2017-2018 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
    Mar 29, 2024  
2017-2018 Undergraduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

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.


Samuel Read Hall Library

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The library was named for Samuel Read Hall, the Concord, Vermont schoolmaster who pioneered teacher education and published the first textbook on the principles of teaching. The library, an integral part of the Lyndon Learning Commons, is where students gather to study, have a cup of coffee, do research, use computing facilities, view a film or play a game of chess. Students visit the library because it provides a comfortable and secure space for study and supports student research needs by providing helpful staff and access to high-quality resources.

Library staff teach research skills and information literacy and help all library users find the information they need. In addition to our own collections, the library provides access to information resources at the other Vermont State College libraries and most U.S. and international libraries. The library’s online resources are available to our college community across campus and off-site.

The library provides access to several special collections of interest to the campus and local community. There is a Vermont collection focusing on Vermont and Northeast Kingdom history, geography and current events. The library hosts Lyndon State College archives as well as the Instructional Materials and Children’s Literature Centers that support the Education Department and local educators.

Information technology support is also available at the INFOdesk located in the main lobby.

Library Mission
The Samuel Read Hall Library supports the academic, intellectual and cultural life of the Lyndon State College community by:

  • Developing responsive, user-centered services and information resources.
  • Providing friendly, professional staff and a welcoming atmosphere.
  • Maintaining comfortable spaces for focused study and collaboration.
  • Promoting information skills and critical thinking.

The Library is dedicated to the College’s mission of preparing every student for personal and professional success, as well as supporting the information needs of the Northeast Kingdom.

The Learning Commons

Academic Support Center

Academic Success is central to your life at Lyndon. The Academic Support Center Strives to create a welcoming and information-rich environment to support students in the completion of their educational and professional goals. All students are eligible to receive academic support services at no extra cost. Located in LAC 325, the Academic Support Center houses Project Excel, Student Academic Development, and Services for Students with Disabilities. Make sure to visit us in order to explore the useful services available to you!

Student Academic Development

Student Academic Development includes drop-in tutoring in a variety of subject areas in addition to help with time management, test anxiety, study skills, test-taking strategies, note-taking, English as a second language, and many other academic issues.

Student Disability Services

Student Disability Services provides a broad spectrum of accommodations for students with documented disabilities. Students who would like to talk with someone about 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 desires one. Instructors and student support personnel will provide reasonable and appropriate accommodations based on the nature of the disability and the of the course.

Lyndon does not have separate degree programs for students with disabilities; all students must meet requirements for individual courses, general education requirements, and degree programs. The college observes provisions of Section 504 or 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.

Writing Center

The Writing Center offers free, one-to-one peer consultation on a drop-in basis. Trained Writing Consultants work with writers of every skill level, from the most confident writers looking for constructive feedback to those students for whom writing can feel like a challenge. Located in the Library, the center is open Sunday through Friday.

Advising Resources

Advising Resources provides hands-on assistance in course selection, scheduling, and using the online registration system, or other tips related to advising at Lyndon such as how to make the most of meetings with your faculty advisor. Advising Resources offers one-on-one help and take-away resources such as add/drop slips, calendars for mapping your week or your semester, a list of faculty advisor offices, general education courses and checklists, graduation standards information, and more.

Career Services

Career Services provides a variety of career planning and placement services for all Lyndon community members. Career counseling in available for students wanting assistance in choosing a major or career. Additionally, Career Services works with the college’s academic departments and employers to facilitate internship opportunities for students. The Career Services office and website offer students access to occupational references, self-assessment tools, employer directories, job and internship listings, and college and graduate school catalogs. In addition, Career Services is on both Facebook and Pinterest. Events and workshops are posted on Facebook and both social media pages offer students tips, strategies, and tools related to résumé writing, professional dress, networking, searching for a job or internship, and interviewing.

Career Services disseminates jobs 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 résumé preparation, job search and interviewing techniques in order to provide Lyndon graduates with a competitive edge in the modern work place.

