General Information

While informal student organizations did not fall within the purview of the College administration, there were certain types of organizations for whose activities the College could be held responsible. For this reason, the Dean of Students Office instituted a registration requirement for certain types of organized groups. The purpose of this minor formality was not to restrain the formation of such groups, but rather to give their officers and members full liberty and responsibility for carrying out their various programs.

A College organization should have registered with the Dean of Students Office if:

• it used the name “Marlboro” in its title; and/or
• it invited the public to its meetings, invited outside speakers, or held official communication with the public in any form.

Registration included a statement of the organization’s purpose, the name of one or more officers, and a copy of its by-laws or constitution, if any.

See Marlboro College Bylaws, Article XIV.

N/A

Meal Schedule

During the academic year, the standard meal schedule consisted of breakfast, lunch, and dinner, Monday through Friday. The meal schedule on Saturday and Sunday included a “cold” breakfast and full brunch and dinner. Specific times for meals were announced prior to each semester.

Crew

If the Crew Chief(s) chose to assign staff, faculty, and students on meal plan to dining hall crew duty, they must have informed them in writing at least one week before they were expected to serve. Additional notification measures may have been used and were encouraged. (See the Marlboro College Bylaws, Article VI, B.)

Individual Meal Purchases

Students not on the meal plan and guests could purchase individual meals in the dining hall at the posted rates. (Prices may have been subject to change.)

Music During Meals

Live music was allowed no more than once a week during the latter half of dinner, provided that the performance was advertised at least two (2) days in advance.

Marlboro College was required by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA) to inform its students, at least annually, of their rights under this Act. They are:

1. The right to consent to disclosures of personally identifiable information contained in the student’s education records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent. One exception which permits disclosure without consent is disclosure to school officials with legitimate educational interests. A school official is a person employed by the college in an administrative, supervisory, academic or research, or support staff position (including law enforcement and health staff); a person serving on the Board of Trustees; or a student serving on an official committee, such as a disciplinary or grievance committee, or assisting another school official in performing his or her tasks. A school official has a legitimate educational interest if the official needs to review an education record in order to fulfill his or her professional responsibility. Other exceptions include disclosures such as date of birth to authorized representatives of Federal-and State-supported programs, e.g., the Comptroller General of the United States; the Secretary of State educational authorities; the Veterans Administration; the Secretary of Defense.
2. The right to inspect and review education records within 45 days of a date the written request is received. Students should submit a written request identifying the record(s) they wish to inspect to the appropriate college official who will arrange for such access.
   The right to request the amendment of the student’s education records that the student believes are inaccurate or misleading. Students may ask that the college amend a record they believe is inaccurate or misleading by writing to the college official responsible for the record, clearly identifying the part of the record they want changed, and specifying why it is inaccurate or misleading. The college will notify students of the decision to amend or not and advise them of their rights to a hearing regarding their request.
3. The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged non-compliance by the institution to the requirements of FERPA. The name and address of the office that administers FERPA is: Family Policy Compliance Office, U.S. Department of Education, 600 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20202-4605.

Although Marlboro College took precautions to protect students’ privacy, certain information was considered “open to the public.” Marlboro College designated the following categories of student information as public or “Directory Information,” and may have disclosed such information upon request to members of the College community and outside agencies or individuals.

• Name
• Local and permanent address and telephone number
• Academic status: full-time, half-time, less than half-time
• E-mail address
• Dates of attendance
• Academic class standing (e.g., freshman, sophomore)
• Plan of Concentration (major area of study)
• Expected date of graduation
• Previous institution(s) attended
• Degree(s) conferred, including dates and any honors or awards
• Photographs and digital images

Under the Act, currently enrolled students had the right to request that Directory Information not be disclosed. To withhold disclosure of Directory Information, written notification must have been received in the Registrar’s Office by no later than the final date for course registration each semester as published on the Academic Calendar. If notification was not received in the Registrar’s Office by the final published course registration deadline, it would be assumed that all Directory Information could be disclosed for the remainder of the current academic year. The Request to Prevent Disclosure of FERPA Directory Information form was available online or by contacting the Registrar’s Office. Students should have considered very carefully the consequences of any decision to withhold Directory Information. Should a student have decided to inform the college not to release his or her Directory Information, any future requests during the academic year for such information (including non-institutional persons or organizations as well as friends and relatives) would be refused. Also note that a request to withhold Directory Information made during the academic year in which a student was leaving the college (graduating, withdrawing, etc.) remained in effect thereafter unless rescinded by the (former) student in writing.

