Student Life & Student Services

Housing and Residence Life

Housing on campus is provided in a variety of living environments to meet varying needs of students.

Canavan Hall, housing approximately 260 students, is primarily used as first-year and new student housing.  Canavan is a five-story suite-style residence hall. Two bedrooms share a bathroom; lounges and laundry facilities are on each floor. Rooms are either doubled or tripled, and feature a female only floor and four floors which are co-ed living by suite.

The Campus Apartments,  housing 384 students, is a complex of seven two-story apartment-style buildings, providing housing typically for upperclass students. Each apartment houses between four and six students and consists of four bedrooms, two bathrooms, a living room, and a full kitchen. Laundry facilities are available within each building.

Daemen College collaborates with Collegiate Village, an independently operated housing complex, which typically houses upperclass students. Housing is apartment-style and includes laundry facilities within each apartment.  Transportation is provided between Collegiate Village and Daemen’s campus.

The College is also collaborating with Snyder Park, adjacent to campus, to house 12 students in a building featuring apartment style living with either single or double rooms. Each individual apartment has a bathroom, full kitchen, cable, internet, and laundry access on the ground floor.

At times, housing demand exceeds the available beds on campus. When that happens, Daemen partners with Homewood Suites located about two miles from campus and students are housed there until a space on campus or in Collegiate Village is available.

A trained Residence Life staff member is available to assist residential students with their social, academic, and personal needs, no matter where students live, believing that a student’s place of residence is an integral part of the total educational experience.

Breakfast, lunch and dinner are served on weekdays in the Wick Student Center; brunch and dinner are served on Saturdays and Sundays. Adequate parking is available for resident students who need to park their automobiles on campus. All vehicles must be registered with the College; parking permits are required.

Residence Halls are open only while classes are in session. If housing is needed during breaks and holidays, students must complete a break housing form in accordance with the timeline set forth by the Residence Life Office. Students requesting to stay must be granted approval and must have a Daemen related reason to stay on campus (Athletics, Class etc.)

Daemen College Housing Residency Requirement

All first-time, full-time students who reside outside of a 30-mile radius from campus are required to live in on-campus housing during their first two (2) years at Daemen College (four consecutive semesters total) unless commuting from home and residing with a parent(s) or legal guardian(s).  Incoming transfer students who have had prior on-campus housing at another institution will be able to count that time towards this requirement. In order for the Office of Residence Life to assist students as best possible, students need to follow strict timelines in order to be placed where they have requested. For dates and timelines, please refer to the Residence Life website.

Gender Neutral Housing

The Office of Housing and Residence Life permits non-first year students of any gender to room with one another in a campus apartment. Students who are interested in this living arrangement MUST request this option as a group during the housing selection process. Students living in the same gender neutral apartment must keep separate bedrooms.  All residents of the apartment must agree to these terms and sign an additional “Gender Neutral Housing” addendum.  The College does NOT assign students of different genders  to the same apartment except under this arrangement.

Commuter Life

Over half of the student body commutes to campus. During the day and after classes, many commuters study in the Research & Information Commons (RIC) or socialize in the Wick Student Center. Commuter students are encouraged to become involved in student organizations and to participate in student activities. Information about campus life and student events is provided through the Daemen website and regular Daemen College email communications. Commuter students may bring a bag lunch or purchase a la carte meals at The Den. More substantial, all-you-can-eat meals may be purchased in the dining hall for cash or with “DC Bucks.” Private lockers for commuter students are available in several campus academic buildings. Parking permits are required of all persons (residents, commuters, faculty, staff, and visitors).  Apply for a parking permit via your MyDaemen page.

Wick Student Center

Traditional all-you-can-eat meals are served in the main dining hall, and an a la carte selection is open to all in The Den. The recreation room and The Den are popular spots for socializing and relaxing during the day or evening. The recreation room has pool tables and ping pong tables. The Den has large screen TVs, community tables and chairs, and both booth and lounge seating.  Wick Center also houses a multi-purpose social room, an information desk staffed by Campus Safety officers, several lounges and meeting rooms, and several administrative staff offices. Alumni Lounge has a Steinway grand piano that is available for casual student use. A Baldwin concert grand piano is maintained in the Social Room and is available for use by special arrangement with the Student Activities Office.

