Iona recognizes that the educational experience in college should encompass more than classroom instruction. In order to develop the entire person, lona College offers a wide variety of activities and services to complement academic preparation. Most of these activities and services are managed through the Division of Student Life. Areas within the Division of Student Life include counseling, career development, campus safety and security, health services, off-campus and commuter services, mission and ministry, student development and residential life.
Athletics
The Athletic Department offers a wide variety of sports and intramural programs for all members of the lona community to enjoy. lona competes in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference and fields 21 Division I teams. An extensive intramural program allows all students to engage in athletic activities. The Hynes Athletics Center houses the athletic staff and provides recreational and fitness centers. The Mazzella Multi-sports Field is also available for recreational use.
Holy Family Church
Holy Family Church, located on Mayflower Ave. just up from Loftus Hall, hosts the Iona College Sunday Mass at 6:00 p.m. weekly throughout the semester.
Campus Regulations
The College Code of Conduct governs non-academic life at lona. Proceedings and penalties associated with the non-observance of College regulations are found in the Student Handbook. All members of the lona community are responsible for knowing these regulations. lona College aims to develop the unique potentialities in each individual. The widest freedom consistent with the rights of others-both individually and collectively-is enthusiastically fostered. lona places great emphasis on personal responsibility and on respect for oneself and for others in the community. In keeping with this aim, lona endorses the “Joint Statement on Rights and Freedom of Students,” developed by the AAC, AAUP, NASPA, and the Family Rights and Privacy Act of 1974.
Specific areas of student life are covered by policy statements and procedural guidelines published by various offices charged with responsibility for certain functions. For help in clarifying these documents, students should consult the Vice Provost for Student Life. The overall goals of student services at lona College are making students feel an integral part of the lona community and connecting them to the appropriate resources as needed to assist in their development and holistic success. lona takes particular interest in these activities; it is important that both resident students and commuter students feel especially welcome on the campus.
Campus Safety
The Office of Campus Safety is responsible for the safety and security of all members of the lona community. The department’s goal is to maintain a campus atmosphere conducive to achieving the lona College mission. The staff is encouraged to take a proactive approach to safety by maintaining positive interactions with our community on a daily basis in a form of “Community Policing”. The purpose of this philosophy is to improve the overall safety of our campus through increased involvement, mutual respect, and fair treatment of all members of the lona community.
The Office of Campus Safety issues ID cards and parking permits at LaPenta Student Union, Monday through Thursday, 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., and Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. during the fall and spring terms. During other periods, the Office of Campus Safety is open Monday to Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Summer 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Monday to Thursday and Friday 8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. The Campus Safety 24 HR Annex can be reached at 914-633-2560 for assistance outside of office hours.
All vehicles parked on campus must park in a legal space and display a valid lona College parking permit. Yellow lined spaces are for faculty and staff only and the tow policy is strictly enforced. This policy is intended to facilitate the flow of traffic and to improve pedestrian safety. Campus Safety personnel are always willing to meet with students to discuss campus safety and personal security issues.
The Department of Campus Safety will provide, upon request, all campus crime statistics as reported to the United States Department of Education. This information is available on the website of the US Department of Education at https://ope.ed.gov/campussafety/#/, and on the Iona College website at https://www.iona.edu/student-life/health-wellness-safety/campus-safety.aspx or you may obtain a printed copy from the Department of Campus Safety.
Center for Career Development
The Gerri Ripp Center for Career Development, located on the second floor in Spellman Hall, assists students in every stage of their career development and job search process. A dedicated and professional team of career coaches work closely with students to help them identify skills and interests, determine a career direction, and explore internship and full-time opportunities leading to meaningful careers after graduation. The Center partners with the campus community: faculty, student life administrators, student organizations, alumni, and employers to engage students early in their Iona College career to provide ongoing support. The Center hosts career programs and services that include: individualized career advisement, interview preparation, Handshake, a state-of-the-art career management system listing thousands of internship and employment opportunities, on-campus recruitment, professional career panels, career fairs, and a variety of networking and career preparation seminars and events.
Counseling Center
The Iona College Counseling Center is a free, confidential space for students to find emotional and psychological support. Any currently enrolled Iona College student, whether full-time or part-time, residential or commuter, graduate or undergraduate, is eligible to receive services at the Counseling Center. The Counseling Center is staffed by skilled clinicians with special training in college mental health. Clinicians work with students individually on a short-term basis and will help students find private, longer term therapy if necessary. The Counseling Center’s Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner is available to provide medication evaluation and medication management to students receiving therapeutic services and to refer to outside medication providers when counseling is completed. The Dolce Postgraduate Fellow provides specialized services to students who are neurodivergent. Counseling, consultation, and referral related to substance abuse are also available.
Counseling Center staff can be spotted all over Iona’s campus, providing outreach and education to the College community on a variety of mental health-related topics. The Counseling Center’s Prevention Coordinator leads the Counseling Center’s collaborations across campus on wellness programming, including suicide prevention, interpersonal violence prevention, substance abuse awareness education, neurodiversity, mindfulness, and stress reduction.
Students can speak to Counseling Center clinicians about any issue of concern to them, whether it is a new or ongoing problem. At the Counseling Center, students can work through these issues and learn strategies to address them. The Counseling Center is available to provide assistance to students experiencing mental health crises and is able to connect students with local emergency care.
