Academic Support & Resources

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Davidson College librarians partner with faculty to educate students in information literacy, defined by the American Library Association as “a set of abilities requiring individuals to ‘recognize when information is needed and have the ability to locate, evaluate, and use effectively the needed information.’” Librarians teach students in a Davidson 101 module, sessions in W courses and in 100- through 400-level courses, and one-on-one through research consultations.

In addition to teaching, librarians assist faculty in building the library’s collection of books, journals, electronic resources, and federal government documents, each carefully evaluated and selected to support the Davidson curriculum and faculty and student research. Over 200 endowed materials funds augment the college budget and are used for the purchase of library materials. As a selective federal government depository, the library has received over a quarter of a million U.S. public documents, a rich collection of primary sources serving both the Davidson community and the general public. An ever-expanding array of online resources, including not only government documents, but also subscription databases and scholarly materials, is accessible through the library’s web site; the librarians also provide faculty and students with web-based guides to and tools for using these and other specialized materials. Most electronic resources are available off-campus as well as on campus through the library’s proxy server. Should students and faculty need materials not available at Davidson, the library also has a fast and efficient interlibrary loan service and can easily obtain books, articles, and other items from other libraries.

The E.H. Little Library, the main library, houses most of the research collections, study spaces, and computing facilities. It also serves as the primary service point for students needing research assistance. The Library is open 24/7 when classes are in session. Several other facilities within the Library are worth noting: the College Archives, which preserves and makes institutional records and manuscript collections related to the College and the town of Davidson available to researchers; the Davidsoniana Room, which houses books by and about Davidson alumni and faculty members; and the Rare Book Room, which contains incunabula, examples of fine printing, the Cumming Map Collection, and rare materials like the first edition of the world’s first great encyclopedia, Diderot’s Encyclopédie, ou Dictionnaire raisonné des sciences, des arts et des métiers, par une société de gens de lettres (1751-1765). 

There is an additional music library branch on campus. The music library, providing recordings and scores in support of the music curriculum, is located in the Sloan Music Center.

Technology & Innovation

Technology & Innovation (T&I) Services’ mission is to work in collaboration with members of the Davidson community to facilitate the use of current and emerging information technology resources. T&I partners with faculty and educates students in all aspects of technology use. The range of systems and services provided include those that support, enrich, and transform teaching, learning, and research. The systems and services touch virtually every aspect of campus life and are central to the academic enterprise, as well as the supporting administrative processes.

The department is organized into teams that work together to provide comprehensive technology services to faculty and students.

Instructional Technology:  Instructional Technologists work directly with the Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL) faculty to design and support a diverse array of technological solutions for pedagogical and research needs.  Staff are available to assist on a wide range of technology needs tied directly to research or curriculum and are distributed across the campus in the library, Watson Science building, and the south wing lower level of the Chambers Building.  Instruction and development spaces include Studio D (library), the Language Resource Center (Chambers), the Center for Instructional Technology (Chambers), and the Connolly Media Lab and recording studio (Chambers).

Studio D is an experimental classroom located in the Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL) in the E.H. Little Library.  Faculty are invited to propose innovative teaching initiatives that receive CTL support for technology, research, instruction, and assessment.  The highly flexible space contains a mix of low and high technologies designed for active learning.  Consultations are available upon request.

The Language Resource Center (LRC) is a traditional instruction and mid-level multimedia development space equipped with thirty student workstations, one instructor workstation, and projection.  The LRC is available to all classes by request to the registrar and ITS.  Classroom instruction by professional staff on basic multimedia tools is also available by request and following consultation.

The Connolly Media Lab and nearby recording studio are available to courses requiring professional-level digital video editing projects.  Courses need to consult with instructional technology prior to use.  The space hosts six high-end multimedia editing stations, along with a gaming and viewing space.  Every Sunday-Thursday evening from 8pm-11pm, the lab hosts drop-in tutoring services to all students needing assistance with multimedia projects.

Technology Help Services:  Technologists in this group work directly with students, faculty, and staff.  The primary services include curricular, classroom, computing facilities/lab, and student support.

Student Computing Center (SCC) is a thirty-six seat computer lab located in the Belk Residence Hall.  Within the SCC there are two technology-infused collaboration rooms, the Think Tank and the Belk Computer Classroom.  All workstations are equipped with campus instructional software.

Chambers Computer Classroom (CHA 3130) is a computer-equipped classroom with eighteen student workstations and one instructor workstation.  The facility is available to all classes via request through the registrar.  All workstations are equipped with campus instructional software.

