i

Washington and Lee University

New-Student Guidebook

ii

Non Incautus Futuri

1

Table of ContentsWelcome, Class of 2018 ...............................................................................................2Information For Parents ................................................................................................5 University Offices and Services ..........................................................................6 Financial Aid ........................................................................................6 Business Office .....................................................................................6 ITS (Information Technology Services) ................................................7 University Registrar ..............................................................................7 Career Development ...........................................................................7 Mail Services ........................................................................................8 Dining Services.....................................................................................9 University Card ....................................................................................9 Student Health and Counseling .........................................................10 Student Health Insurance ...................................................................10The W&L Experience..........................................................................................11 The Leading Edge Pre-Orientation ....................................................12 First-Year Program ..............................................................................14 Orientation Week ...............................................................................14 Academic Advising .............................................................................15 Registration ........................................................................................15 Traditions............................................................................................16 Generally Speaking ............................................................................17 Residential Life ..................................................................................19 Social Networking .............................................................................. 21

go.wlu.edu/newstudent go.wlu.edu/GHQ

2

Welcome

April 1, 2014

Dear Member of the Class of 2018,

Congratulations on your decision to attend Washington and Lee University, and welcome to our wonderful community! At W&L, faculty and staff work together to help students succeed. There is a strong connection here between what happens in and out of the classroom, and you will find that our academic and student life programs are complementary and interrelated. This guidebook is designed to link you to the people, programs and places that make W&L such a special University. Hopefully, you’ll utilize the guidebook and website to learn much more about what will soon become your home away from home. You’ll notice that the guidebook is full of URL’s to our website. If you remember only one address for your summer, make it go.wlu.edu/newstudent. There you will find links to all of the websites listed in the New-Student Guidebook as well as the link to Generals’ Headquarters (go.wlu.edu/GHQ) where you will find all required first-year forms. Again, welcome to Washington and Lee! I look forward to meeting you.

Sincerely,

Jason Rodocker Assistant Dean for First-Year Experience

3

Class of 2018

April 1, 2014

Dear Class of 2018,

I would like to take this opportunity to welcome you into the Washington and Lee community. In a few short months you will take your place here among the student body. Until then, this book will serve as a good first step to discovering the unique character and culture that surrounds W&L. From your first day here I encourage you to become fully invested in the people and opportunities that make W&L such a special place. You will be inspired as you work in a community of very passionate and talented students while being guided by a highly renowned faculty that truly cares about each and every student. In addition, you will have incredible opportunities here. From Mock Convention to Fancy Dress and from the Williams Investment Society to Campus Kitchens, you will have countless chances to engage with the world around you in meaningful ways. Most importantly, your acceptance has given you the opportunity to be a part of a community that is based on trust and whose commitment to honor stands unwavering. I hope you come to treasure this commitment as highly as the many generations that have come before you. Congratulations on your decision to come to W&L and best of luck in your first semester. We look forward to your arrival.

Sincerely,

Nathan Kelly ’14President of the Student Body

4

5

Information for ParentsThis summer will be defined by excitement, both as your student prepares for college and as you prepare to see your student off. Understandably, students and their parents have different questions in mind throughout this process. To that end, we have created a website specifically for you—a resource for the months and years to come. Please make it a point to visit the Parents’ Dashboard: it contains much of the information new parents and guardians at Washington and Lee will need to know.

go.wlu.edu/parentsgo.wlu.edu/FERPA

Your student will follow the path set for him or her on Generals’ HQ at go.wlu.edu/GHQ. Once your student logs in using the same account access used during the application process, there will be a Student Affairs link on the left side of the page. The Student Affairs link to “First-Year Forms” outlines required and optional forms, deadlines and programs. For parent access to information about required and optional forms, deadlines and programs, please see the “First-Year Experience” website and the New-Student Summer Timeline enclosed in this mailing.

go.wlu.edu/newstudent

6

University Offices and ServicesEvery first-year student should know the basics of how to get around at W&L. Where do I eat? How do I get mail? What if I get sick? Here are some of the essentials of living on campus.

Each section gives a quick overview of university offices and services. Additional information can be found at the web page provided or by contacting the appropriate office. Contact information can be found on each web page.

