2011-12 Student Handbook

Foreword

The purpose of the Albion College Student Handbook is twofold. It informs students of opportunities for involvement — with people, special programs, and issues — that are available at Albion College. It describes programs and services that will help increase the quality of every student's educational experience. The handbook also informs the College community of many of the policies governing students while at Albion College. These policies express expectations of behavior, convey a respect for community and provide for the protection of the rights of the individual. Each student or student group is held responsible for the policies and procedures of the College that are currently in effect or, from time to time, put into effect by the appropriate authorities of Albion College. Please be aware that the handbook (1) is not a complete statement of all policies, procedures, rules, and regulations of Albion College; and (2) that the College reserves the right to change any procedures, policies, programs, and so on, that appear in the Student Handbook. The College will give notice to students of changes within a reasonable amount of time.

Statement of Non-Discrimination

Albion College is committed to a policy of equal opportunity and nondiscrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, or disability, as protected by law, in all educational programs and activities, admission of students, and conditions of employment.

Important Telephone Number Extensions

Suicide and Crisis Intervention Hotlines

To all students:

Welcome to Albion College! You are embarking on an extraordinary journey of self-discovery and preparation. You will be joined by an exceptional faculty and staff, so that your quest for knowledge, insight, even wisdom, will be fulfilled in an intellectually stimulating and personally affirming environment.

The development of a genuinely educated person is not only a voyage of discovery, but also one of liberation. True liberation is not only the freedom to act, but the freedom to think, to deliberate, to assess and evaluate, an ability made possible only by the study of the great ideas of brilliant men and women and the results of centuries of thoughtful reflection on the human condition. Those who study the liberal arts are truly liberated: free to seek truth, to love justice, and to contribute to the healing and development of our complex world.

Albion College is a model learning community that combines the best of the liberal arts tradition, the power of information technology, and the relevance of preparing graduates who will improve the quality of life for others. We offer you the Albion Advantage . . . our strategic plan which blends a rigorous liberal arts education with a career-readiness focus. While you are with us for four years, we want you to explore different careers, to apply and experience what you are learning outside the classroom, to reflect upon what you have learned, and to be welcomed into a network of over 22,000 passionate Albion alumni.

As you prepare for the future, your years at Albion will be enriched by challenging course work, unique opportunities for service, and enduring friendships. Despite our size, Albion students, faculty, and staff are remarkably eclectic in their interests and backgrounds. Together we foster diversity within a celebrative community, so that each member of the campus community knows what it means to stand out and fit in.

This handbook will serve as a guide to the structure, ethos, and sense of purpose that unite us into a community of learners. By blending standards of ethical behavior and an efficient organizational framework with a celebration of individuality and creativity, we become a dynamic, exemplary community—a community that affirms the dignity and worth of each individual and genuinely cares about the welfare of all; a community that is inclusive and socially responsible; and a community that establishes and adheres to the principles, policies, and priorities that ensure high quality, ethical, and effective operation and shared decision-making.

Our commitment to academic excellence and to building community will enable Albion College to help shape and define the liberal arts college of the future. I invite you to join with your classmates, as well as the faculty and staff, on what I believe will be a remarkable journey of self-discovery that will prepare you for lives of meaning, purpose, and joy.

Cordially,

Donna M. Randall,
President