Violent Felony Offenses/Missing Student
The Hamilton College Department of Campus Safety has a plan for the investigation of any violent felony offense occurring at or on the grounds of Hamilton College. In addition they have a plan for the investigation of a report of a missing student. The investigation of such crimes shall be done in coordination with local law enforcement agencies. Hamilton College has written agreements with appropriate local law enforcement agencies providing for the prompt investigation of such crimes and reports. For more information relating to violent felony offenses or missing students please contact the Department of Campus Safety at 315-859-4141.
Advisory Committee on Campus Security
Hamilton College has instituted a Personal Safety Committee that has student, faculty and staff membership. All meetings are open to the College Community. This committee reviews campus security policies and procedures and issues of related to personal safety and makes recommendations for their improvement. For more information on the Hamilton College Campus Safety Advisory Committee please contact the Director of Campus Safety (315-859-4141) or visit the Campus Safety website at: http://www.hamilton.edu/college/safety/.
Crime Statistics
The Advisory Committee on Campus Safety will provide upon request all campus crime statistics as reported to the United States Department of Education. Contact the Department of Campus Safety (315-859-4141) to request a copy of the Hamilton College crime statistics. Information can also be obtained from the U.S. Department of Education website at: http://ope.ed.gov/security/.
Portions of this policy were adapted from policies of NCHERM, SUNY University at Buffalo and Skidmore College.
Traffic and Parking Regulations
Hamilton College is a pedestrian campus. To ensure public safety, all members of our community and their guests are expected to familiarize themselves with the policies outlined in Campus Safety's Parking Guide and must comply with them at all times. The Parking Guide explains all parking regulations and the sanctions that result from violations of them. The Parking Guidebook is available by clicking here.
All vehicles parked on the Hamilton College campus must be registered with the Department of Campus Safety on a permanent or temporary basis. Sophomore, junior, and senior students may register one vehicle and will be charged $100 per academic year, or $50 per semester. Temporary permits will be issued to all other persons at a per diem rate of $1. First year students may not have vehicles on campus; violation of this policy may result in loss of parking privileges in the sophomore year.
Temporary and permanent parking permits are available in the Campus Safety office. All members of the community are expected to register their vehicles in a timely manner. Vehicle registration information can be found on the Campus Safety web site by clicking here.
Hamilton College assumes no liability for loss or damage to any vehicles parked on College property, or personal property left within, on, or around such vehicles. The College assumes no liability for vehicles that are towed by local agencies.
The Parking Guide and general information on a wide range of topics are available online from the Department of Campus Safety or by calling (315) 859-4141.
Identification
All members of the Hamilton community are issued ID cards and are required to identify themselves upon request to any College official or member of Campus Safety. Defiance or misrepresentation will be considered a serious offense, subject to disciplinary action.
Library Regulations
The Hamilton College libraries comprise the Daniel Burke Library, the Music Library and the Jazz Archive in McEwen Hall, and the Media Library in Christian A. Johnson Hall.
The General Collections
Hamilton College students may borrow up to 200 books for the entire semester. During the last two weeks of a semester, books may be renewed, and will then become due on the last day of the following semester. Seniors may not renew books during their last semester. The library may recall books after 14 days if another patron has requested them. Books that have been recalled must be returned and may not be renewed. The College ID card serves as the borrower's card. Graduates may request an Alumni Library card. For more information about borrowing books and reserves from the library, please refer to the Library Web page.
Videos and DVDs are available for three-day loans at the Media Library in Christian A. Johnson Hall. CDs, LPs, scores, and music reserve readings are available at the Music Library in McEwen Hall.
Reserve Collections
The reserve collections in the Burke Library consist of course-related readings chosen by faculty members. All members of a class must share in the use of these print materials, and restrictions governing their use are designed to ensure equal access to them. The reserve materials are available at the circulation desks. Students must use their valid College ID card to borrow reserve items. Students may borrow only one reserve item at a time for two hours. Reserve materials may be taken for overnight use two hours before the library closes and must be returned within one hour of opening on the following day. The Media Library and the Music Library also provide reserve collections of course-related materials.
Electronic reserve readings are available on the Library web page through Blackboard and ALEX, the Library catalog.
Newspaper and Journals on Reserve
The library maintains a small collection of newspapers and selected journals at the reserve desk for the convenience of its users.
Non-Circulating Material
Some library materials may be used only in the library. These materials include reference books, periodicals and newspapers, microfilm and microfiche, and rare books.
The use of CDs, LP records, and most other materials in the Music Library is restricted to the library. A collection of music scores, which does circulate, is also housed in the Music Library.
