The mission of the Division of Student Development and Success, affirming the University’s mission, is to promote student growth by serving, educating, and developing students to become contributing members of the local and global community. By serving and partnering with students, the staff in this division of the University strives to represent and advocate for the needs of students, promote a community of respect to affirm the value of each individual and provide and promote services and co-curricular activities which enhance student learning and University identified learning outcomes. The individual departments that make up this large division are described briefly below.
Athletic and Recreation Department
The Athletic and Recreation Department is responsible for the development and administration of an intercollegiate and recreational sports program that provides quality and competitive opportunities for students in a variety of fields. Avila offers intercollegiate women’s competition in basketball, bowling, cross country, soccer, softball, volleyball, and wrestling. Intercollegiate opportunities for men’s competition include baseball, basketball, bowling, cross country, football, soccer, and wrestling. In addition, Avila sponsors a spirit squad that includes performance and competitive dance and cheer teams.
The director of athletics and recreation, in conjunction with coaches and staff, coordinates recruitment of student athletes; promotes athletic and recreation programs; and manages all competitive events, athletic facilities, and equipment, including the Mabee Fieldhouse, the Pavilion, and the Zarda Sports Complex.
The Eagles compete within the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and have a conference affiliation with the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference.
Avila students, faculty, and staff receive free admission to all home athletic contests with a valid Avila ID card.
For more information, please call the Athletic Department at (816) 501-3634.
Athletic and Recreational Facilities
Avila has outstanding athletic and recreational facilities available to students, faculty, and staff. Outdoor facilities include the Thomas R. Zarda Family Athletic Complex for baseball, football, soccer, softball, and recreational use, as well as practice football fields and the Santa Fe Trail. Indoor facilities within the Mabee Fieldhouse and Pavilion include a competition practice arena for basketball and volleyball, fitness center weight room, indoor batting cage, and men’s and women’s locker rooms.
Bookstore-Mailroom
The campus bookstore operates to meet the needs for course textbooks. In addition, it sells school and office supplies, logo clothing, stamps, and miscellaneous gifts and merchandise. The bookstore is located in the lower level of Marian Center. For more information, please call the bookstore at (816) 501-3630 or access the bookstore page on the Avila website.
The bookstore also operates the mailroom from which all UPS, FedEx, and USPS letters and packages are received and shipped. All student mail will be picked up by R.A.s of the various dorms and delivered to the respective students’ mailboxes. All packages are picked up by the student during open hours of the bookstore. A student ID is required for package pickup.
Campus Ministries
The Office of Ministry, Spirituality, and Action (OMSA) affirms the values of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, striving to assist and promote the spiritual development of members of the Avila community, especially students, through unity prayer and service. The office promotes action and service as a way to build and manifest faith. We live our faith; we grow our faith. OMSA seeks to create a culture of faith as a lived experience. We live out our faith in relationship with God, self, others, and creation. Inspired by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, we seek to live the unifying love of God and the dear neighbor without distinctions that divide. Our profession of the love of God is lived through the ministries with all our students. Avila ministry grows through our ministry leaders who involve all students in service, prayer, and community. We facilitate hundreds of hours of service throughout the community each year. We come together to celebrate and pray through our liturgies, retreats, and other services. We build community through the offering of many events from community Easter egg hunts to picnics and our Advent Cocoa and Carols. For more information go to our web page https://www.avila.edu/avila-life/student-experience/campus-ministry-1, like us on Facebook, or call our offices at (816) 501-0427.
Career Services
Career services include yet not limited to major and career exploration, resume and cover letter assistance, career fair preparation, attending events and workshops, personal branding, graduate school planning, job or internship search, and interview preparation.
Appointments can be scheduled by contacting 816-501-2901, emailing careers@avila.edu, or stopping by the Center for Student Excellence in Hodes. Walk-in appointments are available.
Counseling Services
Counseling Services is staffed by mental health professional Joshua R. Paszkiewicz, DHA, RN, PLPC, BCC.
Personal counseling services include:
- Personal counseling dealing with a wide range of issues, including anxiety, depression, grief/loss, and adjustment
- Support for those struggling with a personal crisis
- Referrals to outside agencies, as appropriate
- Workshops, information sessions, and small group sessions
Students may schedule an appointment online or by emailing joshua.paszkiewicz@avila.edu. Walk-in appointments are available, as needed. Counseling services are free, confidential, and available to all Avila students, faculty and staff. Students also have access with their Avila email addresses to virtual mental health services through BetterMynd.