Marlboro College assumed approval for disclosure when students did not specifically request that directory information be withheld by the stated deadline. Questions and concerns about the Privacy Act, directory information, or issues of confidentiality should have been addressed to the Registrar or the Director of Academic Advising.

All records, including academic records from other institutions, test scores, etc., sent to Marlboro College became part of the official student file and could neither be returned nor duplicated for any purpose.

Marlboro College authorized the National Student Clearinghouse to act as its agent for all degree and enrollment verifications for the Marlboro campus. Please visit the Clearinghouse online at www.studentclearinghouse.org or contact them by phone at 703-742-4200.

Marlboro College and its representatives occasionally took photographs for the college’s use in print and electronic publications. This served as public notice of the college’s intent to do so and as a release to the college of permission to use such images as it deemed fit. Students who objected to the use of their photographs had the right to withhold release by filling out the Request to Prevent Disclosure of FERPA Directory Information form available online or by contacting the Registrar’s Office by the deadline for course registration.

No weapons or ammunition could be brought or kept by students on campus at any time. Such weapons included, but were not limited to, firearms of any kind, air- or gas-powered guns, cross bows, sling shots, as well as fireworks, explosives, and explosive devices of any type. The administration reserved the right to determine what was and what was not a controlled item under this policy, and to search all College premises for such materials at any time and without warning.

The Plant and Operations staff, in consultation with the Fire and Safety Committee, established a clearly marked and advertised Safety Zone.

It was unlawful to:

1. Discharge firearms on college property within the Safety Zone;
2. Carry or possess loaded or unloaded firearms on college property within the Safety Zone;
3. Possess explosives or ammunition on college property within the Safety Zone.

2. Violations of the Statutes of the State of Vermont with respect to firearms, by the students of Marlboro College, might have been considered as violations of the Firearms Regulations of Town Meeting.
3. Disciplinary action for violations of the above regulations might have been determined by Community Court.
4. The President or their designee may have moved to immediately bar any violator of the Firearms Regulations from campus pending a Community Court hearing.
5. Those community members who wished to have firearms were referred to the Director of Plant and Operations as to where to store their firearms off-campus.

The Town of Marlboro has a Volunteer Fire Company that could be called in the event of a fire. The Fire Chief and/or a member of the Fire and Safety Commission would provide appropriate direction or instruction. There were periodic fire drills, and participation in them was mandatory for all persons on campus at the time. (See Article II of the Marlboro College Bylaws.)

As a measure of safety in case of fire, no person could sleep in any College-owned building other than those designated for use as housing (dormitories, cottages, cabins, apartments, houses.)

No fires could be kindled outdoors on College-owned land without permission of the Director of Plant & Operations or their designee. This included bonfires, cooking, or campfires. (See Article II of the Marlboro College Bylaws.)

The Total Health Center provided services Monday through Friday. The schedule was posted in the health center as well as on its website.

The center offered individual, group, and couples counseling, as well as complete medical services—including prescriptions, women’s health, and immunizations. The center was staffed with two nurse practitioners, two licensed mental health professionals, a psychiatric nurse practitioner, and an office manager. The center addressed the student as a whole and saw the connection between physical well-being and mental/emotional health. Center staff encouraged students on medications to work with their home providers but were able to prescribe medicine to those students who may have required them. Students could avail themselves of the counseling and medical services without repercussions. Staff encouraged any student who needed support to seek out help at no charge.

The college also had a consulting physician who worked in collaboration with the staff. The consulting physician was available for telephone consultation when the health center was not open and would occasionally see students after hours if needed.

The center’s services were confidential. In compliance with the federal HIPAA laws, staff would not disclose a student’s presence in treatment or the nature of that treatment to anyone, including parents, without the student’s written permission. That could be a frustration to parents, and staff encouraged students to talk with their parents and let them know they were seeking help, but they were not required to do so. In general, the only reason that this confidentiality would be broken would be for risk of immediate physical harm to the student or to another person.

A student could make an appointment to see a counselor or medical provider by calling the Health Center Office Manager at 802-258-9335 (ext. 335), by contacting one of the professionals by email, or by stopping in Monday–Friday, 8:30 am–4:00 pm. The center made every effort to see students as quickly as possible—often the same day if someone was in acute distress. After hours and on weekends, there was a Student Life Coordinator on call as well as a Resident Assistant. Each carried a pager for emergencies.

