Office of Academic Advising

The advising program at Dickinson supports the educational mission of our liberal-arts institution, engaging students in the community of inquiry. It is student-centered, faculty-delivered and professionally administered. It recognizes the importance, dignity, potential, unique nature and personal responsibility of each student. It acknowledges that advising is an extension of teaching and that the faculty should be primary in this process, deliberately challenging students, assessing progress toward their goals and referring to other resources as appropriate. We recognize the importance of timely and appropriate training, information and support for faculty members and students. The program is developmental, understanding that student needs and levels of support change during the four years at the college. It recognizes the importance of self-evaluation and ongoing assessment to maintain a quality advising program. 

The Office of Academic Advising, located in Biddle House along with Career Services and the registrar, provides support and programs in a number of areas including orientation, first-year programs, class deans, academic resources, disabilities, tutoring, peer mentoring and transfer and sophomore programs.

Orientation & First-year Programs

The first year of college is an exciting time. It is also a time of considerable transition for both you and your son or daughter. The rigor of study at the college level, living with roommates, newfound independence and a new level of responsibility can challenge students in ways that they have not yet experienced. The Office of Academic Advising and the first-year dean are resources for students and parents to aid in this transition. This office leads orientation for new students and parents and coordinates programming throughout the year to address the developmental needs of first-year students. The associate director of advising, also the first-year class dean, supports the academic and personal growth of first-year students on an individual basis by helping students identify strategies for academic or social problem resolution and by linking students to other campus resources.

It is important to let students develop their new lives at Dickinson and work to figure out solutions to challenges. While this may mean some mistakes are made along the way, it is a valuable part of the journey into adulthood. However, this does not mean that your input and support are no longer needed. If you sense that your son or daughter is experiencing difficulty, ask him or her about it. Show interest in your student’s new life; your opinion is still valued. We encourage you to point your son or daughter to resources on campus where he or she can seek assistance, including the Office of Academic Advising and the first-year dean.

Academic Resource Services

If your child has a physical disability or a learning disability that could affect his or her full participation in college programs, he or she should contact the coordinator of Academic Resource Services. The coordinator can advise your son or daughter about the documentation needed to support a request for reasonable accommodations. The coordinator also can explain the process that is followed in notifying academic advisers, faculty members and others when students ask for accommodations or special services such as early course requests or learning aids.

It is the student’s responsibility to notify the college of any disability and accommodation requests. Even if you believe your child will not need any accommodations, registering his or her disability with the coordinator of Academic Resource Services is a good idea. The coordinator also will work with your student to obtain tutors for language and other introductory-level courses and provide ongoing programs addressing such issues as time management and study skills. Academic Resource Services and the first-year and sophomore deans coordinate the Steps to Academic Success Program for students who have been placed on academic probation due to low grades. For more information, please contact us at (717) 245-1080.

Class Deans

The class deans provide administrative and direct-advising functions for students. At midterm and the end of each semester, class deans are in contact with students who have had difficulty maintaining grades or achieving quantitative progress towards the degree. Class deans work with students to process the required paperwork for voluntary leaves, withdrawals, transfer recommendations and other related needs. They often serve as advisers to students whose faculty advisers are on sabbatical or unavailable. Deans also assist students returning from required or voluntary leave. The dean for the first-year class is Becky Hammell, hammellr@dickinson.edu; Rebecca Bliss for the sophomore class, blissr@dickinson.edu; the junior class will be announced; and the senior class dean is Shirley King, kings@dickinson.edu. All may be reached at (717) 245-1080.

The Academic Program

Since 1783, students have come to Dickinson College for a liberal-arts education that prepares them for lives of learning and leadership. A Dickinson education will prepare them to deal with problems and to think critically. Every area of study essential to the liberal arts is represented in the Dickinson College curriculum. Through distribution requirements, the degree program ensures that each student will select a variety of courses that introduce a breadth of knowledge. In each  area of study, students investigate the theories and evidence that provide an in-depth understanding of their majors. This balance within a wide offering of courses and programs allows students to maximize their educations.

Courses

Each student is responsible for selecting courses to meet the requirements for the degree. An academic adviser will discuss choices and help the student consider appropriate combinations and alternatives in planning an academic program. In addition to the adviser, representatives of academic departments are available during the advising period each semester to answer questions about courses and programs.

Normally students complete either the bachelor of arts or the bachelor of science degree program in four years, taking four courses per semester. In order to graduate, a student must successfully complete 32 courses, maintain a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.00, fulfill the distribution and graduation requirements and complete a major. Students also are required to take four “blocks” (each approximately half a semester) of physical education.

Each first-year student is enrolled in a seminar class during his or her first semester. More than 40 different courses are taught as first-year seminars, and students receive one of their top six choices. Student participation is emphasized, as each seminar has approximately 15 students. Group discussions and a series of writing assignments throughout the semester help strengthen and refine skills for college-level writing, research and analysis.

