POLICIES, PROCEDURES, AND REGULATIONS
Regulations governing housing, motor vehicles, and other aspects of undergraduate life are detailed in this section of the Student Handbook. Students should consult the College Catalog for academic regulations. Williams College expects its students to observe all academic regulations and to adhere to the principles and procedures of the College's Honor Code set forth below. In matters of conduct, the College expects students to behave as responsible members of the community.
Academic Honesty and Honor Code
All students are expected to be familiar with the Williams College Honor Code and to reaffirm their commitment to the Statement of Academic Honesty by signing an Honor Code pledge at the beginning of each academic year. The Honor Code covers all aspects of academic honesty, including the writing of papers and laboratory reports as well as all quizzes, hour tests, and examinations.
Statement of Academic Honesty
As an institution fundamentally concerned with the free exchange of ideas, Williams College has always depended on the academic integrity of each of its members. In the spirit of this free exchange, the students and faculty of Williams recognize the necessity and accept the responsibility for academic honesty.
A student who enrolls at the College thereby agrees to respect and acknowledge the research and ideas of others in his or her work and to abide by those regulations governing work stipulated by the instructor. Any student who breaks these regulations, misrepresents his or her own work, or collaborates in the misrepresentation of another's work, has committed a serious violation of this agreement.
Students and faculty are to report violations and alleged violations of this agreement. Such reports are to be submitted to the Student Honor Committee, consisting of the eight student members of the joint Faculty-Student Honor System-Discipline Committee. This committee is responsible for determining the guilt or innocence of the accused person or persons and for recommending to the Dean appropriate punishments. Several faculty members sit with the Student Honor Committee in an advisory capacity.
A quorum of three-quarters shall be required for the Committee to meet. A vote of guilty by at least three-quarters of those present is necessary for conviction. A recommendation for dismissal must be made by unanimous vote of those present and shall be carried out only with the assent of both the Dean and the President of the College.
Any amendments to this statement must be made through a student referendum in which two-thirds of the student body votes, and in which two-thirds of those voting support the amendment. These alterations must be ratified by the faculty.
Guidelines
Instructors are encouraged to submit to the Honor Committee a written statement defining how the Statement of Academic Honesty applies to their courses or laboratories and to explain such guidelines to their students. Instructors may set any type of final examination or hour test, ranging from closed-book, alternate-seating classroom exercises to open-book, "take-home" examinations or papers, and any requirements for laboratory exercises. Some instructors encourage cooperation among students but others do not. If a student is unsure how the Honor Code applies in a particular situation, it is ultimately the student's responsibility to find out from his or her professor, or from a member of the Honor Committee, how the Honor Code applies in that situation. An open and highly individualized system can last only as long as both the students and the faculty work together to create a true academic community.
In written material, students are expected to avoid the possibility of even unintentional plagiarism by acknowledging the sources of their work. Careful observance of accepted standards of reference and attribution is required. The basic rules are summarized below. Students are further advised to consult a recognized style manual to learn how to acknowledge sources correctly. While academic honesty does not demand a footnote on statements of common fact, it does require that a student provide clear footnotes or other appropriate documentation and give credit in the bibliography to ideas, interpretations, and facts that particular sources have contributed to the student's final work.
The basic rules of attribution require that:
1. A direct quotation (whether a single word or a phrase, sentence, paragraph, or series of paragraphs) must always be identified by quotation marks, by indenting and single spacing, or by reduced type size of the quoted material, and a note must be used to state the exact source.
2. A paraphrase of the work of another must be acknowledged as such by a note stating the source.
3. Indebtedness to the specific ideas of others, or the summarizing of several pages, even though expressed in different words, must be acknowledged by a note stating the source.
4. Every instance, the use of another student's laboratory reports, computer programs, or other material must be acknowledged by a note.
5. Even the use of a student's own previous work must be acknowledged; thus, a student must obtain the prior permission of all instructors concerned before submitting substantially the same paper in more than one course.
Procedures for Alleged Violations
Students or faculty who wish to report what they suspect to be violations of the Honor Code should contact the faculty or student chairperson of the Honor Committee.
As soon as possible after receiving a report of an alleged Honor Code violation, the Student Honor Committee will convene to hear the case. The person bringing the charge will present the evidence to the Committee in the presence of the accused student, who may then speak in his or her own defense both with and without the accuser present. After the accused student has left the proceedings, the Committee will determine innocence or guilt and, if the latter, will recommend an appropriate penalty to the Dean. Depending on the circumstances of the violation, penalties then imposed by the Dean may include such possibilities as a directed grade of E in the course, disciplinary probation, or temporary or permanent separation from the College. In addition, in advance of the meeting, the student chair of the Honor Committee meets with each accused student to explain procedures, review the evidence that led to the accusation, and tell the accused student what s/he will need to do to prepare for the case. After a decision has been made by the Committee, the accused student may request a reconsideration of the Committee's decision on the basis of substantial new evidence or improper procedures. If a majority of the Committee members feel that it is appropriate, the Committee reconvenes to reconsider the case. The Committee reconsiders the case in its entirety, referring to its minutes and, when appropriate, recalling witnesses.
Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate
At the discretion of the appropriate departments or programs, students presenting satisfactory scores in Advanced Placement tests or International Baccalaureate higher level examinations may be placed in advanced courses not regularly open to them and/or may receive course credit toward the major or concentration. Therefore, if granted, this credit may be used as a prerequisite or in partial fulfillment of the major or concentration requirements. AP and IB credit, however, may not be used to reduce the normal course load of any semester, to make up a deficiency incurred at Williams, to satisfy the Distribution Requirement, or to reduce the 32 semester and 4 Winter Study Project course requirement.
Questions about AP or IB credit should be directed to the Registrar's Office.
Advertising and Distribution Policy
Display areas and bulletin boards are provided in Williams College buildings to provide information to students, faculty, and staff. All materials for posting or stuffing in SU boxes by student, student organizations, and off-campus entities must clearly display the sponsor of the program or service.
In the Paresky Center, general posting is permitted on the two designated boards in the mail pick-up area by the Jessica H. Park Mailroom. In addition, students, student organizations, and campus offices may post items on other general bulletin boards in Paresky. Postings for digital signs may be submitted directly to the Office of Campus Life.
Across campus, posting is permitted in approved areas. Materials may not be posted on windows, entrance doors, walls, or in classrooms. All posted materials must be taken down within 7 days after the event.
Students, student organizations, and off-campus entities wishing to erect, attach, or post signs, banners, posters of exceptional size or decorations on any part of campus property not covered by the policies listed above are responsible for obtaining prior approval from the Office of Campus Life.
Posted materials not in compliance with this policy will be immediately removed.
Standard medical rules of confidentiality will apply to cases of student(s) with HIV/AIDS; i.e., the privacy of the student will be protected in accordance with the procedures outlined on pages -.
This policy applies also to any external requests for information about student(s) such as applications for health insurance, references, et al.
As a residential college, Williams believes that for each student the experience of living with other students has an educational importance that should parallel and enhance his or her studies. For students to profit from living and working together, they must respect the rights of other members of the community in which they live and work-a community which includes students, members of the faculty and staff of the College, and other residents of Williamstown. The President, Trustees, faculty, and students of Williams College have established the codes of conduct described below to foster the learning that comes from living and studying with men and women of diverse backgrounds and from learning to honor opinions and beliefs that may differ from one's own.
The College Laws authorize the faculty to make rules for the proper conduct of students and to establish penalties for failure to comply with the faculty's regulations or for failure to conform to those laws and standards of conduct by which the larger community safeguards individual rights and social order. Students must respect the rights of others, their persons and their possessions, and refrain from any disturbance to the peace of the College or the community around it. The College will hold students responsible if they fail to maintain good conduct on the campus or elsewhere.
Individual Rights: Williams College does not discriminate on grounds unrelated to its educational objectives; it is committed to being a community in which all ranges of opinion and belief can be expressed and debated, and within which all patterns of behavior permitted by the public law and College regulations can take place. The community is varied, including people of diverse races, religions, national or ethnic backgrounds, gender expressions and gender identities, and sexual orientations, and its members may from time to time disagree with one another's ideas and behavior. The College seeks to assure the rights of all to express themselves in words and actions, so long as they can do so without infringing upon the rights of others or violating standards of good conduct or public law.
Accepting membership in this community entails an obligation to behave with courtesy to others whose beliefs and behavior differ from one's own; all members and guests of this community must be free of disturbance or harassment, including racial and sexual harassment.
Public Law: The College does not give students protection from the consequences of violations of federal, state, and local laws, and public authorities may act independently to investigate and prosecute any such violations. When students are charged with legal violations committed on or off-campus, the Dean of the College may also initiate disciplinary proceedings. The accused student, however, may request of the Dean of the College a suspension of the disciplinary proceedings until the conclusion of the court case. If the Dean of the College determines that the student is a potential threat to the personal safety or security of individuals, then the Dean may impose appropriate restrictions, up to and including suspension, without prejudice to the student's record, until the conclusion of the court case. Interim suspensions, in such circumstances, are subject to an appeal to the President.
This request may be denied. In the case of a graduating senior, in the event the College disciplinary proceedings are suspended until the conclusion of the court case, the degree may be withheld.
Disciplinary Proceedings
Violations of individual rights, the general rules of conduct, or the specific rules of conduct listed below subject a student to disciplinary proceedings. The College does not attempt to describe every act that constitutes a violation of the code of conduct; but rather the College reserves the right to make determinations on a case by case basis. If in the judgment of the President the best interests of the College so require, a student may be immediately removed from the College.
Specific rules of conduct include, but are not limited to:
Alcohol and Drugs: Williams prohibits the abuse of alcohol and expects members of the College community to abide by federal, state, and local regulations concerning the possession and use, purchase, and distribution of alcohol. The College prohibits the unlawful manufacture, sale, distribution, dispensing, possession, or use of illegal drugs, or the unauthorized use of prescription drugs. See page for the legal sanctions concerning alcohol and drugs.
Disturbances: The College has the basic obligation to maintain orderly and equitable conduct of its affairs, free of intimidation and harassment. While peaceful and orderly protest and dissent are the right of all members of the College community, any action from any quarter which obstructs or interferes with the fulfillment of this basic obligation cannot be permitted. Such obstruction or interference will be subject to disciplinary action, which may include dismissal from the College. College personnel may require students to leave public events at the College for improper behavior.
Weapons, Fireworks and Hazardous Chemicals: The possession or use of firearms, ammunition, air guns, spring guns, slingshots and paintball guns, or hazardous chemicals is forbidden. Possession or use of a knife with a double-edge blade, a spring blade, or a blade over 4 inches in length is prohibited by College policy and is against Massachusetts state law. Possession or use of fireworks in Williamstown is forbidden by College, local, and state law, and violators will be fined.
Fraternities: Williams students may neither join nor participate in fraternities during their time at the College. (See page 7 for details of this policy.)
Hazing: Hazing is prohibited by the College and is against the law in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. (See page 10 for laws concerning hazing.)
Personal Safety: Actions that threaten or endanger in any way the personal safety or security of an individual are grave offenses.
Property: Theft or damage to the property of individuals or the College subjects students to disciplinary action. Financial responsibility for vandalism to College property will be fixed in the manner described under "Damage and Billing Procedures" on page 11. The residential house (or entry or floor) will be billed if the individuals responsible are not identified.
Sexual Misconduct:
Non-Consensual Sexual Intercourse: Any sexual intercourse (anal, oral or vaginal); however slight; with
any object; by a man or a woman upon a man or a woman; without effective consent.
Non-Consensual Sexual Contact: Any sexual touching; however slight; with any object; by a man or a
woman upon a man or woman; without effective consent.
Mutual Incapacitated Sexual Intercourse: Any sexual intercourse (anal, oral or vaginal); however slight;
with any object; occurring between parties who are mutually incapacitated by the use of alcohol or other drugs.