Student Activities

Student activities provide for the development of leadership skills and social interaction outside the classroom. The Director of Student Activities helps guide students in forming recognized organizations and in planning a variety of events. All students in good academic standing are encouraged to join in extracurricular activities including the Student Association, Greek fraternities and sororities, honors societies, special interest groups, academic clubs, and student publications. With appropriate approvals and a College-approved driver, College vans are available for student organizations to use for area off-campus events. The vans are reserved and authorized for use through the Student Affairs Department located in the Wick Center.

Student Association

The single most important element in the student self-governing process at Daemen College is the Student Association (S.A.). All students are ipso facto members of the Student Association, and the Student Activities fee collected by the College provides the budget with which the Student Association operates its comprehensive programs and cooperative efforts with administrators and faculty to enhance the social and academic life of the College.

Each spring Daemen College holds an election for the six member Student Association Executive Board.  Each fall an election is held for the first-year, sophomore, junior, and senior class presidents. These four class representatives together with the six member Executive Board comprise the ten member Student Association Senate.

The purpose of the Student Association Senate is to act as students’ official representative, to articulate students’ views, and to advocate for students’ best interests with the administration, faculty, other campus groups, and the community in general.  The Student Association Senate also votes on recognized student organization funding requests and works closely with the Student Activities Office on all aspects of campus programming.

Publications

Students interested in writing, photography, art, and graphic design produce Daemen’s online newspaper, The Insight, and the College’s literary magazine, Iconoclast.   These publications provide an opportunity for students in any major to develop additional marketable skills and contribute to collegial discourse and student life.

Athletics and Intramurals

Daemen Athletics is a NCAA Division II member of the East Coast Conference. Daemen Athletics sponsors 17 teams including: men’s and  women’s teams in basketball, soccer, tennis, cross country, track & field, and volleyball, men’s golf, women’s bowling, and women’s triathlon. Daemen Athletics also oversees recreational intramural and club sports.  As the Buffalo-Niagara Region’s only NCAA Division II athletics program, Daemen Athletics is committed to building championship-caliber intercollegiate athletic teams and  providing first-rate recreation and intramural programs for all Daemen students, faculty, and staff. More information can be found on the Daemen Athletics web site http://wildcats.daemen.edu/

Area Social Activities and Recreation

Social gatherings and events, plays, movies, concerts, lectures, recitals, and art exhibits are scheduled on campus throughout the year. Eleven colleges and universities in the area provide constant opportunities for social and cultural enrichment. The Buffalo area is well known for its architectural and historical heritage; its cultural vitality in the form of art galleries, history and science museums, a zoo and a botanical garden, theaters, clubs, music groups, and a wonderful philharmonic orchestra; and its professional football, hockey, lacrosse, and baseball teams. Scores of good restaurants cater to almost every taste in dining, from gourmet to fast-food, with a wide diversity of cuisines and cultures represented. There are theme parks at Darien Lake and Niagara Falls. Lake Erie and Lake Ontario beaches provide swimming and boating. Cross-country ski and hiking trails are everywhere in suburban Buffalo, with downhill ski slopes an hour’s drive away. The Genesee River Gorge, the Finger Lakes, and the Southern Tier woods and waterways offer nearby outdoor recreation all year. The Artpark, Chautauqua, and Niagara-on-the-Lake festivals and special events enrich Western New York’s cultural and intellectual life. The city’s metropolitan area bus system serves the campus and the subway runs from downtown Buffalo to a point on Main Street a mile away from Daemen.

Student Success Center

The Student Success Center (SSC) includes the Office of Academic Advisement, the Learning Center, and Disability Services. The SSC is located on the first floor of the Research and Information Commons (RIC), (716) 839-8228.

Academic Advisement

All students are assigned advisors – full time faculty in the department of each student’s declared major – who are available during registration periods and throughout the academic year to assist students. Students who have not yet declared a major are advised by professional staff advisors in the Office of Academic Advisement. Academic advisors and faculty advisors are available to help students make appropriate decisions related to scheduling, course sequencing, degree requirements, changing majors, and other college regulations.