The staff at the Total Health Center welcomed phone calls from parents who had concerns that their student was undergoing physical or emotional difficulties. This was often a challenging situation for parents who lived far away. While staff were unable to disclose whether or not a student was being seen at the health center without a signed release of information, the information parents provided could be very helpful to the staff. Parents could also call the Dean of Students to both share information and discuss resources on campus.

In some cases, the student might require more intensive or specialized treatment than the Total Health Center could provide. Those students, as well as those who wished to be seen off campus, were referred to outside local providers. The health center also used local hospitals for back-up for psychiatric and medical emergencies.

Services available through the Total Health Center included, but were not limited to:

1. General outpatient primary care that included, but was not limited to: diagnosis and treatment of acute illness and injuries and managing chronic medication
2. Information and counseling on contraceptive choices and prescriptions for contraceptives
3. Reproductive health evaluations and exams for women and men including gynecological exams and PAP smears for women
4. Pregnancy testing and desired referrals
5. Information on sexually transmitted diseases (including HIV/AIDS), their prevention and other health concerns
6. Diagnosis and treatment of sexually transmitted infections
7. Confidential HIV testing
8. Information related to alcohol and drug use/abuse
9. Referrals to other medical services and clinics in the area, as necessary
10. Assistance to students in recovery who wished to contact others on campus who are in recovery
11. Information on AA, NA, AL-ANON, ACOA meetings
12. Sunlamps to help treat Seasonal Affective Disorder

These services were covered by the comprehensive health fee that was paid by all students. Certain medications, supplies, and laboratory tests were not covered by this fee. The physical exams required for the health forms completed by incoming students were not covered by this fee. Services/supplies not covered by the health fee were billed to the student through student accounts in a confidential manner.

After hours emergency coverage was provided by the resident assistants (RAs) and student life coordinators (SLCs) who were trained in advanced first aid and CPR, and who also had first-aid kits available. An on-call physician was available at all times by phone and could be reached with the assistance of any RA or SLC.

Medical policy: All students at Marlboro College fell within the bounds of the college medical policy and were expected to abide by the few rules it includes. Students were required to submit a health record and immunization form as part of their registration process. Failure to do so may have resulted in incomplete registration and could have jeopardized the student’s enrollment status.

The college nurse practitioners were registered nurses with a master’s degree and had advanced education and clinical training, enabling them to diagnose and treat medical problems. The nurse practitioners were nationally certified for an adult or family practice. The N.P’s. practiced under the rules and regulations of the State of Vermont. If necessary, students may have been referred to specialty providers associated with Brattleboro Memorial Hospital. Students who wished to choose other providers could, but should have requested the provider relay pertinent information to the health center. Students who chose an alternate provider of health care should have been aware that those services were not directly covered by the comprehensive health fee.

Students were forbidden to exchange medications or to take prescription drugs not prescribed by the Total Health Center or a medical professional. The health center needed to be informed of any prescription medication in a student’s possession. Similarly, students were expected to make necessary appointments with local specialists through the Total Health Center. That was so the medical staff had full knowledge of all treatment any student might be receiving in order to provide appropriate care should a problem arise on campus.

Students with illnesses that were highly contagious may have been confined to their dormitory bedrooms or, in some cases, may have been encouraged to leave campus. More serious cases may have been treated in a hospital.

The college had a serious responsibility for promoting the health of all students, individually and collectively. Students were asked to consider the welfare of the college, as an institution and as a community, as well as their own personal well-being, in responding to medical regulations. Since medical services were available through the health center, students were urged to take advantage of them at the first sign of illness. Students were also encouraged to assume some responsibility for their well-being by keeping personal items such as Tylenol, minor cold and cough remedies, and Band-Aids on hand rather than relying on others for these needs.

Washing machines and dryers were located in the Dining Hall basement, Random South, Schrader, All- the-Way, Howland, Marlboro North, and Out of the Way. Detergent was sold in the College Bookstore. Reports of problems with machines should have been given to the Plant & Operations Office.

The Rice Library opened in January 1965 and the Aron Library Wing in September 2003. Combined, they totaled 22,500 square feet and offered a variety of seating and study spaces, as well as the Computer Lab, Writer’s Block, and the Center for Experiential Learning and Global Engagement.

Hours

Marlboro College community members had exclusive 24/7 access to the Library during the academic year. The majority of materials were checked out by users on a honor-based self-checkout system. The library staff was dedicated to maintaining both its hours of access and its honor system for checkout. Everyone’s cooperation was necessary to continue this policy.

Staff

The Library staff consisted of the Library Director, the Reference & Technology Librarian, and the Technical Services Librarian.

