A Guide to Civil and Honorable Conduct

We're looking forward to a great semester!

THIS DOCUMENT IS NOT A CONTRACT AND MAY BE AMENDED AT ANY TIME IN THE DISCRETION OF THE COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON
The College of Charleston reserves the right to make changes in its policies, regulations, and procedures as printed herein through normal channels. The Student Handbook is produced by the Division of Student Affairs.

Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action Statement
The College of Charleston is an Affirmative Action / Equal Opportunity employer and does not discriminate against any individual or group on the basis of gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, race, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, genetic information, or disability. Inquiries and complaints should be directed to the Office of Equal Opportunity Programs, College of Charleston, 66 George St., Charleston, South Carolina 29424, 843.953.5754.

The College’s Affirmative Action Plan may be reviewed by contacting the Office of Equal Opportunity Programs or the Office of Human Resources.

Notice of Non-Discrimination
The College of Charleston is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all persons and does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including pregnancy), sexual
orientation, gender identity or expression, veterans’ status, genetic information, disability or other category protected by applicable law in its educational programs and activities, employment, or admissions. The
College of Charleston also prohibits retaliation against any person for bringing a complaint of discrimination or for participating in an investigation of a complaint of discrimination.

The Office of Equal Opportunity Programs maintains additional information and policies related to the
prohibition of discrimination, harassment, and sexual misconduct as well as access and equity at: http://
eop.cofc.edu/. Inquiries regarding the College of Charleston’s non-discrimination policies or complaints
of discrimination or harassment may be directed to the director of the Office of Equal Opportunity Programs at 66 George Street, Charleston, SC 29424, 843.953.5754 or eop@cofc.edu.

Questions about Title IX may be directed to the College of Charleston’s Title IX coordinator or the deputy Title IX coordinator in the Office of Equal Opportunity Programs at: 66 George Street, Charleston, SC 29424, 843.953.5754 or eop@cofc.edu, or to the assistant secretary for the Office of Civil Rights at the U.S. Department of Education.

Accreditation
The College of Charleston is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award the Artium Baccalaureatus, the Bachelor of Arts, the Bachelor of General Studies, the Bachelor of Professional Studies, the Bachelor of Science, the Master of Arts, the Master of Arts in Teaching, the Master of Business Administration, the Master of Education, the Master of Fine Arts, the Master of Public Administration, and the Master of Science. Contact: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane Decatur, GA 30033-4097 or call 404.679.4500 for questions about the accreditation of the College of Charleston.

To our students

Notes from Leadership
  • Letter from the President

    August 14, 2023

    Dear Student,

    I am excited to welcome you to the College of Charleston for the 2023–24 academic year. You are joining an incredible community of scholars – one that is full of talented, curious, energetic and creative people. We, the faculty and staff, are proud that you have chosen the College of Charleston to further your educational goals.

    While we may face much uncertainty in the world, what is certain is that your academic progress cannot and will not stop. Now, more than ever, your education is critical. We are committed to you and your development as an ethically centered, intellectually versatile and globally fluent citizen who can create innovative solutions to social, economic and environmental challenges.

    Here at the College, we are guided by our motto, Sapientia Ipsa Libertas, which means “Wisdom Itself Is Liberty.” During your time with us, you will come to “Know Thyself” (which appears in Greek lettering above the central arch of Porter’s Lodge, leading into the historic Cistern Yard), and you will experience some of the most exciting years of your life. I know your time here will be productive, rewarding and enlightening.

    I encourage you to take full advantage of the College. Seek out all of the opportunities we have for you and participate in activities outside of the classroom, which will add great value to your time inside the classroom. Presently, we have more than 200 student groups, undergraduate research opportunities, a competitive intramural program, numerous community service events, a collaborative fraternity and sorority life system, fantastic varsity sports teams to cheer on, and many fun events scheduled throughout the year.

    I hope you have a productive and successful year. I look forward to seeing you on campus!

