Catalog 2003-2005 Pages 175-182

STUDENT LIFE at Concord College includes many different aspects, from purely academic concerns to clubs and social events to emotional and physical health. A student’s campus life can be enriched by application of talent, energy, and classroom knowledge in extracurricular activities.

The Office of Student Affairs has the major responsibility for student life at Concord. Facilities, programs, and services within the Office are designed to extend and enhance the academic curriculum. Student Affairs works to facilitate the personal development, maturity, and interpersonal effectiveness of an increasingly diversified student body.

This Office attempts to help each student become involved in the process of his or her own education, development, and personal growth.

Achievement of this goal comes about through counseling in the areas of personal, financial, educational, vocational, and college transfer problems. The Office of Student Affairs provides services in the areas of housing, orientation, testing, career development, placement, counseling, athletics (intercollegiate and intramurals), health services, and College Center activities. The staff also assists in creating and furthering special developmental programs prepared to meet the needs of students. The staff serves as consultants to other professional members of the College community in discussing the needs, capabilities, and potentialities of

students.

The purpose of the Office of Student Activities is to complement the academic program and to enhance the overall educational experience of students through development of, exposure to, and participation in social, recreational, and student governance programs. The Student Activities Director provides assistance to the Student Government Association, the Student Activities Committee and student organizations. The office is located in the College Center and the phone extension is 5311.

A list of campus organizations demonstrates the diversity of thought and activity that characterizes the Concord campus.

Honor and leadership groups include Alpha Chi (scholarship), Blue Key and Cardinal Key, Gamma Beta Phi (honor and service), Psi Chi, the Student Government Association, Panhellenic Council, and Interfraternity Council.

Professional organizations include the American Marketing Association,Concord College Reading Council, Kappa Alpha Kappa (accounting), Kappa Delta Pi (education), Music Educators National Conference, Music Teachers National Association, Phi Beta Lambda (business), Student Social Work Organization, and the Society for the Advancement of Management.

The weekly student newspaper, The Concordian, and The Pine Tree video yearbook are outlets for creativity in writing and journalism. Students gain broadcast experience by performing on and operating closed circuit WCCR Radio and WMLT-TV (Mountain Lion Television). Reflexes is a magazine of fiction, poetry, and art work published once yearly by Concord College students.

The Cheerleaders support athletics. In addition, individual clubs exist to support intercollegiate baseball, softball, tennis, track, and volleyball.

Religious-oriented organizations are the Baptist Campus Ministries, Baptist Student Union, Campus Crusade for Christ, Campus Light Ministries, Christ Gospel Ministries and the Newman Club.

Interest organizations include the Alpha Lambda Gamma, Alpha Psi Omega, American Marketing Association, Amnesty International, Athens Food Cooperative, Black Student Union, Collegiate Singers, Concord Marching and Varsity Band, ConChords vocal jazz ensemble, Concord Ambassadors, Concord Art Society (CATS), Concord College Lacrosse Club, Concord College Running Lions, Concord College Commanders instrumental jazz ensemble, Concord Film Society, Concord Travel Club, International Cultural Awareness Organization, Outdoor Club, Student Activities Committee (SAC), Student Organization for Understanding Politics (SOUP), Theta Pi, Young Republicans Club, and Zeta Chi.

There are four nationally recognized fraternities: Phi Sigma Phi, Sigma Tau Gamma, Pi Kappa Phi and Tau Kappa Epsilon. Three social organizations for men are recognized: the Crazy Eights, Beta Chi Theta, and Mu Xi Phi.

There are four nationally recognized sororities: Alpha Sigma Alpha, Alpha Sigma Tau, Delta Zeta and Sigma Sigma Sigma. The Lady Eights are an active women’s social organization also.

Concord theatre productions offer all students the opportunity to participate in plays in both on-stage and back-stage capacities. Performances in recent years have ranged from "Guys and Dolls" to Shakespeare’s "Twelfth Night." Organizations in the Department of Music provide students with the opportunity to participate in vocal and instrumental groups which give public performances.

