Fall Semester Announcements - 2024

Campus-wide Emergency Alert System

During emergency situations or closings due to inclement weather, the university uses several methods to alert the campus. An emergency notification system is used to notify students, faculty and staff via email and text messages. In addition, an audible alert or siren will sound if an event poses imminent danger, and the W&M homepage provides alerts and continuing information as the emergency develops. The university will always send emergency alerts to the student number. Notifications to secondary numbers are not automatic. The university will use discretion as to whether the nature of an emergency alert requires immediate notification to secondary numbers.

The university’s mass notification system is also linked with the social media sites of W&M News, as well as the W&M Mobile app. Anyone (including parents and other family members) can see our emergency messages by following W&M News on Facebook and X (formerly Twitter), and by installing the free W&M Mobile app to receive alert notifications. Our emergency notification system is tested at the beginning of each semester to ensure proper functioning. For this system to work, it is essential that the university have a way to contact you. 

REQUIRED ACTION:
Students are required to register at least one phone number, which should be your own, in the emergency notification system. Additionally, students can register a total of five phone numbers of people to be notified in the event of a campus-wide emergency.  We encourage you to discuss with your family which additional numbers you will register into the system.

Emergency Evacuation Plans

All students are required to provide information in case of an emergency evacuation. In the unlikely event of an emergency evacuation, the university expects students to have already communicated with parents/guardian/spouse/supporter regarding their pre-determined plans. The evacuation plan has two sections: a short term evacuation plan (in case of a weather emergency or short term closure of campus 1-10 days) and a long term evacuation plan (an emergency to vacate campus for a time greater than 10 days up until the end of semester).

REQUIRED ACTION:
Both on-campus and off-campus students are required to provide a comprehensive plan. You may access the evacuation plan through Banner Self Service and Personalinfo.wm.edu.

Sexual Violence Prevention and Title IX Training (NEW students)

In compliance with Title IX, William & Mary prohibits discrimination based on the sex (gender) of employees and students in all programs and activities of the university. Under university policies, sex discrimination includes prohibition of Title IX sexual harassment and other sexual misconduct, as well as discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity.

REQUIRED ACTION:
All incoming students are required to attend a training session at the beginning of their first semester. Register in TribeLink.

Your Directory Information (FERPA)

Consistent with the provisions of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA), the university has designated certain information about its students as "Directory Information" which may be released to the public without the consent of the student. At William & Mary, this information includes:

• Student name
• University email address
• Telephone numbers
• Current classification
• Hometown
• Previous schools attended and degrees awarded
• Dates of attendance
• Current enrollment status
• Degree(s) earned and dates awarded
• Major(s), Minor
• Scholarships, awards, honors and special recognition
• Height, weight, and birth date of members of athletic teams
• Photograph

Students may prohibit the release of directory information by completing the Request for Confidentiality Form (pdf). This request will remain on file indefinitely until written notice is submitted by the student to remove the confidentiality request.  With a confidentiality request, the university cannot release any information about you to anyone without your written permission — the university will not even confirm your status as an enrolled student if asked. 

If you wish to appear in the Student Directory, so that other W&M students can log in and find your contact information, please “opt-in” on the Personal Info tab of Banner, available via myW&M, or on the Personal Information page.  

You should be aware that Virginia legislation, effective July 1, 2008, requires the university to release information to the parents of dependent students upon request. Should such a request be received by the Registrar’s Office, you will be informed at your wm.edu address before any information is released. For more information about confidentiality and your FERPA rights, we recommend you contact the Registrar's Office.

Missing Person Inquiries and Emergency Contacts

William & Mary has established a procedure to investigate when a student is reported missing. Each student designates an emergency contact in their Personal Information page. The university will contact the designated emergency contact within 24 hours of the time that a student is considered missing. Law enforcement officials (including W&M police) will also be notified of a student’s absence no later than 24 hours after the student has been deemed missing and will follow their own investigation procedures. For students who are minors (under 18 and not emancipated), the university is obligated to notify parent(s) or guardian(s) within 24 hours of receiving a report that the student is missing. 

