Campus Life and Student Resources
Campus LifeFor Trinity students, an active life outside of the classroom is an integral part of the college experience. Many choose to explore the varied cultural, historical, and community events that Washington, D.C., offers. A student can research her family tree at the National Archives, attend a play or hear a symphony at The Kennedy Center, see heads of state, visit the White House, or serve as a Smithsonian volunteer. The campus itself provides a wide range of activities. Students who join the athletic teams face physical challenges together. Attending a lecture by a Supreme Court justice can offer new insights into how legal precedents are set. Helping at a local shelter often leads to a new understanding of human needs and perseverance. Trinity provides a variety of programs to meet the needs of its diverse community, which includes undergraduate and graduate students; commuter and resident students; and national and international students. When these groups work together, there is a dynamic opportunity for sharing insights and experience.
Campus Ministry lives out the mission of Trinitythrough building community, nurturing faith through praise and worship opportunities, and actively seeking justice. Uniquely poised at the intersection of Church and Higher Education, Campus Ministry encourages the campus community to form a sense of ultimate purpose and meaning while cultivating greater freedom, understanding, maturity and integration. Our common life is rooted in the shared belief that education and faith are transforming powers. Modeled by the friendship of St. Julie Billiart and her co-foundress, Francoise Blin de Bourdon, we celebrate our diversity, interdependence and solidarity. Trinity's mission of education with justice remains grounded in friendship across racial, ethnic, economic and religious lines. St. Julie Billiart, SNDdN, believed that in prayer we would find the strength to sustain us on our journey. Through prayer, worship, and spiritual enirchments we seek to deepen our own relationship with God. As each one of us grows in our own religious tradition we also seek to understand the religious traditions of others. In cultivating a generous heart, doing service, and working to grasp the systemic structures of injustice, we pursue personal and communal responses to injustice as a way of changing the world. Empowered by the Spirit states that "Campus Ministry is called to be a consistent and vigorous advocate for justice, peace and the reverence for all life. Action on behalf of justice is a significant criterion of the Church's fidelity to its mission… It is not optional, nor is it the work of only a few in the Church." (#73). For more information, please contact Campus Ministry at 202 884-9653 or stop by 121 Main Hall. All members of the Trinity community -- students, faculty, and staff -- are expected to uphold a way of life that embraces personal integrity and responsibility, the foundation of the Honor System. The Honor System has been part of Trinity since 1913. Each person accepts the responsibility to uphold the Honor System. This includes the corresponding obligation to assist others to maintain the standards. Thus, the Honor System involves both personal and community participation and commitment. Working together, Trinity students achieve individual integrity, a shared trust among all members of the community, and a shared sense of responsibility to uphold the Honor System.
Please review the complete Honor Code policy in the Student Handbook. Resident and Commuter Policies:Because Trinity's educational mission and philosophy extends well beyond the classroom to include a range of learning opportunities and developmental experiences, Trinity encourages all students in the College of Arts and Sciences to live on campus. Residential living enables students to explore the rich dimensions of community life and embark on their own personal development with the guidance of professional staff. All students living in residence halls must be on a meal plan provided by the College. The Dean of Student Services may grant exemptions from the meal plan for documented health reasons for which a diet prescribed by a physician cannot be accommodated by food services. Lockers and mailboxes are available to all commuter students in the College of Arts and Sciences. Lounges are available in Main Hall to mingle, study, and relax. Children on Campus Policy: Because Trinity's work is higher education, Trinity's campus is not an appropriate environment for children. Students and faculty expect to be able to conduct their teaching and research in an adult environment; Trinity manages the campus for adults, and does not have the capacity to provide safe places for children. As a result, parents who find it necessary to bring a child to campus at any other time must adhere to these rules:
Resident students may not 'babysit' children in their rooms. Student lounges for commuter students and SPS students are not appropriate places for child care, and children may not be left in these rooms for extended periods of time. We advise students, faculty and staff who have child care emergencies to choose to remain at home rather than trying to bring the child to campus. We ask supervisors and faculty members to be lenient in excusing absences that result from child care emergencies. Please refer to the Children on Campus Policy for the complete policy. Smoking Policy: Smoking is not allowed in any building on campus and is not allowed near the academic and administrative buildings. Please refer to the Smoking Policy for the complete policy. All students in all programs should review the Student Handbook and Policies on Trinity's web site for a complete set of student policies. The Student Association (SA) through its three parts the Student Government Association (SGA), the Judicial Association (JA), and the Community Activities Association (CAA) represents the student body. The SGA acts as the policy making branch of the SA. CAS, SPS, and graduate students each elect a Student Government Association. The presidents of these SGAs meet as the SA's Federation of Leaders. The JA has a dual role. One role is to disseminate information and engage the community in discussions about the Honor System; and the second is to act as the official hearing committee for students accused of violating College rules and regulations. The CAA represents more than 20 student organizations, and facilitates campus activities and club programming. Student Involvement, Leadership, and Community Service Trinity offers a variety of opportunities for learning and experience outside the classroom. Through the Office of Student Activities and the Student Government Associations, student organizations conduct campus-wide events for entertainment, cultural enrichment, political awareness, and charitable service. Student-run clubs, such as the College Democrats and College Republicans, the Black Student Alliance, the Athletic Association, and the Latin American Association, sponsor specific programs and are open to all students enrolled at Trinity. Trinity students manage three publications: The Record (literary magazine), Trinilogue (yearbook), and The Trinity Times (newspaper). Trinity also has chapters of several national honor societies: Phi Beta Kappa, Alpha Sigma Lambda, Beta Kappa Chi (National Scientific Honor Society), Psi Chi (National Honor Society in Psychology), Lambda Pi Eta (National Communication Honor Society), and Pi Sigma Alpha (National Political Science Honor Society). Trinity celebrates many traditions. Class colors -- red, blue, green, and gold -- were chosen by the first four graduating classes. At the end of the year, graduating seniors bequest their color to the incoming first-year class, creating a common bond between every fourth class. During the academic year there are special days for the celebration of individual classes according to "class color." Other long-standing traditions at Trinity include: the First-Year Medal Ceremony, Sophomore Pin Ceremony, Junior Ring Ceremony, Convocation, Cap & Gown Weekend, Founders' Day, Family Weekend, and Well Sings. Student ResourcesTrinity is committed to providing all students with a wide array of services and support to help them succeed academically and to become leaders in their professional, civic, and family lives. Trinity students take advantage of the many resources provided by the College. Academic Support Services and Career Services Academic Support and Career Services Center (ASCS) provides co-curricular programs to support Trinity's academic mission. The programs offered are committed to the value of a liberal arts education, to the development of leadership skills, and to the development of lifelong learning that will enable students to meet the challenges of a constantly changing world. The programs offered by ASCS include one-to-one tutoring; study skills and student life planning; support advocacy for students with disabilities; and learning skills workshops on topics such as managing time, taking tests, managing math and testing anxiety, understanding learning styles, and taking notes. ASCS also provides career services, which offer diverse career planning programs designed to support and empower Trinity students and alumnae as they make career choices and life transitions. The workshops, personal counseling sessions, and online resources offered by ASCS allow students to develop skills for advancing themselves professionally. Numerous resources teach students how to write resumés and cover letters, conduct employment searches, interview successfully, and make important career decisions. In order to expose students to a wide variety of career opportunities, ASCS sponsors a number of on-campus job and internship fairs. Additionally, ASCS in conjunction with Alumnae Affairs enables Trinity students and graduates to make valuable professional connections through networking and on-campus interviews. For students wishing to pursue advanced academic study, information about applying to graduate and professional schools is also available. Trinity offers many opportunities for women athletes to excel and develop the necessary skills for competition in intercollegiate athletics. Dedicated coaches bring years of experience, knowledge, and motivation to the program, and their coaching philosophy encourages athletes at all skill levels to participate. Trinity's athletic program is a full member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III, and Trinity's teams abide by the rules of the NCAA. Trinity sponsors several intercollegiate sports: basketball, field hockey, lacrosse, soccer, tennis, volleyball, and softball. In addition, Trinity Recreational Sports offers opportunities for students to participate in a variety of sports and athletic activities. The Trinity