Through student assessed fees, outstanding performers and speakers are brought to campus each year. Series guests have included author Nat Hentoff, environmental activist Paul Watson, the West Virginia Symphony and The Reduced Shakespeare Company. The balance of the season is filled with the plays, exhibits and concerts of the College’s Fine and Performing Arts Programs.

Student government reflects the interest of students in the activities and operation of the campus. This is a student organization which supervises many activities and interests. Students train themselves for further leadership by joining in these efforts. The sense of responsibility expressed in such activities can determine the atmosphere of campus living.

In addition to the Student Govern-ment Association and its elected Board of Directors, students can become a governing force in the College through the Student Judicial System, Student Activities Committee, Interfraternity and Panhellenic Councils, and residence hall councils.

The Student Activities Committee is an award winning committee composed of students who plan, implement and evaluate campus activities and events. These students provide educational and entertaining programs, comedians, magicians, hypnotists in the Subway, and special events during Homecoming and Spring Jam. If you have an interest in becoming involved, contact the Office of Student Activities.

The athletic program is designed to make important contributions to the total educational services of the College. It is conducted according to standards which are educationally sound and acceptable by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) of which Concord is a member. The Director of Athletics is responsible for the proper functioning of the athletic program in accordance with institutional practices and policies.

The athletic program is directed toward the needs and interests of students. It is both a chance for formal participation in an intercollegiate sport and an aspect of the social life of the community. Financial support for the athletic program, except for salaries and the construction and maintenance of facilities, derives from student fees, gate receipts, and guarantees in keeping with the highest standards of amateur athletics throughout the country. Students may participate in athletics only if regularly enrolled and meet all eligibility requirements set by the College athletic program, the NCAA, and the West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WVIAC). Both women’s and men’s athletics are members of the NCAA and WVIAC.

In accord with the WVIAC, Concord maintains schedules for men’s sports in baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf, soccer, tennis, and track. Concord maintains schedules for women’s sports in basketball, cheerleading, cross country, soccer, softball, tennis, track, and volleyball. Participating and scheduling in other sports depends on student interest and the ability of the College to underwrite and staff such activities.

Concord College Intramural Recre-ation is a program of on-campus sports and recreational activities for the entire student body, faculty, and staff. The program offers a wide variety of activities suitable for the diverse interests of our students. Fifteen activities are available for men or women, while eight activities are co-recreational. The goal of the program is to have maximum participation from our student body, faculty, and staff. Many of our students play in 6 to 8 activities during the course of an academic year with approximately 40% of the students participating in at least one activity. Available facilities for intramurals and the informal recreation program include tennis courts, racquetball courts, dance studio, 2 gyms, Nautilus fitness room, swimming pool, and various outdoor fields. A variety of sports equipment is available from the recreational equipment check-out room in the gym. Students may obtain this equipment by presenting a valid Concord College ID. In the intramural recreation program, units of competition include fraternities, sororities, clubs, organizations, and independent teams. League play and play-offs highlight the team sports activities while tournaments and meets are the basis of the individual sports program. Individual awards are presented to the players on first place teams and the individual winners of our tournaments and meet events. An over-all champion point system is used to determine the group or organization that has the highest rate of participation and best over-all record in all activities. Concord College intramural recreation welcomes the participation of new students. The growth of the program and its overall success can only be attributed to the intense interest of the student body and their enthusiastic support. Action! Competition! Fun! These are the bywords of Concord College Intramural Recreation.

The Department of Physical Education offers programs to help students use leisure time in a wholesome manner. There are daily hours for recreational swimming and use of the gymnasium for informal sports.

CONCORD COLLEGE has five residence halls with a capacity of 1100 students, as well as 48 family apartment units (the College Court). In keeping with Concord’s residential nature, the College’s student housing is operated as a close adjunct to its academic purposes.

All unmarried students of traditional college age who do not reside with a parent/guardian and commute to classes are required to reside on campus in the College’s residence halls as long as space is available. Commuters are defined as either nontraditional or married students who live in the area and drive to classes, or traditional age college students who reside with their parent(s) or guardian(s) in their local primary place of residence. All other students must reside on campus. In addition, all residential students are required to purchase one of three College board plans.

