2024-2025 University Catalog 
    
    Oct 08, 2024  
2024-2025 University Catalog

Student Life


Campus Facilities

The campus has facilities appropriate to each program’s education needs including classrooms, laboratories, and clinical facilities. The University also has clinical affiliations. 

The University has commons space, study space, and athletic facilities including the SCU Human Performance Optimization Center (HPO) and a volleyball court. Hours of operation vary.

In-Person and Virtual Support for Students

SCU is dedicated to student success. In addition to the services described in other areas of the University Catalog and website, the following hours of support are provided for students through Academic Programs, Student Services, and Business Centers. These hours are when live, in-person support is planned, including support to facilitate virtual connections or to schedule appointments for needed assistance.    

Hours may occasionally vary, such as for published University holidays or University events; offices will seek to provide notice of availability changes.

Program Support

Program-specific academic support is available each weekday that a program holds classes on-ground in Whittier. Administrative Coordinators are available weekdays to answer general academic questions, link students to appropriate University support, and connect students with program leadership and faculty.

Location: F Building Lobby

Hours of Support: 8:00 AM - 5:30 PM, Monday - Friday

The faculty, staff, and administration of each program are also available by phone and email to provide academic support. Personnel seek to return communications within 24-48 business hours.

Student Services Support  

Student Services support is available each weekday and includes Tutoring, Disability Services, Student Life, and general Student Support. Staff are available weekdays to answer general academic questions, link students to appropriate University support, and connect students with Student Services support.   

Location: Seabury-McCoy Learning Resource Center (LRC)

Hours of Support: 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM, Monday - Thursday and 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM, Friday

Student Services staff and administration are also available by phone and email to provide support. Personnel seek to return communications within 24-48 business hours.

Business Services Support

Business Services support is available each weekday and includes the Offices of the Registrar, Student Accounts, Financial Aid, and Admissions. In-person support is available each weekday afternoon from the Welcome Center Main Desk, and most weekdays through at least one office. Live, virtual support from each of these offices is available every weekday. The Welcome Center Main Desk - and any office - can help facilitate meetings with these offices.    

Location: B Building Welcome Center

Hours of Main Desk support: 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM, Monday - Friday

Hours of virtual* Support, all offices: 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM, Monday - Thursday and 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM Friday

*All offices also host in-person hours at least weekly

Business Services staff and administration from all offices are also available by phone and email to provide support. Personnel seek to return communications within 24-48 business hours.

Campus Events

The University sponsors a variety of campus-based, community-based, and virtual events throughout the year through the Associated Student Body, campus clubs, and departments and programs. Students are encouraged to take advantage of these events to enrich their educational experience. Students who are interested in hosting an event should contact the Director of Student Success.

Chesney Student Center

The Chesney Student Center provides study and socializing space and is home to the SCU Café. Hours of operation vary.

Student Housing

SCU offers convenient and community-oriented student housing located at Pinnacle at Fullerton. just 7.8 miles from SCU’s Whittier campus. While located off-campus, Pinnacle at Fullerton is within a short distance from SCU, providing easy access to classes and campus resources. This apartment community provides a comfortable and supportive living environment, ideal for fostering connections and enhancing the overall student experience. Students reside in a fully furnished 2-bedroom, 2-bathroom apartments, with four students sharing each apartment. These modern apartments are designed to support both academic and social life, offering spaces where students can study, relax, and build lasting friendships.

The Student Services department oversees the housing program, ensuring a positive living experience. Department staff are available to counsel students on any housing-related issues and are responsible for maintaining the university housing policies and student conduct within the housing community.

Students can find detailed information about housing rates, the license agreement, move-in procedures, and how to apply by visiting the SCU Student Housing webpage: SCU Student Housing.

Other Housing Resources

SCU maintains a listing of rooms for rent, apartments, short-term rentals, and hotels that are available both within Whittier and LA County.  All of this information is located here: https://my.scuhs.edu/ICS/Students/Student_Services/External_Housing_Resources.jnz

SCU also maintains a similar listing for housing resources for students attending SCU’s programs in the Phoenix-Metro area. All of this information is located here: https://my.scuhs.edu/ICS/Students/Student_Services/OT-AZ.jnz

Additional support for prospective and current students may be available by contacting Student Services at studenthousing@scuhs.edu.  

