FAQs for New Students

Orientation is a three-day experience that takes place just prior to the start of classes in the fall. Orientation will provide new students with the opportunity to meet faculty, staff, current student leaders, and other new students at Lafayette. It familiarizes them with our shared community and academic values and expectations, encourages them to understand the importance of operating in Lafayette’s pluralistic and inclusive community, introduces them to resources that can assist them in making a successful transition to college life, and instills in them an appreciation for the value of an academically rigorous and diverse community. Our Orientation and Welcome Week staff consists of 60+ undergraduate students, all here to assist new students’ transition and feel connected to Lafayette College. These upper-level leaders will help students become familiar with resources, support services, and information that will foster success. Student staff gives the inside scoop on how to take advantage of what’s happening on campus. From basketball games to aerobic classes, libraries to research opportunities, events to student organizations, these staff members teach you about  Lafayette! Visit the Orientation Schedule page for Orientation and Welcome Week dates and other details. You also will be given a copy of the schedule when you check into your residence hall.

Yes! There is a wealth of information in these FAQs and other pages, and you will have many people to turn to when you arrive on campus, including your Orientation Leader, RA, PARDner, Class Dean, and many other people who want to help you succeed. Other resources to check out as a starting point are the many tips, handouts, and articles on the College Transition Support website, Pard Pointer videos, and the Pardapedia.

Clearly, your academic performance is your number one priority, but to complement your academics, there are numerous stimulating, co-curricular activities. These include clubs and organizations, Residence Hall Council, Student Government, arts activities, community service, entertainment planning, recreational programs, religious life, and intercollegiate athletics.

• Student Clubs and Organizations

EXPLORE THE POSSIBILITIES – The Involvement Fair provides a venue for students to discover all the involvement opportunities available. Student organizations and campus departments are prepared to meet and greet students and share their positive experiences about being involved. This is your chance to learn about student organizations and how you can become a member. There is something for everyone.

GET INVOLVED –  Lafayette boasts more than 100 opportunities for students to become involved in an intensive co-curricular experience through the Division of Campus Life. Academic honor societies, cultural and social organizations, community outreach, arts programs, sports clubs, and living groups are just a sample of life at Lafayette.

CONNECT WITH YOUR CLASS –  Join your classmates for a special evening to celebrate 1,000 Nights to Graduation. This event is a Lafayette tradition for first-year students only and one of many class-wide events to celebrate the 185th class of Lafayette.

TRY NEW THINGS –  Campus events and programs provide a unique opportunity to learn and grow outside the classroom. Lafayette is dedicated to enhancing traditions, developing innovative programs, and focusing on social, cultural, and global issues. Make sure you check out the online campus calendar for up-to-the minute events

LEAVE YOUR MARK –  Tell your story, be the change, create a legacy, and lead by example. Lafayette is the place where you can make it happen! How will you leave your mark?

IT STARTS HERE…STUDENT LEADERSHIP AND INVOLVEMENT –  Student Leadership and  Involvement promotes a diverse and active lifestyle through opportunities for campus
leadership, involvement in clubs and organizations, and exploration of interests and issues.

At Lafayette College, dining is integral to the residential college experience and plays an important role in helping students make connections, form communities, and learn from their food and consumption. Dining Services provides nutritious, appetizing food with a variety of convenient dining options for all palates and dietary restrictions. Small, local farms are directly supported by Dining Services, including our own campus farm, LaFarm, and food is cooked from scratch with homemade dressing, sauces, soups, and stocks and no processed or canned foods.

DINING OPTIONS – In total, there are six dining venues on campus with diverse menus for students available by using the Lafayette ID card. These cafés include:

Two dining halls providing All-You-Care-To-Eat service:
• Upper Farinon on 2nd Floor of Farinon College Center
• Marquis Hall 1st Floor

Four retail locations:
• Gilbert’s Café in Kirby House
• Skillman Café in Skillman Library
• Lower Farinon on 1st Floor of Farinon College Center
• Simon’s Café in Kamine Hall

MEAL PLANS – Members of the Class of 2025 will be assigned to the 20-Meals-Per-Week Plan that provides access to both dining halls and participation in meal exchanges at the four retail locations. The meal plan includes $50 in Pard Dollars per semester. This prepaid cash balance account allows students to use their student ID card for purchases at dining locations on campus and participating off-campus vendors.

