W&L Student Guidebook 2011

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Washington and Lee University

New Student Guidebook

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Non Incautus Futuri

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Table of ContentsWelcome, Class of 2015 ...............................................................................2Information For Parents ................................................................................5What You Need to Know Now Summer Deadlines and Important Dates ...........................................7 The Leading Edge Pre-Orientation ....................................................8

What You Should Know About W&L Business Office ................................................................................11 Career Services ................................................................................11 Dining Services ................................................................................11 Financial Aid ...................................................................................12 ITS (Information Technology Services) ............................................12 Mail Services ...................................................................................13 Student Health and Counseling .......................................................15 University Card ...............................................................................15 University Registrar .........................................................................15What You Will Learn About W&L First-Year Program ...........................................................................16 Orientation Week ............................................................................16 Traditions.........................................................................................18 Generally Speaking ..........................................................................19 Residential Life ................................................................................21 Academic Advising ..........................................................................22 Registration .....................................................................................22Social Networking ..............................................................Inside Back Cover

http://go.wlu.edu/2015 http://go.wlu.edu/GHQ

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March 1, 2011

Dear Member of the Class of 2015,

Congratulations on your decision to attend Washington and Lee University, and welcome to our wonderful community!

At W&L, faculty and staff work together to help students succeed. There is a strong connection here between what happens in and out of the classroom, and you will find that our academic and student life programs are complementary and interrelated.

This guidebook is designed to link you to the people, programs and places that make W&L such a special place. Hopefully, you’ll utilize the guidebook to become familiar with our first-year website and to learn much more about what will soon become your home away from home.

You’ll notice that the guidebook is full of URL’s to our website. If you remember only one address for your summer, make it http://go.wlu.edu/GHQ. There under the “Student Affairs” tab you will find all required and important optional first-year forms, deadlines and programs along with all of the websites listed here in the New Student Guidebook.

Again, welcome to Washington and Lee! I look forward to meeting you.

Sincerely,

David M. Leonard Associate Dean of Student Affairs and Dean of First-Year Students

Welcome

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March 1, 2011

Dear Ladies and Gentlemen of the Class of 2015,

On behalf of the student body, it is my pleasure to welcome you all to Washington and Lee University. These next four years will be immensely formative, offering a unique opportunity for growth as intellectuals and individuals of honor.

The notion of honor at W&L is embodied by our Honor System, which is “based on the fundamental principle that a spirit of trust pervades all aspects of student life.” The student body, through its Executive Committee (EC), has administered the Honor System since 1905, although the concept of the Honor System is much older. The myriad freedoms that students enjoy here, such as leaving belongings unattended and taking exams unproctored, are secured by the responsibilities that students owe in keeping the Honor System intact. All students are expected to uphold the spirit of the Honor System at all times.

In addition to administering the Honor System, the Executive Committee of the Student Body serves as the general student government for the University. The EC funds and supports student clubs and organizations and serves as intermediary between students and the administration, while also representing students to the broader community.

On behalf of the EC, we hope that each of you will find your ideal place in student life here at W&L, and we look forward to one of your classmates joining us on the EC in the fall. I wish you all the best as you begin life here in Lexington.

Sincerely,

Scott Centorino, President of the Student Body

Class of 2015

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Information for ParentsThis summer will be defined by excitement,

both as your student prepares for college and as you prepare to see your student off. Understandably, students and their parents have different questions in mind throughout this process. To that end, we have created a website specifically for you—a resource for the months and years to come. Please make it a point to visit the Parents’ Dashboard: it contains much of the information new parents and guardians at Washington and Lee will need to know.

http://go.wlu.edu/parentsYour student will follow the path set

for him or her on the Generals’ HQ at http://go.wlu.edu/GHQ. Once your student logs in using the same account access used during the application process, there will be a Student Affairs link on the left side of the page. The Student Affairs link to “First-Year Forms” outlines required and optional forms, deadlines and programs. For parent access to information about required and optional forms, deadlines and programs, please see our “First-Year Program and Orientation” website.

http://go.wlu.edu/2015

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What You Need to Know NowThis summer, members of the University community will be busy preparing for your arrival in the fall.

Most of what we do behind the scenes depends on information you provide us over the summer. All of that information is contained in this section. Go ahead and peruse it now, so you’ll know what you need to send us and when we need to get it back.

Don’t forget to read about the pre-orientation trips we offer—The Leading Edge —they’re popular and enjoyable, and fill up quickly.

