Student Handbook

In this handbook

• Preamble and Community Values and Philosophy 
  • Outlines the purpose of the Student Handbook as well as the information and expectations included therein.
• Academic Integrity
  • Includes the honor code, academic policies and procedures, and key accessibility services links.
• Conduct
  • Includes the code of social conduct and community standards, information on alcohol and other drugs, the point chart, responsible student intervention, laws and policies related to drugs, residential life policies, and more.
• Fire Safety
  • Includes fire safety policies, information on the cleanliness and upkeep of living spaces, prohibited behaviors and items within residential spaces, and violation information.
• Authority
  • Describes the authority of the Office of the Dean of Students and Vice President for Student Affairs (DoS/VPSA), the Office of Student Conduct, and the Office of Residential Life related to their responsibility for resolving violations of all social policies. Key processes are included, such as the administrative conference and appeals processes, along with information about sanctions, no-contact orders, restorative outcomes, privacy, and disciplinary records.
• Helpful Links
  • Includes links to key information from the Office of the Dean of Students and Vice President for Student Affairs and Campus Safety, along with reporting forms.

Preamble

The Skidmore College Student Handbook, produced each year by the Student Affairs division of Skidmore College, presents the policies and procedures concerning the Skidmore Code of Social Conduct and students’ rights and responsibilities. Each student is responsible for becoming familiar with all the information contained in the Student Handbook. Skidmore College reserves the right to add, delete, revise, or change the information, including all policies and procedures, set forth in the Student Handbook. All students are encouraged to review the Student Handbook at the start of each academic year and as necessary throughout the academic year.

Skidmore College is an educational community committed to learning and personal development. The offices and programs in Student Affairs support, deepen, and extend the academic program by providing co-curricular and residential programs that promote academic accomplishment, citizenship, diversity, leadership, and personal responsibility.

The Student Handbook discusses our collective values and philosophy. It describes the College’s expectations and your obligations as members of the community. Please review the Honor Code, expectations for academic integrity, and the Code of Social Conduct, and make a commitment to integrity and personal responsibility. The health and vitality of our learning community rests on the honor system.

Community Values and Philosophy

The co-curricular and residential programs at Skidmore consider students to be emerging adults ready to take responsibility for their learning, the quality of their social environment, and their daily life. We support students’ rights to privacy, freedom of inquiry and expression, and participation in College governance. We also expect students to meet high standards for academic integrity and personal conduct.

Staff members in the offices and programs in Student Affairs work with students as mentors, coaches, advisors, tutors, and guides. They help students assess their academic and personal needs, share information about on-campus learning opportunities, and facilitate students’ access to those opportunities. They will work with students to foster a social environment conducive to learning, and they will expect students to observe the Honor Code, expectations for academic integrity, the Code of Social Conduct, and other College policies and regulations. They will also hold students accountable.

We promote responsible community membership and positive relationships through the values of honesty, integrity, and consideration for others. We do this by educating students on the impact of their behavior, promoting thoughtful decision-making, and encouraging them to become engaged and responsible citizens of the Skidmore Community and beyond. The student conduct process is anchored in various restorative practices that aim to hold students accountable for their behavior while at the same time, helping them to acknowledge and understand the impact of their actions on individuals and the greater Skidmore College community.