The Academic Advisement office works closely with students and offers guidance on academic, personal, and social matters. Academic Advisement staff monitor students’ academic progress,  assist students with their adjustment to the College, maintain close contact with the faculty, and provide special counseling to students on academic probation.

Academic Coaching 

Free academic coaching (tutoring) is available to all Daemen students in most academic subjects and writing. Academic Coaching is provided by a full time Writing Specialist, other professional writing coaches, and student coaches.  Student academic coaches are students who have been recommended by instructors, completed a training program, and are paid for this position. Coaches assist students with study techniques and learning strategies, as well as course content. Specialized professional writing coaching is also available to English Language Learners (ELL/ESL).

Peer Led Team Learning (PLTL) is an academic support for selected chemistry and biology courses provided by group sessions facilitated by student PLTL leaders.  The PLTL leaders,  who have already successfully completed the course, meet with students during regularly scheduled sessions to guide team/group practice and application of course information.

Students are encouraged to meet with the Learning Center Coordinator to discuss study skills information, including strategies for overcoming academic difficulties. At the Learning Center, you will find help with time management, techniques for memory improvement, strategies for test taking, and information about your personal learning style.

Services for Students with Disabilities

Students with disabilities meet with the Associate Director of Disability Services to submit documentation of their disability, receive authorization of reasonable accommodations, discuss learning strategies, and arrange services. Students with disabilities in off-site programs can receive assistance from the Daemen College representative at their site to communicate with the Disability Services Office and arrange accommodations and services. See also the College’s policy on the accommodation of students with disabilities in the “Accreditation and Institutional Policies” section of this Catalog.

Bookstore

The Daemen College Bookstore (Follett #134), located on the ground floor of Duns Scotus Hall, carries all required and optional textbooks (new and used), as well as study and exam guides. Many textbooks are available for rent as well as purchase (please see store for details). The Bookstore also carries school supplies, trade books, greeting cards, art supplies, Daemen College clothing, and gifts. Research and supplementary texts can be special ordered. Change and stamps are available at the checkout. The bookstore accepts cash, personal check with proper ID, MasterCard, Visa, Discover, and American Express. We also make arrangements with the Office of Student Accounts to set up “book credit” accounts for students who wish to use their financial aid for the purchase of textbooks and supplies. Visit the bookstore on the internet at www.daemen.bkstr.com or from the Daemen home page under “Student Services.” Computer software may be purchased at educational prices through the Software Shop on the bookstore website. The bookstore buys used textbooks year round. Bookstore hours during the fall and spring semesters are:

Monday – Friday 8:30 a.m. – 4:30pm

Saturday – as needed

Additional hours are scheduled at the beginning of each term. (Hours are subject to change.)

Career Services

The Career Services commitment to you begins your first day on campus and lasts throughout your lifetime.  We provide a multitude of free services and support to prepare and empower you to achieve your career goals.

The benefit of a small college is Daemen’s personalized approach.  We want to get to know you, your strengths, talents, and aspirations.  Our student-centered approach includes advising, offering individualized assessments, the iCAP (individual Career Action Plan), leadership programs and networking events as well as career lectures specific to your major.  Plan on attending the many programs on campus, including Recruiters on Campus, professional panel discussions, resume preparation workshops, and networking events.

Career Services works closely with Global Programs to support international internships as a stand-alone opportunity or added as part of an international educational experience.  Please meet with your Career Services Adviser to explore these opportunities.  Information about these programs is also provided by GPO throughout the academic year.

Our staff has real world experience and business and community connections to ensure you develop a successful career strategy.  More information can be found on the department website: www.daemen.edu/career. To schedule an appointment, please call (716) 839-8334.

Class of 2016 Employment Statistics

TOTAL NUMBER OF GRADUATES (with undergraduate or dual degrees): 521

Employed: 197 (76.7%)

Further Education: 58  (22.6%)

Note:  Career outcome information is based upon the annual postgraduate survey response rate of 49.3% for undergraduate and dual degrees.

Career Field Experience

The Career Field Experience program provides students with the opportunity to gain work experience related to their academic major. Students may earn up to 12 hours of academic credit for internships during their college career. Organizations include locally and nationally recognized businesses, industry, government, health-related facilities, and educational and cultural institutions.

