FAMILY GUIDE 2018-2019 OH! The memories you will make. Hiram Hiram College 1 DID YOU KNOW? The College’s Center for Integrated Entrepreneurship has awarded thousands of dollars to Hiram students to start their own businesses Hiram College won an and foster business ideas. Olympic gold medal in basketball in 1904. Hiram has two other campuses: the Hiram is included in the 13 biological field percent of colleges station located nationwide with a chapter of three miles from the Phi Beta Kappa, the oldest and main campus, and most prestigious undergraduate the Northwoods honor society in the U.S. field station in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Hiram College is recognized as a College of Distinction by the national college rating guide, Colleges of Distinction for its high-impact education practices, highly- engaged students, quality education, vibrant community and successful outcomes. 2 Family Guide Dear Hiram families, On behalf of the faculty, staff and students of Hiram College, welcome to our community! This promises to be an exciting day for you and your student, as you begin a lifelong relationship with the extraordinary people of Hiram. Research has shown that college students will contact their families first in times of need. Your involvement in your student’s college experience directly affects his or her academic and personal success. This handbook is designed to provide you with helpful information and to show you how to be an involved Hiram parent. One booklet cannot answer every question, but we have made an attempt to identify some of the common areas of concern expressed by parents over the years. We hope you will keep this handbook and refer to it often during the time your student is here. Beginning college is an exciting time. A time filled with pride, excitement, sadness, anxiety and sometimes frustration. The college years are never easy; they are a time of new friendships, new responsibilities and new academic and social opportunities. We are engaged in a partnership: you, your student and Hiram College. Our common goal is to create a self-assured, productive individual who is prepared to lead and to face an ever-changing world. Please let us know if we can assist you in any way. Once again, welcome to Hiram College! Sincerely, Liz Okuma Vice President and Dean of Students P.S. Once you leave orientation today, you’ll have the rest of the summer to get your student ready to become a Hiram student. Don’t hesitate to contact us during this time if we can help. In the meantime, mark your calendars for arrival day on the morning of Thursday, August 23. It is also the start of New Student Institute, a four-day series of programs and events focused on exploring campus life and various aspects of college. Looking forward to seeing you back on campus soon! Hiram College 3 TABLE OF CONTENTS Orientation Hiram College’s mission and core values 5 Telephone numbers to know 5 Campus emergency/online resources 6 Tech and Trek 7 Notes 8 Coaching your student 10 Frequently asked questions 12 Residential Education calendar 13 Campus Offices and Programs Academics Common Reading and Ethics Theme 15 Academic program 16 Hiram Connect 16 Course registration 17 Credits and class standing 18 Academic honors 19 Career and Academic Development 19 Study Away 20 The Registrar’s office: records, grades, transcripts and more 20 Books and supplies 21 Athletics 21 Citizenship Education 22 Commuter Student Services 23 Computer Notice 23 Dining Services 24 Finances 25 Financial Aid Office 25 Campus employment 25 Student Accounts 26 Health Services 27 Julia Church Health Center 27 Counseling 29 Disabilities Services 29 Residential Education 30 Residence hall rooms 30 Shuttle services 30 Student Affairs and Athletics 30 Personal emergency 30 Transfer Student Services 31 Information: General and Visitor General information 32 Banking 32 Parking permits 32 Post office 33 Student telephone service 33 Visitor information 35 Accommodations 35 Restaurants 36 Post-Orientation Checklist 39 Campus map (back cover) 40 4 Family Guide OUR MISSION The mission of Hiram College is to foster intellectual excellence and social responsibility, enabling our students to thrive in their chosen careers, flourish in life and face the urgent challenges of the times. CORE VALUES Core values are the essential enduring tenets which guide the Hiram College community. They set forth what we believe and define how we should conduct our affairs. At the heart of these values is the student. Community | Learning | Responsibility | Diversity | Innovation TELEPHONE NUMBERS TO KNOW To call a specific Hiram College office, dial 330.569 and the extension given below (office locations in parentheses). Academic and Career Development (Hinsdale) 5131 Athletics and Intramurals (Coleman Center) 5340 Admission (Teachout-Price) 5169 Bookstore (Kennedy Center) 5209 Campus Involvement (Kennedy Center) 5181 Campus