Campus Life

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Being a college student can open a world of possibilities you never dreamed possible. At the same time, college life can be very demanding. The challenge of new ideas, new friends, course work, studying, decisions and adjustments presents endless prospects for personal and intellectual growth. In order to help you make the most of those experiences, Lyndon provides an array of services and opportunities.

The Lyndon Library, located in the heart of the campus, is a hub of learning for the College and the local community. The Library is where students gather to meet, study, have a cup of coffee, view a video, do research or play a game of chess. The Library provides access to numerous resources in all formats such as online databases, print and electronic books, print and electronic periodicals, DVD and VHS videos and music CDs. The service-focused Library staff teach information literacy and research skills and help students find the information they need regardless of location or format. Most of the Library’s online resources are available to our campus community from off-campus as well. There also are several special collections in the Library including a Vermont collection, materials relating to the Northeast Kingdom, the College archives, and the Instructional Materials and Childrens’ Literature Center.

The relaxed and informal atmosphere of the Library is partly the result of the award-winning design of the building. The Library Academic Center (LAC) opened its doors in 1995 with an Award for Excellence from the American Institute of Architects and American Library Association. The Library was named for the Concord, Vermont schoolmaster, Samuel Read Hall, who pioneered teacher education and published the first textbook on the principles of teaching.

The Samuel Read Hall Library’s mission is to provide a haven for inquiry and reflection. We support students and the broader community by providing resources, staff, and services that encourage research, engage curiosity, and cultivate lifelong learning.
 

The Lyndon State College Information Technology department provides high quality Information Technology services for our learning community. We deliver this service in the context of the vision, mission and goals of LSC and the VSC. The ability to use existing technology and to develop technology skills that are transferable to new tools is integral to the college experience. The campuswide academic and administrative information technology network and its related services bring both the tools and the opportunity to develop important technology skills to every classroom, residence hall room, and office.

Several campus computer labs (providing over 300 Windows and Apple workstations) are available for student use during varying hours throughout the day and night. All students, faculty, and staff are provided with e-mail services (Microsoft Exchange) and network storage (Microsoft SharePoint Services). A Help Desk provides software and hardware support Monday – Friday 8:00AM – 4:00PM. Wireless is accessible in most academic and administrative areas of the college including the Library, Student Center, Dining Hall, Conference Rooms, etc. Our Learning Management System is hosted by Moodle Rooms, our portal is hosted by Datatel, and our content is stored in Microsoft SharePoint Services.

The services provided by the Information Technology Department expand and change frequently. For the most current information, please see the LSC Information Technology Services website at www.lyndonstate.edu/infotech.

Academic Support Center

Academic success is central to your life at Lyndon. The Academic Support Center can assist you with the skills and information you need to define and successfully pursue your educational goals. All students are eligible to receive academic support services. Make sure to visit the center in order to explore the useful services available to you.

Located in LAC 325, the Academic Support Center houses two programs, Project Excel and Student Academic Development.

Student Academic Development includes drop-in tutoring in a variety of subject areas and academic counseling (help with time management, test anxiety, study skills, test-taking strategies, note-taking and support in many other school-related issues).

Project Excel provides individually assigned tutoring and academic and personal counseling. The Project Excel staff includes a Learning Specialist experienced in working with students with disabilities. The program is federally funded through the TRIO program, and eligibility for its services is determined by established federal criteria.

Remember, all students are eligible for academic support services; the staff will determine which program is appropriate for you.

Mathematics Resource Center

If you need assistance at any level of mathematics, Lyndon provides you with math tutoring services. One-to-one or small group tutoring is provided, free of charge. Peer tutors work with students on a drop-in basis (no appointment necessary), and the lab is open Sunday through Thursday (hours will vary).  The Mathematics Resource Center also has a large library containing alternative textbooks, answer keys, CD’s, video tapes, and mathematical software.

Writing Center

Like the Mathematics Resource Center, the Writing Center offers free, one-to-one peer tutoring on a drop-in basis. Writing assistants will work with you on any aspect of your writing, from beginning to end, regardless of subject matter. The center is open Sunday through Friday.

Advising Resource Center

The Advising Resource Center is available for students looking for hands-on assistance in course selection, scheduling, and using the online registration system, or other tips related to advising at Lyndon, like how to make the most of meetings with your faculty advisor. The Center offers one-on-one help and take-away resources like charts for mapping your semester, a list of faculty advisor offices, general education checklists, graduation standards information, and more. Additional resources for student veterans are also available here. The Center is located between the Library and Academic Support, and includes the Student Success Specialist, Career Services and the First Year Experience offices.