For more information about library collections and regulations governing their use, please refer to the Library Web page.
Interlibrary Loan Services
You can request books, articles, and other materials not available in the Hamilton College Library through our Interlibrary Loan Services. Three weeks is the average amount of time the lending library allows its materials to be borrowed. Books borrowed through Interlibrary Loan should be returned to the Circulation desk at Burke Library by the date indicated on the front of the book. Renewals are granted at the discretion of the lending library.
Special materials such as reference books, entire issues of periodicals, rare books, or recently published books may be difficult or impossible to borrow through Interlibrary Loan. Every effort will be made to obtain a copy of the requested material. Some borrowed materials may be restricted to "In Library Use Only." You can track the status of your request in your account in ALEX, the Library catalog.
Interlibrary Loan materials can be requested for use during the summer research session, if the student is a resident on campus.
Fines
Please refer to the Library Web page for our current policies regarding fines for late, damaged, or lost materials.
Students found in violation of these rules will be subject to a fine or will be taken to the Judicial Board, as appropriate.
Information Technology Resources
Hamilton College offers a wide array of computing, networking, audio, video and telecommunications resources and services to members of the college community. Information Technology Services (ITS) is the organization that oversees the use of these resources at Hamilton. Users of these resources agree to abide by and be subject to the terms and conditions contained in this and all other applicable College policies. This section is a brief summary of the most important IT policies that pertain to students. The full description of all policies can be found at the ITS site.
Students are given access to electronic mail, personal calendar, portal, Blackboard course management system, and network storage.
Passwords should be known only to the person responsible for the account and user ID. Access to user IDs may not be loaned or sold and any suspected breach of password security should be immediately reported to the ITS e-mail administrator. Passwords should be changed (at least) every six months.
Access in Residence Halls
Residence hall connections are intended to provide students with access to telephone and cable television services, and the campus data network. Network connections, wiring, equipment, or jacks may not be altered or extended beyond the location of their intended use. Students must provide their own telephones, televisions, computers, and software. Any costs incurred to repair damages to a network, telephone, or cable television jack in a residence hall room will be divided equally, and billed to the students residing in that room. Management of Internet Bandwidth
The campus network, including our connection to the Internet, is a critical shared resource for supporting the academic program. Low priority uses, including recreational uses, are peripheral to our mission and will receive lower priority during critical times.
Computers connected to the network may not be used as servers for private enterprises, commercial activity, or personal profit. Computers connected to the network may not be used to provide access to the Internet for anyone not formally affiliated with the College. If personal computers on the Hamilton network are used as servers, the administrator has the additional responsibility to respond to any use of the server that is in violation of these policies and procedures. ITS reserves the right to disconnect any computer whose activity causes an adverse effect on the network or on any other user. Network connections may also be revoked in the case of malicious or inappropriate computing activity on the network. Virus Protection
All computers connected to the network must have up-to-date virus protection. Sophos anti-virus software is provided free to all students. Other anti-virus products may be substituted for Sophos Anti-Virus as long as they are kept current.
Windows Updates
All computers running the Microsoft Windows operating system and connected to the Hamilton College network must have a firewall turned on and be kept up-to-date with critical service updates from Microsoft.
Appropriate Use of E-mail
Hamilton strongly recommends that e-mail not be used for confidential communication. E-mail is now considered a formal written record that carries the same legal weight as a formal memorandum. When a private message needs to be conveyed between two individuals, a conversation is the best way to accomplish it. College policy prohibits certain types of e-mail. These include mail that may be perceived as harassment, political campaigning, or commercial solicitation. Chain mail is also prohibited.
Confidentiality and Privacy
ITS takes reasonable steps to protect users from unauthorized entry into their accounts or files. A limited number of authorized Hamilton personnel must occasionally monitor information on the network and/or computer systems to maintain the integrity of the systems.
Private communication via computer is treated with the same degree of protection as private communication in other media. However, due to limits of current technologies, which are inadequate to protect against unauthorized access, the confidentiality of e-mail and other system files cannot be assured. All users should be aware of this and use reasonable caution when transmitting confidential materials.
Individual Responsibility
While ITS is responsible for monitoring the use of computer systems, it is also the responsibility of all individuals in the Hamilton community to urge their peers and colleagues to use the network and systems appropriately. Individual responsibility includes respecting the rights of other users. Under no circumstances may anyone use college IT resources for profit-making activities, in ways that are illegal (e.g. copyright violations), that threaten the College's tax-exempt or other status, or interfere with reasonable use by other members of the College community.
