Students are encouraged to take a tutor (or anyone who works for the college) to a meal free of charge, from time to time. This offers students an excellent opportunity to become familiar with tutors and other members of the college community. Tutors may also invite students for a meal. Graduate Institute students may issue invitations to lunch in the dining hall or in the coffee shop, and to dinner on Monday or Thursday evenings in the coffee shop. Students should tell the attendant that the meals are to be charged to the Dean’s Office. Students and tutors are asked to limit their invitations and acceptances to four per month. During the summer term, when the dining hall and the coffee shop are closed, Graduate Institute students may take a tutor or other college employee to lunch at a local restaurant or coffee shop, and then present their receipts from this lunch to the GI office for reimbursement. The maximum reimbursement on each occasion is $20.
Current students and alumni of the Graduate Institute are hired to serve as Academic Assistants for Greek, Writing, and Mathematics (only during semesters when the Mathematics & Natural Science segment is being offered). Each Academic Assistant is available by appointment or during their chosen office hours which are posted by the second week of each semester. Updated contact information and assistance offerings will be updated on the BBC’s bulletin board for reference at the beginning of each semester.
The Graduate Study Lounge is located in the Nelson Room, room 304 of the BBC. There is a spacious seminar table, small refrigerator, microwave oven, couch, and wifi for portable laptop use - all of which can be used before and after classes, or as convenient.
The Annapolis campus bookstore is located in the basement of Humphreys Hall, across the lawn from the west entrance of the coffee shop in McDowell Hall. The bookstore stocks all books required for St. John’s classes. Several translations and editions are available of most texts on the reading list, and the bookstore keeps a list of recommended editions and a compilation of book advice, opinions, and comparisons by St. John’s tutors. If you have questions, the staff of current students and alumni is well-acquainted with the Program and will happily help you make the best purchase for you. You may conveniently stop by or call 410-626-2540.
The Greenfield Library supports the teaching and learning that occurs at St. John’s College. In all its activities, the library seeks to participate in the program of the college and reflect its philosophy of education by providing accessing to program texts, educational resources, reference databases, and more. The Greenfield Library is located directly across the main lawn from the Barr-Buchanan Center and the operating hours fluctuate to accommodate the class-times and seasonal needs of SJC students. During Orientation, Graduate Institute students will visit the library and receive a barcode for their SJC 1Card which then registers them as student borrowers. More information about borrowing procedures, student privileges, and library resources can be accessed online via the Greenfield Library or by calling 410-263-2371.
The St. John’s 1Card is the official identification card of St. John’s College. Your card will be activated during Orientation by the Office of Information Technology. It will need to be re-activated every semester because it is required for identification and access to essential campus services. It offers a convenient account for making purchases on campus (meals in the Randall Dining Hall, refreshments at the McDowell Hall Coffee Shop, fines at the Greenfield Library, access to student computer labs where you can print papers, and student account payments less than $1,000). You can add value via cash, check, or credit card online at stjohnscollege1card.com.
Students are welcome to make use of the computer and printing lab in BBC on the second lower level. Both PCs and Macs with access to the internet are available. You may print at a cost of $.05/single-sided page or $.07/double-sided page, using funds uploaded to your 1Card. Any time you have challenges with any aspect of the computers or printers, please send e-mail directly to user.support(at)sjc.edu so the IT experts can help. Additional computers with internet access and printers are located on the first floor of the library and can be used free of charge. These computers allow access to various research databases as well as the online catalog.
Important notices to the college community are placed on the “Important Notice” bulletin board located in the coffee shop in the basement of McDowell Hall. While the coffee shop is home to many bulletin boards and postings, there are also other bulletin boards around campus: at both entrances to the basement of McDowell Hall, at the foot of the staircases on the first floor of McDowell Hall, in the entryway to the dining hall in Randall Hall, outside the music library in Mellon Hall, in the basement and on the first floor of Greenfield Library, and one on each dormitory floor. Student jobs are posted outside the Career Services Office. Students should make a habit of checking the bulletin boards on campus regularly to keep informed about college activities, important dates, and deadlines. Graduate Students should pay particular attention to the bulletin board in the foyer of the Barr-Buchanan Center, as it is the main source of postings that relate to Graduate Institute activities.
