Student Resources

A variety of student and community resources are available from Claremont Graduate University and the The Claremont Colleges Services to enrich the academic community, to provide student support, and to ensure student success.

Alumni Relations

Jagels Building, 165 E. 10th Street
Website: https://www.cgu.edu/alumni/
E-mail: alumni@cgu.edu
Phone: (909) 607-9226

The Office of Alumni Relations is dedicated to nurturing lifelong relationships between Claremont Graduate University and its alumni and friends. The office engages alumni, students, faculty, and friends through exclusive programs and services that promote loyalty, advocacy, and participation in the education, research, and community service activities of the university. The office, in collaboration with the academic schools and programs of CGU, sponsors alumni activities on campus and in regional communities.

Black Student Affairs

139 E. 7th Street
Website: https://services.claremont.edu/obsa/
E-mail: obsa@claremont.edu
Phone: (909) 607-3669

The Office of Black Student Affairs (OBSA) is a cultural center and service unit within The Claremont Colleges Services. On behalf of The Claremont Colleges, OBSA is dedicated to providing support, resources and space for students of African descent to feel safe, valued, informed and connected. OBSA offers a range of programs, services and activities on behalf of enrolled 7C students of African descent, faculty, staff and allies. Our key service areas include identity-based workshops, skill building activities, mentoring, arts engagement activities, student organizational support, professional/career development workshops, the sharing of 7C resources and referrals, heritage-month programming and other monthly celebrations, and collaborative partnerships with 7C colleges, departments and organization.

Campus Safety

Campus Safety personnel are on duty 24 hours a day year round to help provide safety and security for students, faculty, and staff. Campus Safety is staffed by individuals who are specifically trained and responsible for a full range of public safety services including: crime reports; apprehension and arrest of suspects; enforcement of all federal, state, and local laws, as well as college policies and regulations; responding to suspicious activity/persons, medical emergencies, fire emergencies, traffic accidents, and safety hazards; parking enforcement; escort services; and a host of related security services.

The department has an active crime prevention unit to help provide the community with comprehensive programs promoting the elimination and reduction of crime. 

All students, faculty, and staff must register their vehicles with Campus Safety every academic year. Vehicle registration is available at any time. Temporary parking permits are required for visitors and are available at no charge at Campus Safety any time.

Campus-wide lost and found is also located in the Campus Safety Office.

Career Development Office

The Career Development Office focuses on personalized career planning for current students and alumni. Whether your path is clear or unclear, or you are in the midst of reinventing yourself, we tailor our approach to fit your needs. Our comprehensive services consist of one-on-one appointments, a job search database, web/workshops, presentations, and employer events designed to educate you about career options and the career development process. Through a collaboration with alumni relations and employers looking to hire CGU students, we offer you a unique opportunity to gain insights from dynamic professionals who are knowledgeable and active in their fields. We work with you to design your career strategy by helping you access the right resources and people so you can make informed decisions about acquiring and developing the competencies you need for career success.

Check our MyCGU website for a wealth of information available to you whenever you want and wherever you are.

Visit Handshake to make an appointment today. We are available in person, by phone or Zoom. Come early and often and let us help you map your future.

Center for Writing and Rhetoric

The Center for Writing and Rhetoric (CWR) strives to develop students’ academic writing and presenting through a variety of intra-curricular programs: in-person, online and email consultations, the Big Pitch, writing events, webinars and workshops, embedded writing instruction, writing groups, writing courses, and online resources. The CWR operates through an Anti-Discrimination and Learning Community pedagogy that aims to provide a safe space for collaborative writing processes that allow for variations in background, experience, worldview, and cultural values. This is accomplished through a range of both actionable and pedagogical commitments. The Center for Writing & Rhetoric’s Anti-Discrimination Statement was drafted collaboratively in 2020.   

