The Dean of Studies Office whose primary focus is student academic affairs serves multiple constituencies: students and their families, faculty, administrators and staff. In all interactions with these various constituencies, individuals connected with this office work to create an environment in which people are able to make thoughtful and responsible choices in keeping with the educational goals of Saint Vincent College.

The Dean of Studies is responsible for coordinating and implementing all College academic policies and procedures pertaining to students, including advising, registration, academic support programs, study abroad, cross-registration with Seton Hill College, transfer coursework, credit for experiential learning and summer school. The Dean of Studies is the Coordinator of the Undeclared major students and Director of the Liberal Arts Program. The Dean of Studies is the reporting supervisor for Registrar, Act 101/SVC Opportunity Program, Study Abroad and the Associate Director for Academic Affairs.

Alice J. Kaylor, has been an administrator at Saint Vincent College since 1987. Dean Kaylor received her Bachelor of Arts Degree in English from Seton Hill College, and her Masters Degree in English Education from the State University College of Buffalo. She is currently enrolled in doctoral studies at the University of Pittsburgh.

The Dean of Studies Office is located on the first floor of Alfred Hall.

Many first year college students are unsure about a specific course of studies or a possible career, and they might want to explore several options in college. Saint Vincent College recognizes that high school seniors might not be prepared to make a definite choice about an academic major and consequently offers the Undeclared Major for those students who have not yet arrived at a definite choice concerning their future.

The Undeclared Major is transitional in nature, but advising and supervision provide the framework found in any traditional major. On arrival at Saint Vincent, the Undeclared Student will be assigned an experienced and trained academic advisor from the college faculty who will assist the student in selecting courses from the Core Curriculum of the College which fit individual interests and expose the student to various academic courses and career options. The advisor will continue to monitor the student's progress, help with future course selection, and ultimately assist the Undeclared Major, in the selection of a traditional academic major. In order to complete requirements for the selected major, the student will declare a major no later than the spring semester of the sophomore year.

In addition to the academic advisor, Career Services at Saint Vincent College also helps the Undeclared Major select the right major and career. Career Services administers a battery of personal inventory tests which assess a student's skills, interests, and potential. Career Services also sponsors career seminars, assists in the preparation of resumes, maintains placement files, coordinates internships and on-campus recruiting, and maintains an up-to-date library of career resources.
Dean Kaylor is the Coordinator for the Undeclared Major.

The Opportunity SVC/Act 101 Program is part of a state-wide program, funded in part by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The objective of the program is twofold: 1) to provide promising high school graduates with the necessary and useful skills and assistance which they need in order to succeed in their college endeavors; and 2) to provide ongoing academic support and counseling to the student in his/her college years. The Opportunity SVC/Act 101 Program consists of two components. The first component is the Discovery Experience Week and is designed to aid students in their transition from high school to college. Students are introduced to Saint Vincent and various aspects of academic life and have the opportunity to meet faculty members, administrators, and other staff. There are a variety of activities during the week--academic, social, and cultural. The second component is the Fall Transitional Semester. During the Fall Transitional Semester, students will continue to work closely with the Opportunity SVC/Act 101 Program and their Opportunity advisor. In addition to their other courses, students also enroll in ND 178 Principles of Academic Success (1 credit). Students will participate in small learning communities, which will help direct and develop their study habits.

Professional tutors offer study and academic support for designated courses each semester. The Opportunity SVC/Act 101 Program also produces the Tutorial Bulletin at the beginning of each semester. It lists the tutoring schedule for the entire college, as well as the faculty office hours, other student support services, and lab hours.

The Opportunity SVC/Act 101 office is located on the 3rd (main office) and 4th floors, Placid Annex.

The Registrar enforces and interprets the academic policies of the college according to the objectives of the Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of Studies. Specifically, the Registrar maintains student academic records and oversees the entire registration process including student scheduling, class times and locations, and classroom usage.

Summer Sessions
The college offers a variety of courses during its summer program, including three-week and six-week sessions. Classes are held both during the day and in the evening. Campus residence is available.

The Office of the Registrar is located on the first floor of Alfred Hall.