In general, the responsibilities of the elected members of the Graduate Council are: to represent the graduate students of St. John’s College, Annapolis on all matters pertaining to their general welfare as graduate students; to provide refreshments for and organize After-Seminar Gatherings (ASG) for which GC funding is already available; to provide for and promote graduate student extra-curricular activities; to provide for the welcoming and orientation of new graduate students; and to provide a formal means of communication among graduate students and undergraduate students; with the Associate Dean for the Graduate Program; and with the Dean and President of the College. Students should feel free to reach out to these representatives as a first line of inquiry for anything regarding ASGs, upcoming social events, seasonal activities, or post-class get-togethers that may be occurring. Representatives are there to ensure your inclusion in, and awareness of, social on-goings in the Graduate Institute.
Customarily, after the first meeting of seminar each semester, the Graduate Council holds an election of new GC Seminar Representatives. The election should only take a few minutes after the first class meeting and it will result in two GC Seminar Representatives from each seminar group. The day after the seminar representatives have been elected, one of those representatives should send an e-mail notifying the Graduate Institute Associate Director of the election results. During the first GC meeting, the remainder of the officers will be decided, those names should be sent to the Graduate Institute Associate Director, and the full set of names are posted on the bulletin board in the lobby of BBC, to the right of the Hartle room.
Colloquy is the Graduate Council publication that issues a new student-authored edition each semester. Submissions from authors have addressed topics such as what it means to read great books and to consider important questions, reflections on the purpose of our conversation here together, and epiphanies or moments of realization that transpired during a class discussion. Colloquy is comprised of an editorial board and student contributors. Colloquy welcomes submissions from contributing members of the current GI student-body as well as recent alumnus. Meetings begin early each semester and calls for submissions are routinely emailed to Graduate Institute students. Editors can be contacted at colloquy(at)sjc.edu.
Each semester there are as many as a dozen study groups led by enrolled graduate students. The study groups are open to the entire SJC community (including staff, tutors, GIs, undergraduates, and alumni) at no cost to participants. Prior to the beginning of each semester the Associate Director of the Graduate Institute will ask for students to submit any proposed study groups for the coming semester. The submission of books or authors not encountered in the program curriculum is warmly encouraged so long as the student thinks the text(s) will be grounds for an interesting and lively discussion. Following submission, room assignments and times will be organized for each respective group and then published via email to all members of the Graduate Institute. Study Group information can also be found throughout the semester on the main bulletin board in the Lobby of the Barr-Buchanan Center.
The bulletin board located in the first basement of Barr-Buchanan is an open posting site for rooms and other notices. If you need housing or can offer a room to a fellow Graduate Institute student, or if you need or can offer help in commuting to classes, please notify the GI Office and also post a small notice on this board so that others can contact you. The Barr-Buchanan board is a place that most Graduate Institute students see frequently, however you are still welcome to post notices in other locations on campus. Note: This bulletin board is not monitored by the GI, and may include listings from members of the Annapolis community that have not been vetted by the College.
On-Campus Summer Housing: Residence hall rooms are available for summer graduate students and may be reserved through collaboration with the Graduate Institute Associate Director during the pre-registration process. Room contracts are available for three, five, eight, and eleven week periods during summer term. Current fees regarding summer housing arrangements are located here. A room deposit is not required. Roommates are not assigned. Students reserve rooms as singles.
Moving into the Residence Hall: Graduate students who have reserved rooms for the summer term may pick up their key packets at the Public Safety Office in Pinkney Hall on the weekend prior to the beginning of the summer term.
Moving out of the Residence Hall: Students must vacate their room by noon on the Saturday after classes end. Room keys are to be turned over at the Public Safety Office upon departure. There is a $50 fine for failure to return a residence hall room key at the end of the summer.
Damages During Occupancy: Damages beyond normal wear and tear after summer occupancy is reported to the Business Office. The resident of the room is billed accordingly.
During the fall and spring semesters, the campus dining hall is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner on weekdays, and for brunch and dinner on the weekends. Students can pay the per-meal price to dine on campus. In addition, the McDowell Coffee Shop serves snacks and light meals, and is open between classes on Mondays and Thursdays. Both dining sites accept cash or the St. John’s 1Card.
The dining hall is open for three meals a day, Monday through Friday, during the summer Seminar & Tutorial five-week session only (i.e., not on weekends, and not during preceptorial sessions). Summer residents are encouraged to use the residence hall kitchens, the microwave oven in the Mellon Fishbowl, and the microwave and refrigerator in the Nelson Room on the third floor of the Barr-Buchanan Center. Food is served at social events hosted throughout the semester (e.g. After-Seminar Gatherings, Bocce & BBQ, Pre-Preceptorial dinners). There are also dozens of dining options within walking-distance of campus.
