The Student Affairs area consists of the Office of Student Health Services, Residence Life, the Office of Involvement and the Office of First Year Experience. Our mission is to work within the College Mission to facilitate the development of the total person and affirm that campus life is an essential part of the educational process. By offering educationally purposeful activities, Student Affairs professionals foster citizenship, community and leadership development and the acceptance of differences in a climate of support and challenge.
New Student Orientation
Success at Delaware Valley College begins with a smooth transition from high school (or another college) to DelVal. The College’s two-part orientation program helps facilitate this transition. The June orientation program focuses on preparing students for their academic entrance into Delaware Valley College by providing required testing and academic advising sessions for all new students. The orientation program also focuses on welcoming students and families to the College through activities that introduce them to members of the DelVal community. The August Weekend of Welcome is a more intense introduction and integration of new students into college life. Activities are designed to prepare students for many aspects of academics and student life that they might experience as a new student at Delaware Valley College. Participation in both programs is mandatory.
Orientation Leaders are students who assist in the welcoming of new students during the summer and fall orientation programs. These students act as friendly contacts and resources as new students make their transition to the College. This is a paid position open to upperclassmen students with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5. In addition, these Orientation Leaders will be meeting with groups of new incoming students during the fall semester.
First Year Experience
The Office of the First Year Experience is located on the second floor of the Student Center. This office, through its programming, provides new students with a comprehensive orientation and transition plan in their first year at Delaware Valley College. In addition, the Office of the First Year Experience serves as a conduit for suggestions and questions that affect the overall student experience.
Residence Life
The College provides on-campus housing accommodations for over 1,000 undergraduate students. The 9 residence halls provide an array of living experiences including traditional setting, suite-style setting, co-ed and single gender (female). Additionally, on-campus students enjoy amenities including cable TV, a MicroFridge, high-speed internet (all residence halls are wireless), laundry facilities, computer labs, TV lounges, newspapers, and vending machines. All policies and procedures pertaining to the residence halls can be found in the Student Handbook.
On-campus residents are supported by a staff of 4 professional Area Coordinators (AC’s). These staff members live on campus and are on-call 24 hours a day to respond to campus emergencies. They also manage the daily needs of residents, including conflict management, referral to mental and medical health services, social activities, and supervision of the Resident Assistants.
Resident Assistants (RAs) are students who are selected to serve as mentors, resources, and peer leaders. RAs undergo a rigorous selection and training process in preparation for this job. The primary purpose of the RA is to create and sustain an inclusive and respectful environment that supports academic and social activities. Residents are encouraged to consider applying for the RA position, one of the most esteemed student leadership positions on campus.
Clubs and Organizations
The College believes that co-curricular activities are a vital part of the total college experience. A wide range of co-curricular clubs, organizations and activities are available to allow students to explore interests outside the traditional classroom environment. They also provide students with opportunities to develop leadership skills, establish new personal relationships, and broaden their exposure to real-world opportunities.
The Student Government Board and the organizations within it play a principle role in the governance and operation of many student activities. Student Government Board representatives and officers are elected by the students. The organization, functions, and responsibilities of the Student Government are detailed in its constitution which is published in the Student Handbook (a copy of which is provided to each registered student and is available online).
The various clubs and organizations on campus (listed below) act as the primary conduit for student interests and provide a variety of opportunities for involvement. These groups plan and organize numerous activities including movies, concerts, speakers, field trips, workshops, dances, and more. Some of them are affiliated with a specific major or with a special interest within a major; some are service-oriented; still others speak to student interests wholly outside the College’s programs. Students are encouraged to become actively involved in activities that meet their individual interests and needs.
Student Government
A-Day Committee
Commuter Student Association
Halloween Haunting
Homecoming
Inter-Club Council
Inter-Greek Council
Minority Relations Council
Residence Hall Association
Student Activities Council
Student Government Board
Campus Media
Cornucopia (Yearbook)
Gleaner (Literary Journal)
Ram Pages (Student Newspaper)
Major/Career Related Clubs
Agronomy
Animal Science Society
Biology Club
Block and Bridle
Chemistry Club
Criminal Justice Club
Dairy Society
Engaging Designers for a Green Environment (EDGE)
Education Club
Floral Society
Food Industry Club
Fraud Club
Horticulture Society
Intercollegiate Judging Team
Landscape Nursery Club
Positive Awareness of Wildlife and Zoos (PAWZ)
Pre-vet Club
Psychology Club
Sports Management Club
Students In Free Enterprise (SIFE)
Turf Club
Interest Related Clubs
4-H
All Text Society
Animal Lifeline/Rescue University
Apiary Society
College Republicans
Collegiate Farm Bureau
Drama Club
Equine Club
FFA
Gay, Lesbian, or Whatever (GLOW) Club
Hillel
Intercollegiate Equestrian Team
IMPACT
National Residence Hall Honorary
Project Earth
Students for Diversity
Sports Related/Recreational
Color Guard
Dance Team
Dressage Team
Equestrian Team
Men’s Lacrosse
Women’s Lacrosse
Rock Climbing Club
Skiing & Outdoor Club
Ultimate (Frisbee) Club
Vaulting Team
Professional Organizations
Association of Information Technology Professionals (AITP)
National Agricultural Marketing Association (NAMA)
Wildlife Society
Honor Societies
Delta Tau Alpha
Order of Omega
Service Based
FeelGood
Habitat for Humanity
Lions Club
Oxfam
Fraternity and Sorority Life
Alpha Gamma Rho -(fraternity)
Alpha Phi Omega -(co-ed fraternity)
Delta Epsilon Beta -(sorority)
Omega Chi -(sorority)
Rho Epsilon Kappa -(fraternity)
Sigma Alpha -(sorority)
Zeta Chi -(fraternity)
Order of Omega (Greek honor society)
Code of Conduct
Delaware Valley College holds high standards for all of the members of the college community. These standards include an expectation that all students will conduct themselves with respect for others, themselves, and the College. Any behavior that does not meet these standards detracts from the ability of others to pursue personal and academic excellence.
