Student Development

The work of the Division of Student Development is to encourage students’ maturity as engaged citizens who are prepared to lead meaningful professional and personal lives that uphold the foundations of a just, compassionate and economically viable society. 

Over the course of their experience at Dickinson College, students will become citizens who can and will be agents of change. Our role is to promote students’ growth and development through intentional advising, program development, and educational service delivery. For information regarding our division, visit our Web site, call 717-245-1639 or stop by the Vice President for Student Development and Dean of Students Office located in the upper level of the Holland Union Building, next to the information desk (Office Hours:  Monday – Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.).

Campus Life

Location: Holland Union Building, Lower Level (Student Life Office Suite)  Phone Number: 717-245-1556
Office Hours: Monday – Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

The Office of Campus Life promotes the development of engaged citizens through active participation in a dynamic co-curricular experience.  Recognizing that learning extends beyond the classroom, student involvement within the residential experience creates opportunities for engaging in a diversity of academic, intellectual, personal, and social activities.  Through student involvement and residential living we encourage increased levels of independence and responsibility, seek to foster responsible self governance and leadership, and collaborate on the development of a healthy and respectful campus culture.  The Office of Campus Life supports student success by connecting these learning experiences through the provision of leadership and community living programs and services.

Student Involvement
Students learn more when they are engaged in all aspects of their college experience.  Students who are involved devote considerable energy to academics, participate in student organizations and activities, and interact regularly with faculty.  The Office of Campus Life seeks to support these endeavors by shaping involvement opportunities that meet the needs of both the individual student and the residential community as a whole by providing student-centered leadership experiences through programs, workshops, and a variety of other information and services.  Opportunities to learn about clubs and organizations are hosted at the beginning of each semester and are designed to provide insight into extracurricular activities at Dickinson.

Student Organizations/Clubs
Student organizations at Dickinson provide a useful education to student as they develop their talents, skills, values and social experiences through involvement.  The benefits of being actively involved with campus organizations and activities are numerous.  Students learn about themselves and the way organizations function, while making significant contributions to the college community.  The Office of Campus Life coordinates the registration process for all student clubs and organizations at the beginning of each semester.

Leadership Programs
Campus Life develops and conducts a variety of programs and interactive leadership experiences designed to develop the leadership competencies of students.  These experiences are created to develop leadership skills in emerging leaders, as well as enhance the skills of those currently in leadership positions.  These skills will assist students as they assume leadership roles at the college, as well as in the workplace.

New Student Orientation
New Student Orientation at Dickinson College occurs prior to the start of each academic semester to introduce newly enrolled students to the intellectual rigor of the academic experience as well as assist them in navigating the campus community and available resources.  Infused in the programmatic experience are intellectual, developmental, and social programs that will ease the transition of new students and their family members into Dickinson College. Upper-class students selected as Orientation Leaders/Assistants provide mentoring and advising to new students throughout the orientation experience.

Living on Campus
Residential living at any college provides an important transitional step in the development of young adults.  The development of community within a diverse world requires that individuals respect one another and learn from one another.  Dickinson's residential communities promote individual responsibility and accountability through the creation of shared agreements created by and for residents concerning how they will relate to and treat each other and their living environment. It is a process that involves dialogue, compromise, and commitment.  The development of an active community is critical to supporting this dialogue so that members of the community can know each other, and there create safe and comfortable living environment supportive of the academic mission of the institution. 

Students must be enrolled, full-time students maintaining a minimum of 3 courses per semester. The college does not guarantee housing for part-time students. Unless granted permission to live off-campus, studying abroad, designated as a commuter student, or married and living with spouse, students are expected to live on campus for the duration of their college experience.

Residential living provides a variety of opportunities in which community can be experienced.  Highlighted below are some of the programmatic initiatives that contribute to the diversity of the residential experience.

