On- and Off-Campus Resources for Stony Brook University Students

Whether you are looking for a new place to live, pondering what professional road to take, or just want to keep informed, these services provided by Stony Brook University and other off-campus sites can help keep you on the right track.

Career Services Center: From job fairs, to study abroad programs and internships, the career center provides students the opportunity to build their resume and make connections. "An internship is the crux of experiential learning, by doing something in authentic context," says Marianna Savoca, director of the career center. The office is located on the ground floor of the Melville Library adjacent to the zebra path; no appointment is necessary.

Please Be Advised: The Academic and Pre-Professional Advising Center cooked up a way to get students important information at their fingertips. Please Be Advised is a mass e-mail sent to all undergrads twice a month listing the top eight dates and events they should be aware of. Without sending a lengthy e-mail students might not read, this blast can easily be scrolled through on a smartphone, according to Director, Richard J. Gatteau.

SOLAR System: The SOLAR System is Stony Brook's own Student On-Line Access to Records. Found at www.stonybrook.edu/solarsystem, students have the ability to register and add/drop classes, search campus jobs, pay their bills and even see what textbooks their courses require all with the click of a mouse.  

Blackboard: Blackboard is another online tool that can be a great asset. It's a course management system which can be accessed at https://blackboard.stonybrook.edu. Faculty members use it to upload class syllabi and lecture notes, while pupils can interact on course discussion boards and even virtual demonstrations.

Faculty: One of the easiest ways to make the best use of what the campus has to offer is to ask for help. "Get connected to a faculty member or academic advisor," suggests Mary Beth Powers, assistant director of the academic and pre-professional advising center. "Talk to people to bridge that gap."

Extra Help and Tutoring: Anyone looking for assistance with their studies can visit the help rooms and learning centers from Monday through Thursday located within each department.  

Off-Campus Housing: To find local listings and services available in the Three Village Area, try clicking on http://och.fsa.sunysb.edu/. Have a place to live but no furniture? Try renting some from CORT. If you still need help adjusting, the Off-Campus Housing office is located in Student Union room 250 and is open from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Stony Books: Located just a few minutes from campus on Route 25A, Stony Books provides textbooks to students at a speedy rate and fair price. The lines can get long, but the return wait is worth it as long as you hold on to your receipt.  

Emma S. Clark Library: For those students who are not eligible to use the library's amenities, they can participate in a co-op program through the school's library that will issue a monthly card enabling students to check out books from the library. Some events are open to the public and students are welcome to come in and sit.

Ratemyprofessors.com: If you want to get a leg-up on what sort of teaching style your new professors will implement, peruse this site; just keep in mind it's strictly subjective.

See More Back-to-School Coverage from Patch:

Monday: New Developments on Campus at Stony Brook

Tuesday: Local Stores Praise Back-to-School Rush

Thursday: Dormitory Primer: Guidelines and Essentials for Stocking Your Room

Friday: Chamber President: Watch Out, Princeton – We're a College Town, Too