Sexual Exploitation: Occurs when a student takes nonconsensual, unjust or abusive advantage of another;
for his/her own advantage or benefit; or to benefit or advantage anyone other than the one being exploited; and
that behavior does not otherwise constitute rape, sexual assault, or sexual harassment. Examples of sexual
exploitation include prostituting another student, nonconsensual video or audiotaping of sexual activity, going
beyond the boundaries of consent (such as letting your friends watch you have consensual sex), engaging in
peeping tommery, knowingly transmitting STD or HIV to another student, and inducing incapacitation with the
intent to rape or sexually assault another student.
Members of the community charged with violations of the standards of conduct are subject to disciplinary action through the established disciplinary procedures of the College (see page 5). When violations are determined to have occurred, the College will impose disciplinary sanctions on students and employees, consistent with local, state, and federal law. Depending upon the circumstances of the case, the sanctions available to the College include: warning, probation, suspension, up to expulsion or termination of employment, and referral for prosecution by public authorities. The College may also require satisfactory completion of an appropriate drug or alcohol rehabilitation program before reinstatement or continued employment. Student employees participating in any federal grant or contract are subject to the Drug-Free Workplace Act of 1989 and must notify the Provost within 5 days of any criminal drug conviction for a violation occurring in the workplace. The Provost is required to notify the funding agency within 10 days of receiving notification of the conviction.
Sexual Harassment: See page 19.
Except in those cases where a grievance committee has found an assigned grade to have been the result of discrimination, nothing in the grievance procedure shall affect the responsibility and authority of individual members of the faculty to evaluate and grade the work of students in their courses. In the event of other allegations of improper or unfair grading, the Office of the Dean of the College may investigate and mediate, but final responsibility for grading rests with the instructor.
Computing Ethics and Responsibilities
Williams College provides computing and networking resources to students, faculty, and staff for a wide variety of purposes. These resources, networked for the general benefit of the community, are continually updated and maintained to provide an academic environment that is consistent with the educational goals of the College. These resources are limited, and how each individual uses them may affect the work of other members of the community and beyond, as our campus network is connected (through the Internet) to other networks worldwide. It is important that everyone be aware of his or her individual obligations and what constitutes proper use and behavior.
A complete listing of current Williams College Computing Ethics and Responsibilities policies can be found on page -.
The Williams community includes students with documented disabilities who may require accommodations. Although Williams operates no specially structured academic programs for individuals with disabilities, the College is committed to providing support services and accommodations to any students who need them.
Students with disabilities that affect their participation in college life should contact Joyce Foster, Director of Academic Resources. Students are required to provide a recent professional evaluation which identifies the disability, describes the challenges faced due to this condition, and if possible, recommends modifications to be provided. Each term, the director works with the student and his or her professors to develop a plan of study which maintains the academic integrity of the individual courses, and the academic program as a whole, while attempting to meet assessed needs.
The Office of the Dean of the College investigates alleged breaches of good conduct and of College laws and regulations. A student charged with such a breach will be informed by a dean of the alleged violation. Any student who is charged with an offense shall have a reasonable opportunity to make his or her defense in a respectful manner to a dean, and to the faculty-student Discipline Committee if the matter comes before that Committee.
Normally the Office of the Dean of the College decides disciplinary cases; however, a dean may choose to refer a case directly to the faculty-student Discipline Committee. If acting on his or her own, a dean may impose such penalties as he or she deems appropriate and consistent with the College Laws and regulations. Among the penalties a dean may consider are: disciplinary warning (a letter from the dean, a personal interview, or both); disciplinary probation for a specified period (sometimes with specified conditions, e.g., loss of eligibility to represent the College, restrictions of extra-curricular activities); suspension for a specified time; or permanent expulsion.
When a dean decides a disciplinary case, he or she normally writes to inform the accused student of the decision and of any penalties; and in cases that involve violations of individual rights or injury to Williams students, staff, or faculty or to their property, to explain the decision to those aggrieved. The accused student, and any aggrieved Williams student, staff, or faculty, must respond in writing to the dean, either accepting the dean's decision and penalties or asking to appeal the case to the Discipline Committee. In the absence of an appeal in writing within one week, any penalties imposed by the dean shall take effect. Failure to appeal within one week does not preclude the possibility of subsequent appeal, but in all cases intention to appeal must be communicated to the dean, in writing, within three weeks of the initial communication of the decision. Also, if the dean determines that the convicted student is a potential threat to the personal safety or security of individuals, then the dean may provisionally impose appropriate restrictions, during the week following his or her decision, without prejudice to the case. All decisions of the faculty-student Discipline Committee shall be final except that no student shall be expelled without the assent of the President.
The faculty-student Discipline Committee hears and decides, either on direct referral by the Office of the Dean of the College or on appeal of a dean's decision, cases that involve violations of individual rights or the rules of student conduct. Procedures for this committee may be found on page .
See general grievance policy on page 9.
See also Grievance Procedures for Sexual Harassment and other discrimination grievances, page .
In order to protect the wealth and diversity of activities at Williams-first academics, but also athletics, performances, cultural events, volunteer work, and others-the College has reserved the hours of 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and 7 to 9:40 p.m. Monday evening for academic courses. This rule, which is overseen by the Calendar and Schedule Committee (CSC), is called the "Division of the Day."
All required class meetings, events, and activities, including tutorial meetings, normally should be scheduled during these hours. Classes and labs should end at the publicized hours, and a student who has to leave on time, whether it's to attend another class or an extracurricular activity, should never be put at a disadvantage. All extracurricular activities, including athletic captains' practices and suiting up, should be scheduled outside these hours. We suggest scheduling evening events such as rehearsals no earlier than 8 p.m. to avoid conflicts with occasional evening exams.
Exceptions, and Policies of the Calendar and Schedule Committee
1. Class field trips
Field trips (one per course) do not require approval by the CSC, but faculty should make a good-faith
effort to schedule field trips so as to minimize conflicts with students' other academic and extracurricular commitments. Instructors planning a course field trip will notify the CSC before the start of classes,
list it on the course syllabus, and advise students to check with other instructors during the first week
about missing class.
2. Evening exams
Multi-sectioned courses may schedule common exams in the evening (although not on Mondays),
preferably with two time slots, an earlier one ending by 7:45 p.m. to accommodate 8 p.m. rehearsals
and a later one starting no earlier than 7:15 p.m. to accommodate athletics. Faculty should check with
the Activities Office to reserve a room and avoid conflicts. One class must be cancelled for each evening exam. The CSC strongly encourages faculty to make alternative arrangements with students who
have evening conflicts. We expect faculty to include evening exam dates in the course syllabus, and
announce all required evening exam dates in class before the end of drop/add period, so that students
can make informed decisions about taking the course.
Single-section courses may hold evening examinations only with the approval of the CSC. The Committee typically will approve petitions for evening exams if the following criteria are met: (1) one regularly scheduled class meeting must be cancelled for each evening exam; (2) there are two time slots, an earlier one ending by 7:45 p.m. to accommodate 8 p.m. rehearsals and a later one starting no earlier than 7:15 p.m. to accommodate athletics, or alternative arrangements are possible for students with conflicts. Single-section courses that are approved for evening exams are listed online (www.williams.edu/resources/committees/calsched/EveningExams.html).
3. Class meetings outside regular hours
All class meetings, including tutorial meetings, normally should be scheduled during the regular class
hours described above. All exceptions must be approved by the CSC, which will attempt to make sure
that such meetings would not introduce conflicts for any of the students involved. Courses that are approved for class meetings outside the regular hours are listed online (www.williams.edu/resources/committees/calsched/EveningClasses.html).
4. Other class events outside regular hours
Some important class activities, such as attendance at performances or evening lectures, cannot be
scheduled during regular class hours. The CSC does not need to approve these events when (a) attendance at an event is optional (i.e., missing a particular event does not affect a student's grade), or (b)
when students have flexibility in choosing among several evenings or several events. However, faculty
who wish to make attendance at specific events mandatory, with no flexibility in allowing students to
avoid conflicts with other commitments, must seek approval from the CSC. In all cases we ask that
faculty list optional or required dates in the course syllabus and announce those dates in class before
the end of drop/add period, so that students can make informed decisions about taking the course.
Courses that are approved for mandatory events outside the regular class hours will be listed online.
5. Athletic conflicts during regular hours
As noted above, all extra-curricular activities including athletic captains' practices and suiting up
should be scheduled outside of regular class hours. However, because athletic competitions involve
coordination of schedules with other schools, in some cases competitions or travel to competitions
may conflict with the Division of the Day. Such potential conflicts are vetted by the Athletics Committee,
and a list can be found at their web site (www.williams.edu/resources/committees/athletics/).Join the
coaches in asking students to consult with their instructors at least a week before missing classes.
Note: It is at the sole discretion of the individual instructor whether or not to excuse absences due to athletics (e.g., games), academics (e.g., field trips in other classes), or any other type of conflict. The CSC expects faculty to include their attendance policy in writing in the course syllabus and to announce that policy in class before the end of drop/add period, so that students can make informed decisions about taking the course. (Concerns over athletic conflicts should be addressed to the Athletics Committee. Concerns over other types of conflicts should be addressed to the CSC.)
Please submit petitions for evening exams in single section courses, required classes or events outside normal hours, or any other exceptions to the Division of the Day guidelines to the Chair of the Calendar and Schedule Committee. Your cooperation and respect for the above procedures will help the community to maintain sensible balances between the academic and extracurricular demands on a student's time.
and Neighborhood Activity Funds (EAF & NAF)
Activity funds were established to provide some means to help foster a sense of community within campus residences. By providing low-cost programming and social activities, campus residents might view their residences as a home, to be well-maintained and respected, and to socialize with other community members versus isolating themselves from others. The following policies govern the use of EAF and NAF:
1. EAF/NAF funds must be used to support the promotion of a sense of community within campus residences or neighborhoods. This sense of community can be created in a number of ways, including dinners and movie nights, discussion groups, intramural programs, video-game tournaments, low-cost game shows, event trips off-campus, etc. There is an endless array of social and educational programming available to campus residences. The Campus Life Office serves as a clearinghouse of ideas for on-campus programming.
2. The needs of all residents should be taken into consideration in the planning of EAF or NAF supported programs, not just the needs of the majority. Since all residents paid into EAF and NAF, then a small number of programs should reflect their interests.
3. In order to use EAF or NAF funds, Baxter Fellows, Junior Advisors, or Neighborhood Governance board members must sign and submit a EAF/NAF voucher, which is available through and to be returned to the Campus Life Office. Such vouchers should be filled out in their entirety, to include account numbers, subcodes, etc. Vouchers that are not complete will be returned to the persons who submitted the voucher.
4. All EAF/NAF vouchers must have supporting materials attached in order to be processed (i.e., contracts, itemized receipts, membership renewal forms, etc.). If these supporting materials are receipts to support a reimbursement, these receipts should all be taped to 8 x 11 sheets of paper before submitting them to the Office of Campus Life. Social Security numbers must be included if an individual is being paid for a service or performance.
5. EAF/NAF funds may not be used to purchase electronics and technology items or any other item that will not stay with the residence (i.e., televisions cannot be purchased then raffled-off at the end of the year). This is inappropriate for College-collected fees since not all students are eligible to win the items, and not all students in the residences are aware that their funds are spent in this fashion. EAF/NAF funds also may not be used to purchase alcohol, other drugs, tobacco products, pornography, strippers, and cannot be used for gambling purposes, or any activity that puts our students and community at risk or in danger, or that are offensive to the community.
6. Junior Advisors and Neighborhood Governance board members are not permitted to spend more than their EAF/NAF budgets allow. Any overexpenditure at the end of a school year will be billed to the Junior Advisor's or Neighborhood Governance board member's student accounts. Overexpenditures from previous years are not the responsibility of the new year's residents and officers.
