Lycoming College catalog

188 Pages·2002·12.1 MB·English

by  Lycoming College

Lycoming college
2002-03 ACADEMIC CATALOG
The Mission
ThemissionofLycomingCollege isto
provide a distinguished baccalaureate educa-
'
tion in the liberal arts. Thisis achievedwithin|
a coeducational, supportive, residential settini
through programs that develop communica-
tionandcriticalthinkingskills; fosterself-
awareness while increasing receptivity to new
concepts and perspectives; explore literary
and scientific traditions; cultivate an aesthetic
sensibility; elicit social responsibility;
promote racial inclusiveness, genderequality,
and an appreciation ofcultural diversity; and
produce leadership for the institutions of
society. Each student is encouraged to
develop and strengthen virtues and traits of
j
characterthat enable, ennoble, and emancipat
thehumanspiritwhiledeepeningcommitment
to those values that undergird civilization.
Fullyaccredited. Lycomingisamemberof
the Middle States Association ofColleges an(
Schools, and the University Senate ofThe
UnitedMethodistChurch. Itis amemberof
the Association ofAmerican Colleges and
Universities, the Pennsylvania Association of
CollegesandUniversities,theCommissionfoi
Independent Colleges and Universities, the
National Commissionon Accrediting and the
National Association ofSchools and Colleges
ofThe United Methodist Church.
Also, theDepartmentofNursingis
accreditedby theNational League for
Nursing.TheDepartmentofChemistryis
approvedbytheAmericanChemical Society
to certify upon graduation those students who
meetorexceedthe requirements established
by the Society formembership. Thedepart-
ments ofAccounting and Business Adminis-
tration are accredited by the Association of
Collegiate Business Schools and Programs.
LYCOMING COLLEGE 2002-03 ACADEMIC CATALOG
CONTENTS
•
Contents
Academic Calendar, 2002-2003 2
Welcome to Lycoming 4
The Campus 6
Admission to Lycoming 10
Financial Matters 13
Student Affairs 20
Academic Policies And Regulations 23 Thegeneralregulationsandpoliciesstatedinthis
catalogareineffectforthe2002-03 academicyear.
FreshmenbeginningtheirfirsttermsatLycomingCollege
inthefallof2002orthespringof2003arethere-after
The Academic Program 30 governedbythepoliciesstatedinthiscatalog.
Ifchangesaremadeinsubsequenteditionsofthe
catalogtoeithergeneralrequirementsormajorrequire-
ments, studentshavetheoptionoffollowingtheiroriginal
The Curriculum 50 programorasubsequentcatalogversion,buttheCollege
alwaysreservestherighttodeterminewhichrequirements
apply.
Fhe Board ofTrustees 164 Ifastudentinterruptshisorhereducationbutreturns
totheCollegeafternomorethanoneacademicyearhas
passed,he/shewillretainthesamerequirementsineffect
attheinitialdateofentrance. Astudentwhowithdraws
Administrative Staff/Faculty 165 fromtheCollegeformorethanoneyearwill,uponreturn,
berequiredtocompletetherequirementscurrently
imposeduponotherstudentsofthesameacademic level.
A studentwhotransferstotheCollegewithadvanced
Fhe Alumni Association 180 standing willbesubjecttotherequirementsimposedupon
otherstudentsattheCollegewhohaveattainedthesame
academic level. Post-baccalaureate students will be
subjecttotherequirementsstatedonpage30.
[ndex 182 LycomingCollegereservestherighttoamendor
changethepoliciesandproceduresstatedinthiscatalog
withoutpriornotice tothose whomay beaffectedby
Communication With them. Theprovisionsofthispublicationare nottobe
regardedasan irrevocablecontract between theapplicant
^ycoming College 184 and/orthe studentand LycomingCollege.
1002-03 ACADEMICCATALOG LYCOMING COLLEGE
ACADEMIC CALENDAR
ACADEMIC Calendar
2002 - 2003
ACADEMIC CALENDAR
WELCOMETOLYCOMING
WELCOME TO LYCOMING COLLEGE
Lycoming College is a small liberal arts committed to teaching. The average gradua-
college dedicated to providing the type of tion rate forfirst time freshmen is 63%.
learning thatcan be used fora lifetime in a Lycoming students are superbly prepared
supportive, residential environment that to meet the challenges oflife through an
fosters individual growth and close interper- academic program that includes both breadth
sonal relationships. ofstudy in the humanities, social sciences and
U.S. Newsand WorldReporthas recog- natural sciences and depth ofstudy in at least
nized the Carnegie reclassification of one area ofconcentration.
