Studio is located on the third floor of the Michael Schwartz Library and it provides CSU students with access to software and digital tools, and individualized project consultations. You can rent equipment such as digital cameras and camcorders and other photography and video equipment, microphones, maker equipment, VR headsets, and more. You can also set up a project consultation to help you navigate multimodal, multimedia, and/or digital projects. The Digital Design Studio also created a project guide that includes links to setting up consultations, getting started on your project as well as information about digital identity and privacy, copyright, and plagiarism.

The Tutoring and Academic Success Center (TASC)

The TASC office uses “research-based strategies and approaches for learning in order to help students achieve their academic goals and ultimately to graduate. We do this in an informal, student-centered environment that assists students to not only achieve academically but to also socially integrate into college life.” They offer Success Coaching, Tutoring, Supplemental instruction (SI) for various courses, and provide Structured Learning Assistance (SLA) in our ENG 101 courses. You can contact them at 216-687-2012. They are located in Main Classroom room 233 and you can visit their website here.

Structured Learning Assistance (SLA)

Structured Learning Assistance (SLA) is an academic support program that is available to students enrolled in English 101 courses. The SLA leaders work as a part of the Tutoring and Academic Success Center (TASC). SLA features weekly study and practice “labs,” or “sessions,” built into the class time in which students master course content to develop and apply specific learning strategies for the course, as well as strengthen their study skills to improve performance in their current English 101 course. The SLA lab times are formally attached to the student’s class schedule and there is no additional charge to the student for this support. These mandatory sessions are facilitated by successful upper-level students, who, in collaboration with the professor, develop collaborative learning sessions to guide students as they learn how to write. The SLA facilitators clarify lecture points for the students and assist them in understanding the expectations of the professor, while additionally focusing on improved study skills. SLA activities frequently include study guides, collaborative learning/group activities, and study skills — such as discovering your preferred learning style, efficient note-taking, and time management.

The Center for International Services & Programs (CISP)

CISP “provides services to international students through International Orientation, International Student Services, as well as domestic and international students through Education Abroad and the National Student Exchange.” Students can visit their office in Main Classroom room 412 Monday – Thursday from 1 – 3pm. For more information pertaining to the services and opportunities CISP offers please visit their website here.

The CSU Counseling Center

CSU offers counseling services to students, faculty, and staff. If you feel that you could use support for personal, academic, or other stresses or challenges and would like to speak to a CSU counselor, you can contact the Counseling Center at 216-687-2277. They are located at UN 220 and are open Monday – Friday from 9 – 5pm, with sessions are available by appointment from 8 – 5pm on weekdays. They also have walk-in appointments from 1 – 3pm Monday – Friday. If you need to speak to a counselor outside of office hours, you can still dial the Counseling Center number and you will be able to speak to someone, 24 hours a day. For more information about the CSU Counseling Center, please visit their website here.

Using Digital Resources and Tools

Blackboard

Some of you might be familiar with course management systems from high school while for others this might be a very new. CSU’s management is system is Blackboard. An instructor may choose to use or not use  Blackboard in his or her classroom; however,  the FYW program recommends that instructors do so.  Your instructor is urged to use Blackboard as a way to foster communication between students and their classmates and students and their instructors. When integrated into the classroom, students will mostly likely be able to access course documents, check their grades, and participate in online discussions.

Starfish

Starfish is “an online program that makes it easier for undergraduate students to communicate and make appointments with support services and faculty on campus.” Again, your instructor is urged to use Starfish in his or her classroom as a way to increase communication between professors and students.

To access Starfish, students must login to CampusNet, choose the “Students” tab, and then click the “Starfish” link. Once students are logged in, they can use Starfish to 

• Find your assigned advisor
• Look for communication from your support network about your academic progress
• Schedule an appointment to meet with an advisor or tutor
• Schedule a tutorial with the Writing Center
• Schedule Supplemental Instruction (for certain courses)
• Course Conferences (with participating faculty)

For more information pertaining to Starfish, please visit their website here.

Cleveland State University Computer Labs

In order to provide opportunities for in-class drafting and research sessions, many FYW instructors will reserve a computer lab. Below are the locations of the most commonly used computer labs:

Mobile Campus

Because of the limited amount of available computer labs, instructors might require students to bring and use laptop computers during class. Since not all students own or have access to a laptop, CSU offers a Mobile Campus, a 48-hour laptop loan service. Students can find Mobile Campus in the Student Center room 128A and at the circulation desk in the Michael Schwartz library. For more information, please visit Mobile Campus’s website here.

Information Services and Technology (IS&T)

IS&T provides computer assistance to CSU students with student-owned PCs, Macs, and laptops. Services include system and disc clean-up, anti-spy and anti-virus software, software installation, virus removal, and printing help. To contact the IS&T help desk, call 687-5050, email help.desk@csuohio.edu, or visit RT 1106  between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Using Microsoft OneNote

See the Dr. Julie Townsend’s video below to help you use Microsoft OneNote:

Julie Townsend. “OneNote Walkthrough,” 4 August 2020, Youtube.

University Resources

Office of Disability Services (ODS)

The following statement should appear in your syllabus:   Note for Students with Disabilities:   Educational access is the provision of classroom accommodations, auxiliary aids and services to ensure equal educational opportunities for all students regardless of their disability. Any student who feels he or she may need an accommodation based on the impact of a disability should contact the Office of Disability Services at (216) 687-2015. The Office is located in MC147. Accommodations need to be requested in advance and will not be granted retroactively.

For more information, please refer to the ODS web page at http://www.csuohio.edu/offices/disability/faculty/index.html.

The Community Assessment Response & Evaluation (CARE) Team

The CARE team “collaboratively […] support[s] the wellbeing and safety of students, faculty, staff, and to promote a culture on campus that encourages reporting of concerns.” The CARE Team can help students receive suicide prevention counseling, health and wellness resources, access CSU’s food pantry, and more. You can visit the CARE Team office in the Student Center room 319 or reach them by calling 216 -687-2048. For more information please visit https://www.csuohio.edu/care/csu-care-team and use the links on the righthand side to navigate the site.