Genomics, Applied Mathematics and Computer Science Classroom (CHA 3146) is a computer equipped classroom with eighteen student workstations and one instructor workstation.  The facility is open to faculty and students involved in Genomics, Applied Mathematics and Computer Science classes.  All workstations are equipped with campus instructional software.

The Library Classroom (also known as the Fish Bowl) is an instructional space equipped with twenty-one student workstations, one instructor workstation and projection.  All workstations are equipped with campus instructional software.

The Library has forty-five student workstations in the E.H. Little and Music Library facilities, equipped with all campus instructional software.

Library B110 classroom has thirty-two student computer workstations plus mobile instructor station, with multiple large displays and whiteboards, all equipped with campus instructional software.

Studio M (Chambers B260): A “makerspace” that fosters technological creativity and exploration and contains a range of low and high technologies (circuits, electronics, computing, legos, drones, etc) to support “making as a way of knowing”.

The Student Union has twenty-two student computers workstations all equipped with campus instructional software.

Systems and Networks: The group supports the following functions:

Server implementation and support, including all campus services such as Banner; Moodle; Library online catalog; the college website; directory services; e-mail; various internet, intranet, and extranet websites; and file sharing.

Storage services, including two storage area networks for shared disk storage and a backup tape library.

Network connectivity and wiring, including firewall, VPN, Clean Access, and Wireless access.

Internet access.

Telecommunications, including local, long distance, and intra-campus telephone service and voice mail.

Cable television services provided for residence halls.

All campus buildings have access to wireless, data and telephone connectivity, and have personal computers connected to the campus data and wireless networks. All faculty members are connected to the campus data and wireless networks. The high-speed, high-performance wired and wireless networks provide broadband access to students, faculty, and staff throughout all the buildings and 100-acre main grounds of the campus.

EDUCOM CODE: The statement below, known as the EDUCOM Code, is the policy of Davidson College. Members of the college community abide by its provisions.

Respect for intellectual labor and creativity is vital to academic discourse and enterprise. This principle applies to works of all authors and publishers in all media. It encompasses respect for the right to acknowledgment, right to privacy, and right to determine the form, manner, and terms of publication and distribution. Because electronic information is volatile and easily reproduced, respect for the work and personal expression of others is especially critical in computer environments. Violations of authorial integrity, including plagiarism, invasion of privacy, unauthorized access, and trade secret and copyright violations, may be grounds for sanctions against members of the academic community.  

The John Crosland Jr., Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL) integrates teacher-focused and learner-focused services from across campus. The CTL helps students reach their highest potential by providing services to supplement the learning that occurs under direct faculty supervision, and helps faculty by providing resources to create or explore new teaching tools, to hone traditional teaching methods, and to develop new pedagogies that will challenge their students, all with the ultimate goal of improving student learning. In 2011, the first phase of the Center for Teaching and Learning was established on the first floor of the E.H. Little Library. All of the services listed below will share space in the CTL’s library location, with the exception of the Multimedia Center (Chambers South Wing, lower level).

Student Assistance 

The following student resources are provided by the Center for Teaching and Learning.  All services are free of charge.

Academic Support: Academic support assistance helps students with note taking, time management, reading enhancement, and study and organizational skills. Individual counseling, accommodations for students with learning disabilities, and assistive technology are available. Quiet testing and study spaces are provided.

Economics Center: Experienced peer tutors assist students with any Introductory Economics assignment. Tutors may be available to assist with some of the basic computing tools used in economics courses.

Math and Science Center: Assistance is offered to students in all areas of math and science, with a focus on the introductory-level courses. Trained and highly qualified peers hold one-on-one and small-group tutoring sessions on a drop-in basis or by appointment, as well as timely recap sessions ahead of scheduled tests. Tutors help students understand concepts, connections, critical thinking, and problem-solving. The MASC provides assistance with research, presentations, lab reports, and other math and science projects.  Study groups are supported and facilitated. 

Digital Media Consultants: Peer tutors provide assistance to students incorporating digital practice in their course projects.  Students can receive help for application-specific questions and guidance on general best practices in the topics of web design, graphic arts, presentation design, pre-production digital narrative planning, video and audio production, and copyright.

Speaking Center: Peer tutors assist students with general and discipline-specific presentations, including speeches, group projects, and interviews. Help is provided with speech topics, research strategies, organization, and delivery, including presentation aids.  Tutors provide students with skills to prepare for interviews, lead or participate in meetings, present research and co-curricular projects, and deal with speech anxiety.  