Clubs and Activities

The University offers several clubs, many of which sponsor activities open to all students. Students are encouraged to take advantage of these clubs and activities to enrich their educational experience.

Students who are interested in sponsoring a club should contact the Director Student Success to request an application. In order to be recognized as an official club, student(s) must submit a completed new club application that includes a mission statement, a membership roster of at least eight students, and one faculty advisor.

Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine Association (ACMA) 

ACMA provides intellectual, philosophical, and cultural exchange among students and alumni on acupuncture and Chinese medicine, including its purpose to enhance health, mind, and body. Students participate in professional activities and events incorporating the above ideas. 

Ayurveda Club

The Ayurveda club is dedicated to propagating the knowledge of Ayurveda by educating members on the Ayurvedic lifestyle, diet, herbs, yoga, and various bodywork therapies for health promotion and wellness care.  We are committed to promoting the healthy balance of mind, body, and spirit.

Badminton Club

The mission of Badminton Club is to provide SCU students environment and community that improves physical and mental health by playing badminton.

CalChiro Club

The CalChiro Club keeps students informed about legislation at the state level, assists in making changes that benefit the chiropractic profession, and encourages student involvement. It aims to provide students with ample opportunities to learn from established professionals at both on- and off-campus events.   

Coalition of Occupational Therapy Advocates for Diversity (COTAD)

COTAD SCU fosters diversity and inclusion in occupational therapy. Through advocacy and education, we promote equitable practices and celebrate diverse perspectives, enriching our community and enhancing care.   

Chinese Medical Terminology Club (CMT) 

Our mission is to provide understanding of Chinese medicine terminology for theory, diagnosis, acupuncture, and herbs, to bring the TCM community together to practice Chinese characters, tone, and pinyin. This will help us on our TCM journey in classes, clinic and beyond SCU. 

Forward-Thinking Chiropractic Alliance (FTCA)  

The Forward-Thinking Chiropractic Alliance emphasizes an evidence-based approach to patient-centered care and develops leadership skills of innovation, critical thinking, and effective communication through networking events, mentorships, and a supportive community nationwide.  

Gonstead Club

Gonstead Club focuses on Gonstead chiropractic, which is a specific approach within the field of chiropractic care that focuses on a thorough analysis of the spine and nervous system to identify and address vertebral subluxations. It was developed by Dr. Clarence S. Gonstead and emphasizes precision in spinal adjustments, using the 5 components of analysis: 1. X-ray analysis, 2. Visulalization, 3. Intrumentation using nervoscope, 4. Static Palpation. 5. Motion Palpation. These five components help the doctors with their diagnosis and when they deliver a by hand manual specific adjustment.This method aims to promote optimal spinal health and restore proper nerve function to improve overall well-being.

Healers for Christ

Healers for Christ exists to foster spiritual growth, community, and service, embracing Christ’s love through healing.  

Healing Hands for Humanity (H3)

Healing Hands for Humanity is a humanitarian organization at Southern California University of Health Sciences. The purpose of this organization is to provide free acupuncture and chiropractic services to underserved communities in Southern California. Under the supervision of licensed doctors, students will assess and treat patients. Treatment modalities include, but are not limited to, chiropractic adjustments, soft/deep tissue work, taping, acupuncture, ear seeds, cupping, and nutrition counseling. These services provide students the environment to gain more clinical experience and the opportunity to give back to the community.      

International Chiropractic Pediatrics Club

The newly revived Pediatric Club on campus provides Chiropractic students the opportunity to learn how our profession can affect children. We learn from current practicing Pediatric Chiropractors as they come to speak and demonstrate their techniques with us. We gather and keep updated on world events involving Pediatrics and Chiropractic as well as current research, Perinatal, techniques and so much more!  

Lifestyle Medicine Interest Group  

The mission of the Lifestyle Medicine Interest Group is to promote lifestyle medicine within our education, professions, and the community.  

Motion Palpation Institute (MPI)

MPI focuses on improving palpation and adjustment techniques. We are a chapter of the national organization spanning across most chiropractic schools.  