Below is a brief description of each of the CWR’s current programs:

• In-person and online consulting services are available to students free of charge twice a week throughout the year. Individual consulting sessions focus on teaching essential rhetorical skills in the context of particular disciplinary discourses. CWR Writing Consultants work with CGU students at every phase of their degree programs on a wide range of writing and presentation projects, including language development, research papers, proposals, qualifying exams, cover letters, articles, interviews, oral presentations, posters, and dissertations. Writing Consultants are trained CGU students with excellent writing skills and teaching or tutoring experience.
• The Big Pitch is CGU’s Three Minute Thesis competition. Competitors have three minutes and a single PowerPoint slide to convey the key details and significance of their project to a general audience. After passing through a preliminary round, six finalists compete for cash prizes and the opportunity to represent CGU at regional competitions.
• CWR writing events have grown in both size and type, and now include weekend Dissertation Bootcamps, one-day writing retreats, Students of Color Writing Retreats, Qualifying Exam Preparation Weekends, and the week-long Summer Dissertation Bootcamp. Weekend Dissertation Bootcamps give students working on dissertations a venue for quiet, focused writing time with a group of like-minded peers who share strategies for staying motivated, managing time, and writing efficiently. Monthly writing retreats offer the same program for a single day once a month and are open to all students working on any type of project. Students of Color Retreats build community amongst students of color while providing a venue for writing and studying with colleagues. Over the summer, the CWR offers a weeklong Dissertation Bootcamp that extends the usual weekend program to a longer and more in-depth format. Finally, the Qualifying Exam Preparation Weekend gives students working on the qualifying exam milestone the space to work with peers and attend webinars on qualifying exam preparation.
• Online webinars, campus-wide workshops, and course-specific workshops address writing-related topics of interest to students in all disciplines and focus on practical skills development.
• The Writing Fellows program embeds Writing Consultants in individual classes (at the instructor’s request) to provide tailored writing instruction relevant to the course material. The Writing Fellow serves a first point of contact for students to work with someone familiar with the course material and assignments.
• Writing Groups are student-led groups formed by any number of students at any stage of degree progress. They met at various intervals with different goals, but the Center for Writing & Rhetoric helps with providing best practices and setting up the groups. There is also a Canvas page that writing groups can access for resources and to add members.
• Courses in writing and rhetoric provide classroom-based instruction in common graduate-level writing tasks, including research-based academic argumentation, writing literature reviews, public speaking, and Language for Reading Purposes courses. All CWR courses are offered as 0-credit, S/U. The Director of the CWR also teaches writing courses in different departments across campus.
• The Center for Writing & Rhetoric has numerous Canvas modules on common graduate-level writing and presenting topics available to all students as well as numerous handouts and videos (via our YouTube channel).

Finally, the Center for Writing & Rhetoric collaborates with offices and programs across campus by providing webinars and consultations. The CWR collaborates with the First Year Experience Program, the Office of Admissions, the Drucker School of Management’s Kravis Competition, the THRIVE program, and the Success after Coursework program, amongst others. During the 2021-2022 academic year, the CWR will also be working with stakeholders across campus to develop the CGU Grants & Awards Initiative to provide resources and writing support for students who would like to learn about and apply for grants.

Chaplains

The Claremont Colleges are served by the Interfaith Chaplains, who represent, coordinate and direct the programs of the McAlister Center for Religious Activities. Chaplains serve as confidential emotional healers, spiritual counselors, and provide ethical leadership to religious and non-religious students. A Protestant chaplain, Catholic priest, Imam (Muslim Chaplain) and Rabbi serve the five undergraduate colleges and the two graduate schools full-time. The McAlister Center sponsors a full schedule of worship services and a wide range of events and programs under the sponsorship of the Buddhist, Catholic, Christian Science, Hindu, Interdenominational Christian, Jewish, Latter Day Saints, Muslim and Zen Meditation groups, as well as other on-campus religious and spiritual groups. The chaplains maintain liaison with religious institutions and social service agencies in the surrounding communities, and have a Community Service Coordinator that link students to university-wide volunteer activities and local community service organizations.

Chicano/Latino Student Affairs Center

The Chicano/Latino Student Affairs Center (CLSA) is committed to the retention and graduation of students of Chicano, Hispanic, Latino, and Spanish descent at The Claremont Colleges. Programs are provided throughout the year that allow students the opportunity to enrich their cultural identity, social development, and their leadership role in the college community. CLSA encourages and supports social responsibility and community-building. CLSA offers services and activities that celebrate the history, heritage, and culture of Chicanos, Hispanics, Latinos and Spaniards in the United States, the Caribbean, and the Americas.

