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Iona recognizes that the educational experience should encompass more than classroom instruction. In order to develop the entire person, Iona University 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, club sports, health services, mission and ministry, off-campus and commuter services, performing arts, residential life and student development.
Athletics
The Athletics Department offers a wide variety of sports and intramural programs for all members of the Iona community to enjoy. Iona 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 athletics staff and provides recreational and fitness centers. The Mazzella Multi-Sports Field is also available for recreational use.
Center for Career Development
The Gerri Ripp Center for Career Development, located on the second floor of Spellman Hall, assists students in every stage of their career development and job search process. A dedicated and professional team of career coaches works 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 University career to provide ongoing support. The Center hosts career programs and services that include: individualized career coaching; interview preparation; Handshake, a career management system listing thousands of internship and employment opportunities; on-campus recruitment; career panels; career fairs and a variety of networking and career preparation seminars and events.
Center for Student Engagement
The Center for Student Engagement is responsible for the oversight and operations of the LaPenta Student Union, student leadership initiatives, programming and activities, student involvement opportunities, off campus and commuter services, 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, and 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 Center for Student Engagement. The staff works closely with many other departments on campus (e.g., Foreign Languages, English, Theatre, History, the Iona University 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.
Counseling Center
The Iona University Counseling Center is a free, confidential space for students to find emotional and psychological support. Any currently enrolled Iona University 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. When appropriate, students engaged in therapeutic services at the Counseling Center receive short-term medication evaluation and medication management.
Counseling Center staff provide outreach and education to the University community on a variety of mental health-related topics, 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, within a setting of trauma-informed, expert clinical care. The Counseling Center is available to provide assistance to students experiencing mental health crises and is able to connect students with local emergency care. The Dolce Postgraduate Fellow provides specialized services to students who are neurodivergent. Counseling, consultation, and referral related to substance abuse is also available.
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. Students can follow the Counseling Center on Instagram @ionacollegecounselingcenter.
Health Services
Health Services provides primary care services and the initial interventions of emergency care. Health Services promotes primary prevention, health screening, immunizations, and health promotion. The care of our students is largely 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 departments: 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.
Holy Family Church
Holy Family Church, located on Mayflower Ave. just up from Loftus Hall, hosts the Iona University Sunday Mass at 6 p.m. weekly throughout the semester.
ID Cards
Every student is required to keep on their person at all times a university-issued Iona ID card. This card is necessary to borrow materials from the library, use the Hynes Athletics Center, receive student discounts or utilize other services where an ID is required. This card will be recognized as long as the student is in good standing at Iona. 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 provide it upon request to university 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 or no religious background, 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 send 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 LaPenta Student Union, creates a community for our Gaels 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 Hall, 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. Residence hall amenities vary from location to location.
Iona University offers housing to full-time undergraduate and graduate students.
University-provided housing is mandatory for full-time undergraduate students in their freshman and sophomore year, unless exempt from that requirement based on specific criteria, including but not limited to commuting from home, significant documented financial hardship, or certain statuses based on dependents or marriage. Freshmen and sophomores are not permitted to rent a private, off-campus apartment or house. Those freshman and sophomore students who do not live in on-campus housing and are not exempted properly will be charged the full cost of housing and a meal plan as if they are living on campus.
School Closings
Class cancellations due to inclement weather will be announced on the homepage of the Iona University website at www.iona.edu in addition to official social media accounts. University students who have signed up for the Emergency Text Message System will receive a text notification. Students may also call (914) 633-2000.
Student Code of Conduct
The Student Code of Conduct governs behavioral expectations of students at Iona and can be found on the Iona website. The process reflects an educational philosophy at the University. Students and staff that interface with students in any way should be aware of the code as a means to promote the growth and development of the student body. Additionally, 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 Dean of Students.
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