NOTE: Instructions for completing the First-year Housing Application will be sent to your Lafayette email approximately June 1. You will receive your room assignment and roommate contact information in mid-to-late July.

LIVING ON CAMPUS – A huge benefit of attending a residential college like Lafayette is that  living on campus with your classmates and friends affords countless opportunities for both intellectual and social development. Much of your out of-classroom time will be spent in your residence hall. Your room will become your study space, your center for communications, and your social scene. By living on campus, you will engage in the sharing of knowledge without even thinking about it. For example, a casual exchange in the hallway with a floormate can teach you about customs and cultures other than your own.

LIVING WITH A ROOMMATE –  There is value in learning to negotiate common living space with a roommate. We recognize that for some students this experience will be an adjustment from having their own room at home. Yet, sharing a living space will help you develop interpersonal skills that will be invaluable in the future. Roommates are encouraged to build their relationship through communication, open-mindedness, and compromise.

FIRST-YEAR HOUSING APPLICATION – Using your responses to the First-year Housing Application, the Office of Residence Life will place you with a compatible roommate. Factors that are important for a successful roommate and hall community match include:

Sleep schedule and habits: How much sleep do you need each night? Can you sleep with lights or noise? Living habits: How do you want the room to be used for socializing and study? Room organization: Do you prefer a room that is neat and orderly?

Bailey Health Center connects students with quality health care and promotes an environment of wellness, where students are treated with compassion and understanding. You can read about all of their services on the Bailey website.

Staff at the Bailey Health Center knows how difficult it can be to make decisions, including ones about health and wellness. Staff members are always willing to answer all your questions, and to make this process even more simple, they’ve answered many common questions on their website. The Center requires much of the same documentation that may be asked for by your family health provider. It is important that you complete all the required Bailey Health Center forms by July 15 to make using Lafayette’s health services seamless. You can contact the Center at (610) 330-5001 with any questions about this step and the required forms.

The Counseling Center, located on the 2nd floor of the Bailey Health Center, provides short-term individual and group counseling to help students meet challenges they are likely to face during the next four years. Typical concerns that students seek help with are:

• Relationship problems
• Feeling anxious or unhappy
• Low motivation or uncertainty about goals and interests
• Behaviors and habits that are interfering with one’s well-being and success

The Counseling Center staff can provide referrals to local mental health professionals for students who are seeking longer-term treatment or whose concerns require services not offered at the Counseling Center. All contacts with counselors are confidential under the guidelines of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

QUICK FACTS:
• Services are free. We do not accept requests to pay for additional sessions using cash or insurance.
• The center is open Monday–Friday, 8:45 a.m.–12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m.
• After-hours, crisis telephone support is available by calling 610-330-5005.
• Consultation Clinic: students can meet with a counselor for a brief, solution-focused consultation session. Hours are Monday–Friday, 10:00 a.m.–11:30 p.m. and 1:00 p.m.-3:30 p.m. on a first-come, first-served basis. No appointment needed.
• About 40% of students seek counseling at least once during their four years at Lafayette.

The Department of Public Safety provides a safe and secure learning environment for the Lafayette community. The staff consists of commissioned police officers with full police powers and security officers. Officers patrol the campus and surrounding area around-the-clock every day of the year. All Lafayette officers are certified in first aid, CPR, and automated external defibrillator use. In addition to the police and security function, the department is also responsible for Environmental Health and Safety (EHS). The EHS division consists of certified specialists who conduct: building and laboratory inspections; ergonomic, lighting, indoor air quality surveys; fire exit drills and EHS-related situations.

You can read about all of Public Safety’s resources and related programs on their website, but some key ones to note are:

LAFAYETTE E2CAMPUS EMERGENCY ALERT SERVICE – A free notification system, this service enables you to receive alerts on your cellphone in the event of a significant emergency on or close to campus. Use of the system is reserved for situations that involve imminent
danger. When the system is activated, those enrolled will receive a short text message that describes the situation and gives instructions. To participate in the e2 alert system, students must register via a link on the Public Safety website.

