The Division of Student Life is primarily concerned with promoting and enhancing opportunities for education and personal growth beyond the formal classroom setting. The various offices listed below provide services, workshops and individual assistance offered by professional and paraprofessional staff.
Academic Support
The academic program is central to the mission of the College. A member of the faculty serves a three-year term as associate dean of students for academic affairs. This associate dean, who chairs the faculty’s Committee on Academic Standing, monitors the academic progress of students toward meeting degree requirements, administers academic regulations, supports academic advising and assists the Honor Court. This associate dean is available to consult with students, faculty members or parents who need assistance or support with matters pertaining to the academic progress of a student. The Senior Associate Dean of Students serves as Coordinator of Study Abroad programs and is responsible for advising students as they make preparations to study away from Hamilton.
Health Services
The programs, services and personnel of the Student Health Service at Hamilton are dedicated to encouraging and maintaining the health and safety of students. Values that underlie the delivery of services are excellence in patient care, respect for the individual, service through education and direct patient care. The various services and programs offered by the Student Health Service promote healthful choices and behaviors through educational programs directed at issues germane to the lifestyles of the college-age population, assessment and treatment of illness, consultation/referral to appropriate health care professionals and emergency coverage.
Staffing–The Student Health Service, located in the Thomas Brown Rudd Health Center, is staffed by a director/nurse practitioner (a registered professional nurse who has, through additional education, acquired advanced knowledge and clinical skills to provide a wide range of health-care services), another nurse practitioner, a registered nurse and a medical secretary/medical records assistant. Medical doctors are on site six hours per week during clinic hours and are available for consultation when not on site.
Clinic Hours–The clinic is open from 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and 10:00 a.m. -4:30 p.m. Wednesday during the academic year. It is closed during Thanksgiving, December and spring breaks. After-hour care is provided by contacting Campus Safety to arrange free taxi service to Slocum Dickson Urgent Care or St. Luke’s Memorial Hospital Center. Hamilton is fortunate to have a state-approved Emergency Medical Service on call to respond to accidents, acute on-site illness and injuries.
Students are seen by appointment. These may be made by calling 859-4111. The staff promotes a healthful lifestyle and provides preventative medical care, diagnosis and treatment of illness and injury, with consultation and/or referral to other health care professionals when appropriate.
Confidentiality–All visits are strictly confidential. Patients have a right of access to their confidential written medical records. In case of a serious medical emergency, the medical staff may need to communicate information to the immediate family and to the Office of the Dean of Students.
Charges–The clinic service is free. Minimal charges may be incurred for in-house laboratory tests, immunizations or health maintenance supplies. There is a charge for all prescribed medications. Students with prescription insurance cards are responsible for notifying the health care provider at each visit. Any charges incurred at the Center may be paid to the Business Office or charged to the student’s account. Expenses incurred at medical facilities off campus, including x-rays, medications, after-hour care, referrals and diagnostic laboratory tests, will be billed directly to the student by the provider and will be the responsibility of the student. All students must carry adequate health insurance. Optional health insurance coverage is available by submitting information to the Business Office. Hamilton provides supplemental accident coverage for all full-time students. This coverage is excess insurance, and claims must be first submitted to the student’s private insurance carrier. Charges not related to accidents are not covered by this policy. Medical bills and insurance information are handled through the Student Health Service.
Allergy shots are given at no charge during scheduled hours twice a week. Students must provide their serum and precise instructions from their private physician. The Student Health Service should be advised if allergy shots are needed.
Group Accident Insurance–Accident insurance is extended without separate charge to all regularly enrolled students for the academic year. However, this is excess insurance over any other collectible insurance covering the student as a dependent. This includes, but is not limited to, Blue Cross-Blue Shield or the parents’ group insurance program.
Coverage under both the basic and the major medical plans is available for losses caused by accident only, both on and off campus, but the accident must occur during the academic year. There is no coverage during the summer break. Treatment must commence within 180 days of the accident, and all bills for charges accumulated during a given treatment must be presented within two years of the incident.
Accident insurance is also provided for intercollegiate sports. In the event of an intercollegiate sports injury, this coverage is primary. Club sports are not covered under this plan and fall under the group accident insurance plan.
Health Insurance–Hamilton College requires that all students have some form of health insurance coverage. For students who are not covered under a parent’s policy, or students who would like additional coverage, Hamilton offers a limited benefits health insurance plan. Coverage under this policy is voluntary. However, if proof of other comparable health insurance coverage has not been provided to the Health Center, students will be automatically enrolled in and billed for this plan. An outline of the plan and premium information may be obtained from the director of administrative services at 859-4999.
Other than the provisions of the Medical Service and Group Accident and Health Insurance programs described above, the College assumes no responsibility for medical or health services to its students.
Medical Waste Alert–Containers for proper disposal of medical waste (for example, insulin syringes and needles) are available at the Health Center. Students who receive home injections and need to dispose of syringes should pick up a Sharps Container from the Health Center at the beginning of the semester and return the filled container before leaving campus. The Student Health Service will see that the medical waste is disposed of in accordance with New York State law.
Multicultural Life
The assistant dean of students provides leadership for the development of educational, cultural and social programs that enhance intercultural understanding and foster a campus climate that celebrates and respects the uniqueness of all its members. The term “multicultural” is meant to include not only students from diverse racial, cultural and ethnic backgrounds, but also students of different genders, sexual orientations and socioeconomic classes.
The dean serves as an advocate for students from diverse racial, cultural and ethnic backgrounds and sexual orientations, and works cooperatively with admissions, faculty members, administrators and students to build and strengthen support networks and to increase and retain representation of historically under-represented groups.
Faculty members and administrators advise the Asian Cultural Society, Black and Latin Student Union, Islamic Association, La Vanguardia, Middle East Union, Native American Studies and Students’ Association, Rainbow Alliance and the Womyn’s Community Center. Through leadership development and workshops, these organizations work to provide the campus with outstanding educational, awareness, cultural and social events throughout the academic year.
Support Services for Students with Disabilities
Hamilton College is committed to providing equal opportunity and access to qualified students with physical, mental or learning disabilities. Although the College does not have a specialized program for students with disabilities, the associate dean of students (academic) will coordinate individualized accommodations and support services for any student who needs them. In addition, support services such as the Reading/Writing Center, the Study Skills Center and the Quantitative Literacy Center are available to all students.
Students seeking special arrangements due to a disability should provide the associate dean with a recent evaluation conducted by a specialist in the appropriate field. It should include a diagnosis of a disabling condition and recommend accommodations. Using this information, in consultation with the student, his or her professors and, if necessary, other qualified experts, the associate dean will help the student to develop a system of support services that are appropriate to the student’s needs. Requests for special arrangements should be made well in advance of the time they will be needed.Questions about services may be directed to associate dean of students (academic) or the compliance officer for the Americans with Disabilities Act.
