Students not making satisfactory progress may be placed on academic probation by the Academic Progress Committee. Factors such as term averages, cumulative averages, and progress towards degree are among the criteria used in evaluating students, but each is considered individually. When a student is placed on probation, the probationary period is in effect from the date of the action until the end of the following semester.
A student on academic probation may be required to withdraw in a subsequent semester if they do not improve their academic performance and are unable to demonstrate clear promise of eventual graduation. First-year students on academic probation may not hold office in student or social organizations or represent Lafayette College in any official capacity (including intercollegiate athletics or club sports). A student who has not completed six courses will be regarded as a first-year student for purposes of probation. All students on probation are required to meet with their class dean and are strongly encouraged to meet with their assigned faculty advisor.
Financial aid recipients are eligible for up to a maximum of eight semesters of aid as long as they maintain satisfactory academic progress, continue to demonstrate need, and are enrolled full time.
To be eligible for aid, a student must have at least a 1.80 cumulative GPA and six completed courses at the end of the first year (second semester), and at least a 2.00 cumulative GPA and 14 completed courses at the end of the second year (fourth semester), and at least a 2.00 cumulative GPA and 22 completed courses at the end of the third year (sixth semester). Academic and athletic scholarship recipients also must meet the specified program requirements. For complete information regarding academic progress and federal aid, visit admissions.lafayette.edu/policies.
Official communications from the College may be sent to students via their Lafayette email account, campus mailbox, and/or home address. Students are expected to respond to these communications in a timely manner and will be responsible for complying with any information contained therein.
Lafayette College’s information technology (IT) resources are intended to support the educational, administrative, and campus life activities of the College. The use of these resources is a privilege extended to members of the Lafayette community, who are expected to act in a responsible, ethical, and legal manner. In general, acceptable use entails behavior that respects the rights of others, does not compromise the security or integrity of IT resources, and complies with all applicable laws and license agreements. This policy, which you can view in full on the ITS website establishes specific requirements for the use of computing and network resources at Lafayette College. As with other College policies, violation of the Acceptable Use Policy can result in disciplinary action.
Violations of these policies will be handled according to normal disciplinary procedures. However, a user’s IT use privileges may be temporarily suspended by the College prior to the initiation or completion of these procedures when there is a reasonable basis to believe that an individual is in violation of this policy.
Lafayette’s libraries provide students with a wide range of information sources and services developed to support their educational pursuits. The libraries provide print and electronic resources for the use of all Lafayette students. The theft, mutilation, or defacement of library materials is therefore a very serious offense against the academic mission of the College; such acts deprive others of access to these materials. A student who steals, mutilates, or defaces library property is subject to disciplinary action and may be liable to legal action. Acts of mutilation include removing pages from or otherwise damaging library materials; acts of defacement include highlighting, underlining, or writing in or on books.
Food and beverages are allowed only in the Skillman Café. Beyond the café, small snacks and beverages with tight-fitting lids are permitted provided they are consumed neatly and all remainders are disposed of properly.
For the most up to date information on parking regulations, please see the Public Safety Parking, Transportation and LCAT Shuttle Services website.
For complete regulations and violation fines, see Undergraduate Motor Vehicle and Traffic Regulations.
Preamble
Lafayette has long been characterized as a living-learning community that fosters the development of students as leaders and as campus citizens, promotes high academic achievement, nurtures a lifelong love of learning, and fosters the development of close friendships and a sense of shared purpose. These are essential components of a Lafayette education. The College recognizes that over the years fraternity and sorority members have produced many noteworthy contributions to campus life.
However, among the College’s foremost concerns are the safety and welfare of its students. For this reason, the College has established the Fraternity and Sorority of Excellence Program. This program provides training to our recognized fraternities and sororities to foster safe, informed, and thoughtful organizations, and seeks to address any negative Greek behavior. Fraternities and sororities that are not recognized (or authorized) by Lafayette do not participate in these training programs and are not subject to the College’s rules and standards. These organizations may undermine those fraternities and sororities that are recognized by the College and may put the safety of students at risk. For these reasons, the Board of Trustees has voted to prohibit unrecognized organizations from operating on property owned or under the control of the College (referred to as “Lafayette Campus”), or from using any College resources or property, and to prohibit students from participating in unrecognized organizations while on the Lafayette campus, or through the use of any other College resources or property. If a student does participate in an unrecognized organization on the Lafayette Campus or through making use of any College resources or property, that student will be in violation of the policy and will be subject to discipline.
