Hege Academic Commons

In furthering institutional values, academic principles and a distinctive student experience, Hege Academic Commons is a cornerstone for collaborative teaching, learning, research, and scholarship at Guilford College. The Hege Academic Commons leads and partners within its community to foster a student experience of scholarly exploration and experimentation, to promote creativity and innovation, and to provide rich collaborative teams and services that place Guilford at the forefront of liberal education within our global society.

The Academic Commons is envisioned as the College’s cultural and intellectual center, exemplifying Guilford’s unique experiential approach to liberal arts education through the Guilford Edge. Hege Academic Commons promotes authentic campus partnerships, fostering a sense of academic community, furthering a culture of experimentation, and serving as a catalyst for the innovative and strategic design of learning experiences. The Commons centralizes essential academic resources, services, and support to enable students to critically and creatively engage in directing their academic experience.  Academic engagement areas within the Commons include:

  • Student research and learning technologies resources and support
  • Learning design and development
  • Digital media services
  • Integrated academic and career planning and advising
  • Global and off-campus learning engagement planning
  • Professional and peer tutoring
  • Writing and quantitative literacy support
  • Accessibility resources and services

Library and Learning Technologies

Through a blending of library and academic technology services, Library and Learning Technologies provides seamless professional support meeting diverse academic information, technology, and instructional design needs. Instructional design staff ensure student and faculty proficiency within the Canvas learning management system and in the use of ancillary tools supporting teleconferencing and lecture capture. Library and Learning Technologies additionally partners with Information Technology Services to effectively coordinate services supporting student technology and learning needs. For up-to-date information regarding technology and learning resources and support, refer to the Student Technology and Learning Guide.

Library collections in both physical and electronic formats support academic excellence and engagement at Guilford College, ensuring access to the intellectual and cultural resources necessary for the enhancement of academic programs. A vital focus is ensuring the development of students’ information and digital literacies and the informed use of teaching and learning technologies.

A unique program called The Mobile Edge enables learning mobility and exists to help address equity of access. Wifi hotspot devices are available to support remote learners who otherwise might not be able to access the internet. Technology lending includes computing and digital media equipment, e.g. PC and Mac laptops, iPads, digital cameras and camcorders, Swivl robotic video capture kits, portable interview recording equipment, and portable projectors.   Accessories include tripods, adapters, clickers/presentation remotes, laptop chargers, and headphones. Specialized software such as Adobe Creative Cloud also is supported.

Library and Learning Technologies supports two unique and aligned learning spaces promoting collaboration, creation, and innovation within the Commons:

  • The Teaching, Learning, and Research Collaboratory on the second level of the Commons is comprised of two adjoining spaces, the IDEA Incubator and the Experimental Classroom, which may be opened up to create one larger learning space.  The mission of this unique space centers on partnering and collaboration for the advancement of innovations in teaching and learning among faculty, learning designers, librarians, and other campus partners.
  • The Commons Ground features an emerging suite of makerspaces enabling students to engage in activities supporting ideation, digital presentation development, electronics tinkering and invention using Raspberry Pi and Arduino boards, augmented and virtual reality (AR/VR), and 3D printing. The Commons Ground is being developed as a unique student learning environment, complementing the Collaboratory, for fostering collaboration, creation, and innovation.

Quaker and Special Collections

Art Gallery and Permanent Art Collection
Incorporated into Hege Library as a distinctive aspect of the 1989 addition, the Art Gallery supports the academic endeavors of the College by enhancing critical thinking and visual acuity, promoting awareness of diverse cultures, fostering interdisciplinary studies, and cultivating social justice through exhibitions and the stewardship of the College’s permanent collection of fine art. While 20th century American art is predominant, the collection also includes internationally renowned artists such as Rembrandt, Picasso, and Dali; works from the Renaissance and Baroque periods; an impressive selection of contemporary Polish etchings and engravings; and the Maness Collection of Central and West African Art.