To connect with a clinician for the first time, students can come in to the Counseling Center during walk-in hours, Monday-Friday, 1-4 p.m. on a first-come, first-serve basis. Students whose schedules do not permit them to come in between 1-4 p.m. on any weekday can arrange a specific alternative appointment time. While on-site short-term counseling is not an appropriate treatment option for all students, walk-in sessions continue to be available to every student throughout their enrollment at Iona, whether or not the student is receiving regular therapeutic services. There is no maximum number of walk-in sessions nor is there a cap on frequency of walk-ins. Students can reach the Counseling Center by phone at 914- 633-2038. The Counseling Center is located on the second floor of Spellman Hall. It is open from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Monday-Friday with extended hours until 6 p.m. on Thursdays.
Health Services
Health Services, located in the Iona Wellness Center at 760 North Avenue, provides primary care services and the initial interventions of emergency care. Health Services promotes primary prevention; health screening, immunizations, health education and counseling. The care of our students is provided by nurse practitioners.
Health Services adheres firmly to the requirements of New York State Department of Health, Public Health Laws. All students are required to submit proof of immunity against measles, mumps, rubella, and Meningococcal Meningitis within 30 days of entrance. The Health Service professional and administrative staff conforms to standards of professional, ethical, moral, State and Federal mandated procedures of confidentiality, privacy, and informed consent. The student health record is maintained in accordance with professional and legal guidelines. Without the authorization of a signed release of information by the student, no part of the student’s health record will be disclosed. The exception to the standard of confidentiality occurs when a student is assessed by professional care provider to be a danger to him/herself or others.
Health Services provides lectures workshops, and presentations on topics relevant to the health needs of students as well as global health issues. Health Services works collaboratively with other disciplines; psychology and counseling, residential life, and campus ministries for a holistic management of care.
The Goal of Health Services is to provide the highest standard of care in accordance with evidence-based practice and facilitate the development of self-care and health maintenance skills unique to the individual student to achieve their goals and optimal level of wellness.
ID Cards
Every student who wishes to borrow from the library, use the Hynes Athletics Center, receive student discounts or utilize other services must have a valid ID card with bar code label. This card will be recognized as long as the student is in good standing at lona. The ID card can be obtained from the Campus Safety and Security Office located in LaPenta Student Union. As a regulation of the Code of Conduct students must have a current College ID card in their possession at all times and provide it upon request to college officials if asked.
Mission and Ministry
The Office of Mission and Ministry invites students to grow in faith, engage in hands on service to others, deepen their spiritual lives, and consider issues of peace and justice. Open to students of all religious backgrounds, Mission and Ministry offers Sunday and daily mass, interfaith prayer services, retreats, weekly hospitality suppers, and active engagement in volunteer service locally and throughout the world. From offices in LaPenta Student Union and Montgomery House, the department promotes annual programs such as the Week of the Peacemaker, Make a Difference Week, Heritage Week, Kairos retreats, and Coffee Houses. The Iona in Mission programs sends students on service immersions as close as the Bronx and as far away as India. At Montgomery House student campus ministers and professional staff live in a community setting valuing prayer, service and simplicity. Student campus ministers also reside in the residence halls.
Residential Life
The Office of Residential Life, located in the La Penta Student Union, is to provide a community to our Gael force that is supportive of students’ academic endeavors, complements classroom learning, and that promotes individual development. With a variety of living areas, students are able to feel like they are home away from home. On-campus housing is available in Rice Hall, Loftus Hall, North Avenue, East Hall, Conese Hall, Hales Halls, the Apartments at Eastchester, and the On-Campus Houses.
Each residence hall is led by a live-in Residence Hall Director and Resident Assistant student staff members who provide a safe and secure living environment and promote community development among residents. The residence halls also offer variations of the following amenities: single rooms, suites, apartments, kitchens, laundry facilities, game room, exercise room, study lounges, cable television, wireless internet, 24-hour Security and Facilities response.
Iona College offers housing to full-time undergraduate and graduate students.
Off-Campus and Commuter Services
The Office of Off-Campus and Commuter Services is located on the second floor of the Robert V. LaPenta Student Union. This office serves as a resource for traditional commuter students and students who live off campus or are considering moving off campus. Commuter and off-campus students are encouraged to remain active and engaged on campus and take advantage of all of the resources available to them. Students thinking about moving off-campus are strongly encouraged to work with this office in planning their transition off campus. The office teaches students how to locate off-campus housing, educates students about off-campus needs and concerns, and establishes relationships with students, neighbors, and city officials to enhance the quality of life in our surrounding neighborhoods. The office acts in an advisory capacity.
School Closings
Class cancellations due to inclement weather will be announced on the homepage of the Iona College website at www.iona.edu in addition to official social media accounts. College students who have signed up for the Emergency Text Message System will receive a text notification. Students may also call 914-633-2000.
Student Development
The Office of Student Development is responsible for the oversight and operations of the LaPenta Student Union, student leadership initiatives, programming and activities, student involvement opportunities, and student diversity initiatives. The professional and student staff members of the department work in collaboration with student leaders and colleagues to fulfill these goals in addition to the mentorship and support of the more than 70 diverse student clubs and recognized groups on campus. All students are encouraged to enrich themselves through involvement in campus life, especially through accepting one of the leadership opportunities afforded through participation in a student club or organization. One of the goals of the office is to promote opportunities for faculty and students to further enhance relationships that develop in the classroom. Student activities encompass a wide spectrum of student interests from music, sports, media, to opportunities to participate as a student in academic and professional organizations. Students are empowered to develop on-campus events while working closely with the professional staff of the Office of Student Development. The staff works closely with many other departments on campus (e.g., Foreign Languages, English, Theatre, History, the Iona College Council on the Arts) to develop and coordinate “Experience New York City” trips, wellness opportunities, alcohol and drug education, multicultural initiatives, art exhibits, concerts, and a wide variety of other positive outlets for the creative self-expression of Iona students.
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