Research Help

Library staff were available to work with students and faculty on their research and information needs. Help was available through a variety of formats:

• Drop-in help: During the academic year, library staff were available at the Service Desk weekdays 9:00 am–4:00 pm and Sundays 12:30–5:30 pm. Student workers staffed the library Sunday–Thursday evenings 6:30–11:00 pm.

• Research Consultations: Community members could email library@marlboro.edu or call x221 (802-258-9221) to set up an appointment with a librarian.

• Virtual help: Community members could email library@marlboro.edu or call x221 (802-258-9221).

Collections

Physical

The library housed approximately 90,000 items, primarily books, but also films, audio books, and hundreds of journals. Special Collections & Archives included Plans of Concentration from past years and the Rudyard Kipling Collection.

Digital

The Library website was the portal to tens of thousands of online journals; over 125,000 full-text ebooks; dozens of research databases; and more. Off-campus access to most online resources was available to current campus community members only. For off-campus access, members could log in with their Marlboro username and password when prompted. Subject and course-based research guides provided starting points for research in most areas of study taught at Marlboro.

Equipment

The library loaned several types of equipment, including digital projectors, speakers, headphones, and digital audio recorders. These items circulated for 3 days and were available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Loan Periods

The loan period was one semester for most materials except films, course reserves, and equipment. Materials could be renewed as long as they were not needed by another user. The library reserved the right to recall any item that was needed by another user. Borrowers were responsible for returning recalled items within 10 days of the recall notice.

Reserves

The reserve collection was shelved in the AV/Reserve Room on the ground floor. The items from this collection needed to be checked out prior to their removal from this room. The check-out period was three hours or overnight for items checked out one hour before the closing of the Reserve Room. Reserve items needed to be returned to library staff or placed in library return bins. Community members were asked to be considerate of others by observing these important rules.

Interlibrary Loan

Librarians were happy to arrange access to the information community members needed for research. Materials not owned by the Rice-Aron Library could be obtained from other libraries through a process called interlibrary loan. Requests could be placed via a form on the library website.

Smoking

Smoking was prohibited in all areas of the library.

The authority of the Community government covered most regulations of a social nature. However, the administration explicitly reserved the right to regulate firearms, vehicles, and internal combustion engines. These regulations stood in addition to any of the Town Meeting rules.

Regulations for parking and operating motor vehicles on the Marlboro campus were set out in Article III of the Marlboro College Bylaws. Of note were the two-vehicle rule, the speed limit, and the regulations on bumper stickers. Also of note were rules on the disposal of “dead cars” and motorcycles.

Every student who brought a motor-propelled vehicle to College must have registered that vehicle with the Plant & Operations Office within 48 hours and have proof of the following when they arrived for academic registration:

• a valid driver’s license;
• correct registration of vehicle;
• a valid state inspection sticker;
• proof of insurance.

The College set minimum insurance limits for operation of a motor vehicle on the College campus. These minimum limits were:

1. Liability for bodily injury: $20,000 each person; $40,000 each accident, and property damage: $10,000; or
2. Combined single limit coverage of $50,000.

A two-week grace period was allowed on vehicle inspection. College registration stickers must have been placed on the rear of each registered automobile or motorcycle.

All vehicle operators must have obeyed posted speed limits and restrictions, as directed by the Director of Plant & Operations. Motor vehicles parked so as to impede maintenance operations, including the plowing of snow, may have been towed at the owner’s expense.

Motorcycles at Marlboro existed on sufferance of the College Community and Administration. They could be annoying to local residents off campus, and they are hazardous to careless or unskilled operators. Therefore, college motorcyclists had a social obligation to ensure that all cycles registered with the College were operated responsibly. Cyclists were urged to read and adhere to the following regulations:

Any motorcycle at Marlboro must have been insured according to college-approved limits, and must have passed inspection. To do this, the motorcycle must have been registered.

In order to preserve the general student privileges of owning and operating a motorcycle at Marlboro, every cyclist was urged to proceed from the College to Route 9 and from Route 9 to the College in a careful manner, producing a minimum of noise; proceeding at a modest rate of speed; and keeping an eye peeled for children, other pedestrians, and pets.

Helmets, strongly advised by Marlboro medical authority, are an essential element of personal safety. Every motorcyclist was advised to own a helmet as a condition for maintaining a motorcycle at Marlboro, and to wear it while riding. Note that Vermont law requires the wearing of motorcycle helmets on all public roads. See Marlboro College Bylaws, Article III, for regulations.