Counseling Services

All registered students attending The Claremont Colleges are eligible to be seen at Monsour Counseling and Psychological Services (MCAPS). MCAPS has a staff of psychologists, consulting psychiatrists, and graduate psychology interns who provide therapeutic and educational services, including individual, couples, and group therapy. Workshops and groups on a variety of topics also are available. Referrals to other counseling resources are often made for more extensive or ongoing help.

Dean of Students & Campus Life

Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students & Campus Life: Quamina Carter
Harper East
Website: https://my.cgu.edu/dean-of-students/
E-mail: deanof.students@cgu.edu
Office: (909) 621-8965

The Dean of Students Office is the primary advocate for student success at CGU, ensuring students receive the support, information, and resources to effectively meet their academic endeavors and achieve their degree goals. The Dean of Students Office espouses a commitment to service as the core of the mission of the organization. Defining service as both helpful assistance and a contribution to the welfare of others, the functions of the Dean of Students Office extends beyond administrative compliance with University policies, to encompass the human and personal concerns of students. The Dean of Students Office welcomes the opportunity to address student need in the areas of mental/physical health and wellness, diversity and inclusivity, and safety. Whatever the challenge a student may face, the Dean of Students is always available to assist.

Administrative offices reporting to the AVP for Student Affairs and Dean of Students & Campus Life include Student Life, Diversity, and Leadership; International Services; and Disability Services.  These units encompass an array of functions including, but not limited to, student government, minority mentoring, student activities and programs, student visas, and student accommodations. All of these services contribute to a comprehensive effort for advancing the goal of student success by complementing the academic experience.

Disability Services

The Office of Disability Services (ODS) serves as an advocate for student success by encouraging interactions between students, faculty, and staff that promote a campus climate of academic, personal, and professional development.

The office’s mission is to support the university’s commitment to equity and diversity by providing support services and academic accommodations to students with disabilities.

The ODS collaborates consortium-wide to promote awareness and strives to create an accessible community that empowers students and faculty with the tools to achieve their educational goals.

In accordance with guidelines proposed under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), and the ADA Amendments Act of 2008 (ADAAA), Claremont Graduate University is committed to providing equal access to courses with reasonable accommodations for those with documented disabilities.

EmPOWER Center

As the Violence Prevention and Advocacy Center of The Claremont Colleges, the Center works collaboratively to support 7C-wide educational programs and provide holistic, confidential support to all students impacted by sexual violence, dating/domestic violence, or stalking. ​

The EmPOWER Center welcomes all gender identities and expressions, sexual orientations, ages, abilities, ethnic and racial identities, religious affiliations, cultural identities, and immigration statuses. We are an open and affirming space for all. 

Financial Aid

Director: Kristal Gama
Financial Aid, Harper East
Website: www.cgu.edu/financialaid
E-mail: finaid@cgu.edu
Phone: (909) 621-8337

See the Financial Aid  section of the Bulletin for additional information.

Graduate Student Council

Website: https://my.cgu.edu/graduate-student-council/

The Graduate Student Council (GSC) provides a formal link among the students, faculty, and administration and is composed of members from each department of the University, an executive board (President, Vice President, Treasurer, and Secretary, advisor, and Dean of Students). The GSC controls a budget determined by the University and allocates funds to projects of value and interest to students, including travel and research grants. All council meetings are public. The council earnestly seeks to represent the opinions of the students and to ensure the quality of student life and experience at Claremont Graduate University.

Health Services

Health Insurance, Immunizations, and Vaccinations

Website: https://my.cgu.edu/health-insurance/
E-mail: healthins@cgu.edu
Phone: (909) 607-0434

All students at CGU are required to enroll in the university health insurance plan while enrolled at CGU unless eligible for exemptions or waivers. For additional information see the Health Insurance Policy  section of this Bulletin.

All students are required complete the Medical History Report, and provide proof of required immunizations and vaccinations. Although the Office of Student Life, Diversity & Leadership oversees the policy, all documentation is managed by the Student Health Services Office.