BLUE LIGHTS – Exterior phones are strategically located throughout the campus and are readily identified at night by blue lights located above or near them. The phones are equipped with red emergency buttons for direct connection to Public Safety for police, fire, or medical emergencies and a keypad for dialing any campus number.

LCAT SHUTTLE SERVICE – The Lafayette College Area Transportation (LCAT) shuttles have an expansive schedule that connects the main campus with the College’s athletic fields, downtown Easton, local shopping areas, movie theaters, and the local bus station. The LCAT Special shuttle also provides transportation between campus and Lehigh Valley International Airport (LVIA) on designated days. Check out the live online tracking system to see where  LCAT shuttles are right now.

RIDE SYSTEMS APP – Ride Systems is the company that provides the shuttletracking software. This allows you to see exactly where the LCAT is at all times. If you download the mobile app,you will have to  search in iTunes or Android Marketplace for “Ride Systems.”

UHAUL CAR SHARE PROGRAM – Two vehicles are available on campus (in designated spots in the lot adjacent to March Field) that can be rented by students 24 hours a day, 7 days a week through UHaulCarShare, a leading car share and car club service. These fuel-efficient vehicles can be rented by students, staff, and faculty for a low hourly (or daily) rate. The availability of the LCAT shuttle and the Car Share program eliminates the need to bring a car to campus during the academic year. By not bringing a car to campus, students reduce their environmental impact and save significant money as compared to car ownership.

REGISTERING YOUR VEHICLE –  Parking at Lafayette College is limited and not guaranteed.
If you are considering bringing a motor vehicle to the College, you must complete this online parking request. Students are not permitted to possess a motor vehicle at Lafayette College unless it is properly registered with the Office of Public Safety. The current registration fee for an academic year is $420 (billed to your account). Visit the website to complete registration.

Life on the Hill starts here. Discover ways to get involved on campus and find peers and friends. OurCampus is a web-based community that allows students to explore student involvement opportunities, stay connected with news posts, and check out events on campus.

CHECK OUT ORGANIZATIONS IN THE FOLLOWING CATEGORIES:
Academic and Pre-Professional / Arts / Class and College-Wide / Community Engagement /
Cultural Fraternities and Sororities / Media and Publications / Peer Counseling and Peer  Education / Recreation and Leisure / Religious and Spiritual / Residential Communities / Social Action, Government and Political

Lafayette College is steadfast in its approach to ensuring it is a safe and healthy environment for all students regardless of one’s choices. Lafayette uses measures that target education and outreach such as student advocacy, peer education, and social programming, combined with continued enforcement of College policy and Commonwealth law.

AlcoholEdu and Sexual Assault Prevention –  During the summer, you will receive information about completing two short online courses called AlcoholEdu for College and Sexual Assault Prevention for Undergraduates (formerly Haven), the College’s introduction to issues of sexual assault and affirmative consent. Be on the lookout for that message in late July and note that completion of these courses is required before move-in day.

LIVEWELL ADVISERS – In partnership with the LiveWell Lafayette campus initiative, LiveWell Advisers are a group of upper-level peer mentors who educate the student body about holistic well-being. LiveWell Advisers promote legal, safe, and responsible choices by fostering healthy living and social environments across campus. They also educate students about the impact of
alcohol and/or drug use on overall student well-being and academic performance.

GOOD SAMARITAN POLICY –  The College’s Good Samaritan Policy is designed to encourage students to seek emergency assistance for themselves or others if they have abused alcohol or other drugs, without fear of reprisal or disciplinary conduct outcomes. If students or others have consumed alcohol or other drugs and are concerned for their own safety or that of their peers, the Good Samaritan Policy ensures they can call for help without formal College disciplinary action, provided the policy is not used repeatedly or flagrantly. The full Good Samaritan Policy is published in the College’s Student Code of Conduct.