Scrambling, testing, and off-road racing are a source of noise, irritation, and minor damage to the land. These activities were to be removed from campus and conducted in abandoned fields or isolated wood roads where they do not damage property or disturb bystanders. Motorcycles should not have been operated on private property without the consent of the property owner.

Failure to comply with the College motorcycle policy resulted in the suspension of a student’s right to own or operate a motorcycle at Marlboro College.

Mopeds, motorbikes, snowmobiles, and all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) were subject to, at a minimum, all restrictions listed above for motorcycles. Mopeds, motorbikes, and snowmobiles must have been registered, insured, and inspected. Note: Three-wheeled all-terrain vehicles may not have been operated on Marlboro College property at any time.

The Outdoor and Recreation Programs tried to combine activities for advanced athletes, for novices, and for those who simply liked to be outside. All events were planned by the Director of the Program and the Athletic Committee. As with the social life at Marlboro, the types of activities from year to year were often determined by student interest and enthusiasm. On most fall weekends, there were rock-climbing, hiking, or canoeing trips headed by the Program’s Director, as well as short afternoon hikes. Volleyball, soccer, basketball, and ultimate frisbee were organized as on-campus activities and soccer and basketball as competition with other schools. Cross-country and down-hill skiing, ice skating, ice climbing, and winter camping were all offered through the Outdoor/Recreation Program during the winter months. The College provided cross-country skiing equipment to those interested, in addition to informal lessons or clinics and local trail orientation. For down-hill skiers, Mount Snow, Berkshire East, Haystack, and Stratton Mountain ski resorts are within a 55-minute drive of the College. An annual all-campus Broomball tournament in January was an event not to be missed.

For those who prefer to stay indoors, the College had a game room with ping-pong, foosball, and pool tables, as well as an exercise room with a rowing machine, weights, and exercycle. A Town Meeting membership also provided access to the Colonial Spa in Brattleboro with pool, steam room, sauna, and jacuzzi. In addition, a large indoor climbing gym was in the Whittemore Theater. The facility was open on a schedule basis and at random hours contingent on the availability of trained volunteer wall monitors. Exercise and dance classes were offered almost daily in Brattleboro. During the warmer months, there were public tennis courts available at Living Memorial Park in West Brattleboro.

Bridges/Woods provided a transition experience for students just entering the campus community. These trips, hosted in the last week of August, were designed to provide participants with both a working set of group living and a broad network of friends and contacts to start off their time at Marlboro College.

The trips were student-led by a select group of volunteers. In exchange for their time and energy, leadership, first aid, and group dynamics training were provided free of charge each year. Bridges/Woods leaders may have also elected to apprentice with the Outdoor Program or to pursue additional specific training and certification outside of the program via means of a Leadership Training Fund set up for that purpose.

No pets were allowed on campus, except as noted in Article V of the Marlboro College Bylaws.

Because of danger to individuals, potential liability concerns for the College, and probable damage to roofs, all roofs were off-limits. Fire escapes must have been free of personal belongings and clear in the event of a fire alarm. At no time should anyone have used a fire escape except during an emergency. A fine of $100 was assessed to anyone found on a roof or improperly using a fire escape.

The College encouraged students to have their own checking account. Having a local bank allowed students to cash a check or use a debit card at the campus ATM and at many local businesses; there were no other facilities to access funds on campus. There are several banks in the Brattleboro/Wilmington area (Chittenden Bank, Key Bank, Merchants Bank, and TD Bank, to name a few). Representatives from area banks were on campus during the “Stuff to Do” Fair, usually held during the first week of September if students wished to open an account.

Student mailboxes were located on the ground floor of the Campus Center. Box combinations were assigned by the Director of Mail Services. Information including combinations and addressing procedures were sent to each new student before enrollment day. Mail was distributed twice a day, Monday through Friday. There were no mail services available on Saturday. Any mail too large for mailboxes was held in the mailroom located in the basement of Mather. Students received a notification slip in their box, which had to be presented for receipt of the package. Assistance with outgoing mail and packages was available. Mail was not:

• given to anyone other than the addressee;
• held for any student who was no longer enrolled at the College;
• delivered to another student’s mailbox.

Student mail was not available during vacation periods. Students who wished to have their mail forwarded during vacations must have left a forwarding address with the mail services office. Mail that couldn’t be forwarded for any reason was returned to sender or disposed of.