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Summer Deadlines and Important DatesWe’ve provided a separate and more detailed checklist with this mailing; please put it in the information hub

in your home, often the refrigerator.

http://go.wlu.edu/2015 — http://go.wlu.edu/GHQMarch

❏ NewStudentGuidebooksmailedhomewithletterfromDeanofFirst-YearStudents

❏ W&Le-mailaccessandStudentAffairsformsavailableatGenerals’HQ(http://go.wlu.edu/GHQ)underInformationTechnologyServices(ITS)andStudentAffairsInformation

JUNE❏ BeginreviewingtheW&Lwebcatalogand“Curricular

Advice”documentinpreparationforinformationaboutregistrationfromtheUniversityRegistrar’soffice.DetailsaboutsigningupforfalltermclasseswillbesenttoyourW&Le-mailaccount.

❏ 7 TheLeadingEdgeregistrationopens❏ 17 TheLeadingEdgeregistrationcloses❏ 30 Group1formsdue(http://go.wlu.edu/GHQ)

JULY❏ NetworkaccessinformationavailableonGenerals’

HQunderInformationTechnologyServices(ITS)

JULY—coNtiNUEd❏ 8 ResidencehallroomassignmentsenttoyourW&L

e-mail❏ 10 InitialbillingstatementloadedtoGeneralsPayment

System(GPS)

aUgUst❏ 1 Group2formsdue(http://go.wlu.edu/GHQ)❏ 15 Finalformdue(http://go.wlu.edu/GHQ)❏ 28 Move-inforPre-Orientation(TheLeadingEdge)

participantsONLY

sEPtEMBEr❏ 3 ALLNEWSTUDENTSCHECKIN,9a.m.-1:30p.m.

Classof2015(notonPre-Orientationtrips)❏ 3-7 Orientation❏ 8 Classesbegin

octoBEr❏ 28-30 ParentsandFamilyWeekend

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The Leading Edge Pre-Orientation

APPLY JUNE 7-17

You should consider The Leading Edge as an exciting beginning to your college experience. Students who participate in one of the program’s two tracks, Volunteer Venture or Appalachian Adventure, remember that week as one of their fondest college memories. These pre-orientation trips are small and inviting, and give you the chance to hone your teamwork and leadership skills while encountering exciting challenges. Upper-division students lead the pre-orientation trips, so you will also experience the sense of community that will define your time at Washington and Lee.

The Leading Edge pre-orientation trips take place the week before first-year orientation begins. The University subsidizes the program; your cost of $200 will be billed to your student account in August. The online application period runs from June 7-17. Over 250 students from the Class of 2014 applied last summer!

http://go.wlu.edu/theleadingedge

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VOLUNTEER VENTURE

Spend a week in one of six cities becoming a part of the community by living, learning and working with the individuals whose lives are impacted by poverty.

http://go.wlu.edu/volunteerventure

APPALACHIAN ADVENTURE

Spend five days hiking on the Appalachian Trail. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned outdoor enthusiast, your trip

will be unforgettable.

http://go.wlu.edu/appalachianadventure

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What You Should Know About W&LEvery first-year student should know the basics of how to get around at W&L. Where do I eat? How do I get

mail? What if I get sick? Here are some of the essentials of living on campus.

Each section links to our website with details.

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University ServicesBUSINESS OFFICE

The Business Office does the monthly billing and processes payments on your account. Much of your account information is now online with Generals Payment System (GPS).

http://go.wlu.edu/businessoffice

CAREER SERVICES

The Career Services office is conveniently located on the top floor of the Commons, and it’s the place to go for resumé advice, practice interviews and personality assessments.

Career Services provides the guidance and resources you’ll need to develop and implement both your academic and career plans. This office fosters an environment that encourages individual responsibility, creativity, open-mindedness and integrity.

http://go.wlu.edu/careerservices

DINING SERVICES

Students who live on campus eat at the Marketplace and Café ’77/Emporium. (You’ll hear everyone call these places “d-hall” and “the co-op”.) D-hall serves full meals (all-you-care-to-eat), and you can go to the co-op for snacks, salads, sandwiches or a quick bite.

You should know that Dining Services has been a key player in W&L’s sustainability initiatives. We don’t use trays in order to save water on cleaning them. We use compostable take-out containers, and we’re eating more locally grown food every year! W&L also uses fair-trade coffee, has a great recycling and in-house composting program and donates food from our garden and unused food to local charities.

See the Dining Services web page for hours, weekly menus and details on your meal plan.

The required full board plan includes Flex dollars that can be used to supplement the board plan in the Café ’77/Emporium, the convenience store in Elrod Commons.

http://go.wlu.edu/diningservices

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FINANCIAL AID

With $26 million in undergraduate grants and scholarships, financial aid can help meet the needs of qualified students. A complete financial aid package usually consists of a combination of grant or scholarship, student and/or parent loan, and campus work study. The combination of grant, loan and work study provides the typical aid recipient with a financial aid package equal to the educational costs related to attending W&L.

http://go.wlu.edu/financialaid

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SERVICES (ITS)

ITS publishes its recommendations for student-owned computers on the ITS website. Nearly all students bring computers for use at W&L. IT resources provided for W&L students include:

• Microsoft Office and antivirus software for Windows and Mac available for download from ITS site

• Wireless and wired Internet connections available throughout campus, including residence halls

• The Stable provides virtual Windows desktops, including access to course-specific software and network storage, and is available from many types of devices with the use of a high-speed Internet connection.

