Student Affairs and Life on Campus

Life on Campus

The College experience travels far beyond the walls of the classroom, and coming to Landmark College gives students a chance to learn about themselves in ways that might surprise them. The campus community promotes growth and development, while giving students a unique opportunity to engage in a broader range of ideas, perspectives, leadership opportunities and activities than they have ever experienced.

In the end, the combination of curricular knowledge and the experience of living as a responsible member of a community leads students to a better understanding of themselves - both in their ability as learners and their responsibilities as citizens.

Community Standards

All students and staff of Landmark College are members of a unique educational community, whose goal is to enable each student to tap his or her full potential for success. Such a challenging goal requires tremendous individual effort on the part of each student and cooperative effort on the part of each member of the Landmark community. The guiding principles of the Landmark community include hard work, respect for others and oneself, honesty, personal accountability, and careful organization of time and materials. The following standards of conduct are examples and general expectations for all student members of the Landmark College community:

• Respect: Students will show respect for the feelings, time, efforts and physical well-being of others, and for their capacity for growth; for the property and materials of Landmark College as well as the personal property of all members of the LC community; for the rules and regulations of Landmark College and its governing bodies, and for the laws of the State of Vermont and of the United States.
• Understanding: Students will make a commitment to understand their own strengths and challenges, and to work towards academic and personal growth.
• Safety: Students will make a commitment to contribute to a safe, clean, congenial, and productive learning environment.
• Honesty: Students will exhibit honesty in academic endeavors and in all aspects of campus life.

In the formal conduct process, a range of sanctions may be imposed by the College. Depending on the behavior pattern or incident being addressed, a combination of administrative and educational sanctions may be issued.

When violations of College policy or any behavior where the College’s Standards of Conduct are violated occur, the College will use the following criteria to determine the appropriate level of sanction.

1. The extent to which the behavior has affected the ability of other members of the community to pursue their own academic and personal goals.
2. The extent to which the behavior has affected the reputation of the College or the ability of the College to effectively pursue its mission.
3. The extent to which the safety or well-being of any individual has been placed in jeopardy.
4. The extent to which standards of civil behavior have been violated.
5. The extent to which the behavior has violated local, state or federal law.

Furthermore, while engagement in the academic program is not an explicit factor in the determination of a sanction, the College may consider the documented level of commitment the student has made to their academic program in making a final determination. Similarly, a student’s honesty and cooperation with College staff throughout an incident may also be considered in a determination of final sanction.

Students who do not follow the structures and requirements of any sanctions issued by the College may be subject to further disciplinary action.

For a full description of College policies and the disciplinary process, please see the College’s Student Handbook.

Residential Life

Landmark College offers a wide variety of living accommodations to suit the needs of students as they grow and develop on campus, and the College has invested considerable time and resources to create and update new and exciting living options on campus. New students typically live in double rooms in traditional residence halls. After their first year, students may have the opportunity to live in suites and apartments on campus that will provide more independent living. In all housing options, there remain opportunities to gather as a whole community or in small groups. Wherever students live on campus, there are opportunities to stay connected.

Residential Staff

The Residential Life staff supports the education of all residents, fostering the growth and maturity gained by students in the College’s living community. In particular, the College has two levels of trained staff living in the residence halls to assist students and support the development of community.

Resident Deans (RDs) are professional staff members who live in, and have overall responsibility for life in, the residence halls. RDs directly supervise the resident assistants in each hall and are available to discuss important issues or concerns with students. In addition to serving as a resource and referral agent to help students get connected to other campus services resources and services that they may need, the resident deans work closely with academic advisors to make meaningful connections for students between their academic work and life on campus.

Resident Assistants (RAs) are current students who have been selected for their ability to provide leadership, support and guidance to students at the peer level. RAs are great resources for questions about life on campus, as well as about important policies and procedures. They assist the resident dean in the operation of each residence hall and provide regular programming in the hall as well.