Copyright on Digital Information Systems
Individuals using computers and networks ("Digital Information Systems") at Hamilton College (the "College") are responsible for complying with copyright laws and the College's policies and procedures regarding use of the Digital Information Systems. The College reserves the right to deny, limit, revoke or extend computing privileges and access to the Digital Information Systems in its discretion. In addition, alleged violations of this procedure, the College's policies regarding use of the Digital Information Systems, or other policies of the College in the course of using the Digital Information Systems may result in an immediate loss of computing privileges and may also result in the referral of the matter to the College's judicial system or other appropriate authority.
Peer-to-Peer Programs (P2P)
Spurred on by the widespread use of the Internet, P2P programs have been developed to allow people to share information in digital formats. In particular, programs like KaZaA, Gnutella, Morpheus, AudioGalaxy and others are commonly used to share music and movies without regard to the restrictions placed on that material by the copyright owners. Most commercially produced music and movies are copyrighted and cannot be freely shared. This is the law. In addition, file sharing programs are known to be sources of Spyware which can seriously affect the functioning of a computer system. Hamilton does not examine the information content that is being transmitted (e.g. the music itself) but does monitor the type of information (e.g., that is an MP3 file) in order for us to give priority to academic uses of our network.
You may be making audio and video files available on your computer for uploading over the Internet without your knowledge, or permission through functionality built into file-sharing software resident on your computer. The ITS Helpdesk can help you remove such software.
Appropriate Use
Information Technology Services may suspend or terminate all computing privileges of any individuals without notice who engage in improper computing activities. The list of violations includes, but is not limited to:
Malicious misuse: For example, using IDs or passwords assigned to others, disrupting the network, destroying information, removing software from public computers, spreading viruses, sending e-mail that threatens or harasses other people.
Unacceptable use of software and hardware: For example, knowingly or carelessly running or installing unlicensed software on any computer system or network; giving another user a program intended to damage the system; running or installing any program that places an excessive load on a computer system or network, or compromises the security of the systems or network; violating terms of applicable software licensing agreements, including copying or reproducing any licensed software; or violating copyright laws and their fair use provisions through inappropriate reproduction or dissemination of copyrighted text, images, or other materials; using imaging equipment to duplicate, alter and subsequently reproduce official documents.
Inappropriate access: For example, unauthorized use of a computer account; providing misleading information in order to obtain access to computing facilities; using the campus network to gain unauthorized access to any computer system; connecting unauthorized equipment to the campus network; unauthorized attempts to circumvent data protection schemes to uncover security loopholes (including creating and/or running programs that are designed to identify security loopholes and/or decrypt intentionally secure data); knowingly or carelessly performing an act that will interfere with the normal operation of computers, terminals, peripherals, or networks; deliberately wasting or overloading computing resources, such as printing too many copies of a document; or other activities.
Inappropriate use of electronic mail and Internet access: E-mail communications are subject to statements of conduct. In addition, other activities that threaten the integrity of the system or harm individual users are not allowed. These include, but are not limited to initiating or propagating electronic chain letters; inappropriate mass mailing including multiple mailings to newsgroups, mailing lists, or individuals, forging the identity of a user or machine in an electronic communication or sending anonymous e-mail; using another person's e-mail account or identity to send e-mail messages; attempting to monitor or tamper with another user's electronic communications; reading, copying, changing, or deleting another user's files or software without the explicit agreement of the owner; or using e-mail or personal web page advertising to solicit or proselytize others for commercial ventures, religious or political causes, or for personal gain.
Use of the Beinecke Student Activities Village
The Beinecke Student Activities Village is a multifaceted building designed to enhance the quality of social, cultural and educational programming for students, as well as develop a greater sense of community throughout the entire campus. Each room in the village conveys its own unique personality, which offers students a variety of possibilities for study, conversation, active participation and quiet relaxation.
The Kirkland (fireplace) Lounge, the Fillius Events Barn and the Tolles Pavilion (the Annex) are the only rooms in Beinecke Village that may be reserved for programming purposes. Individuals, organizations and departments requesting use of the Kirkland (fireplace) Lounge, the Fillius Events Barn, the Tolles Pavilion (the Annex) , and/or Events Barn must contact the Student Activities Office and complete a reservation form at least 72 hours prior to the date of the scheduled event. Attendance at a meeting of the Campus Activities Coordinating Committee (CACC) is required on the Tuesday prior to the event to ensure that all arrangements are in order. The CACC meets every Tuesday at 3 p.m. in the Penney Room, Bristol Center.
Large-scale catered functions such as banquets, buffets and dinners are limited to the Tolles Pavilion (the Annex) and are not permitted in the Events Barn. While the Tolles Pavilion (the Annex) may be used for social events with alcohol, the serving, consumption and/or presence of alcohol throughout the remainder of Beinecke Village, including the Events Barn, is strictly prohibited.
