Bulletin - Student Affairs - Division of Student Affairs

12.1.1.1. Intercollegiate Athletics

The University is a founding member of the Southern Athletic Association (SAA) and part of Division III of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). Members of Division III may not award athletic-related aid to any student athlete. Oglethorpe student athletes may receive financial aid based on need and may receive academic scholarships, like all Oglethorpe students.

The University offers intercollegiate competition in baseball, basketball, cross-country, golf, lacrosse, soccer, tennis and track and field for men and in basketball, cross-country, golf, lacrosse, soccer, tennis, track and field and volleyball for women. The Stormy Petrels compete against other SAA schools, including Berry College, Centre College, Hendrix College, Millsaps College, Rhodes College and Sewanee (The University of the South).

For additional information go to www.oglethorpe.edu/athletics. Also, see Sec. 6.22.3. for information concerning academic requirements for student athletes.

12.1.1.2. Intramural and Recreational Sports

Oglethorpe’s intramural and recreational programs offer all students the opportunity to enjoy the fun and participation of team sports and outdoor activities. Intramural athletics are popular with both men and women, and all students are welcome to participate.

Campus safety maintains a safe and secure environment for all members of the Oglethorpe community.

Staff members are committed to performing duties in a professional and diligent manner. To maintain peace and safety, officer patrols are active around the clock. Officers on patrol enforce the University’s rules and notify the Brookhaven police department or the appropriate legal entity about potential violations of the law. In addition, officers watch for suspicious activity and are trained on how to handle emergencies, provide aid, and supply relevant information when necessary.

Officers on patrol perform their duties either on foot or in a vehicle. During their shift, officers are responsible for all parking lots and buildings, and for supporting campus events and activities. Officers are responsible for securing buildings and areas of campus as well as granting and providing access to specified persons.

Safety at Oglethorpe is everybody’s responsibility. Faculty, students and staff work together to prevent crime and make our campus a safe and thriving environment for all. The following are provided, all of which bear on issues of safety and security:

• Emergency notifications: Via the OU Alert (see Sec. 12.1.10.), the campus safety director will work with other staff to send notification when there is an immediate threat to community health and safety.
• Timely Warning: The director of campus safety in conjunction with other staff issues timely warnings, these are campus notifications of a serious and continuing threat to the campus community.
• Annual Security Report: The director of campus safety oversees annual reporting via the Annual Security Report which identifies the number of reported crimes identified by the Clery Act that are on campus, campus property or near campus.
• Crime log: The director of campus safety maintains a daily crime log that includes entries for all crimes that occur within the geography of campus determined by the Clery Act and the campus safety staff’s regular patrol.
• Missing Student: If a student who lives in on-campus student housing is determined to have been missing for 24 hours, the campus will be notified and an immediate search and investigation will commence by the director of campus safety, office of campus life and local authorities.

If there is an emergency, campus safety is available at (404) 504-1998. Emergency procedures are available on the campus safety website at https://oglethorpe.edu/life/support/safety/.

The Oglethorpe counseling center’s mission is to support the personal growth and satisfaction of all students in order to enhance their full participation in the University’s educational experiences.  The counseling center provides a variety of services to meet the specific needs of students.  Programs are designed to empower and motivate students to focus on issues relating to health and wellness.  The counseling center upholds the Code of Ethics and Conduct of the State Board of Psychologists and the Georgia Board of Professional Counselors, Social Workers and Marriage Therapists, based on foundations of confidentiality, integrity, and embracing and affirming differences.

Students come to the counseling center for a wide array of concerns.  The most common issues that bring students to counseling are anxiety, depression, and relationship issues (with friends, romantic partners, roommates, professors, parents or others). Other concerns include homesickness or adjustment to college, identity issues, controlling the use of alcohol and other substances, body image or eating problems, sleep disturbance, grief, and low self-confidence. Students are eligible for services during the semesters they are currently enrolled in classes.

The director of counseling services, who is a licensed psychologist, runs the center and coordinates all services. The assistant director and staff therapists are licensed professional counselors and certified counselor supervisors. The graduate student interns are supervised closely by either the director or another licensed mental health professional.

Counseling at Oglethorpe is a collaborative process that involves the development of a unique, confidential, helping relationship.  In these relationships, therapists are facilitators who help their clients understand their own feelings, behaviors, relationships with others, and environments more accurately. Students are encouraged to examine their own values and priorities and to make choices that align with these priorities.