Services for Students with Disabilities

Lyndon is committed to providing a broad spectrum of accommodations for students with documented disabilities who request services.  Students who would like to talk with someone about possible educational assistance and/or accommodations should contact The Learning Specialist in the Academic Support Center.  Conversations are confidential in nature and need not result in an application for assistance unless the student wishes one. Instructors and student-support personnel are prepared to provide reasonable accommodations that are appropriate for the nature of the disability and the course.

Lyndon does not have separate programs for students with disabilities and all students must meet requirements for individual courses, general education requirements, and degree programs. The college observes provisions of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the appropriate sections of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA). For further information, students may consult the Academic Policy manual in the library, the Learning Specialist in the Academic Support Center, or the Dean of Administrative Affairs, and appropriate sections below.

Career Services

While the acquisition of knowledge is its own reward, concern about careers and appropriate major study areas is important, too. Career Services provides a variety of career planning and placement services for all Lyndon community members. Career counseling is available for students wanting assistance in choosing a major or career. Additionally, Career Services works with the college academic departments and employers to facilitate internship opportunities for students. The career resource center and computerized career information systems offer students access to occupational references, self-assessment tools, employer directories, job and internship listings, and college and graduate school catalogs.

Career Services disseminates job and internship announcements to students, maintains an alumni career network, and assists students in developing job search skills. The information is used in conjunction with workshops in resume preparation, job search and interviewing techniques in order to give Lyndon graduates a competitive edge in the modern work place.

Veterans Affairs

At Lyndon, veterans are encouraged to make full use of the educational benefits to which they are entitled. The benefits recipient will need to identify from which program the education benefits will be received.  Each semester, enrollments at Lyndon are verified to the agency providing the veteran’s education benefits.  If any questions arise concerning educational benefits or veteran-related problems, contact the Student Services Office.

Registrar’s Office/Student Services Office

The Student Services Office in Vail 348 contains the services normally provided by the Registrars, Financial Aid and Business Offices — all centralized in one location.  Students can receive a multitude of services ranging from registration in classes, paying a bill, changing a meal plan, receiving financial aid assistance, making an address change, requesting a transcript, requesting verification of enrollment, checking on graduation requirements, etc.  We have three Financial Services Consultants available to serve the student population on the “frontline” as well as Financial Aid, Registrar Office, and Business Office specialists who are available for consultation.  This one-stop-shop concept enables students to take care of all their Registrar, Financial Aid and Business Office issues and concerns in one location.

Study Abroad

Lyndon currently has formal student exchange agreements with the New England/Nova Scotia Exchange Program (11 colleges), and the New England/Quebec Exchange Program (18 colleges).  Students are eligible to apply for study abroad if they have a cumulative G.P.A. of no less than 3.00 and are in their fourth, fifth, sixth, or seventh semester of study at Lyndon. The Director of Student Academic Development coordinates this program and also maintains a file of information on institutions in a number of other countries.

Students Reporting Absences

Students who need to miss classes are requested to call the Student Affairs Office at (802) 626-6418. We will notify the appropriate professor(s) of a student’s absence. However, calling our office does not “excuse” an absence. Each professor has his or her own guidelines regarding missed classes. Students are responsible to contact each professor to discuss the requirements and how to make up missed work.

Emergency Messages

During the regular business day, Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-4 p.m., if there is an URGENT situation, please have family, friends, employers, etc. call Student Affairs at (802) 626-6418. We will try to locate you according to your class schedule. We will then deliver a message to you at your campus location. However, this service is only for emergency situations. We are not able to offer a general message service. In emergency situations at times other than Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. - 4 p.m., call the switchboard at (802) 626-6200. They will attempt to deliver a message.

Health Services

Lyndon’s Campus Health Service is supervised by a physician. The staff provides assessment and treatment of routine health matters and makes referrals to local practitioners or to the Northeastern Vermont Regional Hospital, located in nearby St. Johnsbury. If you have a specific health need, do not hesitate to contact the Health Service for information and advice, extension 6440. Emergency services are available 24 hours at Northeastern Vermont Regional Hospital. During office hours you may reach the hospital at (802) 748-8141; for emergencies call 911 for ambulance services.  In a non-emergency call  (802) 626-1101 for information.

Vermont State College policy requires that students complete a health form and maintain required information on file.  The Health Services Office coordinates compliance with these requirements.  The college may withhold the right to register for subsequent semesters if students fail to comply with these regulations.

Personal Counseling

The college experience is often a time of change and personal growth. The combination of new life experiences, new friends and a new environment can occasionally be unsettling. Lyndon recognizes that you might need someone supportive and understanding to speak to during those unsettled times. Professionally trained counselors are available to you to discuss personal issues. The service is confidential.

A professional and collaborative referral system is maintained with mental health professionals in the community for students who require an intensive and or long-term counseling relationship. To arrange a counseling appointment, call extension 6440.