Course Request and Academic Advising

First-year students make course requests online in July following a phone or e-mail consultation with their faculty adviser. In addition to the seminar, students select three other courses. The July mailing to students, available on the Web at www.orientation.dickinson. edu/registration.html, provides information to assist students in choosing their first-semester classes. During orientation advisers help students finalize their selections and develop long-term plans, focusing on the educational goals of the student. In the middle of each semester, after meeting and discussing their course selections with their advisers, students participate in an online course-request period for the next semester.

First-year seminar instructors serve as academic advisers until a student declares a major within a field of study. Students must declare a major no later than the first semester of the junior year or by the completion of their 16th credit. Most students declare during the sophomore year. The student’s adviser is available to discuss academic goals, direct the student to resources explaining the college’s academic policies and deadlines and help in academic planning for the future. If an adviser is unable to assist a student with a specific concern, the student will be directed to the appropriate resource. We believe that the student is ultimately responsible for his or her academic program.

In addition to the faculty academic adviser, class deans are available in the Advising Center at Biddle House as additional resources for course selection and planning. Contact information for the class deans is listed in this book (Page 50) and in the campus phone directory.

Standards for Good Academic Standing

The minimum GPA for first-year students to be in good academic standing is 1.75. At the end of the first semester of the first year, students falling below 1.75 will be placed on academic probation for the following semester. At the end of the second semester of the first year, students with a cumulative GPA below 1.75 will be required to withdraw from the college.

Sophomores must achieve a minimum grade-point average of 2.00. Sophomores who have below a 2.00 at the end of the first semester of the sophomore year will be placed on probation for the second semester. Sophomores with below a 2.00 at the end of the sophomore year will be required to withdraw from the college.

Juniors and seniors must have a cumulative GPA of 2.00. Juniors and seniors with a cumulative GPA below 2.00 will be required to withdraw from the college. In order to graduate, a senior must have a minimum GPA of 2.00. A student on probation must show significant improvement during the semester of probation in order to remain at the college.

The registrar’s office issues grades twice each semester. At mid-semester, temporary grades (Roll Call grades), indicating “satisfactory” or “unsatisfactory” progress, are issued. At the end of each semester the final grades are recorded. Grades are available to the students online via a secure Web site. Students access this information using their private logins and PINs. No hard copy of grades (or “report card”)  is mailed to students or parents. Parents should be aware that grades for college courses often are based upon a few large projects, such as a research paper, two or three hour-long exams and a final exam. Students accustomed to receiving frequent feedback on their academic progress will find it important to check with their instructors often to make sure they know where they stand. Although many instructors do not take attendance in class, experience has proven that regular attendance is an important step toward academic success.

Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)

In order to be in compliance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), the college cannot release student-record information (including grades) to parents or legal guardians unless a release has been signed by the student and is on file in the Office of the Registrar. Please discuss this issue with your son or daughter. Information regarding this legislation is available at the FERPA link on the registrar’s home page at www.dickinson.edu/departments/reg.

Enrollment Verifications

Health Insurance
Health insurance is required for all students. To ensure that all students are covered, the college has instituted a policy that all students will be enrolled and billed for college-sponsored insurance. If a student has coverage that meets minimum criteria, he or she can waive out of the insurance plan and his or her account will be credited. For more information regarding college-sponsored insurance, minimum criteria for coverage and the waiver process, go to www.dickinson.edu/departments/finops/.

Typically, your health-insurance provider and other organizations may require verification that your son or daughter is enrolled as a full-time student. The majority of these verifications are due after classes have begun. At that time, you may request this information from the National Student Clearinghouse (NSC).

To do this, ask your student to log on to <www.dickinson.edu/doc> using his or her login and PIN. By selecting Enrollment Verification Request from the student menu, he or she automatically will be redirected to the NSC Web page, where the verification can be printed. This service is free of charge.

If you have confirmed that the insurance company or organization  must receive this verification before the start of the semester, contact the Office of the Registrar at (717) 245-1315 to make special arrangements.

Immunizations
All students are required to have certain immunizations prior to coming to school. If the student’s records have been lost and this information is not available, a doctor will need to order a blood test called a “titer” to determine if antibodies are present. If students do not comply with immunization requirements, they are given the first part of the fall semester to get their immunizations. All immunizations can be obtained through the college’s Health Center. If immunization information is not complete by the date students select classes for the spring semester (usually late October), there will be a hold on course selection. For more detailed information, follow the links from the Health Center Web site at www.dickinson.edu/departments/health.

In addition to the immunizations listed in the first-year student information packet, a new immunization has been added. The Pennsylvania legislature recently passed a law that all college students must either receive the meningitis vaccine or sign a waiver. For more information about this new law, and for information about meningitis and the vaccine, go to the above Web site and select New Students & Parents from the menu. If you have questions, e-mail health@dickinson.edu.

