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Student Services

Bookstore/duplicating

Janine Paul, Manager
419-358-3214
Marbeck Center
Located on the upper level of Marbeck Center, the campus bookstore is designed to serve the needs of students, campus offices and conference guests. In addition to textbooks, the bookstore carries official Bluffton logo clothing, gift items, office supplies, artist supplies, greeting cards and trade books. Popular books on a variety of topics including peace studies and Mennonite issues are also available.

The bookstore stocks all of the textbooks that you need for your classes. We stock new and used books as well as providing books as rentals. The bookstore also buys back used books.

Textbook butler
All first year students are automatically opted into a program called Textbook Butler. The bookstore receives all student class schedules, gets all of the books together and charges the books to the students' accounts at the business office. All the student has to do is pick up their books in the bookstore prior to the beginning of the semester. The Textbook Butler program is not mandatory and students may opt out of the program at any time using the Textbook Butler website bluffton.textbookbutler.com. 

Textbooks
If a student chooses to opt out of Textbook Butler they can still purchase or rent textbooks in the bookstore. All students may charge books and school supplies to their student accounts during the first two weeks of the semester. In order to charge to your student account you must have your student ID. Most books are available to rent for one semester. See the bookstore for rental details. At the time of rental you must have your student ID and a valid credit card to guarantee the rental. The rental does not need to be charged to the credit card. Purchases can be paid by cash, check, VISA, MasterCard or Discover. See the business office for check cashing.

Textbook refund policy
Please see the bookstore or textbook refund policies. All refunds and exchanges must be approved by the bookstore manager.

Business office

Art Woodruff


Vice president of fiscal affairs
419-358-3320, College Hall, lower level
This office, located in the lower level of College Hall, is responsible for student payroll, student accounts, office services, collections, telephones and other business-related activities.

Campus pastor

Jackie Wyse-Rhodes, pastor
419-358-3219
Riley Court, 2nd floor Schultz Hall
The campus pastor is responsible for stimulating and coordinating Christian spiritual life among students, faculty, staff and the university community. He is also available for counseling. This office is located in Hirschler Hall, 2nd floor in Riley Court. (See description of spiritual life activities.)

Center for Career & Vocation

LaShonda Gurley, director
419-358-3030
Musselman Library, Ground Floor
The Center for Career and Vocation offers a variety of services to students and alumni. Individual career advising, small group workshops, special programs and materials in the Career Library assist students in the various phases of career and life planning.
more info...

Resources include:

  • College Central Network, online management system
    • Job (full-time, part-time, and summer) postings, internship opportunities and direct connections to employers
    • Ability to build portfolios and post resumes
    • Ability to connect with alumni through the alumni mentoring network
    • Resources available from experts on a variety of career topics, nationwide    
    • Register at: www.collegecentral.com/bluffton
  • Job search
    • Seminars and advising on job search strategies, resume and letter writing and interviewing techniques
    • Facilitate employer networking
    • Connect with various recruiting events throughout the year, including four center sponsored or co-sponsored events
  • Graduate school
    • Assistance in the application process for graduate school
    • Information on the GRE
    • Essay critiquing
  • Resumes
  • Career  Library
    • Career interest inventories and educational testing information
    • Information on career and life planning, decision-making and the job search process
    • Books and magazines on occupational, salary and employer information
    • International and volunteer opportunities
    • Diverse resources for candidates of all kinds
       

Counseling service

Rae Staton, counselor
419-358-3449
Old Ropp lower level
Counseling is provided free of charge to any Bluffton University traditional student who is experiencing emotional concerns, social/relational problems, family stressors, drug or alcohol related concerns, eating disorders, grief/loss issues, struggles with coping with past traumatic experiences or any other stressors associated with life as a college student.
more info...

Curriculum Resource Center

419-358-3262
Musselman Library, 4th Floor
The Curriculum Resource Center (CRC), offers a variety of resources selected especially for students and faculty involved in Bluffton's undergraduate and graduate teacher education programs. The CRC is also a project work area, with special appeal for education students but open to all library users, featuring an Ellison letter machine, roll and pocket laminators, and other equipment and supplies. Hours for the CRC are the same as library hours.
more info ...

Dining services

Bluffton provides dining facilities in Marbeck Center. The Commons is operated primarily for boarding students, but also serves non-boarding students and others on a per meal basis. Faculty and staff are invited to join the students at any meal.

Students seeking employment should contact staff in the financial aid office who in turn will work with dining services for student placement.

All food and most beverages with the exception of entrees are available to boarding students in unlimited amounts during the regularly scheduled meal times.
More about general dining service policies...
More about meal plans... 
More about Beaver Bucks...

Financial aid

Lawrence Matthews, director
419-358-3276
Financial aid is awarded through the Bluffton University financial aid office located in Schultz Hall, Riley Court. Financial aid is awarded to students with demonstrated need as determined by the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and/or to students that have earned a scholarship through their academic or performance achievements. To receive continued aid, students must be maintaining Satisfactory Academic Progress as stated in the Catalog.