    Sincerely,

    Andrew T. Hsu

    President, College of Charleston

  • Letter from the Executive Vice President for Student Affairs

    August 14, 2023

    Dear Student:

    Welcome to our newest students and welcome back to our returning students! I
    hope this letter finds you ready for a productive new academic year. Your positive
    experience and success at the College are of the utmost importance to me.

    This Handbook is designed to share with you many of the policies and procedures
    which apply to you as a student at CofC. The information provided is designed to
    guide your experience as a productive member of our academic community. We
    expect you to embrace and adhere to these guidelines and come forward with any
    suggestions for review or improvement. Please contact my office if you do have
    suggestions.

    As a member of the College of Charleston community, you are also a member of the greater Charleston community. Whether this year finds you living on or off campus, you are also a resident of a local neighborhood. We have high expectations for you to be a productive contributor to our greater community and we take great interest in how you represent yourself and the College. As more of our students take rooms and apartments in the neighborhoods adjacent to campus or in more distant neighborhoods, and others interact frequently with local residents, problems between students and permanent residents are likely to surface. If there are difficulties, they are typically a direct result of poor communication between neighbors or insensitivities to neighborhood rules and expectations. To help prevent such problems, I encourage you to follow these suggestions:

    1. Soon after moving in, take the time to meet your neighbors.
    2. Since many local houses are very close to each other, be conscious of noise level, particularly during the week. Your neighbors may need to study or get to sleep in preparation for class or work the next day.
    3. Tell your neighbors ahead of time if you are expecting more than just a few guests, let your guests know where they should properly park, and share neighborhood expectations that might apply to them as visitors.
    4. Make sure that you and your landlord maintain the appearance of your house or apartment so that it meets neighborhood standards. Learn your rights and responsibilities as a tenant in South Carolina, for you and your landlord share many responsibilities.
    5. Know and obey local and state laws and ordinances. No matter your level of awareness of these
      mandates, you will be expected to abide by them. You can find a list of key local ordinances on the webpages of Residence Life and Public Safety.

    I thank you in advance for your cooperation. Please understand that to your neighbors, you are more
    than individuals; you are the College of Charleston. While it is my desire for you to have a great experience in college, please represent us well. If there are any ways in which I may be of assistance to you, please do not hesitate to contact me. Have a fantastic and rewarding year.

    Sincerely,

    Alicia Caudill, Ph.D.

    Executive Vice President for Student Affairs

  • Letter from the Honor Board

    August 14, 2023

    Dear Students,

    Welcome to the College of Charleston! We are excited that you chose the College of Charleston as the
    place to further your education.

    As members of the Honor Board, we would like to remind you that the primary motive for attending college is to obtain an education that will aid you in your search for a successful future. The Honor Board is made up of students, just like you, with the same demands on our time, the same desire to have fun, and the potential to make the same mistakes you make. We are not here just to adjudicate cases; we know that circumstances and poor judgment affect us all, and we will help you. If you transgress these rules, we will treat you with fairness, respect, and understanding, but we will not allow you to harm yourself or our community. With over 150 hours per week outside of the classroom of your own free time, we ask you to be responsible adults and to make sound decisions. We invite you to get to know the faculty and staff members that help make up this college community so that you not only learn from and with them, but feel able to seek their guidance and wisdom during trying times. Talk to them, they listen; ask them questions, they answer; show them respect, but most importantly, keep their trust.

    Most of the academic cases that are presented before the Honor Board could have been avoided if the students had only communicated their troubles to the professor ahead of time. Faculty members are here to help you; do not be afraid of them. On the other hand, most of our non-academic cases occur because individuals do not know their tolerance for alcohol or understand that this campus and city take a serious stance against illegal substances. We understand that for many of the freshmen, this is your first year away from home and a time of experimentation. Be careful of your actions, because they have consequences. You are no longer in high school and will not be treated like you are. You will be held accountable for your actions like adults.

    Whether you are beginning or continuing your studies here, we wish you a successful endeavor to gain knowledge, experience, and friendships while surrounded by honest learning and civil behavior. Your time at the College of Charleston should be some of the best years of your lives; so remember to have fun — responsibly.

    Please consider joining the Honor Board. We are always looking for new members.

    Sincerely,

    The Honor Board