At least one RA is on duty in each residence hall or complex during evening hours and weekends, and one RD is on duty for the campus on a nightly basis and on weekends. Duty staff also remain available on an on-call basis overnight to address emergencies or other urgent matters involving students. Each RD is available during office hours during the week, plus occasional evening and weekend hours as posted. The residential staff is supervised by the Director of Residential Life and the Dean of Students.

Opportunities for students to interact with the Residential Life staff include:

• Questions about campus resources and programs
• Activities (the staff plans some activities and can help students plan others)
• Policy and procedural questions
• Community living standards

Nonsmoking Living Environments

All residence halls (as well as all campus buildings and vehicles) are nonsmoking environments. Landmark College strives to provide a healthy, safe, and productive work, educational, and social environment for students, faculty, and staff. In view of the overwhelming evidence regarding the negative health effects of smoking and second-hand smoke, smoking is only allowed in designated outdoor smoking areas in upper campus. The lower campus quad area has been designated a smoke-free environment.

For Landmark College, smoking is defined as the act of smoking or carrying a lighted cigarette, cigar, pipe or any other smoking material or device.

All members of the Landmark College community are responsible for observing this policy and its provisions. Documented violations of this policy can be met with sanctions that include fines, community service and placement on disciplinary status.

Wellness Housing at Davis & Chumley Halls

Although there is already a strongly enforced expectation that Landmark College is a campus that prohibits the use of alcohol and other illicit substances, the Davis & Chumley Halls offer an additional measure of support for those individuals who choose not to drink, smoke, or use drugs. Substances are defined to include alcohol, cigarettes, and other smoking materials, as well as all illicit drugs. Students in the Wellness Hall sign an agreement to keep their room free from substances at all times.

Activities and Educational Programs

The Activities Office offers opportunities for learning, personal challenge, leadership, involvement, and community service, as well as fun and socializing. Activities are designed to provide variety and entertainment as well as educational opportunities to compliment the classroom.

Activities include:

• Artists and speakers on contemporary topics
• Movies, dances and local bands in the game room
• Rock climbing, negotiating the ropes course, or white water rafting
• Mentoring local school children or serving at a community dinner
• College-wide events and small club gatherings

Student Leadership Opportunities

Landmark College students possess the knowledge, passion, and ingenuity to become powerful leaders in this world, and the College seeks to support leadership opportunities for both current student leaders and emerging leaders. Formal leadership opportunities include:

• Resident Assistants: These are current students who have been selected for their ability to provide leadership, support and guidance to students at the peer level. RAs assist the resident dean in the operation of each residence hall and provide regular programming in the hall as well.
• Student Government Association: Landmark College’s Student Government Association (SGA) exists to represent the students. The SGA seeks to provide a means to formally act on the affairs affecting Landmark College students. It is also a forum for students to express their views. The SGA is constantly serving the needs and interests of the student body by working with faculty, administrators, and the local communities to improve the quality of the Landmark College experience.
• Phi Theta Kappa: Phi Theta Kappa is the international honorary society for students in two-year colleges (or colleges such as Landmark which offers two-and four-year degree programs). It has more than one million members in 1,100 chapters worldwide. Landmark’s chapter, Beta Alpha Epsilon, has inducted nearly 200 students during its 10-year history. To be eligible, a student must complete at least 12 credits with an overall GPA of 3.5 or higher and have at least one semester (Fall or Spring) remaining at Landmark. The student must also have and maintain a spotless conduct record. Landmark’s Phi Theta Kappa chapter is exceptionally active on campus, with elected officers and regular meetings. Members attend regional and national meetings and conferences and participate in campus leadership and community service. The Beta Alpha Epsilon chapter has received many state and national honors for its accomplishments and our members frequently serve as officers on Phi Theta Kappa’s New England regional governing council.
• Campus Activities Board: The Campus Activities Board (CAB) holds weekly community meetings to plan upcoming activities and decide on events for each semester. All on-campus recreational activities such as movies, parties, dances, and special events are planned and carried out by the CAB, which consists of elected student members who depend upon input from the entire student body. Any student who wants to become involved with planning events should attend CAB meetings.
• Adventure Leadership Board: The Adventure Leadership Board provides a leadership outlet to students who enjoy the outdoors. Students can practice and receive feedback on leadership skills as well as the skills involved in a variety of outdoor adventure activities.
• New Student Orientation Leaders: The transition to College can be challenging and new students can often have trouble navigating their new home. New Student Orientation Leaders help students connect to the College and to each other.
• Landmark Community Outreach Group (LCOG): This group works to create and fulfill service opportunities on campus and within the greater Putney and Vermont community. LCOG is also a member of the Putney Student Corps, where all community service organizations from the educational institutions in Putney come together to provide even greater service to the community and its citizens.