Services include:

• Individual Counseling: The Oglethorpe student meets one-on-one with a mental health therapist to discuss emotional concerns that are interfering with the ability to thrive academically and socially or to maintain a sense of well-being and pleasure. Therapeutic goals are established that guide the frequency of meetings.
• Consultation: Consultation with counseling center staff is available for anyone who is concerned about a student’s emotional well-being. Consultation is provided to students, staff, faculty or parents who are concerned about an OU student. Counseling center clients may find it helpful for the counseling center to consult with accessibility services, athletics, or specific faculty in order to coordinate services for the client. Counseling center staff will not reveal a student’s status as a counseling center client without permission from the student. The counseling center staff also consults with faculty and staff in other areas of the University about topics related to mental health, such as suicide prevention, how to access services, understanding specific mental health issues like depression, and neurodiversity.
• Referral: Any student who needs more regular and ongoing services than the counseling center can provide or who needs services the center does not provide will be referred to area providers. Note: Each student is responsible for the cost of any services obtained off campus.
• Eligibility: Georgia law requires anyone under age 18 to have written permission of a legal guardian (usually a parent) to receive ongoing services. Students under age 18 may be seen without parental permission in case of emergency for one session in order to assess the need for services.
• Confidentiality: All clients of the counseling center who are over age 18 have the right to expect confidentiality of their records and sessions. Counselors are legally bound to maintain rights to privacy and will not disclose information of any kind without the client’s expressed written permission, except in circumscribed situations specified by Georgia law. Exceptions to confidentiality are situations in which the therapist is concerned that a client may be in imminent danger of serious harm to self or others; client disclosure of an ongoing situation of abuse; neglect or exploitation of a minor child or an incapacitated adult; and court order signed by a judge. Counseling records are not included in a student’s academic record and are not available to parents or University faculty or staff even with FERPA release. (See Sec. 3.8. for an explanation of FERPA guidelines.)
• Cost: All counseling center services are free.
• Psychiatry: Oglethorpe University does not provide psychiatry services. Students in need of medication evaluation will be referred off campus at their own expense.

For additional information go to https://oglethorpe.edu/life/support/wellness/counseling/.

12.1.4.1. On Campus

There are numerous cultural opportunities for students outside the classroom, such as concerts, theatrical productions, and lectures. The Mack A. Rikard lectures expose students to leaders in business and other professions. The University Singers and Oglethorpe Winds perform every semester and sponsor seasonal events with guest artists. The Oglethorpe University Museum of Art sponsors exhibitions and lectures on associated subjects and occasional concerts in the museum. The theatre department stages various productions each year in the Conant Performing Arts Center. Annual events provide a showcase for campus talent.

12.1.4.2. Off Campus

Oglethorpe is located eight miles from downtown Atlanta and just two miles from the city’s largest shopping malls. A nearby rapid transit station makes transportation quick and efficient. This proximity to the Southeast’s most vibrant city offers students a great variety of cultural and entertainment opportunities. There are numerous excellent restaurants and clubs in nearby Town Brookhaven. The university sponsors a series of domestic study trips to museums and places of cultural, political, and historical interest in the metropolitan Atlanta area.

Dining services at Oglethorpe provides a diverse and nutritious menu, a space of community and friendship, and an educational environment.  Visit CampusDish for more information.

All students living on campus must participate in the University’s meal plan and present their Petrel Pass to receive meals. All students in the residence halls receive an “all-access” meal plan, with unlimited access to dining services during all open hours of operation. Students residing in double rooms in Greek Houses and students who are Gables residents have the Greek or Gables meal plan. All students enrolling fall semester 2018 and beyond who commute or decide to commute later during their enrollment are required to have the commuter meal plan.

Brunch and dinner are served on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays. Meals are only provided when school is in session and are not provided during Thanksgiving, winter and spring breaks. The last meal served as part of the plan during the academic year will be lunch on the last day of final exams during the fall and spring semesters.

Students may not share the privilege of their all-access plan with anyone else. Students lending their Petrel Pass to others or giving food to others through their plan are subject to conduct sanctions and loss of privileges. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are served Monday through Friday.

In the event of an emergency such as a life-threatening situation or serious illness, student affairs staff will make an attempt to deliver a message or contact number to a student regarding the emergency information. With the exception of public-record information such as name, address and telephone number, information regarding students or their class schedules cannot be released for any purpose. Messages can be delivered to students only for emergency situations. The office is open Monday through Friday during regular business hours. Please call (404) 364-8321. For emergencies arising during non-business hours and on weekends, please contact campus safety at (404) 504-1998 for assistance.