Lycoming. The College is one ofthe national Those areas ofconcentration include
liberal arts colleges in the United States. It is bachelorofarts programs in 33 majorfields,
something that Lycoming alumni have quietly and abachelorofscience inthree majorfields.
known foryears. The reasons are simple. Those who intend to continue in medicine,
All ofLycoming's resources and faculty dentistry, law, the ministry orteaching will
are dedicated to the undergraduate education find excellent preprofessional preparation.
ofjust 1500 students. Classes are small and Through a numberofcooperative programs
all faculty members teach. With a 13 to 1 with othercolleges and universities,
ratio ofstudents to faculty, classes offive or Lycoming students can study engineering,
ten students are not uncommon, while even forestry, environment, podiatric med—icine,
large introductory courses average about 30 optometry, and medical technology while
students. This means abundant opportunities
still enjoying the benefits ofa small college
for individual attention by a faculty truly
LYCOMING COLLEGE 2002-03 ACADEMICCATALOG
WELCOMETOLYCOMING
•
experience. They can also study at Oxford
Brookes Univeristy 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 Interna-
tional School, Madrid, Spain; or spend a
semesterin Washington, D.C., orNew York
City through anumberofothercooperative
programs.
One ofLycoming's mostpopularand
successful ways ofblending careerplanning
with a liberal arts education is through its
internship program. Close to one-third of
Lycoming students gain realjob experience as
part ofa semestercourse load. The
Williamsport area is particularly rich in
internship opportunities in business, commu-
nication, government, health and social
services. The close relationship between the
College and the community has given
Lycoming students a chance to roll up their
sleeves and gain resume-enhancing experience
rather than mere observation.
Most students complete theirprogram of
study in fouryears, usually by taking four
courses each fall and spring semester. How-
ever, students may take one course during
Lycoming's May Term and from one to two
courses in each SummerTerm.
Perhaps one ofthe most important qualities
ofLycoming is its feeling ofcommunity.
Lycoming is a truly residential college where
all students, with the exception ofclose
commuters, live on campus in one ofthe
College's residence halls or apartments.
The quality ofcampus life is enriched by a
variety ofextracurricular activities in which
Lycoming students gain valuable leadership
training.
Students produce anewspaper, run the
campus radio station, edit a yearbook, mount
theatre productions, participate in a nationally
acclaimed choirand concert band, as well as
organize and manage theirown social
HISTORY•THECAMPUS
•
-«l
HISTORY
The history ofLycoming College has been
oneofcontinual evolution. The institution has
been, atonetimeoranother, anelementary and
secondary school, a seminary, ajuniorcollege
andatpresentafour-yearliberal artscollege-
going through three name changes in the
process. Sold by the Presbyterians to the
Methodists (who bought it as a source of
revenue), 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 oldestcolleges 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 acollege from anywhere on campus. A 12-acre athletic
curriculum was added and it became the field and football stadium lie a few blocks
Williamsport Dickinson JuniorCollege, the north ofthe main campus.
firstjuniorcollege in Pennsylvania. Modem buildings include the eight
In 1947, thejuniorcollege became afour-
residence halls, which contain clean and
yeardegree-granting college ofliberal arts and
comfortable double rooms; the student union;
fscrioemncetsh.eIItnaddioapntewdotrhden"almaceoLmyicc,o"mimnega,ndienrigved and the physical education/recreation center. .
"Great Stream," a name that enjoys local Up-to-date facilities include the library, the
popularity as the name ofthe county, a theatre, the planetarium, the computercenter,
an electronic music studio, a photography
township and a creek.
In its evolutionary tradition, Lycoming laboratory, and an art gallery. The computer
College continues to expand its programs and centeropened in 1969; the art gallery and the
improve its academic excellence with each physical education centeropened in 1980. An
decade, seeking to provide a truly distin- arts center was renovated and opened in 1983.
guished baccalaureate education to every The Heim Biology and Chemistry Building
student entering its doors. opened in 1990.
LYCOMING COLLEGE 2002-03 ACADEMICCATALOG
THECAMPUS
Residence Halls Academic Buildings
— —
Asbury Hall (1962) Named in honorof Academic Center(1968) The most architec-
Bishop Francis Asbury, the fatherofThe United turally impressive complex on campus, the
Methodist Church in America, who made the Center is composed offourbuildings: the John
circuit through the upperSusquehanna District G. Snowden Memorial Library, Wendle Hall,
in 1812. the year Lycoming (then the the Mary L. Welch Theatre and Laboratories,
Williamsport Academy) opened its doors. and the faculty office building.
Asbury Hall houses freshman students in a co-
John G. Snowden Memorial Library (1968)
educational environment.
— www.lycoming.edu/library Named after the
Crever Hall (1962) Honors Lycoming's late state senatorJohn G. Snowden, the library
founder and first financial agent, the Rev. supports the classroom and research needs of
Benjamin H. Crever, who helped persuade the the college community. An active instruction
Baltimore Conference to purchase the school program promotes the use ofprint materials,
from the Williamsport Town Council in 1848. web accessed academic information resources,
— and otherinformation technologies. The
East Hall (1962) Houses five chapters of
Lycoming's fraternities and sororities. The collection includes more than 180,000 vol-
self-contained units contain student rooms and umes, approximately 1000 periodical titles, and
a strong reference collection suitable to an
achapterroom.