• Special Interest Housing
  Special Interest Housing (SIH) gives students a unique opportunity to collaborate with other students by creating affinity communities with common goals and purpose. SIH creates the conditions for engaged citizenship and self-governance that enable self-directed living environments around a shared theme, issue or interest. The SIH program encourages group and individual social and intellectual development while simultaneously contributing to the intellectual and social life of the College.  Special Interest Houses may occupy a single building or a portion of a larger facility.  They are reviewed annually by the Office of Campus Life.  Special Interest Houses are available only to upper-class students.
• Fraternity & Sorority Housing
  Recognized fraternities and sororities in good standing with the college may have an on-campus house in order to assist with programmatic and logistical elements of Greek organizations.  As space permits, the Office of Campus Life works with the Dean of Students Office and the Greek organizations to establish Greek houses and guidelines for living. Fraternity and Sorority houses are available only to upper-class students.
• Substance Free Community
  Dickinson College offers first year students an opportunity to preference to live within a substance free environment.  Residents agree to abide by a substance free lifestyle, where they are not using any substances in the community, or bringing the negative effects of such behavior back to the community.

Roommate Relationships
While selecting a residential space is important, establishing a positive roommate relationship is essential to having a successful living experience.   Roommate relationships will require personal adjustments in learning to live with another person while learning how to negotiate similarities and differences in living styles.  Our expectation, then, is that the roommate relationship intrinsically requires commitment, flexibility and will likely experience points of tension and conflict. We affirm that having a roommate garners substantive life experience in conflict resolution and interpersonal relationships. To that end, students are charged with confronting roommate concerns directly and in a civil and constructive manner. We do not expect that each student inherently possesses all of the tools and skills to navigate these relationships; therefore, students have numerous resources at their disposal provided by student and professional staff members.     In the collection of resources, a room change impacts relationships in a myriad of ways and is considered as a final option, not a first response.

Resources to support the development of your relationship with your roommate include:

·  Roommate agreement and subsequent revisions and refinements

·  Resident Adviser coaching through conversation

·  Counseling center consultation

·  Campus Life professional staff

·  Room changes

·  Student Conduct and DPS, for conflicts involving violation of Community Standards or federal, state and local laws

Room and Board Agreement
All students are required to read and sign a Room and Board Agreement prior to moving into their residence at the beginning of the Fall semester.  Campus Life will require verification that you have read and accepted the terms of the agreement.  Students can learn more about the Room and Board Agreement by clicking here.

Residential Staff
To assist students in addressing questions, concerns and provide resources/referrals on campus, residential communities have various staff resources available to them.

Residential Community Directors (RCDs) are full time master's level professional staff living on campus who serves as managers to multiple residential buildings.  The primary responsibility of the RCD is to assist students in the development of an inclusive community experience that provides opportunities for students to engage in citizenship and self-governance.  In addition, they serve as mentors and advisors for student involvement in the residential community

Community Adviser (CAs) are current seniors who have been RAs in previous years.  CAs have the responsibility for the management of an upper-class residential area, working closely with the professional staff and RAs to maintain a positive living community.

Resident Advisers (RAs) are upper-class students responsible for developing a community of inquiry.  As such, they are expected to be intellectual, academic and social role models for other students. 

House and Apartment Managers (HAMs) HAMs are upper-class students who work with apartments/small houses, providing administrative support in the operational logistics associated with these areas.

After Hours Support
If you need assistance after regular business hours, you should contact the Resident Adviser on-call. The RA on-call calendar for each month is posted near your RA's door.  In the event of an emergency, you should contact the Department of Public Safety at x1111. For non-emergency situations, contact DPS at x1349.

Housing Accommodations
Dickinson College is committed to making reasonable accommodations for students with specific health conditions, mental health conditions or disabilities. Disability Services works in cooperation with Campus Life and the Wellness Center to evaluate documented conditions and determine eligibility for reasonable accommodations. Housing accommodations are made only in situations where the documentation clearly demonstrates that the accommodation is necessary to mitigate a functional limitation resulting from the disability.  