Exceptions to the on-campus housing policy stated above may be approved upon the presentation of justifiable reasons in accordance with the guidelines and procedures established by the Housing Committee. Requests for exceptions should be presented in writing to the Office of Housing and Residence Life no later than May 1 for both summer terms, no later than June 1 for the fall semester, and no later than November 15 for the spring semester. Submission of last minute off-campus housing requests should be avoided since registration will be delayed until consideration of the request is completed. In the event that all space in the residence halls becomes filled, residence hall assignments will go to the students who possess the fewest credits. Housing arrangements for all unmarried students, except those who commute from their parent’s home, must be approved by the Office of Housing and Residence Life prior to registration.

Providing false information (verbal or written) related to all off-campus housing requests, will subject the student to moving into the residence hall, and being held financially responsible for room and board payments for any period of enrollment for which false information was provided. Admission to the College does not assure a room reservation. Likewise, an application for a room does not constitute a successful admissions application. A room assignment is not a guarantee that the admission process is final.

Students applying for College housing for the first time, or reapplying after previously withdrawing from College housing, must submit a completed housing application and a $50.00 reservation fee to the Office of Housing and Residence Life. This housing application may be canceled, and the reservation fee refunded, if notification of the cancellation reaches the Office of Housing and Residence Life before June 30 for the fall semester, before December 21 for the spring semester, and at least ten days prior to the opening of summer session. Failure to notify by these dates will result in forfeiture of the fee under all circumstances. Applications submitted after these deadlines are automatically subject to forfeiture upon cancellation. Please note, students transferring from the residence halls to the College Court Apartments must maintain a $75.00 reservation fee.

Continuing students who want to maintain College housing for the next academic year are required to reserve housing by renewing their application at room sign-up held every April. The reservation fee will carry over to the next year as long as the balance of the fee after deduction of unpaid charges for items such as damages is more than one cent. If the balance of the fee becomes less than one cent, the student must submit a supplementary payment to return the balance of the fee to $50.00. The balance of the reservation fee, if any, will be refunded whenever the student withdraws from College housing and receives a partial refund of room and board fees. The balance of the fee will also be refunded when the student withdraws from College housing at the end of the spring semester without having renewed a housing application for the next year; subsequent submission of an application will necessitate payment of a new $50.00 reservation fee. Residents of the College Court Apartments must give notice to the Office of Housing and Residence Life 30 days prior to vacating an apartment in order to be eligible for a refund.

Questions concerning housing should be addressed to the Office of Housing and Residence Life.

ACADEMIC REGULATIONS exist to assist the College in maintaining its position as a recognized institution of higher education. The College has an obligation to offer programs of quality and to award degrees which will be respected nationally and internationally.

In accepting admission to Concord College, the student is receiving the opportunity to achieve an education, including the development of skills, ideas, and attitudes. The facilities and activities of the institution are dedicated to the task of providing the climate for learning. To provide equal educational opportunities for all students, regulations, goals, and practices must be observed.

Some of the College regulations are established by State legislation, by the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission, or by national agencies that accredit the College. Academic procedures vary from institution to institution: Concord regulations are designed to make the degree a meaningful mark of educational achievement. Students ultimately are responsible for their education, which includes reading, knowing, and observing the regulations of the College.

While every effort is made to assure accuracy at the time of printing, Concord College reserves the right to delete, change, or amend the information in this Catalog as necessary. This document is for informational purposes only and is in no way a binding contract. It is the student’s responsibility to comply with College policies.

In classrooms, laboratories, and in any other activities which are part of course requirements, students are expected to observe reasonable rules of conduct. Questions and discussions in class on the subject matter of a course will be accepted by any Concord instructor as a proper part of a college course, limited only by allotted time. Students also are encouraged to consult instructors individually when necessary, either about the subject matter of the course, or about their work in the course.

Disruptive behavior in the classroom will not be tolerated. If student conduct makes it difficult to continue the class satisfactorily, the instructor may warn the student of this fact. If objectionable conduct continues, the instructor may dismiss the student from the course with written notification of this action to the division or department chairperson and the Vice President and Academic Dean. Any appeal from such decision must be made to these persons. The grade recorded in cases of dismissal for conduct is an F. See page 187 concerning F grades for disruptive behavior.