REPORTING SEXUAL MISCONDUCT –  Some forms of sexual misconduct prohibited by college policies also may be crimes under Pennsylvania law. If you believe that you have been the victim of a crime, the College can assist you with reporting criminal activity to law enforcement authorities, or you may contact the Office of Public Safety directly, 24/7. The College will respond to all incidents involving sexual misconduct through informal or formal mechanisms. To learn more or report an incident to the College, contact the Title IX and Equity Coordinator.

TITLE IX AND EQUITY COORDINATOR –  Students or applicants for admission to Lafayette College who believe they have been discriminated against on the basis of sex may file a complaint with the Title IX and Equity Coordinator. The Title IX and Equity Coordinator, in consultation with other relevant administrators, will assist the complainant in identifying the appropriate Lafayette College policy and grievance procedure to resolve the complaint in a prompt and equitable manner.

Recreation Services provides exercise-centered experience within a safe environment and in a respectful atmosphere for participants of all ability levels. They offer:

GROUP FITNESS –  View a schedule, read class descriptions, and register on their website.

INTRAMURAL SPORTS – You can view schedules and entry deadlines plus register at this site. This is important if you wish to win the McGaughey Cup Challenge, a yearlong competition among the First-Year commons! Earn points for commons affiliation based on entering, winning, and more.

OPEN RECREATION –  You can choose to exercise on your own time in our state-of-the-art fitness center, on the racquet courts, on the climbing wall, in the swimming pool, inside the soccer court, or on the basketball courts. There are plenty of ways to create your own Active.Social.Life!

SPORTS CLUBS –  If you want something more competitive or a place to participate year-round, try sports clubs. There are 30 different opportunities.

EMPLOYMENT –  Our department is one of the largest and most diverse employers on campus. Check out how to get involved working in the fitness center, in the pool, or officiating sports.

Opportunities to participate in activities and organizations that will enhance your spiritual/religious life abound at Lafayette. We have activities for those of the Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Jewish, and Muslim traditions. You say that you don’t come from a particular religious tradition but are concerned about your spiritual development while at college? We can assist you on that journey as well. The Office of Religious Life is your place for things spiritual.

The College Chaplain and Director of Religious and Spiritual Life also works with students, faculty, and staff during times of grief and distress. Lafayette’s campus is interfaith and inclusive in nature. We are open to talk with anyone regarding issues of religion, spirituality, grief, and other topics related to purpose, values, and life goals.

We are located in 101 Hogg Hall, and you can contact us at (610) 330-5320 or rellife@lafayette.edu.

Students can become involved with community service at Lafayette College in several ways:

Pre-Orientation Service Program (POSP), held the week before First-Year Orientation, introduces students to the Easton community through a variety of service projects and activities. Applications (Due June 18th) can be accessed on the POSP Website.

The Landis Center for Community Engagement coordinates a variety of ongoing and one-time service opportunities each semester. The service fair, held during the second week of classes in the student center, highlights all of our programs, and registration is available online. You can also enroll in one of several First-Year Seminars that integrate community-based learning and service into the course.

If you plan to become involved in Landis Center activities or community-based courses and co-curricular opportunities that involve connecting with children or aging populations at any point during your time at Lafayette, we strongly suggest you begin the process of securing your background clearances as soon as possible. Landis Center Resource and Forms.

Please do! In addition to degree programs in art, film and media, music, and theater, all disciplines offer minors, courses, and co-curricular opportunities open to all students. Come and audition for theater productions and music ensembles, get a job backstage, take private music lessons; or fulfill your humanities requirement while exercising your creativity. The Williams Center’s Performance Series and Gallery showcases world-class art and performances in all genres (FREE for students), and you’ll find a bevy of student organizations welcoming you to join them in exploring every facet of the arts.

It’s never too early to start thinking about what you might do after college. Participating in the Gateway Career Center program gives you the chance to do this with the guidance of a professional counselor. Right now, you may or may not know what you want to do in the future or even know how to figure this out. Either way, your Gateway counselor will help you access a variety of programs and experiences to explore your interests and enhance what you learn in the classroom through real-world experiences. Check out the Gateway program to learn more about our externship and internship programs and how the program can help you make the most of your time at Lafayette.