Information Technology Services

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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 campus wide 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 Ellucian, 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 Services

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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.

Student Services Office

The Student Services Office in Vail 348 contains the services normally provided by the Registrar’s, 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 Student Services Consultants available to serve the student population on the “front line” as well as Financial Aid, Registrar’s 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 State College strongly encourages students to study abroad, either for one semester or a whole year. The College strives to ensure that studying abroad will be both educational and enjoyable by providing students the opportunity to study all over the world while maintaining their financial aid and taking courses in their major. Lyndon State College currently maintains affiliation with four study abroad agencies: AIFS, CIS, ISA and GlobaLinks, and other programs are available. Study abroad is recommended for, but not confined to, the junior year. Students intending to study abroad should consult their advisor as soon as possible. For more information about study abroad, please contact Dr. Paul Searls, Coordinator of Study Abroad.

Student Affairs

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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 Public Safety (802-626-6452).

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 by calling 802-626-6440. 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 802-626-6440.

Student Life College 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 secure living environment that encourages risk-taking, cooperation and responsible decision-making.

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 25 members of the live-in residence staff which help direct this experience and learning, including Residence Hall Directors, and 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, and 21+.

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 Activities and Leadership Center

The Student Activities and Leadership Center (SALC), 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. SALC houses the Student Government Association (SGA), the Campus Activities Board (CAB), and all student clubs. The Student Activities and Leadership Center provides a variety of leadership opportunities including an annual Student Leadership Conference, as well as promotes 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 (CAB). 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 Wall” indoor climbing wall, the 18 hole disc-golf course, a skate park, the outdoor low and high ropes course, the 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 Vermont State Colleges 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-traditional 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 SGA 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 campus 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 the organizations emphasize group effort along with individual service and responsibility, while others, such as professional organizations, allow members 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

Lyndon’s 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 as publication is open to all students and can provide them with a creative outlet if they 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 online via the college website. The station’s format and playlists 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 (HAC). 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 students commuting to Lyndon. 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 or checking the announcements on the Lyndon portal.

Athletics

Lyndon is a member of the National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) - Division III, and the North Atlantic Conference (NAC). Varsity 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 and women’s lacrosse, women’s volleyball, baseball, softball, and men’s and women’s track and field. Lyndon also offers several club teams that compete with other colleges, including rugby, cycling, and ice hockey.

Intramurals

Many students take advantage of our wide range of intramural sports in order to take a break from their academic routine. Dozens of sports and activities are offered on campus, including football, water sports, volleyball, basketball, tennis, and wiffle ball. All ability levels are welcome at intramural programming.

Athletics and Recreational Facilities

Lyndon’s SHAPE Center includes a fitness center, two racquetball courts, two gymnasiums, a climbing wall and a 25-yard, six-lane swimming pool. Outdoors, Lyndon boasts running trails, tennis courts, and field for varsity athletics and club/intramural games. Cross-country skiers and cyclists enjoy local trails, while downhill skiers and snowboarders enjoy the facilities at nearby Q Burke Mountain, Jay Peak, and the Lyndon Outing Club.

Public Safety

Lyndon State College is committed to ensuring that our 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 scheduled for an actual escort. The Department of Public Safety maintains a daily incident report log which is available for review in the Public Safety Office during regular business hours. 

The department oversees Lyndon’s emergency management plan, and anyone who would like information about the plan is encouraged to contact the Director of Public Safety.  Lyndon State College also has an Emergency Alert system. The Early Alert system is an instant, mass notification system that enables Lyndon 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 to the services described above, emergency telephones that connect to Public Safety are available in the Library and Academic Center (LAC) hallway, in the hallway outside of the Burke Mountain Room, in the SHAPE facility hallway, 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 students 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, the bookstore telephone number is (802) 626-6466 or visit the 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 nearly 10,000 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 Sara Duprey Lussier ‘02, Assistant Director of Annual Giving, at  (802) 626-6426 or at sara.lussier@lyndonstate.edu.

 

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