Student Life

As a residential college, Albion is concerned with the growth and development of the whole student in a number of interrelated realms: intellectual, personal, social, spiritual, emotional, physical and vocational. The various programs described below assist students' education outside the classroom. Personal growth is encouraged and supported through programs that practice community development, leadership skills, healthful living and the ability to interact with people from different cultures and backgrounds. The vice president for student affairs is responsible for giving leadership to most of the programs and services below, all of which support the academic mission of the College and enhance the full educational experience.

Residential Living

Albion is a residential college and expects all of its students to live and board within the College residence system. As such, residential life provides opportunities for students to integrate the academic mission of the College with the out-of-class experience. Numerous programs and activities are offered to meet students' educational and social needs.

Student residential facilities at Albion include residence halls, fraternity houses, apartments and homes near the campus that have been remodeled to accommodate seven to ten students. Most student rooms are double occupancy, encouraging the personal growth that comes with having a roommate. Residences have study rooms, informal lounges and recreation areas. Kitchenettes and laundry rooms are available in all housing units.

Gerstacker International House is a language-learning residence for upperclass students interested in French, German and Spanish.

College-owned fraternity houses give members their own eating, living and recreational facilities. Family and married-student housing may be available in the College-operated Burns Street apartments.

Full-time residence hall directors supervise each residence hall. In all residences, selected upperclass students serve as staff members (i.e., resident assistants), aid in the management of the residence programs and help to facilitate group and individual development and growth occurring in a residential unit.

Student Activities

An Albion education involves more than time in the classroom and library. Students are encouraged to take advantage of the wide range of opportunities available to them, including approximately 100 clubs and organizations, student government, publications and athletics.

Community service is a cornerstone of co-curricular life at Albion, and most student organizations participate in and plan service activities. The Student Volunteer Bureau acts as a clearinghouse for campus community volunteer opportunities. Most students participate in such activities at some point during their time at Albion.

Entertainment is provided through student-run organizations like Union Board, which regularly brings bands, comedians and other performers to campus and also sponsors off-campus trips.

The Kellogg Center is a campus center where all members of the campus community are welcome and encouraged to interact on a formal and informal basis. The campus center provides support and opportunities for participation in educational, cultural and recreational activities, and provides services for the convenience of the campus community.

The Office of Campus Programs and Organizations (CPO), located in the Kellogg Center, serves as a resource center for students, faculty and student groups. The Kellogg Center also houses the Student Volunteer Bureau, Union Board, Student Senate, The Pleiad, WLBN, Panhellenic and Interfraternity Councils, as well as a number of other student groups.

Fraternities and Sororities

All of Albion's national fraternities have a residence that can accommodate a maximum of 50 students. The national Panhellenic sororities at Albion have their own lodges for meetings, service projects, study and social purposes. Sorority women, however, live in College residences.

The national fraternities are Alpha Tau Omega, Delta Sigma Phi, Delta Tau Delta, Sigma Chi, Sigma Nu and Tau Kappa Epsilon. The national Panhellenic sororities are Alpha Chi Omega, Alpha Xi Delta, Delta Gamma, Kappa Alpha Theta, Kappa Delta and Phi Mu. The Pan Hellenic sorority at Albion is Alpha Kappa Alpha. About 40 percent of the student body belongs to these groups.

Varsity Sports

Albion is a charter member of the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA), founded in 1888. It is the oldest collegiate athletic conference in the United States.

For more information on intercollegiate sports for men and women, visit www.albion.edu/sports.

The First-Year Experience

Through the William Atwell Brown, Jr. and Mary Brown Vacin First-Year Experience, all first-year students enroll in a First-Year Seminar. This seminar also becomes a Student Association and is an important building block for Albion community development that lasts through the sophomore year. With the First-Year Seminar as a basis, first-year students participate in structured experiences (Learning Strategies, Association meetings, and mentoring) for personal, academic and professional growth that are facilitated by Association mentors, Student Affairs staff and faculty.

Religious Life

As an institution founded by and related to the United Methodist Church, Albion College celebrates religious life and spiritual development. The Office of the Chaplain embodies this commitment as it strives to create a welcoming and affirming context for the entire College community. "Spirituality" is understood in the broadest terms as a basic characteristic of every human, and therefore the office is here to serve the entire campus. The theology embodied by this office is inclusive, affirming and empowering.

