Lycoming College catalog

188 Pages·2003·11.9 MB·English

by  Lycoming College

m^^^'
YCOMING
COLII
2003-2004
ACADEMIC
The Mission
The missionofLycomingCollege isto
provide a distinguished baccalaureate
education in the liberal arts. This is achieved
within acoeducational, supportive, residential
setting through programs that develop
communicationandcriticalthinkingskills;
fosterself-awareness while increasing
receptivity to new concepts and perspectives;
exploreliteraryandscientifictraditions;
cultivate an aesthetic sensibility; elicit social
responsibility; promoteracial inclusiveness,
genderequality, and an appreciation of
cultural diversity; and produce leadership for
the institutions ofsociety. Each student is
encouraged to develop and strengthen virtues
and traits ofcharacter that enable, ennoble,
andemancipatethehuman spiritwhile
deepening commitment to those values that
undergirdcivilization.
Fullyaccredited, Lycomingisamemberof
the Middle States Association ofColleges and
Schools, and the University Senate ofThe
UnitedMethodistChurch. It isamemberof
theAssociation ofAmerican Colleges and
Universities, the Pennsylvania Association of
CollegesandUniversities,theCommissionfor
Independent Colleges and Universities, the
National Commissionon Accrediting andthe
National Association ofSchools and Colleges
ofThe United Methodist Church.
Also, the Department ofChemistry is
approvedbytheAmericanChemicalSociety
to certify upon graduation those students who
meetorexceedtherequirementsestablished
&f^'srF»r.'^"%3t*'Tfl. bythe Societyformembership. Thedepart-
ments ofAccounting and Business Adminis-
tration are accredited by the Association of
Collegiate Business Schools and Programs.
LYCOMING COLLEGE 2003-04 ACADEMICCATALOG
CONTENTS
Contents
Academic Calendar, 2003-2004 2
Welcome to Lycoming 4
The Campus 6
Admission to Lycoming 10
Financial Matters 13
Student Affairs 20
Academic Policies And Regulations 23 Thegeneralregulationsandpoliciesstatedinthis
catalogareineffectforthe2003-04academicyear.
FreshmenbeginningtheirfirsttermsatLycomingCollege
inthefallof2003 orthespringof2004arethereafter
The Academic Program 30 governedbythepoliciesstatedinthiscatalog.
Ifchangesaremade insubsequenteditionsofthe
catalogtoeithergeneralrequirementsormajorrequire-
ments,studentshavetheoptionoffollowingtheiroriginal
The Curriculum 50 programorasubsequentcatalogversion,buttheCollege
alwaysreservestherighttodeterminewhichrequirements
apply.
The Board ofTrustees 164 Ifastudentinterruptshisorhereducationbutreturns
totheCollegeafternomorethanoneacademicyearhas
passed,he/shewill retainthesamerequirements ineffect
attheinitialdateofentrance. Astudentwhowithdraws
Administrative Staff/Faculty 165 fromtheCollegeformorethanoneyearwill,uponreturn,
berequiredtocompletetherequirementscurrently
imposeduponotherstudentsofthesameacademic level.
A studentwhotransferstotheCollegewithadvanced
The Alumni Association 180 standingwill besubjecttotherequirements imposedupon
otherstudentsattheCollegewhohaveattainedthesame
academic level. Post-baccalaureate studentswill be
subjecttotherequirementsstatedonpage 30.
Index 182 LycomingCollegereservestherighttoamendor
changethepoliciesand proceduresstated inthiscatalog
without priornoticetothosewhomaybeaffectedby
them. Theprovisionsofthispublicationarenottobe
Communication With
regardedasan irrevocablecontractbetweentheapplicant
LycomingCollege 184 and/orthestudentandLycomingCollege.