7. EAF/NAF funds may not be used to pay for damages to the entry/house/neighborhood. Such damages must be billed directly to the account(s) of the student(s) who caused the damage whenever possible, or be split and billed between all of the accounts of the residents of the entry, co-op, house, or neighborhood.
8. Final approval for all EAF/NAF transactions lies with the College (Campus Life Office, Controller's Office, etc.).
Students with three or more final exams in CONSECUTIVE exam periods (i.e., morning, afternoon, and following morning OR afternoon, following morning, and afternoon) are considered to have a hardship, and may request that one of these exams be moved. Students seeking hardship excuses must see one of the deans first; that dean will then work with the student and faculty members involved to see if an agreeable arrangement can be made. All such arrangements must be requested no later than November 30, 2007 for fall semester and no later than May 2, 2008 for spring semester. Note: the Dean's Office will not schedule a make-up exam simply to permit an early departure or to accommodate students' travel plans.
Williams students may neither join nor participate in fraternities during their time at the College. This policy was first adopted in 1962, and it is strongly supported by the College community. The College will take disciplinary action against students who are found to be participating in such organizations. Penalties may include suspension or expulsion from the College.
To insure that all students understand the history of and reasons for this policy, the Board of Trustees of Williams College issued the following statement in June, 1989:
It has now been twenty-seven years since the Board of Trustees of Williams College determined that the academic aspirations of the College, and the educational and social needs of our students, would best be served by abolishing fraternities and inaugurating the residential house system. The Trustees note with particular pleasure the role the residential house system has played in insuring that all Williams students would be fully integrated into the life of the College. In making all important decisions over nearly three decades, the College has had as its central goal the sustenance of a community characterized by openness, academic vitality, and equality of opportunity.
Mindful of the College's history and committed strongly to the College's goals, the Trustees wish to reaffirm the
policy that Williams students may neither join nor participate in fraternities during their time at the College. The
Trustees' views on this subject were most recently expressed in the statement appearing below, approved in
October, 1976 and later endorsed unanimously by the faculty. In light of efforts to reestablish fraternities on
other campuses, and of apparent interest among a handful of Williams students in reviving fraternal organizations here, the Trustees are reissuing and affirming that statement, and expressing full support for the officers
of the College in their efforts, disciplinary and otherwise, to insure that it is understood and adhered to in the
Williams community.
Statement of the
Williams College Board of Trustees
Concerning Fraternities (1976)
To avoid misunderstanding, we wish to make clear our support for the rights of students to form or join any of the many formal or informal groups that are appropriate to this college community and consistent with Williams' educational program. But we remind all concerned that the regulations of the College prohibit participation by undergraduates in fraternities as a matter of educational policy and that violations will be subject to appropriate penalties.
Students who wish to raise money for any campus activity by soliciting alumni, foundations, or other sources of funds must receive advance approval. Students interested in fundraising should contact Jessica Gulley, Assistant Director of Campus Life-Student Activities (x4749), at least two weeks in advance. Most fundraising requires approval from the Dean's Office, the Provost, and the Vice President for Alumni Relations and Development
In accordance with the provisions of its Charter, the legal responsibility for the affairs of the College is vested in the President and Trustees. Trustees deal with basic questions of policy, planning, and financial management. The President and the faculty share immediate responsibility for College government. The faculty conducts its business in meetings of the full faculty, which the President chairs, and through its committees, most of which have both faculty and student members.
Several committees are composed of faculty only, including the Committee on Academic Standing (CAS), the Faculty Steering Committee and the Committee on Appointments and Promotions (CAP). The CAS reviews the academic records of individual students. To protect the privacy of students, membership on this committee is limited to faculty and deans. The Faculty Steering Committee discusses topics of particular interest to faculty and meets with student groups from time to time to discuss issues in common. The CAP advises the President and trustees about faculty appointments. Although students do not sit with the committee, the CAP receives student opinion about faculty from the departments. Departments gather student opinion through student advisory committees, direct interviews with students, and the Student Course Evaluation Survey. In addition, students may volunteer evaluations to department chairs or to the Dean of the Faculty directly.
Students have the major responsibility for the conduct of undergraduate affairs through the College Council and through the Neighborhood Governance boards. The College Council supervises the election or appointment of the student members of all joint committees.
College Committees
Many important features of College life are overseen and regulated by committees on which both faculty and students sit. Faculty are appointed by the Faculty Steering Committee; election of students is coordinated by the College Council. See page for a list of some important college committees.
College Council (Paresky 203, x2284)
The College Council is the student government organization at Williams and the directing force of student activities. Its members are elected to represent upperclass residential houses and neighborhoods, the first-year class, and the student body at large. The Council allocated funds from the Student Activities Fee, supervises the election or nominations of students to joint faculty-student committees which oversee most aspects of College life, and debates issues of concern to the entire campus community. College council is the forum of the student body through which concerns may be addressed, and changes made around campus. If you have suggestions/ideas you can talk to a College Council representative. College Council holds office hours in the evenings in Paresky and its members can be found on its website (wso.williams.edu/orgs/cc). The College Council Constitution appears in full on pages -.
Frosh Council
Each entry elects one representative to the Frosh Council. The Council appoints its own officers and one representative to the College Council. In addition, it holds class-wide elections for first-year representatives to the College Council and College Council committees. The Frosh Council provides a representative forum in which first- year concerns may be addressed. It is also responsible for organizing social activities for the class.
Baxter Fellows
In the spring following room draw, students submit applications for the Baxter Fellows positions. Following an interview process by a selection committee, Baxter Fellows are selected from within their house as a house point- person resource, and fulfill specific neighborhood programming roles for the following academic year. Baxter Fellows work closely with the Office of Campus Life and the Neighborhood Governance Boards, and are paid a small stipend. The position requires Baxter Fellows to be involved in residential self-governance and to be prepared to address community issues/concerns that might arise, though they have no judicial or disciplinary responsibilities. They must have knowledge of the resources available on campus and make referrals as needed. Baxter Fellows meet on a regular basis with the Campus Life staff and are required to attend fall training programs and ongoing training seminars.
Residential Self-Government
A consistent respect for the rights and privacy of others is essential to the social and academic well-being of the Williams community. The College expects the student community and the residential units which comprise that community to be self-policing. The Junior Advisors, the Neighborhood Governance Boards, and the Baxter Fellows of each residential unit, under advisement from the Campus Life staff and the Dean's Office, should encourage discussion of what those rights are and of the unit's responsibility for respecting and policing them. If a residential unit fails in its ability to police itself, complaints should be taken to the Dean's Office and appropriate action taken through the channels outlined under Disciplinary Proceedings.
Each residential unit is expected to be fiscally responsible and autonomous in organizing and financing social and cultural activities to serve the interest of all of its members. Every semester, the College supplies each first-year entry and each Neighborhood Governance Board with activity funds. These funds are intended to provide a budget for basic services and activities of the unit as a whole. (Please see the "Entry & Neighborhood Activity Funds" section for more information on policies and procedures regarding the use of EAF and NAF.) In addition, some units request voluntary contributions for additional programs or services. It is the responsibility of the Junior Advisors and/or the Neighborhood Governance Boards to balance equitably the interests of those residents who contribute voluntarily with the entire group of residents.
A student with a grievance about grading should see Complaints About Grading (page 4).
A student who thinks that he/she has been subject to inappropriate behavior within the context of acceptable campus community standards should consult with any ones of the deans of the College. If the alleged behavior suggests the possibility of a bias incident, the student should seek out the Dean of the College, or any of the discrimination grievance advisors listed on page 20.
The following outline is a summary of the full Discrimination Grievance Procedures described in Non-Discrimination Policy and Grievance Procedures on pages -.
A Summary of The Sequence of Events and Options in the Discrimination Grievance Procedures
I. Advising
a) The person who believes he or she may have been subjected to discriminatory behavior may but need not discuss the incident(s) with a College advisor. College advisors are also available to persons against whom a complaint has been filed.
II. Informal
a) The person who believes he or she may have been subjected to discriminatory behavior may discuss the incident(s) with the appropriate administrator.
b) The person may but need not file a complaint at the informal stage.
c) To file a complaint the person submits a statement of allegations to his or her executive officer. The executive officers will then conduct an investigation and reach a finding. If they find the complaint unwarranted, the complainant may but need not request formal grievance proceedings. If the respondent is judged to have violated College policy, the executive officers attempt a resolution. Either party may refuse to accept the terms proposed.
d) If both parties accept the terms, the resolution is successful and the case is settled. If the resolution fails, the complainant may ask for formal grievance proceedings or withdraw the complaint.
e) If the complainant withdraws, the executive officers may decide to take action against the respondent on their own. The respondent may appeal the executive officers' decision.
III. Formal
a) The grievance committee conducts a hearing and reaches a finding, reporting its finding and its recommendations to the executive officers, the complainant, and the respondent.
b) The executive officers reach their own finding. If it differs from the committee's, they so inform the committee and provide it with an opportunity to reply.
c) If the executive officers then find the respondent not to have violated the College's anti-discrimination policy, or if they find the evidence insufficient, the case is dismissed.
d) If, on the other hand, the executive officers find that the respondent violated the College's policy, they will report their finding and the actions they propose to take to the committee, the complainant, and the respondent. The respondent may appeal their finding and their proposed actions.
IV. Appeal
a) The formal grievance proceedings constitute the complainant's appeal.
b) The respondent may appeal at the conclusion of the informal proceedings if the complainant has withdrawn and the executive officers have proposed disciplinary action; or at the end of the formal grievance proceedings if the complainant has taken the complaint to a grievance committee.
c) If the respondent is a student or staff member, the appeal will be heard by the President. If the respondent is a faculty member, the appeal will be heard by a faculty hearing committee.
Hazing is prohibited by the College and is against the law in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Chapter 269 of the General laws says:
Section 17: Whoever is a principal organizer or participant in the crime of hazing as defined herein shall be punished by a fine of not more than one thousand dollars or by imprisonment in a house of corrections for not more than one hundred days, or by both such fine and imprisonment.
The term "hazing" as used in this section and in sections eighteen and nineteen, shall mean any conduct or method of initiation into any student organization, whether on public or private property, which willfully or recklessly endangers the physical or mental health of any student or other person. Such conduct shall include whipping, beating, branding, forced calisthenics, exposure to weather, forced consumption of any food, liquor, beverage, drug, or other substance, or any other brutal treatment or forced physical activity which is likely to adversely affect the physical health or safety of any such student or other person, or which subjects such student or any other person to extreme mental stress, including extended deprivation of sleep or rest or extended isolation.
Section 18: Whoever knows that another person is the victim of hazing as defined in section seventeen and is at the scene of such crime shall, to the extent that such person can do so without danger or peril to himself or others, report such crime to an appropriate law enforcement official as soon as reasonably possible. Whoever fails to report such crime shall be punished by a fine of not more than five hundred dollars.
Section 19: Each secondary school and each public and private school or college shall issue to every group or organization under its authority or operating in conjunction with its campus or school, and to every member, plebe, pledge or applicant for membership in such group or organization, a copy of this section and sections seventeen and eighteen. An officer of each such group or organization, and each individual receiving a copy of said sections seventeen and eighteen shall sign an acknowledgment stating that said group, organization or individual has received a copy of said sections seventeen and eighteen.
Health Insurance and Sports Accident Insurance
Health Insurance (Ruth Harrison, Health Center x3166)
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts requires that all full- and part-time students enrolled in institutions of higher education in Massachusetts must participate in a qualifying student health insurance plan. A qualifying plan must provide reasonably comprehensive coverage of hospital and physician services and those services must be reasonably accessible to the student.
Students who are not covered by a qualifying health insurance plan must arrange insurance coverage through the College's student health insurance plan. This is a limited accident and illness plan that provides up to $50,000 of coverage per accident or illness for the period 8/15 through 8/14 for services not available through the Student Health Service.