Center for Women and Girls in Sports is the largest facility in the nation dedicated to women's athletics. The Trinity Center houses a multi-use space for basketball and volleyball, a swimming pool, a weight room, a dance/aerobics studio, lockers and showers, and team rooms. Trinity supports Macintosh and IBM-compatible computer classrooms for Macintosh- and Windows-based instruction. In addition to computers in the classrooms, IBM-compatible computers for general use are available in the Computer Lab, outside the Deli in the Main building, the Library, and the Writing Center. The Computer Lab is open six days a week and is staffed by student interns trained in the use of computer software and hardware. Additionally, many classrooms (known as Smart Rooms) are equipped with computers connected to the internet, digital projectors, and smart boards to provide high quality instruction using technology integrated into every aspect of the curriculum. Residence halls are fully wired with high speed internet connections in every room so that students may perform research and class work in a technology-rich environment. The Future Focus Program serves as an academic bridge for students who come to Trinity and need extra support during their first year. Future Focus provides a structured first year program that addresses the needs of first-year students in the transition into the Trinity community by fostering academic excellence, academic integrity and leadership skills. During the academic year, Future Focus consists of cohort courses, co-curricular activities, leadership seminars, mandatory study time, mentoring, and academic workshops. Health and Counseling Services The Health and Wellness Center provides a number of services to the Trinity Community, including medical and counseling services, as well as health education. Health services are provided by a nurse practitioner who can diagnose and treat many medical conditions. Referrals can be made to specialists in the community. All full time and part time students are eligible to receive care. Additionally, a licensed social worker is available to provide individual and group counseling on issues such as managing anxiety, stress, and anger, coping with eating disorders, and responding to sexual assault. Beginning in the Fall of 2005, all full-time CAS students must enroll in the student health insurance plan offered through the Consortium of Universities of Metropolitan Washington. Part-time and graduate students are eligible to purchase insurance for themselves and their dependants. For more information, consult the Health and Wellness Center web page. Libraries and Library Services The Sister Helen Sheehan Library houses approximately 210,000 volumes and offers an online public catalog and access to the World Wide Web and several full-text article databases. The Sheehan Library is affiliated with the Washington Research Library Consortium (WRLC), which provides access (with borrowing privileges) to a catalog of more than five million volumes in the libraries of American University, Catholic University, Gallaudet University, George Mason University, George Washington University, Georgetown University, Marymount University, and the University of the District of Columbia. The library also enjoys reciprocity agreements with the libraries at the University of Maryland and Howard University, which give students and faculty access to these collections. In addition to providing individual assistance, the library offers research skills workshops in using its databases and in searching the World Wide Web. One of the newest campus computer classrooms, the Educational Technology Leadership Institute (ETLI) Classroom, is located in the Library. The library home page, the Trinity Library Catalog, and WRLC databases are available online at http://library.trinitydc.edu. Free shuttle service to and from the Brookland/Catholic University Metro station is provided for the entire Trinity community. The shuttle runs from the Main Building to the Metro station parking lot. Schedules are available from the Campus Safety Office. The Writing Center is open during day, evening, and weekend hours to give all undergraduate and graduate students individual feedback about their writing. The Writing Center's services are free, and its main focus is to help students improve their writing assignments, as well as to cultivate the skills they need to become better writers. The services of the Writing Center are broad, encompassing the various writing needs of Trinity students. Our Peer Consultants assist student writers with all parts of the writing process. During one-to-one consultations, students can discuss specific assignments; share developing drafts; ask questions about composition, grammar and punctuation; and review citation rules and manuscript guidelines required by professional organizations, such as APA, MLA, Chicago, Turabian, and AP. Whether brainstorming for ideas, constructing an organizational structure, developing support, documenting research, or finishing the final draft -- our Peer Consultants want to help you. The aim of the Writing Center is to not only help students finish their academic writing assignments, but to ultimately help them develop lifelong writing skills. Registered Trinity students can schedule a consultation appointment by calling 202/884-9118. Additional writing resources are available on the Writing Center web site. |
