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x^mmh-^. SWEETBRIARCOLLEGE wmKmK»iBmms^?^i'i!.ii:j-i-t\ 3 2449 0511063 2 iRiAR College 2008-2009 Student Handbook ARCHIVES LH \>ho has earned the rose may bear it! 1 Sweet Briar College .S94 S74 ^eet Briar, Virginia 24595 2008/20091 2 Sweet Briar Song Sweet Briar, SweetBriar,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! Sweet Briar, Sweet Briar, we sing to thee. May thyfoundations ever be Strong as thy hills, thypurity That ofthy rose. Sweet Briar! Class Symbols The Class of2009 The Class of2011 Motto: Honor ante honores Motto: SpectamurAgendo (Honorbefore reward) (We areproven by ouractions) Colors: Peacock blue and green Colors: Delph blue and black Emblem: Peacock Emblem: Lion The Class of20 The Class of 20 1 1 Motto: Ne obliviscamur Motto: Factum non verbum (Lest weforget) (Actions not words) Colors: Green and black Colors: Purple and gold Emblem: OakTree Emblem: Swan This publication offers general information and includes some College policies. Consult the Collegecatalogand/oracademicrulings,whichareonfileintheDean'sOfficeandtheLibrary, as the final authority on all academic policies.Contact the Dean ofthe College orthe Deanof Co-CurricularLifeforfurtherclarificationonmaterialcontainedinthisdocument. Theinformation inthispublicationwereaccurateatthetimeofprintingduringthe Summerof2008. PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE This 2008-2009 edition ofthe Student Handbook of Sweet Briar College will be ofmajor importance to our incoming class offirst year students, Class of2012, 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 of us 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 o/students 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 4 Historical Sketch 4 SGAPresident'sMessage 6 Section I: Student Government Association 7 StudentPetition 7 SGA Constitution 7 SGABy-Laws 11 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 AlcoholPolicy 38 Drug Policy 42 Smoking Policy 43 Policy on Hazing and Standards ofGroup Behavior 43 SexualAssault 44 Sexual Harassment Policy 46 StatementofCompliance 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 54 FirstYearExperience Program 63 Student Leadership Programs 64 CareerServices/Campus Student Employment 66 Health & Counseling Center 68 Student Involvement andPrograms 68 SWEBOP/OutdoorPrograms 70 Section V: College Services 71 AlumnaeAssociation 71 Book Shop 71 College Chaplain 72 Communications 72 ComputerServices 74 Day/Turning Point Student Information 74 DepartmentofCampus Safety 74 Emergency Communication System 75 Food Services 75 SweetBriarCard 76 Guest Housing 77 Library 77 Mail Services 77 Physical Plant 78 Section VI: Important Contacts 79 College Calendar 80 Campus Map Sweet Briar's Mission Sweet Briaris afouryear, independent college whose aim is toprepare women tobe active,responsible members ofa world community. Its cur- riculum is organizedon the premise that a foundation in the liberal arts and sciences is anessential means tothis end. Study ofthe liberal arts and sciences enhances the developmentofcritical andcreative abilities,develops the ability to synthesize disparate information,equips the student forgraduate and professional education,and encourages the individual tocontinue to learn long afterleaving Sweet Briar.Abroadly based academic programteaches herto view herexperience within widercontexts,to appreciate the achieve- ments ofthe past,to understand the methods and majortheories ofscience, togain an appreciation ofthe arts, and tocommunicate with precision and cogency.At Sweet Briarthis study takes place within aresidential environ- ment thatencourages physical well-being,ethical awareness, sensitivity to others,responsibility forone's actions,personal initiative,and the assumption ofleadership. Sweet Briarcontinues its commitment as a women's college in orderto devote all ofits resources to the education ofwomen in the full range ofthe liberal arts and sciences,including those subjectsthat have beentraditionally 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 student body which is drawn from a national and international pool ofap- plicants.As an independentcollege. Sweet Briarpossesses the flexibility to respondtothe many challenges that face highereducationin arapidly chang- ing world. Historical Sketch Sweet Briarwas founded on the first yearofthis century by IndianaFletcher Williams in memory ofheronly daughter,Daisy, who died in 1884 at the age ofsixteen.Mrs.Williams was adaughterofElijah Fletcher,whocame toVirginiafrom Ludlow,Vermont, in the early nineteenth century and taught school inAmherst County. Laterhe moved to Lynchburg where he owned andpublished anewspaper,became acivic leader,and amassed large hold- ings ofland as well as aconsiderable fortune. At the time ofMrs.Williams'death in 1900,herestate consisted ofmore than eight thousand acres ofland, 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,and to turn overto it all property left tothem in trust. It was Mrs. Williams' desire,according to the followingexcerpt from her will,that,"It shall be the general scope andobjectofthe school to impartto its students such education in sound learning,and such physical,moral,and religious training as shall in thejudgmentofthe Directors best fit them to be 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 membershipin the SouthernAssociationof , Colleges and Secondary Schools,theAmericanAssociationofUniversity Women,and theAmerican Council on Education,and was approved by the Association ofAmerican Universities. Sweet Briaris a memberofthe 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 toteaching certification in the State ofVirginia and 29 otherstates at both the elementary and secondary level.The music department is approved by the NationalAssociation ofSchools ofMusic. Its chapterofPhi Beta Kappa is