FINANCIAL AIDWith $36 million in undergraduate grants and scholarships, financial aid can help meet the needs of qualified students. A complete financial aid package usually consists of a combination of grant or scholarship, student and/or parent loan and campus work study. The combination of grant, loan and work study provides the typical aid recipient with a financial aid package equal to the educational costs related to attending W&L.

go.wlu.edu/financialaid

BUSINESS OFFICEThe Business Office prepares monthly bill statements and processes payments on your account. All of your account information is available on the Generals Payment System (GPS) which is accessed by students via Webadvisor. Initial bills are released on July 15 and due by August 10.

go.wlu.edu/businessoffice

7

UNIVERSITY REGISTRARThe Office of the University Registrar oversees student registration and records, so the staff “gets faculty and students together and reports on the results.” AP, IB, transfer credit, course offerings, academic requirements and policies, transcripts, enrollment verifications, grading and graduation all start here.

go.wlu.edu/registrar

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SERVICES (ITS)ITS publishes its recommendations for student-owned computers on the ITS website. Nearly all students bring computers for use at W&L. IT resources provided for W&L students include:

• Microsoft Office and antivirus software for Windows and Mac available for download from ITS site

• Wireless and wired Internet connections available throughout campus, including residence halls

• The Stable provides virtual Windows desktops, including access to course-specific software and network storage, and is available from many types of devices with the use of a high-speed Internet connection

• Lifelong Outlook Live accounts provide email, calendar, data storage and other tools

• Most classrooms equipped with digital projectors, document cameras, and other tools to enhance instruction

• Video conferencing and digital video-recording of class sessions available in many locations

• Support offered for digital video editing, creating and printing posters, creating digital maps, analyzing data and other IT needs

• Computer labs and printers available around-the-clock

go.wlu.edu/ITS

CAREER DEVELOPMENTCareer Development is conveniently located on the top floor of the Elrod Commons, and it’s the place to go for career/self-assesments, resume advice, networking tips and practice interviews. Through one-on-one career advising and targeted programming, Career Development provides the guidance and resources you’ll need to develop and implement both your academic and career plans. This office fosters an environment that encourages individual responsibility, creativity, open-mindedness and integrity when searching for the right job, internship or graduate program.

go.wlu.edu/careerdevelopment

8

package or you’ve done some online shopping, have the package addressed like the example below. You’ll get an email from mail services when you need to pick something up.

Your NameResidence Hall and Room NumberWashington and Lee University204 W. Washington StreetLexington, VA 24450-2116

go.wlu.edu/campusmail

MAIL SERVICESLETTER MAILSince the Lexington Post Office is only a block away from campus, we do not have a university-run mail room for students. To rent a P.O. Box for the school year (something most students do), sign up over the summer using a form from your local Post Office or online at www.usps.com.

PACKAGES FOR MOVE-INNeed to mail a large package to meet you at school for move-in day? No problem, just follow these guidelines: do not send your package before August 18, make sure that it can be carried by one person, that it weighs less than 50 pounds and that it’s labeled (with your name, residence hall and room number) on every side. Here’s how to address it:

Your Namec/o Campus Mail ServicesResidence Hall and Room NumberWashington and Lee University204 W. Washington StreetLexington, VA 24450-2116

PACKAGES DURING THE YEARWhile the Post Office handles all of your letter mail, the University’s mail room handles any packages you might receive during the school year. If your parents want to send you a care

9

UNIVERSITY CARDYour University Card is essential to everyday life on campus. It will be used as your:

• W&L student ID• card access to residence halls and campus buildings• meal card• debit card for “general debit” and food purchases• credit card in the University Store, Auxiliary

Services, Copy Center and with approved organizations

go.wlu.edu/universitycard

WASHINGTON AND LEEU N I V E R S I T Y

204 W. Washington Street

Lexington, Virginia 24450-2116

DINING SERVICESFirst-year students are enrolled in an “all you can eat” meal plan. You are allowed unlimited entries into the Marketplace at Elrod Commons so you can get a full meal or just a snack between classes. There’s also a wide variety of choices including an extensive salad bar, deli bar, and vegetarian and vegan options. The Marketplace is open 7:15 a.m. – 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 7:15 a.m. – 7 p.m. Fridays, and 8 a.m. – 7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. If you miss dinner there is also a “meal equivalency” available at the Café ’77 in Elrod Commons which is open 7:30 a.m. – 2:00 a.m. Monday through Friday, and l p.m. – 2 a.m. Saturday and Sunday. Your meal plan includes flex dollars you can use at the Café ’77 or the E. Café at Hillel House, a kosher café open Monday-Friday 7:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m., Sundays 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. You will also receive guest passes to the Marketplace with your meal plan so you can share a meal with friends. Dining Services is an important part of W&L’s sustainability initiatives, serving locally grown foods

including some from the campus garden and using only fair trade coffee. We offer all meal plan holders a reusable to-go container to take meals out. We also use compostable paper products. We participate in recycling and composting efforts and donate leftover food to Campus Kitchen. Please see the Dining Service web page for daily menus, upcoming special events and more details on your meal plan.