Finances

Financial Aid

The process of applying for financial aid may vary from the first year to the sophomore year. The processing timelines for new and returning students differ, and new state and federal regulations sometimes result in changes to application procedures. To assist families, the Office of Financial Aid sends a letter in January to current financial-aid recipients, outlining which forms each student is required to file (such as tax returns, FAFSA and/or PROFILE) and the deadlines for submission. Filing the right form at the appropriate time is very important since students who miss deadlines may receive less aid.

Dickinson College attempts to maintain consistency in students’ financial-aid packages from year to year. Please remember, however, that changes in the number of students attending college or changes in income/assets will affect students’ aid eligibility.

The Office of Financial Aid produces a policies-and-procedures manual each year. The 2006/2007 manual is posted on the Dickinson Web site. Students should contact the Office of Financial Aid if they do not receive financial-aid application instructions by March 1. Students with questions and those who wish to apply for financial aid for the first time should call (717) 245-1308 or visit the Office of Financial Aid, located in South College West.

Student Billing

The college prepares a consolidated student bill. All college charges are reflected on the student account by means of a transfer on the last Wednesday of each month. This includes bookstore and dining-services charges, health-center charges and fines. A billing statement is mailed each month addressed to the student at his or her home. Students with past-due accounts may lose charging privileges or be inconvenienced by late registration for classes. Special billing provisions or changes to a billing address must be arranged by the student through the Office of Student Accounts. If you have any questions, contact (717) 245-1953 or stuaccts@dickinson.edu.

Campus Charging

Purchases at campus locations such as the bookstore, the health center and dining services may be charged to a student’s account. Students’ ID cards can be used to access their declining-balance accounts or as a campus credit card. Please discuss with your son or daughter any limits you wish to impose on the use of his or her ID card as a campus credit card. At the point of purchase, the student will receive a detailed receipt itemizing the specific item(s) purchased. As with commercial credit-card transactions, purchases will be noted in summary format on the student’s monthly billing statement, which is mailed to the student’s home address. Student account balances that become more than 60 days old will result in the student losing charging privileges for the remainder of the academic year.

Sending Your Student to Dickinson

Mail Services

The student mailroom and the package pickup and FAS mail center are all located on the lower level of the Holland Union Building (HUB). The student mailroom is where students receive their mail, interoffice mail, distributions and notices for all packages. It is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. To pick up a package, a student is required to have the package notice, which would be found in their mailboxes, and his or her Dickinson ID card. For security reasons, the person whose name is on the package must pick up the package. Hours for package pickup are Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 5 to 7 p.m. and Saturday from noon to 3 p.m. Students may buy stamps and send domestic and international packages through the U. S. Postal Service, United Parcel Service (UPS) and Federal Express in the FAS mail center, open Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Mail sent to the college should be addressed as follows:

            Student’s Name
            Dickinson College/HUB #
            28 North College Street (used for UPS, FedEx, DHL, etc.)
            P.O. Box 1773 (used for mail sent via U.S. Postal Service)
            Carlisle, PA 17013-2896

Banking

Your student may want to consider opening a bank account in Carlisle to manage personal funds. Most of the banks listed are within walking distance of the campus and have branches in the Carlisle and greater Harrisburg metropolitan area. Banks in this region are part of the MAC (Money Access Center)/Cirrus system.

• Commerce Bank (717) 240-2665
• Members 1st Federal Credit Union (717) 249-4666 (open to Dickinson-enrolled students)
• M&T Bank (800) 724-2440
• Orrstown Bank (888) 677-7869
• Pennsylvania State Bank (717) 243-3189
• PNC Bank (717) 243-6021
• Sovereign Bank (717) 245-2114
• Wachovia (717) 249-8182

All students employed by Dickinson College will be included in the college’s direct-deposit payroll plan. Their wages will be automatically deposited into savings or checking accounts at banks of their choice. If they choose to use a hometown bank for direct deposit of their paychecks, they will need to supply the college with the bank’s address, phone number, ABA (routing) number and account number.

The Cashier’s Office, located on the lower level of the HUB, sells money orders and offers check-cashing services for up to $100. A student ID must be shown in order to cash a check. In addition, there is a full-service MAC/Cirrus ATM located near the bookstore and accessible 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Student Employment

There are a number of employment opportunities for students on and off campus. Job announcements may be found at the HUB bulletin boards, The Compass  newsletter at http://cfserv.dickinson.edu/compass and the Student Employment Office Web site www. dickinson.edu/career/student/Handbook/stuemp.html. Should a student wish to work, the Student Employment Office may be able to help find on-campus employment that will not interfere with his or her studies.

First-year students who wish to work on campus will be given a job with dining services. On-campus jobs available to upperclassmen include positions at the library, the Kline Center and various campus offices. Transfer students are permitted to work in any campus position.

International students should contact Brian Whalen, executive director of the Office of Global Education, at (717) 245-1341 for on-campus employment information.

If students plan to work either on or off campus, they must present personal documents verifying identity and eligibility to work. These documents include:

For U.S. citizens: valid driver’s license, passport or birth certificate and Social Security number
For permanent residents of the U.S.: Alien Registration Card
For international students: valid passport and a copy of I-20 AB form.

