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The online Student Handbook is produced as a resource for the students, faculty, staff, and administration of Dickinson College. Content is subject to change. Please contact the appropriate person or office to obtain the most current information.

Dickinson College Student Senate

The Dickinson College Student Senate, established in 1908, is the college’s student representative body that works together with the faculty, administration, and community at large to assure that the student voice and perspective is heard in the college policy making process. The Senate addresses student and campus concerns, assists student groups in their efforts by providing monetary and institutional support, and empowers students to get involved in the governance of the College.

Student Senate is governed by the Senate Cabinet, composed of the Senate Executive officers (President, Vice President, and Treasurer) and the Senate Standing Committee chairs (CAEC, CORC, and ComRel). The Senate body is composed of elected representatives from each of the four classes. Sophomore and junior elections are held in the spring and elections for senior and first-year positions are held during the first two weeks of the fall semester.

All-College Committees

Students, faculty and administrators have the opportunity to serve on All-College Committees. The committees assist the President, Provost, Vice Presidents, Deans and Associate Provosts of the college in establishing and administering institutional policy. Members serve as liaisons between students, administrators and faculty. Student all-college committee members are elected each spring and fall and serve as voting members of both the committee and Student Senate. There are four all-college committees with voting student members.

Class Committees

Each class is represented by officers who are elected by the class. Their duties are to plan and implement events for the members of their class. Programs and events offer students the chance to bond with their classmates in a group activity. Each class is also advised by a variety of administrators from the Office of Academic Advising and the Office of Campus Life.

Standing Committees

Senate standing committees include Club and Organization Review Committee (CORC), Constitutional Affairs and Elections Committee (CAEC), Community Relations Committee (ComRel), Finance Committee, and Initiatives Committee. Membership for these committees is drawn both from the Senate body and students-at-large, varying by committee.

Student Senate’s weekly meetings are held on Tuesday at 6 p.m. in Denny 317. All meetings are open to the public. To share your concerns or to learn more about becoming involved, contact Senate via e-mail, phone at 717-254-8022 or stop by their office, located on the lower level of the HUB behind the mailboxes. Visit Senate's website, TumblrFacebook or Twitter pages.

Center for Environment and Sustainability Education 

Location: Kaufman 190  Phone Number: 717-245-1781
Office Hours
: Monday – Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

The Center for Environmental and Sustainability Education (CESE) is a campus-wide resource which provides students, and faculty and staff, with new opportunities to explore the integration of sustainability into their curricular and co-curricular interests. For every division and major of the college, The Center has resources to support creative projects related to sustainability and/or the environment. CESE employs student interns, provides all-campus and collaborative programming, and works with student organizations and individual courses to engage the campus community in environmental, human, social, and economic development issues. Read more about Sustainability@Dickinson.

Clarke Forum for Contemporary Issues

Location: 249-255 West Louther Street  Phone Number: 717-245-1875
Office Hours
: Monday – Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

The Clarke Forum for Contemporary Issues, founded in 1994 with a generous gift from Trustee Henry Clarke, brings the unique strengths of an interdisciplinary liberal arts perspective to the critical examination of pressing contemporary issues. The Clarke Forum believes that knowledge and understanding are gained through critical reflection and the informed exchange of divergent ideas across academic disciplines.

The Clarke Forum connects the students and faculty of Dickinson College and members of the broader community with scholars, practicing professionals and activists through the use of lectures, seminars, and conferences. By encouraging engagement with these visitors in ways that allow for dialogue and critical reflection, The Clarke Forum helps prepare students to become knowledgeable, productive, and intellectually active citizens and leaders. The Clarke Forum also provides a space where faculty from many perspectives can come together to discuss ideas and solutions to social problems. With programs that are free and open to the public, The Clarke Forum is a vital part of the community, continually enhancing public awareness and understanding of critical contemporary issues.

Students are involved in all aspects of Clarke Forum activities: designing, planning, producing and broadcasting programs. Much of The Forum's day-to-day program implementation is in the hands of its student project managers. Students gain valuable work experience and useful skills at the Forum. Students interested in employment at The Clarke Forum can send an email to clarke@dickinson.edu. Applications are accepted for student project manager positions during the spring semester for the upcoming academic year. First-year students are encouraged to apply.