Sports Accident Insurance (Karen Ware, Lasell x3511)
The College provides insurance for the treatment of injuries sustained by varsity, junior varsity, and most but not all club team athletes. This insurance is provided at no cost to students. It has a $1,000 deductible and will cover most injury-related medical services on a secondary basis only.
Two important criteria that must be met in order for the student athlete to be eligible for coverage under this insurance policy are: the injury must be sustained while participating in a covered team's practices, games, or travel; and the student must incur some medical expense related to the injury within 180 days from the date of injury. An appointment with a physician or a physician at Student Health Services within 180 days of the date of injury will satisfy this second requirement.
The insurance company currently requires that a written proof of loss must be received within 90 days or as soon as reasonably possible, but no later than 12 months following the date of injury. Students should promptly notify one of the athletic trainers of their injuries. Karen Ware will provide the instructions necessary to submit a claim within the required time-frames.
General Policies
The Office of Campus Life reserves the right to consolidate students in college owned and/or operated housing at any time with appropriate notification.
Williams College reserves the right to dictate the terms of usage on all College owned and operated housing. This includes any required modifications to student housing arrangements, up to and including revocation or denial of housing privileges.
Use of Housing During Winter Break:
During Winter Break, when the College is not in session, all students are required to leave campus. The College recognizes, however, that certain students who demonstrate extreme need cannot leave campus and is committed to providing assistance for these students. Any College owned building might be used as temporary housing (although co-ops are the most common) over Winter Break for students who are unable to leave campus. Students whose rooms will be used for temporary housing will be given reasonable notification prior to Winter Break and are asked to make all reasonable accommodations.
The cost of damage to a College building will be charged to those who caused it, if they are known. When those who are directly responsible are unknown, the costs will be apportioned among the occupants of the damaged area, whether a single room or a whole house. In all cases of damage, those responsible are liable to disciplinary action by the Dean as well as payment of costs assessed by the Director of Facilities Services.
In the case of damage to an individual student room or suites, in dormitories and in residential houses, the damage should be reported promptly; repair will be made and the occupant(s) billed directly.
Bills are payable to the Controller. Any corrections to or questions on bills should be directed to the Facilities Service Office. All bills are due before the end of the semester in which they are received. All bills unpaid at the semester's end will be added to the term bill.
Electrical Appliances
Students may use clocks, sound equipment, computers, electric razors, hair dryers, electric fans, electric blankets, microwave ovens of 800 watts or less, refrigerators of 5 cubic feet or less, hot air popcorn poppers, and cool mist humidifiers in student housing. Items which the College strictly prohibits include, but are not limited to:
*Torchiere type lamps with a halogen bulb, and other lamps with a halogen bulb greater than 60 watts, are not allowed. Incandescent light bulbs should not exceed 60 watts unless there is specific UL approval for a higher wattage.
Violations of any of the above policies will be fined and the item(s) will be immediately removed . The fines vary depending on the number of violations. Confiscated items will be donated to a local charity or discarded. If a student has any questions regarding the acceptability of a particular appliance, the Manager of Safety and Environmental Compliance should be contacted at x2406.
The wiring in some of the College's older residence areas may not support heavy use of electrical appliances. If this is a problem in a residence, the College may need to limit the use of certain appliances and will consult with the students in the residence to resolve the problem.
Fire Safety
Williams is concerned about the safety of every individual on campus and therefore has very strict fire safety regulations. Students who do not observe these regulations jeopardize the safety of others on this campus and therefore, will be subject to disciplinary action and/or fines.
State Law requires that hallways and stairways be completely clear at all times. This means that you can not store anything in these areas (examples: shoes, clothes racks, boxes, furniture, and bicycles). The Williamstown Building Inspector and the Williamstown Fire Chief enforce these regulations. Items left in the halls may be removed and held at Facilities.
Fire and life safety programs must receive community-wide support in order to be effective. Cooperation from students at fire drills, announced and unannounced, is expected. Students who do not vacate in a timely manner are subject to disciplinary action, and to the possibility of additional drills, with the individual house responsible for all costs associated with repeated drills.
Students who misuse, tamper or otherwise disturb fire safety equipment, including smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, fire extinguishers, pull stations, and fire doors, or activate fire alarms due to smoking are subject to a $250.00 fine as well at the cost of restoring the equipment. Smoke machines are not allowed in student residences for any reason. Alarm activations due to using a smoke machine will result in a $250.00 fine. These students will be referred to the Dean's Office and may be dismissed or suspended from the College.
Candles (including those used for religious purposes), incense, and other open flame devices are not allowed in residential buildings. Students who want to light candles for religious purposes need to see the Chaplain's Office to make arrangements.
Possession of Candles, Incense, Prohibited Appliances, and Halogen Torchiere Lamps
1st offense: $50.00 fine and the student will be called into the Safety and Environmental Compliance Office.
2nd offense: $100.00 fine and the student will be called into the Safety and Environmental Compliance Office and
required to view a fire safety video.
3rd offense: $100.00 fine and referral to the Dean's Office for disciplinary action that may result in suspension or
dismissal from the College.
Failure to Leave the Building for any Fire Alarm or Fire Drills
1st offense: student will be called into the Safety and Environmental Compliance Office.
2nd offense: $100.00 fine and the student will be called into the Safety and Environmental Compliance Office and
required to view a fire safety video.
3rd offense: $100.00 fine and referral to the Dean's Office for disciplinary action that may result in suspension or
dismissal from the College.
Tampering with Life Safety Equipment
Students who misuse, tamper or otherwise disturb fire safety equipment, including smoke and carbon monoxide
detectors, fire extinguishers, pull stations, fire doors, activate fire alarms due to smoking or the removal of batteries
from carbon monoxide detectors or cover detectors are subject to a $250.00 fine as well at the cost of restoring the
equipment. Student will be called into the Safety and Environmental Compliance Office and will be required to
view a fire safety video. Students involved in a 2nd offense will be fined $500.00 and will be referred to the Dean's
Office for disciplinary action that may result in suspension or dismissal from the College.
Placing Lights or Items on Sprinkler Pipes or Sprinkler Heads
1st offense: student will be issued a written warning and/or called into the Safety and Environmental Compliance
Office.
2nd offense: $50.00 fine and student called into the Safety and Environmental Compliance Office and required to
view fire safety video.
3rd offense: $100.00 fine and referral to the Dean's Office for disciplinary action that may result in suspension or
dismissal from the College.
Improper Disposal of Cigarettes and Smoking
1st offense: $250.00 fine and the student will be called into the Safety and Environmental Compliance Office.
2nd offense: $500.00 fine and student will be called into the Safety and Environmental Compliance Office to view a
fire safety video. Additionally, the student may be referred to the Dean's Office for disciplinary action that may
result in suspension or dismissal from the College. Students are held responsible for the condition of their room,
suite, or entry common area. If the responsible parties cannot be identified for the improper disposal of cigarettes,
the house, entry or suite will be charged with the fine.
All building are smoke-free-Individuals are not permitted to smoke within 25 feet of any building on campus. Students smoking in the residence halls will result in the following fines.
1st offense: $50.00 fine.
2nd offense: $100.00 fine and referred to the Campus Life Office
3rd offense: $150.00 fine and referred to the Dean's Office.
These fines and regulations will be progressive over your four years as a student at Williams College. If you have any questions about the policy, please call Joe Moran, Manager of Safety and Environmental Compliance, at x2406.
Identification Cards / Access to Student Residences
Student identification cards are equipped with a magnetic strip which, when swiped through card readers, allow for student entry to buildings. Tampering or misusing the card reading system will result in a $50 fine to the house or individual responsible, and disciplinary action.
Lost cards should be reported to the Campus Safety and Security Office located in the basement of Hopkins Hall immediately. The card will be replaced and the student charged $10.00.
Keys
A room key or code is issued to each student upon checking in. Students must sign for and pick up keys or codes in person-keys may not be picked up by friends or other acquaintances. When not in their rooms, students should lock their doors and carry their room keys with them. If a room key is lost, the Facilities Service Office should be contacted for a replacement and a lock change. A charge of $25.00, billed to a student's account, will be assessed. Student identification cards will be requested to confirm identity and room assignment. Students who do not return keys when they vacate their rooms will be charged $75.00 for the unreturned key. This charge is not refundable. Dorms with locknetics coding system also carry a $25.00 charge if codes are forgotten or given out to friends and then requested to be changed.
Students should carry their room keys with them. When requested by a student, the Campus Safety and Security Office will open an inadvertently locked room or lock a room inadvertently left open once during the academic year, but will charge $10.00 for each subsequent request for room opening or locking by the same student. Students whose rooms are locked or unlocked by Campus Safety and cannot produce a key at that time, must then show their key to the Facilities Service Office by noon on the next business day or the Facilities Service Office will notify the College locksmith of a lost key. The room lock will be changed and the student billed as described above.
Dining together is an important aspect of participation in the residential community. It affords very effective opportunities for social exchange and participation in programming. Therefore, all students residing in dormitories and residential houses must choose a board plan from the three available options: 21 meals per week, any 14 meals per week, or any 10 meals per week. For seniors only, there is a plan that offers any 5 meals per week. Seniors in cooperatives may purchase blocks of 50 meals, or either the 5 or the 10 meals per week plan. Although off-campus students are not required to purchase meal plans, all meal plans are available to them. The dining halls use an electronic ID system that makes possible the offering of the board plans in the dining halls. Meal equivalency is available as a dining option at Whitmans', '82 Grill, Grab 'n Go, Lee Snack Bar and at Eco Café. Students are reminded that a valid meal I.D. is required in order to dine at our venues. In the instance a student does not have their card, a $5.00 processing fee will be assessed. A lost card must be reported to Campus Safety and Security immediately so that it can be deactivated. The new card should then be brought to the Dining Services Office to activate your meal plan. Students are responsible for a lost/stolen card until it has been reported. The Office of Campus Safety and Security will replace lost cards at a charge of $10.00.
All those on a board plan may take meals in any student dining hall. The board plans do not provide credit for missed meals. Also, they do not provide for food to go except at Grab 'n Go and Lee Snack Bar. Consequently, book bags, knapsacks, and other carry-out containers with the exception of CUPPS cups must be left outside the dining halls. Meal plans are non-transferable and students are reminded to safeguard their IDs. (See page for dining hall hours.)
First Semester meal plan changes can be made September 8-12, 2008 and for second semester February 9-13, 2009.
Special dinners will be offered throughout the year at each unit. Students will be notified on line through the Dining Services web site.
Noise
The creation of persistent and excessive noise is a violation of good conduct. Since student rooms are appropriate places to study as well as sleep, noise should be kept to a minimum at all times.
Pets
Other than fish, no student-owned pets are permitted in College housing. Students who are advised to remove a pet and continue to house a pet will be fined $100 per day for each day the pet remains after notification.
Recycling
Town ordinance requires all residents to recycle clean paper products, cardboard, glass, metal, and plastic containers. Student rooms contain separate receptacles for recyclable paper and trash. Since houses can have different approaches to handling recyclables, students should take note of any communications directed to them on how recycling works for their building. Students who have questions about the recycling program should consult their Junior Advisor, House President, or custodial team. See details on page .
Responsibility for Loss of Personal Property
Care is taken to protect personal property in College buildings, but the College cannot assume responsibility for loss or damage to such property through fire, theft, or any other cause. Students are therefore advised to keep their rooms locked when absent from them and to investigate personal property coverage through their parents' "Home Owners" policy or other ways of obtaining such coverage.
Room Decoration, Construction, and Furniture
Students must be careful when hanging posters, framed prints, mirrors, bulletin boards, etc. as all costs associated with the repair of wall or ceiling damage are billed to room occupants.