Women’s and Men’s Programs

We offer several programs just for women. They can include social activities and weekend trips to nearby cities or shopping nearby. Some are held in the Women’s Center on themes including health and fitness, sexuality and relationships, or contemporary issues of interest. The College supports its men in many ways as well, including men’s discussion groups and programming of special relevance for men.

Music and Theater

Music is one of life’s great joys. Landmark offers many opportunities for both accomplished musicians and beginners. Options have included Pep Band, Chamber Ensemble, Chorus, Jazz Ensemble, coffee houses, theater accompaniment, coffeehouses, open mic nights, and talent shows. Theatrical productions offer opportunities to act, work with the technical crew, be house managers, design costumes, and help compose a musical score, or design a program.

WLMC Radio

Student Affairs works closely with the Communications Department to manage the College’s internet-streaming radio station. Through courses and training, students have the opportunity to serve as DJ and gain other technical experience suited for aspiring broadcasters and others who simply want a practical application for communications class subject matter.

The Independent

In a partnership between Student Affairs and the Communications Department, the College produces an active student newspaper. Managed primarily by students and faculty in the journalism classes offered at Landmark, students gain the opportunity and skills necessary to produce a high-quality newspaper.

Clubs

Student clubs are run by students and are funded through the Campus Activities Board. Some clubs have existed for years, such as the Impressions Literary Magazine. Others are recent additions, such as the Community Service Club. Starting a new club is easy as Student Affairs strives to support unique student interests. Some other clubs operating during the 2012-2013 academic year include Art, Gaming League, Cheer Squad, Social Media, Dance, Hillel, and many other recreational clubs.

Shuttle Service

Landmark offers students free weekday and weekend shuttle service to nearby areas for access to movies, restaurants, shopping and recreation, as well as bus, train, and airport transportation at the beginning and end of each semester (as well as during the major breaks).

Athletics

Athletic Teams

For students who are serious about sports, the College has an intercollegiate experience for every season - including men’s and women’s soccer and men’s and women’s basketball in the fall and winter, followed by men’s baseball in the spring.

Intercollegiate sports teams at Landmark College are unique. Coaches foster players that reflect the pride we hold in our community. When teams and players walk off the playing field, win or lose, they hold their heads high, because the game has been played with intensity, dignity and sportsmanship. Landmark players have respect for officials, opponents, coaches, and - most of all - each other. Landmark College develops athletes with integrity. Nothing less is acceptable.

Intramural & Club Sports

Intramural sports are popular for those who feel that everyday practice is too much of a commitment, but want to compete against fellow students. Dodgeball, Ultimate Frisbee, Broomball, Softball and Volleyball are popular.

Club Sports

Our recreational club sports include indoor soccer, softball and cross country. Our recreational indoor soccer teams compete at Indoor Action Sports in Greenfield, MA, in February. This enormous facility features an indoor rubberized turf with the feel of grass. Outdoor cleats are worn during games. All games are co-ed.