A student suspended or expelled from the College for unacceptable conduct outside of the classroom shall have a grade of W recorded permanently for all course work during the semester of the suspension or expulsion.

Regular class attendance is part of one’s academic obligation at Concord. Irregular attendance affects academic performance adversely, and is detrimental to the atmosphere of the class.

The instructor has considerable discretion with regard to attendance policy. Illness or other compelling reasons occasionally may make it necessary for a student to be absent from class. When a student cannot attend a class or laboratory, each instructor involved must be notified by the student as soon as possible, and appropriate explanations offered. The student must take the initiative both in providing adequate explanation and in conforming with the class attendance policy.

It is imperative that students attend the first class meeting. If an instructor has a waiting list and a student does not attend the first class meeting, he or she may be dropped from the roll to provide room for students waiting to add the course. Instructors typically use the first day to establish class policies and orient students to the course.

Absence from class for College approved functions poses a special problem. Any absence means that a learning situation has been missed. To a greater or lesser extent, that experience can never be made up. The lost learning experience may result in reduced performance on exams or in other testing situations. In choosing to participate in College activities students should carefully consider the possible impact of the absence on their grades and their academic standing in the class. However, the College does not wish to prohibit student participation in approved activities. Therefore, instructors are required to excuse the physical absence if the student has notified the instructor and arranged for any compensating work prior to the absence. The student must find out from the instructor how far in advance of the absence such notification and arrangements must be made.

A student in irregular or non-attendance for which an instructor does not receive satisfactory explanation may be dropped from that course by the instructor, after appropriate warning and notifying the Office of Student Affairs, with a written notification to the division or department chairperson and the Vice President and Academic Dean. The grade recorded in cases of dismissal for irregular and for non-attendance before the ninth week is a W and after the ninth week is an F.

When a student is withdrawn in this manner from all of his or her courses, he or she is no longer classified as a student, and therefore, is not eligible to reside in the residence halls or to receive financial aid.

As a general policy the College will remain in normal operation during adverse weather conditions. In the event of severe weather conditions, the President may 1) place classes on a late schedule; 2) cancel classes before the end of the class day; 3) cancel classes for an entire day or days; 4) with approval of the West Virginia higher education system, close the College.

Under the one-hour late schedule, daytime classes will start an hour later than normal. The entire class schedule will advance one hour; for instance, classes normally starting at 11 a.m. will begin at noon. Classes beginning at or after 5 p.m., however, will not be affected by the late policy.

The status of off-campus classes in Raleigh County will be determined by the Director of The Beckley Center who will make a recommendation to the Vice President and Academic Dean prior to noon. When a decision to cancel classes is made, the media, faculty, and appropriate College offices will be notified.

(The few off-campus classes in sites OTHER THAN Raleigh County will not meet if the host site closes due to bad weather.)

The late schedule affects classes only. Other College operations are expected to follow their normal routines, although the College encourages its employees to use their discretion to ensure their safety in traveling on weather-affected roadways. Because the College does not wish to endanger the lives of faculty, students, or staff, it urges individuals to use their own best judgment in commuting to the campus in adverse or severe weather conditions.

Concord faculty are urged to make attendance policy considerations for the difficulties some commuting students may encounter due to weather conditions and provide opportunity to make up missed work. Students have an obligation to make every safe effort to attend their classes, in initiating arrangements for making up missed work, and understanding occasional commuting difficulties for faculty.

Announcements invoking the late schedule or other options referenced above will be aired on area radio and television stations. Take note that unless a cancellation announcement is made, classes will be held.

Academic dishonesty, including the giving or receiving of improper help on examinations or assignments, falsifying records, and plagiarism (the act of stealing and using, as one’s own, the ideas or the expression of the ideas of another), is morally unacceptable as well as destructive of the learning and teaching atmosphere. Such dishonesty can lead to a variety of penalties, among which is dismissal from the College. Academic dishonesty will be penalized by instructors according to the degree of dishonesty they judge is involved.