Additional information about residential guidelines can be found in the Residential Living Guidelines and Policies section of this handbook.  It is your responsibility to familiarize yourself with these guidelines.

Living Off Campus
Dickinson College is a residential liberal arts college, operating on a belief that students living in close proximity have a unique opportunity to learn from each other, to extend lessons from the classroom into campus life, and to practice the art of engaged citizenship.  Off campus living is not guaranteed but, is reasonable in the context of our residential program.  Each year a limited number of seniors are permitted to live off campus.  That number changes from year to year based on enrollment projections.   Each spring, rising seniors will be able to apply for permission to live off campus.  Decisions are made by a cross campus committee made up of faculty, staff, and students. The Office of Campus Life recommends that you DO NOT   sign a lease until you have been granted permission to live off campus. 

Career Center

Location: Biddle House  Phone Number:  717-245-1740 
Office Hours: Monday – Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

The mission of the Career Center is to help students and alumni make career decisions, teach them the skills to make those decisions a reality and connect them with opportunities. 

Making Decisions

The staff at the Career Center helps you with decisions such as choosing a major, internship, summer job, graduate/professional school and career/job after graduation. We teach you how to apply the research and decision‐making skills you are developing in your classes to your career‐related decisions. The best way to start is to make an appointment with a counselor by calling 717‐245‐1740 or stopping by Biddle House. At that appointment, we will help you determine the best way to approach your important decisions. For more information on how we can work with you, visit our Web site.

Skills Development

In addition to helping you through the decision‐making process, Career Center counselors will teach you how to search for an internship or job, apply to graduate/professional school, write a resume or personal statement, and effectively interview. Few people naturally know how to do these things; our job is to teach you the skills to be most effective at getting into graduate/professional school or finding employment. To start your career skills education, make an appointment with a career counselor ‐‐ the sooner the better!

Connections

The Career Center has extensive Web‐based resources and materials in its library to link you to internships and summer and post‐graduation jobs. As a member of the Dickinson community, you have access to a database of over 1,400 national and international internship opportunities. At the Center, you will be able to register for regional job fairs and interviewing days across the nation (Chicago, New York, San Francisco and Washington, D.C.). To make your connections to thousands of opportunities, make an appointment today!

Going to Graduate or Professional School

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

If you are considering attending professional school for medicine, dentistry, law, business or other disciplines, you can meet with the Career Center staff and other professional advisors to discuss your options. The Career Center offers programs that support these professions, including pre-health and pre‐law advising programs and a hospital rotation program for pre‐health students.

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

Internships

At Dickinson, internships are defined as “A closely monitored applied experience in a professional setting, with definite learning objectives incorporating reflection on and integration of theories and concepts with practice.”

Internships give you the opportunity to apply your theoretical knowledge in a professional setting. Students can work in a variety of settings in Carlisle, the U.S. or around the world. In the past, Dickinson students have interned in places like: 

• The White House
• National Geographic
• The Smithsonian
• Cumberland County Courthouse
• Bank of NY Mellon
• NBC Universal
• The Brookings Institution
• The New England Aquarium
• Polo Ralph Lauren
• UBS
• U.S. Department of State
• American Embassy in London
• Paramount Pictures

The Career Center offers official recognition for internships through a transcript notation. For more information or to participate in this program, visit our Web site.

Community Service

Location: Holland Union Building, Lower Level  Phone Number:  717-245-1577
Office Hours: Monday – Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

The Office of Community Service works to increase engaged citizenship through sustainable community partnerships. The Office works to build connections between the campus and community, explore the complexity of identity and values and identify community needs. This occurs in reciprocal relationships that foster an understanding of one's strengths, values and contributions to the community.