Student Life

The mission of the Office of Student Life is to provide an environment which enhances student learning by facilitating relationships and programs intended to develop characteristics desirable in a Lyndon educated person. These characteristics include a commitment to civic responsibility, an appreciation for diversity, critical thinking skills, an appreciation for life-long learning and the ability to be in healthy, productive relationships. This learning should occur within a safe and secure living environment.

Residential Life

Living on campus can be a very rewarding and memorable experience.  There is a lot of learning that can take place within a residence hall through interactions with fellow roommates or suitemates, programs and events put on by the staff, experiencing what it is like to be a part of a community and so on.  There are 24 members of the live-in residence staff which help direct this experience and learning, including four Residence Hall Directors, and 20 Resident Assistants.  The staff acts as a resource for students on a variety of issues, including interpersonal concerns, residence hall programming, administration, and problem-solving.

There are several types of housing offered on campus including upper-class, first year, 24 hour quiet, gender neutral, substance abuse free environment (SAFE), apartment style, 21+, and a special house for students who are dedicated to providing service to their Lyndon and home community.

Rights and Responsibilities

Lyndon students are entitled to enjoy the same freedoms and rights as other citizens.  This means that they are expected to assume the responsibilities that accompany rights.  In other words, students are not exempt from local and state laws merely because they hold student status, and the college is not a sanctuary from the law.

Lyndon has its own set of regulations (stated in the Student Handbook) to ensure that individual rights are protected and to maintain a campus environment that allows the college to pursue its aims and goals.  These regulations were designed to contribute to harmonious living by emphasizing respect for one another, the college and its property, and the town of Lyndon.

Student Organizations and Activities

Student Activities and Leadership Center

The Student Activities and Leadership Center, located on the second floor of the Vail Student Center, is the hub of activity for students looking to get involved on campus and attend events.  The Center houses the Student Government Association, the Campus Activities Board, all student clubs, provides a variety of leadership opportunities including an annual Leadership Conference, as well as promoting service-learning trips during each of the week-long breaks in the spring semester.

In addition to visiting the Center to stay informed, there are many other ways to find information about the events taking place on campus.  Students can read the student newspaper; check the Student Life events website (www.lyndonstate.edu/events); read the BUZZ, an advertisement found on tables in the Student Center and Stevens Dining Hall; check bulletins boards throughout campus; check the portal; watch the on-campus kiosk screens; or get updates through LSC e-mail.

Campus Activities Board

The majority of Lyndon’s entertainment programs and cultural events are produced under the direction of the Campus Activities Board. This student-run organization is responsible for selecting lecturers, films and performers, producing annual events such as Winter Weekend, and organizing outings and special activities.

Adventure Program

Lyndon’s Adventure Program, established in 2010, provides a wide range of indoor and outdoor activities and programs at a variety of skill levels for the Lyndon community.  Participants have the opportunity to develop lifetime recreational skills, learn about safety and proper technique, gain an appreciation and concern for our natural environment, meet new people, and have a great time.  The program has official ties to the “Gravity Well” indoor climbing wall, the 18 hole disc golf course, the outdoor low and high ropes course, and Ski/Ride Club, and the Outing Club.

Student Government Association

Students play an important role in Lyndon’s governance. They actively represent Lyndon on the Board of Trustees and the Vermont State Colleges Student Association, as well as on committees within the campus community. The Student Government Association (SGA) is governed by elected representatives from each of the four classes, commuters, and non-tradtional students, as well as a representative from each club.  Through participation in student government, students help shape policies that impact student life and distribute the student activities fee by developing an annual budget.  Elections to the Executive Board are held every spring, with elected representatives elected in the fall.  Meetings are held bi-weekly and are open to all.

Student Clubs and Organizations

Lyndon offers over 30 student clubs and organizations to provide meaningful involvement in addition to studies.  There are groups to fit a variety of interests, including athletics and wellness, arts and media, service and leadership, academics and honor societies, and numerous special interest groups.  Some of these organizations emphasize group effort along with individual service and responsibility, while others, such as professional organizations, allow you to examine and discuss career goals in an informal setting.  Still others emphasize games and sports or outdoor activities.

The campus activities and organizations are always changing to reflect the concerns, values, and interests of students.  The Lyndon SGA website (www.LyndonSGA.com) is the source of information on the many clubs currently active on campus, as well as guides on how to become a recognized student organization on campus.

The Critic - Campus Newspaper

The student-run newspaper, The Critic, is your source for information about what is happening on campus, including important student issues. It is an independent newspaper funded by student fees and ad sales, The Critic serves as the official voice of the students of Lyndon. The publication is open to all students and can provide you with a creative outlet if you are interested in journalism, photography, graphic design, advertising or cartooning.

