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SWEETBRIARCOLLEGE , riar College 2007-2008 Student Handbook ARCHIVES LH who has earned the rose may hear it. 1 Sweet Briar College .S94 S74 veet Briar, Virginia 24595 2007/20081 Sweet Briar Song Sweet Briar, Sweet Briar,flowerfair. The rose that on your crestyou wear Shall neverfade, but always bear Thy beauty, O Sweet Briar! Sweet Briar, Sweet Briar, thy columns white Shine on thy hills a beacon light Oftruth, to burn with radiance bright Forever, O Sweet Briar! SweetBriar, Sweet Briar, we sing to thee. May thyfoundations ever be Strong as thy hills, thypurity That ofthy rose, Sweet Briar! Class Symbols The Class of2008 The Class of2010 Motto: Factum non verbum Motto: Ne obliviscamur (Actions not words) (Lestweforget) Colors: Purple and gold Colors: Green and black Emblem: Swan Emblem: Oak Tree The Class of2009 The Class of2011 Motto: Honor ante honores Motto: SpectamurAgendo (Honor before reward) (We areprove)} by ouractions) Colors: Peacock blue and green Colors: Delph blue and black Emblem: Peacock Emblem: Lion This publicationoffersgeneral information and includes someCollege policies. Consult the Collegecatalogand/oracademicrulings,whichareonfileintheDean'sOfficeandtheLibrary, asthefinalauthorityonallacademicpolicies.ContacttheDeanoftheCollegeortheDeanof Co-CurricularLife forfurtherclarification on material contained in thisdocument. PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE This 2007-2008 edition ofthe Student Handbook ofSweet Briar College will be ofmajor importance to our incoming class offirst year students, Class of2011, and for all new students. But a new look at this Handbook is a good idea for sophomores, juniors and seniors as well. It reminds all ofus ofthe structures and principles that undergird our powerful community. Ofparticular importance is the Honor Code that governs the integrity ofour intellectual and creative work as well as our behavior as social beings. Please read it carefully. At Sweet Briar, this Honor Code works. It works because Sweet Briar students value the respect our code affords each individual, and the confidence and trust it fosters in our community. The principles, codes, policies, institutions and organizations outlined in this Handbook are almost entirely the product ofthe students of Sweet Briar College, which have had a tradition, since the very first entering class, ofgovernance ofstudents by students. It is you, each individual student, who holds within yourselfthe power to develop a network offriends and mentors, to live an honorable and fulfilling life, and to make your own experience at Sweet Briar intellectually rich and emotionally compelling. Welcome! Elisabeth S. Muhlenfeld President Table of Contents Sweet Briar's Mission Historical Sketch SGAPresident's Message Section I: Student Government Association 9 Student Petition 9 SGA Constitution 9 SGABy-Laws 13 2007-2008 SGAand Class Officers 21 Inter-Club Council 22 Section II: The Honor System 24 The HonorPrinciple 24 Student Self-Governance 24 The HonorPledge 25 Standards ofAcademic Conduct 25 Standards ofNon-Academic Conduct 26 Sanctions 27 Student Rights 29 The Judicial Committee 30 Judicial Process 32 Section III: College Policies 38 Code ofConduct 38 Alcohol Policy 38 Drug Policy 42 Smoking Policy 43 Policy on Hazing and Standards ofGroup Behavior 43 Sexual Harassment Policy 45 Statement ofCompliance 47 Anti-Discrimination Policy 47 InvoluntaryAdministrative Withdrawal Policy 47 IntercollegiateAthletic Physical Examination Policy 48 Confidentiality ofRecords 48 Academic Policies 50 Section IV: Co-Curricular Life 54 Office ofCo-CurricularLife 54 Residence Life and Housing 54 First YearExperience Program 62 Student Leadership Programs 63 CareerServices/Campus Student Employment 65 Health & Counseling Center 67 Student Involvement and Programs 67 SWEBOP/OutdoorPrograms 69 Section V: College Services 70 AlumnaeAssociation 70 BookShop 70 College Chaplain 70 Communications 70 Computer Services 71 Day/Turning Point Student Information 71 Department ofSafety 72 Food Services 72 Sweet BriarCard 73 Guest Housing 74 Library 74 Mail Services 74 Physical Plant 75 Section VI: Important Contacts 76 College Calendar 77 Campus Map Sweet Briar's Mission Sweet Briaris a fouryear, independentcollege whose aim is to prepare women tobe active, responsible members ofa world community. Its cur- riculum is organizedon the premise that afoundation in the liberal arts and sciences is anessential means tothis end. Study ofthe liberal arts and sci- encesenhances the development ofcritical and creative abilities, develops the ability to synthesize disparate information, equips the student forgraduate and professional education, and encourages the individual to continue to learn long afterleaving Sweet Briar.Abroadly based academic programteaches herto view herexperience within widercontexts, to appreciate the achieve- ments ofthe past, tounderstand the methods and majortheories ofscience, togain an appreciation ofthe arts, andtocommunicate with precision and cogency. At Sweet Briarthis study takes place within aresidential environ- mentthatencourages physical well-being, ethical awareness, sensitivity to others, responsibility forone's actions, personal initiative, andthe assumption ofleadership. Sweet Briarcontinues its commitment as a women's college in orderto devote