• Lifelong Outlook Live accounts provide e-mail, calendar, data storage and other tools

• Most classrooms equipped with digital projectors, document cameras, and other tools to enhance instruction.

• Video conferencing and digital video-recording of class sessions available in many locations

• Support offered for digital video editing, creating and printing posters, creating digital maps, analyzing data and other IT needs

• Computer labs and printers available around-the-clock

http://go.wlu.edu/ITS

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MAIL SERVICES

Since the Lexington Post Office is only a block away from campus, we don’t have a university-run mail room for students. To rent a PO Box for the school year (something most students do), sign up over the summer using a form from your local Post Office.

Need to mail a large package to meet you at school for move-in day? No problem, just follow these guidelines: don’t send your package before August 17 and make sure that it can be carried by one person, that it weighs less than 50 pounds and that it’s labeled (with your name, residence hall and room number) on every side. Here’s how to address it:

Your Namec/o Campus Mail ServicesResidence Hall and Room NumberWashington and Lee University204 W. Washington StreetLexington, VA 24450-2116

While the Post Office handles all of your letter mail, the University’s mail room handles any packages you might receive during the school year. If your parents want to send you a care package or you’ve done some online shopping, have the package addressed like the example below. You’ll get an e-mail from mail services when you need to pick something up.

Your NameResidence Hall and Room NumberWashington and Lee University204 W. Washington StreetLexington, VA 24450-2116

http://go.wlu.edu/campusmail

}This Information here

LETTERMAIL

PACKAGES FOR MOVE-IN

PACKAGES DURING

THE YEAR

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UNIVERSITY CARDYour University Card is essential to everyday life on

campus. It will be used as:

• YourW&LstudentID• Yourcardaccesstoresidencehallsandcampus

buildings• Yourmealcard• Yourdebitcardfor“generaldebit”andfoodpurchases• YourcreditcardintheUniversityStore,Auxiliary

Services, Copy Center and with approved organizations

http://go.wlu.edu/universitycard

STUDENT HEALTH CENTERThe Student Health Center, on the lower floor of Gilliam

Residence Hall, provides outpatient care, and inpatient care of non-critical illnesses and injuries as well as on-call urgent care during academic terms. Emergency medical situations beyond the scope of care at the Student Health Center are evaluated and treated at Carilion Stonewall Jackson Hospital, just one mile from campus.

http://go.wlu.edu/healthcenter

UNIVERSITY REGISTRARThe University Registrar’s staff “gets faculty and students

together and reports on the results.” Course schedules, academic offerings and policies, transcripts, vertifications of enrollment, grading and graduation all start here.

http://go.wlu.edu/registrar

UNIVERSITY COUNSELINGW&L students can receive counseling for any social,

academic or emotional problems. First-year students are encouraged to seek assistance from the Dean of First-Year Students, the staff of the Office of the Dean of Student Affairs, the academic deans, a faculty adviser, the University Registrar, physicians and/or counselors. Counseling is useful for a broad range of issues including, but not limited to, relationship difficulties, self-esteem, sexuality, anger management, academic achievement, grief and family issues.

http://go.wlu.edu/counseling

WASHINGTON AND LEEU N I V E R S I T Y

204 W. Washington Street

Lexington, Virginia 24450-2116

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What You Will Learn About W&LWhile every student’s time at Washington and Lee is unique, there are several formative experiences that

bind the undergraduate student body together. These shared experiences form the foundation of your college career. From the very beginning of Orientation Week you will feel like part of a family—the sense of community that permeates the atmosphere of the University. This section provides the details about first-year orientation, an overview of residential life, and a taste of what you’ll encounter in the years to come.

FIRST-YEAR PROGRAMThe First-Year Program provides you with resources,

information, mentoring, programming and advising. The cornerstone of the First-Year Program is the residential life experience, facilitated by the undergraduate resident advisers (RA) for first-year students’ staff. RAs work closely with first-year students and offer assistance as new students learn about their new “home away from home.” They provide a variety of fun and interesting programs and events for their residents, while serving as wonderful academic and social resources.

http://go.wlu.edu/fyp

ORIENTATION WEEK Orientation Week will introduce you, one of the newest

members of our community, to the Washington and Lee traditions which are central to the past, present and future of the University. The Honor System, undergraduate curriculum, student self-governance, clubs and organizations fair, educational and social events and meeting fellow classmates are just a few of the many highlights of the orientation program which takes place during Orientation Week, September 3-7.

http://go.wlu.edu/oweek

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TRADITIONSTraditions are what bring the student body together

as fellow Generals. We all come from so many different places, we all have different values and beliefs, and we all spend our time differently. The following are just a few examples of the many customs, stories and concepts that set W&L apart and bring students closer.