Financial aid is available from many sources including the state and federal government and Bluffton University and is awarded as scholarships, grants, loans and student work. Bluffton University has a FAFSA priority filing date of May 1.

Loans
To receive Federal Direct Student Loans, a Federal Direct Parent PLUS Loan or a school certified private education loan, the FAFSA must be received and the loan certified within the enrollment period to which the disbursements are to be applied.

On-campus student work
Jobs on campus are available for students through the Learn and Earn Program. Students who wish to work on campus should contact the financial aid office for more information on available positions and necessary paperwork. Detailed information regarding financial aid and student eligibility is available from the Bluffton University financial aid office.
more info...

Learning Resource Center

Jacqui Slinger, director
419-358-3215
The Learning Resource Center provides academic and personal support in the forms of study groups, tutoring, workshops and individual consultations/follow-up. The center works with students on developing and/or refreshing study skills such as time management, test and note-taking, reading, memory techniques, etc. The Learning Resource Center is located on the 3rd floor in College Hall. The director of the center also serves as counselor for disability services.

Library services

Carrie Phillips, director
419-358-3396
Reference, 419-358-3450
Circulation, 419-358-3262
Archives and Special Collections, 419-358-3275
The library provides the resources needed to complete assignments, conduct research and explore areas of interest. Whether online from the library website, available  from the many collections at the Musselman Library, or borrowed from partner libraries in Ohio or other libraries around the country, there is a vast array of resources available to Bluffton students! With all of these resources, students benefit from the many services that the library offers, including Ask a Librarian for help in person, by phone, email, IM, text and appointment. The library is a great place to meet friends, study, collaborate on projects and attend special events.
more info...

Multicultural affairs

Tyson Goings, Director
419-358-3306
Hirschy Annex Breezeway
Bluffton University Multicultural Affairs Center's mission is to provide services, programs and opportunities that promote the involvement and development of all students.
more info...

Music facilities

Crystal Sellers Battle,
 music department chair
419-358-3348, Mosiman Hall
Yoder Recital Hall, a state-of-the-art performance facility built in 1996, includes digital audio recording and computer projection equipment and faculty teaching studios. Mosiman Hall, the music department's main building, contains three classrooms, a rehearsal/lecture hall, practice rooms and faculty teaching studios. The department has a collection of performance and study scores and an extensive collection of CDs and DVDs that are housed in Musselman Library. The Advanced Media Studio integrates a complete piano lab, audio and multimedia software with a projection and sound system for audio editing/production and interactive teaching. A harpsichord and two pipe organs, located in Yoder Recital Hall and in Gilliom Room, offer various opportunities for keyboardists beyond the 23 pianos housed in the music department. Bluffton University is an All-Steinway School.

Student life office

Phill Talavinia, 
Interim vice president of Student Life and Athletics Director
419-358-3226
Schultz Hall, 1st Floor
This office is located in first Hauenstein in Riley Court. Included in this administrative area are: residence halls, health service, advising international students, orientation of new students, conduct process, multicultural programs, bookstore, food service, Marbeck Center, religious activities, conferences, counseling and the Career Development Center.

Writing Center

Cynthia Bandish, director
Centennial Hall 
419-358-3442, 
The Writing Center offers students help with all stages of writing from brainstorming ideas to drafting and revising papers and other written assignments. Any Bluffton student is welcome to contact or meet with a peer tutor for help. The Writing Center is located on the first floor of Musselman Library.

  Technology Center

Chris Gott

, Learning Technology Specialist
419-358-3433
The Technology Center computer lab consists of 50 Windows 7 PCs,  flatbed scanners, two black and white laser printers and one color printer. Additional computers are available in an adjoining classroom.  Microsoft Office is installed throughout the lab. Adobe Creative Suite Design & Web Premium and Adobe Premiere Elements are installed on select PCs. Mobile device users will find wireless internet access. Digital cameras, camcorders and voice recorders are available for checkout. Laptops and data projectors may be reserved for classroom use. Replacement student IDs may be obtained weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Technology Center staff provides hands-on assistance for students during all hours of operation.
more info...

 Computer Help Desk   

Brenda Groman, coordinator
419-358-3600
helpdesk@bluffton.edu
In an effort to support student access to the campus computing resources that are necessary for academic achievement, the Bluffton University Help Desk responds to student requests (via phone or e-mail) for information and support. In every case, the Help Desk will attempt to provide necessary information or resolve a support issue by phone or e-mail. The Help Desk does not guarantee successful diagnosis or resolution of any computer problem by phone, e-mail or hands-on intervention and may advise students to contact their computer vendor or a commercial service provider. Bluffton University and its employees assume no liability for damage, theft, loss or changes to the system performance of any personal computer or peripheral device as a result of a Help Desk consultation and/or hands-on support.

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