Enhancing your experience at Dickinson College can occur by making a contribution to the Carlisle Community and beyond. There are countless ways to engage the community at Dickinson: service learning, ALLARM, community studies, internships and volunteering. There are many opportunities to volunteer in the Carlisle community. Over 200 students participate in weekly community service groups ranging from mentoring and tutoring programs to teaching ESL to building homes with Habitat for Humanity. Each month a Day of Service is a one-time opportunity in the community. These days have included park clean ups, working with the public library, helping with Special Olympics, and other opportunities that require only a few hours. Service trips are another popular experience on campus. Seven service trips occur each year that are a weekend to a little over a week trip throughout the academic year.  Previous themes have included disaster recovery, alleviating poverty, and understanding homelessness.  The Montgomery Service Leaders programs intertwines community placements, academics, and grant writing with leadership training and support.

Are you ready to get involved but not sure where to start? Begin by visiting ourWeb site. We invite you to Reflect, Lead, Connect, and Serve.

Dean of Students

Location: Holland Union Building, Upper Level  Phone Number:  717-245-1639
Office Hours:  Monday – Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

The Office of the Dean of Students, a primary liaison between our students and other campus constituents, serves in a consultative role to the general community, sharing knowledge and experience of students and their development during the college years. The Dean of Students provides oversight for the following offices and areas: Campus Life, Diversity Initiatives, Greek Life, Off-campus housing, Religious Life and Community Services, and Student Conduct.  

Diversity Partners
 

Asbell Center

Location:262 West High Street  Phone Number:  717-254-8963
Office Hours: Monday – Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

The Milton B. Asbell Center for Jewish Life is at the heart of the Jewish experience at Dickinson College and brings together students, faculty and members of the community to celebrate the richness and diversity of Judaism. The Asbell Center fosters Jewish learning and Jewish community on campus through services, lectures, social-action projects and cultural or religious celebrations. Our "human scale" allows students to develop a close, family-like connection to each other. The Center is located in a beautifully restored building and has a number of multipurpose spaces, including a kosher kitchen, a large seminar/dining room, a lounge for students and office space for the Asbell Center staff. The second floor holds a sanctuary with stained-glass windows designed and created by Dickinson College Professor Emeritus Dennis Akin and an ark by renowned Judaica artist Gary Rosenthal. Freshly cooked kosher meals, supervised by the Star-K of Baltimore, are available in the dining hall.  

Diversity Initiatives

Location: Landis House, 101 S. College Street  Phone Number: 717-245-1931
Office Hours:  Monday – Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

The Office of Diversity Initiatives (ODI) is a resource center open to the entire Dickinson community and charged with advancing Dickinson’s commitment to broadening the understanding of—and building—a pluralistic society that promotes equality and integrity on the campus, in the community, and the world. The office provides individuals with the opportunity to broaden their views and enrich their cultural experiences through participation in diversity programs and training workshops. The office encourages and facilitates activities that allow students to voice their opinions, serve the community and advocate for making Dickinson a place that is reflective and responsive to our campus diversity.

The work of ODI is guided by a vision of interactive pluralism; a framework that affirms the diversity of our student, faculty, and staff body, stands for mutual recognition and respect of difference, pursues community interaction along difference, and most importantly challenges our campus to committing to the work of building a multicultural community.

ODI moves the vision of interactive pluralism in the following ways: Identity development, Multicultural competence, Leadership/engagement, & Access, Equity, & Action. Annual and biannual programming sponsored/cosponsored by the office include Diversity Week, Tunnel of Oppression, Women at Dickinson Celebration, Ladies Night, What Matters Most Dinners, MLK Jr. Celebration, GSA Leadership Summit, diversity workshops, and an office publication titled Diversity in Demand. The office also works closely with identity-based and social justice student organizations as well as collaborating with a number of academic and administrative departments on a variety of projects.