Information tables and displays may be arranged on Martin's Way and in the areas to the right of the Diner-side entrance. Requests for display space are limited and accommodated on a first-come, first-served basis. A minimum of 72 hours is required to process requests and reserve tables through the Student Activities Office.
Banners promoting events and programs may be placed along the Martin's Way bridge and from the loft windows over the Beinecke Village breezeway for no more than 24 hours and must be removed by the sponsor at the conclusion of the advertised event or program.
Policies and Procedures for Scheduling Co-Curricular and Extracurricular Events
All public events must be scheduled through the Office of the Assistant to the President, which maintains the College's master calendar. For further information, contact that office.
Proposals for events sponsored by student organizations must first be approved in accordance with "Procedures for Scheduling Programs by Student Organizations." For information on those procedures, see The Student Organization Handbook, available from the Assistant Dean of Students for Campus Life/Director of Student Activities, Bristol Center, or by visiting the online Student Organization Manual.
Posting Policies and Locations for Advertising
Posting is considered to be any information tacked, tied, taped or stapled to any surface on campus. The College welcomes and encourages members of the College community, either as individuals or as members of campus organizations, to communicate information about events, concerns or other matters of general interest.
The Office of Student Activities does not require approval of campus postings before they go up. We do, however, request that you respect campus facilities and not remove other organizations' postings when putting up your information. When posting information, please adhere to the following guidelines:
Postings may initiated by members of the Hamilton Community (students, faculty, staff and administrators) to advertise campus events and programs. Off-campus groups/events must pass separate approval from the Office of Student Activities.
Postings must have contact information clearly stated as to direct individuals who have questions or comments about a particular posting.
Postings must be done on bulletin boards, walls and doors (subject to the guidelines for specific buildings). Postings must never be placed on windows. [Please note that in the Science Center and the Library, posting is only permitted on bulletin boards, NOT on doors and windows.]
Postings using tape must utilize scotch or masking tape (never duct tape).
Postings must not mention the sale or distribution of alcohol.
Postings must be removed after they no longer apply to the Hamilton College community (the event/date has passed).
Postings must be done in a respectful manner. This includes not taking down, covering or interfering with another organization's posting as well as not posting on areas other than bulletin boards, walls and doors.
Sales/Solicitation and Recruiting
Requests for commercial vending and sales must be approved by the Director of Auxiliary Services.
Employment recruiters must be approved by the Career Center. All employment recruiting will occur at the Career Center and/or Bristol Center. Recruiters are not permitted in Beinecke Student Activities Village.
Requests for non-commercial sales, polling, fundraising and information tables sponsored by Hamilton College individuals and/or recognized student organizations must be approved by the Assistant Dean of Students for Campus Life/Director of Student Activities. Non-commercial sales, polling, fundraising and information tables will occur in Beinecke Student Activities Village. Tables and displays may be arranged on Martin's Way and in the area to the right of the Diner-side entrance.
The marketing, advertising and merchandising of credit cards on campus is prohibited.
Rules Relating to Undergraduate Athletics
No group of undergraduates shall take part in athletic sports or give public entertainment without obtaining in advance the consent of the faculty, and application made through the Academic Council; and no undergraduate shall engage in any outside athletic participation which is unauthorized by the Academic Council.
Application for absence in representation of any college organization, athletic, dramatic, debating or musical, must be made in advance to the associate dean of the faculty on a printed form properly filled out and bearing the approval of the head of the department associated with the organization. Plans for such representation are subject to consideration and report by the Academic Council and must be duly authorized before definite engagements are made.
Without the recommendation of the director of athletics or other proper faculty representative and the written permission of the associate dean secured in advance, no participant in any engagement away from the College may take a longer absence from appointed exercises than that granted to the team or club of which he or she is a member. No participant shall travel other than with the team or club of which he or she is a member, unless he or she secures permission in advance.
No undergraduate who receives a gift, remuneration, pay, or any unauthorized award for participation on a College team shall be allowed to take part in intercollegiate athletic competition.
No undergraduate who has used, or is using, knowledge of athletics or athletic skill for monetary gain during the College year shall take part in intercollegiate competition.
An undergraduate's participation in intercollegiate athletics is restricted to a single sport in any season.
All intercollegiate contests must take place on the home grounds of the competing colleges.