Also, Washington and Lee Dining Services offers a proactive approach for students, faculty, and staff with special dietary needs. If you have a specific nutrition concern or are allergic to any foods and need help in finding appropriate foods, please make an appointment with our Executive Chef. Students that have a specific food allergy or special dietary needs due to a medical condition, and would like assistance with meeting those needs, please contact the Student Health Center for an appointment at (540) 458-8401.

go.wlu.edu/diningservices

10

STUDENT HEALTH INSURANCEGood health is essential to your academic success. Therefore, Washington and Lee University requires all full-time students to carry health insurance. This coverage may be in the form of an individual policy already in effect, inclusion in a family policy, or enrollment in a student health insurance plan offered through the University. All international students must enroll in the student health insurance plan offered through the University to ensure adequate coverage in the U.S. that meets Affordable Care Act mandates. In addition to the Health Insurance Information Form to be submitted by all new students, you will also receive an e-mail each summer requesting that you complete an on-line health insurance enrollment / waiver form documenting such coverage. The Student Health & Counseling (SH&C) offices do bill student insurance plans for healthcare services provided. The Student Health Fee assures access to SH&C for all full-time students, and also serves to pre-pay the co-payment and/or deductible that insurance plans typically require at the time of a visit. SH&C will accept the payment made by health insurance companies for office visits and other covered services as payment in full.

go.wlu.edu/studenthealthinsurance

STUDENT HEALTH CENTERThe Student Health Center, on the lower floor of Gilliam Residence Hall, provides outpatient care, inpatient care of non-critical illnesses and injuries, and on-call urgent care during academic terms. Emergency medical situations beyond the scope of care at the Student Health Center are evaluated and treated at Carilion Stonewall Jackson Hospital, just one mile from campus.

go.wlu.edu/healthcenter

UNIVERSITY COUNSELINGW&L students can receive counseling for any social, academic or emotional problems. First-year students are encouraged to seek assistance from the Assistant Dean for First-Year Experience, the staff of the Office of the Dean of Students, the academic deans, a faculty adviser, the University Registrar, physicians and/or counselors. Counseling is useful for a broad range of issues including, but not limited to, relationship difficulties, self-esteem, sexuality, anger management, academic achievement, grief and family issues.

go.wlu.edu/counseling

11

The W&L ExperienceWhile every student’s time at Washington and Lee is unique, there are several formative experiences that bind the undergraduate student body together. These shared experiences form the foundation of your college career. From the very beginning of Orientation Week you will feel like part of a family—the sense of community that permeates the atmosphere of the University. This section provides the details about first-year orientation, an overview of residential life and a taste of what you’ll encounter in the years to come.

12

THE LEADING EDGE PRE-ORIENTATION You should consider The Leading Edge as an exciting beginning to your college experience. Students who participate in one of the program’s two tracks—Volunteer Venture or Appalachian Adventure—remember that week as one of their fondest college memories. These pre-orientation trips are small and inviting, and give you the chance to hone your teamwork skills while encountering unique challenges. Upper-division students lead the pre-orientation trips. You will also experience the sense of community that will define your time at Washington and Lee.

The Leading Edge pre-orientation trips take place the week before first-year orientation begins. The University subsidizes the program; your cost of $200 will be billed to your student account in August.

HOW TO APPLYThe online application period opens June 3 at 11 a.m. EST and closes June 11 at 4 p.m. EST for Volunteer Venture and Appalachian Adventure. The application will appear on GHQ under Student Affairs when the application period begins. Over 215 students from the Class of 2017 applied last summer, so be sure to apply as soon as registration opens! Trips are assigned to applicants on a first-come, first-serve basis.

go.wlu.edu/theleadingedge

VOLUNTEER VENTURESpend a week in one of six cities becoming a part of the community by living, learning and working with the individuals whose lives are affected by poverty.

go.wlu.edu/volunteerventure

APPALACHIAN ADVENTURESpend five days hiking on the Appalachian Trail. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned outdoor enthusiast, your trip will be unforgettable.

go.wlu.edu/appalachianadventure

13

14

FIRST-YEAR PROGRAMThe First-Year Program provides you with resources, information, mentoring, programming and advising. The cornerstone of the First-Year Program is the residential life experience, facilitated by the undergraduate resident advisers (RAs) for first-year students. RAs work closely with first-year students and offer assistance as new students learn about their new “home away from home.” They provide a variety of fun and interesting programs and events for their residents, while serving as wonderful academic and social resources.