theThetaofVirginia,authorized in 1949.AchapterofPi Gamma Mu,the international society in social sciences,wasestablished in 1983. The affairsofthe College are managedby aself-perpetuating BoardofDirec- tors consistingofno more than 32 memberselected annually.The Directors include the President ofthe College,the President oftheAlumnaeAssocia- tion,fouralumnae nominated by theAlumnaeAssociation,and three alumnae from successive graduating classes. SweetBriar's presidents have been: Dr. Mary Benedict,whoheld office from the opening in 1906 until 1916; Dr. Emilie Watts McVea,from 1916 to 1925; Dr. MetaGlass from 1925 to 1946; Dr. Martha B. Lucas from 1946to 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 1990to 1996; and Dr. Elisabeth Muhlenfeld,whobegan heradministration as ninth presidentofthe College in 1996. Student Government Association President's Message In the fall of 1906,the StudentGovernmentAssociation was established as the primary governing body on campus. Since that time, young women have striven to make this campus what it is today; a significant voice in nearly every majordecision the College has made. This body represents a diverse — groupofstudents from all aspects ofthe campus including campus events, residence life,andthe worldofacademia. I encourage you all tobecome involved in SGA. It is, afterall,you who make SOAwork and bring ourvoice to the surface in the affairs ofthe college. This year,we will be focusing on moving forward. Withthe begin- ning ofnew construction, such as ourstate-of-the-art athletic centerand new housing options,there will be many decisions that SGAwill needto make regarding current campus facilities. We are lookingtobecome adynamic voice in the decision making process and hope to see the campus evolve in a mannerthat directly benefits the student body. In addition,we are hoping to seethe new diversity plan become apart ofoureveryday life at SweetBriar. Finally,we would like to see all ofourstudents upholding the traditional values held by Sweet Briarwomen which are embodied in the HonorCode. I encourage you allto integrate the HonorCode into yourdaily life on campus andhope you will encourage others to do the same. Again,please feel free to voice any comments orconcerns you may have about life on campus. SGAdoes not have to be something you simply see—you are encouraged to become directly involved in all aspects of what we do. And,always rememberthat SGA's primary goal will be to work foryou. Bestwishes fora wonderful school year! Sarah Hall SGAPresident . Section I Student Government Association The Student Petition (October 17, 1906) On October 17, 1906,the students ofSweet BriarCollege, believing in the dignity and honor in student government,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,endorsedthe 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 student orgroupofstudents have violated college policies orregulations. The Student GovernmentAssociation,on March 29, 1985,proposed that faculty approval ofthe Student GovernmentAssociation's constitutional changes be eliminated. On March 29, 1985,the faculty votedin favorofthe Student GovernmentAssociation's motion. Constitution ofthe Student Government Association Introduction The charterofSweet BriarCollege grants tothe BoardofDirectors "full and complete management and control" ofthe College and its affairs. Subjectto delegation ofthis authority by the Board, responsibility forthe governanceof the College is shared by theAdministration,the Faculty,andthe students. 1 TheAdministration has the primaryresponsibility forthe physical se- curity,health and welfare ofthe College; forthe maintenance,improve- mentand preservationofall facilities; forthe financial stability ofthe College and for itsexternal relations with governmental agencies,other institutions, members ofthe widerSweetBriarcommunity,and thepub- lic atlarge. 2. The Faculty,through itsofficers andcommittees, including students wheneverappropriate,and itsestablished procedures has responsibility forall academic programs,includingdegree requirements,the awarding ofacademic honors,the grading system,andthe course offerings. 3. The StudentGovernmentAssociation (SGA),through its own officers, committees,andconstitutional procedures,bears responsibility forestab- lishing, maintaining, interpreting andenforcing regulations in the following areas,subject to legal restrictions orstatedpolicies oftheCollege: a. Extracumcularactivities (except in those instances where state, regional,and national sports organizations have authority overinter- collegiate athletics). b. Residence hall activities (exceptthose matters deemedby the Presi- denttoaffectthehealthand safety ofthe community orthe property oftheCollege). 4. The President,as thechiefexecutive ofthe College, has the responsibility ofimplementingall matters properly referredtoherby the otherdeci- sion-making groups ofthe College. In matters ofconflict,the President's judgment shall prevail,subjectonly tothe 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 in each 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 a diverse 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 andbeliefs. Whereas,we believe that such responsibility promotes the best interests of the College and prepares the students to take 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 foundationofSweet BriarCollege,which is to impart to its students such education in sound learning and such training as shall in the judgment ofthe directors best fitthem to be useful members ofsociety. B. Promote thehighest standardsofhonorand integrity in all phasesofcollege life. C. Coordinate and promote student activity within the community. D. Provide aforum fortheexpression anddiscussionofstudentopinionsand sentiment. E. Complementtheeducational aspects ofstudent life. F. Advancethe spirit ofloyalty tothe College and its undertakings.