» Student Affairs » Student Handbook
Learn more about the offices, departments, and resources that can assist you in navigating student life. This page is organized based on the building or facility that students can find these services in. Buildings and facilities covered include the Administration Building, B.D. Owens Library, J.W. Jones Student Union, Wellness Services, and the Support Services Building, which houses University Police and Mail Services.
More information about campus buildings
The Administration Building is the oldest and most recognizable building on campus. The structure was completed in 1910 and served as the only academic building until 1959. One hundred years after the building was finished, in 2010, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. The offices in this building include University, academic, and financial administration; students can seek help understanding their bill, financial assistance package, student employment and career development opportunities, and more.
The Admissions office is dedicated to recruiting and retaining Northwest students, and can assist students in completing admissions procedures. The Admissions-Operations office is located on the second floor of the Administration Building and the staff are knowledgeable of dual credit, transfer credit, transcripts, and residency determination.
To contact the Admissions-Operations Office, you can email admissions@nwmissouri.edu, transfer@nwmissouri.edu, or call 660-562-1148.
Career Services, located on the first floor of the Administration Building, provides students and alumni with profession-based career development and exploration by providing personalized coaching and extensive online resources. Staff members in the centralized office provide resume and cover letter critiques along with career exploration, job and internship search strategies and interview preparation. They also operate the Career Closet where individuals can shop for career attire for free. Walk-in appointments are welcome and encouraged.
Career Services plans and hosts a variety of events throughout the year to further student development and provide opportunities to connect with employers.
Career Services Events include:
Located on the second floor of the Administration Building, the Office of Scholarships and Financial Assistance is responsible for the administration of all federally funded student financial assistance programs. The office provides services to students receiving Federal Title IV funds, vocational rehabilitation funds, veterans’ benefits, private and institutional scholarships and loans, Missouri Department of Higher Education Assistance Programs and other types of financial assistance.
Students who need assistance in planning and budgeting their college expenses and resources are encouraged to contact this office for a copy of the student financial assistance brochure which describes the various types of assistance available as well as the procedures for applying.
Students are responsible for meeting the requirements for academic progress as stipulated in the Requirements for Academic Progress for Financial Assistance Recipients, which is available on the web page for the Office of Scholarships and Financial Assistance.
Veterans' Affairs Office - School Certifying Official
The University’s School Certifying Official (SCO) for Veterans’ Affairs works from the Office of Scholarships and Financial Assistance and is prepared to assist veterans and eligible persons in receiving benefits for educational benefits, tutorial assistance, veterans’ work-study, and giving advice and counsel.
The Student Account Services Office is located on the first floor of the Administration Building. The Student Account Services Office is responsible for billing payment arrangements. Inquiries concerning student billing, installments, payment options, refunding dropped courses and account refunds should be made by call to 660-562-1583 or by emailing SAS@nwmissouri.edu.
Northwest has a variety of on-campus jobs. Interested students apply and search for job openings on the Student Employment website. Students with Federal Work-Study should follow the same procedure. Some students find jobs by networking with faculty and staff for whom they wish to work. Most positions pay $10.30 per hour but may vary. The program coordinator’s office is located in the Human Resources Office, 125 Administration Building.
Title IX & Equity office provides support and response to incidents of bias, discrimination, sexual harassment, and provides resources such as Accessibility, Accommodations, the Proctoring Center, and Protection of Minors policy.
What is Title IX (Nine)?
Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 is a federal law that prohibits sex discrimination in education. It reads:
“No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.”
Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972; 34 C.F.R. Part 106. Sex discrimination includes sexual harassment (sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, stalking).
Title IX Response
Northwest Missouri State University is committed to providing a safe learning, living, and working environment. Students and employees are empowered and encouraged to report incidents of sexual harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, stalking, and retaliation to facilitate support services, a remedy or action, and prevention of recurrence. Support services include assistance with interim measures, action options, referrals to counseling and medical providers, and university police.
Title VI (Six) and Bearcat Equity
Title VI focuses on protections against discrimination at Northwest Missouri State University based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, pregnancy, ancestry, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any other legally-protected class.