Paid and volunteer opportunities are available through the office. As a paid position, Diversity Assistants (DAs) play a large role in developing new initiatives as well as organizing annual programs. Diversity Volunteers are also called to assist in major initiatives taken on by the office. To learn more about initiatives coming out of the office and across the campus, or to discuss your own ideas please contact the office via email or schedule an appointment to speak with the director.  

LGBTQ Services

Location: Landis House, 101 S. College Street  Phone Number: 717-245-1931
Office Hours:  Monday – Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

The newly created Office of LGBTQ Services seeks to foster community among LGBTQ Dickinsonians and their straight allies, welcoming a diversity of racial, ethnic and religious, political and cultural values. The Office also sponsors annual events and collaborates with student organizations, campus departments and local community organizations to provide the Dickinson community with access to resources, activities, and support services.

Religious Life

Location: Holland Union Building, Lower Level
Phone Number:  717-245-1577
Office Hours: Monday – Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
 
The Office of Religious Life at Dickinson College exists to provide support for students during a time when decisions about life’s meaning, living in a community of pluralism, and religious beliefs are explored and shaped. The office provides spaces for students to learn about other faith traditions, a place for questioning, and opportunities to articulate hopes, decisions, and meaning. Working with many partners on campus and in the community, Religious Life staff serve as a resource for students (both individually and within groups) who want to explore personal religious traditions, practice various new religious traditions, and support leaders of religious groups. We welcome conversations with students (religious and non-religious) interested in exploring faith traditions.
 
Throughout the year programs include small group discussions, religious dinners, lectures and guest speakers.  The popular "What Matters Most" dinners invite small groups of students to hear from faulty and staff about what matters in their lives.   Large programs also occur each year putting one's beliefs into action.  An annual interfaith service trip occurs each spring to worship in various traditions and meet others throughout campus. A meditation and prayer room, open 24/7 on the lower level of the HUB, can be reserved for small groups and is a place for personal and private reflection. 
 
Dickinson College is fully committed to tolerance, understanding and support of the diverse faith traditions to which members of our community adhere. Therefore, specific religious holidays have been designated for no college or campus-wide events sponsored by offices and departments: Rosh Hashanah, Eid-al-Fitr, Yom Kippur, Eid-al-Adha, Christmas, Pesach (First night of Passover) and Easter. In addition, a calendar of selected religious holidays is available as a resource to increase familiarity with religious traditions and facilitate thoughtful planning of schedules and activities. For more information regarding religious holidays, communities of faith (campus and local), and Religious Life events, visit ourWeb site.

Women’s Center

Location: Landis House, 101 S. College Street
Phone Number:  717-245-1931 (Program Assistant); 717-245-1966 (Director)
Office Hours: Monday – Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
(Landis House is open to the Dickinson community 24 hours a day via card access system)

The Dickinson College Women’s Center is a resource that builds gender education and equality into the life of the institution through space and community, resources and skills, and events and opportunities. Dickinson’s pursuit of independence and active learning necessitates that all
of our students benefit from the competitive edge of gender-based education. The Women’s Center presents opportunities for integrated learning in five key areas:  education, networking, leadership, gender equality, healthy community.  All are welcome to join the Women’s Center for activities and discussion groups, leadership and involvement opportunities, resources and facilities, and consultation. Stop by Landis House, visit our Facebook page or e-mail us for more information.
  

Intramurals & Recreation

Location: Holland Union Building, Lower Level
Phone Number:  717-245-1556
Office Hours:  Monday – Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.  

New Initiative: The Director of Intramurals and Recreation will liaise closely with Athletics to address many aspects of the Strategic Plan related to student engagement, sense of community and affinity to the college, wellness and social cohesion. 