Student Residences

Assignment of Rooms

Cleaning

Damage

Furniture in Rooms

Keys

Leaving Overnight

  Student Residences

Marlboro residence halls were small living units ranging from apartments (for upper-class students mostly) to dormitories housing 12 to 30 people each. They tended to function more like homes than institutional housing. Students worked together to develop and enforce policies, to create a welcome environment, and to maintain the cleanliness of the buildings.

At the beginning of each semester, the ground rules for each living unit (quiet hours, cleaning, parties, etc.) were developed by all the residents into a document called the Dorm Charter. In buildings with Resident Assistants, the RA helped facilitate this process, but it was up to each member of a house to participate and enforce these rules.

  Assignment of Rooms

Marlboro College required new students to live on campus for their first academic year as long as they met the deposit deadline. This was in the interest of a socially integrated community and enhanced success of incoming students. Exceptions to this requirement must have been sent, in writing, to the Assistant Dean of Students/Director of Housing.

Near the end of each semester, the administration determined which rooms and apartments were to be made available to students in the following year.

  Cleaning

Each residential unit was to be kept in order by its residents. The college had a professional cleaning crew for general upkeep (bathroom and common-area cleaning under normal use conditions). It was important that parties and other gatherings be cleaned up by those students in attendance in order to avoid excess cleaning charges. In addition, kitchens should have been cleaned after use.

All hallways, stairwells, and common areas needed to be kept clear of personal belongings. This was both to enhance the cleanliness of the building and to provide safe fire egress. Trash and recyclables must have been similarly placed in their proper receptacles outside the building.

Students were responsible for the condition of their rooms. When moving out of a room (either to another room or off campus for any reason), it was the student’s responsibility to remove all belongings and clean the room.

  Damage

Plant and Operations Office personnel inspected every student’s room at periodic intervals during the year. Any damage to the room or to the furniture and fixtures was charged to the student’s bill. If this bill was not paid, neither diplomas nor transcripts were issued and continued registration was jeopardized. Damage to common areas, unless attributable to specific individuals, was the responsibility of all residents of the building. For this reason, students should have taken extra care when non-residents were present in the common areas.

  Furniture in Rooms

Dormitory rooms were furnished with beds, desks, chairs, and dressers. Students could bring curtains and lamps for their rooms. Electric blankets, clocks, coffee makers, televisions, radios, and stereos in good working condition were also permitted. Electric heaters, stoves, hot plates, “immersion heaters,” and most other appliances were not permitted. Waste receptacles must have been metal. The college wished to avoid fire hazards and unnecessary consumption of electricity. There were small but adequate kitchen facilities for preparing snacks in some dormitories. For safety reasons, no one was allowed to sleep in any building that was not a dormitory.

  Keys

Keys to dormitory rooms were issued by Plant and Operations. Lost keys should have been reported immediately to Plant and Operations. For any key that was not returned upon moving out of a room, the student was charged a $75 replacement fee.

  Leaving Overnight

Resident students who left campus overnight were requested to notify the RA of their destination so that they could be contacted in case of an emergency.

The purpose of the Resident Assistant program was to promote health, safety, and courtesy in College housing.

Resident Assistants (RAs) at Marlboro College were peer leaders who help the daily function of the living units. They served as a facilitator of community, a link between the students and the administration and as a first contact for problems that students might have. An RA was an advocate for the living unit and should have been familiar with the needs of the students living in their building. The RA was not a police officer but assisted community members in enforcing policies and acted in accordance with the rules and regulations set forth by Town Meeting and the administration. The RA was a unique resource for members of the residential community.

The Director of Housing and Residential Life and an interview team of faculty, staff, and students selected Resident Assistants annually.

The Resident Assistant was responsible for:

As the College’s representative in the dorms, the Resident Assistant assumed many roles. The RA’s responsibilities largely centered on establishing and maintaining a dormitory atmosphere that was conducive to residents’ overall education and development. This involved assisting students on both an individual and group basis.

The Resident Assistant job could generally be described in six areas:

• General RA Skills: The RA provided leadership, initiative, and support to students. RAs were expected to actively demonstrate positive personal, academic, and job-related behaviors.
• Helping Skills: The RA was expected to be available to discuss student concerns and problems, both individually and in groups. The RA also initiated referrals to the various specialized services available on campus and in the community.
• Community Development: The RA provided leadership and support for educational and social activities in the dorms and in collaboration with other campus groups or resources. RAs promoted an atmosphere where students were able to grow both academically and personally.
• Community Constitution and By-Laws: The RA was expected to actively promote and support policies outlined in the Marlboro College community constitution and by-laws. This necessitated that the RA be thoroughly familiar with the constitution and by-laws, as well as the procedures for mediating disputes, understanding policy, and reporting incidents.
• Preparation and Planning: RAs were responsible for establishing dorm charters, as well as preparing and maintaining their dorm. RAs must have completed all required paperwork in a timely and accurate manner.
• Teambuilding: RAs must have been able to work with other staff members in a professional manner. They should also have been able to provide leadership in their dorms with enthusiasm and spirit.