2003-04ACADEMICCATALOG LYCOMINGCOLLEGE
ACADEMIC CALENDAR
•
ACADEMIC Calendar
2003 - 2004
ACADEMIC CALENDAR
•
WELCOMETOLYCOMING
•
-•I
Welcome To Lycoming College
Lycoming College is a liberal arts and for individual attention by a faculty truly
sciences college dedicated to providing the committed to teaching. The average gradua-
type oflearning that can be used fora lifetime tion rate for first time freshmen is 70%.
in a supportive, residential environment that Lycoming students are superbly prepared to
fosters individual growth and close interper- meet the challenges oflife through an aca-
sonal relationships. demic program that includes both breadth of
U.S. News and WorldReport has recog- study in the humanities, arts, social sciences
nized the Carnegie reclassification of and natural sciences and depth ofstudy in at
Lycoming. The College is one ofthe national least one area ofconcentration.
liberal arts colleges in the United States. It is Those areas ofconcentration include
something that Lycoming alumni have quietly bachelorofarts programs in 31 major fields,
known foryears. The reasons are simple. andabachelorofscience inthree majorfields.
All ofLycoming's resources and faculty Those who intend to continue in medicine,
are dedicated to the undergraduate education dentistry, law, the ministry orteaching will
ofjust 1500 students. Classes are small and find excellent preprofessional preparation.
all faculty members teach. With a 13 to 1 Through a numberofcooperative programs
ratio ofstudents to faculty, classes offive or with other colleges and universities, Lycoming
ten students are not uncommon, while even students can study engineering, forestry,
large introductory courses average about 30 environment, podiatric medicine, optometry,
—
students. This means abundant opportunities and medical technology while still enjoying
LYCOMFNGCOLLEGE 2003-04ACADEMICCATALOG
WELCOMETOLYCOMING
the benefits ofa small college experience.
They can also study at Oxford Brookes
University in Oxford, England; Anglia
Polytechnic University in Cambridge,
England; Regent's College in London,
England; Lancaster University, Lancaster,
England; CUEF Universite Stendhal-
Grenoble 3 in Grenoble, France; and Tandem
International School, Madrid, Spain; or spend
a semester in Washington, D.C., orNew York
City through a numberofothercooperative
programs.
One ofLycoming's most popularand acclaimed choir and concert band, as well as
successful ways ofblending career planning organize and manage their own social
with a liberal arts education is through its fraternities and sororities, special interest
internship program. Close to one-third of clubs and campus-wide social events.
Lycoming students gain realjob experience as Student athletes can try out for 19 different
part ofa semester course load. The varsity sports 10 for men, 9 forwomen) or
(
Williamsport area is particularly rich in participate in the College's strong intramural
internship opportunities in business, commu- program.
nication, government, health and social Students are admitted free to productions
services. The close relationship between the at the Community Arts Center. Student-run
College and the community has given programs have brought in Adam Sandler,
Lycoming students a chance to roll up their FionaApple, Eve6, SugarRayand BrianAdams.
sleeves and gain resume-enhancing experi- Lycoming's campus lies nearthe historic
ence rather than mere observation. downtown ofWilliamsport, a city best known
Most students complete their program of as the birthplace ofLittle League Baseball
study in fouryears, usually by taking four and the site ofits annual international
courses each fall and spring semester. championship. The greater metro area has a
However, students may take one course population ofapproximately 75,000.
during Lycoming's May Term and from one The rolling hills and forestlands of
to two courses in each Summer Term. northcentral Pennsylvania provide some of
Perhaps one ofthe most important the state's best scenery, as well as hiking,
qualities ofLycoming is its feeling of camping, kayaking, and other outdoor
community. Lycoming is atruly residential recreation. Yet Lycoming is less than a four-
college where all students, with the exception hour drive from New York City, Philadelphia,
ofclose commuters, live on campus in one of Washington, D.C., Baltimore and Pittsburgh.
the College's residence halls or apartments. The College enjoys a relationship with the
The quality ofcampus life is enriched by a United Methodist Church and supports its
variety ofextracurricular activities in which tradition ofproviding an education to persons
Lycoming students gain valuable leadership ofall faiths. The College is firmly committed
training. to a policy ofcultural diversity and expects its
Students produce a newspaper, run the students to work together in an atmosphere of
campus radio station, edit a yearbook, mount respect and tolerance.
theatre productions, participate in a nationally
2003-04ACADEMICCATALOG LYCOMINGCOLLEGE
•HISTORY•THECAMPUS
History
The history ofLycoming College has been
one ofcontinual evolution. The institution
has been, at one time oranother, an elemen-
tary and secondary school, a seminary, a
juniorcollege and at present a four-year
—
liberal arts college going through three
name changes in the process. Sold by an
independent board to the Methodists (who
bought it as a source ofrevenue), it is today
an independent non-profit, private college,
affiliated with the United Methodist Church.
