Student Services and Activities
A Community of Special Character
Among the stated purposes of Vassar College (p. 8) are the "increased knowledge of oneself, a humane concern for society, and a commitment to an examined and evolving set of values." Vassar, therefore, seeks to sustain a community of special character in which people of divergent views and backgrounds come together to study and live.
New students traditionally sign the book of matriculation, thereby agreeing to uphold the letter and spirit of college regulations, to maintain the values of the academy which is Vassar, and to preserve the integrity of the institution.
Respect for others is central to Vassar. The college expects its students to be mindful of their responsibilities to one another and to engage actively in the creation of a community of intellectual freedom, mutually–understood dignity, and civil discourse.
Academic and Nonacademic Advising and Counseling
Students may seek academic advice from the dean of studies, the dean of freshmen, the advisers to sophomores, juniors or seniors, their pre–major or major adviser, and informal advice from the house fellows or from individual faculty members. The dean of students and the director of residential life provide advice on nonacademic matters, as do the house advisers.
Entering students are assigned to faculty premajor advisers until they decide on an area of concentration, when they are given departmental or program advisers. Faculty members assist students with registration and the selection of a concentration.
The Academic Resource Center offers individual assistance and workshops in reading and writing skills, mathematical proficiency, and study skills. The Office of Career Development provides advice and assistance to students and alumnae/i as they investigate career options and apply for employment and internships. The Office for Preprofessional Advising and Fellowships coordinates advising for those students interested in preparing for entry into health profession schools and schools of law and works in concert with a faculty committee to assist students who wish to apply for fellowships.
The Counseling Service, staffed by psychologists and a consulting psychiatrist, provides confidential help for students who have personal concerns. Counseling on special problems is also provided by the physicians at the health service, the director of the office of religious and spiritual life, the director of the office for campus community and the director of the office for disability and support services.
ALANA Center
The ALANA Center is a cultural center dedicated to supporting students of color and the organizations within Asian, Latino, African–American/Black, and Native American (ALANA) student communities at Vassar. The center provides opportunities for students of color to develop social and cultural programs, leadership seminars, sponsor speakers, cross–cultural dialogues and discussions, and network with the larger campus community. The center also encourages academic development through study/discussion groups, lectures, career seminars, big brother/big sister networks, alumnae/i mentor networks, and other student support groups.
Athletics
The athletics program is an integral component of the total educational experience at Vassar. The offerings not only complement and provide a balance to Vassar's rich and demanding academic life, but also help to promote a sense of community. Through our wide range of intercollegiate varsity, club, intramural, and recreational programs, we provide an opportunity to participate for everyone.
The 22–team varsity intercollegiate programs compete in Division III of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). The goal of the intercollegiate athletic program is to offer each varsity team member the opportunity and the challenge to achieve his or her maximum potential as an athlete within Vassar's atmosphere of academic excellence. To this end Vassar has produced All–Americans, national qualifiers, state, regional, and conference champions, as well as many scholar–athlete award winners.
The club program gives the opportunity for intercollegiate competition and student leadership in nonvarsity sports.
The intramural program includes competitive and recreational levels of play in many sports for those who seek competition, fun, exercise, or just a change from the rigors of study without the intense commitment required of varsity participation.
Walker Field House, renovated in 1998, features a new tennis/multipurpose playing surface with indirect lighting. The 42,250 square feet of floor space contains five tennis courts and accommodates a variety of sports including volleyball, basketball, fencing, and badminton. The building also houses a six–lane Olympic–sized swimming pool with a four–foot moveable bulkhead and diving well, renovated locker rooms, and a new sports medicine facility. In addition, a new 53,000–square foot athletic facility includes an 1,800 seat basketball gym, an elevated running track, a 5,000 square foot weight training/cardiovascular facility, a multipurpose room, locker rooms, administrative offices, and a laundry/uniform room.