Public Safety

Location: 400 West North Street (Kaufman Building; Entrance on West Louther Street) 
Phone Number: 717-245-1111 emergency; 717-245-1349 non-emergency 
Office Hours: 24 hours a day/7 days a week

The Department of Public Safety (DPS) is a full service campus police department, serving all students, staff, faculty, and guests of the College. DPS is a unit of the Division of Student Development, and the Chief of Public Safety oversees the department and reports to the Vice President of Student Development. The department operates twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. Law enforcement personnel are commissioned under the Pennsylvania Special Officers Statute (22 PA C.S.A. 501). These officers have virtually the same police powers and responsibilities of Pennsylvania municipal police officers on the college’s property and in immediate and adjacent areas. The department also maintains a twenty-four hour communications and dispatch office. Call 717-245-1349 for non-emergency information and general service requests.

Public Safety officers patrol the campus around the clock, year round in marked police vehicles, on foot, and on patrol bicycles. Officers are primarily responsible for maintaining a safe and secure living and working environment, emergency response, facility security and property protection, traffic and enforcement of campus parking regulations, and enforcement of applicable federal, state, and local laws, and College policies and regulations. Officers are assigned as liaisons to specific residence halls and work with Resident Assistants and other Campus Life staff to promote general well-being and safety in the residence halls. Officers work closely with our Campus Life partners in the assigned buildings to provide training and information to promote crime prevention awareness and to develop healthy relationships with the residents of the building.

Public Safety strives to foster and encourage community-Public Safety partnerships, both to aid in the prevention of crime, and to develop and maintain positive communications and mutual understanding and trust between students, staff and Public Safety.

Partnerships between community and the police are always stronger when the community understands and supports the role of the police and when the community is confident the actions of the police are fair and just. Students who fully understand the role of Public Safety and our efforts to enhance the quality of community life will be better prepared to provide advice to Public Safety to help shape policies and initiatives.

Security and Access to Campus Facilities

Most campus buildings and facilities are accessible during normal business hours, excluding holidays. Athletic facilities, the library, and other select college service areas have varying hours of operation. Entrance to most of the academic and administrative buildings on campus are controlled by a card access system. While these buildings will be locked and closed to the general public after regular business hours, students, faculty and staff may gain access by using their college identification card in the card access system.

More than 120 security cameras are located throughout campus, many at access points to buildings. Card access and camera systems are monitored 24 hours a day in the DPS communication center.

Most exterior doors in student residential halls are controlled by card access, and students are issued a key for their room. In residential buildings not on the card access system, students who reside in these buildings are issued a key for their room and the exterior building doors. All residential buildings are locked twenty-four hours a day, therefore you must carry your keys and access card at all times. You are encouraged to lock your room even if you are just leaving for a few minutes.

Take these precautions at all times:

• Lock your room and secure your room key.
• Never prop exit doors open.
• Notify DPS immediately if your keys or identification card are lost or stolen.
• Close and report any exit doors that are open or left unsecured.
• Report any suspicious activities to a R.A. or DPS immediately.
• Notify Facilities or DPS immediately if your locks are malfunctioning.
• Keep fire doors and stairwell doors closed at all times.

A telephone intercom system is located at the main entrance of many residential buildings for guests to contact residents. The telephones may also be used to contact DPS in an emergency. Local food delivery employees should be directed to use these telephones to call residents to the entrance to pick-up ordered items. Residents should instruct their guests to use these telephones to contact them so they can meet their guests at the entrance.

Emergency Telephones

Campus telephones are located outside the main entrances of most residence halls. If you need emergency assistance, pick up any campus telephone and dial 1111. A dispatcher will take information from you and send help as needed. There are also emergency "blue light phones" located strategically throughout campus. These "blue light phones" connect directly to the DPS communication center. The phones are activated by the touch of a button. When the phones are activated, a strobe light on the top will flash. This marks the location for the responding officer and serves as a deterrent to further criminal activity. Telephones in the communication center will display the location of the call to ensure officers respond quickly to the correct location.

When you activate the emergency phone please provide the following information:

• Your location
• The nature of the emergency

Be prepared to answer the communications officer's questions and respond to any instructions that may be given. It is recommended that you familiarize yourself with the Blue Light locations. An interactive map showing the locations of blue light phones on campus is available online.