—
Its beginning dates back to 1812 making
Lycomin—g one ofthe 50 oldest colleges in
America when it was founded as the
Williamsport Academy, that city's first
elementary and secondary school. The school
was administered by a Board ofTrustees
made up primarily ofstaunch Presbyterians.
By 1848, Williamsport had its own public
school system well in place, and the private
school was becoming a financial burden. A
visionary circuit preacher. Rev. Benjamin H.
Crever, persuaded the Methodists to buy the
school. They named the institution Dickinson The Campus
Seminary and offered college preparatory
courses. Rev. Crever is considered the Nineteen buildings sit on Lycoming's 35-
school's true founder. acre campus. Most buildings have been
The seminary operated as a private constructed since 1950. All are easy to reach
boarding school until 1929 when a college from anywhere on campus. A 12-acre
curriculum was added and it became the athletic field and football stadium lie a few
Williamsport Dickinson Junior College, the blocks north ofthe main campus.
first privatejunior college in Pennsylvania. Modem buildings include the eight
In 1947, thejuniorcollege became a four-
residence halls, which contain clean and
yeardegree-granting college ofliberal arts
comfortable double rooms; the student union;
and sciences. It adopted the name Lycoming,
and the physical education/recreation center.
derived from the American Indian word
Up-to-date facilities include the library, the
"lacomic," meaning "Great Stream," a name
theatre, the planetarium, the computercenter,
that enjoys local popularity as the name ofthe
an electronic music studio, a photography
county, a township and a creek.
In its evolutionary tradition, Lycoming laboratory, and an art gallery. The computer
College continues to expand its programs and center opened in 1969; the art gallery and the
improve its academic excellence with each physical education center opened in 1980.
decade, seeking to provide a truly distin- An arts centerwas renovated and opened in
guished baccalaureate education to every 1983. The Heim Biology and Chemistry
student entering its doors. oBuilding opened in 1990.
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THECAMPUS
Residence Halls Academic Buildings
— —
Asbury Hall (1962) Named in honor of Academic Center (1968) The most
Bishop Francis Asbury, the father ofThe architecturally impressive complex on campus,
United Methodist Church in the United the Center is composedoffourbuildings: the
States, who made the circuit through the John G. Snowden Memorial Library, Wendle
upper Susquehanna District in 1812, the year Hall,the Mary L. WelchTheatreand Laborato-
Lycoming (then the Williamsport Academy) ries, andthe facultyofficebuilding.
opened its doors. Asbury Hall houses fresh- John G. Snowden Memorial Library (1968)
man students in a co-educational environ- www.lycoming.edu/library Named after the
ment.
— late state senator John G. Snowden, the library
Crever Hall (1962) Honors Lycoming's supports the classroom and research needs of
founder and first financial agent, the Rev. the college community. An active instruction
Benjamin H. Crever. who helped persuadethe program promotes the use ofprint materials,
Baltimore Conference to purchase the school web accessed academic information resources,
from the Williamsport Town Council in 1848. and other information technologies. The
— collection includes more than 180,000 vol-
East Hall (1962) Houses five chapters of
umes, approximately 1000 periodical titles,
Lycoming's fraternities and sororities. The
and a strong reference collection suitable to an
self-contained units contain student rooms
undergraduate education. The Snowden
and a chapterroom.
— Memorial Library also serves as a partial
Forrest Hall (1968) Honors Dr. and Mrs. depository for U.S. government publications
Fletcher Bliss Forrest and Anna Forrest and houses the Lycoming College Archives
Burfeindt '30, the parents and sister of and the archives ofthe Central Pennsylvania
Katherine Forrest Mathers '28, whose Conference ofthe United Methodist Church.
—
generosity established the memorial.
— ArtGallery(1980) Locatedinthenorthwest
Rich Hall (1948) Honors the Rich family comerofthefirstflooroftheJohnG. Snowden
ofWoolrich, Pennsylvania. It houses health MemorialLibrary,thegallerycontainsexhibits
services, dining services office, security, year-round,includingshowsofstudentwork.
residence life, and buildings and grounds. Information Technology Services/Computer
—
Rich is an all female hall. Center (1969) www.lycoming.edu/it
—
Skeath Hall (1965) The largest residence Lycoming Collegeprovides at least one
hall honors the late J. Milton Skeath, profes- computernetwork access point in each class-
sorofpsychology and four-time Dean ofthe room, office, and foreach student on campus.