Kenyon Hall is named in honor of the late Helen Kenyon, class of 1905, the first woman chair of the board of trustees. Kenyon Hall includes a dance studio, a dance studio/performance area, a weight–training and rowing complex, nine squash courts (six international and three hardball), a wood floor gym, locker rooms, an athletic training room and a laundry area.
On–campus outdoor facilities include a nine–hole golf course, 13 tennis courts, and numerous playing fields. Prentiss Field has a quarter–mile all–weather track, two soccer fields, field hockey game and practice fields, and a baseball diamond. The Vassar College Farm contains a rugby field and practice grids. The intercollegiate rowing program facilities include a boathouse and a 16–acre parcel of land on the Hudson River.
On the varsity level, women compete in basketball, rowing, cross country, fencing, field hockey, lacrosse, soccer, squash, swimming and diving, tennis, and volleyball. Men compete in baseball, basketball, rowing, cross country, fencing, lacrosse, soccer, squash, swimming and diving, tennis, and volleyball. Club teams include badminton, cycling, men's and women's rugby, sailing, skiing, track, ultimate Frisbee, and weight lifting. Intramural sports include basketball, floor hockey, touch football, golf, racquetball, indoor and outdoor soccer, softball, squash, tennis, coed volleyball, and inner tube water polo.
In addition to the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III, Vassar is a member of the Upstate Collegiate Athletic Association (UCAA) and competes in the following sports: baseball, basketball, cross/country, field hockey, lacrosse, soccer, swimming and diving, tennis and women's volleyball. The UCAA provides an ideal opportunity to compete within an excellent athletic conference that includes: Clarkson, Hamilton, Hobart/William Smith, Rensselaer, Rochester, St. Lawrence, Skidmore and Union. Vassar is also a member of the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC), the New York State Women's Collegiate Athletics Association (NYSWCAA), and competes in the Seven Sisters Championships.
For a full list of coaching staff, see Athletics (p. 344).
Student Services and Activities
Career DevelopmentThe Office of Career Development provides a range of services designed to meet the career needs of Vassar students and alumnae/i.
In the belief that career development is an ongoing process compatible with a liberal arts education, the office helps individuals to build skills and increase knowledge that will be useful throughout their lives.
Services are designed to assist students in all phases of the developmental process. Specifically, services focus on 1) increasing self–awareness, 2) exploring career options, 3) integrating life and work planning, and 4) securing employment and/or further educational opportunities.
Individual counseling sessions may involvebut are not limited to examining interests, values, and skills; exploring career fields; constructing effective resumes; and pursuing graduate or professional school admission as well as internships and job opportunities. Group meetings covering such topics as self–awareness, working abroad, resume writing, and interviewing are offered throughout the year.
Assessment instruments provide another tool for individuals to examine themselves in relation to the world of work. Strong Interest Inventory and the Myers–Briggs Type Indicator may be taken on the recommendation of a staff member.
The office's extensive resources provide students with the necessary information to make choices and pursue career interests. Student career interns specializing in broad career fields provide assistance in the career library. The library houses several thousand books, periodicals, and in–house publications. A database listing over 8,000 alumnae/i volunteer career advisers and employer databases is also available.
The Office of Career Development publishes ActionLine, a semimonthly newsletter that informs students regarding special events and upcoming deadlines. The Career Development home page (http://careers.vassar.edu) features useful resources including job and internship listings and career information.
Special programs sponsored by the office include the annual Alumnae/i Career Forum, panels addressing various career fields, and the Executive–in–Residence Program.
College–sponsored on–campus recruiting programs bring students together with prospective employers. Off–campus recruiting programs are also held, in conjunction with other selective liberal arts colleges, in several cities. Current job listings are available to both students and alumnae/i through office postings and several on–line job banks. The office also maintains reference files for current students and alumnae/i.