All intercollegiate athletic schedules are subject to approval by the faculty. For recognized intercollegiate sports, the maximum number of events in which each team may participate is dictated by regulations specified by the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC). Junior varsity games are limited to a maximum of not more than two-thirds of the regular varsity schedule. In all sports there is to be an even division between home and away games. For informal sports such as fencing, wrestling, sailing and skiing, only contests that do not necessitate absence from class may be scheduled.
Student groups must consult the vice president, Communications and Development, before soliciting funds from the alumni body, excepting normal organization dues.
Class Attendance
Hamilton College is an academic institution. Although the College is committed to athletics as part of a liberal education, student-athletes are students first. Student-athletes at Hamilton have the same academic obligations as other students.
All parties—coaches, instructors, and students—have certain responsibilities in assuring that students are able to balance their academic and athletic activities. Coaches, instructors, and students shall communicate with each other and work together to minimize conflicts. However, in the case of irreconcilable conflict, academic requirements take priority.
Coaches should inform team members at the beginning of the season about obligations arising from team participation that may conflict with academic obligations, including starting times for home contests and practices and departure times for away contests, or that will require students to participate in team activities when classes are not in session. They should also remind students that they must inform their instructors about possible conflicts and make alternative arrangements as early in the term as possible. Students who make such efforts in timely fashion but who cannot be accommodated by the instructor or who choose to honor their academic obligation rather than that to the athletic team should not have their standing with the team jeopardized.
Individual instructors set attendance policies for their courses. Instructors should inform students at the beginning of the first class meeting about course obligations that may conflict with athletic obligations. Instructors are encouraged to accommodate students who wish to make alternative arrangements for completing course obligations because of conflicts arising from athletic team schedules. Athletes may not be held to standards of attendance that are different from those of other students. In courses in which the instructor will not make accommodation, students should be informed during the drop-add week so that they have the option of taking other courses.
Students must inform instructors at the beginning of the term about conflicts with class obligations—including attendance—caused by membership on an athletic team. Should alternative arrangements for completing course obligations not be possible, the student should immediately inform the coach.
Mandatory athletic practices, including suiting up or other preparations for practice, may not require absence from class. Although instructors are expected to end classes by 3:50 p.m., the Athletic Department recognizes that on occasion, especially with labs, a special situation may require a student to stay beyond that time. Under no circumstances will a coach penalize a student for arriving late as a result of participation in a regularly scheduled academic activity.
Athletic Scheduling
In keeping with its commitment to providing an athletic program for student-athletes who value and respect the fundamental educational goals of the College, the College bases its athletic scheduling policy on the need to provide for the integrity of the athletic program while recognizing the priority of academic requirements. The College considers as maximal limits the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) regulations on dates for beginning and ending of athletic seasons, numbers of contests allowed for each sport, and post-season tournament competition
In addition, the following rules govern the scheduling of athletic practices as well as the resolution of conflicts with academic obligations.
Contests may not normally be scheduled so as to conflict with a regularly scheduled course more than once a week or more than a total of five times in fall or spring term.
Normally, intercollegiate contests will not exceed three per team in any Sunday to Saturday period while classes are in session.
Mandatory practices may not require absence from class before 3:50 p.m., and instructors are expected to release students by that time. Instructors who wish to schedule required academic activities outside of class time are reminded that athletic practices begin at 4 p.m., and, just as instructors expect students to attend class sessions, coaches depend on having their full roster of athletes on hand for practice.
Responsibility for setting the rules and supervising their implementation lies with the Committee on Athletics, which will revise the regulations as needed, receive a report about athletic scheduling in the spring of each year from the VP/Dean, and circulate in the fall of each school year the athletic schedule for the year.
Responsibility for scheduling athletic contests lies with the Chair of the Department of Physical Education, who will send to the Committee on Athletics proposed schedules in time to make any adjustments requested by the Committee. The Chair will consult with the VP/Dean annually at the end of the spring term about the operation of the rules that year. In particular, the Chair will consult about the number of occasions, if any, on which exceptions were made to allow absence from a regularly scheduled course more than once a week or five times a term; and scheduling more than three contests per team in any Sunday to Saturday period.
Captain's Practices
NESCAC regulations stipulate that captain's practices "are to be conditioning and fitness workouts. Captains may not conduct organized technical and tactical practices out of season. No fall captains' fitness workouts may be conducted before students are required to be on campus by virtue of the academic calendar" (NESCAC Manual, 17). Hamilton College further stipulates that (1) players are under no circumstances required to attend any captain's practice, and (2) captains' practices are not to be held between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m.
General Oversight
General oversight of athletic scheduling will be a responsibility of the VP/Dean, who will address questions and problems of coaches, instructors, and students; and report annually to the Committee on Athletics on the effectiveness of the rules, the exceptions granted that year, and any problems. Responsibility for setting these rules and supervising their implementation lies with the Committee on Athletics, which will revise the regulations as needed.
