6 Recursos y herramientas utilizados
6.1 Buscadores
Our mission at Northwestern Polytechnic University is to provide a welcoming and supportive environment for students, while maximizing their opportunities for career growth and personal development. We believe that student life is not only an integral part of the campus community but also a fundamental part of the educational process. Student services at the University are designed to meet the needs of our student body. These include both academic and non-academic issues and activities. Many of our students work part- or full-time in local industries and come from a variety of social and ethnic backgrounds. As such, our services are tailored to meeting the needs and concerns of a mature and multicultural student body.
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University Orientation
All new students are required to attend the new student orientation program offered before the beginning of each semester. The program includes on-campus assessment test activities, an orientation workshop, and other services provided to the new students. Orientation packages are distributed to the new students prior to the orientation workshop; all administrative staff members and representatives from the faculty and the student body welcome the new students at the workshop; presentation materials cover essential information for the students, including the facility and learning resources information, administrative services provided to the students, and important rules and policies for the students to stay focused on their academic objectives. The staff advisors also assist the new students to register in classes. International students are provided a health insurance plan and information on particular regulations they must observe in compliance with the Federal regulations for international students.
All NPU students are welcome to attend the orientation to welcome the new students and receive current university information.
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Housing Assistance
The university provides several types of housing units for the students to choose from. Guaranteed housing is provided to all new students. However, certain housing units are assigned on a first-come-first-served basis. Students reside in the housing units with a full-semester
commitment. Residents of student housing must be regularly enrolled, full-time NPU students. Room reservation is effective only after the required rent and deposit have been received by NPU’s Housing Service team.
The NPU Housing Services also provides information on a variety of nearby well- maintained apartments. The NPU website provides the housing service information and online application form.
New applicants to NPU who require housing assistance should submit their housing applications (online) at least two months before they report to NPU. Current students are also eligible to receive housing services by submitting requests online.
Although applicants are given the opportunity to express preferences and housing officers will make an effort to meet the applicants’ needs, no guarantee can be given that specific house, room, or roommate preferences can be met. It is recommended that students interested in dormitory living apply early to increase their chances of selecting desired units.
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Transportation Service
Public transportation information is included in the Student Handbook posted on the Online Service Center. Airport pick-up service information is posted on the NPU website in the Student Services section under the Housing and Transportation Directory.
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Nonacademic Counseling
The Student Services Office offers assistance with personal and interpersonal issues such as relationships, cultural differences, assertiveness and self-esteem. If a student needs a professional counselor, the Student Services Office will help the student find a suitable counselor. Additionally, the Student Services Office helps students with educational/vocational concerns such as coping with university life, academic performance, test anxiety, reentry adjustment and determining life goals. Students are encouraged to seek assistance from a counselor in dealing with any problems that might affect their success at NPU.
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Culture Immersion Workshops
The NPU student body reflects the international flavor of Silicon Valley. It includes both local and international students from more than twenty countries. To help international students adjust to the new environment, culture immersion workshops are conducted every semester, free of charge, and open to all interested students. ◙Professional Development
Seminars
Offering professional development seminars is an integral part of the Student Services. The seminars are intended to enhance the students’ abilities in their professional lives – in cultural, communicative, and technical aspects. The seminar information is posted on the NPU website every semester. The seminar information is also e-mailed to the students each time.
◙ Intercollegiate Activities
To broaden students’ learning experiences and interactions with other institutions, there have been exchange student activities with the School of Business and Information Management of Oulu University of Applied Sciences in Finland. Other international communities which refer students to NPU include universities in Kazakhstan, South Korea, Vietnam, Taiwan, and China.
The NPU table tennis team has also participated in regional intercollegiate table tennis tournaments and won championships in the past. The basketball team members have participated in Bay Area basketball tournaments sponsored by local organizations. Several other student clubs are also making contact with outside institutions and organizations for friendship building activities.
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Career Placement Services
As a key component of Student Services, career placement services help the students in the following areas: (1) Prepare resumes and sharpen interview skills, (2) Conduct career seminars and job fairs, (3) Identify the students’ strengths and interests and provide career advice, (4) Provide internship opportunities to the students (5) Provide library materials and an online tool (via the NPU Online Service Center) for the studentsto gain access to various sources of job related information. The Career Center, collaborated with the library, provides the students with access to a collection of books, articles, magazines, brochures, and videotapes about employment opportunities. The students may also use the computer facility in the Career Center for job search. Employment information can be found on the online job posting board through the eCareer Center in the NPU Online Service Center.
The service provides career planning and job search assistance prior to and after students’ graduation.
Graduate students are encouraged to work with a Student Services counselor on their resumes and career development plans in the early stages of their academic study.
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Student Handbooks
The NPU Student Handbook describes important policies and regulations that affect the students’ status at NPU. It also provides relevant information affecting the students’ lives during their studies at NPU.
The Student Handbook and the International Student Handbook are posted on the Online Service Center. In the New Student Orientation Workshop, the students are informed and receive handouts pointing to the online location for these Handbooks. The Handbooks complement the information contained in the University Catalog. All students are urged to read and refer to the information in the most current editions of both the Student Handbooks and the University Catalog - all available online.
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The Student Association
The Student Association is the voice of the student body at NPU; it enables students to maximize the social, vocational, and educational aspects of their learning experience. Students automatically become members of the Student Association when they register with NPU. All students are encouraged to support the association's activities.
The association is governed by officers elected from officially registered students on campus. Elections are held annually. Officers elected include President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, and a number of Directors. The
29 officers represent the student body to plan and conduct the student activities and may voice their concerns or requests to the university administration. They ensure the students have a voice in the planning of extra-curricular activities. The Association is responsible for expressing student opinions on issues relevant to the University and for working to improve the educational process and university environment. Student volunteers work with the elected officers to conduct extracurricular activities. A designated administrator serves as the advisor to the Student Association. The Student Association, under the guidance of the advisor, has conducted various extracurricular activities for the students every semester, such as field trips/tours, picnics, parties, sporting events, and intercollegiate activities.
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