Successful completion of the online CFE 97-Career Preparation, Exploration, and Professionalism Seminar (CPEP) is required prior to approval of the Career Field Experience. There is no charge for this seminar. Opportunities with the Washington Internship Institute (www.wiidc.org) are also available fall and spring semester through the College’s partnership in Washington, D.C.  Opportunities with the New York State Assembly Internship program (assembly.state.ny.us/internship/) are available spring semester through the College’s partnership in Albany, NY. The New York State Assembly Internship Committee awards a stipend to each Session Intern. More information on both opportunities can be found at www.daemen.edu/career.

Classroom & Events Technology

Classroom & Events Technology provides the College community with classroom technology support and instructional equipment such as computers and video projectors, document cameras, digital video cameras, sound reinforcement, and many other types of digital and analog equipment. Students and organizations may request the use of equipment through email at: computing@daemen.edu or by phone: 839-8240.

Computing Services

Computing is an integral part of a Daemen education. All faculty and students have email accounts,  with high-speed network access available from their offices and residence hall rooms. Many courses mix web resources, online discussion groups and other electronic resources with traditional lectures and in-class discussions for a rich and varied learning environment.

While there is no requirement for students to buy computing equipment, over 95% of our students have their own computers; most students have laptops. Those who choose to use equipment in one of the public computing labs have access to a wide variety of resources free of charge. Located in the Research and Information Commons and the Business Building, these labs contain Windows or Mac computers configured with high-speed internet access and productivity software. Software is updated regularly and hardware is replaced every three years. During the fall and spring semesters, these labs are open 118 hours each week. Additional computer equipment is available in departmental labs in animation, graphic design, natural sciences, mathematics, and psychology for students taking classes in those disciplines.

The Office of Information Technology provides support for the instructional, research and communication needs of the college community. A 1Gbps Ethernet network and wireless network is provided across all offices, classrooms, labs, and residence halls. Students, faculty, and staff have access to a variety of local technology services such as Blackboard, WebAdvisor, and the Daemen website. Students living on campus can access this high-speed network free of charge. Faculty and students living off-campus can access many of our technology systems remotely.

The Office of Information Technology supports a standard suite of software for email, web browsing, word processing, virus protection, and other standard needs. Daemen College has entered into licensing agreements with Adobe, Microsoft, SPSS, Symantec, and others to provide our students, faculty, and staff with access to the most widely used productivity software.

Faculty may use dedicated computer classrooms for hands-on computer instruction, or use cart-based wireless laptops to turn any conventional classroom into a computer lab. Projection equipment also facilitates computer aided instruction and demonstrations. Faculty may also make computer resources available outside of the classroom on the web via the Blackboard learning management system.

The Research and Information Commons offers online bibliographic searching. College administrative functions are computerized and integrated by means of an Ellucian student information system.  More information can be found at: http://www.daemen.edu/computing.

Counseling, Health, Insurance & Prevention (CHIP) Center

Counseling Services

The counselors of Daemen College serve the psychological well-being of the College community so that students may be successful academically, ethically, spiritually, and personally. All registered Daemen students are eligible to attend up to 15 sessions per academic year free of charge. Services provided include: individual counseling, group counseling, couples counseling (all participants must be Daemen students), mediation, and consultation.

All counseling sessions are confidential. Your privacy and trust are important to us and are protected by state laws and professional ethical standards. No information can be released without your written authorization. However, confidentiality is legally limited. Your counselor will speak with you about the limits of confidentiality when you first meet. Feel free to ask your counselor any questions or express any concerns you may have about confidentiality.

All counseling appointments take place in the CHIP Center which is housed in Wick Center, first floor, room 117. To schedule an appointment, please contact the counselor of your choice:

Shannon Radder, M.S. Ed., LMHC, Director of Counseling Services: (716) 839-8337

Stephanie Bordin, LMHC: (716) 839-8375

Deloris Fields-Jones, LMSW: (716) 688-3852

Jason Masker, MS, LMHC: (716) 391-2199

Additional information can be found on the Counseling Services webpage.

