Academic Commons: Library, Research, Teaching and Learning

The Academic Commons (AC) at University of Western States (UWS) is a university initiative designed to propel knowledge acquisition, knowledge generation, and knowledge dissemination by providing focused support and services to members of the UWS community through the: AC Library Team, AC Research Team, and AC Teaching and Learning Team.

At the center of our work lies the university’s understanding of scholarship as a multi-faceted way of approaching knowledge. Leaning on the seminal work of Ernest Boyer, the university has defined seven main areas of scholarship pursued by community members:

• Scholarship of Teaching & Learning
• Scholarship of Discovery
• Scholarship of Invention
• Scholarship of Application
• Scholarship of Integration
• Scholarship of Service and Administration
• Scholarship of Clinical Practice

Each of the AC’s teams actively supports these areas of scholarship in a variety of ways. The AC team may be reached by email at [email protected].

Library

The AC Library Team supports all academic programs at UWS by delivering information services in a variety of formats physically and electronically. Beyond the print collection in the library stacks, e-books, databases, and full-text journals are available directly from the library’s home page and other access points 24/7 both on- and off-campus.

The library offers secure Wi-Fi and is open 6 days a week during the traditional academic terms, with limited weekday hours during breaks. Comfortable study space is available for a variety of study styles and seating preferences.

The print collection in the open stacks is comprehensive in areas of chiropractic, medical science, sports medicine, integrative medicine, and manual therapy literature. The collection also includes a wide range of materials about alternative and complementary healing modalities, naturopathic medicine, homeopathy, nutrition, occupational therapy, mental health, and wellness practices. A limited number of copies of all required and most recommended course texts are available in the reserves collection, located behind the circulation desk. Many required and recommended titles are also available electronically through the library catalog, where users can find more than 14,000 e-books.

The audiovisual collection consists of DVDs and bone and anatomical models. These are available for either check out or use in the building. The library-maintained databases include Medline Complete, SportDiscus, AccessMedicine, Primal Pictures Interactive Anatomy, Netter’s Images, CINAHL, Alt-Health Watch, AMED, APA PsycArticles, Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection, and the Cochrane Library. Other databases include DynaMed, Natural Medicines, Probiotic Advisor, and Consumer Lab. The library’s electronic full-text subscriptions are also linked to the external web resource PubMed. All electronic resources are available 24/7 both on- and off-campus. All UWS students are encouraged to create and use a free RefWorks citation management account.

As part of its commitment to being student-focused, the library also loans laptops, iPads, chargers, power strips, power banks, whiteboards and markers, full-spectrum “happy” lights, and headphones.

Librarians are available to help with research topics, computer use, database searching, and locating library materials, including full-text retrieval. Research guides on a variety of pertinent topics, including library policies, citation support, and research advice, are available on the library web page under Library Resource Guides.

Suggestions and requests for library materials purchases can be submitted to the librarians or emailed to [email protected].

For current library hours and contact information, visit UWS library webpage.

In-Library Services

Interlibrary Loan (ILL)

The library is committed to providing all materials students and faculty need for academic success and scholarship. If the library does not own a book, video, or article that a student or faculty member needs, the requested material can be obtained from another library. ILL service is available to students and faculty, and staff free of charge. Use of official “uws.edu” email address is required for all interlibrary loan material requests. Digital items will be emailed directly to the requesting account while physical items are only available for on-campus retrieval. Loan periods on physical items are set by the lending library.

Reciprocal Borrowing

The library has reciprocal borrowing agreements with the National University of Natural Medicine and Oregon Health and Sciences University. Students and faculty/staff may check out materials held in these other schools’ collections by requesting from the UWS library for pick-up at UWS or by going to those institutions directly with valid UWS identification. The UWS library staff are available to help request materials from these schools and will gladly handle returns. Overdue fines and replacement costs are levied according to the lending library’s policy.

Materials Check Out/Lending

For in-person lending, all library materials may be renewed twice unless another patron has reserved the title or unless stated otherwise. Distance lending does not allow for renewal.

*All required textbooks are on reserve

On-Campus Use

One day checkout (due by the end of the day) for use anywhere on campus.

Library Use

Must remain in the library space at all times, due by the end of the day.

Borrowing in Person

Students enrolled in online programs who live locally in the Portland metropolitan area may borrow materials in person. For in-person borrowing, loan periods and renewal guidelines match the library’s in-person rules.