First-year Vehicle Policy

First-year students will not be permitted to possess motor vehicles on the campus or in the Carlisle area while school is in session. Penalties for violations of this policy can be found in the student handbook and include fines and the loss of car privileges for the first semester of the sophomore year. Because of our location in the midst of a residential area, exceptions to this policy must meet rigorous standards. All requests for exceptions must be submitted in writing to the Office of the Dean of Students, with necessary and appropriate documentation attached.

Bicycles

Students who bring bicycles to campus should safeguard them by using a substantial lock and by registering the bike with the Department of Public Safety. The public-safety office will apply a registration permit and stamp a number on the bike frame.

Student Identification Card

Students receive an ID card, which is their official means of identification on campus. This card has many important uses, including access to the dining hall, the Kline Center and the Waidner-Spahr Library. An ID card can be used as a declining-balance card and a charge card to make purchases in the bookstore, the Devil’s Den convenience store, Café on College (Quarry), the Underground coffee bar, the FAS mail room and campus vending machines. The card also gives students access to libraries at the U.S. Army War College, the Penn State Dickinson School of Law, the Bosler Free Library in Carlisle and several area colleges. If the card is lost or stolen it must be reported immediately to dining services. A new card will be issued for a $10 fee.

Bookstore and Devil’s Den

The bookstore offers a complete line of required reading and course materials. In addition, the store sells a variety of general-reading books, office supplies, computer software, phone cards and Dickinson clothing and memorabilia. The Devil’s Den convenience store offers greeting cards, grocery items, health and beauty supplies and periodicals. The bookstore’s Web site is: www.dickinson.edu/store.

A charge account will be established in the bookstore for every incoming student. Charging privileges can be used in both the bookstore and the Devil’s Den convenience store with a student ID card. Charges will be forwarded to the Office of Student Accounts and combined with the student’s monthly statement. The bookstore and Devil’s Den also accept MasterCard, Visa, Discover and personal checks.

Care packages

Dickinson’s dining services can provide birthday cakes, goodies and baskets to your student throughout the year. Dining services can bake your student a birthday cake and include enough plates, forks, napkins and candles for a small party with friends. In addition, they assemble unique baskets that include fruit, baked goods, snacks and seasonal treats, and offer additional foods such as cookies, brownies, fruit and cheese trays and cookie grams. If you’d like to order a treat for your student, call (717) 245-1318 at least three days in advance.

Student Life

The Division of Student Life encompasses the following offices and services: counseling, dean of students, the discipline system, diversity initiatives, Greek life, health services, public safety, religious life & community service, residential life, student activities and student development.

Our Mission

The mission of the student-life division is to enhance the educational objectives of the college by creating and delivering programs and services that encourage and support a scholarly life. Student life promotes personal involvement and connection within the student body, between students and faculty members and between students and administrators. Our goals include helping students see beyond themselves to the needs of their families, their communities and their nations. We must teach, model and expect civility and respect for oneself and others and affirm the diversity of people, ideas and circumstances.

We also strive to teach self-discipline and respect. We encourage habits that enhance student participation in this community, and we discourage actions that jeopardize the safety and well-being of individuals and the community. Our code of conduct serves to uphold the core mission of Dickinson College.

Dickinson College is a four-year residential college. We are committed to this model because we believe that Dickinson’s caring, challenges, support and growth make this intimate setting one of the finest laboratories for practicing citizenship. We commit ourselves to the goals and values of a residential community founded for the purpose of training citizen leaders. In any community, individual liberty sometimes must be tempered by respect for the common good. This does not imply that members of this community always must seek to avoid conflict. Our commitment to each other requires that we challenge each other on issues of principle and importance. We will listen to ideas contrary to our own and critically weigh diverse opinions.

Residential Life

Residential life provides an important transitional step in the development of young adults. The development of community within a diverse world requires that individuals respect and learn from one another. Students at Dickinson are expected to live on campus for their entire college career.

Dickinson has a three-tier system of housing. First-year students are placed in traditional residence halls. Sophomores and juniors typically live in suite-style buildings. Seniors typically occupy independent-
living spaces, including a variety of apartment-style residences. Not all students will receive the type of housing that they desire. There are, for example, a limited number of single rooms available.
Roommate conflicts are inevitable at college. Students are learning to live together differently than most have ever experienced. Many of the conflicts experienced are minor and easily can be resolved between the roommates.

There are two critical steps for a student to take when experiencing a roommate conflict. The first is to try calmly to resolve the issue by discussing the concerns directly with the roommate(s). The second, if the first fails, is to contact a resident adviser (RA) for assistance. Students must take an active role in resolving these difficulties, and most of the time they are resolved to everyone’s satisfaction.

When you hear from your son or daughter that things aren’t going well, there are a few things you can do to help. Foremost you should listen. Often the student can think out loud with you and develop a plan to address the difficulty. Sometimes he or she just needs an opportunity to vent. Referring your son or daughter to an RA or faculty adviser also can be helpful.