College from 1921 to 1967. It houses In addition the Snowden Library and otherkey
freshmen in a co-educational environment. areas have wireless network access. Students
— haveaccesstoavarietyofon-campus and
Wesley Hall (1956) Honors John Wesley,
worldwide resources tlirough the network.
the founder ofMethodism. This building
The College maintains five public use
houses a number ofGreek organizations, as
computer labs, four labs populated with
well as independent students.
Windows-based computers, and one lab with a
—
Williams Hall (1965) Honors Mary Ellen mix ofWindows and Macintosh computers.
Whitehead Williams, mother ofJoseph A. The Windows labs utilize several popular
Williams, ofSt. Marys, Pennsylvania, whose software packages, such as Office XP (Word,
bequest established the memorial. Excel, PowerPoint, Access, FrontPage 2002),
2003-04ACADEMICCATALOG LYCOMINGCOLLEGE
THECAMPUS
Internet Explorer, and SPSS. The Graphics Video Conference Facility (1995) - The
Lab utiHzes Microsoft Office, PageMaker, College maintains a specially equipped video-
Photoshop, Quark XPress, Illustrator, conference facility that provides access to
FrontPage 2002, Macromedia Director and courses, lectures and resources that would
DreamWeaver. Laser printing and CD/RW otherwise be unavailable. Lycoming is part
drives are available in all labs, with scanning ofa consortium ofschools that uses this tech-
available in the Graphics Lab. nology to enhance educational opportunities.
Lycoming College maintains a site on the —
World Wide Web where our URL is Computer Graphics Lab (1993) This
www.lycoming.edu. Any student who is computer lab features state-of-the-art
enrolled at Lycoming receives an e-mail Macintosh and Windows XP graphic stations
equipped with animation, photographic
account as well as a network account with
disk space for a personal Web site and imaging, paint and draw programs forboth
common tiles. These are backed up daily. fine arts and commercial design students,
Academic departments maintain home pages along with desktop publishing and a number
and resources underthe Lycoming College ofotherprograms forgeneral use. Most
home page(s). Many faculty post departmen- programs are updated annually.
—
tal home pages and communicate with their Wendle Hall (1968) Named after the
students by e-mail. George Wendle family, a College benefactor,
Any student living in a residence hall can this building contains 21 classrooms, the
become part ofthe Residential Networking psychology laboratories, fourcomputer lab-
Program, ResNet. They then have direct oratories with 75 terminals available for use,
access to the Lycoming network and the and spacious Pennington Lounge, an informal
Internet. Students need properly configured meeting place for students and faculty.
computers to give them access to e-mail and
the World Wide Web from theirrooms. Mary L—. Welch Theatre and Laboratories
A Linux serverprovides access to a variety (1968) The 204-seat thrust-stage theatre,
ofdifferent software packages to students in formerly known as the Arena Theatre until
the Mathematical and Computer Sciences. 2000, is one ofthe finest in the region. It
includes projection facilities, scene and
ResNet(1995) - Any student who has a costume shops, a make-up room, and a
computer is encouraged to bring it to campus. multiple-use area known as the Down Stage,
Tojoin the Residential Networking Program, where one-act experimental plays are per-
ResNet, a student must have a computerthat formed. The language, business, mathemat-
meets a minimal set ofstandards and he/she ics, and physics laboratories are situated on
must complete the Residential Networking the upper floors. The Detwiler Planetarium is
Access Account Application. ResNet is part located on the ground floor.
ofa single consolidated Technology Fee of —
$155 persemesterthat will coveryouraccess Faculty Office Building (1968) Contains
to ResNet, cable TV and the telephone basic faculty offices, seminarrooms, and a 735-seat
fee. Applications are available on the Web at lecture hall.
—
www.lycoming.edu/acad/resapp.htm.
Fine Arts Center (1923, renovated 1983)
For full instructionsyoucanalsogoto Contains studios, sculpture foundry, wood-
www.lycoming.edu/acad/resnet.htm.
shop, printmaking shop, classrooms, lecture
hall, offices.
LYCOMINGCOLLEGE 2003-04ACADEMICCATALOG