Student Life

Introduction

Louisburg College strives for the total growth and development of each individual. Much of that growth occurs outside the classroom in social, religious, and physical activities. The Student Life Office staff is committed to putting students first. The activities and programs are planned with the goal of providing opportunities for student success. Students are encouraged to become involved as contributing members of the college community.

Students are expected to support the policies and regulations as stated in the catalog and the student handbook, and, by enrolling, each student agrees to follow these policies.

The student life staff provides leadership in planning a balanced program for resident and commuter students. These extra-curricular activities include a variety of campus organizations, religious life, cultural events, intramurals, and athletics.

Mission Statement

• We believe in the value of each student. We are committed to developing responsible citizens who appreciate life-long learning, diversity, integrity, personal values, leisure, and respect for self and others.
• We partner with each student to facilitate this development by providing comprehensive learning experiences in a safe and nurturing environment.

Student Organizations

Student organizations provide leadership development and social growth that complement academic life. Most organizations are open to any member of the student body, while some have GPA or other requirements for membership. Student organizations are governed by a constitution and supervised by a faculty or staff advisor. Students who have interests beyond our current campus organizations should contact a member of the Student Engagement staff about creating a new student organization.

Student Government Association is the renowned advocacy group of the student body here at Louisburg College. This organization seeks to provide support for campus issues and help your voice be heard.

Hurricane Productions Activities Board is comprised of students who want to create the fun that happens within the college experience. The HP Activities Board oversees all campus-wide programming like Welcome Week, Homecoming, Spring Fest, etc.

Hurricane Outreach is for students who are passionate about serving the community. Hurricane Outreach aims to provide service opportunities for the campus at large and partners with local community organizations for various causes.

Christian Life Council is composed of students who are passionate about seeking pathways to grow spiritually in a Christian community. This club also helps with chapel-related endeavors.

Fellowship of Christian Athletes is another branch of ministry on campus. The Louisburg College chapter of FCA united and culminates a centering of sportsmanship through Christ-centered activities.

Lady Canes is an organization that aims to create spaces for women on campus to connect, build camaraderie, and advocate for women-related missions. They host an annual Women’s Week in March amongst other initiatives throughout the year around sisterhood.

Renaissance M.E.N. is a community of men as a brotherhood on campus that sets a standard of excellence and provides support for men who are striving to become better leaders.

The Oval Board is a network hub for all organization Presidents to grow and develop new skills, while building their community on campus.

PRIDE Alliance is an organization that advocates for LGBTQIA+ rights, providing a safe place for others to explore their identity, and overall builds a community that celebrates identity and inclusion for all.

Phi Theta Kappa Honors Society promotes scholastic standards on campus for students and is reserved only for students who have been formally inducted by earning a 3.5 grade point average. Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) Honor Society is the oldest, largest and most prestigious honor society serving two-year colleges. The Gamma Upsilon Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa was chartered and organized at Louisburg College in December 1938. Membership is presently open to freshmen with a minimum grade point average of 3.50 who have earned as least 12 hours that can be applied to an associate’s degree and to sophomores with a minimum grade point average of 3.50. Continued membership is contingent upon students maintaining a 3.25 grade point average. Good moral character and recognized qualities of citizenship are also emphasized for membership. Membership is by invitation only based on the stated requirements.

Student Ambassadors: Student Ambassadors are students who have shown leadership potential both in and out of the classroom. It is a prestigious organization whose members are specifically chosen based on character and academic excellence. The ambassadors, who act as tour guides and event coordinators, each play an important part in representing Louisburg College and impacting its future. Additionally, Student Ambassadors sometimes make presentations to schools, organizations, and other groups. They also assist the Admissions Office staff in their recruiting efforts by performing various office tasks. This organization does volunteer work but has a large social component as well. Members gain valuable skills, experience, and networks that can benefit them now and in years to come.

Joel Porter Counseling Center

Your time at Louisburg College will parallel a significant period of transition in your life. Transition can be exciting but also requires adjustment, which can sometimes be difficult. The issues which arise during this time may occasionally be overwhelming, or the challenges too great to be met successfully without some assistance. The Joel Porter Counseling Center can help you make better decisions; effectively manage difficulties, improve personal skills, overcome barriers to personal effectiveness, develop increased confidence, and acquire keener awareness and appreciation of your personal needs and the needs of others. The Joel Porter Counseling Center also encourages and enjoys hearing about your success. Drop in any time just to say hi, share a bright moment, or discuss something personal. Counseling at Louisburg College is provided at no charge.