Bearcat Equity is a reporting program for students, faculty, and staff to share concerns about bias or discrimination, whether it's based on race, sex, religion, national origin, LGBTQ, gender identity, disability, age, veteran status, or your viewpoint or experience around any of these – any situation where you perceive, witness, or are directly impacted by a discriminatory message delivered by someone in our community, or in Maryville, because of who you are or how you think.
Accessibility and Accommodations
The Office of Title IX & Equity (Student Accessibility & Accommodations) embraces the philosophy that students with disabilities are, in fact, students with abilities who encounter social and environmental barriers. Our mission is to work collaboratively with students, faculty, staff, and community to reduce these barriers, creating a more usable, accessible campus and learning environment. To achieve this goal, we utilize reasonable academic accommodations, assistive technology, support services, the Proctoring Center, and student, faculty, and staff training.
Northwest Missouri State University’s TRIO Student Support Services (SSS) is a federally funded program serving first generation and/or low-socioeconomic students as well as students with disabilities. The program supports student success through individualized academic, financial, career, and personal coaching to increase retention and graduation rates and to foster a sense of belonging at Northwest. SSS assists its students in successfully completing their undergraduate education. SSS participants benefit from program resources, activities, professional staff, and peer mentors. Professional staff and peer mentors engage participants in conversations and recommend opportunities based on individual abilities and needs.
For more information, call 660-562-1862, email sswebp@nwmissouri.edu, or visit the TRIO Student Support Services website.
B.D. Owens Library, opened in 1983, is a service-oriented library in a 116,000 square foot facility designed to meet the varied learning and research needs of Northwest students, faculty, and staff. The library collection and services support scholarly research and provides current information that promotes student lifelong learning, critical thinking, communication, and research.
The library’s website provides on-campus and remote access to thousands of journal titles and eBooks for currently enrolled students, current faculty and staff, and walk-in visitors. The library’s robust online catalog returns search displays with resource summaries and availability/location of articles, books, eBooks, streaming and physical audiovisual materials. Course-focused guides and tutorials along with research and citing assistance are also available. The library’s very popular “Help with Research” program provides learners the opportunity to receive personalized research assistance. Research service includes a broad array of delivery methods, including chat, walk-in, by appointment, e-mail, zoom, and phone.
The library building houses approximately 100,000 print resources. Nearly 67,000 periodicals are available in electronic format. Approximately 328,600 eBooks are available through the library catalog, with additional access to over 27 million items through the statewide partnerships maintained by the MOBIUS library consortium. MOBIUS items are requested online through the B.D. Owens Library catalog and arrive for pick up at the library. Other interlibrary loan service are available for materials not available within the MOBIUS consortium.
B.D. Owens Library is home to several key services widely used by the University community that complement the library’s instructional support mission. The Learning and Teaching Center, which supports faculty professional development and the University’s instructional technology needs; the Student Success Center, which offers free tutoring and academic support across the curriculum; the Writing Center, which offers writing assistance across the curriculum; and the International Involvement Center, which provides essential services to international students and study abroad programs.
Throughout the library, areas for private study and reading are available along with spaces and resources that invite collaboration and facilitate team project development. Additionally, Novel Grounds, the library’s full-service coffee house, provides a relaxing space for quiet conversation and contemplation.
The Special Collections area includes many rare volumes of the Missourian, posters, prints, documents, and an extensive Willa Cather collection. The University Archives contains University records, presidential papers, memorabilia, photographs, and other items pertaining to the history of Northwest and Missouri. Make an appointment with the Archivist by calling 660-562-1520.
Curriculum Materials, which include elementary and secondary education textbooks with corresponding teacher guides, and the Juvenile Collection, which includes a large collection of children and young adult books, are located on the third floor of B.D. Owens Library. Educational videos are shelved in the audiovisual collection on the first floor or can be found online via the streaming video databases. A variety of equipment and other items are available for check out at the Library Services Desk including external hard drives, digital voice recorders, digital cameras, notebooks, DVD players, board games, etc.
The Horace MannLaboratory School Library supports the Horace Mann School. The collection includes a wide range of found in a model elementary library collection.
Starbucks Coffee, conveniently located in Novel Grounds of B.D. Owens Library, offers brewed coffee and specialty drinks, gourmet bakery items, parfaits, sandwiches and more. Novel Grounds is the place to get work done on your laptop or enjoy great conversation, all over your favorite Starbucks drink.
