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RULES GOVERNING STUDENT LIFE
REGULATIONS GOVERNING SOCIAL FRATERNITIES I. COLLEGE POLICIES STATEMENT OF PHILOSOPHY Hampden-Sydney College is a small, independent liberal arts institution with a longstanding history of academic excellence and concern for the development of men with character. The common ground of all members of the College community is, therefore, the development of the intellects and character of its students. It is also the purpose of the College to enrich the personal lives of its students and enhance their ability to serve society as good men and good citizens. It is with these aims in mind that the College has approved and supported the establishment of fraternities on the campus. Each recognized chapter has purposes stated by the national organization which are in harmony with those of the College. Fraternities, therefore, exist in order to complement and supplement the curriculum and programs offered by the College. Their role is to promote the pursuit of academic excellence and the development of character, to enrich the personal lives of their members, and further the ability of their members to serve society. In this context, then, it is clear that the national fraternities, of which our local chapters are a part, share the values and goals of the College. Any additional goals our fraternities hold for themselves should be compatible with those of the institution, and the practices of all recognized organizations should contribute to an overall educational atmosphere. Hampden-Sydney’s underlying philosophy towards rules and regulations is one of granting a maximum amount of individual freedom within a context of a residential campus and at the same time expecting a high degree of personal and corporate responsibility in order to maintain a campus atmosphere which is conducive to teaching, studying, learning and positive personal development. Membership in a fraternity provides opportunities for students to broaden their educational experiences while at the College, and it also offers students an option which can enrich and supplement their personal lives. The College recognizes this and encourages the presence of fraternities and the contributions they can make to the life of the College. There are, however, several governing principles that guide the formal relationship of
fraternities to the College, among them being the following: 1. That the College authorizes the granting of a charter for the existence of a chapter on campus and also may withdraw that authorization; 2. That the Student Affairs Committee of the Faculty establishes regulations governing fraternity activities; 3. That regulations governing fraternity activities will ultimately be enforced by the Dean of Students; 4. That the Associate Dean of Students and the Interfraternity Council supervise all fraternities; 5. That the activities which occur at fraternity houses are subject to regulation by the College, as are the general activities of fraternities; 6. That fraternity houses are considered a part of the overall residential housing program of the College, and if fraternities are not able to fill their prescribed housing quotas, the College reserves the right under the lease agreement in an emergency situation to assign non-members to the houses as a last resort to solve pressing demand for housing; 7. That fraternities are expected to take care of their facilities and environs so that at all times they reflect positively on the fraternities and the College. At the same time it is the responsibility of the College: 1. To provide fraternities with supervision; 2. To help them find fraternity advisors; 3. To provide them with resources for leadership training, scholarship improvement, problem-solving, and program planning; 4. To assist them in their planning to recruit members and communicate with their alumni. (N.B. All fraternity houses are owned by the College and are leased back to the respective House Corporations. For all fraternities the Housing Regulations are in effect, and when applicable, supersede Section II F, below. No new or existing fraternity is guaranteed housing. Housing assignments for fraternities are granted by the College.)