Athletics & Extra-Curricular Activities
Responsibilities of the Student
Students have the following responsibilities:
- Making commitments that can be honored. Both in terms of which courses they choose and in making commitments to teams and other extracurricular groups, students must make sure that they do not extend themselves beyond their ability to deliver on their commitments. When an unresolvable conflict exists between the needs of a student's academic program and the opportunity to participate in an extracurricular activity, the student's academic needs must be considered first. Students signing up for sports teams and other extracurricular activities should take the time to learn about what is expected of those who participate in these activities. Certainly, no student should sign up for a team, for example, which practices at a time that regularly conflicts with the student's course schedule.
- Communication. When a student has undertaken commitments that do not impose unreasonable conflicts, the student must ensure that all parties are kept informed of conflicts that exist and how these will be resolved. While coaches and the Athletics Director, for example, have a specific role in communication directly with faculty, the student holds the ultimate responsibility for ensuring that his/her instructor receives adequate, timely notification of athletic contest schedules, etc. Similarly, when students must miss scheduled extracurricular events such as athletic practices and competitions because of class responsibilities, it is only fair that they give ample notice to the coaches or other individuals who have responsibility for organizing the event.
- Getting the work done. While the policy guidelines that follow detail circumstances under which students may be excused from class attendance or be given the opportunity to make up class responsibilities, it must be stated that none of these guidelines are intended to relieve students of the responsibility for completing the academic work of their courses. Whether through attending make up laboratory sections, audio taping lectures, borrowing class notes from students, interviewing those who attended, or any other appropriate procedure, the student must do whatever it takes to ensure that participating in extracurricular activities does not interfere with the attainment of course learning objectives. Finally, students should not assume that faculty will grant them incomplete grades because of their involvement in extracurricular activities.
Responsibility of Athletics Department
The Athletics Department will schedule as many competitions as possible on weekends and will be sensitive to the number of competitions held within the same week when the University is in session. The rescheduling of a canceled contest, when not rescheduling the particular contest would result in the team's failure to complete the minimum of competitions required to qualify for post-season tournaments, will be done with as much notice as possible.
Responsibility of Coaches and Others Organizing Extra- and Co-Curricular Activities
Prior to the start of each intercollegiate sports season, each Castleton University coach, or the Athletics Director on behalf of all coaches, will send the faculty of student athletes information regarding competition schedules for the season. Changes to these schedules should also be communicated. Information sent to faculty should include the estimated time of departure for competition. Similarly, faculty and others in leadership roles regarding field trips and activities which might justify excusing a student from a class obligation shall provide timely official notice to affected faculty. Coaches and organizers of other extracurricular activities must keep the educational commitments of their students foremost in their minds and offer appropriate encouragement and support to students to realize their academic potential.
Faculty Responsibilities
Faculty are required to make accommodations for one category of students activities, namely, student athletes as well as those participating in certain other extracurricular activities identified below. They have the option of making accommodations for yet a second category of student activity participants; and they are expressly discouraged from making other accommodations.
- Varsity contests, concerts and plays, and certain governance roles. The University officially recognizes three categories of student activities as deserving of special accommodation: varsity athletic competitions, performances officially sponsored by the Music and Theater Arts Departments, and representation of the University at meetings of the Board of Trustees, Board Committee meetings and meeting of the Vermont State Colleges' Student Association. For these three types of events faculty are required to permit students to miss class and are required to waive, postpone, or agree to schedule makeup opportunities for students who would otherwise have been obliged to take a test or present an in-class project or assignment. This obligation for "no fault" excuses, however, extends to no more than 10% of the scheduled class meetings. The only exception made to this policy pertains to district, regional, and national varsity athletic competitions. Even students who have already taken excused absences equivalent to 10% of their class shall not be penalized for missing assignment and test due dates for participating in post-season competition.
- Co-curricular and Faculty - sponsored field trips. Often in the course of the year, either related to specific courses that are being taught or growing out of departmental or club activities, field trips are organized that can be very educationally beneficial to students. These include, for example, trips to New York City to visit art museums, a visit to the United Nations organized by the faculty who advise the Political Discussion Group, occasional trips to the Christian Science Monitor in Boston, etc. Faculty are not obliged to grant students excused absences from class to participate in these field trips but are strongly encouraged to do so as long as students can reasonably be expected to keep up with the academic requirements of the course. Similarly, while faculty are not required to reschedule evaluations and other class assignments, they are encouraged to do so in these cases.
- Rehearsals, athletic practices, club activities. No students are guaranteed excused absences for attending athletic practices, play or concert rehearsals or for participating in club activities, including club sports. In such cases, the students may request to be absent from class without penalty. The instructor may use his or her own judgment as to whether to grant such permission. Instructors are expressly discouraged from rescheduling course evaluation procedures and/or deferring class-related presentations, etc, in these cases. Finally, faculty must inform students when the use of excused absences is, in the judgment of the faculty, beginning to jeopardize learning.
