Student Resources

Department Reference

Academic Support and Learning Resources

Guild Hall, ground floor, x5375

The Office of Academic Support helps students identify and implement techniques for more effective learning, studying, test-taking, and note-taking. They also help students explore effective techniques for time and stress management so that they feel confident and motivated in their academic work. The Office of Academic Support collaborates with students to identify and adopt methods that utilize their unique strengths and promote success.

Access Services

Guild Hall, ground floor, x7351 or x7516

Bryn Mawr College welcomes students with disabilities to the campus community. Access Services provides reasonable accommodations for eligible students protected under the Americans with Disabilities Act due to documented learning, physical, medical, or psychological disabilities. If you think you might be eligible for academic adjustments in the classroom (e.g., extended time for tests is a possible example), housing modifications in the residence halls (e.g., an air conditioner due to a significant medical condition is one possible example), or other modifications, please contact the Director or Assistant Director as early as possible. For additional information about Access Services, including the eligibility criteria, documentation requirements, and procedures for requesting accommodations, please check the Access Services website. Make an appointment with the Director or Assistant Director by emailing accessservices@brynmawr.edu if you wish to discuss your situation and determine if you are eligible for accommodations. The information that you share is kept strictly confidential.

Athletics, Physical Education, and Wellness

Bern Schwartz Fitness and Athletics Center, x7305

The Department of Athletics, Physical Education, and Wellness offers a variety of opportunities promoting self-awareness, confidence, and the development of skills and lifelong habits that will enhance the quality of one’s life. The Department offers a comprehensive program including a competitive varsity intercollegiate athletics program and diverse physical education and wellness classes. Bryn Mawr scholar-athletes compete in 12 intercollegiate varsity sports, with club sport participation offered in a variety of activities through the Student Engagement Office. Drop-in instructional fitness classes are available to Bryn Mawr students, faculty and staff at no cost through the Bryn Mawr Fit Club.

Career & Civic Engagement Center

Student Life and Wellness Building, x5174

Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The mission of the Career & Civic Engagement Center (the Center) is to prepare and support liberal arts students and alums to become effective, self-aware leaders in their chosen life pursuits. Students should utilize the Center’s team of 16 staff members to facilitate connections with experiences and resources that will allow them to explore their interests and passions and construct their resumes. From the day students arrive on campus, the Career & Civic Engagement Center provides integrated and coordinated services, programs and opportunities in career exploration, internships and summer internship funding, civic engagement, leadership, professional and personal skill-building, networking, and alumnae/i programs.

Career Engagement provides opportunities for students and alums to maximize their liberal arts education, preparing them to make intentional decisions about their futures. The Center offers a comprehensive set of services to help students navigate the career development process and learn more about themselves. Some of these services include career counseling, self-assessment, graduate/professional school exploration (including pre-law), information on searching for internships, experiential learning opportunities, and permanent employment, as well as help with the creation of resumes and cover letters to document key experiences. One-on-one career counseling appointments and/or workshops are both viable ways to engage in career exploration, no matter where students are in their processes. A comprehensive recruiting program for both the full-time permanent job search as well as information about internships are also available.

Civic Engagement works with community-based organizations to prepare students to be socially responsible leaders and citizens through purposeful action, reflection, and learning. The Center helps students reflect on their values and how they can use those values to make meaningful differences in their local and global communities. Community-Based Work Study and the Praxis Program are two examples of the variety of curricular and co-curricular programs offered. Students, faculty, staff, and community partners collaborate with the Center to create direct service initiatives, project-based learning, skill development, and capacity-building opportunities.

All members of the Career & Civic Engagement Center team look forward to working with you from your first year through graduation and beyond.

Education Studies Major and Minor and Secondary Teacher Certification

Bettws-y-Coed, x5010

Students may choose among the following options available through the Bryn Mawr/ Haverford Education Department: (1) take courses that are open to all; (2) pursue a major or minor in Education Studies; (3) pursue a major or minor in Education Studies leading to certification to teach at the secondary (grades 7-12) level as part of the four-year undergraduate program; (4) complete a secondary teacher education program after they graduate through Bryn Mawr’s Post-Bacc Teacher Certification Program; (5) apply to sub-matriculate as seniors into the University of Pennsylvania, Graduate School of Education’s elementary or secondary education Master’s program; or (6) in a five-year program, complete both the A.B./M.A. program in physics or mathematics (or possibly other departments that offer the AB/MA option) and the secondary teaching certification program. Students interested in options one through six should meet with a program adviser as early as possible. Students interested in option five should also reach out to Maureen Cotterill, Program Manager of the Penn GSE Urban Teaching Apprenticeship Program, at maureenc@upenn.edu.