all ofits resources tothe education ofwomen in the full range ofthe liberal arts and sciences, including those subjects that have been traditionally considered as male domains. The faculty teach individuals on ahuman scale. In small classes, students receive the attention that encourages self-confidence and the improvement ofskills forlife and livelihood. Ahighly quali- fied faculty, committed to undergraduate teaching ofthe highest standards, contributes to fulfilling these goals. The College continues to seek adiverse studentbody which is drawn from a national and international pool ofap- plicants. As an independent college, SweetBriarpossesses the flexibility to respond to the many challenges that face highereducation in arapidly changing world. Historical Sketch Sweet Briarwas foundedon the first yearofthis century by IndianaFletcher Williams in memory ofheronly daughter, Daisy, whodied in 1884 at the age ofsixteen. Mrs. Williams was adaughterofElijah Fletcher, whocame toVirginiafromLudlow, Vermont, in the early nineteenth century andtaught school inAmherst County. Laterhe moved to Lynchburg where he owned and published a newspaper, became acivic leader, and amassed large hold- ings ofland as well as aconsiderable fortune. Atthe time ofMrs. Williams'death in 1900, herestate consistedofmore than eight thousand acresofland, including the Sweet Briarplantation, and halfof one million dollars. Underthe terms ofherwill, theTrustees were directed to incorporate an educational foundation in the state ofVirginia, toestablish it as aperpetual memorial toherdaughter, andtoturn overto it all property left to them in trust. It was Mrs. Williams' desire, according to the following excerpt from her will, that, "It shall be the general scope and object ofthe school to impart to its students such education in sound learning, and such physical, moral, and religious training as shall in thejudgmentofthe Directors best fit them tobe useful members ofsociety." The first Board ofDirectors determined that the College should be free from denominational control and that it should maintain the highest academic standards, uniting classical and modern ideals ofeducation. Sweet BriarCollege opened formally in September, 1906, with fifty-one students, including fifteen day students. ItsA.B. degree, granted forthe first time in 1910, was soon accepted forgraduate work in leading universities. By 1921, Sweet Briarheld membership in the SouthernAssociation of Colleges and Secondary Schools, theAmericanAssociation ofUniversity Women, and theAmerican Council on Education, and was approved by the Association ofAmerican Universities. SweetBriaris amemberofthe Col- lege Entrance Examination Board, is acontributing memberoftheAmerican School ofClassical Studies atAthens and is affiliated with the Intercollegiate CenterforClassical Studies in Rome. Sweet BriarCollege offers courses leading to teaching certification in the State ofVirginia and 29 other states at both the elementary and secondary level. The music department is approved by the NationalAssociation ofSchools ofMusic. Its chapterofPhi Beta Kappa is the ThetaofVirginia, authorized in 1949.AchapterofPi Gamma Mu. the international society in social sciences, was established in 1983. The affairs ofthe College are managed by a self-perpetuating Board ofDirec- tors consisting ofno more than 32 members elected annually. The Directors include the Presidentofthe College, the President oftheAlumnaeAssocia- tion, fouralumnae nominated by theAlumnaeAssociation, and three alumnae from successive graduating classes. Sweet Briar's presidents have been: Dr. Mary Benedict, who held office from the opening in 1906 until 1916; Dr. EmilieWatts McVea, from 1916 to 1925; Dr. MetaGlass from 1925 to 1946; Dr. MarthaB. Lucas from 1946 to 1950; Dr. Anne Gary Pannell from 1950 to 1971; Dr. Harold B. Whiteman, Jr. from 1971 to 1983; Dr. Nenah E. Fry from 1983 to 1990; Dr. BarbaraA. Hill from 1990 to 1996; and Dr. Elisabeth Muhlenfeld, who began heradministration as ninth president ofthe College in 1996. Student Government Association President's Message In the fall of 1906, the students ofSweet BriarCollege petitioned the President and Faculty for legislative and executive control ofnon-academic matters. Three days later, thatrequest was granted. Since its inception, the Student GovernmentAssociation has been continually changing. SGAnow consists ofan Executive Board, as well as representatives from each class, the Campus Events Organization President, the Inter-Club Coun- cil President, both Judicial Committee Chairwomen, and arepresentative fromeachofthe Residence Life andAcademicAffairs Committees. It is the desire ofthis board to serve the students to the bestofits ability. Students are encouraged to bring any concerns to a memberofthe board at any time orto the SGAmeetings, which are held every two weeks. The first one isAugust 27 at 8pm in the SGASuite, 2nd floorofProthro. We hope to see youthere! Constantly evolving and responding to student needs and wants, affords the members ofSGAinteresting work and interaction. This pastyear, the SGA board focused on clarifying procedures, implementing appropriate steps to those procedures and bettercommunicating expectations to the community. As aresult, the 'business' ofSGA became a more reliable andefficient system serving the students. With these changes in place, we