Any recommendation by the instructor beyond an F in the course must be submitted, in writing, to the student, to the division chair, and to the Vice President and Academic Dean for transmittal to the appropriate College official, who will then initiate judicial procedure.

When a student’s course grade is affected by academic dishonesty, the grade is reported, in writing, to the division chair and to the Vice President and Academic Dean who notifies, in writing, the Registrar’s Office and the student. Course grades affected by academic dishonesty do not enjoy the privilege of the forgiveness rule as described on page 189 or the privilege of dropping the course with a grade of W. (See Student Complaint Procedure, Page 191.)

Students entering Concord College shall follow the curriculum provisions and degree requirements of the Catalog at that time, unless the provisions of a later Catalog seem more appropriate and they choose, with the advice of their advisors and with notification to the Registrar’s Office, to follow the later Catalog. A student may not select part of a program from one Catalog, however, and part from another. Certain new regulations may become effective, regardless of when the student first enrolled at Concord.

If a student completes less than six semester hours during any one academic year, reckoned from one fall registration to the next, he or she becomes subject to the provisions of the latest Catalog. If there are changes in major or minor fields or in teaching options within teacher education, the latest requirements for that major or minor or teaching option must be met. If a student changes from one degree program to another, all requirements for the newly-selected degree, as set forth in the latest Catalog, must be met.

Academic advisors will assist in clarifying the requirements and the choices in courses of study, as well as assisting with the scheduling of each semester’s work. The Registrar’s Office upon request will inform the students of the state of their records—the requirements which they have met toward a declared objective and those which remain to be met. Students should request progression sheets from the Registrar’s Office as soon as they reach junior standing. The staff in the Office of Student Affairs will talk with students about career questions or personal problems affecting their college work. None of these persons, however, will or can take responsibility for student performance. This belongs to the student.

Students should be familiar with the following rules which govern academic work.

Students are classified according to the number of semester hours successfully completed.

A "regular full-time student" is any student seeking a degree who is enrolled for twelve or more hours. A student who is seeking a degree, but who is enrolled for less than twelve hours, is a "part-time student." The term "non-matriculating student" applies to those who are not seeking a degree (page 10). The following policies on academic standards and academic standing apply to all three categories of students.

Classification as a full-time student requires enrollment in at least twelve semester hours of courses each semester, or at least four semester hours each summer term.

The maximum permissible course load each semester is as follows: (a) thirteen hours for those students who are on academic probation; (b) eighteen hours for those students who are not on academic probation and who have a grade average of less than 3.00; (c) twenty-one hours for those students who have a grade average of 3.00 or greater. In no case may a course load be carried which is in excess of twenty one hours a semester.

The maximum permissible course load for each of the two terms of the summer session is as follows: (a) six hours for those students who are on academic probation; (b) seven hours for all students who are not on academic probation. In no case may a course load be carried in a summer term which is in excess of seven hours.

Classes may not be added after four instructional hours, or the beginning of the second instructional week of the class, whichever comes first. Forms for adding courses can be obtained from the Registrar’s Office. Students fill out the form, obtain approval of their academic advisor and the instructors of the courses involved, and return the completed form to the Registrar’s Office.

Classes may be dropped by filling out the form obtained in the Registrar’s Office. Courses dropped will not appear on the student’s transcript, provided the course(s) are dropped by the end of the fifth instructional day of a semester or the third instructional day of a summer term. (See Academic Calendar.)

A $5.00 drop/add fee will be assessed after the third class meeting of on-campus courses.

Students who withdraw once classes begin will be "flagged" by the computer. Withdrawals from at least two courses in three consecutive semesters will impact student priority for course selecting as follows: If all three semesters’ withdrawals began with enrollment of 18 or more hours, the student will not be allowed to course select at the dates within a current semester, but can only register for classes on the designated days immediately preceding the next semester. In other instances, the student will only be allowed to course select on the designated catch-up days at the end of the course selection process.