Health and Insurance Services

Upon acceptance to the College, a new student is required to complete the Incoming Student Health Form with a physical examination having been conducted within the past year. In accordance with New York State law, all students born on or after January 1, 1957, are required to prove immunity to measles, mumps, and rubella. These students must provide adequate evidence of immunity in order to ensure their class registration. Other vaccinations are required or recommended, as detailed on the Student Health Form sent to students upon their acceptance to the College.

In addition, NYS law requires all students, regardless of age, to make an informed decision about whether to receive the meningitis vaccine. Information about the disease and vaccine is on the Student Health Form. College students, particularly first-year students living on campus, are urged to consider vaccination. Meningococcal disease is a vaccine preventable disease. Two separate strains of the vaccine are required to prevent it. Total protection from Meningitis looks like this:

  1. The conjugate meningococcal vaccine protects against serogroups A, C, W and Y. The CDC recommends this vaccine be administered at age 11, with a booster dose at 16.
    AND
  2. The meningococcal B vaccine protects against serogroup B of which 50% of meningitis cases are caused. The CDC says this series may be administered to adolescents and young adults 16 through 23 years of age. Depending on which Sero B vaccine you choose, it may be a series of two vaccines or a series of three vaccines.

No vaccine is 100% effective. It is, however, our best defense against the disease. Contact your physician to discuss the importance of receiving both strains of vaccines or for further information about the risks of contracting meningitis visit the CDC and the National Meningitis Association (NMAUS) websites.

The Health and Insurance Services Office offers confidential assistance in referring students to area health care providers in the event of illness or accident, procuring necessary health evaluations prior to external learning experiences, and obtaining required immunizations. The staff also provides assistance to students with health insurance claims and questions.

Insurance

Daemen College requires all residential students, international students, student-athletes (club as well as intercollegiate sports), and students in health-related fields of study while participating in external learning experiences (clinical affiliations, etc.) to be covered by health insurance that can be used in the Buffalo/Amherst area.

Coverage should include:

  • access to local doctors and other healthcare providers
  • diagnostic testing/lab services
  • prescription drugs
  • outpatient mental health
  • inpatient and outpatient hospital services
  • emergency services
  • urgent care centers

Please provide the Health & Insurance Services Office with a photocopy of your health insurance card prior to the fall semester. If you do not have health insurance, Daemen offers a plan.  Prior to enrolling, please review the additional information about our health insurance administrator’s plan listed under the “Need Health Insurance?” section of our website.  The cost for the 2017-18 academic year (August 1, 2017 through July 31, 2018) for undergraduate students is $1,863.00. The cost (once you have elected to enroll) will be added to your tuition bill.

Other health insurance options are available to college students:

  • Coverage as a dependent on parents’ health insurance plan to the age of 26;
  • Coverage through Medicaid (www.healthcare.gov/medicaid) based on expanded eligibility requirements in some states;
  • Coverage through a Marketplace (www.nystateofhealth.ny.gov); with premium tax credit, or subsidy, if income requirements are met;
  • Catastrophic Plan offered through a Marketplace;
  • Coverage through an individual health plan offered outside of a Marketplace;
  • Coverage as a common law employee;
  • A variety of plans to compare at edusure.com.

Please remember that unless a copy of your health insurance card is on file in the Health & Insurance Services Office, no keys to residence halls will be given to students who plan to live on campus; athletes will not be allowed to practice or play; international students will not be allowed to attend classes; and students assigned to an external learning experience will not be allowed to participate.

If you do not provide proof of adequate insurance (a plan that can be used in the Buffalo/Amherst area), you will be enrolled in the Daemen insurance plan and the premium will be added to your student account.

Students from the New York City area, outside the metropolitan Buffalo area, and those from out of state: Please check with your insurance company (the member services number should be found on the back of your card) to see just how, if, and where your insurance can be used in the Amherst area.  A number of plans are not accepted by health care providers in this area and will not be considered acceptable proof of insurance.

Diversity and Multicultural Affairs

The Office of Diversity and Multicultural Affairs is responsible for facilitating an enriching diversity education experience for our community. Through collaboration with various campus partners, the Office of Diversity and Multicultural Affairs holds the primary responsibility of providing faculty, staff and students with resources, guidance and support for issues as they relate to diversity and inclusion.