For a full list of required and recommended immunizations and vaccinations, visit the Immunization Policy  section of the bulletin.

Student Health Services at the Claremont Colleges

All registered students attending The Claremont Colleges are eligible to be seen at Student Health Services.  Quality, integrity, accountability, respect, and courtesy are priorities in all services and relationships at the Student Health Services. As health care becomes more complex, patient care requires a team effort. We encourage students to take an active role in their own health and to follow up for additional care and testing as recommended. The staff of the Student Health Services consists of physicians, nurse practitioners, and nurses who make every effort to provide excellent medical attention in a caring and efficient manner.

The Student Health Services Office also manages the university immunization and vaccinations policy. Students should submit the Medical History Report form directly to the SHS team at shsrecords@claremont.edu. For more information, visit the Immunization Policy  section in the bulletin.

Housing

Claremont Graduate University students can choose among a number of off-campus housing options.

Claremont Collegiate Apartments offers one-bedroom and studio apartment options for CGU students. The complex, located at 1415 N. College Avenue, north of the Claremont School of Theology campus, also houses undergraduates of The Claremont Colleges and other universities in the area. The complex features a fitness center, a community club room, and renovated patio areas and outside spaces to promote more social interaction and a communal college atmosphere.

The Oasis Residential Commons, a 419-unit apartment complex, located in the Claremont Village, is graduate students only and includes classroom and group meeting spaces, a gym, swimming pool, study rooms, lounges, and much more. Oasis serves the housing needs of students, faculty, and staff of The Claremont Colleges.

The Real Estate and Housing Office of The Claremont Colleges offers information about on- and off-campus housing, including assistance with housing referrals. 

Huntley Bookstore

175 E 8th Street
Website: https://www.bkstr.com/claremontstore/home
Phone: (909) 607-1502

The Bookstore was established in 1969 with a gift from Mr. and Mrs. Earl W. Huntley. In addition to selling textbooks and other course material required for classes, the bookstore has an extensive selection of general reading titles in stock as well as a wide variety of student and office supplies, gifts, sundries, and snack foods. The computer store offers academic pricing for computers and software, and stocks peripheral needs at competitive prices. Online ordering for textbooks, computers, and general merchandise is available on the website.

ID Cards

Connection (ID Cards/Claremont Cash)
South Lounge of Honnold-Mudd Library
800 Dartmouth Avenue
Website: https://services.claremont.edu/connection/
Phone: (909) 607-2273

All students are required to have a CGU student ID Card.  The Claremont Card Center provides ID card services for The Claremont Colleges. There is no charge for your initial ID Card.

The Card Center also manages the Claremont Cash program.  Claremont Cash can be used to purchase both food and nonfood items throughout The Claremont Colleges, as well as at local merchants in and around Claremont. All students, faculty, and staff of The Claremont Colleges have a Claremont Cash account established as soon as your ID card is created.

Information Technology

Academic Computing Building, room 303
Website: https://my.cgu.edu/it/
Email: helpdesk@cgu.edu
Phone: (909) 621-8174 

The mission of the Office of Information Technology (OIT) is to support Claremont Graduate University by providing leadership and guidance in the implementation and maintenance of information technologies through exceptional customer service in fulfillment of the CGU mission.

• In support of this mission, OIT will:
• Provide comprehensive services to advance administrative applications
• Support end user information technology activities
• Manage instructional labs, electronic classrooms, processes, and procedures
• Ensure a secure, stable and reliable network environment
• Integrate evolving Internet and intranet technologies

International Scholars Program

The International Scholars Program (ISP) is designed to help students succeed in graduate-level courses by teaching about practices and expectations of American academic and business culture. For more information, visit the Program Requirements Bulletin.

International Services

Director: Ariel Carpenter
131 East 10th Street
Website: https://my.cgu.edu/international-services/
E-mail: international@cgu.edu
Phone: (909) 607-0434

The Office of Student Life, Diversity and Leadership oversees International Services. SLDL staff serve as International Advisors to F-1 and J-1 student visa holders, as well as build and support the international community at CGU. See the International Services  section of the Bulletin for policies specific to international students.