Safety (Kennedy Center) 5188 Chaplain (Hinsdale) 5148 Computer Help Desk (Teachout-Price) 5313 Counseling and Disability Services (Julia Church Health Center) 5952 Dean of the College (Hinsdale, 3rd Floor) 5125 Dean of Students (Bates Hall) 5233 Dining Services (Dining Hall) 5187 Diversity and Inclusion (Kennedy Center) 5181 Financial Aid (Teachout-Price) 5107 Health Center (Julia Church Health Center) 5418 Information Line 5959 International, Commuter, and Transfer Student Services (Kennedy Center) 5388 Registrar (Teachout-Price) 5210 Residential Education (Bates Hall) 5232 Student Accounts (Teachout-Price) 5118 Student Employment (Teachout-Price) 5111 Study Away (Hinsdale 139) 5160 Hiram College 5 CAMPUS EMERGENCY During an emergency, the primary responsibility of Hiram staff is to care for the health and safety of students. Therefore, you may not be able to speak with a staff member individually. Know where to go to get information. In the event of an emergency, be sure to check trusted sources for information: 1. Text messages (students) 2. Hiram email (students) 3. www.hiram.edu (students + parents) 5. Info Line 330.569.5969 (students + parents) 6. News media Be prepared in the event of an emergency or catastrophic event. Talk as a family about who you will call, where you will go, what you will do if in the unlikely event of an emergency at Hiram College. Hiram on the web H www.hiram.edu www.hiram.edu/news facebook.com/hiramcollege twitter.com/hiramcollege youtube.com/hiramcollege instagram.com/hiramcollege TECH AND TREK INITIATIVE Hiram College defines the New Liberal Arts as a powerful combination of integrated study, high-impact experiences and mindful technology. Hiram’s Tech and Trek program creates a mobile learning environment by putting an iPad Pro, Apple pencil and keyboard bundle into the hands of every full-time traditional student for academic and personal use. Hiram is the first four-year college or university in Ohio to introduce an Apple technology program of this kind. Hiram graduates will enter their careers with the academic, technological and critical thinking skills required for the 21st century workforce. For information, please visit: www.hiram.edu/techandtrek 6 Family Guide Hiram College 7 Notes: 8 Family Guide Notes: Hiram College 9 TIPS FOR SUCCESSFULLY COACHING YOUR COLLEGE STUDENT Hiram College, 2018 Students today have instant access to almost everything, including you. So remember that what you hear from your student may not be an accurate portrayal of what is actually happening, but rather an immediate, impulsive reaction. Hold back on your response, and encourage your student to consider what he or she can do about the situation. Refrain from being the problem-solver. Your student may need a familiar person to listen to his or her problems or frustrations, and that is good. Just listen. Let them vent. Your student may also want you to solve the problem, but that is precisely the wrong thing to do. College is your student’s job and unless you are planning to call your student’s employer in the future, do not step in and fix it for them. Here are some tips to help build your student’s experience in solving problems independently: 1. Use direct communication and open-ended questions. Communicate directly, but don’t take over your student’s responsibilities. When you sense your student might need help (or when you would like information about how things are going), use open-ended questions like the following: • Where do other students go for assistance in that class? • Who should you talk to about that? If you do not like what you hear, • What do you think your professor will say about your test? • What do you want to do about that? send your student back to find out more. If what you hear from 2. Give your student tasks. your student does not make sense If you feel your student is not developmentally ready to take to you, it may be the result of direct action, give your student very specific tasks, and ask him unclear communication. The or her to report back to you at a specific time. The following phrases may be helpful: solution lies in your student • Talk to your professor, and let me know tonight what you becoming comfortable with find out. pursuing and clarifying both • Speak with your Resident Assistant, and find out where to go questions and responses. for assistance. Tell me what you find out tonight. • Go online, look at your progress reports, and tell me what you find out tonight. • Check your account online, and tell me what your balance is tonight. 3. Encourage your student to practice interpersonal communication skills. Encourage your student to meet face-to-face with Residential Education staff, professors and others, instead of accepting that your student relied on email. Many of today’s students have limited experience with the “soft skills” necessary for effective interpersonal communication on the job and in human relations.