Personal Safety

Dickinson’s friendly, small-town setting makes it easy to become lax regarding personal safety and security. However, the college is part of a greater community and crime does exist. Crime statistics for the Borough of Carlisle may be viewed in the FBI Crime in the United States publication. You should always take precautions to ensure your own safety. The safety and security of the Dickinson community must be a cooperative venture, one that requires the effort of each member of the community. The most important safety measure you can take is to be aware of your surroundings.

• Call DPS immediately on any campus telephone by dialing 1111. You can also reach DPS on your cell phone by dialing (717) 245-1111 if you or someone else is in trouble or needs assistance.
• Never walk alone. Use the Safe Walk or Safety Shuttle service or walk with a friend.
• Be alert and aware of your surroundings and of other people in the area.
• Plan your route before you leave and know where emergency telephones are located along your route. Locations of emergency telephones are noted on a campus map.
• Avoid walking in dark and deserted areas.
• Carry your keys, identification and other valuables separately from your purse or backpack.
• Carrying mace or other chemical agents for protection is not recommended. Some sprays may not have a disabling effect and as with any weapon, can be turned against you.  Carry a small alarm or whistle on your key chain instead. Personal safety alarms are available at DPS.
• If you feel threatened, think first, then take action.
• If a threat is imminent, scream, make a commotion to attract attention and run toward other people or to nearby occupied areas.

Informational sessions on personal safety, crime and violence prevention, crisis and emergency management planning, residence hall safety, self-defense, fire safety, and first aid/CPR are offered on campus. Contact Public Safety at (717) 245-1349 for more information. Crime prevention materials are provided and questions are answered during new student and parent orientation meetings.

Safe Walk and the Safety Shuttle

Safe Walk is a campus accompaniment service designed as an alternative to walking alone, especially at night. Public safety provides this escort service for people walking on campus or to and from a college owned residence. Safe Walk escorts are available to all members of the Dickinson community. Call DPS at 717-245-1349 to request this service and a uniformed officer will be dispatched to walk with you to your destination. Off campus escorts are limited to the requestor’s residence.

The Safety Shuttle, a transportation service staffed by student drivers, provides rides throughout Carlisle from 9:00 p.m. to 3:00 a.m. seven days a week when classes are in session during the regular fall and spring semesters. Call DPS at 717-245-1349 to request this free service.

Property Crime Prevention

Following these simple safety precautions reduces opportunities for theft:

• Protect your personal information, including your Social Security Number, to avoid identity theft.
• Utilize the “Operation Identification” engraving program offered by DPS to engrave your driver’s license number on your valuables. Students are strongly encouraged to mark valuables with your driver’s license number. 
• Record the serial numbers, brand names, models and descriptions of all valuables. Stolen property cannot be lawfully reclaimed unless it can be positively identified.
• Lock your room door, even if you will only be gone for a few minutes.
• Store easily removable, valuable items out of sight.
• Avoid leaving valuables in the common areas of any building on campus.
• When leaving your room for long periods of time, store valuables in a secure area or take them with you.
• Never prop open access doors to any building, including your residence or home.
• Do not attach your address or room number to your key chain or key.
• Insure valuables such as computers, audio-visual equipment and jewelry.
• Register your bicycle with DPS so that if it is stolen, it will be easier to recover.

IDSafety.org is a website designed for consumers and law enforcement to combat identity theft. Identity theft is the fastest growing crime in the United States and people aged 18-29 make up the group most commonly victimized by it. Identity theft occurs when someone steals personal identifying information and uses that information for personal gain. College students can be prime candidates for identify theft due to a lack of preventive measures taken. Learn more about identity theft and how to protect yourself.

Bicycle Registration

The bicycle registration program is a free service for students. A numbered decal will be affixed to your bike. A registration form will be completed containing these numbers and will be kept on file for four years. If the bike is stolen and recovered, the owner can be traced through the registered decal number.