Fraternities and Sororities
On January 24, 1976 the Board adopted the following policy statement regarding fraternities and sororities within the Vermont State Colleges:
The Board of Trustees of the Vermont State Colleges reaffirms its long-standing policy of non-recognition of national/local social fraternities and sororities in the Colleges. The Vermont State Colleges/Castleton University does not recognize any social fraternities or sororities. There are fraternities and sororities close to our campus with some Castleton student members. These organizations receive no college assistance or oversight. They are not recognized student organizations of the Student Government Association.
Participation in Extracurricular Activities
To be eligible for intercollegiate athletics, leadership positions in student organizations, and certain other prominent roles in University activities, Castleton students must be in good academic standing, that is, they must achieve a Grade Point Average that meets or exceeds the minimum standards described in the Undergraduate Catalog. A student on academic or disciplinary probation may not hold a leadership role in intercollegiate athletics or in student organizations (i.e., be a team captain nor club officer). In addition, student athletes are also governed by applicable policies of the NCAA.
Policies Governing Student Organizations
Student organizations must comply with all Student Government Association, University and VSC policies. Failure to comply may result in disciplinary action against the organization and/or its officers. Policies include, but are not limited to, the following.
Chalking
Each recognized student group (i.e., club, residence hall, or team) may request permission to chalk. Only one group may chalk at a time. Requests for chalking will normally be granted in conjunction with a particular occasion (e.g., National Coming Out Week). Each request may be approved for a maximum of one week and must be cleaned within 24 hours. If chalking is not removed, the sponsoring group will be charged a clean-up fee, and their future privileges may be revoked. Chalking may be done on University sidewalks only (no stairs, buildings, signs, roadways, etc.) Requests for chalking must be approved by the Director of Student Activities.
Finances
Organizations are prohibited from having their own checking and/or savings accounts. All financial transactions must be handled through the Student Government Association and/or Financial & Registration Services in Woodruff Hall.
Fundraising
Any campus group (i.e., club, class, team, or other group) which plans to solicit money, prizes, ads, or in-kind contributions must receive prior approval for such activities. Fundraising forms are available in the Student Life and SGA offices and must be submitted for each fundraising activity.
All requests for fundraising must be approved in advance.
- Requests from athletic teams and must be approved by the Associate Dean of Athletics and Recreation, and requests from club sports must be approved by the Director of Club Sports.
- Requests from all other internal groups (i.e., club, class, etc.) must be approved by the Director of Student Activities.
- Requests from all external groups must be approved by the Director of Conferences and Events.
If the request involves off-campus fundraising, the Office of Development may be part of the approval process.
Guidelines
- All proceeds must be deposited immediately with Financial and Registration Services or the Student Government Association.
- The activity must represent the University appropriately, support the University’s mission, and be in keeping with the Code of Conduct.
- No coin drops, car smashing, or other activities that may be seen as inappropriate when connected to the University will be allowed.
- The results of all solicitations and other fund-raising activities must be reported to the appropriate University staff member (see approval above) within five working days of conclusion.
- Student groups are not allowed to set up electronic payment programs such as: Cash App, Venmo, Apple Pay, Paypal, etc.
Officers
Officers of recognized student organizations must be in good academic standing, that is, they must achieve a GPA that meets or exceeds the minimum described in the current Undergraduate Catalog. See also Participation in Extracurricular Activities.
Rights of Recognized Student Organizations
The right to use the name of the University, reserve University facilities, use University vehicles, use other University and Student Government Association (SGA) services, and apply for SGA fees is reserved for recognized student organizations.
Travel
It is the policy of the University that all Castleton group trips must receive written approval from the Travel Safety Committee. Trip leaders should develop travel safety plans in initial consultation with the responsible administrator (Dean of your College) of Athletics and Recreation for athletics team and club trips; Director of Student Activities for student club trips; or Dean of your College for faculty-led trips). Travel safety plans must receive approval from the Travel Safety Committee prior to any advertising, registration, fundraising, or major purchases associated with an anticipated trip.
Other policies
Other policies of particular concern to student organizations include Non-Discrimination, Hazing, Activities, and Use of University Logo. For more information about student organizations, please contact the Program Advisor at (802) 468-1465.
Roller Blading and Skate Boarding
Roller blading and skate boarding are not allowed in University buildings. Careless, negligent or reckless in-line skating or skate boarding may result in disciplinary action. All skaters are expected to adhere to posted speed limits and quiet hours while on campus roadways and in the campus parking lots.
Snowmobiles
Any student wishing to keep a snowmobile on campus must register it, like any other motorized vehicle, with the Department of Public Safety. Snowmobiles may be driven on campus only on the designated trail areas and are to be parked in the lot behind Ellis Hall. Use of snowmobiles is restricted to those times when Residence Hall quiet hours are not in effect.