Global Engagement and Fellowships

Guild Hall lower level, x5375
Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The Global Engagement Center provides leadership in support of the College’s global initiatives, partnerships, and programs. It collaborates with departments across the College to develop, manage, and advance international and intercultural activities on and off campus, and to support the many partnerships and programs that are part of the College's global engagement, to maximize student and faculty success. The College's Study Abroad program and Fellowships Advising office reside within the Office of Global Engagement.

Global Education

Studying Abroad During the Academic Term: 
Fall, Spring, or Full Year

Bryn Mawr students can expand their horizons by taking courses in another country and cultural context–an incredible opportunity for academic, personal, professional, and intercultural growth. The Office of Global Education provides guidance and support for undergraduate students who want to study abroad during the academic year; oversees international partnership and exchange agreements; and engages strategically with departments across campus around global education at the College. The College has approved more than 80 programs in over 30 countries for semester or year-long study. Students also have the option to participate in exchange through special agreements with Sciences Po (Paris); Aberystwyth University (Wales); Nanyang Technological University (Singapore); Tsuda University (Japan); Keio University (Japan); and Spelman College (Atlanta, Georgia, USA). The Study Abroad Committee, which consists of faculty members as well as staff in the Student Success office, reviews study abroad applications and makes final decisions about a student’s eligibility to study abroad.

Fellowships Advising

Fellowships can provide funding for the last years of undergraduate education, for graduate education both in the United States and abroad, or even for travel and independent research not tied to an academic institution. Fellowships Advising guides and empowers students to access these fellowship opportunities that promote academic, professional, and personal aspirations. Bryn Mawr's fellowships adviser offers guidance on all stages of the application process, such as writing personal statements, requesting letters of recommendation, completing online forms, and preparing for interviews. Our goal is to assist students each step of the way as needed, helping them to find needed information and navigate unfamiliar processes so Bryn Mawr students can best take advantage of the many opportunities available.

Health Professions Advising Office

Canwyll House East, x7350

The Health Professions Advising Office provides information, advising, and assistance to students and alums who are interested in careers in the health professions. We offer guidance with making a decision to pursue a career in healthcare, choosing prerequisite courses, getting clinical volunteer experience, and applying to professional schools. Students who wish to receive announcements about health-related workshops, internships, and other opportunities should contact the health professions adviser.

Bryn Mawr’s Post-Baccalaureate Premedical Program is designed for individuals who did not fulfill the premedical requirements as undergraduates, but now want to apply to schools of medicine, dentistry, or veterinary medicine. Admission to this program is 
highly selective.

The Impact Center for Community, Equity, and Understanding

Student Life and Wellness Building—First Floor, x6592

The Impact Center for Community, Equity, and Understanding addresses issues of equity, power, and privilege, including but not limited to race, ethnicity, country of origin, class, gender, sexual orientation, religious affiliation, disability, and intersectionality, with a goal of improving the campus climate and enhancing community life at Bryn Mawr. This is done with a lens that advances anti-racism, wellness, welcome, and belonging for all students, especially those who know the experience of marginalization first-hand.

The Impact Center’s staff develops and coordinates educational and community-building programs, guides student affinity groups, coordinates College programs to mentor and support students from underrepresented groups, supervises the Community Diversity Assistants, and provides informal advising to all students around issues of identity, social justice, anti-racism, and inclusion. The Impact Center envisions a campus culture that affirms and supports the identities, backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives of all students in a way that informs College efforts to create equity across student identities and experiences.

International Student and Scholar Advising

Student Life and Wellness Building #150, x7390

International Student and Scholar Advising supports international students on our campus. We specifically offer advising to students on F-1 or J-1 visa status regarding U.S. immigration regulations and nonresident alien taxation during their study at the College. We also provide support in academic, social, personal, and cross-cultural adjustment.