Facilities

The Click Family Sports Center houses our athletic complex, including a gymnasium and rock climbing wall. It also has a weight room with free weights, rowing machine, and treadmills, as well as a velocity pool, a two-lane swimming pool where swimmers can activate a current and swim against the flow.

The largest fitness room is in Aiken Hall. Free weights, benches, and squat racks are available. In addition, Aiken has a variety of aerobic machines, including treadmills, an EFX machine, and bikes.

Frost Hall houses a cardio room with treadmills, elliptical machines, and spin bikes.

The quad is the centerpiece for soccer and other athletics and recreation activities on campus.

Outdoor Programs

The Outdoor Programs department provides the Landmark College community with activities and classes at the ropes course, indoor rock climbing wall, as well as at many recreational sites in northern New England. The goal of the department is to foster leadership, self-advocacy, and social growth through recreational activities. We strive to provide challenging activities that evoke creative thinking and personal growth through lifelong recreational opportunities.

Adventure Defined

1. Usually takes place outdoors (there is also adventure in the classroom)
2. There is an element of uncertainty about the outcome
3. Uses the experiential model of learning
4. There is an element of risk associated with the activity
5. There is a conscious application of reflection throughout the activity
6. Changes and learning are relevant beyond the present moment

Student Services

Counseling Services

The Counseling Center provides professional mental health services to students attending Landmark College, consultation to faculty and staff, and outreach and education to the larger Landmark community. Through supportive relationships and clinical interventions, we work together with students to support their efforts to effectively manage their mental, social, and emotional functioning so that they can take full advantage of the educational opportunities available to them at Landmark College.

Direct services to students include:

• Assessment
• Individual counseling
• Group counseling
• Support groups
• Educational programs
• Referral to appropriate community services or other services on campus
• Consultation
• Substance use assessment and counseling
• Crisis intervention

Students are encouraged to consider counseling if they:

•  Would like some additional support during their transition to college
•  Are stressed, worried or anxious
•  Are missing classes, avoiding people and not getting their work done
•  Are curious about some aspect of their identity
•  Cannot sleep or sleep all the time
•  Need support/advice regarding possible sexual assault/harassment
•  Feel sad, depressed, or alone
•  Find themselves unable to manage their non-academic computer use
•  Are eating all the time or almost never
•  Are abusing drugs and/or alcohol

Accessing Counseling Services

The Counseling Center is on the second floor of the Strauch Family Student Center and is open during the academic year from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays with evening hours by appointment. To make an appointment, contact the Health and Counseling Office Coordinator at ext. 1636 or stop by the office.

Confidentiality

Students choosing to access Counseling Services at Landmark College are made aware of our confidentiality policy and its exceptions during their initial visit. Students are given a form to read and sign that contains the following information pertinent to confidentiality and its limits:

All communications between student and counselor will be held in confidence and will not, except under the circumstances explained below, be disclosed to anyone outside the Counseling Center, unless the student gives written authorization to release the information. A copy of the release form is available for the student to review. In some situations involving danger and/or risk of imminent harm to oneself or specifically identified others, child abuse, or dependent adult abuse, a student’s counselor is required to disclose certain information in order to protect the student and/or others. In certain legal situations, including court order, the student’s counselor is required to disclose information as necessary to comply with the law in that situation. If at all possible, the student’s counselor will discuss the procedures for doing this with the student and enlist the student’s assistance in resolution of the situation that has necessitated such disclosure.

Counseling records are not part of academic records, and no one has access to them except the staff of the Counseling Center. Complete records are maintained for ten years.

Health Services

Health Services provides an opportunity for students to meet most of their health care needs on campus. All Landmark students are eligible for medical services at the Health Center. The Health Center is staffed by a Family Nurse Practitioner and a Licensed Practical Nurse. It is suggested that students with chronic or ongoing medical conditions requiring regular monitoring establish themselves with a local physician. Finding a local physician can be arranged through the Health Center, and allows the Health Center to better coordinate treatment plans and to provide the most comprehensive treatment for students.