The College provides hardware to hang heavier items from the picture molding that runs along the upper walls in most rooms. Do not use nails. For hanging posters, photos, and calendars, use "fun-tack" which is available at local school and business supply stores. An exception to this policy occurs in Tyler Annex and the Greylock Quad, which have masonry walls. Masking tape should be used instead.
Large expanses of flammable fabric, such as burlap or parachute silk, must not be hung as wall coverings or room dividers; this sort of decoration violates state fire codes and will be removed.
Construction by students of built-in furniture or room dividers is not allowed within dormitories or residential houses.
Waterbeds, lofts and cinder blocks are strictly prohibited from all student residence areas. Trampolines are also prohibited on student residential premises.
Students are responsible for the College furniture provided in their rooms. If students choose not to use their College furniture and wish to remove it, they must move it to the storage area designated by the building custodial team; it is also the students' responsibility to return such furniture before they vacate the room. They will be charged the cost of replacement if they fail to return it. Bookshelves, record cabinets, or other free-standing furniture may be moved into College buildings provided they do not interfere with the normal maintenance and cleaning of the room. Such furniture must not be affixed to or wedged against floor, wall, or ceiling surfaces. Students will be asked to remove unacceptable furniture or the College will remove it at the occupant's expense.
The furniture supplied to students in Morgan, Mission Park, Williams, Tyler Annex, East College, Fayerweather, Tyler and Sage does not lend itself to easy movement through the building. Therefore, to avoid unnecessary damage, furniture may not be moved from rooms in these buildings. Furniture in Tyler Annex must remain in rooms as there is not adequate storage.
Violations of construction and decoration regulations will result in a note being left in the room advising the occupant to correct the violation. If violations are not corrected promptly, the College will make the correction at the occupant's expense.
Room Entry and Inspection
The College reserves the right to enter and inspect students' rooms and the contents thereof at any time. The reasons for such entry and inspection may include, but are not limited to, conducting health and safety inspections, insuring compliance with the College's housing policies or other rules, investigating suspected violations of those policies or rules, or acting in the interests of the safety or well-being of the occupant or others.
Room Occupancy and College Vacations
The College will hold a student's room until September 9th. If a student has not checked in to campus by then, the room may be assigned to another student.
Changes from one room to another are permitted, with some restrictions. Students must obtain permission from the Campus Life Office prior to any room change. This is especially important since the student officially registered for a particular room is responsible for any damages which are noted when the room is vacated. Seniors with permission to live off campus must keep their addresses on file with the Campus Life Office.
Students may have guests and visitors, with the consent of their roommates or suitemates, for a maximum of three (3) consecutive days. Students are responsible for the behavior of their guests. Questions or disputes concerning guests should be brought to the attention of the Campus Life Office.
Students who withdraw, who are dismissed, or who are required to resign for academic reasons are expected to vacate their rooms within 48 hours. A charge of $100.00 per day will be billed to the account of any student who fails to meet this deadline. A fine of $150.00 will be imposed when a student does not vacate his or her room by the day and time of the dorm closing, and for each day a student remains beyond the deadline.
All student residences, including co-ops, are closed during Winter Break. Students must vacate their rooms by noon of the day following final examinations. During Spring Break, limited housing is available in certain buildings (typically Mission Park, Greylock and co-ops); other buildings are closed and students must vacate by the deadline announced. At the end of the Spring Semester, students must leave their rooms by noon of the day following the last day of final examinations. Seniors must leave by 5:00 p.m. on Commencement Day. A fine of $150 is imposed for each day a student remains in his or her room beyond the deadlines.
Shortly before the end of the academic year students will be advised of procedures for vacating. These include, but are not limited to, bagging and removing trash in their rooms and removing personal furniture, wood, area rugs, etc. from individual rooms and common areas. These procedures must be followed or a $200.00 fine will appear on student accounts. Likewise, if a student moves out of a room at another time during the year, the room should be left clean and in its original setup or charges may result.
Service Request Procedures
Routine: A routine request for service or repair should be made by calling Facilities at x2486 between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Emergency: During regular working hours as above, call x2486. Outside these hours, call the Campus Safety and Security Office, x4444.
Non-routine Requests: Requests involving student housing outside the area of routine service should be directed in writing to the Director of Facilities Services.
Special Functions: All special event requests should be directed to the Office of Campus Life x4747.
Please be sure to contact Campus Life in a timely manner-they will need to meet the notice requirement indicated below. Campus Life will contact Facilities for assistance with the physical set up (tables, chairs, risers, electrical assistance, etc.). Facilities requires that certain guidelines be met. Failure to meet the requirements listed below will incur additional charges.
Grounds & Electrical Requirements:
D Moves and setups must be scheduled at least 5 working days in advance-(10 working days between 5/1 and 6/15).
D Work requested must be accomplished during normal working hours.
D If a tradesman or custodian is required to be on hand during the event, it will be at the expense of the requestor.
D Requested moves must be to and from locations on campus. Off campus moves and setups will not be accepted by Facilities.
D During extremely busy periods, it may be necessary to hire an outside contractor to accomplish the request. This will incur a charge regardless of whether the above requirements have been met.
Tents-DIGSAFE Procedures
Any person or organization planning to erect a tent on Williams College property will need to contact Facilities at x3496 at least 10 business days prior to the tent being erected.
The following information is required when submitting your request to Facilities:
D Exact date the tent will be erected and removed.
D Site where the tent will be erected and a diagram of the setup (There is a specific designated area at each site that a tent can be erected).
D Name and telephone number of the company that will supply the tent.
D Name and telephone number of the contact person responsible for the event.
If a tent is being erected you must obtain a building permit from the Williamstown Building Inspector.
They require the following items on the permit request:
D The signature of a Williams College representative. Contact Bea Miles (x3496) to have the tent permit signed.
D The signature of your tent company's representative.
D The tent company's workman's compensation information (insurance company name and policy number).
After completion of the requested information, Facilities will handle all of the DIGSAFE requirements. Should any of the information provided change, you will need to contact Facilities immediately.
Please remember that this only concerns tents on College property. It does not cover any other digging or related practices that fall under DIGSAFE laws-please contact x2486 for any concerns other than tents.
ASSISTANCE FROM OTHER SHOPS:Questions regarding other special functions services (carpentry, painting, etc.) should be addressed by contacting the Office of Campus Life. These services will be performed in-house whenever possible. There may be times and/or jobs that will require hiring an outside contractor as specified above. Custodial services for special events can be addressed when reserving your room or by calling the Custodial Office at x2293.
Groundsperson's Assistance (tables, chairs, etc.): Charges will be incurred for the following (if the requirements listed above are not met, the cost for the items listed below could be significantly higher):
D Moves and setups not scheduled at least 5 working days in advance.
D Work requested that can not be accomplished during normal working hours.
D When assistance is requested for an event that is charging an admittance fee.
D When a snow fence is required by security for an outdoor party.
D Use of the Currier Club tables.
During extremely busy periods, it may be necessary to hire an outside contractor to accomplish the request. This will incur a charge regardless of whether the above requirements have been met.
Electrical Assistance (lights, power, PA, etc.): Charges will be incurred for the following (if the requirements listed above are not met, the cost for the items listed below could be significantly higher):
D Moves and setups not scheduled at least 5 working days in advance.
D Work requested that can not be accomplished during normal working hours.
D When a PA system is requested.
Assistance from other shops: Questions regarding other services (carpentry, painters, etc.) should be addressed by calling x2486. These services will be performed in-house as often as possible. There may, however, be times and/or jobs that will require hiring an outside contractor. Custodial questions are addressed in the Clean-Up Policy on page . Other custodial questions can be called in to x2293.
Smoking
Smoking is not permitted in any College building or College vehicle (see details under Smoking Policy on page 20).
Storage
During the academic year, storage space is available in most residence areas. However, furniture (such as beds, couches, chairs, etc.) is not permitted in campus storage, due to lack of space. With the exception of co-ops, where residents monitor their own storage areas, arrangements for storage or removal should be made through the building custodian. (If the custodian has responsibility for more than one building and can't be located, Security may be contacted for access.)
Due to the limited space available, storage rooms are routinely cleaned out at the end of the academic year to provide storage for the following year's class. Any items left in storage at the end of the academic year shall be deemed transferred to the College and will be disposed of at the discretion of the College. It is further expressly acknowledged and agreed by all persons using the storage areas that the proceeds, if any, of such disposal likewise shall be the property of the College.
Storage of items on campus over the summer will be allowed only for international students who are financial aid students with need as determined by the Office of Financial Aid.
The College assumes no responsibility for personal items placed in storage and it is strongly recommended that valuable items such as skis, stereos, personal computers, etc., not be placed in the storage rooms.
There are some local companies which provide storage options for students off-campus. It is entirely the student's responsibility to contact and contract with any local company for storage. Students have typically used Connors Brothers (413-458-8141) and Mullen (413-458-2580). There are others in the area; students should consult the local yellow pages for more information.
Telephones
All student rooms or suites are equipped with modular telephone jacks. Students must provide their own telephones. These should be touch-tone telephones with standard modular connections. Telephone bills are payable by each student in the Student Telephone Office in Facilities. Unpaid telephone bills will result in the termination of long distance service. A full explanation of how the student telephone service works is found in the Williams Telephone Directory, which each student receives at the beginning of the academic year. It is the responsibility of each student to read those instructions carefully.
Voice Mail: The College also provides voice mail for every student. The system is equipped with stutter dial tone to let you know you have a message. Materials for voice mail will be handed out when you arrive and training is available.
Televisions
The College provides a television set to most residential buildings with a common area. Some student rooms have a cable outlet which can be activated by contacting the local cable company. In rooms without a cable outlet, cable hook-ups are not permitted. Do not splice cable wires. It is against Federal Law to do so and large fines from the cable company may result. If you misuse cable wiring, Time Warner will remove all cable, including the primary cable coming into the building, at your expense. No antennae or satellite dishes are allowed at student residential buildings.
Vacating Rooms
See Room Occupancy and College Vacations on page 14.
Incoming first-year students are assigned housing by the Office of Campus Life. Questionnaires are sent via email to incoming first-year students and placements are made once the questionnaires have been received. Notifications of first-year housing assignments are typically mailed to students by late July or early August.
Most upperclass students select their rooms through the annual neighborhood room draw process. This process is outlined to students in the Room Draw Booklet, which is distributed annually to students on-campus early in the spring semester.
A limited number of rising seniors are eligible to live in co-ops. Co-op housing gives students a bit more of an off- campus feel while still living in College-owned property. A limited number of rising seniors are also allowed to live off-campus, in non-College owned housing, which they secure on their own. There is a lottery process for both of these options; information about the lottery is shared with rising seniors just prior to the application process.
Any action interpreted as abuse of the housing selection system will result in the loss of the student's (or students') housing preference and possible disciplinary action.
Housing for Families
Williams is a residential college that requires undergraduate students to live in housing provided by the school. Exceptions are allowed for a limited number of seniors and non-traditional students. The College does not provide housing for married couples or families. Inquiries should be directed to the Director of Campus Life.
Students are required to carry College identification cards and to produce these cards at the request of any College official, including faculty and administrative staff members and campus safety officers. Refusal to do so will be considered a serious offense. Any student who alters a Williams identity card or who allows any card issued in his or her name to be used by any other person is subject to disciplinary action.
Intercollegiate Athletic Equipment
1. Intercollegiate athletes are responsible for all issued athletic clothing, supplies, and equipment. Items should not be transferred between athletes unless the Equipment Manager is notified ahead of time.
2. Athletes must return all issued equipment on Closure Day directly to the equipment room (not left in the locker room; outside the equipment room door; with coaches; with teammates; in chute, etc.).
3. Athletes will then be notified via email listing each missing item and the replacement cost. Students have the opportunity to return these items upon receipt of the notice to remove any replacement charges from their term bill; but will incur a $25.00 late fee per month.