Writing Center: Peer tutors are available to assist any student with both general and discipline-specific writing problems at any stage in the writing process. The tutors provide assistance with brainstorming and research, as well as technical writing skills such as structure, style, and usage for any Davidson course regardless of discipline.  Further, specialized tutoring is available for writing in Spanish, French, and German.  Other support available through the Writing Center includes support for fiction and non-fiction co-curricular writing projects and help in preparing applications for scholarships, grants, and internships.

Multilingual Writing:  The CTL offers resources to assist their learning as non-native speakers of English and provides resources for the faculty teaching them.  The resources address such complex issues as nonverbal communication, grammar, colloquialisms, American academic expectations, and the integral role of class discussion in a Davidson education.  An ESL Specialist offers individual tutoring assistance for students and coordinates with the Writing and Speaking Centers in training tutors.

Discipline-specific Tutors:  The Center for Teaching and Learning provides a list of trained students who are well versed in the subject matter and are available to tutor in discipline-specific courses outside of economics, mathematics, and the sciences.

Information Literacy:  The library’s information literacy program is designed to help students acquire and polish their research and critical thinking skills.  Through scheduled and point-of-need instruction, professional librarians teach students to identify, locate, evaluate, and use information effectively.

Student Technology Help:  Student Technology provides peer assistance for computers and other mobile devices and help with general technology questions.  Student techs are trained by ITS and serve as a first line of support and can refer students to the appropriate professional staff when needed.

Faculty assistance:  The CTL supports faculty as they develop ideas for teaching and supporting learning goals in their courses by providing the following:

Information Literacy Librarians collaborate with faculty by offering course-integrated information literacy sessions, assisting with the development of class assignments and activities, web-based tutorials and guides, and other learning opportunities that contribute to course learning goals.

Instructional technologists work with faculty on the use, development, and evaluation of a wide range of teaching and learning technologies, including multimedia, web-based, and emerging technologies.  Instructional technologists support faculty who utilize the Studio D experimental classroom to develop and assess new teaching pedagogies.

Conversations About Teaching, EAT lunches, and other faculty programs:  Faculty discussion groups, workshops, poster sessions, and teaching showcases are held throughout the academic year and highlight teaching initiatives on campus and at other institutions.  Events provide information on the latest technological applications for teaching, assessment strategies, and other pertinent topics related to teaching and learning.

Davidson College is committed to ensuring that no otherwise qualified individual with a disability is excluded from admission to, participation in, subjected to discrimination in connection with, or denied the benefits of any College programs or activities due to his or her disability. A student with a disability has the right to request academic and non-academic accommodations ensuring equal access to courses, course content, programs, services, and facilities. Students are not required to disclose their disability status; however, if they are seeking accommodations relative to their disability, they are responsible for making a written request to the Office of Academic Access and Disability Resources and providing the appropriate current documentation. The College seeks to accommodate those requests that are determined to be reasonable and that do not compromise the integrity of a program or curriculum so that the student may, as independently as possible, meet the demands of College. A student has the responsibility to meet qualifications and maintain essential Davidson College standards for courses, programs, services, jobs, activities, conduct, and facilities. Having a disability does not automatically qualify a student to receive accommodations. The College must review current diagnostic information submitted by the student to verify that the student has a disability that requires accommodations under the law and then through an interactive process with the student determine the specific accommodations the student is authorized to use.

For more information regarding disability and accommodations, or if you are a student with a disability and would like to request accommodations, please contact the Office of Academic Access and Disability Resources by visiting our office in the Center for Teaching and Learning, emailing AADR@davidson.edu, or calling (704) 894-2071.

Holistic and Major Advising

Davidson’s Holistic Advising Program provides first- and second-year students holistic, ongoing, formal support in all aspects of the Davidson experience-academic, co-curricular/extra-curricular, social and career-up to the time they declare their academic majors during sophomore year. Our theory and practice of advising is centered on the theme that advising IS teaching.

About 50 Davidson faculty and staff members are selected as holistic advisers in consideration of their interest in and talent for advising. The advisers, who must go through a formal application and review process, commit to helping students explore the value of the liberal arts as a path to personal discovery and professional success.

In addition to faculty representatives from across Davidson’s academic disciplines, holistic advisers include professionals with advanced degrees in business administration, law, corporate communications, leadership development, information technology, civic engagement, minority affairs, fundraising, politics, law enforcement, journalism and clergy, among others.

Before the end of sophomore year student declare a major. They select a faculty member from that department as their adviser. They work togher moving forward on course selection and continue the practices of the holistic advising program around overall well-being and health.