In an environment that fosters the free exchange of ideas, Lafayette College seeks to nurture the inquiring mind and to integrate intellectual, social, and personal growth. The College strives to develop students’ skills of critical thinking, verbal communication, and quantitative reasoning and their capacity for creative endeavor; it encourages students to examine the traditions of their own culture and those of others; to develop systems of values that include an understanding of personal, social, and professional responsibility; and to regard education as an indispensable, lifelong process.
Lafayette College is committed to creating a diverse community: one that is inclusive and responsive, and is supportive of each and all of its faculty, students, and staff. The College seeks to promote diversity in its many manifestations. These include but are not limited to race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, disability, and place of origin. The College recognizes that we live in an increasingly interconnected, globalized world, and that students benefit from learning in educational and social contexts in which there are participants from all manner of backgrounds. The goal is to encourage students to consider diverse experiences and perspectives throughout their lives. All members of the College community share a responsibility for creating, maintaining, and developing a learning environment in which difference is valued, equity is sought, and inclusiveness is practiced.
There are a number of resources available to support your learning at Lafayette. Please visit the link to access information on various offices and programs. A .pdf file is also available that summarizes several resources.
If you have not already, please work through the preparedness self-assessment and follow the recommended actions as relevant. This assessment was designed to help you connect to resources at the college to promote your success.
If you suspect you have COVID-19 and are seeking a Dean’s Excuse, please follow these steps:
If through Bailey Health Center’s protocols you are not cleared to attend in-person classes for a period of time, I will be informed of this status through the Office of Advising. You must not return to class until medically cleared to do so. I will also be notified when you are cleared to return to in-person classes. Please note that Bailey Health Center or the Dean’s Office will not disclose to me your specific medical information; they will not specify to me if you have to “isolate” due to a positive COVID-19 test, or “quarantine” due to possible exposure. They will only specify if you are “not cleared” or “cleared” to attend in-person classes. Additionally, please email me so that together we can make a plan to help you keep up with the course until you are cleared to return to in-person instruction.
To help mitigate the spread of COVID-19 the campus may operate at different levels during the semester. Be sure to keep track of the campus’ operational status on the COVID-19 information page as well as through email messages sent via Lafayette Today. In the event that the College’s operational status impacts whether we shift to remote learning or back in person, I will communicate any changes in course plans directly with the class and share the Zoom connection link as well as add it to the course Moodle site.
This resource provides advice for you to effectively learn in an online environment.
Lafayette is committed to providing support and reasonable accommodations for students with disabilities who self-identify with Accessibility Services. Students requesting accommodations to alleviate the impact of their disability should register their needs as soon as possible with the Accessibility Services Office, which is housed in the Academic Resource Hub (resourcehub@lafayette.edu). Once registered, students should request their accommodation letters to provide notification of their needs to their professors, on a semester by semester basis. If you have questions or concerns pertaining specifically to your accommodations within this course, please contact the instructor [me] to discuss them.
Special Statement regarding Accessibility and COVID 19
Eligibility for, and provision of accommodations may be influenced by the changes to the academic environment that are necessitated by the COVID-19 pandemic. If you are in need of accommodations, or adjustments to your accommodation plan, it is your responsibility to contact Accessibility Services immediately to discuss your needs.
The Counseling Center is available to provide counseling and educational programs to help you achieve your academic, social, and personal development goals.
*Revised 8/14/20*
At Lafayette College, all course materials are proprietary and for class purposes only. This includes posted recordings of lectures, worksheets, discussion prompts, and other course items. Reposting such materials or distributing them through any means is prohibited. Such materials should not be reposted or distributed through any means. You must request my permission prior to creating your own recordings of class materials, and any recordings are not to be shared or posted online even when permission is granted to record. If you have any questions about proper usage of course materials please ask me. Please also be in contact with me if you have any concerns with being recorded during the course.
Online discussions in Moodle occurring during synchronous class sessions should also remain private and not be shared outside of the course. Courses using Moodle will make student information visible to other students in this class. Student information in courses is protected by the Family Educational Right to Privacy Act (FERPA). Disclosure of student information to unauthorized parties violates federal privacy laws and it must not be shared with anyone outside the class. Questions can be referred to the Registrar’s Office.
All students are expected to abide by the Student Code of Conduct including policies around academic integrity whether we are in a face-to-face or remote classroom environment. Please be sure to review the Student Code of Conduct through the link above.