All sessions are confidential and counseling records are NEVER included in any academic, athletic or career file. Only designated staff have access to client files which are kept locked in the Joel Porter Counseling Center office. Under nearly all circumstances faculty, staff, and administrative offices at Louisburg College do not have access to any information regarding your counseling. There are a few exceptions listed below.
Release of information regarding counseling may be done at the student's request by signing a Release of Information Form which designates what information to release and to whom.

State and federal laws and/or professional ethics place some limits on confidentiality and may require the student’s information to be released. Information may be released without a student’s permission if a student states he or she seriously intends to harm himself, herself, or another person(s), if the student reports or describes abuse, neglect, or sexual abuse of children or vulnerable adults, or if subpoenaed by a court.

Religious Life

Louisburg College, as an educational institution affiliated with The United Methodist Church, seeks to continue the tradition initiated by the denomination's founder, John Wesley, of "uniting knowledge with vital piety." Without attempting to impose narrowly restrictive rules of conduct or sectarian theological norms upon either faculty or students, the College strives to create and maintain on its campus a broadly Christian atmosphere within which optimum intellectual and spiritual growth can take place. For the promotion and cultivation of spiritual growth, the College offers a variety of opportunities for worship and service through the Christian Life Council (see description under "Student Organizations") and under the direction of the chaplain, whose office is located in the Clifton L. Benson Chapel and Religious Life Center.

Chapel services are conducted at 11:15 a.m. on Tuesdays in Benson Chapel. These programs are voluntary and all students are encouraged to attend. The programs provide an opportunity for the college community to come together on a regular basis. Additional worship services are also scheduled as deemed appropriate. On these occasions, the chaplain, guest ministers of various denominations, faculty members, and students preach or present religious programs.

Cultural Activities

A significant aspect of education is the development of students' capacity to appreciate and enjoy the expressions of their cultural tradition in art, literature, music, and ideas. Much of the regular curriculum is devoted to this effort, and the College strives toward this goal in other areas as well.

The Allen De Hart Concert Series features distinguished and professional performers in a balanced schedule of both classical and popular performing arts, including music, dance, and drama. Student creative arts programming is provided in the chorale, poetry and fiction readings, and residence hall programs. Students are also encouraged to enter their work in sculpture, paintings, drawings, and ceramics in Art Gallery exhibits.

Periodically, the Student Life Office sponsors cultural programs. Students are encouraged to participate in all cultural programs and should contact the Student Life Office if interested in becoming involved in the planning of cultural programs.

Intramurals

Intramurals at Louisburg College are sponsored by the Student Life Office. They are designed to promote physical fitness, community citizenship, and good sportsmanship. The Intramural Program offers numerous activities including flag football, basketball, soccer, softball, table tennis, billiards, and volleyball. Intramurals are facilitated by the Student Engagement staff, and students are encouraged to participate in the events as well as provide suggestions and feedback through Hurricane Productions.

Student Conduct and Campus Regulations

The College expects its students to maintain a high standard of conduct. The College reserves the right to monitor student behavior on and off campus. Students' rooms may be inspected and searched when violations of law or College regulations are suspected. Students are also subject to disciplinary procedures for off-campus violations of law.

The Office of Student Life seeks to partner with students to use conduct violations as educational opportunities. While holding students accountable for behavior, we advocate for reflection and learning as part of the individual growth process. Please refer to the Student Handbook for detailed information about the Student Code of Conduct and Conduct Process.

Administrative Withdrawal Policy

Purpose

One of the college’s purposes is to ensure equality of educational opportunity while fostering an environment that promotes the education, service, maturation, and safety of all members of its community. Periodically, college officials become aware of a student who may be seriously interfering with this purpose because of a mental, emotional, physical, or psychological health condition. In these situations, College officials may consider the appropriateness of involuntary medical withdrawal according to the standards and procedures described in this policy. An involuntary medical withdrawal should not be imposed when judicial, academic, or other responses to the student’s situation are readily available and can be addressed through those avenues. Additionally, when possible and appropriate, efforts will be made to persuade the student to voluntarily withdraw and to follow a course of treatment needed to resume student status. Involuntary medical withdrawal is not a substitute for appropriate disciplinary action. A student suffering from a mental disorder who is accused of a disciplinary violation should not be diverted from the disciplinary process unless, as a result of the mental disorder, the student either lacks the capacity to respond to the charges or did not know the nature of and quality of the act in question. Further, this policy should not be used to dismiss socially or politically eccentric students who have not otherwise engaged in behavior which poses a danger to themselves or to others, or which substantially disrupts normal College activities.

