Other Facilities

Dining Facilities
The Institute has an excellent restaurant which serves meals and snacks each day between 8.30am and 9.00pm. The restaurant is run by the restaurant forum which aims to keep the cost of food as low as possible. It provides a comprehensive service, in addition to tea and coffee, a three course meal and a snack lunch are served daily.

The Institute's Coffee Dock also serves tea coffee and a variety of snacks and has a well stocked salad bar at lunchtimes.

Sports and Recreation
The Institute is one of the leading third-level institutions in the provision of sport and recreation programmes and services to its students. Different interests and all levels of ability are catered for to ensure maximum participation. The Institute's recreational programme facilitates all students who may wish to participate in activities at all levels whether as a casual player, a committed competitor, a beginner or an elite performer.

The Institute's facilities include playing pitches and a multipurpose centre which contains a basketball court, four badminton courts, two volleyball courts, indoor soccer, and a new state-of-the-art fitness suite. Students may also avail of various other local facilities. The recently opened Regional Sports Centre, located near the town centre, comprises a 25m swimming pool, children's pool, sauna & steam room, jacuzzi, fitness gym, créche, café, FIFA standard astro-turf pitch and a sports hall.

The Institute believes that active membership in a sporting club has a positive and enhancing effect on students, affording them opportunities to represent the Institute nationally, and in some instances to represent the Institute and Ireland in overseas competitions. Inter-college competitions are open to institutes of technology, universities and colleges of higher education, and are organised on a league and/or championship basis. The Institute has been highly successful in these events. Internal competitions for staff and students add an extra dimension to Institute life. The indoor and outdoor facilities are good and a well-established coaching/team management system is in place, implemented by full-time physical education and recreation officers, with the assistance of part-time coaching staff and the Students' Sports Representative.

Registered students at the Institute find that if they wish to develop and pursue their interest in sport and recreation, the Institute will facilitate that goal. However, if one's preference is not to compete but to participate, the sports and recreational programme is structured to meet those requirements. A familiarisation day is held at the beginning of each academic year to outline the available activities and facilities. The Institute looks forward to providing a comprehensive sports and recreational outlet to all incoming students which will add an exciting dimension to Institute life.

Clubs & Societies
The Institute has many successful clubs and societies. Students are encouraged to become involved as much as possible in Institute activities. Funding for societes is available from the Institute capitation fund provided there is an adequate membership. Students have an opportunity during the Freshers' Exhibition at the beginning of the first term to join or help to form a society.

The many clubs and societies within the Institute include the following:

Sports Clubs

Athletics
Badminton
Basketball
Camogie
Canoeing
Equestrian
Gaelic Football
Golf
Handball
Hill Walking
Hockey
Hurling
Indoor Football
Karate
Orienteering
Rugby (Mens/Ladies)
Sailing
Soccer
Sub-Aqua
Swimming
Table Tennis
Tag Rugby
Tennis
Volleyball


Societies

Accountancy
Arts
Applied Social Studies
Apprentices
Business Studies
Catering
Chaplaincy
Christian Society
Computer
Computer Careers
Cumann Gaelach
Debating Society
Electronics
Film/Audio Visual
Green Society
Horse Racing
International Society
Mature Students
Mineral/Mining
Mechanical Engineering
Plastics/Polymer
Poetry
Social Studies
St.Vincent de Paul
Tourism Society
Toxicology
Uni-Slim
Young Parents Group

The Students' Union
The Students' Union provides support, advice and information on a wide variety of issues and represents students throughout the institute. In particular it provides advice on accommodation, welfare and educational matters.

The overall policy and direction of the Union is decided by students at general meetings.

The aims of the Union are:

to represent and protect the rights of students;
to afford a recognised means of communication between the students and institute authorities;
to provide social and recreational facilities for students;
to provide a commercial service to students.

Student Accomodation
The Institute is, at present, non-residential. However plans are at an advanced stage to provide on-campus residential accommodation. An accommodation list is available at all times from the Students' Union. Each student must make his or her own accommodation arrangements.

The Student Services Manager or the Chaplaincy Service will be pleased to assist any student who has difficulty finding suitable accommodation.

Banking Service
A full banking service is available on the Institute campus. There is also an ATM in the Institute.

Bank of Ireland Student Officer
Ms. Joey Gallagher

Careers and Appointments Service
The Careers and Appointments Service within Athlone Institute of Technology combines careers advisory work with students and facilitates employers to come into direct contact with students for recruitment purposes.

All registered students at Athlone Institute of Technology are entitled to avail of the Careers and Appointments Service. Most of the activities of the service are directed at final year and postgraduate students. Although students of earlier years are encouraged to use the careers library and to attend career  talks.

Location of the Careers Service
The Careers Service is situated in the Main Institute Ground Floor Building, just off the Student Canteen.

Opening Hours

Students can reach the Careers Officer and the Careers Secretary from Monday to Friday from 10.00 a.m. to 12.00 a.m.

Students have then open access to the Careers Library and can obtain general enquiries. Appointments can only be made each afternoon after 2.00 p.m. During holiday  periods the Careers Service is open from Monday to Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Counselling Service
There are elements of institute life which can be difficult; being independent, living away from home, making one's own decisions as regards to studies, lifestyle, friends and career. Some students may experience, in addition, distressing events either prior to entering institute or while on campus. The institute counsellor provides a comprehensive service to students to help them cope with these and other problems. The Counselling service supports the mission of the institute by helping students gain the greatest advantage from their third-level education.

Education is about development of the whole person, personally, socially and academically. The primary role of the counselling service is to support and facilitate student development in these three dimensions. It provides the opportunity for students to explore issues of concern in a safe and confidential environment. This is a free and confidential service.

Most of the work of the counselling service is therapeutic on an individual basis; relationship problems; separation anxiety; family problems; bereavement; problems centering on sexual and personal identity; difficulties that may be exacerbated by the transition to further education, but which have much earlier roots; clinical anxiety, including phobias and obsession; clinical depression, including those who have made suicidal attempts or those who have suicidal ideas; eating disorders, including bulimia and anorexia; sexual abuse and rape; pregnancy; alcohol and drug-related problems; and psychosomatic illness.

Most references to the counselling service are self-references or references by a friend. Other sources of references include: health centre, chaplaincy, academic staff, Student's Union, external agencies and family.

Practical/Educational Services:
The Counselling Service also provides training for individual /groups on study skills, exam skills, and stress management. Educational and self-help information leaflets are available at the counsellor's office and at other points around the college.

Appointments with the Counsellor can be made by telephone, or calling to the Counsellor's office (C2367) each day between 10am-10.30am and 3pm -3.30pm, or by calling to the Student Services Secretary's office.

Note: For more specific and individualised assistance, students should contact AIT Student Counselling Service.

Disability Support Service
The Institute welcomes and encourages applications from people with disabilities and/or special requirements. It aims to ensure that these applicants are given an opportunity to enter the Institute and, while here, to complete their studies successfully.