Students participate in study abroad programs and earn academic credits while living in a foreign country. The courses will transfer back to Saint Vincent College and count towards degree requirements. You may study in the country of your choice for one semester, a whole academic year, or just for a summer term. Any country, which has an American university-sponsored study abroad program, is possible. In addition, some foreign universities offer direct enrollment as a visiting student.

The Study Abroad office is located on the third floor of Carey Center.

International students are encouraged to utilize the resources provided by the Office of Multicultural and Student Life, ground floor of Carey Center. Questions about immigration matters should be directed to the Dean of Studies.

Students with documented disabilities who are otherwise qualified for program at Saint Vincent College are eligible to receive reasonable accommodations in compliance with Section 5045 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. At the college level, the student is responsible for submitting complete documentation of any disability and specifically requesting each accommodation needed. Information about a student's disability is confidential and is only released with the student's permission. Students may submit documentation to the Associate Director of Academic Affairs.

Academic Accommodations: Examples of reasonable academic accommodations include extended time for tests, distraction-limited environment for tests, readers for tests, computer test formats, permission to tape-record lecturers, and note takers. Academic support services are available to coordinate learning accommodations and to help students develop self-advocacy and study skills.

Alice Kaylor serves as advisor to two of Saint Vincent College's honor societies.

Alpha Chi is one of three major honor scholarship societies for juniors and seniors recognizing scholarship in all academic disciplines. Only institutions that are regionally accredited as baccalaureate-degree granting institutions are eligible for chapters of Alpha Chi. Membership in Alpha Chi is limited to the top 10% of the junior and senior class. Alpha Chi members attend one cultural event in the greater Pittsburgh area each semester. Attendance at regional and national conferences provides members with an opportunity to present their senior research. In 1999, a graduate received an H. Y. Benedict Fellowship stipend for graduate school.

Alpha Lambda Delta was specifically founded to honor excellent academic achievement by students in their first year of study in higher education. The constitution states its purpose as follows: "…to encourage superior academic achievement… to promote intelligent living and a continued high standard of learning and to assist students in recognizing and developing meaningful goals for their roles in society." Alpha Lambda Delta has numerous programs to encourage superior classroom performance such as awards, national workshops, program guidance and fellowships.

When the Saint Vincent College chapter was initiated in 1994, the members agreed that their time and effort would be directed toward service activities on campus and in the local community. Each semester all members participate in two activities. Members of Alpha Lambda Delta have conducted a campus Red Cross Drive; assisted with the Wimmer Scholarship Exam; caroled at Green Meadows Nursing Home; hosted "Sundaes on Thursday" and "Caught Ya Studying" for the Saint Vincent student body.

The Saint Vincent chapter of Alpha Lambda Delta has been recognized numerous times as a distinguished chapter, including Order of the Torch in 1998 and Maintaining the Torch in 1999 and 2000, for outstanding performance in the areas of programming, internal communications and campus visibility. Dean Alice Kaylor was honored as the 1998 National Advisor of the Year. The Saint Vincent chapter of Alpha Lambda Delta was again awarded the Order of the Torch in fall 2003.

Numerous Saint Vincent College chapter members have received Alpha Lambda Delta's JoAnne Trow Undergraduate Scholarship Award and one senior received a graduate fellowship award.

The A.J. Palumbo Student Research Endowment was established in 1996 to promote exemplary scholarship and academic achievement. Grant funding supports student-initiated learning and discovery in the arts, sciences, humanities, social sciences, and professional programs. Students are invited to submit proposals for grant funding to pursue such a project. All projects must be overseen by a faculty advisor. The projects should demonstrate originality, creativity, and/or significant research.

The Elizabeth and Tom Andreoli Traveling Scholar Endowment was established to make awards to support special educational opportunities that will broaden students' horizons and deepen their experience beyond the formal classroom setting. Scholars must use the awards for an educational experience between the junior and senior year.

The purpose of this student research grant is as follows: To foster student research and analysis in the areas of business, economics and public policy; To promote active modes of student learning; To enhance intellectual independence among students; To encourage the personal and professional growth of students; To enhance student exposure to the worlds of business, economic, and public policy, and to facilitate student interaction with leaders in these fields; To broaden student experience beyond the Saint Vincent College campus.