Coaches, instructors, and students who have questions about the implementation of these regulations or any problems that they are not able to resolve among themselves should meet with the VP/Dean.
Religious Observance
In order to create an atmosphere that is supportive of religious observance by all members of the Hamilton College community, faculty and administrators shall exercise the fullest measure of good faith to insure that students will be able to fulfill their religious obligations and practices.
Every effort should be made not to schedule College-wide events on major religious holidays; faculty are encouraged to consider conflicts with major religious holidays as they plan their courses and to avoid scheduling mandatory events on these days unless to avoid the conflict would cause undue hardship. In order to assist in realizing this goal, the Office of the VP/Dean shall distribute each year in the Red Book a list of major religious holidays and other pertinent information to the College community.
In compliance with New York Education Law pertaining to institutions of higher education, Hamilton College affirms that "…each student who is absent from school, because of his or her religious beliefs, must be given an equivalent opportunity to register for classes or make up any examination, study or work requirements which he or she may have missed because of such absence on any particular day or days." Further as provided by this law, "no adverse or prejudicial effects shall result to any student because of his or her availing himself or herself of the provisions of this section."
Students have the responsibility of notifying faculty members, at the beginning of each semester, of classes or course requirements that will conflict with religious observances. Students and faculty members are expected to exercise flexibility in negotiating alternative arrangements; students are responsible for making up the work that they miss but will be allowed to do so without penalty, provided that they do so within the terms of their arrangement with the instructor. Faculty members are expected to inform students before the Add deadline if there are requirements for the course, such as field trips or performance dates that are inflexible.
Coaches and athletes are expected to make similar negotiations concerning conflicts between religious observances and practices and contests. Student organizations should inform themselves of potential conflicts with religious holidays in scheduling meetings and requiring attendance at extracurricular events.
For clarification about the application of this policy, students may consult New York State Education Law, section 224-a, their advisors, a chaplain or member of the Chapel Board, or a dean.
Disability Support Services
Hamilton College is committed to providing equal opportunity and access to qualified students with disabilities. Although the College does not have a specialized program for students with disabilities, the Associate Dean of Students for Diversity and Accessibility coordinates individualized accommodations and support services for those that have a documented need. Additionally, support services such as the Writing Center, the Language Center, the Quantitative Literacy Center, the Peer Tutoring Program and the English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) program 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 specific diagnosis, information regarding onset, longevity and severity of symptoms, and information on how the disability and/or related medications and treatments interfere with or limit any major life activity including participation in the courses, programs and activities of the college; and recommended accommodation.
Using this information, in consultation with the student, his or her professors and, if necessary, other qualified experts, the associate dean will help to develop a system of support services that are appropriate to his/her needs. Requests for special arrangements should be made well in advance of the time they will be needed.
To notify the College of a disability and request accommodations, contact the Associate Dean of Students for Diversity and Accessibility, x4021.
Hamilton College Grievance Procedure Under the Americans with Disabilities Act/Rehabilitation Act
This grievance procedure is established to meet the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) and section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. It may be used by a student who wishes to file a complaint alleging discrimination on the basis of disability in the provision of services, activities, programs, or benefits by Hamilton College.
Medical diagnoses and records are treated in a confidential manner, as required by the ethical practice of medicine and by federal and New York State law.
Regarding questions of individual and community health and safety related to specific medical diagnoses or conditions, the College relies on current medical knowledge, professional medical opinion and public health guidelines as set forth by the United States Public Health Service, Centers for Disease Control and the New York State Department of Health. The College considers each case individually.
The College requires, in accordance with New York State law, that all students born on or after January 1, 1957, submit proof of immunity to measles, mumps and rubella. The Student Health Service can provide information on both New York State and College requirements relative to immunizations and where they may be obtained in the Clinton area.
Protection of the Environment
Hamilton College seeks to both comply with the many regulatory obligations it has within the environmental arena, and to be responsible stewards with regard to energy conservation and waste minimization/recycling. Students impact these efforts by participating academically in science laboratories and art studios, as well as through their social/lifestyle choices. Students will be asked to partner with the College so as to improve it's ability to achieve this mission, and are encouraged to take the lead in facilitating continuous environmental improvement on campus. For further information, contact the Director of Environmental Protection, Safety and Sustainability.
Dog Policy
Every dog must be leashed at all times and in the company of its owner (it may not be tied to trees or signposts). Dogs are not permitted in College buildings. Owners must attend to their dogs' bodily functions. All dogs must be registered, tagged and vaccinated in accordance with New York State law. Any dog found wandering unleashed should be reported to Campus Safety immediately so that it may be removed from campus.