Resident Assistants participated in RA training during the 10 days prior to the opening of the College in the fall, and they attended weekly Residential Life Staff meetings.

Resident Assistants were compensated with a single room, free of charge, and a $2000 stipend.

In addition to the Faculty’s authority to dismiss or discontinue students for academic failure or failure to perform, in specified situations, Marlboro College personnel or the Community Court may have suspended or expelled a student from the college. Suspension was a separation from the college for a specified period of time, usually with conditions that must be satisfied before the student was granted readmission to the College. Expulsion was a permanent separation from the College. The aim in these policies was to maintain a healthy academic community for all students, faculty, and staff while affording students appropriate elements of due process; in each case, students received documented notice of a proposed action, with an opportunity to respond and an avenue for appeal. The situations in which the power to suspend or expel were exercised are as follows:

Emergency Suspension or Removal

Removal of Members of the Public

Dean of Faculty

Dean of Students

Recommendations from the Sexual Harassment Panel

Community Court

 Emergency Suspension or Removal

In extraordinary circumstances, authorized members of the administration or faculty may have suspended a student or required the removal from campus of an employee prior to any hearing before the College body ordinarily responsible for disciplinary action. The President, the Dean of the Faculty and Graduate Education, the Dean of Students, or a person expressly designated by any of these administrators, was authorized to act in such circumstances, subject to the following conditions:

1. Interim suspension or removal from campus may have been imposed only: a) to ensure the safety or well-being of members of the College community or the protection of College property; b) to ensure the student’s or employee’s own physical safety or well-being; or c) to prevent serious disruption of, or interference with, the operations of the College.
2. During the interim suspension or removal, the student or employee may have been denied access to College properties, activities, or privileges for which they might otherwise be eligible, as the President or the other designated person may have determined.
3. Any community member suspended or removed from campus was notified in writing of the terms of the suspension (for students) or removal (for employees) and of the reasons for it, with a description of the normal procedures to be followed later. The interim suspension or removal from campus did not replace the normal procedures. Notice of the time, date, and place of any subsequent hearing should have been given as soon as practical. Any such subsequent hearing would address the issue of harm or threat of harm without prejudice due to the interim action.

 Removal of Members of the Public

Any member of the Administration (including all staff) or of the Faculty could require the departure or removal of a member of the public: a) to ensure the physical safety or well-being of members of the College community or preservation of College property; b) to ensure the person’s own physical safety and well-being; or c) to prevent the disruption of, or interference with, the normal operations of the College. If the threat to the College was likely to be sustained, the matter was referred to the College Selectboard to consider Persona Non Grata status.

 Dean of Faculty

Since Marlboro College was an academic community in which students were responsible for active academic engagement, the Dean of Faculty, in consultation with the Dean of Students and relevant faculty members, may have suspended, effective immediately, any student who failed to attend classes or to engage in academic work and who was therefore making it difficult for other students or members of the faculty to engage in the academic life of the College. Notice of this suspension and the reasons for it must have been provided to the student in writing. The Dean reported such suspensions to the next regular Faculty meeting.

Appeal – A student suspended for the reasons above could appeal the suspension in writing to the Dean of Faculty within five (5) calendar days from the date of suspension. Appeals were limited to the following grounds: (1) consideration of new evidence that was not reasonably available at the time of suspension; (2) an allegation of substantial procedural error on the part of the Dean of Faculty; or, (3) the sanction imposed was disproportionate to the conduct. The Dean then convened an ad hoc committee composed of the Dean of Faculty, the Director of Academic Advising, and the student’s advisor or another faculty member of the student’s choice.

In general, the ad hoc committee considered procedural matters, including eligibility for suspension. The ad hoc committee reported to the next faculty meeting, at which time the faculty would consider the recommendations of the ad hoc committee on the student’s appeal. If the ad hoc committee recommended against the suspension, the student was reinstated pending action by the full Faculty.

