Standards of Conduct

Students must suspend judgment and avoid generalizations, at least until the Spanish people have allowed them an understanding of their way of life. Given the freedom and individual responsibility of students in European countries, all members of the Hamilton group must conduct themselves to reflect credit on their college and country. It is assumed that emotionally mature undergraduates understand what constitutes such behavior without written rules for every occasion.

Students are expected to use Spanish as their habitual means of communication among themselves and with other American students, and are required to sign a pledge to this effect. The administrative and academic directors’ insistence on constant adherence to this rule constitutes a significant aspect of the administration of the program.

Members of the Hamilton College Academic Year in Spain should remember that they are going to Spain as students, not as tourists engaged in unreflective sightseeing. Summer vacations, three to four weeks at winter break, and two weeks at spring break offer ample opportunity for travel. Students who plan their studies by contact hours, expect spoon-fed course content and envision many long weekends should not join the Hamilton program.

Students are expected to attend all classes. Students who are excessively absent or regularly late to class will be denied credit for the course.

Students should make every effort to enter into the Spanish way of life. They should participate in the Spaniards’ daily customs as well as remain attuned to the native sense of morality and justice.

The administrative and academic directors reserve the right to suspend any student from the program who does not comply with program rules. Policy violations will be reported to Hamilton College and the student’s home institution for non-Hamilton students and will be handled according to Hamilton Conduct Procedures.