The most obvious ways to become involved are through the campus and area religious organizations. Campus organizations include nine Christian groups (including Wesley Fellowship and Newman Club), Albion College Hillel (Jewish) and Muslim Student Association. As for area multi-faith resources, a current listing can be accessed at www.albion.edu/chaplain or by visiting the Office of the Chaplain. Churches and religious organizations that have programs for college-age students are noted. The office serves as a central liaison between the College and area religious bodies and judicatories. Please contact the office if you have questions regarding an area religious group.

The Office of the Chaplain actively cultivates discussions of spirituality throughout campus life. The office sponsors (and co-sponsors) programs that cross lines of academic discipline to provide fresh thought on meaning, ethics, religion and issues of justice. Ideas for collaborative programs that include spirituality are encouraged.

The chaplain is available to offer pastoral care and spiritual direction for anyone within the College community. Such discussions can be helpful in bringing comfort and encouragement, as well as helping to define issues of faith and religious practice, and can bring a depth of understanding to the spiritual components of a person's individual situation.

Intercultural Affairs

In support of Albion's commitment to an inclusive, pluralistic and equitable community for learning, the Office for Intercultural Affairs works cooperatively with students, faculty, staff and the Albion community to heighten awareness of an appreciation for cultural, ethnic and racial diversity. Emphasis is placed on the development and implementation of educational programs and activities that assist in the transition and retention of under-represented students. These programs include an orientation, mentoring and a host family program.

The office is concerned with all aspects of each student's development and a concerted effort is made to assist students in assessing educational goals and academic skills, and to identify and refer students to appropriate support services. The office advises student organizations that work in the spirit of diversity and community. These groups are the African Caribbean Student Union, Arab Club, Asian Awareness Group, Black Student Alliance, Break the Silence, Hillel, Muslim Student Association, Organization of Latino/a Awareness, International Student Union, POWER, and Secular Humanist Group.

Counseling Services

The Office of Counseling Service's mission is to help students solve problems and acquire the skills they need to reach their academic and life goals. Counseling Services assists students when emotional, relationship or psychological issues negatively impact their ability to make the most of their educational experiences at Albion.

Students seek assistance from Counseling Services for a variety of reasons, including adjustment to college, interpersonal or relationship conflicts, stress, anxiety, depression and eating disorders. Some students come to counseling to help clarify values and to help foster personal growth.

Counseling Services offers a spectrum of services to meet the individual needs of students, including individual counseling, couples counseling, group counseling and psycho-educational groups. Workshops and structured groups are also offered on a variety of personal growth and wellness topics throughout the year. Counseling Services staff can help facilitate referrals to community mental health agencies or to practitioners in the community.

All information shared in Counseling Services is confidential and may not be released without a written consent.

Counseling Services welcomes all students and embraces a philosophy respectful of diversity including students' race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, disability and sexual orientation. The staff is committed to helping all students deal with discrimination and identity issues.

Intervention and Prevention Program

One component of Counseling Services is the Alcohol and Other Drug Intervention and Prevention Program (IPP). This program works on the prevention of alcohol and other drug-related problems, providing educational workshops and alcohol and other drug-related screenings to the College community throughout the year.

The IPP also works with students who have problems with alcohol and other drugs (AOD). Assessments are offered to help students identify problem drinking and other drug use problems. Students may also receive short-term AOD counseling to help increase the awareness of risk factors and lifestyle decisions related to alcohol and other drugs and to foster the development of healthy coping skills. Staff will also make referrals to various 12-step groups that hold meetings in the surrounding area. Students with serious or chronic problems with alcohol and other drugs may be referred to either in-patient or out-patient treatment programs for intensive care.

Anna Howard Shaw Women's Center

Founded in 1985, the Anna Howard Shaw Women's Center coordinates social, cultural and political programs focused on women for the Albion community. This includes organizing activities that raise awareness of women's issues and those that support women in their quests for empowerment and equality. Women's Center programming seeks to educate the Albion community about confronting issues and actions of oppression and marginalization that can serve as barriers to the development, dignity and freedom of all people.

For Women's History Month in March each year, the Women's Center, in coordination with the Women's and Gender Studies Program, provides programming to honor Dr. Shaw's life and work by highlighting women's lives, interests and passions. Other educational programs are frequently cosponsored with student organizations that share mutual interests.