Libraries

The Claremont Colleges Libraries
800 Dartmouth Avenue
Website: http://libraries.claremont.edu
Phone: (909) 621- 8150

The Claremont Colleges Libraries partners with faculty, students, and staff to provide a vital physical and digital center for research, teaching, learning, and other forms of intellectual engagement at The Claremont Colleges. To fulfill our purpose we:

• Collaborate with the colleges to advance their educational missions
• Understand and meet the information needs of faculty, students, and staff
• Provide our users with seamless and enduring access to the world of knowledge
• Foster new research at the colleges and make it freely available and easily discoverable to the global community through open access
• Empower our users to navigate the complexities of the scholarly information landscape to maximize their success
• Sponsor creative and exciting publications, exhibitions, programs, and events that are designed to stimulate intellectual curiosity, captivate audiences, and lead to new scholarly collaborations
• Support our innovative librarians and staff to improve advocacy for user needs by continually developing their knowledge, skills, and expertise

Honnold/Mudd Library, located at 800 Dartmouth Avenue, across the street from Huntley Bookstore, holds collections in the arts, humanities, sciences, and social sciences. The Library Café and Connection, which houses the Copy Center and the Claremont Card Center, are found in Honnold/Mudd Library. The CUC Records Center houses most of the paper journals and a small percentage of books from the library collections. Claremont Colleges faculty, students, and staff may request materials for delivery in print or electronic format.

Mail and Duplicating Services

Mail and Duplicating Services office offers many mail and shipping services at discount rates.  This office also provides a variety of duplicating and associated services.

Ombudsperson

McAlister Center, Lower Level
919 N. Columbia Ave
Website: www.cgu.edu/ombuds
E-mail: ombuds@cgu.edu
Phone: (909) 607-0908

The University Ombudsperson offers a range of dispute resolution assistance for CGU students. Visitors are welcome to discuss academic and research issues, employment concerns, policies, unfair treatment, and any other matters related to the activities of the university. Services provided by the University Ombudsperson include the following.

• Identify and explain relevant policies and procedures
• Develop resolution options
• Facilitate communications
• Mediate a dispute or misunderstanding

For those students with concerns who do not know where to begin, the Ombudsperson is a good place to start.

In all cases, the response of the Ombudsperson is tailored to the dynamics of the situation and the informed consent of the visitor. Four ethical tenants guide the work of the Ombudsperson.

Confidentiality. The Ombudsperson does not keep records for the University, and will not disclose the names or concerns of its visitors without permission. (The only exception is if there is an imminent risk of physical harm.) The Ombudsperson Office thus is not an Office of Notice for the University.

Neutrality. The Ombudsperson is respectfully impartial with all parties to a conflict. The Ombudsperson does not take sides in any dispute, but rather advocates for fair process and equitable results.

Informality. The Ombudsperson listens, offers information about University policies, procedures, and resources, and presents a range of options for resolving problems. With permission, the Ombudsperson will facilitate communication or mediate a dispute. The Ombudsperson does not arbitrate, adjudicate, or participate in formal procedures.

Independence. To ensure objectivity, the Ombudsperson is not aligned with any administrative unit and reports directly to the President for administrative and budgetary purposes.

The Ombudsperson Office is located on the ground floor of the McAlister Center—off the CGU campus—to assure visitors’ confidentiality. Please call or e-mail to arrange for an appointment.

Preparing Future Faculty

Director: Shamini Dias, Ph.D.
Asst. Director: Shelby Lamar, M.A.
Address: 135 E. 12th St. Claremont, CA 91711
Website: www.cgu.edu/pff  
Email: pff@cgu.edu 
Phone: (909) 607-6224

The Preparing Future Faculty (PFF) Program offers professional development in all aspects of teaching in formal and informal settings, as well as in academic and non-academic contexts to CGU students, alumni, and faculty.

The PFF program offers teaching and pedagogical leadership development for students seeking careers in academic and non-academic settings, as well as for those who are already teaching and seek to develop and improve their pedagogical applications. Through the program, you become an agile, inclusive leader and educator who understands the mission of higher education. We help you explore, discover, and build pedagogical knowledge and skills to embrace diversity and work inclusively with learners in different situations. While the PFF program focuses on college teaching, the values, goals, and methods the program helps you develop can be applied outside of academia and formal teaching contexts to leadership work that engages minds and leads learning and change in the 21st century. 