4. Replacement charges are 2 times the cost of the item when originally ordered. This charge is based upon the cost to reorder an individual item, instead of receiving a reduced rate for ordering items in bulk.
5. Issued equipment will not be sold to athletes. Athletes who are interested in purchasing items should consult their coaches at the beginning of their season to do a separate order for the item(s), if available.
According to the Office of Jury Commissioner of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. "Every U.S. Citizen 17 years of age or older who is a Massachusetts
resident or an inhabitant for more than 50% of the time is eligible to serve as a juror. If you are a resident of another state but a student at a Massachusetts College, you are an inhabitant for than 50% of the year and, therefore, eligible to serve as a juror in Massachusetts."
It is not unusual for students residing in Berkshire County to be summoned to serve as trial jurors. Jury Service, on a short-term basis, can provide students with a good opportunity to fulfill one of their important responsibilities as members of the community. Williams College supports students in their fulfillment of this civic duty.
Students should carefully read all materials they receive with their summons to service, which contains helpful information about confirming, postponing, rescheduling, or relocating service, and address many of the most frequently asked questions. Jury duty is an important legal obligation, and those who fail to respond are subject to criminal prosecution.
Students who must miss class in order to fulfill their jury service requirement should notify each of their instructors of the summons and make arrangements to complete any missed work. Staff at the Dean's Office of your school or College of registration may also be able to assist you in making arrangements for missed class time due to jury service. Students may be required to furnish their summons notice or the certificate of service when making these arrangements.
If you have any questions about jury duty, including confirming, postponing, rescheduling, or limiting your service, please consult the Student's Guide to Jury Duty brochure, available in the Office of the Dean of Students, or contact the Office of Jury Commissioner (1-800-THE-JURY/1-800-843-5879). Further information can be found on the Office of Jury Commissioner's website at www.massjury.com.
NESCAC Presidents' Statement on
Abusive Drinking and Hazing
In addition to being partners in athletic competition, the 11 colleges and universities comprising the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) are united in efforts to provide safe environments in which students may mature intellectually and socially.
Recognizing that social life plays a role in the college experience, each campus has increased its efforts to encourage students to make responsible choices. Each school takes a strong stand against substance abuse, including alcohol. While the vast majority of students at NESCAC institutions who choose to drink alcohol do so responsibly, each school has disciplinary and educational programs in place for students who misuse alcohol and other substances. (See page 3 for more information on Williams' disciplinary proceedings for alcohol and drug abuse.)
Additionally, all of the conference schools expressly prohibit hazing. (See page 10 for more information on Williams' policy on hazing.)
NESCAC member institutions: Amherst College, Bates College, Bowdoin College, Colby College, Connecticut College, Hamilton College, Middlebury College, Trinity College, Tufts University, Wesleyan University, Williams College.
adopted 12/14/00
Non-Discrimination Policy and Grievance Procedures
Williams College does not permit discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, national origin, religion, age, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, ancestry, or military service. Any member of the College community who on any of these grounds feels discriminated against by another member of the community should take action. Should the matter involve a faculty appointment renewal decision, the range of appropriate action and the type of further redress open to the complainant are those described on pages 39-42 of the Faculty Handbook. In all other cases, the complainant should use the procedures outlined on pages - of this Handbook.
A non-refundable deposit of $200 to reserve a place in the first-year class is required from all admitted candidates (except certain financial aid recipients) by the Candidate's Reply Date of May 1. The deposit appears as a credit on the semester tuition statement rendered in July.
College tuition statements for one half of all fees are mailed to the billing name(s) and address on record twice a year-in July, payable by August 15, and in December, payable by January 15. Payment may be made by check, money order, or wire transfer. Credit cards can not be used to pay tuition and fees. A fee of $250 may be charged if payment is not received by these dates.
Students who receive a scholarship(s) that was not awarded through the Williams Office of Financial Aid must complete a Scholarship Information Sheet and mail it to the Financial Aid Office by early June. Provisional credit will be posted to the semester statement for the following: anticipated disbursements of direct loans for which a promissory note has been signed and returned to the Office of Financial Aid, anticipated disbursements of outside loans approved by the lender, outside scholarships which have not yet been received and applied against the student account and any remaining semester contract amount for the Ten Month Payment Plan. If actual payment for the above provisional credits are not received by the date anticipated, the provisional credit will expire and be removed from the student's account creating a balance due.
Students with balances unpaid at the start of the semester who have not made satisfactory arrangements with the Bursar will not be permitted to enroll in classes or remain in residence at the College. Furthermore, if arrangements for payment after the start of the semester are approved by the Bursar and these expected payments are not made on time, students may not be allowed to enroll for the next semester.
If efforts by the Bursar's Office to collect the monies owed are unsuccessful, the account could be placed with a collection agency, and if the delinquency persists, the College's experience with the account may be reported to a national credit bureau. It is the policy of the College to pass on to the debtor all reasonable costs associated with the collection of the debt through a collection agency. If at any time the student believes information concerning payment delinquency is inaccurate, he/she should notify the College c/o The Bursar's Office, P. O. Box 406, Williamstown, MA 01267.
There are several loan options available to parents through outside sources. These include the MassPlan Loan through the Massachusetts Educational Financing Authority and the Federal Plus Loan Program. Information on these loans can be found in the brochure A Guide to Borrowing for College.
Williams also offers an installment plan, administered by Tuition Management Services, whereby the yearly charges are paid in 10 equal installments starting in June, with no interest charges. There are no income restrictions. Monthly payments will be the total cost (less any scholarships, Stafford or parent loans) divided by 10. There is an administration fee for this program. Information on this program is sent each spring to all parents or can be obtained by calling Tuition Management Services at (888) 216-4258.
Returned Check Policy
Each check returned to the College for any reason such as "account closed" or "insufficient funds" will be charged to the student's tuition account and a "return check charge" of $20.00 will be assessed. This policy is in effect for any check received in payment of tuition and fees or other payment to any College office or service (i.e., library, telephone, etc.) that is returned to the College. The College reserves the right to require payment in the form of cash, money order, or cashier check.
Sexual assault against adults may constitute any one or more of several crimes, including in particular rape and indecent assault and battery. Under Massachusetts Law, anyone may be victims of sexual assault and anyone may be assailants. See pages - for more information about sexual assault.
"Scientific misconduct" is defined by the U.S. Public Health Service as "fabrication, falsification, plagiarism, or other practices that seriously deviate from those that are commonly accepted within the scientific community for proposing, conducting or reporting research. It does not include honest error or honest differences in interpretations or judgments of data." All allegations of scientific misconduct should be brought to the attention of the Provost of the College who will receive such allegations impartially and without prejudice. The Provost will protect, to the maximum extent possible, the privacy of those who in good faith report apparent misconduct. The Provost will initiate a process, which will consist of an initial inquiry, followed by an investigation if warranted. See pages - for more information on formal procedures.
A healthy and productive educational community is one in which students, faculty, and all staff treat each other with mutual respect. Such a community requires an atmosphere free of discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, national origin, religion, age, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, ancestry, or military service. Sexual harassment, a form of discrimination based on sex or sexual orientation, clearly endangers such an atmosphere and is not tolerated at Williams College. Behavior that constitutes sexual harassment is also prohibited by both state and federal law.
Williams College takes seriously any allegation of sexual harassment and will investigate all such charges promptly. In deciding whether alleged conduct constitutes sexual harassment, and in determining the degree of seriousness of the harassment, the College will look at the record as a whole and at the totality of the circumstances, such as the nature of the sexual conduct and the context in which the alleged incidents occurred. The College's actions, which are designed primarily to remedy any harm done to those who have been subjected to sexual harassment and to protect other members of the community, may range from a warning to suspension or expulsion, when the offender is a student. When the offender is a faculty or staff member, the disciplinary action may range from a reprimand to non-reappointment or the initiation of proceedings for dismissal for cause. They may also include warnings regarding the consequences of future misconduct, removal from certain teaching, advising, or supervisory roles, and other restrictions on the person's professional role at the College. Students and employees who believe they have been sexually harassed may use the discrimination grievance procedures in the Student Handbook, Faculty Handbook, Administrative Staff Handbook, and Support Staff Handbook. Questions of confidentiality are addressed in the discrimination grievance procedures.
See pages - for details on Williams College Sexual Harassment Policy and pages - for discrimination grievance procedures. See also the pamphlet, Sexual Harassment, distributed annually.
Sexual Harassment/Discrimination Advisors
Advisors are available to all members of the College community for consultation concerning incidents that could be a form of discrimination. The advisor's role is described in the Discrimination Grievance Policy and Procedures, printed in the handbooks. Persons serving as advisors are health staff and counselors, assistant and associate deans, Human Resources officers, the Chaplain, and the Affirmative Action Officer. There are also two faculty, two staff, and two student advisors who have received training in sexual harassment and other discrimination advising.
Gina Coleman, Associate Dean, Hopkins
David Johnson, Associate Dean, Hopkins
Laura McKeon, Associate Dean, Hopkins
Charles Toomajian, Associate Dean of the College and Registrar, Hopkins
Arif Smith, Assistant Director of the MCC, Jenness
Michael Reed, Vice President for Strategic Planning and Institutional Diversity, Hopkins
Martha Tetrault, Director Human Resources, B&L Building
Robert Wright, Associate Director Human Resources, B&L Building
Richard Spalding, Chaplain, Paresky Center
Donna Denelli-Hess, Health Educator, Thompson
Ruth Harrison, Director of Health Services, Thompson
Alan Arias '10
Elizabeth Brickley '10
Cathy Johnson, Political Science, Stetson
Enrique Peacock-Lopez, Chemistry, Bronfman
Paula Moore Tabor, Alumni Relations, Mears
Bruce Wheat, Information Technology, Jesup
Standing Panel for Discrimination Grievance Procedures
The grievance committee that hears cases of alleged discrimination (see handbooks) is appointed from a standing panel consisting of thirty-two persons, drawn from several College panels and from the College Council. Its membership also includes a minority faculty and staff representative. Two panel members-one a member of the faculty, the other of the staff-stand ready to chair the grievance committee appointed to hear a particular case.
Faculty Review Panel: Christopher Bolton, Sarah Bolton, William Darrow, Joan Edwards, Jennifer French, Amy Gehring, James Mahon, Peter Murphy, Kashia Pieprzak, Noah Sandstrom, Lucie Schmindt, TBA (1).
Provost's Panel: Michael Frawley, Gary Guerin, Robin Kibler, Richard Nesbitt, Elizabeth Reynolds, Charles Toomajian.
Vice President's Panel: Heather Clemow, Marc Field, Robert Jarvis, Kelly Kervan, Beatrice Miles, Paula Moore Tabor.
College Council Panel: Emily Deans '09, Curtis Flournoy '11, Jeremy Goldstein '09, Peter Nurnberg '09, William Slack '11, Sasha Zheng '11.
Minority Faculty-Staff Representatives: Appointed by the President
Faculty Chair: Appointed by President
Staff Chair: Appointed by President
All members of the community and visitors are expected to comply with the College's regulations on smoking. Because both smoking, and its secondary effects, are known to be health and fire safety concerns, the College prohibits smoking in all buildings, offices, and indoor facilities of the College. The College requires that smoking occur no no closer than 25 feet from a College building. Smoking is also not permitted in College vehicles.
Members of the community are asked to comply with and to enforce these policies. Complaints or questions should be directed to the appropriate executive officer: for the faculty- the Dean of the Faculty; for students-the Dean of the College; for any and all others-the Vice-President for Administration.
Williams College permits student businesses on campus if they provide a useful and desirable service and if the student management is competent and responsible. The College assumes no liability for the products or services provided by student businesses. In deciding whether to permit a student business, the College also must consider both the demands of its tax-exempt status and the need to maintain a harmonious relationship with the Williamstown community. See page for more information about student business regulations.