College Archives
The College’s archives, representing Guilford records of enduring value, including both administrative records and campus scholarship, are preserved and made accessible. A growing number of these resources are available online with opportunities for students to curate and reinterpret historical sources that connect Guilford’s historical legacy with larger events and issues remaining relevant in present day.

Quaker Collections
The library acquires, organizes, preserves, and makes available, not only to the College but to the wider community of researchers, materials, both published and unpublished, related to the history of the Religious Society of Friends. The collection has a special responsibility for comprehensiveness in documenting and for nurturing research relating to the spiritual, intellectual, and cultural heritage of Quakerism in the southeastern United States and has also received national recognition as a resource for anti-slavery research.

Rare Books
In addition the the Quaker Studies Collection, students have access to a Rare Book collection which focuses on texts and bindings supportive of the college's curriculum.

Accessibility Resource Center

The mission of the Guilford College Accessibility Resource Center (also known as ARC) is to assure that all students have equal access to and equal opportunity in all programs and services offered by Guilford College and to empower students to become strong self-advocates. Guilford College is proud of its support of students of all abilities and differences. The College offers a broad array of campus services that many students find useful, supportive, and encouraging during their undergraduate career.

Professors are also accessible and classes are small, which allows students to build relationships with their teachers and peers. The ARC staff is committed to working with all students to address individual needs and to provide the necessary accommodations for academic success.

Click "Students with Disabilities and Accessibility Needs" for more information on accommodations. 

Global and Off-Campus Initiatives

Guilford offers over 800 academic study abroad options throughout the world during semesters, summers, and short-term programs. Semester programs carry up to 18 credits, while summers and short-term programs range from 4-6 credits. All programs contain serious academic experiences that seek a balance between formal study and the opportunity for experiencing life and culture in a unique international setting.

Students can choose from two different types of programs: faculty-led and independent affiliate programs. Each program is suited to different types of students. Some offer broad cultural enrichment while others focus specifically on unique topics. A significant number of programs offer opportunities for undergraduate research, service learning, and internships. For more information and guidance on how to select the right program, students should visit with the study abroad office! Information is also available on the Guilford College Study Abroad website: https://tinyurl.com/ybq5xbmo

Click "International Student Services" to view services available to international students and scholars. 

Guided Discovery

Guided Discovery is Guilford’s centralized advising center, that offers holistic advising for all students. It is an integrated academic and career advising program which is staffed by academic-focused Guides and career-focused Guides. Before they begin their first semester, every student is assigned both an Academic Guide–who serves as their primary academic advisor for two years, and a Career Guide–who remains with the student for all four years. These assignments are determined by their choice of Pathway.

Guided Discovery offers services in:

  • Exploration of strengths, interests, majors and careers
  • Course registration
  • Connections with faculty and staff across campus
  • Referrals to campus resources
  • Wellness and self-care
  • Internships
  • Connections to experiential learning opportunities
  • Coaching for graduate school/job preparation
  • Guidance with job searches, cover letters and resumes 
  • Job shadowing opportunities
  • Connections with alumni and community partners

Click here to learn about our vision and model, and to meet our Guides! For more information, click "Guided Discovery" or our "Academic Advising Manual". 

Learning and Writing Center (LWC)

The LWC welcomes all learners, teaching them to be more effective and engaged scholars. Professional and peer staff members support students’ development of strategies for learning and writing across the curriculum and throughout their lives. The services are designed for all Guilford students, from those who are under-prepared to those doing advanced coursework, developing capstone projects, writing senior theses, and pursuing graduate studies.

Students meet one-on-one with professional and peer tutors to support their academic growth in writing, math, sciences, social sciences, languages, and additional areas of study. Students also participate in group learning sessions for math, sciences, and languages. Additionally, they can engage in learning strategies development through GST 150 Learning Lab, workshops, and one-on-one consultations.

LWC offices and study spaces can be found on the second floor of Hege Library where students write and study independently or collaboratively, as well as work with tutors. The LWC also provides books, handouts and other valuable academic success resources, including the departmental website.