Conflict Resolution Resource Center

Location: Old West, Room 16  Phone Number: 717-245-1125
Office Hours
: By Appointment

Conflict is a part of everyday life. In college life, the most common student conflicts play out with roommates or others in the residential environment, with fellow students on team projects for classes, or in the context of student organizations or student employment. Too often, students choose avoidance as the primary way to deal with conflict. In most cases, however, a conflict that is simply avoided will not solve itself.

Dickinson’s Conflict Resolution Resource Center (CRRC) provides conflict mediation and conflict coaching to individuals or groups experiencing conflict, and offers conflict resolution skill building sessions to the campus community. All three programmatic resources are designed to help members of the campus community manage their own conflict experiences effectively before the conflict escalates, requiring higher levels of intervention. To obtain more information about CRRC resources, visit the Center’s Web site or send a request via email at mediate@dickinson.edu. 

Diversity Resources

Greek Life

Dickinson College’s Greek organizations are recognized by the Faculty of the College on the authority of the All-College Committee on Enrollment and Student Life because they provide opportunities to get involved, develop leadership skills, succeed academically, grow as an individual, make lasting friendships and serve the College and Carlisle communities. Greek organizations have been a part of Dickinson College for over 150 years.

The Greek community is advised by the Dean of Students Office. Fraternities are governed by the Interfraternity Council and sororities are governed by the College Panhellenic Association. These groups guide, support, develop and regulate their respective communities, promote academic excellence, provide opportunities for engaged learning among all fraternity and sorority members, and sponsor social and service activities throughout the academic year.

Intercollegiate Athletics 

Intercollegiate competition is at the NCAA Division III level. Through competition in both the Centennial Conference and other regional institutions, Dickinson athletes compete against some of the best teams in the nation. For more information, contact Athletics at 717-245-1320.  

Landis House

Landis House, located at 101 S. College Street, houses the Office of Diversity Initiatives, Office of LGBTQ Services, the Women’s Center, the Violence Prevention Coordinator and the Sexual Violence Resource and Advocate. All students, staff, and faculty are welcome to use the building for meetings, lounging, creating community, checking out books, films and magazines, and more.

  • Resource room:  a living room ideal for discussion and casual hangout groups; can seat up to 14 on couches and comfortable floor pillows; radio/CD player and chalkboard
  • Reading room:  a work and lounge space that can seat up to 3 on chairs and hold up to 25 for larger discussions/film screenings/readings/other events
  • Seminar room:  ideal meeting space with whiteboard and seminar table seating for up to 20 people    

It’s a drop-in, open space Monday-Friday 8:30am-4:30pm. After hours (4:30pm-1:00am), members of the Dickinson community with a valid ID may access the building via the card reader system. Since this is a student-centered space, our policy is to give priority to student events and organizations. You do not need to be a registered student organization to reserve these spaces and you can use the space anytime, though reserved users will be given priority.    

Recreation and Fitness

Dickinson offers many opportunities for all students to become involved in their health and wellness, from athletic competition to recreation and fitness opportunities.

Kline Center
As a member of the Dickinson community, you are eligible to receive an ID card, which is required for admittance to the Kline Center. The main floor of the Kline Center is home to all indoor intercollegiate, intramural, and recreational activities. It includes three basketball courts, three volleyball courts, four tennis courts, six badminton courts, and a four lane 200 meter track. Also housed in the Kline Center is a climbing wall, a swimming pool, racquetball courts and squash courts. For information regarding hours of operation, equipment, facility schedules and access procedures, contact the Kline Center Information Desk at 717-245-1362.

Fitness Center
This facility, dedicated to meeting the strength and aerobic training needs of the entire Dickinson community, offers a wide variety of training opportunities in both strength and conditioning areas. Completion of an orientation session and a valid Dickinson ID card are required for full access to this facility. For information regarding hours of operation, available strength and aerobic training equipment and access procedures, contact the Fitness Center at 717-245-1056.

Recreational and Intramural Sports Program

The Recreational Sports Program at Dickinson College is a member of NIRSA, the National Intramural Recreational Sports Association. This program exists on a level between open recreation and varsity athletics. It offers students and faculty an opportunity to participate in a structured and competitive setting. Participation is available in individual, dual and team sports. Sports with full-length seasons as well as one day competitions are offered. This program is designed so everyone involved can compete at a high level and have fun, so sportsmanship and proper conduct on the field are expected. For more information, visit the Recreational Sports Office in the Holland Union Building or contact the Director via e-mail or phone at 717-245-1556.  

Violence Prevention Resources