Counseling Services
The Counseling Service provides short–term psychological assistance to Vassar College students at no cost. A variety of services are offered including individual and group counseling, crisis intervention, educational programs, consultations, assessments, and referrals to off–campus psychological services. Counselors help students address concerns about their personal, social, and academic development. The Counseling Services offers several support groups with a specific focus such as eating disorders or dealing with grief and loss. Located in Metcalf House, the Counseling Service staff consists of experienced psychologists and social workers. A consulting psychiatrist is affiliated with the Counseling Service. Limited psychopharmacological services are also available at Metacalf by referral from a counselor. Information discussed during counseling sessions is confidential within legal and ethical considerations.
The Counseling Service also offers educational programs of general interest to the college community. Workshops or presentations on specific topics can be arranged by contacting the Counseling Service x5700 or visiting the web site at http://counseling service.vassar.edu/. Students, faculty, and staff are encouraged to make use of the educational and information resources available at the Counseling Service.
Disability and Support Services
The Office of Disability and Support Services coordinates auxiliary aids, accommodations, and services for students with disabilities in accordance with the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. Disabilities may include, but are not necessarily limited to, visual impairments, mobility and orthopedic impairments, hearing impairments, chronic health impairments, learning disabilities, attention deficit disorder, and psychological disorders. A disability may be present before a student enters Vassar, or may develop or be diagnosed while attending college.
Students are responsible for registering with the Office of Disability and Support Services and providing appropriate documentation of their disability or disabilities, which substantiates their need for accommodations. Disability information is maintained as confidential as required or permitted by law, and will be shared only on a need to know basis. Information about a student's disability is not a part of their permanent academic record.
After registering with Disability and Support Services, the director will work with the student and necessary faculty and administration to identify accommodations and services that are appropriate to their needs, academic program, and campus life experience. Commonly offered accommodations and services include, extended time on exams alternative print formats, notetakers, reader service, books on tape, classroom relocation, sign language interpreters, modified course loads, classroom relocation, housing accommodations, and meal plan modifications.
The Office of Disability and Support Services is committed to helping students develop strong self–advocacy skills. Students are expected to be actively engaged in the coordination and delivery of their support services and accommodations, and to take responsibility for identifying their needs and locating and using on–campus resources. Students are encouraged to work closely with the office throughout the year, and to make use of academic and nonacademic advising and counseling services available to all Vassar students.
Students in need of accommodations or who have questions about available support services should contact the Director of Disability and Support Services at ext. 7584 to schedule an appointment. The office is located in Metcalf House and is open Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM during the academic year and by appointment during the summer.
Fellowships and Graduate School/Preprofessional Advising
The Office for Fellowships and Graduate School/Preprofessional Advising works with students and recent graduates who pursue admission to professional schools, particularly in the fields of health and law, as well as with those who apply for fellowships to fund graduate education, independent study and research. Students interested in these possibilities are encouraged to meet with the director and to consult the available materials relative to their interests. Students interested in application to a health related professional school are encouraged to seek advice from the members of the Pre–Medical Advisory Committee. Early consultation is recommended if one wishes to apply for any professional school, graduate program, or competitive fellowship.
Health
The Health Service at Vassar is designed to promote the health of the individual and the student community and to treat medical issues as they emerge.
Centered in Baldwin House, the Health Service medical staff maintains daily clinics on weekdays for routine medical and gynecological care. After hours, in addition to caring for our own infirmary patients, the nursing staff handles acute problems with on–call medical staff backup. For on–site campus emergencies, New York State certified EMTs are dispatched by calling Message Center x7333 or an ambulance may be called directly at 471–1313. The staff at Baldwin will provide referrals to local emergency rooms if necessary.
A health fee covers the cost of most medical visits on campus. Charges are made for certain medications, laboratory work, and gynecologic visits. The college requires that each student carry insurance to defray the cost of off–campus consultation, hospitalization, or emergency room use.
New students are required to file a medical history and physical examination with the department before coming to college. Proof of immunization against measles, mumps, rubella, and polio, as well as recent tetanus and TB tests, are mandatory to meet New York State requirements. The Hepatitis B vaccine, Meningitis, and Varivax are also recommended.
The Health Service provides student outreach activities and maintains a strong health education program.