The Women's Center seeks to support and promote the efforts of women, facilitating programs that serve to build a collaborative community in which women's voices are heard and honored. The Women's Center works to develop and disseminate resource materials that help educate the community about ideas and issues that impact and involve women.

The Anna Howard Shaw Women's Center is responsible for designing and delivering programming about sexual assault/sexual harassment prevention and intervention. The Women's Center works collaboratively with student groups, Campus Safety, Student Health Services and Counseling Services in responding to the needs of the women and men on campus.

The Women's Center also works collaboratively with Career Development to provide programming to assist women in making academic plans, life choices and career decisions. These programs include mentoring opportunities, workshops and speakers.

The Anna Howard Shaw Center belongs to the Albion College community. There are many formal and informal ways for students to be involved in and benefit from the Center's activities. Student involvement is essential for the Women's Center to achieve its mission of empowerment.

Student Health Services

Student Health Services (SHS) is staffed by registered nurses, Monday through Friday. In addition, the College physician and/or a physician assistant are available for scheduled appointments on a part-time basis. Students needing care after hours may visit the SHS Web site and use the online self-care guide or list of area walk-in clinics, or call a telephone support service. The Department of Campus Safety or Residential Life staff can provide more information.

Some of the services available include: emergency first aid, allergy injections, medical consultation and treatment, referrals to specialty physicians, physicals and gynecological services, immunizations and diagnostic laboratory testing. Visits and most services are offered free of charge. Occasionally there is a small fee to cover supplies, medications or lab tests (performed at SHS).

A Student Health Record with updated immunizations is required of all incoming students.

All students are required to have health insurance, and Student Health Services should be contacted for additional information.

Career Development

The mission of the Office of Career Development is to help students translate their liberal education into leadership. The office is guided by a developmental philosophy that regards career development as a lifelong process. The office's goals are to help students acquire the knowledge and skills they will need to develop a career identity and to secure rewarding and fulfilling work or graduate school placement after graduation. The Career Development staff provides comprehensive services designed to assist students in exploring and attaining their professional career goals including: self-assessment instruments, individual and group career counseling, career development programming, jobs and internship resources and on-campus recruiting.

Programming aims to educate students about the career development process. Topics include: choosing a major, developing a four-year career plan, exploring career options, securing internships, gaining entry into advanced study programs, preparing for the job search and obtaining full-time employment upon graduation.

Sleight Servant Leadership Program

The Sleight Servant Leadership Program is a comprehensive, four-year progressive leadership and service program. By connecting experiential learning, theory and skills-based training, this developmental program seeks to foster actively engaged global citizens. The program is housed in the Ferguson Building, Suite 103, where resources are available to assist campus organizations and students interested in leadership development. Some examples of these resources include information on linking student interests and strengths to academic and career plans, experiential learning opportunities, and listings of local service connections. First-year students will have an opportunity to become involved with the program through their First-Year Seminar experience.

Campus Safety

The Department of Campus Safety is staffed with professional officers. The main objective of Campus Safety is to provide the campus community with a safe environment. This is accomplished by offering crime prevention education and by providing a number of services to protect against theft and injury. Campus Safety officers and dispatchers attend extensive training sessions and handle a variety of requests concerning fire safety, first aid, building security, crisis intervention, personal safety and multicultural awareness. The Department of Campus Safety is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, to respond to student, faculty and staff needs.

Student Regulations and Basic Principles of Responsibility

Albion College is committed to a philosophy whereby students are treated as adults. As such, each student has primary responsibility for the quality of his/her educational experience and for meeting the College's academic and social expectations.

Albion College strives to be more than a reflection of the society of which it is a part. Through its programs and its example, the College seeks to challenge the society to adopt ever higher standards and expectations for its members. The College is not, however, a sanctuary from the larger society, nor from the laws and expectations of that society.

Institutional expectations, regulations and practices are established to provide an environment conducive to human growth, to reflect the values to which the College subscribes, to recognize the proximity in which students live with one another, and to recognize the developing capabilities of students as they encounter and progress through the college experience. The purpose of these expectations, regulations and practices is to promote:

• The academic mission of the College,
• Those opportunities and settings that facilitate the coming together of persons of different persuasions and backgrounds,
• Respect for the rights of others, and
• The values that evolve from our heritage as a College related to the United Methodist Church.