First-Year Experience

Guild, Lower Level, x5375

The First-Year Experience supports new students on their transition to college through summer programming, Customs New Student Orientation, THRIVE, and special events and programs throughout the year. The Assistant Director of the First-Year Experience works closely with other administrative departments, the Customs People and other members of the Dorm Leadership Team to support new students.

Pre-Law Advising

Student Life and Wellness Building, x5174

The pre-law adviser provides aspiring attorneys with advice about preparing for and applying to law school, information on registering for entrance examinations (LSATs), and information about letters of recommendation, timelines, and essays. Students considering a career in the law should take advantage of events sponsored by the Career & Civic Engagement Center, the Student Success Office, and the Pre-Law Club. Submit your name/email to Jennifer Beale (jbeale@brynmawr.edu) to receive notices for all pre-law activities or to meet.

Q Center: Quantitative Reasoning Project

Canwyll House West

The Q Center supports students engaged in quantitative problem-solving in introductory courses across the social science and science curriculum. The Q Center is staffed by trained peer mentors who host in-person collaborative study sessions. Q mentors help students develop 
problem-solving strategies and improve quantitative, computational, and data analysis skills. Please visit the Q Project website for more information, including hours of operation, appointment scheduling, and mentor interests.

Religious and Spiritual Life

The Impact Center, Student Life and Wellness Building—First Floor, x6592

We recognize that spiritual wellness, irrespective of religious or secular identity, is a component of student success and wellbeing. Religion and spirituality are significant aspects of many students’ lives. The Interfaith Chaplain offers confidential pastoral support for individuals and student groups. We also provide connections for students to local religious organizations and to student religious groups. Additionally, the Impact Center employs student Interfaith Coordinators who organize programs promoting interfaith exploration and dialogue.

Residential Life & Student Engagement

Campus Center 610-526-7331

The Office of Residential Life and Student Engagement is responsible for the administration of all residence halls and student housing, working with student organizations, and providing social programming for the community. They work closely with the Dorm Presidents, Residence Council, Hall Advisers, the Owl Programming Board, and other Dorm Leadership Team Members.

Student Accounts

Benham Gateway, third floor, x5500

The Student Accounts division of the Controller’s Office assists students and their families in understanding their bill and payment options. The division works closely with the Office of Financial Aid to coordinate services. Student Accounts also manages the International Student Loan program and is responsible for the issuance of tax form 1098-T.

Summer Study Abroad

Summer is a great time to study abroad. Students interested in studying abroad in the summer must obtain pre-approval from the Registrar for courses they wish to take abroad for credit. Students who participate in a Bryn Mawr summer program (e.g., Institut d’Avignon, Russian Language Institute) do not need to obtain pre-approval for their courses.

Student Success

Guild Hall, lower level, x5375 
Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

(after hours appointments available through your class dean)

Your class dean is a valuable source of advice on academic and non-academic matters throughout your years at Bryn Mawr. Whether you want to discuss choosing coursework, decide your major, or identify the necessary resources to address roommate challenges or homesickness, your class dean can help you problem-solve, connect you to resources and support, and develop a plan that works for you. You will at times need to see your class dean for official permission or approval on various academic matters. However, beyond this, the class dean should be among the first people you consult if you have questions about any aspect of life at Bryn Mawr. While it is your responsibility to familiarize yourself with the rules and procedures that shape your experience at Bryn Mawr, your class dean can help you understand this information and manage your concerns more effectively. Your class dean’s name is displayed on your Student Center page in BiONiC. If you cannot access BiONiC and want help identifying your class dean, call Student Success (x5375).

Student Support Services

Student Support Services provides support to undergraduate students by supporting the holistic needs of Bryn Mawr undergraduate students, providing non-clinical, student-centered support services, and partnering closely with class deans, Academic Support, Access Services, Medical and Counseling Services, and Residential Life.

Writing Center

Canaday Library, First Floor

The Writing Center offers free, individual consultations on writing assignments of any kind, including essays, research papers, lab reports, senior theses, and fellowship or graduate school applications. We also offer consultations on public speaking and writing in languages other than English. All writers—whether experienced or novice, native-English-speaking or multilingual—can benefit from constructive conversation about their work with trained readers, and students may come in at any point in the writing process, even without a draft. Visit the Writing Center website to make an appointment or learn more about our services. Walk-ins are helped on a first-come, first-served basis.