By enacting this policy, the board does not seek to limit the ability of students to associate freely with whomever they wish entirely outside the bounds of the Lafayette campus. Although they are advised against doing so, Lafayette students are not prohibited from joining unrecognized organizations whose activities take place entirely off the Lafayette campus, do not reach onto the Lafayette campus, and do not use any other College property, facilities, or resources.
Greek Life at Lafayette College
A social Greek life system is available on Lafayette’s campus for students who wish to participate in it. There are six social fraternities and six sororities currently recognized by Lafayette College and authorized to operate on Lafayette’s campus. Recognition has been granted to those organizations that provide a student life experience that supports and furthers the College’s academic mission and campus life goals. A student who is interested in Greek life should only join a Greek organization that has been recognized by Lafayette College and participates in the training and oversight programs described below.
Those social fraternities and sororities recognized by the College receive regular educational training from the College on a variety of topics including hazing, alcohol use, sexual misconduct, and diversity and inclusiveness. The College also requires that members of recognized organizations meet or exceed minimum standards related to grade point averages and disciplinary history. Moreover, recognized fraternities and sororities participate in an annual accreditation process. This program provides oversight of the Greek system and is intended to promote the welfare and safety of those participating in that system.
Students may not rush, pledge, join, recruit for, participate in, perpetuate, contribute funds to, or otherwise engage in activities as an actual or prospective member of a Greek organization until the beginning of their sophomore year. After that time, if a student wishes to participate in the Greek life system, he or she may participate in the recruitment process during the time frames prescribed by the College.
The College recognizes six national fraternities and six national sororities. The fraternities are Chi Phi, Delta Kappa Epsilon, Delta Tau Delta , Delta Upsilon, Phi Kappa Psi, and Zeta Psi. The sororities are Alpha Gamma Delta, Alpha Phi, Delta Delta Delta, Delta Gamma, Kappa Kappa Gamma, and Phi Beta Phi.
All fraternities and sororities operate houses that are either on campus or adjacent to it. Living in a sorority or fraternity house is a privilege, determined by each group’s particular requirements, though the College requires that each group fill its chapter house. Members should expect to live in their chapter house through their senior year, if necessary.
Joining a Fraternity or Sorority
Students are eligible to become affiliated with a fraternity or sorority during the first semester of their second year.
Students interested in becoming a part of our fraternities or 5 of our sororities are encouraged to participate in recruitment, the mutual selection process that enables current members and potential members to become acquainted through interaction in a variety of extracurricular activities. Invitations for membership are extended by chapters during the first two weeks of each semester. If a student is interested in joining Mu Sigma Upsilon Sorority, Inc. they are encouraged to attend a Ladies’ Night to learn about their intake process. Invitations to join their line are extended early in the semester.
Participation in recruitment and any subsequent decision to accept membership in a fraternity or sorority is a personal decision and should be given some degree of consideration. Membership involves participation in the goals of the organization—to develop leadership, promote scholarship, engage in service, and form bonds of brotherhood or sisterhood. A student interested in accepting an invitation to join a sorority or fraternity must be a full-time student, have a cumulative 2.65 grade point average to join a fraternity, 2.6 for sorority membership, and not be on restrictive disciplinary probation. The College requires that students who have accepted an invitation, or “bid,” to join a fraternity or sorority be initiated into full membership within three weeks of receiving a bid, aside from Mu Sigma Upsilon Sorority, Inc. which has six weeks to announce their new line members.
Interfraternity and Panhellenic Councils
The Interfraternity and Panhellenic councils are the representative governing bodies, respectively, for fraternities and sororities at Lafayette. The councils provide opportunities for leadership, community service, social interaction, and personal development, and offer academic support for sororities and fraternities.