WWLR - Campus Radio

The college’s 3,000-watt FM radio station, WWLR (91.5), is another student-run communications medium at Lyndon. WWLR can be heard within an approximate 50 mile radius, and can be streamed live on-line at the college website.  The station’s format and play lists are entirely student-designed.

Services for Commuters

Commuting students will find that Lyndon is committed to working with them - individually and as a group to help enrich their college experiences. Commuting students can often be found working on group assignments or socializing in a variety of settings offering WiFi access including the Vail Student Center, the library, and in the Harvey Academic Center.  Also, monthly nontraditional learner lunches are a means for commuting adults to share their experiences. Commuter meal tickets, usable in either the snack bar or the dining hall, are handy resources for them. Commuters and their families are encouraged to use college facilities like the pool and attend on-campus entertainment. Finally, to avoid unnecessary travel, commuters can find out about cancelled classes by calling (802) 626-6767.

Sports

You may be one of those who feel that along with the obvious benefit of physical fitness and health, sports and other athletic activities promote self-reliance, cooperation and a spirit of competitive fair play. The college’s intercollegiate and intramural athletic programs are supported by a strong coaching staff, solid administrative backing and enthusiastic student participation.

Lyndon is a member of the National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA - Division III), North Atlantic Conference (NAC), and the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC). Intercollegiate competition includes women’s and men’s basketball, women’s and men’s soccer, men’s and women’s tennis, men’s and women’s cross country, men’s lacrosse, women’s volleyball, baseball, and softball.

Many students take advantage of our wide range of intramural sports to take a break from their academic routine. Over a dozen sports are available ranging from football, watersports and volleyball, to basketball, aerobics, tennis and wiffle ball.  In addition, there are less traditional activities such as board game nights and Super Bowl celebrations. Whether you like to be active in sports or enjoy watching professional sports, there is intramural programming throughout the week for you.

Lyndon’s campus recreational facilities are among the best in the region. The Rita L. Bole Center includes a fitness center, and houses racquetball courts, two gymnasiums and a 25 meter, six-lane swimming pool. Outdoors, there are tennis courts and fields for baseball, softball, and soccer. Skiers enjoy local cross-country trails while downhillers enjoy the facilities at nearby Burke Mountain, and the Lyndon Outing Club.

Public Safety

Lyndon State College is committed to ensuring that the campus remains a safe and vibrant learning environment. Safety personnel patrol the entire campus by foot and vehicle 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. To enhance safety on campus, the department also operates a student-escort service upon request. Escorts are radio-dispatched and patrol the campus as a team when not doing the actual escort. The Department of Public Safety maintains a daily incident report log, which is available for review during regular business hours. 

The department oversees the College’s emergency management plan. Anyone who would like information about the plan is welcome to contact the Director of Public Safety.  Lyndon State College also has an Emergency Alert system. It is an instant, mass notification system that enables students, parents, and members of the faculty and staff to receive updates and alerts on cell phones, personal data assistants (PDAs), and email accounts. Our goal is to increase safety on the Lyndon State campus.

In addition, emergency telephones that connect to Public Safety are available in the Library and Academic Center hallways, in the hallway outside the Burke Mountain Room, in the SHAPE facility hallway and the women’s locker room, in the Stonehenge, Vail, and Rita Bole parking lots, and on the exterior of each Residence Hall.

The Bookstore

Located near the Student Center in Vail 204, the LSC Bookstore stocks required textbooks and general stationery supplies, in addition to clothing, gifts, an assortment of art and photographic supplies, and snacks. The bookstore is open weekdays throughout the year and will allow you to cash small personal checks and Work-Study program payroll checks. The bookstore does not cash third party checks and during the last two weeks of each semester, personal check-cashing privileges are suspended.  Students may send and receive faxes at the bookstore for a small fee.  For more information, their telephone number is (802) 626-6466 or see their web site at www.lsc.bkstr.com.

The LSC Alumni Association

When you graduate, you will become a part of the Lyndon State College Alumni Association.  There are currently over 7,500 alumni of Lyndon, representing all 50 states and a number of foreign countries!  Lyndon alumni have gone on to be extremely successful in their fields of choice.  You will find our alumni on major television networks, in school classrooms, forecasting the weather, on the radio, in human service agencies, environmental firms, at ski areas, graphic design companies, and everywhere in between.  Our alumni are doing great things and their success is a testament to the education and experience they received here at Lyndon. 

The Alumni Association promotes the college and our alumni and creates a link between you and Lyndon.  Alumni can participate in a variety of educational and cultural programs, socialize with other graduates, and rekindle old friendships through the Alumni Association.

For more information about our Alumni Association, please contact Hannah Nelson Manley ’97, Director of Alumni Relations & Development, at (802) 626-6433 or at hannah.manley@lyndonstate.edu.