Commencement of the Involuntary Medical Withdrawal Process

The involuntary medical withdrawal process will commence when the student’s condition involves one or more of the following:

a. Engagement in behavior that poses a significant danger of causing harm to self or others or to property. b. A threat to public health. c. The educational process and functions of the College are hampered. d. The lawful activities of others are directly and substantially impeded. e. The inability to engage in basic required activities necessary to obtain an education.
An interim medical withdrawal will be imposed when the student presents a real and present danger to others. Any member of the College community who has reason to believe that a student may meet the standard for involuntary medical withdrawal described above may contact the Dean of Students. If the Dean of Students determines, based on the above criteria, that the student should be referred to the IMW panel, a recommendation will be submitted to the IMW panel and the student in question. The panel will convene for the conference within three business days of the recommendation, and the student will be notified of the conference. If, in the Dean of Students judgment, the student does not meet the standard for IMW, the Dean of Students may take any other action deemed appropriate, including initiating disciplinary action or recommending that the student seek treatment. The Dean of Students will also inform the parents or guardians of the conference, though they may not attend the conference.

The Conference

At the conference, the Dean of Students will provide the IMW panel all evidence relevant to determine whether the student is subject to IMW under the standard set forth in the following section “Decision of the Panel.” The evidence may include witnesses, written reports, documents or written statements, and/or an independent mental health professional’s written evaluation. The IMW panel may, at its discretion, require the student be evaluated by a mental health professional.
The student’s rights at the conference shall include a. The right to be present, unless behavior is disruptive. b. The right to present relevant evidence and witnesses. c. The right to question all witnesses at the conference and to comment upon all documents presented d. The right to have a member of the campus community serve as an advisor.

The members of the IMW panel may also ask questions of the student and/or any witnesses. The Dean of Students may exclude evidence that is not relevant or is cumulative. The conference will be closed to the public and the evidence presented will be kept confidential. The conference will be recorded via audiocassette and shall be preserved as part of the student’s confidential counseling record.

The Decision of the Panel

A student will be subject to involuntary medical withdrawal if the IMW panel concludes that the student has exhibited behavior as listed in the section entitled “Commencement of the Involuntary Medical Withdrawal” or is a real threat to engage in such behavior. The IMW panel will base its decision on evidence presented at the conference. The concurrence of all panel members will be required to withdraw a student under this policy. If the IMW panel concludes that the student does meet the standard for IMW, the panel shall so state in a written decision from the Dean of Students that will include its reasons for this conclusion. This decision will be reviewed by the president of the College. If the president agrees with the panel, the decision will be communicated to the student within 24 hours. This decision is final. Students who are involuntarily withdrawn must vacate the campus immediately. Resident students will be given 24 hours to remove their belongings from campus. Students refusing to leave campus or who present a real and present danger will be escorted from campus by local law enforcement. Appropriate legal action to prevent the student from returning to campus will be initiated. The panel may, at its discretion, permit a student who meets the standard for medical withdrawal to remain enrolled on a probationary basis under specified conditions which may include, but are not limited to, participation in a documented, on-going treatment plan, acceptance of and compliance with a behavioral contract, a housing relocation, a lighter academic course load, or any combination.

Voluntary Medical Withdrawal

At any point in the involuntary medical withdrawal process, the student may request to take a voluntary medical withdrawal. The request should be submitted to the Vice President for Student Life, who will consult with the Registrar regarding the request. If the request is granted, the involuntary medical withdrawal process will cease. In the event that the student is also involved in a concurrent conduct process, the voluntary medical withdrawal will not terminate the conduct process.

Readmission

A student who is medically withdrawn from the college under this policy, whether voluntarily or involuntarily, may apply for readmission. Approval for readmission will be granted only if the IMW panel determines that the conditions which caused the medical withdrawal are no longer present or are being sufficiently managed to allow the student to participate in campus and academic life. The panel may require any documentation and/or evaluation it deems necessary, including a written statement from a mental health professional outside of the college at the student's expense.

Records and Fees

All records concerning these proceedings shall be maintained by the vice president for student life and shall be kept confidential in accordance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, 20 U.S.C., 1232g, and implementing regulations of the U.S. Department of Education, 34C.F.R., Part 99. The policies and procedures for transcript notation and fee refunds described in the College Catalog shall apply to students who withdraw, voluntarily or involuntarily, under this policy.