Unrecognized Organizations
No student may rush, pledge, join, recruit for, participate in, perpetuate, contribute funds to, or otherwise engage in activities as an actual or prospective member of an unrecognized organization while on any property owned or under the control of the College (referred to as “Lafayette campus”), including but not limited to the public and private areas of the College, residence halls or other living areas on campus, as well as other buildings and facilities, including the grounds, athletic fields, and other property of the College, or while otherwise using Lafayette’s resources, wherever they may be located. (Such conduct is hereinafter referred to as “Prohibited On-Campus Conduct.”) Prohibited On-Campus Conduct also extends to the use of College-provided electronic mail, telephone service, servers, or other College-supplied technology, even when physically off of campus property, if using Lafayette’s resources to reach onto campus to engage in conduct regarding an unrecognized organization. The foregoing broad prohibition on the use of any College property in connection with Prohibited On-Campus Conduct by unrecognized organizations is intended to make clear that any such conduct is undertaken without College approval or endorsement, and constitutes a violation of this policy.
An unrecognized organization is any fraternity, sorority, or other similar social organization that:
The College retains full and final authority to determine whether a particular organization is operating as an unrecognized organization, and to determine whether a particular student is engaging in Prohibited On-Campus Conduct with an unrecognized organization.
Any student who violates the College’s policy against Prohibited On-Campus Conduct with an unrecognized organization will automatically be brought before the Faculty Committee on Student Conduct, and be subject to the full range of disciplinary sanctions available at the College, up to and including expulsion. Moreover, any such organization may itself be subject to additional organization-wide discipline, legal action, and in appropriate circumstances, could face civil and criminal penalties.
Participation by students in unrecognized organizations while completely off campus, without the use of any College resources and without reaching onto campus to engage in conduct is strongly discouraged, but is not prohibited. Students also are reminded that they are representatives of Lafayette College wherever they are. Conduct away from the campus reflects upon the student and the College, and the College may take disciplinary action against students for misbehavior off campus.
For answers to frequently asked questions about this policy, visit greeklife.lafayette.edu.
Students and Prevention of Suicide, Self-Harm, and/or Harm to Others
Students who observe or suspect another student is experiencing acute emotional distress and/or might be at risk for hurting themselves or another person(s) should immediately seek assistance for that individual. Report of concerning behaviors will help ensure students receive timely assistance and may even help save a life. In life-threatening situations students should call Public Safety directly at 610-330-4444. In non-life-threatening situations students may contact the dean of students, Counseling or Health Centers, chaplains, or any member of the Student Life staff to seek assistance or to notify the College that a student is in need of assistance. Members of the community also may complete a Student of Concern form (onepard.lafayette.edu) to alert the College about concerning behaviors.
The Introductory Statement of the College’s Code of Conduct notes that it is the duty of each student to have consideration for the welfare of others as individuals and for the community as a whole. For its part, Lafayette College endeavors to provide a safe and orderly environment in which all students are able to pursue their academic and social development. In general, students whose behavior violates the Code of Conduct will be referred for disciplinary action as outlined elsewhere in this Handbook.
In circumstances where a student’s actions are such that they could pose a threat to the health, safety, or well-being of others or consistently disrupt the College community, the College has the right to require a student undergo an initial assessment by members of the College’s Student Support and Intervention Team. The Student Support and Intervention Team is chaired by the interim dean of students. Additional members of the team include the case manager, directors of health, counseling, and residence life, as well as representatives from advising and co-curricular programs, accessibility services, athletics, and the office of intercultural development. This individualized assessment will be used to help determine if the student’s behavior poses a threat to the health and safety of the College community and/or constitutes a serious, ongoing disruption to the educational and residential aspects of the College. A determination will be made as to whether the behavior could be ameliorated by additional resources and support or might require a leave of absence for health or safety reasons. In situations where students have engaged in behavior that has resulted in serious harm to themselves or others, the chair of the Student Support and Intervention Team or designee has the right to consult with parents or guardians and/or to place a student on immediate temporary leave.
Select committee members will meet individually with the student and review any immediately available information from outside physicians or mental health professionals, parents, faculty, and other community members. When at all possible, the Student Support and Intervention Team seeks to resolve the concerns with the student’s cooperation and to have the issue addressed while the student remains in residence or by assisting the student in voluntarily withdrawing for a period of time. If a student declines a voluntary leave of absence or refuses to cooperate with efforts deemed necessary by the Student Support and Intervention Team to evaluate the nature of the student’s behavior, the chair of the Student Support and Intervention Team may separate the student from the institution without their consent. Students wishing to appeal a decision separating them from campus must make that appeal in writing to the vice president of student life within 24 hours of receiving notice of the required leave of absence. Students waiting the outcome of an appeal must leave campus until the appeal is complete.