PFF Services and Resources

Pedagogy Workshops and Webinars - We offer a range of open workshops and webinars that are open to all CGU students, alumni, faculty, and staff. Please see the semester’s list of workshop offerings on the PFF webpage.

College Teaching Certificate - All enrolled students and alumni can earn a  College Teaching Certificate that is added to your academic transcript. Alumni pay a $50 per semester administrative fee to be added to the student tracking system in order to be awarded the certificate. The certificate is earned by completing the two courses: “Transdisciplinary Pedagogy for Ethical Education” and “Teaching Practicum and Portfolio”. 

Teaching Consultation and Resourcing - Work with the PFF team to understand different aspects of teaching and learning, build resources you need as an educator such as:

• Teaching Demonstrations: Design and practice short teaching demonstrations to get feedback as part of your career development preparation for campus visits, and to practice teaching to improve your facilitation and teaching presence.
• Teaching Document Feedback: Brainstorm, plan, and get oral and written feedback in developing documents such as teaching or leadership philosophy statements, diversity statements, course design and syllabi, lesson and workshop plans, student learning outcomes, assessments and rubrics etc.
• Teaching Resources: Work with the PFF team to access, develop, or tailor inclusive, active learning resources you need for teaching and facilitation.

 How to Engage with the PFF Team

1. In-person or small group appointments, on campus or online.

2. Submit teaching documents for email review. 

3. Please visit the PFF website to access our on-line appointment and email review scheduler.

Queer Resource Center

395 East Sixth Street
Website: http://colleges.claremont.edu/qrc/
Phone: (909) 607-1817

The Queer Resource Center is a 7 College resource center serving the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, asexual, omnisexual, pansexual and allied communities at the Claremont Colleges.

Registrar/Student Records

The Registrar’s Office is committed to maintaining the accuracy, integrity, and privacy of CGU student records; to ensuring compliance with CGU policy and higher education regulations; and to facilitating administrative processes for students, faculty, and CGU’s academic programs.

Student Accounts

Harper Hall East
Website: https://my.cgu.edu/student-accounts/
E-mail: student.accounts@cgu.edu
Phone: (909) 607-2613

See the Student Accounts  section of the Bulletin for additional information.

Student Engagement

The Office of Student Engagement at Claremont Graduate University is a cross-functional, integrated unit, that partners with academic departments, student services, student affairs, academic support offices and enrollment services to provide an exceptional student experience across the graduate school life cycle.

More specifically, the Student Engagement team supports new student enrollment activities, and advances student success initiatives aimed at increasing retention, persistence and graduation rates.

Through our office, prospective students can learn more about what makes CGU unique as a graduate institution and register for webinars, information sessions and get connected to a recruiter to speak more about the admissions process. Current students at CGU can seek out our office to learn more about the resources that can help them flourish in their academic work and/or how to get engaged with the larger campus and student life community.

Our team of Student Support Specialists are uniquely assigned to an academic school at CGU to ensure that students have a specialist that they can turn to for any questions they may have as they navigate the graduate school experience. Our team is deeply committed to your success while at CGU and look forward to supporting you throughout your journey.

Student Life, Diversity, and Leadership

The Office of Student Life, Diversity and Leadership (also known as the SLDL Office) is the primary office that addresses co-curricular life on campus. The ways we do this is by addressing the changing needs of students; creating, building and maintaining student communities; international advising; co-curricular programming to orient, engage and connect students to the university; and promoting a culture of wellness.  

Visit the Student Life, Diversity & Leadership  section in bulletin for more information.

The Claremont Colleges

101 South Mills Avenue
Website: www.claremont.edu
Phone: (909) 621-8000

CGU is a member of The Claremont Colleges which consists of five undergraduate colleges and two graduate institutions. The undergraduate schools include Claremont McKenna, Harvey Mudd, Pitzer, Pomona, and Scripps Colleges.  The Keck Graduate Institute (KGI) is the other graduate institution beside CGU.  For more information about the participating Claremont Colleges, services, programs, events, and venues, visit the website above.