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Support

Asking for help is a normal and healthy part of being a college student. At several points throughout their college experience, most students use a variety of resources to help them overcome academic and personal challenges. Getting help learning course material is a sign of strength, curiosity, persistence, and the desire to learn. Getting help with a non-academic issue is a sign of strength and grit.

Help with Online Academic Tools

Portal, Degree Works, STAR, and Schedule Builder are the most commonly used tools to help you keep track of your academic progress and register for courses.

Portal

  • From Portal, you can access a variety of WVU services including Degree Works, STAR, Schedule Builder, and MIX email.

Degree Works

You are and your advisor should use DegreeWorks to track your academic progress. However, it is not your official transcript. You and your advisor will use Degree Works to help during advising meetings. Advisors make notes after each of the meetings to help keep up with important conversations about your academic progress. These notes show up at the bottom of your DegreeWorks worksheet.

Use the links below to learn how to use Degree Works.

STAR

Use STAR to access your financial aid details, view your course schedule, and drop/add individual classes. You can also access STAR from Portal.

Schedule Builder

Schedule builder helps you create a schedule by selecting classes and “breaks” when you are unavailable for class. You can then register for classes using schedule builder.

Help with Academics

Free help with course material

  • Your instructors' office hours. Typically you can find these in the course syllabus. You don't need an appointment for office hours. These are times that your instructor expects students to stop by.

  • Tutoring at WVU. There are several tutoring centers located on the Evansdale or Downtown campuses at WVU that offer a mix of drop-in hours and tutoring by appointments. Many also have online and in-person tutoring options.

Accommodations

  • You deserve accommodations if you are living with temporary or chronic disabilities. Please contact the Office of Accessibility Services to request accommodations for academics, housing, and/or transportation among campus buildings.

Technology Help

  • eCampus for students: You may need to log in with your WVU login credentials

  • WVU ITS: Information Technology Services

    • Email: ITShelp@mail.wvu.edu

    • Phone: 304.293.4444 or 1.877.327.9260 (Note: Your call may be recorded.)

    • IT Help Center: Log in with your WVU login credentials to find support articles or submit a request

Help with issues unrelated to academics

It is difficult to learn if your needs aren't being met. Below is a list of on-campus resources that you can use to help you meet your needs.

Well being

  • Accommodations: You deserve accommodations if you are living with temporary or chronic disabilities. Please contact the Office of Accessibility Services to request accommodations for academics, housing, and/or transportation among campus buildings.

  • Health: Your health is of utmost importance. The University offers a variety of health services.

    • Mental health: The WVU Carruth Center provides psychological and psychiatric care. The Campus Mental Health website has additional resources, including online help. You also can use the crisis text line. It's free, confidential and 24/7. Reach a live, trained Crisis Counselor by texting WVU to 741741.

    • Physical health: WVU Student Health and Wellness provides a variety of medical services.

  • Food pantry: It's difficult to learn if you are hungry. The Rack: WVU Student Food Pantry provides non-perishable and perishable food to students that need assistance.

Campus life and community

  • Office of Campus and Community Life: Please contact the Office of Campus and Community Life at 304-293-5611 for short-term , serious situations such as a serious illness or death of a family member. They can inform your professors that you will absent if you are unable to do so yourself. This is not an excused absence, but it does remove the stress of you trying to contact all your professors during an extreme circumstance.

  • Financial aid: WVU Financial Aid can help you learn how to maintain your financial aid and answer questions about your financial aid.

  • Student accounts: WVU Student Accounts helps you take care of tuition payments, refunds, Mountie Bounty, housing, and dining costs at

  • WVU Housing: WVU Housing helps you apply for housing and learn about roommate selection, moving in or out, billing, parking, and more.

  • International students: International students have unique requirements to remain at WVU and may have the added challenge of a language barrier. The WVU International Student and Scholars Services can help with issues related to visas, foreign embassy forms, and questions about funding. I can help you if you are having trouble with the language used in this course.

  • First-generation students: Students whose parents or guardians have not earned a four-year degree may struggle with the transition to college because it can be a complex system. The First-Generation Initiative provides support to help you with this transition.

  • LGBTQ+ community: If you are a member of the LGBTQ+ community, you may benefit from the resources offered by the LGBTQ+ Center. Here are instructions to update your name in the WVU online academic tools and systems (eCampus, MIX email, for example).

  • Veteran and military family support: WVU Veterans provides support for student veterans, armed forces personnel, and dependents of current and former military service members.

  • Student parents: WVU Student Family Resources offers programs and services to pregnant and parenting WVU students.

  • Commuter students: The WVU commuter student program offers ways for commuter students to connect to WVU and each other.

  • Legal services: WVU Student Legal Services provides counseling, advice, and representation.

Extracurricular activities

  • Cultural and professional organizations: WVU students have created a number of organizations for members of specific religious, gender, racial, and ethnic groups. They have also created topical and professional organizations related to your major and/or career interests. I hope that you will find other individuals that share both aspects of your background and your interest in biology through exploring Organizations - WVUENGAGE.

  • Education abroad: The WVU Education Abroad office helps students interested in studying abroad identify a study abroad program, learn about financing their experience, and guide you through the application process. The office also helps students with travel advise and assistance during their time abroad.

  • Undergraduate research: The WVU Office of Undergraduate Research has information about research opportunities at WVU and external opportunities.

Career

  • Pre-health professional development: Entry into many healthcare fields is highly competitive. The Pre-health Professional Development Office can help you create an action plan, meet one-on-one with an advisor, attend pre-health sessions, and more.

  • Career: WVU Career Services includes a variety of services such as progressive steps to explore career options, developing a plan, as well as finding internships and jobs.