All student conduct expectations can be found in the Delaware Valley College Student Handbook, which is issued to every student each academic year. Students are expected to conduct themselves in a manner that reflects positively on the College, as well as in accordance with all federal, state and local laws.
Breach of these standards will be addressed through the campus disciplinary process. Detailed procedures and instructions can be found in the Student Handbook.
Health Services
The College makes every effort to have a positive impact on the health experiences of the student. Full-time students are encouraged to use the valuable resources that are available at the Student Health Center. Services include health promotion and disease prevention as well as illness treatment. Physician’s services are available to the student on a daily basis Monday through Friday.
The first year at DelVal, all full-time students are required to submit a physical form which includes a physician’s exam. Additionally, all full-time students are required to carry health insurance. The College offers a health insurance plan for those students who are not otherwise covered. Students who do not provide the required proof of insurance will automatically be enrolled in a health insurance plan at the student’s expense.
Medical conditions that require continuous care and specialized or surgical interventions are managed either by referral or return to the primary physician at the students’ expense. The College assumes no financial responsibility for the medical, surgical, or dental services required by the student.
Wellness Center
The College is making efforts to expand the Student Health Center for the Fall 2012 semester. This expansion consists of combining the current Student Health Services and Counseling Services into one Student Health and Wellness Center. Located in Elson Hall, the Delaware Valley College Student Health and Wellness Center will provide a more holistic approach to student health and well-being. The mission of the center is to support student success by providing health and wellness services as well as education regarding healthy, responsible choices. It will offer confidential medical and counseling services and health promotion and wellness education programs.
Athletics
Athletic activities, including intercollegiate and intramural events, are an important component of the educational experience for the individual at Delaware Valley College. The essential value of athletics is participation. The program seeks to integrate athletic involvement with the College’s academic objectives. Lifetime physical fitness, the self-discipline of individual achievement, the value of cooperation in a mutual struggle, the capacity to deal with success and failure, and the ability to perform under stress are all qualities learned in athletic competition that can be carried over into the educational experience and lifelong learning.
The College is a member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA, Division III), The Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC), and the Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC).
Intercollegiate sports are offered for both male and female student athletes. Sports for men include: baseball, basketball, cross-country, football, golf, soccer, track and field, and wrestling. Women compete in basketball, cross-country, field hockey, soccer, softball, track and field, and volleyball.
Additional program offerings include a broadly supported intramural program. Some of the activities scheduled are as follows: touch football, volleyball, basketball, softball and tennis. Membership is held with the National Intramural Sports Association (NISA).
Other Organizations
In addition to the intercollegiate athletic teams, several other student groups also compete with students representing other colleges and universities. The College sponsors both English and Western Intercollegiate Equestrian Teams, and Intercollegiate Judging Teams compete regionally and nationally in the evaluation of dairy cattle, livestock, and soils. Students in the Dairy and Animal Science programs play active parts in fitting and showing animals in a number of regional and state competitions. Each year, students from the Ornamental Horticulture and Environmental Design Department design and produce an exhibit for the Philadelphia Flower Show. All of these activities require considerable time and dedication by the participating students and the faculty members who coach and advise them. The experiences gained by the students, however, are of incalculable value.
One of the most exciting annual activities at Delaware Valley College is A-Day. This certified Pennsylvania State Fair is staged each year over the last weekend in April, providing students with the opportunity to showcase their skills and programs. A-Day is the product of months of preparation under the leadership of a representative student committee that is encouraged and advised by a faculty and staff committee. It features livestock exhibitions and judging contests, an extensive floral design exhibition, exhibits produced by the various majors and student organizations, live entertainment, contests of skill and much more, in a country fair atmosphere that brings thousands of visitors to the campus each spring.
Cultural Activities
Delaware Valley College is committed to the cultural development of its students by extending student activities into cultural areas. Student publications include the student newspaper, The RamPages; the student literary magazine, The Gleaner; and the yearbook, The Cornucopia. Students may earn .5 credit for each semester of participation in these publication activities.
The College’s music program includes: Jazz Band, String Ensemble, Chorale, and Community Concert Band, each of which offer several concerts each year and participate in annual programs such as Homecoming, Founders’ Day, A-Day and Commencement. Students may earn 1 credit for each semester of participation in Chorale or Community Concert Band.
The Drama Club provides an artistic and creative outlet that produces quality performances throughout the year.
These cultural programs are supplemented by a variety of on-campus programs and off-campus field trips sponsored by the Liberal Arts Department, featuring artists and technicians that bring a diverse range of talents to the students of Delaware Valley College. |