To register your bike, contact the Department of Public Safety at ext. 1349 on campus or (717) 245-1349 from off campus or a cell phone.

Fire Safety

All residence halls are equipped with fire detection and firefighting equipment. All residents should familiarize themselves with the emergency escape plan for their residence hall. Throughout the year fire alarm systems will be tested to ensure they are in working order. When an alarm sounds (alarms sound different depending on what building you're in), all occupants must vacate the facility for their own safety and so fire fighters may work undisturbed. In the event of an actual fire, the local fire department will notify residents when it is safe to re-enter a building. Students reporting a fire should call 911. Students should assume all alarms are actual emergencies and respond accordingly. When an alarm is activated there are a few steps to follow:

• Remain calm and close the widows in the room.
• Take only clothing that will be needed for the type of weather conditions that exist.  Do not try and collect personal items to take with you.
• Turn off any electrical items you made have on at the time, including lights and a stove/oven.
• Stay low if you are going through smoke or toxic fumes.
•  Leave by the nearest exit.  When a fire alarm is active any door to the building may be used to exit so long as it is safe to do so.
• Do not use elevators.  Use only the stairs.
• Never attempt to go back into the building even if the alarm stops sounding.  Wait until a Public Safety Officer has cleared the building and given the permission to re-enter.
• In an actual emergency if you are trapped and not able to exit a room or the building, yell for help and call the Department of Public Safety at ext. 1111 or 1349 using a phone in the building or your cellular phone. Be sure you can give your location in the build as best as you can so an officer can locate and assist you.

Fire drills are held once a semester for each residence hall. Fire drills are a mandatory supervised evacuation of a building for a fire. The fire drill is scheduled with the Department of Public Safety, and the individual residence hall staff. The supervised fire drill is generally scheduled within the first 3 weeks of the beginning of each semester. Students who fail to leave the building during a fire drill may be fined and the incident is turned over to the Office of Student Conduct.

Tampering with fire fighting or detection equipment is a serious offense.  Discharging fire extinguishers or setting off fire alarms under false pretenses has life threatening implications.  In addition to any criminal action, the College reserves the right to file disciplinary charges as outlined in the Community Standards.  The minimal fine for a first offense is $200.00 plus the cost of restoring the equipment to its original condition.

Student Conduct

Location: Holland Union Building, Upper Level
Phone Number:  717-245-1676
Office Hours:  Monday – Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

The Dean of Students office is responsible for the administration of the student conduct process at Dickinson College and for the oversight of all situations involving social misconduct. The Provost and Dean of the College oversee cases that involve academic dishonesty. The college maintains a statement of Community Standards that sets forth expectations for behavior, as well as contains a set of constructive and educational procedures to assess these behaviors and to foster an understanding of the impact this conduct has on the individual, other students and the community at large. See theCommunity Standards for more information.

Wellness Center

Location: Kline Center Annex  Phone Number: 717-245-1663
Office Hours:  see website for service-specific hours

The Wellness Center provides integrated health care services to Dickinson College students. As of Fall 2011, the Counseling Center and Health Center merged into this new Wellness Center to be able to provide a more holistic model of health and wellness that allows for a team approach to the treatment of illness and the addition of wellness promotion services. In addition to counseling, health services and fitness classes, nutrition counseling is available for full-time Dickinson students who are currently enrolled in classes at the College.  Medical Nutrition Therapy is provided by a registered dietician (RD) that can help tailor your diet to meet your personal health needs.  The Center also staffs a peer education group PALS (Peers Assisting Learning about Sex), which is open to students interested in being trained to present peer education programs on safe sex, abstinence, birth control methods, sexually transmitted infections, and breast and testicular self-examination. PALS meets weekly for training and program planning. For information on scheduling programs or to become a member, e-mail PALS. For more information about current services available to students, visit our website.