Williams students initiate a variety of events on campus each academic year, typically through registered student organizations but also as individuals or as groups of friends or athletic teams. The College encourages students to be creative and thoughtful in the events, programs, and parties they initiate, and to consider how each event or program contributes to the Williams community.
Typically, students who initiate such events are provided support by various offices on campus, coordinated through the Office of Campus Life (OCL) or the Multicultural Center (MCC). This coordination often requires communication between OCL or MCC with various offices (including Facilities, Campus Safety, Dining Services, A/V, etc.), and necessitates enough time to consider the particulars of any event.
Below is some basic information for any student who is thinking about organizing an event, program, or party on campus. For more information, contact the Assistant Director of Campus Life - Student Activities at x4749.
Online Event Notification Form (OENF). Any student who wishes to hold an event, program, or party on campus must first complete the Online Event Notification Form (OENF) found via the Office of Campus Life website, for each event.
The OENF asks a number of questions about the proposed event, and when the form information is submitted electronically, it is automatically shared with staff members in Facilities, Campus Safety, the Multicultural Center (MCC), and Campus Life (OCL). First-time student event planners will be contacted by a staff member from OCL or MCC in order to meet and discuss the basics of event planning at Williams before proceeding with carrying out the details of planning the event.
The deadline for submitting the OENF for a basic event is two (2) business days prior to the event. However, details that may complicate an event (for example: a contract - see the "Contracts" section below; a large anticipated attendance; additional electrical support; the need for furniture to be moved or for a special furniture set-up; support from Campus Safety; audio/visual support; a tent; an outdoor set-up; etc.) will necessitate more advance time for notification, typically at least ten (10) business days in advance (more if a contract is utilized) to help ensure that the event can happen. Events that include complicating details that do not meet the 10 business day deadline are not guaranteed to be approved by the College and may need to be rescheduled for a later date.
Contracts. Students are not authorized to enter into legally binding contracts on behalf of the College. Contracts for student-initiated events must be submitted to the OCL or the MCC for review, consideration, and ultimately approval or rejection.
Contract Deadline-value less than $5,000. Must be submitted for review to OCL or MCC a minimum of 15 business days prior to the event, with the signed contract returned to the College within 5 business days after receipt from the College.
Contract Deadline-value $5,000-$15,000. Must be submitted for review to OCL or MCC a minimum of two months (40 business days) prior to the event, with the signed contract returned to the College within 10 business days after receipt from the College.
Contract Deadline-value above $15,000. Must be submitted for review a minimum of three months (60 business days) prior to the event, with the signed contract returned to the College within 15 business days after receipt from the College.
If a student does not meet the deadlines noted above for a particular contract, it will be at the discretion of the Assistant Director of Campus Life - Student Activities in consultation with the Assistant Vice President to determine whether to grant an exception.
Events with Alcohol. Student-initiated events that include alcohol have additional stipulations, both for the event and for the students planning and/or working at the event.
Student Hosts. Certified student hosts are required at events with alcohol. The minimum number of hosts is typically determined by the size of the event, though other factors may also apply. These hosts must come from the sponsoring organization of the event. Hosts may be paid or unpaid; if paid, the rate is $11/hour, paid by the sponsoring organization, and hosts may only be paid for their time during the event.
To be a host at an event with alcohol, students must:
· be at least 18 years of age (one host must be at least 21 years of age)
· take TIPS for the University (offered by OCL, the Health Center, and Campus Safety) and pass the test at the end, at least once during their academic career at Williams
· take the Host/Server Certification Workshop (First-time, then Renewal) and pass the test at the end, each academic year
· follow all policies, procedures, and guidelines as found in Eph's Guide to Student-Initiated
Events with Alcohol, which is distributed during the Host/Server Certification Workshop and can also be found in the appendix in the Student Handbook
Bartenders/Servers. The College recommends that students utilize professional bartenders to serve alcohol at student-initiated events that include alcohol (and will require it for some events based on size, history of the event or student group, location, amount of alcohol, etc.). A list of professional bartenders is available through the Office of Campus Life. The current pay rate for a professional bartender is $30/hour, paid by the sponsoring organization or students.
If a professional bartender is not utilized, certified student servers are required. The minimum number of servers is typically determined by the size of the event, though other factors may also apply. Servers may be paid or unpaid; if paid, the rate is $11/hour, paid by the sponsoring organization, and servers may only be paid for their time during the event.
To be a server at an event with alcohol, students must:
· be at least 21 years of age
· take TIPS for the University (offered by OCL, the Health Center, and Campus Safety) and pass the test at the end, at least once during their academic career at Williams
· take the Host/Server Certification Workshop (First-time, then Renewal) and pass the test at the end, each academic year
· follow all policies, procedures, and guidelines as found in Eph's Guide to Student-Initiated Events with Alcohol, which is distributed during the Host/Server Certification Workshop and can also be found in the appendix in the Student Handbook
For more information regarding events with alcohol, refer to Eph's Guide to Student-Initiated Events with Alcohol on page .
Student Organizations:
Registration and Recognition Process
Please note that all information, except for the membership information, is public information and will be reproduced in publications. Registration with and recognition by Williams College should not be considered as endorsement of the purposes or beliefs of the student organization or its members. Recognition must be renewed every year. Williams College reserves the right to grant, refuse, and suspend recognition to any student organization, given due process. Failure to adhere to Williams College policies and failure to maintain recognition will result in the loss of recognition for the academic year. Please consult with the Williams College Student Handbook and Williams Activities Resource Manual (W.A.R.M.) for policy information.
To Start a New Student Organization:
In order to become registered, pick up a registration form from the Office of Campus Life in Paresky 219. Complete the form and submit it back to the Campus Life Office. Once recognition has been granted/rejected, a copy of the registration form will be returned to the submitting student organization.
Maintaining Recognition ("Active Status"):
In order to maintain "Active Status" recognition all student organizations must: 1) attend the yearly Treasurer Training, offered by the Office of Campus Life - College Council 2) attend the Purple Key Fair, 3) table once per year, and 4) renew their recognition annually. Student organizations that fail to maintain "Active Status" recognition as indicated above may be placed on "Review Status" for a period of up to a year. During this time it is expected that the student organization will fulfill all requirements for recognition. Otherwise, the student organization faces suspension ("Inactive Status") as a student organization. Only student organizations granted "Active Status" may access College funding and services, as well as use the College name, etc.
Though the College does not require the submission of an operating constitution or by-laws, it does highly suggest that student organizations create and adhere to such a document. Constitutions and by-laws help to clear up any ambiguity concerning organizational policies and procedures, thus averting most member complaints and the appearance of impropriety. In addition, the College does not require student organizations to have an advisor(s), but also highly suggests this valuable resource. The purpose of an advisor(s) is not to control or lead the organization, but to provide professional advice and College support to the leadership. Advisors should be non-voting members of the student organization. Campus Life staff are available to advise student groups as requested; students may also wish to ask a faculty or staff member to advice their group.
For more information about starting a student organization, for maintaining recognition, or to inquire about the services provided to students and student organizations, please contact the Office of Campus Life, x4747.
Student Records Access/Disclosure
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) affords students certain rights regarding their education records. They are:
(1) The right to inspect and review the student's education records within 45 days after the institution receives a request for access.
Even though the law allows 45 days, at Williams requests are normally honored at the time they are submitted. Students should submit their requests to the persons maintaining the records to which they wish access, e.g. the registrar, dean, department chair, or other appropriate officials.
(2) The right to request the amendment of the student's education records that the student believes are inaccurate or misleading. Students should address such requests to the official responsible for the record and must clearly identify the parts of the record which they wish amended and why they believe them to be inaccurate or misleading.
If the official responsible for the record does not agree to amend the record as requested, Williams will notify the student of the decision and advise him or her of the right to a hearing and the procedures for initiating one.
(3) The right to consent to disclosures of personally identifiable information contained in the student's education records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent.
One exception which permits disclosure without consent is to school officials with legitimate educational interests. For these purposes, a school official is a person employed by the College in an administrative, supervisory, academic, research, or support staff position, including security and health personnel; a person or company with whom the College has a contract such as an attorney, auditor, collection agent, or educational researcher; a person serving on the Board of Trustees; or a student serving on an official committee such as the disciplinary committee, or assisting another school official in performing his or her tasks.
A school official has a legitimate educational interest if the official needs to review an education record in order to fulfill his or her professional responsibility.
Williams also discloses educational records without prior consent upon request from another educational institution in which the student seeks or intends to enroll.
The College may also disclose to parents and guardians of a student under the age of 21, without the student's consent, information regarding the student's violation of any Federal, State, or local law, or any rule or policy of Williams, governing the use or possession of alcohol or a controlled substance.
The law also allows Williams to make public, without prior consent of the student, the final results of the disciplinary proceedings conducted by the College concerning an allegation of a crime of violence against a student who is an alleged perpetrator of a crime of violence, if the student is found to have violated the College's rules or policies with respect to that crime.
In addition, the College may make public the following student directory information unless the student informs the registrar in writing before 15 September that his or her prior consent be required during that academic year: name; permanent and College addresses; campus electronic mail address; permanent, cell, and campus telephone numbers; date and place of birth; country of citizenship; major field; extra-curricular activities; height and weight of members of athletic teams; dates of attendance; degrees, honors and awards; other schools attended.
(4) The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by Williams to comply with the requirements of FERPA. The name and address of the office that administers FERPA is: Family Compliance Office, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20202-4605.
Questions about the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act or other related matters should be directed to Charles R. Toomajian, Jr., Associate Dean of the College and Registrar.
Use of College Buildings and Facilities
The use of College buildings for such purposes as lectures, plays, musical performances, dances, etc., must be approved by the appropriate College authorities. College buildings and facilities may not be used for the purpose of participating in, or intervening in, any political campaign on behalf of any candidate for public office.
The College does not encourage possession of a motor vehicle or consider it a necessity in any way. It does, however, permit students, with the exception of first-year students, to bring motor vehicles to the campus subject to the following regulations which are in effect at all times, including summer vacations and all College recesses and holidays.
The issuance of a permit to operate a motor vehicle while at Williams is a privilege that may be revoked at any time for any infraction of the motor vehicle regulations. The Associate Director of Campus Safety and Security administers these regulations. Vehicles must be operated in accordance with state and local laws. Serious or continued violations will result in the suspension of driving privileges. Students whose motor vehicle permits have been suspended will be required to remove their vehicles from the campus. Any student who switches parking decals with another student, alters or sells their parking decal to a student will permanently lose their ability to register a vehicle while a student at Williams College and may also be subject to disciplinary action.
Williams College is not liable for any loss or damage to vehicles. Students who make use of their own vehicles on College business do so at their own risk, and they should be aware that the College's liability insurance will not protect them in the event of an accident even when they are being reimbursed or hired by Williams.
Accidents
Drivers involved in an accident should:
1. Immediately secure care for injuries.
2. Notify the police.
3. Remain at the scene of the accident.
4. Notify the Dean's Office and the Campus Safety and Security Office if the accident is major or personal injury is serious.
It is a state law in Massachusetts that seat belts must be worn while operating a motor vehicle and approved helmets must be worn when riding motorcycles.
Bicycle Registration
By Town ordinance all bicycles must be registered with the Williamstown Police Department. The Campus Safety Department provides this service. There is a 25 cent fee.
First-Year Students-Use of Personal Motor Vehicles
Williams College does not allow first-year students to park or operate a motor vehicle on any college owned property, at any time during the academic year, nor does it recognize any agreement between upper-class students and the parents or member of the first-year class in any vehicle lease contracts. These prohibitions are necessary because of a lack of parking facilities. First-year students are allowed to operate college-owned vehicles. Arrangements must be made through the Office of Campus Life and Facilities.
First year violations are a minimum of $50.00, no warnings. If a first-year student receives five or more violations they will lose their privilege of registering a vehicle on-campus during their sophomore year. Each ticket issued after five violations will be $125.00.