The deadline for dropping classes with the grade of W will be the end of the ninth instructional week of a semester long course. Courses conducted over a period of time less than a full semester may be dropped up to the third class meeting. The deadline for dropping during a summer term will be based on the same ratio as the ninth week of a regular semester.

A student dismissed from class for disruptive behavior will receive a grade of F and may not subsequently withdraw from the class. Each student who remains enrolled in the course past any of the above deadlines must be assigned a grade from the following: A, B, C, D, F, I, or P.

If the student does not attend the first session of a class for which there is a waiting list, that student may be dropped from the class.

Students enrolled in the College may audit courses upon authorization of the Registrar and the instructors concerned. Once he or she has enrolled in a particular course, a student may not change his or her status in that course, during the semester, from audit to credit, or from credit to audit, without the consent of the instructor. Audit courses that are not completed will not be recorded on the student’s transcript. Regularly enrolled students may not audit classes which, if taken for credit, would constitute excess semester hours, unless authorized by the Vice President and Academic Dean.

Once enrolled, it is expected that a Concord student will do most of his or her work here. However, he or she may apply for permission to take work at another fully-accredited institution. Application must be made in writing to the Registrar, stating the institution, the reason for requesting the work there, and whether the work will be on its campus, by extension, or by correspondence. The request must include the departmental designation of the course, its number, descriptive title, and credit hours, as listed in the catalog of that institution. Transient forms are available through the Registrar’s Office.

Credit will not be given for courses taken elsewhere unless permission is granted in advance. Good academic standing (2.00 grade point average) is required for permission to study at another institution.

The Registrar and the Vice President and Academic Dean will review this request. Permission to take courses elsewhere is not given for any course already taken at Concord, or for certain basic courses required in the student’s program of study, without prior approval by the student’s major department. Once a student has attained junior standing at Concord, courses may not be taken at a junior college for transfer to Concord College.

Concord College cannot assume any responsibility for the transmittal of official notice of completion of courses at other institutions. Students depending upon correspondence credits to complete their graduation requirements particularly are cautioned that Concord has no control over delays which sometimes occur in the grading of correspondence assignments and in the sending of official transcripts of final grades to the Concord Registrar’s Office.

A candidate for a degree from Concord College must have earned a minimum of 36 semester hours of credit while in residence. Sixteen of the last 32 semester hours of study previous to graduation must be done in residence at this College. For students completing three years in the pre-medical, pre-dental, medical technology, or pre-law curricula, 16 of the last 32 semester hours of study previous to entering professional training must be done in residence. At least nine semester hours credit for courses required for a major, minor, concentration, or teaching field (or specialization) must be earned in residence here. These courses are to be upper division courses, or in some instances, for elementary education specializations, courses designated by the appropriate department chairperson.

The determination of transferable credit is made by the College after review of the courses offered for transfer, and consideration of which ones have equivalent courses here and which can be counted only for elective credit. Grades for all work transferred are recorded as earned. Transfer students should submit transcripts at the earliest possible date so that this determination can be made. Although all credits from regionally accredited junior colleges in college parallel courses are accepted (provided none of the credit was acquired after the student gained junior standing at a four-year college), a maximum of seventy-two semester hours is applicable toward the 128 semester hours required for graduation. Thus, a minimum of 56 semester hours must be completed at a baccalaureate institution. Only credit from regionally accredited institutions is acceptable for transfer to Concord College without special permission. Students transferring from two-year institutions must complete, at Concord, a minimum of fifteen semester hours in their major or teaching field. After transferring, a student must maintain a 2.00 grade average in all courses taken at Concord. Once admitted as a student to Concord, transfer credit will be accepted only for courses for which prior permission is obtained (pages 9-10).

Students who transfer from one college or university in the West Virginia State College and University Systems to another may transfer their core coursework, which will count toward fulfillment of General Studies requirements at the receiving institutions, under provisions of a Core Coursework Transfer Agreement. This assures the transfer of courses for General Studies credit for any of the courses listed in the agreement and does not limit the number of hours credit that a student may transfer in General Studies. The Registrar’s Office can provide further details and listings of courses from state-assisted institutions that are acceptable as General Studies credit under the agreement.