Physician Assistant Student Society (PASS) 

The Physician Assistant Student Society (PASS) is a student run organization at SCUHS that is associated with the American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA) and the California Academy of Physician Assistants (CAPA). Our aim is to provide an avenue for the PA students on campus to get involved with their peers, the PA profession, and within the community. We participate both on campus in other clubs’ events as well as in the community participating in many community service projects and conducting a strong presence as mentors within the pre-PA community. PASS acts to connect and be a liaison between the PA faculty and PA students as well as to integrate with other healthcare professions on campus.   

Pre-PA Support Club

Our mission is to offer free support for pre-PA students through the preparatory, application, and interview processes. We hope to aid in the development of future successful PA students to further the field of PA practice.  

Qi Gong Club

Our mission is to support mental, physical, and spiritual health through Qi Gong and Tai Chi practice, gentle movement, meditation, and breathing techniques.   

Rehab to Performance Club (R2P)

R2P is a national non-profit organization that has clubs for chiropractic programs across the nation. Members strive to bridge the gap between rehab and performance by integrating principles that span different disciplines in the way students learn, practice, and share information to allow for more patient- and client-centered interventions. Meetings are a mixture of both student-led hands-on practice and guest speakers.   

Student American Chiropractic Association (SACA) 

Our vision is to encourage and empower individuals to create community and provide a hub of leadership and professionalism throughout their entire chiropractic journey. Our mission is to be a resource for national professional networking and to promote evidence-based, accountable, and consistent patient-centered care.   

Student Occupational Therapy Association (SOTA)

The Southern California University of Health Sciences (SCU) Student Occupational Therapy Association (SOTA) is proudly dedicated to enhancing the knowledge of the profession of occupational therapy through professional, educational, advocacy, outreach, and social initiatives. The SCU SOTA provides its members the opportunity to inspire change in the field through meaningful collaboration with faculty, peers, the community, and interprofessional teams. As future occupational therapists our approach to leadership should reflect our approach to care: holistic, compassionate and person-centere. 

Sports Injury Council (SIC) 

Our focus is to build a network of students and doctors in the sports medicine field who are interested in the prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation of sports injuries. Our mission is to educate students on sports performance and injuries through the delivery of evidence based sports medicine.    

World Congress of Chiropractic Students (WCCS)  

WCCS aims to provide an apolitical platform on which chiropractic students are able to develop the leadership skills and a deeper understanding of the diversity within chiropractic necessary to advance the chiropractic profession in the wider healthcare industry.     

Commencement and Clinic Entrance

The University hosts an annual commencement ceremony for graduating students and their families and friends. In addition, some departments host Clinic Entrance ceremonies for students entering the clinical portion of their program.

On-Campus Employment

The University has part-time positions available for certificate- and degree-seeking students searching for on-campus employment (students-at-large/non-degree- or non-certificate-seeking students generally do not qualify for on-campus employment). Students may be employed as peer tutors, receptionists, marketing interns, student coaches, and more. These positions can vary from 10 to 20 hours per week. Positions are designated as either federal work-study or campus work-study. 

Federal Work Study provides part-time jobs for students with financial need as determined by their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®), allowing them to earn money to help pay education expenses. This program encourages community service work or work related to the student’s course of study. For additional information, please contact the Office of Financial Aid.

Please note: Only eligible students may apply to federal work-study positions.

Student Leadership

The University’s representative student government is the Associated Student Body (ASB). ASB endeavors to create a unified forum to engage students in opportunities that promote commitment to service, honor culture, and diversity, increase enthusiasm, contribute to humanitarian aid, and develop camaraderie and belonging. ASB leaders include a president, vice president, secretary, treasurer, community liaison, a clubs and activities chair, and senators representing each of the academic programs. Together, ASB leaders work to inspire other students to participate as student advocates and support university administration while following University policies and procedures. 

Every student is considered a member of the Associated Student Body. All registered students in good standing shall be entitled to attend all meetings, programs, and events of the Associated Student Body. In addition, all registered students in good standing are eligible to vote, exercise rights of membership, and hold office if qualifications for candidacy are met.