Student Access Services
Avila University welcomes students with disabilities who can be successful learners and contributors to the Avila community. To apply for accommodations in your learning environment (curricular and co-curricular), please contact the Student Access Office. The Student Access staff welcomes questions, issues, and concerns. For more information or to schedule an appointment, call Student Access at (816) 501-3666 or see the Student Access website at http://www.avila.edu/student-services/disability-services-1.
Dining Services
The University, through Great Western Dining Services, provides a variety of dining services for the campus. The primary dining facility on campus is the dining hall located in Marian Center.
All resident students select a meal plan option. Currently, resident students have the choice of three meal plan options. Complete plan details are available through the Student Success Center at (816) 501-3660.
Dining room hours are subject to change and are posted outside of the dining hall main entrance. For menu details or operating hours, contact Great Western Dining Services at (816) 501-3755 or access the dining hall page on the Avila website.
Commuter students, faculty, and staff have the opportunity to purchase commuter meal plans. Contracts and information for commuter student and employee plans are available through the Food Service Office.
Mother’s Lounge
As part of our family-friendly environment, Avila University supports breastfeeding mothers by accommodating the mother who wishes to express breast milk during the day. The University provides a private lactation room, the Mother’s Lounge, located in Whitfield Center. The room is furnished with a table, two chairs, and electrical outlets. It also has a small refrigerator reserved for the specific storage of breast milk and a microwave.
Employees and students may use the Mother’s Lounge anytime during normal business hours. The room has signage for “Available” when it is not occupied or “Occupied” when in use. The Human Resources office also maintains a key for this room. Visitors who wish to use this room to express breast milk should be directed to the Human Resources office.
International Student Services
International Student Services (ISS) assists international students with their adjustment to both Avila and the U.S. In addition, students are helped with questions regarding student visa issues and requirements. For further details, contact the ISS Department at (816) 501-3636.
Academic Success and Tutoring Services
Academic Success and Tutoring Services provides academic coaching and tutoring in most major subjects as well as help with study skills, organization, and time management. The Writing Center offers support for any writing project, including course papers, application essays, resumes, and presentations. Academic Coaches and Writing Consultants offer the following services in the Willcox Writing and Tutoring Center in Avila’s Library and Learning Commons:
- In-person academic coaching and writing support
- Online academic coaching and writing support
- Course-specific academic coaching and writing support
- “Get it Done” sessions, study jams, and write-ins
- Group study sessions
See the Academic Success and Tutoring and Writing Center websites or call (816) 501-3710 for more information, including courses covered, hours, and appointment scheduling.
Orientation for New Students
New student orientation affirms the mission of Avila University by partnering with students, faculty, and staff to facilitate the transition of all new students into the Avila collegiate environment with an emphasis on educational, service, and social opportunities. For more information please call (816) 501-3754.
Campus Safety
The campus is supported by professional campus safety officers 365 days a year, 24 hours a day. Campus safety officers can be reached immediately at (816) 985-6079.
If the situation calls for immediate emergency response from local authorities, call 911 (Campus phones - dial 9-911).
Officers are also available for escorts on campus, completing incident reports, crime statistics, and safety education. All campus crimes or incidents must be reported to the Campus Safety Office at (816) 985-6079. For more information, please see the Campus Safety website.
Lost and Found items may be recovered from the Campus Safety Department located in Whitfield Center.
Residence Life
The residence hall program strives to complement a student’s academic program through a community living experience. Along with the convenience of living on campus, living in the residence halls allows a student to interact with students of diverse backgrounds, cultural experiences, and lifestyles.
The residence halls consist of a fully air-conditioned environment, featuring student rooms to accommodate approximately four hundred students, professional live-in staff, and professionally trained student staff. The residence hall complex contains Wi-Fi, TV and study lounges, kitchen facilities, and laundry facilities. Each student room comes complete with satellite television service, local telephone service if requested, and high-speed wired and Wi-Fi Internet services.
Additional information about the residence halls, including the community living standards, staff contact information, and processes and procedures can be found in the Residence Life section of the Student Handbook. To find out how to become more involved in Residence Life, contact the Residence Life Office at (816) 501-2485.
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