Additional outcomes of an assessment by the Student Support and Intervention Team may include conditional enrollment, where students may be required to adhere to certain behavioral standards while they remain enrolled. A student who is referred to a medical or mental health professional for a clinical health and safety assessment will be required to sign a release of information so that the general circumstances can be discussed with members of the Student Support and Intervention Team. The release does not require that the counselor and/or physician discuss all the details or background of the case, but it must allow the counselor/physician to share the following information: (1) that the student has been seen; (2) the general nature of the circumstances related to the problem behavior; (3) recommendations for how the problematic behavior can be ameliorated; (4) whether the student is able to function in an independent and academically rigorous environment; and (5) whether the student presents a continuing threat to the health, safety, and well-being of any member of the College community. Students have the option to request the clinical health and safety assessment be conducted by an off-campus licensed mental health or medical professional of their choice. The College reserves the right to determine if the assessment conducted by an off-campus professional meets its criteria.
Students who refuse to comply with a clinical health and safety assessment and the required releases stated above will be referred to the Office of Student Conduct for possible judicial action and/or the interim dean of students, in consultation with other members of the team, may place the student on an immediate, involuntary leave of absence. Students wishing to appeal a decision to require them to take a leave of absence must make that appeal in writing to the vice president of student life within 24 hours of receiving notice of the required leave of absence. Students waiting the outcome of an appeal must leave campus until the appeal is complete.
A required leave of absence for health or safety reasons mandates that students be withdrawn from the College for a period of time consistent with a student’s individual circumstances before consideration will be given for reinstatement. This requirement is intended to give students time to address the behavior(s) that necessitated the leave of absence so that they can be successful upon their return to campus. For this reason, remote course participation is not an option for students who are required to take a leave of absence for health or safety reasons. These students are encouraged to work with their academic class dean to determine the appropriate academic outcome for the courses in which they are enrolled. A leave of absence for health or safety reasons may result in the loss of some or all tuition as detailed in the Refund Policy found on the College’s Finance and Administration website.
When a student’s behavior could pose a threat to the health, safety, or well-being of others or consistently disrupts the College community, the interim dean of students or designee may institute interim measures. Interim restrictions may be imposed only to ensure the safety and well-being of members of the Lafayette community or preservation of College property; to ensure the student’s own physical or emotional safety and well-being; or if the student poses an ongoing threat of disruption of, or interference with, the normal operations of the College. If a student feels an interim restriction has been put in place inappropriately, the student may appeal to the vice president for Campus Life within 24 hours of receiving notice of the interim measures. Students waiting the outcome of an appeal must abide by the interim measures until the appeal is complete. The interim restriction process does not replace the regular Student Support and Intervention Team process nor the conduct process, if applicable, which shall proceed on the normal schedule, up to and including the appeals process, if applicable.
Reinstatement Process for a Required Leave of Absence for Health and Safety Reasons
At the time a student is required to take a leave of absence for health or safety reasons, the interim dean of students or designee will send the student the parameters and documentation requirements outlining the conditions that must be met before he or she can return to campus. To return following a required health and safety leave of absence, students must provide documentation to address the concerns of the team that necessitated the required leave of absence. In most cases, students also will be required to provide written documentation from a licensed mental health or medical professional attesting to their readiness to return to full-time study and to campus housing in a residential college setting as well as any recommendations for follow-up treatment and ongoing support. The team reserves the right to require an evaluation from a professional with expertise in the area related to the student’s concerning behavior (e.g., forensic psychology, substance abuse, etc.).
Once the student has provided the required information and is deemed ready to return, reinstatement procedures can be finalized. The deadline for submission of reinstatement materials is June 1 for fall semester, Nov. 1 for spring semester, and April 1 for summer session. Requests for reinstatement during the semester a leave was required will be considered on a case-by-case basis and will take into account the feasibility of a student’s ability to make satisfactory academic progress toward graduation.