The International Involvement Center (IIC), located in Owens Library 108, houses the International Affairs and Study Abroad offices. The IIC works collaboratively to serve all students at Northwest by advancing international knowledge and intercultural competency.
Contact the International Involvement Center by calling 660-562-1367 or sending an email to intlprog@nwmissouri.edu.
International Affairs
The International Affairs office provides immigration advisement and support for international degree-seeking and exchange students. The staff monitors international student enrollment and updates SEVIS in order to be compliant with Department of Homeland Security regulations. They also assist students with applying for immigration benefits such as CPT and OPT. In addition, the International Affairs office collaborates with academic and service units to provide intercultural training and positive campus climate creation.
Study Abroad
The Study Abroad office helps students identify the study abroad program best suited to meet their academic and cultural interests. Studying abroad is one of many academic options that Northwest students from all academic areas are invited to experience. Whether a faculty-led, short-term, semester, or academic year-long program, students have the opportunity to earn Northwest credit abroad, while gaining exposure to a new educational system and culture. Students broaden their horizons by traveling to an international location to study with local citizens and/or international students to experience global living. Study Abroad advisors link students with academic advisors, financial aid counselors, and other student service providers to plan a rewarding interaction and educational experience.
Supplemental Instruction
The SI program offers FREE peer-led collaborative study groups for traditionally challenging courses. SI sessions are led by students who have completed and earned high grades in the targeted course. SI Leaders provide regularly scheduled group review sessions per week and assist in developing the skills to be a successful student. Visit the Student Success Center website.
Academic Success Coaching
Academic Success Coaching is a one credit course offered to students who choose to take it for additional support, and may be required for students in academic recovery, along with an additional course. The course provides academic support through mentoring, coaching and building skills such as:
The coaches work with students to discuss progress and perform regular grade checks for all participants.
Student Athlete Success Program
The Student Athlete Success Program (SASP) is designed to provide an environment in which student athletes can be academically successful. The program provides tools through regular mentoring that develop academic skills, time management skills, and organizational skills needed for athletes to be successful students. Regularly progress and grade checks help hold each student accountable for their academic performance and meeting the NCAA eligibility and compliance guidelines.
Writing Center
Located on the first floor of Owens Library, the Northwest Writing Center offers tutoring to students wanting to become better writers. Any undergraduate or graduate student may visit the center or call 562.1835 to reserve time to receive individual help. For group projects, all participants must attend every tutoring session. Graduate Assistants and peer tutors will help with any kind of writing task – essays, reports, research papers, letters, and other assignments – but they do not merely proofread papers. Tutors can guide writers through prewriting, revising, and editing.
Mathematics and Statistics Homework Help and Tutoring
There is support available for most Mathematics core courses through the Department of Mathematics and Statistics and through the Student Success Center. View the math tutoring schedule.
Campus Dining caters to all University divisions and offers a wide variety of menu items to the University community. Dining areas are located in the J.W. Jones Student Union, The Station, and B.D. Owens Library. All on-campus dining locations accept Dining Dollars, cash, credit and debit cards. All-Access and Block Meal Plans provide meals that can be used in the Bearcat Commons.
Bearcat Commons
Our all-you-care-to-eat restaurant is the perfect place to meet up with friends. This location offers Slices – Pizza & Such, Mix – A Salad Experience, Sizzle – Grill & Griddle, Simple Servings – Allergy-Friendly Fare, Spoonful – Hearty Bowls, Bliss – The Sweet Spot, Spouts – Vegan & Vegetarian, Twists – Pasta Kitchen, Stacked – Deli Case, and U-Cook Kitchen. Check out our digital menu boards, enhanced signage and community-styled seating areas. Plus, this location is home to many exciting special events and theme meals.
The Jones
Located on the second floor of the J.W. Jones Student Union, the Jones houses Chick-fil-A, Qdoba and McAlister’s. Order from our App and get Mr Beast Burger, Buddy V’s Cake Slice, Pardon My Cheesesteak and Mariah’s Cookies. These concepts provide a full suite of dining options.