Borrowing by Mail

Verified online students who live in the contiguous 48 U.S. states and Washington D.C. may borrow up to three print materials at a time from the library, including required texts from the reserves collection. These books will be mailed to the student for a 6-week check-out period,* including shipping time, and cannot be renewed. Online students may borrow up to three media items from the library at a time. These materials will be mailed to the students for a 6-week check-out period, including shipping time, and cannot be renewed. Students must return the library items postmarked by the due date. Regardless of when library materials are checked out, they must be returned before the first day of class the following quarter.

Items may be requested via the library catalog or by emailing [email protected].

Print materials will be shipped with tracking to students at no charge. Students handle the cost of shipment to return library materials. Students are also liable for library materials from the time they receive them to the time the materials arrive back at the library, so it is recommended that materials be shipped with tracking. See Fees section for more details.

*This duration is set to allow fair and equitable access to library materials for all students during academic terms. Checkout of required texts from the library is not meant to replace purchasing of course required materials, but rather provide an intermediate option or fulfill a short-term use need for students.

Renewals

All materials may be renewed twice unless another patron has requested the item or unless stated otherwise, such as in the case of materials loaned by mail. Renewals may be made through the library catalog, in person, by phone at 971-449-9292, or via email at [email protected]. When both renewals have been used, items must be returned to the library. After 24 hours, the item becomes available for check out again.

Return reminders and overdue notices are automatically sent as a courtesy to campus email addresses.

Fees

Lost or Damaged Materials

Lost or damaged materials are charged at replacement or repair cost. If no replacement exists for lost materials (out of print), a flat fee of $150 is assessed. Library accounts must be up to date with materials returned and any fees paid prior to graduation.

Late Returns

In order to ensure access to course materials for all students, late returns of course reserves are fined at $1 per day, for a maximum of $50 per item. We do not charge late fees for any other library resources.

General Library Policies

Computer Use

Courteous awareness of others waiting to use library computers at peak times is encouraged. Refer to Policy 3601 Acceptable Use of Information Systems.

Food in the Library

Students are allowed to eat non-disruptive food in the library. Students are also allowed to bring drinks into the library, preferably in spill-proof, covered containers. Students are asked to help maintain the cleanliness of the library facilities and the integrity of the library materials.

Quiet Study

As a collaborative learning space, the library is not a designated quiet area. However, significant disruption will be addressed by library staff. The library has headphones and earplugs available at the circulation desk for student use. Library staff can also refer students to designated areas on campus for quieter study.

Research

The AC Research Team, including the research and sponsored programs office (RSPO), provides a robust system of support and services for faculty, staff, and students who are pursuing research activities to advance their scholarship. The team seeks to foster an interdisciplinary research culture at UWS. We work collaboratively with university partners like the faculty-led Community of Research and Scholarly Practice to advance research literacy and scholarly engagement. We work to create connections and opportunities with university stakeholders and community partners to advance research locally and nationally. The AC research team assists with all phases of research including study design, protocol development, institutional review board inquiries and applications, data analysis and statistics, manuscript preparation, conference presentations (oral and poster) and grant pre- and post-award phases. Independent of the Research Team, the university’s Institutional Review Board (IRB) is responsible for the oversight of human subjects research.

The AC Research Team’s work is supported by the UWS Research Development Committee (RDC). The RDC is focused on the advancement of research and scholarly output at the university by supporting research and scholarly activities across all colleges for students, staff and faculty. When applicable, student representatives participate in committee meetings and actions to support and promote the research needs of the student body.

Teaching and Learning

The AC Teaching and Learning Team within the Academic Commons is dedicated to enhancing instructional excellence, fostering student engagement, and supporting faculty in delivering high-quality learning experiences. We provide comprehensive support to faculty, staff, and students through a range of initiatives focused on instructional support, course design, pedagogy, educational technology, and professional development.

Faculty Services

We offer individualized consultations, workshops, and resources on evidence-based teaching strategies, course alignment, assessment design, and student engagement techniques. Our team assists with the design and evaluation of online, hybrid, and in-person courses, ensuring they align with quality course design standards. We also support the integration of educational technology tools, AI in teaching, and accessible course materials to promote inclusivity and innovation across learning environments.

Staff and Administrative Services

We collaborate on curriculum mapping, program assessment, accreditation efforts, and institutional research to ensure academic programs remain rigorous, aligned, and responsive to student needs. Our team also provides training and assistance on copyright compliance, accessibility standards, and high-impact instructional practices to support institutional policies and regulatory requirements.

Student Services

We contribute to student success by developing learning resources, digital literacy initiatives, and academic integrity guidance, while also working closely with academic support services to foster a culture of learning excellence. Through faculty development programs, curricular improvement, and scholarly support, the teaching and learning team serves as a hub for innovation, collaboration, and continuous improvement in teaching and learning across the institution.