It is important that you let your son or daughter try to resolve these difficulties on his or her own. Moving into adulthood requires that students learn to use the resources, tools and systems available to them. Sometimes students won’t get their desired outcome, but if they have used the system effectively they will grow and learn from the experience.

Student Activities

The staff in the Office of Student Activities is here to assist your child in developing meaningful connections with the college community and with his or her peers. Involvement outside of the classroom is integral to the success of our students and is a vital part of a liberal-arts education. Students who succeed at Dickinson have achieved academically and have found a niche for themselves through involvement with one of the more than 100 clubs and organizations that exist on campus. The student-activities staff works to create supportive learning environments through extracurricular activities, which allow students to apply what they learn in the classroom. Through opportunities for leadership and service, students develop the skills and defining characteristics that will make them citizen leaders in the world—accountability, teamwork, motivation, responsibility, independence, critical thinking, decision making and commitment.

Social life at Dickinson is as varied as the many clubs and organizations that sponsor events on campus. Events include performances, concerts, comedians, social gatherings and weekend film series. There are opportunities for students to explore the community that surrounds the college through outdoor trips sponsored by the Outing Club, bus trips sponsored by the Office of Student Activities and various volunteer opportunities sponsored by student community-service organizations and the Office of Religious Life and Community Service. Finally, there are quiet spaces on campus that provide room for reflection and time to explore the life of the mind. Students may find this sitting under a tree with a journal, in an Adirondack chair on one of our quads or in a tranquil corner of the library with a good book.

If you hear your child telling you that there is nothing to do on campus, take it with a grain of salt. Sometimes college students just don’t want to do anything, or they are struggling to learn how to schedule their own time. While we provide opportunities for activity and involvement, it is up to each student to seek out activities that match his or her individual interests or offer an interesting challenge. Encourage your son or daughter to try something new. Ask about activities that are taking place on a particular day. And if your student still doesn’t feel that there is anything to do, send him or her to the Office of Student Activities for help finding an activity or group that matches his or her interests.

Greek Life

Approximately 25 percent of the student body belong to a sorority or
fraternity at Dickinson. We have six national fraternities, three national sororities and one local sorority. Membership in a chapter can offer leadership development, community-service opportunities and lifelong friendships. All chapters, if eligible for housing, live in college-owned facilities.

Men at Dickinson become eligible to join a fraternity in the spring semester of the first year. Women at Dickinson become eligible to join a sorority in the fall semester of sophomore year. The new-member education programs for women and men are designed to run no more than five weeks.

All students who express interest in Greek life are given opportunities to learn about all chapters through formal information sessions and various publications distributed at the time of new-member recruitment.

There are several things that you can do to advise your child as he or she considers Greek life. First, learn as much as you can about the groups. Almost every Greek chapter on campus has a Web site linked to the college.

You also should look into other areas of the chapter’s performance, such as grades and ranking, which are available from the Office of Greek Life. In addition, ask your son or daughter about the chapter he or she is considering. How much are dues? Is the chapter in debt? Does the chapter have a discipline record? These questions help determine the financial, social and academic health of a chapter.

Whether your son or daughter ultimately chooses to join a Greek organization is a personal decision. We hope that you will have discussions about this decision and that your student will continue to ask questions throughout the process about the things required of him or her and what he or she ultimately hopes to gain from this affiliation.

Notice: Please be aware that should a Dickinson student choose to join a fraternity or sorority that has been expelled, suspended or is otherwise not in good standing with the college, there may be adverse consequences for the student individually. The six fraternities in good standing with the college are Delta Sigma Phi, Phi Delta Theta, Phi Kappa Psi, Phi Kappa Sigma, Sigma Alpha Epsilon and Theta Chi.  The four sororities in good standing with the college are Delta Nu, Kappa Alpha Theta, Kappa Kappa Gamma and Pi Beta Phi.

Religious Life & Community Service

For those interested in religious life, this office works to facilitate a journey of faith in ways that are meaningful for the individual. This includes supporting existing groups, group experiences, retreats, religious services, learning experiences and service.

For students interested in engaging in community and volunteer experiences, this office works to help students identify ways to involve themselves in the community with their gifts and talents and then guides the individual to a placement. Through active community service, students develop interests that allow them to engage in a lifetime of service as part of their citizenship in the world. The office supports student service organizations and facilitates new initiatives by students and student organizations.

A multitude of religious communities exist at Dickinson College and in the greater Carlisle area. Student religious groups include the Baptist Campus Ministry, the Newman Club, Dickinson Christian Fellowship, Episcopal Campus Ministry, Hillel, Lutheran Campus Ministry, the Muslim Student Association, Presbyterian Campus Ministry and the United Methodist Student Movement. Most mainline protestant churches can be found within walking distance of the campus. Congregation Beth Tikvah meets at the Asbell Center and Shabatt services are held Friday nights. A priest from St. Patrick’s Parish conducts a weekly on-campus mass during the school year.