The mission of Greek life at Oglethorpe is to promote excellence in leadership, scholarship and service, and to provide support to students as they strive to live according to values and goals of their organizations. In addition, Greek life works to enhance the college experience through involvement in educational programming, leadership opportunities and social interactions, while empowering students to develop skills for responsible self-governance and lifelong community involvement.

The Greek community at Oglethorpe is made up of four fraternities and five sororities. The fraternities are Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc., Chi Phi, Delta Sigma Phi and Sigma Alpha Epsilon. The sororities are Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., Alpha Sigma Tau, Chi Omega, Epsilon Iota Psi and Sigma Sigma Sigma.

Membership in these organizations is voluntary and subject to guidelines established by the Interfraternity Council, the National Pan-Hellenic Council, the PanHellenic Council, and the assistant director of Greek life; these guidelines include a minimum cumulative GPA requirement.

For additional information, including Greek life policies, go to https://oglethorpe.edu/life/things-to-do/clubs-and-organizations/fraternities-and-sororities/.

Multiple awards are presented annually at Commencement, at the Honors and Awards ceremony, or during special programs held by the sponsoring organization. The Student Government Association purchases the awards for the Honors and Awards ceremony with the assistance of student engagement staff.

The office of mail services is located on the ground floor of Lupton Hall and individual mailboxes are assigned to all residential students. Mail is processed year-round, Monday through Friday, except on federal holidays. Window hours are 8:30-11:25 a.m. and 1:00-4:55 p.m.

A properly addressed letter or package to a resident student includes the mailbox number. An example of a properly address letter is:

Storm E. Petrel
4484 Peachtree Road, NE, #131
Brookhaven, GA 30319

To obtain the mailbox number of a current student, please call mail services at (404) 261-1441.

During holiday periods, summer vacation and study abroad semesters, or once a student has moved off-campus, first class U.S.P.S. letters and packages can be forwarded upon request. In all cases, the student is responsible for providing an accurate forwarding address. If no forwarding address is made available once a student ceases to be a resident, mail will be returned to the sender.

In case of campus-wide emergency, weather emergency or other urgent matter, the OU Alert system will be utilized to notify students and employees of the issue.  All students and employees are responsible for keeping their personal contact information up to date via OASIS.  OU Alert will send e-mail, text, and voice notification regarding the incident or issue.  The system is tested at least once per year.

Each entering student is given a Petrel Pass, which is the official University identification for all students and employees.

Petrel Passes given students access to:

• Philip Weltner Library resources
• Student meal plan
• Security access to certain locations on campus, including some residence halls
• Discounts or free passes to sporting events
• Access to account information and password resets at the IT services help desk
• Numerous other student discounts not affiliated with Oglethorpe University

Replacement Petrel Passes can be obtained by emailing [email protected]. If the student has not previously received a Petrel Pass and is not on record, a proof of enrollment from the office of enrollment services is also required.

Use of another person’s Petrel Pass is prohibited and both the student loaning and the student using the pass fraudulently will be subject to conduct sanctions which may include loss of privileges.

Given the amount of access provided by the Petrel Pass, Oglethorpe suggests treating this card as if it is as sensitive as a credit card. It should also be given the same amount of protection against magnetic fields.

The office of residence life fosters the academic, social, cultural, and personal growth of students in a caring, comfortable, and challenging residential community of diverse students. The office of residence life maintains a residential community of high quality engagement that supports a vibrant co-curricular life within an urban liberal arts environment.

For additional information about residence life policies and regulations, visit http://reslife.oglethorpe.edu/.

12.1.12.1. Membership in the Community

As members of the Oglethorpe campus community, residential students have a specific set of rights and responsibilities. Residence life policies and regulations are designed to give a clear understanding of what is expected of Oglethorpe University residents. It is important to recognize that a large number of individuals live together in a residence hall. This density of people creates a special need for being aware of how one’s individual actions can have a direct effect on others and easily influence the environment of the entire hall. With these ideas in mind, the office of residence life has established a number of guidelines intended to give students a standard by which to live and learn together.

12.1.12.2. Responsibilities of Community Living

As an important member of this residential community, students have the responsibility to:

• Verbally express their views to the person(s) involved, should the students feel their rights have been violated.
• Treat other residents with respect and consideration and grant them their individual rights.
• Understand all policies and regulations necessary for the hall and University community to function.
• Tell the truth and be honest in all interactions with the community.
• Respond to all reasonable requests from fellow residents.
• Respond to and cooperate with all Oglethorpe University and residence hall staff members at all times.
• Take responsibility for personal and community safety, i.e. do not misuse safety equipment, do not prop open security doors and do not lose, loan or forget room keys or Petrel Pass.
• Accept responsibility for their behavior and that of their guests at all times.
• Recognize that public areas and their furnishings belong to everyone and that abuse of or removal of items from those areas violates the rights of all community members.
• Report all maintenance issues to the appropriate person in a timely manner.