Freedom of Expression/Maintenance of Public Order at Hamilton College
In compliance with the provision of Article 129a of the Education Law of New York State as added by Chapter 191 of the Laws of 1969, Hamilton College submitted the following statements of procedure to be used for the maintenance of public order on its campus and other college property used for educational purposes.
December of 1967, the faculty of Hamilton College adopted the following statement of freedom of expression:
"Free inquiry and free expression are indispensable to the attainment of those goals to which Hamilton College is dedicated. All members of the college community should be free to examine and discuss all questions of interest to them, to express opinions, and to question but not suppress the opinions of others. Because of its commitment to free discussion, the faculty states that actions by individuals or groups to prevent speakers invited to the campus from speaking, to disrupt the operation of the institution, or to restrain others by physical force cannot be tolerated. In short, the right to protest the expression of opinion and the right to express opinion are mutually dependent."
Based on the above, the College would stress that it has not only protected, but has encouraged controversy and indulged dissent, whether by students, faculty members or visitors. This has applied to all forms of vocal demonstrations, protests and criticism, whether directed at national or local policy or at Hamilton. The College further stresses that it deplores the use of violence, and it will make every effort to prevent violence.
Hamilton College has a system of rules, regulations and procedures which have proven effective. These are published annually here and in the Faculty Handbook. It now adds to these rules the following procedures for the maintenance of public order on its campus and other College property used for educational purposes. Such public order shall be that deemed appropriate to a college campus and, more particularly, to the campus of Hamilton College.
We recognize that in matters of this sort in particular, full and prompt communication among all components of our College community is highly desirable, and that to the extent time and circumstances permit, such communication should precede the exercise of the authority, discretion and responsibilities granted and imposed in the following rules, regulations and procedures:
These rules, regulations and procedures shall apply as appropriate at all times to all persons (students, faculty, staff, visitors, invitees, licensees and trespassers) on the campus or other College property used for educational purposes, and this includes not only those persons associated with the regular academic sessions of the College, but also those present for special programs, such as are held during the summer. All of the participants in such special programs, other than members of the Hamilton faculty and staff, shall be deemed invitees.
All disruptions of public order shall be dealt with by the College authorities according to the established system of rules, regulations, and procedures as supplemented herein.
Disruptions of public order include the following without limitation thereto:
physical possession of a building which denies the right of authorized persons to enter and to work in it;
violence or threats that unduly restrict the movements or activity of authorized personnel;
destruction of College property;
undue noise or other interference which disrupts the carrying out of an academic or noncurricular activity of the College;
any other gross misconduct which interferes with proper activities of the College.
When, in the judgment of the president or her agent, who has been specifically designated by her for the purpose, the normal procedures have failed to maintain proper order, she or her designated agent shall put the following into effect:
if she deems that extreme circumstances exist, the president or her designated agent shall summon the appropriate law enforcement agency or agencies to quell the disrupters and eject them from the campus. This is an extreme measure to be used only in the event of grave emergency;
if she deems the disruption not such as to require the intervention of a law enforcement agency, the president or her agent shall offer a specific invitation to meet with the disrupters at some stated place and time in the immediate future for the purpose of constructive discussion which may continue without limit provided there is no interference with the conduct of any College activity or access to any College-controlled facility;
if this invitation is not accepted, or if after such time as the president or his agent deems reasonable under the circumstances there shall have been no sufficient progress, the following steps shall be taken:
the College campus shall be declared closed to outsiders without legitimate business on the campus. Violators shall be liable to treatment as trespassers;
the president or her designated agent shall declare the disrupted area off-limits to all students, faculty, staff members and other College personnel, except those designated by the president or her agent to enter it, as well as to all visitors, invitees and licensees;
the president or her agent shall warn the disrupters that unless the disruption ends by a specified time, a court injunction seeking their immediate ejection from the campus will be sought;
if the disruption persists, the president or her agent shall apply forthwith to a court of competent jurisdiction for an injunction and temporary restraining order requiring the disrupters to cease their disruption or be ejected from the campus, subject to whatever penalties the court may impose;
if the court order must finally be served, those disrupters affected by the order, whether they are students, faculty, staff or other employees of Hamilton, or others, will be subject to applicable judicial procedures.
Any action or situation occurring on the Hamilton College campus or on other College property used for educational purposes, which recklessly or intentionally endangers mental or physical health or involves the forced consumption of liquor or drugs for the purpose of initiation into, or affiliation with, any organization, is prohibited. This prohibition shall:
apply to students, faculty and staff, as well as to visitors and other licensees, invitees and trespassers on the College's property described above, and
be deemed to be part of the by-laws of all organizations operating on such College property. Each organization operating on such College property must review annually such by-laws with individuals affiliated with it.