are moving forward. The goals forthis year include applying this newly found efficiency by furtheraddressing topics such as the SweetBriarHonorCode, defining student's desires concerning an open campus feel in regards to activities, and food service options, to name afew. However, the direction SGAtakes is really up to you-the body that makes us, SGA. To those returning, welcome back. Toournew students, welcome to Sweet Briar! Best wishes forawonderful year, Kristin Barnes SGA President . Section I Student Government Association The Student Petition (October 17, 1906) On October 17, 1906, the students ofSweet BriarCollege, believing in the dignity and honorin studentgovernment, desired individual and community responsibility forthe conduct ofstudents in matters not strictly academic. The students petitioned before the President and the Faculty forlegislative and executive control in non-academic matters. The faculty, on October20, 1906, endorsed the requests ofthe student body concerning matters ofcontrol in non-academic situations. This endorsement was made with the understanding that the faculty would approve any constitutional changes. While the college grants these privileges to the Student GovernmentAssociation, the college reserves its right to bring disciplinary action in any circumstance where a studentorgroupofstudents have violated college policies orregulations. The StudentGovernmentAssociation, on March 29, 1985, proposed thatfac- ulty approval ofthe Student GovernmentAssociation's constitutional changes be eliminated. On March 29, 1985, the faculty voted in favorofthe Student GovernmentAssociation's motion. Constitution ofthe Student Government Association Introduction The charterofSweet BriarCollege grants tothe Board ofDirectors "full and complete management and control" ofthe College and its affairs. Subject to delegation ofthis authority by the Board, responsibility forthe governance of the College is sharedby theAdministration, the Faculty, andthe students. 1 TheAdministration has the primary responsibility forthephysical se- curity, health and welfare ofthe College; forthe maintenance, improvement and preservation ofall facilities; forthe financial stabilityofthe College andforits external relations with governmental agencies,other institutions, membersofthe widerSweet Briarcommunity, and the pub- lic at large. 2. The Faculty, through its officers andcommittees, including students wheneverappropriate, and its established procedures has responsibility forall academic programs, including degree requirements, the awarding ofacademic honors, the grading system, and thecourseofferings. 3. The StudentGovernmentAssociation (SGA), through its own officers, committees, andconstitutional procedures, bears responsibility forestab- lishing, maintaining, interpreting andenforcing regulations in the following areas, subjectto legal restrictions orstated policies oftheCollege: a. Extracurricularactivities (except in those instances where state, regional, and national sportsorganizations have authority overinter- collegiate athletics). b. Residence hall activities (exceptthose matters deemed by the Presi- dentto affect the health and safety ofthe community orthe property ofthe College). 4. The President, as the chiefexecutive oftheCollege, has the responsibility ofimplementing all matters properly referred to herby the otherdeci- sion-making groups ofthe College. In matters ofconflict, the President's judgment shall prevail, subject only to the superiorauthority ofthe BoardofDirectors. Preamble Whereas, we, the students ofSweet BriarCollege, understand that all authority originates with and is delegated by the Board ofDirectors and. Whereas, we, as the members ofacommunity devoted to intellectual pur- suits, do individually and collectively desire to instill ineach othera sense of responsibility forthe welfare ofstudents in that academic community, and. Whereas, in addition to meeting fully its obligations ofnondiscrimination underfederal and state law, the College is committed to supporting acommu- nity in which adiverse student population can live and work in an atmo- sphere oftolerance, civility, and respect forthe rights and sensibilities ofeach individual, regardless ofeconomic status, ethnic background, political views, sexual orientation, orotherpersonal characteristics and beliefs. Whereas, we believe that such responsibility promotes the best interests of the College and prepares the students totake theirplace in ademocratic society, we do hereby adopt the following Constitutions and By-Laws. Article I-Name The name ofthe organization shall be the Student GovernmentAssociation (SGA) ofSweet BriarCollege. Article II-Purpose The purpose ofthis organization shall be to: A. Strengthen the sense ofindividual responsibility implicit in the ideal underlying the foundation ofSweet BriarCollege, which is to impart to its students sucheducation in sound learning and such training as shall in the judgment ofthe directors bestfit themto be useful members ofsociety. B. Promotethe higheststandardsofhonorand integrity in all phasesofcollege life. C. Coordinate and promote student activity within the community. D. Provide aforum forthe expression anddiscussion ofstudentopinions and sentiment. E. Complement the educational aspects ofstudent life. F. Advance the spirit ofloyalty to the College and its undertakings. 10