Throughout the year, holidays from the world’s religions are celebrated and interfaith gatherings of prayer and dialogue are shared with the campus community. Various student organizations gather in small groups for study, fellowship and retreats. The Isaiah Colloquium, a group of Jewish and Christian students, meets throughout the year to discuss religious vocations and graduate theological education.

With many connections to a wide variety of campus and community resources, the office is able to help students meet their individual needs and expand their horizons.

Hillel and Tikkun Programs

The Hillel and Tikkun programs at Dickinson are based in the Milton B. Asbell Center for Jewish Life, located on High Street between the Waidner Admissions House and the Weiss Center for the Arts. Both groups seek to provide a broad range of programs to fulfill Jewish students’ religious, social, educational and cultural needs. These include biweekly Friday evening services led by a rabbinical student, as well as lectures by renowned scholars, casual Sunday bagel brunches, Jewish craft workshops, film screenings, social-action projects, holiday celebrations (including Passover seders), social events and Jewish heritage trips to New York and other cities. There also is a Hillel cooking club that prepares food for Friday night dinners, including baking challah in the Asbell Center’s kosher kitchen. For more information about Jewish life at Dickinson, e-mail Hillel Director Ted Merwin at merwin@dickinson.edu.

Diversity Initiatives

The Office of Diversity Initiatives (ODI) is a resource center charged with advancing Dickinson’s mission to build a pluralistic society that promotes equality on campus, in the community and in the world at large. This office also provides yearlong diversity programming and development for the campus and community. 

The ODI collaborates with the Office of Religious Life and Community Service, Office of Student Development, Office of Student Activities and other campus offices and groups on a variety of projects. The ODI also works closely with and advises several student organizations.

Health Center

The Health Center functions like a physician’s office. It normally is open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and Wednesday from 8:30 a.m. to noon and from 2 to 4:30 p.m. The center also is open Saturday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Students are seen by appointment and usually can be seen the day they call. However, students should call as early as possible to be seen the same day.

For any illness or emergency requiring immediate attention when the Health Center is closed, students should call the Department of Public Safety for transportation to the Carlisle Regional Medical Center. Public-safety officers are available 24 hours a day to provide transportation. Students also should notify their RAs in case of medical emergencies.

The Health Center is staffed by nurse practitioners, a registered nurse and a physician. Students usually are treated by the nurse practitioners or the nurse with physician consultation or referral when needed. Visits to the Health Center and over-the-counter medications are free of charge.

Students or their parents will be charged for prescription pharmaceuticals and laboratory work performed on-site in the certified medical laboratory. Expenses for medical care incurred outside the Health Center are the responsibility of the student.

Dickinson requires that all students be covered by health insurance, either through their parents’ policies or by purchasing the student accident and sickness policy offered through the college. Student athletes in particular will want to ensure that they have adequate coverage. In addition to routine assessment and treatment of health problems and injuries, the Health Center offers gynecological services, routine laboratory work and allergy injections.

Whenever possible, students are encouraged to contact their parents when emergencies arise. In cases of serious, life-threatening emergencies, a college official will contact parents.

Counseling Center

The Counseling Center provides short-term confidential psychotherapy to all students. The concerns of Dickinson students reflect the concerns of any community: problems with family members, relationships, eating habits, alcohol and drug use, depression and homesickness. More than 40 percent of students will use the center’s services at some point during their time at the college.

All services are provided by licensed and certified mental-health professionals, including three psychologists, a social worker and three consulting psychiatrists. Referrals to professionals in the area also are available. The center is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to noon and from 1 to 4:30 p.m. Students can make appointments at the Counseling Center by calling (717) 245-1485.

Public Safety

The Department of Public Safety is dedicated to providing a safe and secure environment that is conducive to the goals of the institution. The department maintains a full-time staff 24 hours a day. Uniformed public-safety officers provide bicycle, foot and vehicle patrols of all residence halls, academic buildings, parking areas and campus grounds. All officers are trained in emergency-response procedures, first aid, CPR and crisis intervention. These officers have virtually the same on-campus authority and responsibilities as municipal police officers and maintain a close working relationship with the Carlisle police department.

Emergency Notification

Whenever possible, students are encouraged to contact their parents when emergencies arise. In cases of serious, life-threatening emergencies, parents will be contacted by a college official, usually by someone from the Office of the Dean of Students or by a physician.

If there is an emergency situation at home and you are having difficulty reaching your son or daughter, you can call the Department of Public Safety for assistance at (717) 245-1111. The office is open 24 hours a day. Division of Student Life and Counseling Center staff members are on call 24 hours a day and can be contacted through Public Safety to assist students and their families in times of personal crisis.

Safety Considerations

All residence-hall exterior doors are locked at all times. Students are encouraged to keep their individual rooms locked and to carry their keys with them at all times.