The Speaking TradiTionThe Honor System

Putting a Penny on Traveller’s Grave

Nabors Service Day

The Cadaver SocietyMock Convention (every 4 years)

Fancy DressSpring time on the Maury River

H i k i n g o n t h e W o o d s C r e e k T r a i l

Studying on the front lawn

Quality time with professorsParents & Family Weekend

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GENERALLY SPEAKINGEvery campus has its own language and W&L is no different. You’ll pick it up in no time once you get here, but here are a few to

get you started.

D-hall the Marketplace, located on the bottom floor of Elrod CommonsCo-op/Café Café ’77/Emporium, located on the main floor of Elrod CommonsCommons Elrod Commons, the entire building or the living roomC-School Huntley Hall, the Williams School of CommerceE. Cafe located in the Hillel HouseJ-School the Journalism building and department“On the hill” on campusThe Colonnade made up of Newcomb, Payne, Washington, Robinson and Tucker HallsThe Quad the area between Baker, Davis and Gilliam residence halls—also known as BDG QuadEC Executive CommitteeSJ C Student Judicial CommitteeHV honor violationFD Fancy DressSciLi Science LibraryBob and George Robert E. Lee, George WashingtonCadavers secret societyLex Vegas LexingtonTraveller safe-ride bus system

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RESIDENTIAL LIFE AT W&LAll first-year students live on campus in one of four residence halls: Graham-Lees, Davis, Gilliam or Gaines.

A resident adviser serves as a resource to a small group of students on a residence hall floor. RAs are upper-division students who want to help make your first year at W&L an unforgettable experience. The Residential Life staff comes from a group of the best and most approachable student leaders on campus, so you’ll be in good hands while you’re learning the ropes at W&L.

John W. Davis Hall • Location: BDG Quad • Floors: 3 • Coed: by Floor except 2nd floor, co-ed by room • Air-Conditioning: No • Room Types: Double • Rate: $4,000 (DB) • Residents: 84

Frank J. Gilliam Hall • Location: BDG Quad • Floors: 4 • Coed: by Floor • Air-Conditioning: No • Room Types: Singles and Doubles • Rates: $6,000 (SL); $4,000 (DB) • Residents: 90

Graham-Lees Hall • Location: Across from BDG Quad • Floors: 4 • Coed: by Floor • Air-Conditioning: No • Room Types: Singles and Doubles • Rates: $5,565 (SL); $3,710 (DB) • Residents: 251

Francis P. Gaines • Location: Behind BDG Quad • Floors: 4 • Coed: by Suite • Air-Conditioning: Yes • Room Types: Singles and Doubles • Rates: $6,825 (SL); $4,550 (DB) • Residents: 80 first-year students

http://go.wlu.edu/residentiallife

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ACADEMIC ADVISINGStarting your academic career at Washington and Lee will be both exciting and challenging. Your initial

faculty adviser will explain Foundation and Distribution Requirements (FDR’s), help you finalize your schedule for fall term and support you as you start to choose a major. This relationship begins over the summer, when you fill out an information form for your future adviser detailing your academic and extra-curricular interests. Orientation Week is full of opportunities to get to know your adviser, the first of which is the academic adviser dinner. Each adviser hosts dinner for his advisee group (made up of no more than six first-year students).

http://go.wlu.edu/academicadvising

REGISTRATIONW&L has been redesigning various

course registration procedures. During June, you will hear from the University Registrar’s Office about the details for signing up for your fall-term classes. In the meantime, begin now to review the W&L web catalog at catalog.wlu.edu and the curricular advice document at www.wlu.edu/x35453.xml.

http://go.wlu.edu/registrar

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Social NetworkingSTAY CONNECTED

FacebookClass of 2015 Group PageUniversity Fan PageCampus Activities Fan PageUniversity Registrar Fan Page

WordpressWhat’s News BlogCampus Activities BlogFrom the Sidelines Blog

TwitterJeff Hanna, Executive Director of CommunicationsScott Dittman, University Registrar

E-mailGenerally Speaking Monthly e-Newsletter@

http://go.wlu.edu/social_media

http://go.wlu.edu/2015

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First-Year Program, Orientation and Residential Life

(540) 458-8405WASHINGTON AND LEE

U N I V E R S I T YLexington, Virginia