12.1.12.3. Residence Life Staff

The residence life professional staff members fall under the supervision of the vice president for student affairs. These staff members are student affairs professionals who work and in some campus live on-campus. They are trained and experienced in residence hall operations, supervision of RAs, and guiding RA programming. They are the office of residence life’s spokesperson in any situation that may arise in the residence halls, and they enforce University and residence hall policies. Feel free to speak with the professional staff about any problems, ideas, and/or suggestions you may have regarding residential living.

Resident assistants (RAs) are students that live and work in the residence halls. They are hired by the office of residence life to help students who live in the residence halls and are the most visible members of the residence life staff. Since RAs live directly in the building, they are attuned to residents’ particular needs and problems. RAs go through an extensive selection and training process and are, therefore, helpful in dealing with all types of problems and situations. RAs also plan programs and activities, hold hall meetings, enforce policies and refer maintenance/housekeeping work orders to the physical plant.

The mission of student engagement is to enhance the collegiate experience by offering intentional programming to create community, cultivate learning opportunities, and develop student leaders. Student engagement, promotes inclusion/diversity, Petrel pride, and well-being. Student engagement accomplishes this mission by providing programs and events in:

• Leadership development
• Intercultural affairs
• Campus events and programming
• Student government
• Connections to student organizations
• New student orientation
• Atlanta events
• Campus recreation
• Greek life
• Bystander intervention and training
• Family weekend

In addition, this office manages the Petrel Partners Program, a group of area businesses offering discounts to the Oglethorpe community.

The office provides an extensive programming calendar for the student population, including a diverse range of programs in developmental areas (including cultural, educational, social, and recreational activities).

Campus organizations are an integral part of University campus life. All student programs must be registered with student engagement a minimum of seven business days prior to the event. Once the event has been confirmed, students may take advantage of the resources provided by the student engagement office.

The student government association (SGA) is the guiding body for student life at Oglethorpe. The SGA consists of three branches: an executive council, a senate and a programming board. The executive council is composed of the president, an executive vice president, a vice president for programming, a parliamentarian, a secretary, a treasurer and the presidents of the four classes. The senate is chaired by the executive vice president and composed of four senators from each class. The programming board is chaired by the vice president for programming and is composed of three or four members elected from each class. All three bodies meet regularly and all meetings are open to the student body. The SGA administers a student activity fee that is assessed to all full-time TU. ADP funds are administered by student engagement. For more information, go to Student Government Association’s webpage.

Campus student organizations include activities and clubs recognized through the Oglethorpe student government association, co-curricular groups, honorary societies chartered at the University, and fraternities and sororities coordinated by the Inter-fraternity Council, the PanHellenic Council, and other councils. Student organizations are subject to the authority and regulations of the University. Recognition and continuation of a campus student organization requires that the philosophy and purpose of the group’s activities be consistent with the philosophy and purpose of the University. National affiliation of student organizations is subject to approval of the University to ensure compliance with University policies.

Eligibility for membership or active participation in student organizations and athletic teams is limited to currently enrolled students at Oglethorpe.  Eligibility to serve as an officer or represent the University in an official capacity in a student organization or team is restricted to full-time, currently-registered students in the TU program, who are in conduct good standing (see Sec. 12.5.) and have a minimum cumulative 2.0 grade-point average.  Any questions concerning eligibility for membership or holding office in a student organization are subject to final determination by the vice president for campus life.

All student organizations must have a University faculty or staff advisor.  Each group must renew its status annually by reporting any changes in its name or purpose, as well as the names of its members, officers and advisor to the assistant director of student engagement and leadership at the beginning of each semester.  Failure to comply with these provisions may result in the organization being declared inactive.  An organization declared inactive or determined to be defunct must reapply for recognition to be re-activated.

For more information on student organizations, view the student organizations list online.

Oglethorpe University expects all students to have their own health insurance.  Although students are free to seek medical care wherever they choose, Oglethorpe University is partnered with Peachtree Immediate Care which is located next to campus on the corner of Hermance Drive and Peachtree Road, to provide an array of health services for students during the academic year. They have a physician on staff 7 days a week with extended hours.

For additional information, go to https://oglethorpe.edu/life/support/wellness/health-services.

For convenience, the campus life office in the Turner Lynch Campus Center student commons area keeps a general first aid kit for student.