Fire poses one of the greatest risks to student safety in community-
living environments. The following guidelines were implemented to reduce the risk of fire and other hazards in the residence halls:

1. Hazardous electrical appliances with open-heating elements, halogen lamps, cooking appliances, decorative lights, concealed extension cords or multiple-outlet (octopus) adapters are prohibited. Multiple strip outlets (fused, with at least 14-gauge wire, grounded cord) are allowed when needed to power electronic devices. Coffeepots are allowed. Cooking is not allowed in residence-hall rooms except under the conditions above.
2. Spark-producing items such as candles, incense burners, oil-burning lamps and halogen lamps are prohibited. Students may not possess or set off firecrackers, fireworks or any other explosive materials.
3. Gasoline motors of any type, including motorcycles and mopeds, may not be stored in buildings.
4. Guns, ammunition or weapons including but not limited to knives, darts, foils and swords are prohibited in college housing.
5. Smoking is prohibited in all areas of the residence halls, including individual rooms.
6. Tampering with fire-safety equipment, including discharging fire extinguishers or disabling smoke detectors, will result in a minimum fine of $200 per extinguisher or detector.
7. Students are prohibited from playing sports, including in-line skating, skateboarding and bicycle riding, in public areas or hallways of residence halls.
8. Students may not keep pets in residence halls. The only exception to this rule is keeping fish in a bowl or tank. The Office of Residential Life is not responsible for the care and feeding of fish over vacation periods.

Career Center

The mission of the Career Center is to help students make decisions, teach them the skills necessary to make those decisions and connect them with opportunities to put those decisions into effect.

Making Decisions

The staff at the Career Center helps students with decisions involving  choosing a major, internships, summer jobs, graduate/professional school and jobs after graduation. Career Center staff members teach students how to apply the research and decision-making skills they are developing in their classes to career-related decisions. The best way to start is for your student to make an appointment with a counselor by calling ext. 1740 or stopping by Biddle House. At that appointment a staff member will help determine the best way to approach the decisions students need to make. These approaches may involve using some assessment tools, teaching an effective decision-making process, identifying informational resources or simply talking things through. For more information visit the Career Center Web site at www.dickinson.edu/career.

Skills Development

In addition to helping students through the decision-making process, Career Center counselors teach how to search for an internship or job, apply to graduate/professional school, write a resumé or personal statement and effectively interview. Few people naturally know how to do these things. The staff’s job is to teach the skills that are most effective at getting students into graduate/professional school and finding employment. Once these skills are learned, students will find ways to use them again and again as they progress through their careers.

Connections

The Career Center has extensive Web-based resources and materials in its library to link students to internships and summer and postgraduation jobs. A database of more than 1,500 internships will help students find national and international opportunities. Students can participate in regional job fairs and interviewing days in Boston, Chicago, New York, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C. Recruiters also come to campus to conduct interviews for jobs and internships. The college has resources to connect students and alumni to thousands of job opportunities.

Going to Graduate School

The Career Center provides support services for graduate- and professional-school searches, including advising, assistance with applications and essays, workshops and programs, and information from a variety of national and international schools. Forms for the Graduate Record Exam (GRE), Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT), Law School Admissions Test (LSAT) and Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT) are available at the Career Center. Preparation classes for these exams are held throughout the year.

Students considering professional schools for medicine, dentistry, law, business, etc., can meet with Career Center staff members and other professional advisers to discuss their options. The Career Center offers programs that support these professions, including a prelaw advising program and a hospital-rotation program for premed students.

The Career Center also maintains a letters-of-recommendation file for seniors. Students should ask faculty members to write letters of recommendation and send signed copies to the office. Upon written request from the student, copies of these letters will be forwarded to any school to which the student is applying. Additional letters can be submitted to the file at any time before or after graduation. It is recommended that students arrange for professors to write recommendations before

Internships

Internships give students the opportunity to apply their theoretical knowledge in a professional setting. They can work in a variety of settings in Carlisle, the United States or around the world. There are three ways internships can be done:

• Faculty-Sponsored Internship for Credit. This internship is supervised by a faculty member. The faculty member will assign academic work that complements the work at the internship site. These internships are completed on a credit/no-credit basis for students matriculating in fall 2002 and later (typically classes of 2006 and later). See the Career Center Web site for details and specific internship guidelines.
• Internship Seminar 301 Course. This is another credited option, but it is offered only as needed. Since this course is not offered every semester, check the course-offerings section of the registrar’s Web site to see if/when it is offered. The course focuses on professional  communication (written and oral). It is graded as credit/no credit.
• Noncredit Field Experience Option. Students complete the same internship registration form for a field experience as they do for a credited internship. This internship does not appear on the transcript but provides valuable work experience in a field of the student’s choice. 

The intellectual training of a liberal-arts degree prepares graduates to pursue a variety of careers. Dickinson graduates are employed in all sectors. There are French majors working for IBM, history majors at the Hershey Corporation, geology majors with law firms and Latin majors in computer companies. Dickinson graduates are valued for their strength in critical thinking, research and written and oral communication, in addition to their knowledge in specialized fields. By supplementing a Dickinson degree with extracurricular activities, internships and well-chosen summer jobs, students can prepare themselves for an endless array of opportunities.