Motor Vehicle Registration
A student must register vehicle in his/her possession with the Campus Safety Department upon arrival in Williamstown (see section 3, chapter 90, General Laws of Massachusetts). To complete this process the following documents will be needed:
1. Registration certificate for the vehicle.
2. Evidence of liability coverage for any authorized operator of the vehicle.
3. Receipt from the Cashier's Office (Hopkins Hall) for the registration fee.
All vehicles (including motorcycles and mopeds) arriving in Williamstown
during the fall semester will be registered at the regular academic year rate
of $60 per year. Rebates will be considered upon later application.
Temporary parking permits will be issued only in the circumstances deemed appropriate. A fee of $4 per week will
be assessed. Temporary permits can not exceed a four-week period.
A Williams College parking decal must be displayed in the right lower corner of the rear window. Failure to display the decal will result in a violation. Any changes to the vehicle (new paint color, different license plates, etc.) must be reported immediately to the Campus Safety Department.
Proceeds from all fees are placed in the general fund and used by the college for parking lot maintenance and related expenses.
Pre-Registration
All students that are eligible to have a vehicle on campus for the 2007-2008 academic year will be able to participate in the parking lottery.
Motor Vehicle Regulations
Because of limited parking facilities, the use of motor vehicles on campus by students must be kept to a minimum and parking regulations must be strictly observed. All student vehicles, whether or not the student in control of the vehicle is living on or off campus, must be registered with the Campus Safety and Security Office.
The owner or person in charge of a motor vehicle is responsible for all violations involving his or her vehicle.
Parking
Each vehicle registered with the College (including motorcycles and mopeds) is assigned space in a student parking lot. During regular business hours, Monday through Friday, students must keep their vehicles in their assigned lots. The only exceptions are:
April 15-November 15
1. Students may park in faculty/staff spaces between the hours of 5:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m., Monday through Friday nights.
2. Students may park in faculty/staff spaces between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday, except Lawrence Hall Drive where students may park between the hours of 6:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m., seven days a week.
3. Students may park in the lot between Facilities and the Towne Field House as early as 3:30 p.m. on weekdays and 9:00 a.m. on weekends. No overnight parking is allowed. All vehicles must be removed prior to the 5:00 a.m. deadline.
November 16-April 14
1. Students may park in faculty/staff spaces between the hours of 5:00 p.m. and 2:00 a.m., Monday through Friday nights.
2. Students may park in faculty/staff spaces between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 2:00 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday, except Lawrence Hall Drive where students may park between the hours of 6:00 p.m. and 2:00 a.m., seven days a week.
3. Students may park in the lot between Facilities and the Towne Field House as early as 3:30 p.m. on weekdays and 9:00 a.m. on weekends. No overnight parking is allowed. All vehicles must be removed prior to the 2:00 a.m. deadline.
Restricted Areas
1. Students are restricted at all times from parking in the First Congregational Church lot and at the Williams Inn unless they are there as a customer or as a registered overnight guest.
2. Town Streets-no overnight parking.
3. Hopkins Hall Drive-no student parking.
4. Temporary spaces-no student parking unless designated.
5. The west bay of Jesup parking lot.
6. The parking garage.
7. All service vehicle spaces.
8. Students may only park in their assigned lot. All other student lots are restricted.
Further information about parking rules and regulations will be provided by the Campus Safety and Security Office at the time students register vehicles.
General Vehicle Regulations
Chapin Hall Drive, Hopkins Hall Drive and CTD Drive are ONE WAY ONLY streets, north from Main Street. Violators will be ticketed. Student vehicles may not operate on campus in excess of 19 miles per hour and in many locations the speed should be lower.
Penalties
All rules are strictly enforced. A total of two warnings per year apply only to tickets issued for A-D violations.
A) Parking in restricted area $25.00
B) Unregistered/Failure to display decal $25.00
C) Overtime $25.00
D) Parking in grass $50.00
E) Parking in handicap $101.00 no warning
F) Parking in fire lane $101.00 no warning
G) Unsafe Operation $101.00 no warning
H) Boot/immobilizer fee $101.00 no warning
G violations include: 1) one way/wrong way violation, 2) failure to stop or yield at a marked intersection, 3) excessive speed.
An immobilizing device may be placed on unregistered or unidentified vehicles found repeatedly parked illegally on campus. It will be necessary for the person responsible for the vehicle to report to the Campus Safety Department before the apparatus is removed. There will be a $101.00 fee assessed to remove the boot and the total fine must be either paid in full or placed on a term bill.
Repeated offenses beyond the tenth are $125.00 each and may result in towing and/or disciplinary action. The suspension issued on the tenth ticket will be for the remainder of the current academic year. However, if a student receives five suspended tickets the suspension will be extended to the next academic year.
Tickets will be placed on vehicles that are illegally parked or in violation of a rule or regulation. Students will periodically be notified about the fine totals and should make payment at the Cashier's Office in Hopkins Hall.
All unpaid violations will be placed on a term bill for payment.
Ticket Appeals
Ticket appeals will all be made in writing within 30 days of the date of the ticket and will only be accepted if the citation is attached. Forms are available at the Campus Safety and Security Department in the basement of Hopkins Hall. The Ticket Appeals Committee will decide the merits of all individual ticket appeals. The Ticket Appeals Committee has three voting members representing the faculty, staff and students. The Committee's decision is final.
Parking Rules and Regulations
A copy of the parking rules and regulation is available online (www.williams.edu/admin/security/rules/vehicle/index/php).
Use Of College Vehicles
Student organizations with account numbers may use College vehicles according to the following priority:
1. athletics
2. administrative offices
3. academic offices
4. student organizations
Overnight trips are not permitted except in connection with officially sponsored events. College vehicles are not available for personal use. Unsafe, prohibited, or inappropriate use of college vehicles may result in the loss of driving privileges.
Visitor Parking
Visitors driving to campus are required to park in designated visitor areas and display a temporary visitor parking pass. Passes are available 24 hours a day in the Campus Safety Department, basement of Hopkins Hall. Both the visitor and student host must be present to receive the pass which can be issued for as many as three days.
Vending Policy: Regulations on the Sale of Goods and Services on Campus by Outside Vendors
These policies and procedures apply to all outside vendors wishing to sell goods or services on the Williams College campus other than those organized by the Dean's Office or the Campus Life Office as part of the opening of the academic year. They are intended to maximize convenience to students and fairness to vendors, and to minimize bureaucracy.
At Williams College, being private property, the sale of goods and services by outside vendors should occur only when doing so contributes to the College's functioning as a residential institution or raises funds for student activities.
Availability:
Once approved by the Office of Campus Life, vendors may sell goods and services from a single table in the Paresky Center Tabling Area between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Mondays-Fridays, and only during specific times of the year, typically the first two weeks of each semester and the first two weeks of December. Vendor setup space is limited, and vendors are limited to two sale days during each selling period. Contact the Office of Campus Life for more information.
Costs:
Because vendors are selling in a facility for which they pay no overhead and which functions as part of the residential complex for Williams students, each vendor is required to remit 10% of their daily gross sales to the Office of Campus Life, which is then deposited into the College Council account.
Process:
Vendors wishing to sell at Williams College must call the Office of Campus Life at 413-597-4747, weekdays between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. to book a table. Before beginning to sell, the vendor must check-in with the Office of Campus Life. At the end of the sales day, or at the end of the last of the two days' series, the vendor must present to the Office of Campus Life a check payable to Williams College or cash covering 10% of their gross sales during their vending period. Vendors unable to follow through on their reservations should notify the Office of Campus Life as soon as possible.
Williams College reserves the right to refuse access to this service to any vendor selling goods or services deemed inappropriate. For example, no credit card companies will be allowed to vend on campus, and no items that can be used for the purpose of incense or candles, etc. Williams College reserves the right to require that any vendor provide the College with a certificate of insurance demonstrating adequate general liability coverage and workers' compensation, and naming the College as additional insured.
Under federal law students may declare themselves residents of Williamstown if they wish to vote here. In compliance with Commonwealth of Massachusetts law, mail-in voter registration forms for students wishing to register to vote in Massachusetts are available online (www.state.ma.us/sec/ele/elestu/stuidx.htm). For students from other states who desire to vote in a state other than Massachusetts, the Federal mail-in affidavit or a mail-in form supplied by that state may be used. The student must contact the appropriate state election official to receive the state form, call or write the Massachusetts Elections Division for a Federal form, or download a form (www.state.ma.us/sec/ele/elestu/stuidx.htm).
The rights and privileges of Williamstown voters are: to vote in all local, state, and federal elections; to attend and participate in Town Meetings; to serve on any town committee; to run for elective office; and to sign petitions and nomination papers. Before making the decision to become legal residents of Williamstown, however, students should inform themselves fully about certain implications thereof, such as: the possibility that their belongings at college would no longer be covered by their parents' personal property insurance policy, the state law that requires all new residents with motor vehicles to obtain a Massachusetts driver's license and motor vehicle registration (with compulsory liability insurance and annual excise tax) within thirty days of taking up legal residence here, and the state income tax.
Withdrawing, Transferring, or Returning
Students may request personal leaves of absence from a dean and, if granted, withdraw from the College. Such time away, often as a period of reassessment and self evaluation, can prove to be educationally beneficial. A withdrawal in good standing may be granted for not less than one semester and not more than three years. Students who withdraw in good standing are readmitted with the approval of the Dean's Office and are expected to complete the degree without further interruption.
Students may request permission from a dean to withdraw at any time. If a student is granted a personal leave of absence after the semester begins, but before the end of the drop/add period, the transcript will list the date of withdrawal as the day before the term began. If a personal leave is granted after the end of the drop/add period, but before the end of the eighth week of the semester, the transcript will list the date of withdrawal, but the semester will not count toward the maximum of eight allowed to complete the degree. If a personal withdrawal is allowed after the eighth week of the semester, the transcript will list the date of withdrawal and the courses in progress, each with a W; the semester will normally count toward the maximum of eight allowed to complete the degree and the student will incur deficiencies that must be made up before returning to the College.
Refunds of payment or credit on student accounts in the event of withdrawal are as follows:
Students who are considering withdrawal from the College should be sure to meet with the Dean's Office, the Financial Aid Office and the Bursar's Office before rendering their final decision.
*Housing and miscellaneous fees are not pro-rated after the start of classes. Coverage under the College's student health insurance plan will continue for the length of the plan (August 15, 2008-August 15, 2009).
For students receiving Title IV federal funds, repayment of federal funds on a pro-rata basis will be determined up to the 60% point of the semester per federal regulation. Please note that withdrawal late in the semester could result in a balance owed to the College for federal aid that must be returned to the program.
Repayment is first made to federal programs in the following order: Unsubsidized Federal Direct Stafford Loan, Subsidized Federal Direct Stafford Loan, Federal Perkins Loan, Federal Direct PLUS Loan, Federal Pell Grant, Federal SEOG, Federal ACG, National Smart, Federal SSIG, Robert Byrd Scholarship. Any remaining credit balance reimburses other sources in the following order: Williams scholarship, other scholarships, other parent loan programs and family. Specific examples are available on request.
The College offers, through A.W.G. Dewar, Inc., a Tuition Refund Plan which supplements the Williams College Refund Policy in certain circumstances. A brochure describing this plan will be sent to you under separate cover, or you may contact Dewar, Inc. directly at (617) 774-1555 or online at http://www.tuitionrefundplan.com.
The College will issue a 1098-T form at the end of each calendar year for the HOPE and Lifetime Learning tax credits.
Mandatory Medical Leave
The College may require the withdrawal of a student who has any illness, behavior or condition that might endanger or be damaging to the health or welfare of the student or any other member of the college community, or whose illness, behavior or condition is such that it cannot be treated or managed effectively while the student is a member of the college community. A student who leaves the College under such circumstances normally will be required to spend at least one academic year away before re-entry is considered.