Special Services
In addition to food service for every waking hour, Campus Dining offers a plethora of special services for the Northwest community. An on-site dietitian is available for personal counseling, group presentations, and food allergy management assistance among many other services. A top-of-the-line catering department is ready to deliver excellence to every type of event. If you need anything food related, give Campus Dining a call at 660-562-2555.
Vending
Use your Bearcat card at all beverage and snack vending machines on campus. It’s easy and convenient no matter what time of day.
Concessions
Use your Bearcat card at any Northwest concession stand. Also, it can be used at the Northwest tailgate before football games.
This office houses the central office team of the Residential and Auxiliary Services Staff, processes the Bearcat Card (Student ID), meal plans, on-campus room contracts, and university event location reservations. All students living on-campus are required to have a meal plan. Off-campus students are not required to have a meal plan, but may choose one from several different plans.
Bearcat Card (Student ID)
Every student enrolled at Northwest is required to have an identification card, known as the Bearcat Card, to carry at all times and to present when requested by University personnel. Students are to be in possession of only their own ID. Possessing someone else’s ID can result in disciplinary action. The Bearcat Card can be used for meals, copy machines, library, vending machines, on-campus Provision on Demand (P.O.D.) stores, sporting events, fitness centers, and at the Bearcat Bookstore. Currently enrolled students can obtain a Bearcat Card at the Auxiliary Services office on the second floor of the J.W. Jones Student Union.
The Bearcat Card can also be a student’s ATM and Debit Card to be used locally or across the country. For students to take advantage of this option they must sign up for a checking account with US Bank in Maryville.
The ID card is valid as long as the student is enrolled at Northwest. Students should treat their Bearcat Card as they would cash or a credit card. If the card is lost or stolen, notify the ID Office immediately. Replacement ID cards may be obtained from The Station or the Auxiliary Services Office. The cost is $20 plus tax and will be applied to your student account. If the lost card is found and returned to the ID Office, a $5 credit will be given. Broken cards will be replaced for free as long as the card is at least one year old.
To report a lost Bearcat Card, call 660-562-1430, visit the Auxiliary Services office on the second floor of the Student Union, or visit the Auxiliary Services website.
Center for Engagement & Community Connection
The Center for Engagement & Community Connection (CECC) is a welcoming space for all students to congregate, socialize, and study. The office provides multi-purpose seating throughout the area, designed with different levels of activity in mind, including a quieter nook for academics and roaming tables and chairs to accommodate visitors to the space. Additionally, the CECC has a conference room that may be used by students, student organizations, faculty, and staff.
CECC programming focuses on broadening students' horizons through discovery and exploration of various cultures and celebrates the many walks of life students come from through interactive, educational, and entertaining events monthly.
Office of Student Involvement
The Office of Student Involvement (OSI) is a hub for various co-curricular activities, including but not limited to, Registered Student Organizations (RSOs), Fraternity & Sorority Life, the Lead Green Program, Service & Civic Engagement, and more. The space is open for students, RSOs, and RSO officers to collaborate on events, study as needed, or hang out with friends. The front desk of the OSI is staffed with students who can help register campus events, approve advertising fliers for hanging on campus, answer questions about getting involved on campus, and help navigate the space, which includes a reservable conference table and TV for organizational meetings.
Wellness Education & Prevention
Wellness Education & Prevention (WEP) is the event-programming and outreach branch of Wellness Services, with an increased focus on helping students learn about health and wellbeing topics, including but not limited to, sexual violence prevention, mental health and suicide prevention, and substance use. Additionally, WEP integrates peer-to-peer learning through initiatives designed to help students challenge perceptual norms and unwanted peer influence as they navigate wellbeing as a college student.
University Wellness Services, located on the northwest corner of campus in the Wellness Center, delivers comprehensive health and wellness care to Northwest students. Wellness Services provides a multitude of services for students, including Wellness Education and Prevention services; Counseling services; and Outpatient Clinical Services. Wellness Services focuses on wellness not only as prevention of disease, but as a philosophy of life. This philosophy emphasizes self-responsibility and taking an active role in maintaining one’s own health. True health must consider the individual as an integration of mind, body, and spirit. Wellness Services believes embracing this philosophy will help students succeed in the classroom and beyond.