Study Abroad

All qualified students at Dickinson have the opportunity to enhance their educations with experiences off campus. Deciding to study off campus, which includes studying abroad and studying at another institution within the United States, takes careful academic, financial and personal planning. The following are the questions parents frequently ask regarding off-campus study.

What programs are offered through the college?
There are three types of programs offered through the college: Dickinson Programs, Dickinson Partner Programs and Dickinson Approved Programs.

• Dickinson Programs. The college sponsors 14 high-quality overseas programs at 13 centers abroad for study during an academic year or a semester, as well as a number of summer programs and programs offered during the January term. These Dickinson programs maintain the college’s academic standards while overseas. Sites for the Dickinson Programs include Australia, Cameroon, China, England, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Russia, South Korea and Spain. 
• Dickinson Partner Programs. Outside of the 14 Dickinson Programs, students have the opportunity to participate in Dickinson Partner Programs abroad. The additional six Partner Programs are directly related to academic departments at Dickinson College. Dickinson’s academic departments are engaged in the academic-advising process and are knowledgeable about the course offerings of the academically specialized Partner Programs.
• Dickinson Approved Programs. Students may petition to select a program that is not a Dickinson College program and is not among the list of Dickinson Partner Programs. Students must demonstrate compelling academic reasons for studying on an Approved Program.

Can financial aid be used for study abroad?
Yes. Students may use Dickinson financial aid on any of the Dickinson Programs, Partner Programs and one Dickinson short-term program abroad. Dickinson financial aid cannot be used for the payment of Dickinson Approved Programs. Students may use any federal financial aid for Dickinson Approved Programs.

Does study abroad set students back in their studies?
No. Course credits earned abroad transfer toward the college requirements for graduation. This may include major, minor, elective or distribution requirements. It is the student’s responsibility to ensure that the courses are approved for credit transfer. Students should meet with their academic advisers and the corresponding academic departments to plan how to transfer credits earned abroad.

Which subjects may be studied abroad?
Most major subjects may be studied abroad on a Dickinson Program or Partner Program. A student should discuss courses with his or her major’s department chair to plan what courses may satisfy major requirements. 

Is it necessary to speak a foreign language?
Some Dickinson Programs require an intermediate or advanced level of a foreign language, while some programs are taught in English and do not have a language requirement. Students should check the prerequisites for each program before they apply. Students who are selected to enroll in a foreign-language-speaking program must have adequate preparation in order to take courses in the foreign language and communicate with native speakers.

What financial expenses should students expect, aside from the program fee?
A student will receive a budget sheet when accepted into a program. Normally students should be prepared to pay for visa/passport expenses, personal entertainment, primary health/accident insurance and other miscellaneous expenses. Costs per program will vary and depend on the foreign-currency exchange rate. Airfare is not included in the program fee for academic-year and semester programs; all students should be prepared to pay the additional expense of air transportation.

What type of housing is available?
Housing options vary according to the program. Some programs offer home stays with local families, while other programs provide student apartments or accommodations on the host university’s campus.

When do students typically study abroad?
Students typically study abroad in the junior year. A few students have studied abroad during the sophomore year, but it is required that students declare a major before they participate in off-campus study.

What is the length of time students may study abroad?
Students may study abroad for an academic year, a semester, a summer or a January term. An academic year abroad is highly encouraged. An academic year abroad will give the student more proficiency in the foreign language and a longer immersion in the host culture. Some programs are offered only for the entire academic year. Students considering studying for only one semester should look into their options early, because some programs are offered only during certain semesters (fall or spring).

What are some of the major difficulties students face abroad?
Students may have some difficulty making cultural adjustments abroad and adapting to a foreign educational system. The Office of Global Education provides a mandatory study-abroad orientation to prepare students for their abroad programs. When facing difficulties abroad, students are encouraged to discuss their problems with the resident director of their program or the campus liaison. While the Office of Global Education provides support and information, the resident director or the campus liaison knows the on-site situation and can solve most problems efficiently.

What are the major benefits of studying abroad?
Students researching their study-abroad options are encouraged to look at those that will enhance their academic studies. A major benefit to studying abroad is the opportunity to integrate global subject matter into the student’s major at Dickinson. Students often have opportunities to participate in experiential learning such as internships, field research or volunteer work. These experiences and study abroad in general help prepare students to be active participants in a global society.

When should a student begin looking for a program?
Ideally, students should begin looking at potential programs during the first year. Students then can plan for any prerequisites and begin saving money for their journeys. Most students apply during the sophomore year.

How do we get more information?
To learn more about program offerings, consult the college’s global-education Web site at www.dickinson.edu/global. Parents and students can call or visit the Office of Global Education to get more information on study abroad and off-campus study. Call (717) 245-1341 weekdays between 8:30 a.m. and  4:30 p.m.

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