Notwithstanding the pendency or termination of criminal or civil proceedings with reference to the same conduct, by independent or parallel action the College may bring students, faculty, staff and other members of the community before appropriate collegiate bodies for such actions as individual cases may warrant.
Penalties for violations of the provisions of these rules, regulations, and procedures (which penalties shall be in addition to any penalty provided for in the New York State penal law or any other New York or federal law to which a violator may be subject) shall include the following:
violators who are neither students nor members of the faculty or staff shall be subject to ejection from such College property;
for students the procedures shall be those set forth under "Student Discipline," and may result in disciplinary action of the most severe kind, including suspension or expulsion;
for faculty the procedures shall be those set forth in the applicable Faculty Handbook, including the procedures recommended by the Association of American University Professors and agreed to by the College, and may likewise result in suspension or dismissal from the College;
for staff and other employees of the College, normal procedures appropriate to the determination of their rights and responsibilities shall be followed, and may also result in suspension or dismissal;
any organization which authorizes conduct prohibited by these rules, regulations and procedures shall be subject to the revision of its permission to operate on such College property.
Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) affords students certain rights with respect to their education records. They are:
The right to inspect and review the student's education records within 45 days of the day the College receives a request for access. Students should submit to the registrar, dean of students, academic department head or other appropriate official, written requests that identify the record(s) they wish to inspect. The College official will make arrangements for access and notify the student of the time and place where the records may be inspected. If the records are not maintained by the College official to whom the request was submitted, that official shall advise the student of the correct official to whom the request should be addressed.
The right to request the amendment of the student's education records that the student believes are inaccurate or misleading. Students may ask the College to amend a record that they believe is inaccurate or misleading. They should write the College official responsible for the record, clearly identify the part of the record they want changed, and specify why it is inaccurate or misleading. If the College decides not to amend the record as requested by the student, the College will notify the student of the decision and advise the student of his or her right to a hearing regarding the request for amendment. Additional information regarding the hearing procedures will be provided to the student when notified of the right to a hearing.
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. 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. Upon request, the College discloses education records without consent to officials of another school, upon request, in which a student seeks or intends to enroll.
One exception which permits disclosure without consent is disclosure to school officials with legitimate educational interests. A school official is a person employed by the College throughout in an administrative, supervisory, academic or research, or support staff position (including law enforcement unit personnel and health staff); a person or company with whom the College has contracted (such as an attorney, auditor or collection agent); a person serving on the board of trustees; or a student serving on an official committee, such as a disciplinary or grievance committee, or assisting another school official in performing his or her tasks.
Another exception that permits disclosure without consent is the disclosure of directory information, which the law and the College define to include the following: a student's name, home and campus address, e-mail address, telephone listing, parents' name and address(es), date and place of birth, major field of study, participation in officially recognized activities and sports, weight and height of members of athletic teams, dates of attendance, degrees and awards received, photograph and the most recent previous educational agency or institution attended. This information is generally disclosed only for College purposes, such as news releases and athletic programs, and not to outside vendors. This exception is subject to the right of the student to object to the designation of any or all of the types of information listed above as directory information in his or her case, by giving notice to the dean of students on or before September 15 of any year. If such an objection is not received, the College will release directory information when appropriate.
The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by the College to comply with the requirements of FERPA. The name and address of the office that administers FERPA is:
Family Policy Compliance Office
U.S. Department of Education
400 Maryland Avenue, S.W.
Washington, DC 20202-4605
Questions regarding FERPA and the procedures followed by the College to comply with the act may be referred to the dean of students or the registrar.
Hamilton College is a coeducational, residential liberal arts community whose members value and seek intellectual and cultural diversity. The College encourages respect for political, religious, ethnic, gender or gender identity, racial, physical, generational, sexual and affectional, and intellectual differences, because such respect promotes free and open inquiry, independent thought and mutual understanding.
The College complies with all relevant State and Federal laws on non-discrimination, and is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer. The Executive Assistant to the President, Hamilton College, Clinton, NY 13323, (315) 859-4106, is the person responsible for coordinating the College's efforts to comply with Title IX of the Education Amendment of 1972, as well as its procedures for dealing with harassment on the basis of gender, race, sexual/affectional orientation, disability, ethnic origin and religion.
The Compliance Officer for the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act coordinates the College's efforts to comply with those laws.
Hamilton College is fully accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools.
