Student Handbook

Introduction

Introduction & Purpose

The Student Handbook is a guide to student life at Hanover - its governance, organizations, policies, facilities and services. This document is designed as a supplement to other written materials, especially the Catalog, and is not your only campus reference. It contains current regulations and policies governing student life, housing and extracurricular activities. This guide will assist in locating the proper people to answer questions and help with problems. Careful reading will help you understand Hanover's objectives and regulations as well as your own responsibilities as a member of the campus community.

By accepting Hanover's invitation to join the campus community, it is expected that each student will contribute to the College's overall educational purpose. Familiarization with this book can insure personal involvement in many opportunities available through life on campus. Every student is assumed to be familiar with the materials in the Student Handbook as well as those in the Catalog. Both should be kept handy as references, and all students, particularly those who are new to Hanover, should read them thoroughly. Due to the ever-changing circumstances of the College and its constituencies, the College reserves the right to adjust to changing circumstances or demands.  When feasible these changes will be done in consulting with students. For the most accurate information contact this website.

In addition to the classroom, much leaning also takes place outside the formal academic environment - in residence halls, in the dining room, and with student activities and organizations, athletics, religious life and community service. These opportunities are encouraged at Hanover because such participation brings a fuller measure of self-realization in these important collegiate years. We encourage you to use this Student Handbook and to develop a conscious plan to utilize the many resources of Hanover College!

Office of Student Life

FERPA

The Federal Educational Rights and Privacy Act

FERPA
(The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act)

 The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) affords students certain
rights with respect to their education records:

1. The right to inspect and review the student's education records within 45 days of the day the College receives a request for access. Students should submit to the Registrar or Academic Dean a written request that identifies the record(s) they wish to inspect. The College official will make arrangements for access and notify the student of the time and place where the records may be inspected. If the records are not maintained by the College official to whom the request was submitted, that official shall advise the student of the correct official to whom the request should be addressed.

2. The right to request the amendment of the student's education records that the student believes are inaccurate or misleading. Students may ask the College to amend a record that they believe is inaccurate or misleading. They should write the College official responsible for the record, clearly identifying the part of the record they want to change, and specify why it is inaccurate or misleading. If the College decides not to amend the record as requested by the student, the College will notify the student of the decision and advise the student of his or her right to a hearing regarding the request for amendment. Additional information regarding the hearing procedures will be provided to the student when notified of the right to a hearing.

3. The right to consent to disclosures of personally identifiable information contained in the student's educational records, except to the extent FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent.

One exception which permits disclosure without consent is disclosure to school officials with legitimate educational interests. A school official is a person employed by the College in an administrative position, academic or research position, support staff (including campus security and health services personnel), a person or company with whom the College has contracted (such as an attorney or auditor), a person serving on the board of trustees, or an individual serving on an official committee, such as a disciplinary or grievance committee, or assisting another school official in performing his or her tasks.

A school official has a legitimate educational interest if the official needs to review the education record in order to fulfill his or her professional responsibility.

4. The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by Hanover College to comply with the requirements of FERPA. FERPA contact information can be found at: www.ed.gov/policy/gen/guid/fpco/ferpa/index.html

Institutions may disclose information on a student without violating FERPA regulations through what is known as "directory information." Hanover College considers the following information as directory information:

Name, Major Field of Study, Dates of Attendance (current and past), Degrees and Awards received, Participation in Officially Recognized Activities and Sports, Weight and Height of Members of Athletic Teams.

Hanover College Principles

Hanover College Principles

The students, faculty, staff and trustees of Hanover College seek to promote academic, personal, and moral growth within a safe, challenging and responsive community. Therefore, we will hold ourselves and the Hanover College Community to the highest standards of inclusivity, identifying and removing all systemic biases that impact the dignity of any person, supporting all, and ensuring that we are a truly empathetic and inclusive community where all persons belong and are valued. These values are articulated in the College’s mission documents and embodied in the daily, ongoing work of the community.


 To this end, each is committed to the following:

PURSUIT OF ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE

1. I will seek the breadth and depth of knowledge appropriate to a liberal arts education, will seek to foster intellectual vitality, and will practice academic integrity.


 2. I will participate in the open and free exchange of ideas necessary for a meaningful education and a successful democracy.

PURSUIT OF PERSONAL EXCELLENCE

3. I will pursue physical, moral, emotional, and spiritual well being, with respect for the Christian and liberal arts traditions of the College.


 4. I will practice self-respect and self-discipline, and will seek to grow in
maturity and independence.

RESPECT FOR ONE ANOTHER

5. I will work to create a safe campus community, free from unjust coercion, harassment, and other threats to persons or property.


 6. I will practice honesty toward, tolerance of, and compassion for others,
 working to support the well-being of other members of the College
 community.

COMMUNITY RESPONSIBILITY

7. I will participate in decision-making on rules and procedures, and will encourage others to do the same.


 8. I will be a good steward of the College, the environment, and the world
 community.

ACCOUNTABILITY

9. I will know and adhere to the rules of the College and to state and federal laws, accepting accountability for my own actions and encouraging others to be accountable for theirs.


 10. I will practice justice, fairness and respect in my responses to violations of these commitments and of College rules by community members.


 As members of the Hanover College community, we will make decisions together with those who will be most affected by them, we will seek the greatest amount of relevant input possible in our decision-making, and, to the extent possible, we will encourage decision-making on rules and procedures by those who will be most affected by them.

Student Handbook 2024-2025