— undergraduate education. The Snowden
Forrest Hall (1968) Honors Dr. and Mrs. Memorial Library also serves as a partial
Fletcher Bliss Forrest and AnnaForrest depository for U.S. government publications
Burfeindt '30, the parents and sisterof and houses the Lycoming College Archives
Katherine Forrest Mathers '28, whose and the archives ofthe Central Pennsylvania
generosity established the memorial. Conference ofthe United MethodistChurch.
— —
Rich Hall (1948) Honors the Rich family ArtGallery(1980) Locatedinthenorthwest
ofWoolrich, Pennsylvania. It houses health cornerofthefirstflooroftheJohnG. Snowden
services, dining services office, security, MemorialLibrary,thegallerycontainsexhibits
residence life, and buildings and grounds. year-round, includingshowsofstudentwork.
Rich is an all female hall.
— Office ofCommunications—Technology/
Skeath Hall (1965) The largest residence Computer Center (1969)
hall honors the late J. Milton Skeath, professor www.lycoming.edu/dept/oct Lycoming
ofpsychology and four-time Dean ofthe College provides at least one computer network
College from 1921 to 1967. It houses access point in each classroom, office, and for
freshmen in a co-educational environment. each student on campus. Students have access
—
Wesley Hall (1956) Honors John Wesley, to a variety ofon- campus and worldwide
the founderofMethodism. This building resources through the network.
houses a number ofGreek organizations, as The College maintains five public use
[well as independent students. computer labs, four labs populated with
— 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 2000 (Word,
[bequest established the memorial.
Excel, PowerPoint, Access, FrontPage 2000),
Internet Explorer, and SPSS. The Graphics
2002-03 ACADEMICCATALOG LYCOMING COLLEGE
THECAMPUS
Lab utilizes Microsoft Office, PageMaker, Video Conference Facility (1995) - The
Photoshop, Quark XPress, Illustrator, College maintains aspecially equipped video-
FrontPage 2000, and Macromedia Director conference facility that provides access to
and DreamWeaver. Laserprinting and Zip courses, lectures and resources that would
drives are available in all labs, with scanning otherwise be unavailable. Lycoming is part oft
available in the Graphics Lab. a consortiumofschools that uses this tech-
Lycoming College maintains a site on nology toenhanceeducational opportunities.
the World Wide Web where ourURL is —
http://www.lycoming.edu. Any student who ComputerGraphicsLab(1993) This
is enrolled at Lycoming receives an e-mail computerlab features state-of-the-art Macintosh]
account as well as a network account with and Windows NT graphic stations equipped
disk space fora personal Web site and with animation, photographic imaging, and
common files. These are backed up daily. paint and draw programs forboth fine arts and!
Most academic departments maintain home commercial design students, along with
pages and resources underthe Lycoming desktop publishing and a numberofother
College home page(s). Many faculty post programs forgeneral use. The programs are
departmental home pages and communicate updated annually.
—
with their students by e-mail.
Nursing Skills Laboratory (1983)
Any student living in a residence hall can
Located in the lower level ofthe Academic
become part ofthe Residential Networking
Program, ResNet. They then have direct Center, itis areplicaofamodemhospital ward,
complete with 10 simulated work stations, a
access to the Lycoming network and the
nurses' station, an intensive care unitand all
Internet. Students need properly configured
the medical equipment used by nurses.
computers to give them access to e-mail and —
the World Wide Web from theirrooms. Wendle Hall (1968) Named afterthe
An IBM RS6000 running Unix provides George Wendle family, a College benefactor,
access to a variety ofdifferent software this building contains 21 classrooms, the
packages to students in the Mathematical and psychology laboratories, fourcomputerlab-
Computer Sciences. oratories with 75 terminals available for use,
ResNet (1995) - Any student who has a and spacious PenningtonLounge, an informal
meetingplaceforstudents andfaculty.
computeris encouraged to bring it to campus.
Tojoin the Residential Networking Program, Mary L. Welch Theatre and Laboratories
—
ResNet, a student must have a computerthat (1968) The 204-seat thrust-stage theatre,
meets a minimal set ofstandards and he/she formerly known as the Arena Theatre until
must compete the Residential Networking 2000, isoneofthefinestintheregion. It
Access Account Application, contracting for includes projection facilities, scene and
the complete set ofInternet Services. The costume shops, a make-up room, and a
access account fee is $15.00 per month. multiple-use area known as the Down Stage,
Applications are available on the Web at where one-act experimental plays are per-
www.lycoming.edu/acad/resapp.htm. formed. The language, business, mathemat-
in the Residence Life Office, the Telecommu- ics, and physics laboratories are situated on
nications Office, orin the Office of the upper floors. The DetwilerPlanetarium is
Communications Technology. Forfull located on the ground floor.
instructionsyou can alsogoto
www.lycoming.edu/acad/resnet.htm.
o
LYCOMING COLLEGE 2002-03 ACADEMICCATALOG