Prior to enrollment, students are required to comply with certain health requirements, including: (1) completion of a Health History Form (required for all students); (2) Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR) Vaccination (required for all students, except online-only); (3) Meningococcal Vaccination received after the age of 16 and within the last 5 years (required for students living on campus or in Fraternity and Sorority Life Chapter Houses); and (4) Tuberculosis Screening (required for all students) and/or Targeted Testing (required for certain students who are from or have visited high-incidence countries, and/or have a known exposure to Tuberculosis).
Wellness Services provides outpatient clinical health care to Northwest students, and is staffed with a Physician, Nurse Practitioners and RNs. Wellness Services sees students with a variety of health issues, ranging from routine sore throats or flu symptoms to more urgent care problems, and also provides screenings and immunizations in an effort to protect the campus from the spread of communicable diseases. The clinical staff at Wellness Services also engage students through collaborative outreach programming, educating students on all aspects of wellness. Wellness Services strives to assist students with maintaining optimal health by focusing on holistic care, patient education, and follow-up.
Wellness Services will bill all insurance plans (except out-of-state Medicaid) for clinic services provided to Northwest students. Students will be financially responsible for lab, procedure, and injection charges not covered by insurance, as well as medications prescribed by Wellness Services providers. Students without insurance will be responsible for the entirety of these lab, procedure, injection, and medication costs (students do have the option to purchase their medications at a pharmacy).
Wellness Services is staffed by Licensed Mental Health Professionals who are dedicated to assisting each student, as well as the broader campus culture, with achieving success and reaching their full potential. These professionals provide individual, couples, and group counseling services to Northwest students at no additional cost. Additionally, Wellness Services engages students through outreach activities—including workshops, presentations, trainings, Peer Wellness Coaching, and collaborative events.
Wellness Services offers a variety of services promoting health and wellness that are designed to help students modify their lifestyles and move toward a higher level of health and wellness. These services include but are not limited to: grant-funded public health initiatives, health and wellness related speakers, awareness weeks, health education activities, and other health promotion events. The Wellness Education and Prevention staff members also play a vital role in campus compliance initiatives involving alcohol and other drugs, Clery Act, and suicide prevention.
Though it is a part of our University Wellness Services department, more information about Wellness Education and Prevention programming can be found where it is located, in the Office of Student Involvement, located in the Student Engagement Center on the second floor of the J.W. Jones Student Union.
Bystander Intervention Program
Wellness Services oversees Northwest’s violence prevention program, which is focused on helping students to become engaged community members in situations of potential harm (including stalking, sexual assault, partner violence, mental well-being, alcohol & other drugs, and bias & discrimination). This program includes training, educational campaigns, and other engagement opportunities for Northwest students. For more information, contact Wellness Services at 660.562.1348, or at health@nwmissouri.edu
Mail & Printing Services, located in the Support Services Building, offers some USPS services and a wide array of printing services for Northwest and the surrounding communities.
United States Postal Services (USPS)
Stamps and envelopes are available for purchase. Priority and express mailers along with boxes in a variety of sizes are also available.
The only international mail we can accept are postcards and letters. Packages mailed internationally must be taken to the local United States Postal Services (USPS), located at 507 N. Fillmore. Mail & Printing Services only handles USPS letter mail and services. All other carriers such as FedEx, Airborne, UPS, and DHL, in addition to USPS packages, are handled through Central Receiving, located next door to Mail & Printing Services.
For questions regarding packages please contact Central Receiving at 660.562.1508. Residence hall mail is delivered Monday through Friday. To help Mail & Printing Services expedite your mail, please give your complete address to all persons who will be corresponding with you throughout your university stay.
Printing Services
Printing or copying services include printing in color or black and white in a variety of sizes, colors, and paper types, as well as lamination, cutting, binding, and folding. Quotes and special orders are available upon request. Turnaround time is one business day. Hours of operation are 8AM to 5PM Monday through Friday. You may contact Mail & Printing Services at 660.562.1109.
The University Police Department (UPD) is located in the Support Services building on College Park Drive. The UPD is operational 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. For emergencies and non-emergencies, call University Police at 660.562.1254.
Temporary and visitor parking permits are available at the University Police Department any time. Information on campus parking and traffic policies are available on the University Police Parking website.