Religious and Spiritual Life
Drawing upon the rich variety of religious and cultural traditions that Vassar students bring to campus, the college seeks to facilitate students' development of the tools necessary for reflecting and acting on issues of spirituality, conscience, and service. Opportunities are provided for such reflection and action to individuals, to communities bound by tradition of faith and/or culture, and to the larger student body in all of its diversity. Regarded as essential to this endeavor is tolerance for difference and a recognition of the fact that there are many varying paths to the sacred.
The Office of Religious and Spiritual Life and its advisory committee of students, faculty, and staff work closely with over fifteen student organizations representing the diversity of spiritual traditions present on campus. The religious and spiritual life office coordinates religious services and interfaith observances, faculty and student–led discussions, annual lectures on the contributions of faith commitments to civic formation and education, and organizational support for social action initiatives on and off campus. In addition, pastoral counseling is available.
Together with the Office of Student Employment, the religious and spiritual life office also directs the college's participation in the Federal Work Study Program in community service.
Student Employment
The student employment office (SEO) assists all students seeking employment on campus. The college designates approximately 1,500 positions for students, giving priority consideration to students on financial aid. Students are limited to working eight to ten hours a week. Academic year positions are available in every office and department and some off–campus positions are also available. There are often limited summer and winter break employment opportunities. To secure a campus job, students need to visit with the student employment office. Detailed, preliminary information about who can work, what information is needed, available positions and their descriptions are located on the student employment office website, easily reached through the college home page. http://www.vassar.edu.
Student Government and Extracurricular Activities
The Constitution for the Vassar Student Association gives control over social regulations, as well as extracurricular activities, to the students, subject only to an ultimate veto by the president of the college. Organized under a Council of Representatives and elected standing committees, the VSA plays an effective role in the college community.
Student concern for participation in college policy making, which ultimately affects their education as well as their personal lives, is reflected in the Governance of the college, which now recognizes the student body as a separate entity within the corporate community, endowed with rights and responsibilities, and enjoying opportunities for conference with the board of trustees, the faculty, and the administration. Students sit as voting members of the Committee on Curricular Policies, the Committee on College Life, and other committees of the college.
The range of extracurricular activities at Vassar is as broad as the interests of the students. There are currently over 90 organizations and club sports: political groups, a philosophy club, a film society, an FM radio station, a weekly newspaper and several magazines, and groups focused on social action. Students sponsor a tutorial program for local school children and a Big Brother/Big Sister program.
Student Performing Groups
Dance: Vassar Repertory Dance Theatre is a performing group of ballet, modern, and jazz dancers; it is a credited course offering dance students the opportunity to present both their own choreography and professional repertory in the studio theater and off campus. In past years the dancers have performed repertory by Humphrey, Sokolow, Duncan, Balanchine, Nijinska, and Fokine.
Drama: Student theater productions take place throughout the academic year in the Susan Stein Shiva Theater. These extracurricular dramatic and musical productions are initiated by individual students or groups of students in the Philaletheis Society, the Ebony Theatre Ensemble, Laughingstock, Improv, and Happy Ever Laughter.
Music: The Department of Music sponsors five ensembles: choir, Madrigal Singers, orchestra, wind ensemble, and jazz ensemble. The department offers academic credit for year–long participation in any of these ensembles, and membership is open to all members of the Vassar community by audition. The choir, a large concert ensemble, regularly performs major works with an orchestra. The Madrigal Singers, a select chamber ensemble, tour periodically in this country and abroad. The orchestra occasionally performs joint concerts with other regional college orchestras and special guest artists. The wind ensemble and jazz ensemble perform in various campus residence halls and lounges in addition to their formal presentations. Opera Workshop, also under the sponsorship of the Department of Music, gives an annual performance in Skinner Hall.
Informal singing groups (not affiliated with the music department)such as the Accidentals, Night Owls, Matthew's Minstrels, Measure for Measure, and Vassar College Gospel Choirperform regularly at other colleges as well as on campus.
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