Academic Support Services

For more information about any of the services below, visit www.sjf.edu.

Library

Lavery Library meets the information needs of 21st-Century students. A blend of traditional and electronic resources covering a broad range of subjects is available to the Fisher community. The library’s print collection is complemented by an extensive offering of online scholarly resources available at Lavery Library. Information resources include over 408,000 volumes and access to over 86,000 print and electronic periodicals.

The Charles J. Lavery Library underwent extensive renovations in 2024-25 to modernize the building’s infrastructure and adapt the spaces to meet the changing needs of our users.  A variety of study spaces are available in a three-story building with abundant natural light.  Silent study and whisper study areas are on the third floor, and study rooms and tables are available throughout the building for group study. Gathering with friends is easy with additional outdoor seating space available in the academic quad, as well as tiered seating in the first-floor atrium.  Library Services are located primarily on the second floor. The library building houses several additional departments that help all students to succeed. Accessibility Services and Testing, Career Services, and Academic Advising are on the first floor; and Writing and Tutoring Services are located on the third floor. Food and beverages are available on the second floor at Beaks’ Bites with vending and grab and go

 

Research Assistance

Professional librarians support student research and are available for in-person assistance and video appointments, as well as answering questions via phone and email.  Our librarians are information specialists committed to the academic success of all students; there is a librarian assigned to every major. Make an appointment with a librarian.    Their schedule is supplemented by a 24/7 Chat-with-a-Librarian service, so students can get assistance with their research whenever they need it.

K-12 Resource Collection

Located on the third floor, this space is geared toward educators and pre-service educators at all levels. We offer a range of fiction, non-fiction, school textbooks, and lesson-planning resources all aligned with NYS standards.

Career Services

The Career Services office provides comprehensive support to students at every stage of their career journey. They offer personalized 1:1 coaching and valuable resources for career exploration and major selection, along with expert guidance on résumé development, interviewing skills, and ongoing career management. Furthermore, Career Services actively connects students with employers through internships, employment opportunities, a job fair, workshops, and individualized employer events, fostering career readiness and crucial networking connections. Career Services is dedicated to empowering students through every phase of career management and development.

Center for Student Research and Creative Work

The St. John Fisher University Center for Student Research and Creative Work is the hub for students seeking to engage in research across all fields of study. The Center partners with the Library Committee to organize the annual Fisher Showcase, a vibrant platform for students, faculty, and staff to present their research findings, creative works, and scholarly achievements to the university community. Also, the Center offers funding opportunities to help students travel to academic conferences to present their work and participate in other valuable experiential learning events, broadening their academic horizons and professional networks.

Student Accessibility Services

St. John Fisher University is committed to providing support services and assistance for students with disabilities. Student Accessibility Services (SAS), in compliance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Amendments Act (ADAAA), provides reasonable accommodations and appropriate services to students with documented disabilities.   SAS advocates, advises, and connects students with campus resources. Students who may need reasonable accommodations are advised to contact the office at 585-385-7272 or sas@sjf.edu to schedule an appointment. Additional information can be found on the Student Accessibility Services website.

Writing Center

The SJF Writing Center offers two support options for graduate students in all programs: synchronous, one-on-one consultation, and asynchronous, written feedback on drafts. During one-on-one consultations, professional writing consultants from SJF can assist with any stage of the writing process from brainstorming through revision. Appointments are usually conducted via Zoom, though in–person connection is welcome if the student has easy access to campus. Students can also request asynchronous written feedback on drafted work with scheduled turnaround time.

In addition to SJF Writing Center support options, all graduate students have access to 24/7 writing assistance through Brainfuse Online Tutoring. Brainfuse can be accessed anytime, anywhere via the my.sjf.edu apps dashboard. Professional writing tutors provide either synchronous, on-demand writing consultation via the “Live Help” service or asynchronous written feedback via the “Writing Lab” service; asynchronous feedback can be accessed through the student’s message center within 24 hours of submission.

Veterans Affairs

The Veterans Affairs Certifying Official, located in the Registrar’s Office, Kearney 201, provides students with information and assistance relating to veterans’ benefits and concerns. The certifying official may be contacted by phone at (585) 385-8031 or by email : veteranservices@sjf.edu.  For additional resources for veterans, military students or their families please Student Financial Services web page. For more information on Veteran Education benefit eligibility, visit the VA online at: benefits.va.gov/gibill/ or call 1 (800) 442-4551.

Information Technology

Computer labs across campus offer access to a variety of software, including productivity and academic applications, on both PCs and Macs. For complete details about information technology on campus, visit the Office of Information Technology (OIT) website.

Educational Technology Support

Fisher offers a wide variety of educational technologies that may be used by the instructors of the courses you take. The DePeters Family Center for Innovation and Teaching Excellence offers documentation and video tutorials for faculty, staff, and student users of these tools. Please visit the Educational Technologies page to find the tool you are looking for and then access the student specific documentation available.

If you are looking for assistance with Brightspace specifically, check out this Getting Started with Brightspace page built for student users.

*Please be aware, not all courses use Brightspace for course management. Please look at your course syllabi for what course management system each course will use and special instructions provided by the instructor if it is a system other than Brightspace.

Online Learning

Some courses at Fisher are taught as fully online courses, meaning there is no in-person meeting on campus. Some may be taught solely through the course management system, and others may have both online activities and synchronous meetings via Zoom. Check each course syllabi carefully to understand the instructor’s plan for each online course.

If you are taking your first online course, make sure to complete the Online & Hybrid Student Orientation course found on Brightspace. Look under Discover in the red navigation bar on your Brightspace homepage to self-enroll in this course. Some instructors may require you to complete this orientation as part of their first week course activities. Some programs may also require their own program specific orientation. You will receive separate communication if that is the case.