 Dean of Students

Extraordinary and Disruptive Behavior

The Dean of Students, in consultation with the Medical Staff, the Dean of Faculty, the faculty members on the Dean’s Advisory Committee, and the student’s academic advisor, could suspend, effective immediately, any student whose behavior was an extraordinary and disruptive drain on the community’s resources. Such behavior could include repeated threats of suicide (even if not credible), repeated threats to others, repeated abusive or violent arguments, or other extreme behavior requiring repeated interventions by Resident Assistants, Student Life Coordinators, or the Dean of Students or their staff. Notice of this suspension and the reasons for it must have been provided to the student in writing. The Dean reported the suspension promptly to faculty members teaching courses or tutorials for which the student was registered and to the next regular Faculty Meeting.

Appeal – A student suspended for the reasons above could appeal the suspension in writing to the Dean of Students within five (5) calendar days from the date of suspension. Appeals were limited to the following grounds: (1) consideration of new evidence that was not reasonably available at the time of suspension; (2) an allegation of substantial procedural error on the part of the Dean of Students; or, (3) the sanction imposed was disproportionate to the conduct. The Dean then convened an ad hoc committee composed of the Dean of Students, the Director of Health Services, and the student’s advisor or another faculty member of the student’s choice.

In general, the ad hoc committee would consider procedural matters, including eligibility for suspension. The ad hoc committee reported to next faculty meeting, at which time the faculty would consider the recommendations of the ad hoc committee on the student’s appeal. If the ad hoc committee recommended against the suspension, the student was reinstated pending action by the full Faculty.

 Recommendation from the Sexual Harassment Panel

As stated in the Marlboro College Policy on Sexual Harassment and Sexual Misconduct, if the Sexual Harassment Panel found that the Respondent’s actions constituted sexual harassment, sexual misconduct, or retaliation, it promptly notified the Complainant to give the Complainant an opportunity to present a “victim impact statement” to assist in determining the appropriate sanction. Evidence that the Respondent had previous complaints against him or her that had been heard through the Sexual Harassment and Sexual Misconduct process may have been introduced. The Panel may have consulted with the Dean of Students to insure that the details of the execution of its sentence were both clear and practical. The Panel forwarded its findings and recommendation (which may have included suspension or expulsion) for action to the Respondent and to the Dean of Students who would affirm or modify the proposed sanction. When the Dean of Students determined the appropriate sanction, they notified the Respondent and the Compliance Coordinator within three (3) calendar days of receiving the Panel’s findings and recommendation for action.

Appeal – The Respondent could appeal the findings of the Panel and sanction to the Dean’s Advisory Committee within five (5) calendar days from the date of the Dean’s decision. Appeals must have been submitted in writing, detailing the specific reason(s) for the appeal. Appeals were limited to the following grounds: (1) consideration of new evidence that was not reasonably available at the time of the formal investigation or hearing on the matter; (2) an allegation of substantial procedural error on the part of the Investigator or the Panel; or, (3) the sanction imposed was disproportionate to the conduct violating the Policy. The Dean’s Advisory Committee considering the appeal should not have conducted a new fact investigation but may have consulted with members of the Panel and had the authority to affirm, reverse, or modify the decision and/or the penalty imposed, or to remand the matter to the college official imposing the sanction for further consideration. The decision on the appeal was the final appeal available internally to the college. Appeal determinations would generally occur within five (5) days from the receipt of the appeal.

 Community Court

As established in the Marlboro College Constitution & Bylaws, if Community Court found the student charged guilty, it could impose penalties including suspension and expulsion. For major offenses, the Court could expel for the first offense. Penalties imposed by the Court were final and effective immediately. Any defendant who believed that due process had been violated or that the penalty imposed was disproportionate in light of prior cases could request that the President review the procedures followed by the Court in reaching its verdict and sentence. This request must have been made in writing within five (5) working days from the date of the Court’s decision. Should the President have found that due process had been violated or that the penalty seemed disproportionate, he or she could instruct the Court to reconsider the case in light of those findings. The Court could correct any process error and either reach a new verdict, impose a different penalty, or reaffirm its earlier decision, with additional explanation. On appeal, no suspension or expulsion could be imposed until the President and the Court agree. A decided case could be appealed directly to the Court, after consultation with the Advocate, where relevant new evidence arose, provided that such new evidence was clearly unavailable through reasonable investigation at the time of the original hearing. In the event that the sentence proposed would require the supervision of the Dean of Students (as, for instance, in all cases of suspension, expulsion, or restriction off campus), the Court would confer with the Dean of Students before announcing the sentence, to insure that the details of the execution of its sentence were both clear and practical. The person charged was not normally present for such consultation but could be allowed to be present at the discretion of the Court.