A healthy lifestyle is essential to enhancing a student’s college experience, as is reflected in our department’s mission statement. Through education, programs, and services we hope to provide an opportunity for students to achieve this state of health. The mission of Landmark College Health Services is to maintain the optimal physical and emotional health of the student body and by so doing, contribute to the academic and social success of our students.

Services include:

• Diagnose and treat acute illnesses or injuries
• Manage and monitor some chronic conditions
• Order and evaluate diagnostic tests including x-rays and laboratory tests
• Provide health counseling, including diet, stress reduction, smoking cessation, contraception, and sleep hygiene
• Refer to community resources
• Provide gynecological exams including Pap smears, STD testing, emergency contraception

Fees

There are no fees for services at the Health Center; however, fees may be generated for other services such as vaccines, hard goods such as slings, immobilizers, etc., laboratory tests or prescription medications. Most laboratory specimens are obtained at the Health Center and sent to an outside lab, Quest Diagnostics, or the Vermont Department of Health.

Landmark maintains a relationship with Hotel Pharmacy, a local private pharmacy in Brattleboro, Vermont. Prescriptions are delivered to the Health Center daily for a minimal $5 fee per prescription. This service benefits students who do not have transportation to and from Brattleboro. Hotel Pharmacy also processes any insurance that can be submitted electronically.

The Landmark College Student Health Insurance Plan has been developed especially for Landmark College students and is administered by Bollinger, Inc. All students are required to participate in the Landmark College Student Health Insurance plan unless they can certify other qualified coverage. The Plan provides coverage for sickness and injuries that occur on and off campus and includes special cost-saving features to keep the coverage as affordable as possible. The cost of the insurance plan is billed to students annually.

Accessing Health Services

The Health Center is located on the second floor of the Strauch Family Student Center. The Center is open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. for appointments. On Wednesday, it is open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. as a walk-in clinic. Should a student require medical attention after hours or on weekends, the College has established a contractual agreement with Brattleboro Primary Care. This practice is staffed by board-certified internists who provide 24-hour on-call coverage for our students. Information sheets explaining this process are available throughout campus. Students can contact their RAs or RDs to assist them in accessing these resources. Appointments and information can be obtained at 802-387-6753 or 802-387-6302, fax 802-387-1644.

Confidentiality

All medical records are confidential and are maintained separately from academic records. Health-related information cannot be released to anyone, including other medical providers or academic institutions, without a signed authorization by the student. Authorization forms are available in the Health Center.

Autism Spectrum Disorder/Social Pragmatics Programs

Like other colleges and universities, during the last few years Landmark has been admitting an increasing number of high-functioning students diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) who are capable of successfully completing a college degree. Landmark College, however, does not simply admit learners with ASD; we have set as a strategic priority development and refinement of ASD services that are integrated, progressive, and student-centered. These important services include:

• Early Orientation
  This program is offered to students with ASD as a three-day session in the summer prior to fall classes, and as a separate track program in January, prior to Spring semester. Fundamental elements include:
  • Early Acclimation to Campus - Students are given more time to become familiar with the campus and to gain practical experience about the college experience.
  • Educational Planning Process - Students participate in a pre-arrival phone conference and on-campus meeting to discuss educational and personal goals.
  • Establishment of Allies and Safe Spaces - Students are introduced to key staff and faculty and the places they can go to when feeling stressed or overwhelmed during the academic session.
  • Peer Group Development - Group structure and the activities that students engage in during the pre-orientation program help in the development of a safe and comfortable peer group as students get ready for the full orientation program and the semester.
• AD1200 - Social Pragmatics Course
  The group-advising format of this course is designed to support students in developing and improving their use and understanding of social pragmatic language. Credit students with social communication challenges may improve their overall ability to manage social interactions. Students will learn and practice techniques and strategies to include other peers in both academic and social settings. The course content may include, but is not limited to, exploration of nonverbal interpretation, prosody, topic management, conversational flow and rhythm, creating personal and procedural narratives, verbally mediated problem-solving, self-advocacy, and listening.
• Expert Faculty and Staff
  Counselors in our Health and Counseling Center have expertise in ASD in college settings. Professional residential staff live in the halls, and are trained to support a broad spectrum of social, behavioral, and other residential living needs. Our faculty boasts a number of educators and researchers with strong backgrounds in teaching and learning for students on the spectrum.
• Analytical Approach to Housing Assignments and Roommate Matching
  Social dynamics are important to many students with learning differences and with ASD in particular. Our expert residential life administrators closely review diagnostic information as a fundamental aspect of the housing assignment process. Resident Deans are trained to mediate roommate conflict, and provide ongoing consultation with residents throughout the school year.
• Social Groups Cluster
  The Social Groups model provides weekly sessions to address many of the ongoing issues students with ASD encounter in a college setting. One of these groups focuses on social development and helps student practice social interaction, get feedback, and learn important social skills. Another group - focusing on anxiety issues - helps students recognize and talk about what makes it difficult for them to socialize and integrate with a community. Our counselors and peer mentors work with students with ASD in these intimate groups to encourage and practice social interaction, get feedback, and practice social skills in a supportive environment.

International Students

As the first college in the world exclusively for students who learn differently, our aim is to improve the experience of students who learn differently regardless of their nationality. In this spirit, Landmark College welcomes international students to its programs. The College has had the pleasure of enrolling students from North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Australia, and Africa.

As an English-speaking community, English proficiency is required for participation in our program. We require the TOEFL with minimum score of 525 (paper) or 71 (internet). The TOEFL code for Landmark College is 1537. We do understand that students with language-based learning disabilities may not easily pass the TOEFL despite having strong English-speaking and comprehension skills. Those students who do not pass the TOEFL should contact the Admissions Office.

Almost all students who are not citizens of the United States will need a student visa to enter the U.S. In most cases, students who attend Landmark College will need to apply for an F-1 or student visa. Once students are admitted, the College will provide them with useful information to help navigate the U.S. immigration system and obtain a U.S. visa stamp (or transfer visa status to Landmark College if already in the U.S.).

The Office of the Dean of Students is responsible for providing the information and services students need in order to maintain their visa status including:

• Providing the I-20 certificate of eligibility
• Registering students in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) once they arrive on campus, and certifying continued attendance on an annual basis
• Transferring SEVIS records if a student transfers to another college or university within the U.S.
• Answering questions about the visa process and SEVIS program

Disability Services

As an institution devoted to the education of students with learning disabilities, attention deficit disorders, and autism spectrum disorder, Landmark College fully supports and recognizes the standards set forth in Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990, and similar state laws (“applicable law”), which are designed to eliminate discrimination against qualified individuals with disabilities.

Covered disabilities may include physical or mental impairments that substantially limit one or more of a student’s major life activities, and which require modifications to the facilities, programs, or services of the College. The College is committed to making the campus and its facilities accessible as required by applicable law. The College cannot make accommodations that are unduly burdensome or that fundamentally alter the nature of the College’s programs.

Given the College’s unique mission, many academic accommodations that might be customary or required at traditional institutions would not be appropriate at Landmark, because they would alter the College’s academic program. Therefore, while all students are encouraged to make inquiries or requests regarding disability issues through the following procedure as necessary, students should recognize that there is usually no need for them to use the procedure to address a learning disability, ASD or attention deficit disorder-related issues. Such issues are not ordinarily viewed as within the scope of this policy, because they are addressed with faculty, faculty advisors, or otherwise, as part of the College’s core curriculum and academic and residential programs.

The Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs administers this policy and procedure, and is the College’s designated Section 504 Coordinator. For a full description of this policy and procedures, please see the Student Handbook.