To establish high standards and to encourage greater understanding and responsibility, a number of the College's regulations are formally stated here. Other expectations, regulations and practices of the College, including its customs and traditions, are contained in the Student Handbook which is made available online to students each fall.

• Attendance at Albion College is a privilege and it is expected that students will conduct themselves in a responsible manner that reflects the ideals and educational aims of the College. Where student responsibility does not reflect this expectation, concern will be expressed and suitable action taken which may include suspension or permanent dismissal from the College.
• Central to a College's purpose is the pursuit of truth. This quality, the proximity in which students live, and the freedom of campus life depend upon the personal integrity of all members of the College community. Activities that represent an intention to steal, actual stealing or dishonesty in any form are extremely serious offenses which may result in suspension or expulsion from the College. Questions of academic dishonesty are handled by procedures set up by the faculty and are outlined in the Student Handbook.
• The residential nature of the campus affords opportunities for maximizing the undergraduate educational experience. As a residential college, Albion requires all students to live and board within the College residence system. Exceptions to this expectation are made for married students, commuters (defined as those students who reside with their parents or legal guardians within 50 miles of the campus), students with legal dependents and students age 23 or older (housing may be available if desired). Written notification must be submitted to the Office of Residential Life.
• Albion College does not consider the use of alcoholic beverages as necessary or conducive to the processes of higher education. Albion College students are expected to abide by College policies and the laws of the State of Michigan and the City of Albion relative to the possession, consumption and serving of alcohol. Only students 21 years of age or older may possess and/or consume alcoholic beverages. Students under 21 years of age are prohibited from possessing and/or consuming alcoholic beverages. Possession, consumption and/or provision of alcohol in public areas of the campus is not permitted. Use of alcohol or other drugs which jeopardizes or endangers the welfare of oneself or others, or contributes to other irresponsible or offensive action or behavior, is a violation of College regulations. All students and groups are subject to disciplinary action for violation of Albion College policy pertaining to the possession, consumption or serving of alcohol.
• Involvement in the illegal merchandising, possession, use or distribution of paraphernalia or drugs including marijuana, or misconduct resulting therefrom, is an offense that is subject to sanctions up to and including expulsion.
• Student participation in activities which develop to a degree that elicits public alarm, disturbs the public peace, threatens or endangers personal well-being, or harms public or private property is prohibited. In a like manner, student behavior that disrupts or interferes with the orderly processes of the College is also prohibited. ``Orderly processes of the College'' are viewed to include, but not limited to, the holding of classes, the carrying forward of College business, arrangements for properly authorized and scheduled events and the observance of regulations and procedures. Students who individually or in groups commit, engage in or plan (whether or not a plan is carried out) a violation of any College policy will be subject to disciplinary action that may result in suspension or expulsion from the College.
• To avoid jeopardizing their status with the College and to assure the maintenance of accurate records, students are required to notify the vice president for student affairs whenever enrollment is voluntarily terminated.
• Students are required to complete a medical record mailed to them prior to their initial enrollment. Completed records must be on file before a student is permitted to move into a residence hall. In addition, students are required to have all immunizations current and a tuberculosis test (if required) completed prior to moving into a residence hall.

Liability Disclaimer

Albion College shall not be liable for any injuries to or property damages suffered by any student regardless of cause. This disclaimer of liability shall apply to, but not by way of limitation, the following:

• Any injury or damage incurred on property owned by or under the control of the College, or its subsidiaries, such as classrooms, residence halls or other housing, any other structures, all common areas and grounds, and vehicles;
• Any injury or damage incurred as a participant, spectator or otherwise in any intramural or intercollegiate or other event or contest, athletic or otherwise, or while in transit thereto or therefrom;
• Any injury or damage suffered while engaged in or attending a classroom or related activity, whether required or elective, and regardless of cause;
• Any injury or damage suffered by reason of theft, fire, damage by the elements or by other cause;
• Any injury or damage suffered by reason of any act or omission of any College trustee, officer, member of the faculty or staff, employee, contractor or student.

By applying for admission or readmission to the College, or by continuing their enrollment with the College for a subsequent semester, students accept the foregoing disclaimer and agree to be bound thereby.

Insurance of Personal Belongings

The College does not insure personal effects of students. Therefore, it is recommended that students insure their belongings either through their parents' homeowner policy or a separate policy.