![Classroom.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/5cd5ce_57c6fade9e7846a9a5824f675cf28d8c~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_600,h_400,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/5cd5ce_57c6fade9e7846a9a5824f675cf28d8c~mv2.jpg)
ACADEMICS
Academic Advising
Welcome to USW Academic Advising!
​
We are thrilled to have you here as you embark on your academic journey at our esteemed institution. At our university, we believe that every student's path is unique, and our dedicated team of academic advisors is here to help you navigate your way to success.
Whether you are a first-year student seeking guidance on course selection, a transfer student looking to seamlessly integrate into our academic community, or a senior preparing to graduate and take on the world, our advisors are committed to providing you with the support and resources you need to thrive academically.
​
Our goal is to empower you to make informed decisions about your educational and career goals. We offer personalized advising sessions to help you create a customized academic plan, explore majors and minors, and access a wide range of academic resources that will enhance your learning experience.
​
Don't hesitate to reach out to our advisors (listed below) for assistance or to schedule an appointment. Your success is our priority, and we look forward to assisting you in achieving your academic and professional aspirations.
Welcome to the beginning of an exciting and enriching educational adventure. We're here to guide you every step of the way.
Best regards,
USW Academic Advising Team
Graduate Advising
![Red Filled Logo.png](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/5cd5ce_65f9d66643724d238e31aab0752348c7~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_268,h_313,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/Red%20Filled%20Logo.png)
Graduate Academic Advisor
Lisa Gonzalez
Programs:
Master of Business Administration
Master of Science - Biology (Forensic & Genetics)
Master of Science - Medical Sciences
Master of Science - Kinesiology
Master of Science - Psychology
![Red Filled Logo.png](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/5cd5ce_65f9d66643724d238e31aab0752348c7~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_268,h_313,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/Red%20Filled%20Logo.png)
Doctoral Academic Advisor
Graduate Academic Advisor
Lauren Zarate
Programs:
Doctor of Education
Doctor of Business Administration
Master of Science in Education - School Counseling
![Red Filled Logo.png](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/5cd5ce_65f9d66643724d238e31aab0752348c7~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_268,h_313,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/Red%20Filled%20Logo.png)
Senior Graduate Academic Advisor
Kitty Keim
Programs:
Master of Science - Clinical Mental Health Counseling
![Red Filled Logo.png](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/5cd5ce_65f9d66643724d238e31aab0752348c7~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_268,h_313,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/Red%20Filled%20Logo.png)
Graduate Academic Advisor
Mary Bakarich
Programs:
Master of Science in Education
Alternative Licensure Program
USW Online Library
USW online library services provide students and faculty with digital access to a vast collection of academic resources, including e-books, scholarly journals, research databases, and multimedia materials, facilitating research, learning, and information retrieval from anywhere with an internet connection.
Southwest JouRnal of Arts & Sciences
The Southwest Journal of Arts and Sciences (SJAS) is an interdisciplinary peer-reviewed academic journal owned and housed at University of the Southwest in Hobbs, New Mexico. Its purpose is to foster and promote quality research in the liberal arts and sciences by aspiring and seasoned scholars alike. An entirely electronic journal, SJAS is published through Alexander Street once a year with one to two issues per volume.
Institutional Review Board (IRB)
As an institution of higher learning, University of the Southwest is committed to highest level of ethical conduct and maintains such standards in keeping with the university mission. Research affiliated with USW, particularly that involving human subjects, is guided by and consistent with the ethical principles and standards outlined in Title 45, Part 46 of the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations. Additionally, research projects associated with the university observe the ethical practices and standards outlined in the Belmont Report – Ethical Principles and Guidelines for the Protection of Human Subjects of Research, as well as the Declaration of Helsinki. The IRB policies and procedures outlined in the IRB handbook apply to all university-affiliated research (funded or non-funded) conducted by USW students, faculty, and staff. Such research will also be consistent with the foundational ethical principles outlined below.
-
The participation of human subjects in research may present ethical and civil rights questions. Such research will be appropriately reviewed and guided by the IRB and polices/procedures outlined in the handbook.
-
All research activities involving human subjects must afford for the appropriate rights, health, and safety of all participants.
-
Research participation must be completely voluntary and comply with requisite informed consent guidelines. Participants do not forfeit any rights by agreeing to be a part of research activities. Participants are allowed to refuse participation and/or withdraw from research activities at any time without any adverse consequences or penalties.
-
The benefit derived from the research must fully and completely outweigh the risk to the participants.
-
The researcher must take every reasonable precaution to safeguard personally identifiable information about the participants.
-
Protecting the rights, safety, and health of participants rests with the researcher supported by USW as outlined in the IRB policies and procedures.
University Research Review (URR)
The URR provides a consistent and reliable mechanism for quality management of student research
including the following:
-
Ensuring the maintenance of a high level of integrity in student research.
-
Facilitating a level of consistency in the application of university research standards.
-
Providing timely and substantive feedback that is within the defined scope.
-
The defined scope includes feedback related to all doctoral rubric items.
-
Additional formative guidance may be provided to the committee to assist with strengthening the document.
-
The defined scope does not include minor form and style and ethical issues; however, mandatory referrals to editorial services and to the Institutional Review Board (IRB) for advice, are required when necessary.
-
-
Determining if the research is ready for advancement to the next milestone in the process.