Our goal is to provide all members of the Daemen community with the education and experience necessary to become an active and engaged global citizen and to utilize those skills in their academic and career pursuits. We also seek to provide our students, staff, and faculty with the tools needed to engage in productive, informed, and impactful discussions around issues of social justice and inequity of all kinds, learning what those topics mean for us in the context of our current climate. 

Global Programs

The Global Programs Office provides information and services for Daemen students desiring to study abroad, as well as international students who have chosen Daemen for their undergraduate and/or graduate education.

Experiencing the world from another cultural perspective is essential for preparing students for global citizenship. Details of specific programs are found in the Programs of Study section of this Catalog.  All students studying abroad while at Daemen must meet with  Global Programs staff for program information, application assistance, and College approval of their international educational experience.

The Global Programs Office provides comprehensive assistance and support for the community of international students at Daemen College. Staff members help international students with their initial adjustment to the College and the Buffalo area. The office provides information and advice about immigration regulations, cultural differences, and personal concerns.

The Daemen College Library

The library is located in the Research & Information Commons (“the RIC”). All library study spaces within the RIC have wireless connectivity, quiet study space, talking permitted study space, group study rooms, seminar & animation theater, a café, and two presentation rooms. Students will also find all the fixtures and furnishings to get comfortable and stay awhile.

The library has a collection of over 100,000 titles in print and e-books, as well as hundreds of print and digital periodical subscriptions, DVDs, and streaming video. Our collections support the vast majority of teaching and scholarship needs. Fast and easy interlibrary loan is available for specialized and unique information needs.

Research librarians are available to consult with students and faculty to find the information resources they need, as well as provide classroom and one-on-one research assistance.

Students, faculty, and staff need only to present their Daemen College ID card to access all the collections and services the library has to offer. The library homepage, accessed through the MyDaemen portal, provides the virtual gateway to achieve success.

RIC hours during the academic semester:
Sunday 10 am – 1 am
Monday – Thursday 7 am – 1 am
Friday 7 am – 11 pm
Saturday 9 am – 11 pm

Summer Schedule (and during breaks):
Monday – Friday  8 am – 5 pm

Changes to this schedule are posted in advance on the library homepage and at the entrance to the RIC.

Nancy Haberman Gacioch Center for Veterans

The mission of the Gacioch Center for Veterans is to support veteran scholars and eligible family members’ success in postsecondary education by coordinating services to address their academic, financial, physical, and social needs. As a designated Military Friendly School and a participant in the Yellow Ribbon Program, Daemen College is committed to providing the best possible service to the men and women who have served our country. We recognize that the transition from military service to civilian life, including the rigors of pursuing a college degree, can be challenging – not only for students themselves but for their loved ones. The Gacioch Center for Veterans is part of the Division of Student Affairs and is coordinated under the Office of Diversity and Multicultural Affairs. Professional staff collaborate with various departments to provide assistance with the admissions process, financial information, academic support and advice, and liaison with other campus offices, including services for students with special needs. The Center can also help students navigate Veterans Administration and other community resources available to veterans and their families. A dedicated veteran student lounge provides a comfortable and welcoming environment for study and conversation.

Registrar

The Registrar’s Office provides the following services for students:

  • preparing course offerings for each term which are accessible (on the Search for Sections option on WebAdvisor) on the Daemen website;
  • processing registrations for courses which require a permit to register;
  • after the last day for drop/add, processing withdrawals from courses for students who submit a withdrawal form;
  • processing mid-term and final grades, as well as Incomplete and other grade changes, for publication on WebAdvisor;
  • designing/revising/customizing evaluations for all degree, certificate programs, and minors (and approved curricular substitutions), thereby enabling students and advisors to monitor progress towards program completion and explore status on other programs;
  • evaluating transfer studies for incoming transfer students and returning students who complete transfer studies with departmental approval;
  • verifying candidates for graduation/degree conferral/Commencement honors; release of diplomas;
  • verifying candidates for completion of certificate programs; preparation and release of certificates;
  • processing and verifying changes in student status and general student directory information;
  • collaborating with the Faculty Athletic Representative regarding certification of student athletes for participation in intercollegiate athletics;
  • processing transcript requests and providing transcripts;
  • processing professional licensure applications as appropriate.