go.wlu.edu/newstudent

ORIENTATION WEEK Orientation Week will introduce you, one of the newest members of our community, to the Washington and Lee traditions which are central to the past, present and future of the University. The Honor System, undergraduate curriculum, student self-governance, clubs and organizations, educational experiences, social events and meeting fellow classmates are just a few of the many highlights of the orientation program. Orientation Week takes place September 6-10.

go.wlu.edu/oweek

15

ACADEMIC ADVISINGStarting your academic career at Washington and Lee will be both exciting and challenging. Your initial faculty adviser will explain Foundation and Distribution Requirements (FDRs), help you finalize your schedule for Fall term, and support you as you start to choose a major. This relationship begins over the summer, when you fill out an information form for your future adviser detailing your academic and extra-curricular interests. Orientation Week is full of opportunities to get to know your adviser, one of which is a meal together.

go.wlu.edu/academicadvising

REGISTRATIONDuring June, you will hear from the University Registrar’s Office about how to prepare for Fall registration during Orientation. Watch for email announcements of how to plan using your AP, IB and language-placement results. In the meantime, begin reviewing the W&L web catalog at catalog.wlu.edu and the curricular advice document at go.wlu.edu/curricular-advice.

go.wlu.edu/registrar

16

TRADITIONSTraditions are what bring the student body together as fellow Generals. We all come from so many different places, we all have different values and beliefs, and we all spend our time differently. The following are just a few examples of the many customs, stories and concepts that set W&L apart and bring students closer.

THE SPEAKING TRADITIONThe Honor System

Nabors Service DayScience Society and the Arts

(every other year)

Mock Convention(every 4 years)

Fancy DressSpring time on the Maury RiverH i k i n g o n t h e W o o d s C r e e k T r a i l

Studying on the front lawnQuality time with professors

Parents & Family Weekend

17

GENERALLY SPEAKINGEvery campus has its own language and W&L is no different. You’ll pick it up in no time once you get here, but here are a few to get you started.

D-hall the Marketplace, located on the bottom floor of Elrod CommonsCo-op/Café Café ’77/Emporium, located on the main floor of Elrod CommonsCommons Elrod Commons, the entire building or the Living RoomC-School Huntley Hall, the Williams School of Commerce, Economics, and PoliticsE.Cafe located in the Hillel HouseJ-School the Journalism department and building (Reid Hall)“On the hill” on campusThe Colonnade made up of Newcomb, Payne, Washington, Robinson and Tucker HallsThe Quad the area between Baker, Davis

and Gilliam residence halls—also known as BDG Quad

EC Executive CommitteeSJC Student Judicial CommitteeHV honor violationFD Fancy DressSciLi Science LibraryBob and George Robert E. Lee, George WashingtonCadavers a secret societyLex Vegas LexingtonTraveller safe-ride bus system

18

19

RESIDENTIAL LIFE AT W&LAll first-year students live on campus in one of four residence halls: Graham-Lees, Davis, Gilliam or Gaines. A resident adviser serves as a resource to a small group of students on a residence hall floor. RAs are upper-division students who want to help make your first year at W&L an unforgettable experience. The Residential Life staff are among the best and most approachable student leaders on campus, so you’ll be in good hands while you’re learning the ropes at W&L.

John W. Davis Hall • Location: BDG Quad • Floors: 3 • Coed: by room • Air-Conditioning: No • Room Types: Double • Residents: 84

Frank J. Gilliam Hall • Location: BDG Quad • Floors: 4 • Coed: by floor • Air-Conditioning: No • Room Types: Singles and Doubles • Residents: 90

Graham-Lees Hall • Location: Across from BDG Quad • Floors: 4 • Coed: by floor • Air-Conditioning: No • Room Types: Singles and Doubles • Residents: 68

Francis P. Gaines Hall • Location: Behind BDG Quad • Floors: 4 • Coed: by floor • Air-Conditioning: Yes • Room Types: Singles and Doubles • Residents: 251

go.wlu.edu/residentiallifeHousing rates are available online.

20

21

Social Networking

STAY CONNECTED

FacebookClass of 2018 Group Page

@wluLex (Campus Events and Information)@wlunews (News from Washington and Lee)

@WnLUReg (University Registrar)@WLUGenerals (Generals Athletics)

@

go.wlu.edu/social_media

go.wlu.edu/newstudent

22

First-Year Program, Orientation and Residential Life

(540) 458-4633

WASHINGTON AND LEEU N I V E R S I T Y

Lexington, Virginia