Local Address Information in the Online Campus Directory

Our campus directory is an online resource. Effective in 2018, student directory information is no longer publicly available. Faculty and staff of the W&M community can log in to perform advanced searches and access contact information, but in order for your information to be available to other students who log in, you must “opt in” on the Personal Info tab of Banner, available via myW&M, or on the Personal Information page. Click the link at the bottom of the W&M Directory page called “Address Info (Students).” There you can authenticate and have your address info removed from the directory search, even if you want your name and class year to appear, if that is your preference.

Drug-Free Schools Annual Notification

Each year, we provide the Drug-Free Schools Annual Notification to all students, faculty, and staff at W&M. Please look for this notice that will be emailed to you from W&M Student Affairs in mid-September. In addition to providing information about the legal and health risks of drugs and alcohol, this notice also provides you with links to important resources, both on and off campus. If you or someone that you know is in need of assistance, there are on campus resources to help. You can also share any issues or concerns you may have via the Report Concerns website.  

Title IX Resources: Reporting Incidents of Sexual Harassment, Discrimination and/or Sexual Violence

Sexual harassment and sexual misconduct are antithetical to who we are as a campus community. W&M prohibits sexual harassment, including sexual assault, relationship violence and stalking, that occurs in connection with any academic, athletic, extracurricular, or other university program, regardless of the location. Should you or a friend need help, information about medical and emotional support, reporting options to the university or police, and key policy definitions are available on the university’s Title IX website. For confidential support, advocacy, and information regarding sexual misconduct, please visit The Haven. Supportive measures for survivors are available even if a person does not want to pursue a formal investigation. Reports may be made online through Report Concerns or Violations or to the Title IX Coordinator, Jenelle Job, at jmjob@wm.edu 

Policy Prohibiting Title IX Sexual Harassment and Gender-Based Harassment

Our community of trust expects that its members treat one another with respect, dignity, and fairness. The university’s Discrimination and Title IX policies are designed to ensure an equitable educational environment for the members of the William & Mary community.

The university is committed to maintaining an environment that is free from discrimination based on a protected class, such as race, color, national origin, religion, sex- or gender, including sexual orientation and gender identity, age, pregnancy, disability or perceived disability, and Veteran status.  Discrimination in the form of disparate treatment, disparate impact or harassment is prohibited.  Reports of discrimination may be made to reportconcern@wm.edu.  Alleged misconduct will be addressed in accordance with university policies and the applicable procedure.  Please review these documents in the Compliance & Equity Policy Library.

A Home Without Hazing - Student Organization & Prospective Member Requirements

Being demeaned or exposed to harm should never be part of the W&M experience. W&M has legislative requirements (Adam’s Law) for hazing prevention education and outreach. There are in-person training requirements for specified organizations (including all prospective members PRIOR to joining). The list of specified organizations at W&M can be found here.  If you are a prospective member or interested in joining any of the specified organizations, make sure you participate in Prospective Member Training during the month of September. Training dates and times can be found on TribeLink at Hazing Prevention Events.    We encourage all members of the W&M community to participate in the training in order to support making W&M A Home Without Hazing. More hazing prevention resources including the anonymous reporting form and the link to Student Organization conduct histories can be found at Hazing Prevention Coalition.

Student Handbook

William & Mary’s Student Handbook – including the Student Code of Conduct and the Honor Code – is published annually by Student Accountability & Restorative Practices. All students at William & Mary are bound by the regulations noted within the Student Handbook. It contains important information about the university's expectations regarding student conduct, student rights and responsibilities, and relevant processes and procedures to address alleged misconduct. 

Required Disclosure of Arrests Policy

Please be aware that the university has a policy that requires students to disclose arrests within 72 hours. Find more information about the policy, including the form for disclosure of arrests, at Disclosure of Arrests FAQ. 

Tobacco, Nicotine Vapor Products, Alternative Nicotine Products, Smoking

The Commonwealth of Virginia outlaws the possession of tobacco products, nicotine vapor products, and alternative vapor products (i.e. vapes) by persons under the age of 21. Additionally, the university prohibits smoking by anyone in any university building or within 25 feet of the entrance of any building.

Marijuana

While Virginia recently de-criminalized marijuana, William & Mary prohibits marijuana possession and use on campus.

Sanctions for Driving Under the Influence

The university does not tolerate the dangers to self and others represented by driving under the influence. DUI for persons over the age of 21 is defined as a blood alcohol content (BAC) of .08 or above (note that, depending on body weight and other factors, this may be as few as two drinks’ worth of alcohol). Legal consequences for a first-time DUI include loss of license for one year, a criminal record, fines and other restrictions. For students under 21, DUI is defined as a BAC of .02. If you choose to drink, we advise that you avoid driving altogether; make alternative plans. We also ask for your help in caring for one another — if you witness a fellow student attempting to drive under the influence, please intervene. 

Free Speech & Use of Campus Facilities

William & Mary is committed to creating an environment in which all members of the community and invited guests are encouraged to speak freely and express themselves on university property. Such a commitment to free expression is essential to fostering open discourse and exploration of ideas. More information about university policies concerning free speech can be found in the Use of Facilities policy, along with relevant links to the Student Handbook and the policies that apply to the scheduling and conduct of campus events and activities (e.g. meetings and other group activities of student organizations; speeches, performances, and other events by outside groups invited by student organizations). The Use of Facilities  applies to individual students who wish to participate in expressive activity. This policy also shares information about the distribution of literature (pamphleting, etc.) and access to campus facilities by external/unaffiliated groups as well as Recognized Student Organizations. A vibrant campus often has advertising in the form of flyers, chalking, etc. Information regarding these activities can be found in the Posting & Chalking On Campus policy. For assistance in scheduling and planning your activities, please contact Student Unions & Engagement in the Sadler Center.

Written Student Complaints 

The Written Student Complaints Policy defines official written student complaints and provides procedures for reporting such complaints at the university. Written Student Complaint means those complaints falling into one of the five specific categories of complaints and which are reported according to existing university policy or by using the appropriate reporting form on the university’s Report Concerns or Violations webpage. The five categories of complaints constituting official written student complaints include: 1) Sexual Misconduct/Title IX reports; 2) Discrimination, Harassment and Retaliation reports; 3) Free Speech concerns; 4) Hazing reports; 5) Other official written student complaints.

Students who wish to file an official written complaint must do so by following appropriate procedures as outlined in the Procedures section of this policy. Complaints not filed pursuant to the procedures outlined in this policy shall not be designated as an official Written Student Complaint. Nothing in this policy shall prohibit students from seeking informal resolution of a concern, grievance, or complaint by contacting directly one or more appropriate units within the university.

Distance Education

The purposes of the Distance Education Policy are to: (1) define distance education; (2) establish minimum requirements regarding regular and substantive interaction between instructors and students in distance education courses; and (3) establish minimum requirements regarding the verification of student identity in distance education courses at W&M.

Resources for Mental Health & Personal Wellness

W&M is committed to providing the highest standards of care to support the well-being and health of students. The McLeod Tyler Wellness Center opened its doors in 2018 and serves as the home of the Student Health Center, the Counseling Center, Health Promotion, Campus Recreation, and the Center for Mindfulness and Authentic Excellence. We encourage all students to visit this beautiful space – see the water wall, walk the meditation labyrinth, enjoy views of the Wildflower Refuge, meditate in the Zen Garden, and access programs and services as you explore what wellness practices work best for you. Fitness and Wellness classes are FREE to all enrolled students.

 The Counseling Center provides individual, group, and couples therapy, as well as workshops/outreach on a wide range of topics that are salient for W&M students. Urgent/crisis appointments are also offered. TimelyCare is a 24/7 virtual health and well-being platform, designed for college students; it provides ongoing counseling, health coaching, on-demand 24/7 emotional support (Talk-Now), and. Psychiatric services upon referral.  ProtoCall, an after-hours/weekend service, allows students to reach a mental health professional whenever the Counseling Center is closed to get timely, needed support. Other mental health resources include the ParkRx program; Silver Cloud, a robust collection of online tools that can help individuals cope with anxiety, depression, and stress; and Campus Connect, a mental health awareness program aimed at enhancing a person's knowledge, awareness, and skills concerning college student suicide. 

W&M’s Authentic Excellence Initiative — open to all students, faculty, and staff — is a multi-layered program designed to promote flourishing and resilience. The program explores the difference between “fear-based excellence” and “authentic excellence,” and how they relate to resilience, fulfillment and productivity.

We encourage you to take advantage of our virtual offerings through Virtual Health & Wellness. Download the William & Mary Wellness App for more opportunities at your fingertips (search "William & Mary Wellness" wherever you download your apps).

Alcohol Awareness

Let’s Talk Alcohol Edition is a video designed to help students make an informed decision when and or if they choose to use alcohol. The video includes reminders about how alcohol affects our decision making, things to consider if you choose to consume, as well as information about protective behaviors, and what signs of an alcohol overdose might look like. Ultimately, Let’s Talk Alcohol is created to encourage safer behaviors when alcohol is present.

Life is about choices, we invite you to make choices based on your values, not from peer pressure, for stress relief, or from a place of need. We encourage you to make choices from a Wellness Mindset, whatever you do, “Do it for the well of it."

The Dangers of Drinking from Punch Bowls and Common Source Containers

We remain focused on the safety concerns raised by unhealthy drinking behavior such as “common source” drink containers like coolers and punch bowls. Drinking alcohol from these sources is dangerous. When you consume alcohol from a drink mixture whose contents are unknown to you, you likely are consuming much more alcohol than you realize.  You cannot rely on taste as your guide—even sweet or good-tasting drinks can be dangerously potent. This is a critical health and safety concern.  Drinking from common containers increase your risk of experiencing unintended consequences. It is a violation of W&M's alcohol policy, which prohibits the use of common source containers of alcohol.

In accordance with the Federal Drug Free Schools and Communities Act of 1989, the vice president for Student Affairs sends to students a dedicated email with more detailed information about university policies, health risks related to the use of alcohol and other substances, and substance abuse resources both on and off-campus.  Your safety and wellbeing are of utmost importance.

Contagious Diseases

The Student Health Center medical staff and the university's Public Health Advisory Team routinely monitor emerging infectious diseases on campus and in the surrounding regions of campus. 

More information about contagious diseases, including resources and vaccines, is available through the Student Health Center.

COVID

A reminder as we all come back together on campus that information and resources are available related to COVID, should you be in need. You’ll note these coincide with those available for other major communicable diseases. 

Voter Registration

Effect change with your vote! Learn more about Voter Registration in Williamsburg (the 2024 voter registration deadline in Virginia is Oct 15). Students with disabilities may contact Student Accessibility Services for voter registration assistance. Call (757) 221-2512 or email sas@wm.edu for an appointment.  

Property Insurance

Since William & Mary cannot insure your personal belongings against fire, theft or other loss, it is important that you provide such protection for yourself. If you or your family currently have a homeowner policy from your primary residence, check with the insurance agent to make certain your local (Williamsburg) residence is also insured and to determine the extent of your coverage. If you are not covered, special policies for college students are available from most insurance companies.

SNAP Benefits

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is a federal program under the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service. SNAP provides a monthly benefit to individuals and families through an Electronic Benefits Card (EBT) to supplement the purchase of nutritious foods. Eligibility for SNAP benefits is based on financial and nonfinancial criteria.  Effective as of 6/10/2023, college students must be actively participating in a state or federally financed work study program during the regular school year to remain eligible for SNAP benefits.

Living Off-Campus

If you are thinking about living off-campus, check out the Living Off-Campus website, which offers resources to help your search such as core considerations, your rights & responsibilities, and tips on how to stay engaged with the campus community.

W&M Residence Life Resource Guide and the Community Expectations

Be sure you review the W&M Residence Life Resource Guide and the Community Expectations when living on campus.

Cable

Beginning in August 2024, the university will no longer offer cable television or access to Contour TV campus wide. Residents are welcome to connect to the wireless network via their personal Smart TVs or streaming sticks and use the streaming service of their choice. Instructions for connecting devices to the network can be found at www.wm.edu/it/devices

End-of-Semester Travel

As you and your family make plans for your travel at the end of the semester, please remember to consult the published final examination schedule.  Because there are few circumstances for which final exams may be rescheduled, it is important that any travel be scheduled to occur after the scheduled date of your last exam.  In the past, some students have been disappointed when their exams could not be rescheduled to accommodate a desire to travel prior to their official examination date.  Please note that the exam schedule is published prior to the start of each semester and is included in the materials students receive for course registration.  You might also consult the Registrar’s Office calendars.