Student Handbook

Welcome

Franklin & Marshall College is a residential College dedicated to excellence in undergraduate liberal education. Its aims are to inspire in young people of high promise and diverse backgrounds a genuine and enduring love for learning, to teach them to read, write, and think critically, to instill in them the capacity for both independent and collaborative action, and to educate them to explore and understand the natural, social and cultural worlds in which they live. In so doing, the College seeks to foster in its students qualities of intellect, creativity, and character, that they may live fulfilling lives and contribute meaningfully to their occupations, their communities, and their world.

As a residential College, Franklin & Marshall believes that the experience of living with other students is at the core of the educational experience, paralleling and enhancing their studies. For students to truly benefit from living and working together, students should model and practice the core elements of being an F&M Diplomat - respecting the rights of other members of the community in which they are a part—a community which includes students, members of the faculty and staff of the College, and other residents of Lancaster.  

The Student Code sets forth the expectations Franklin & Marshall College holds related to student behavior and the rights and responsibilities of students. Students are expected to model and live the life of an F&M Diplomat.  As such, the College expects students to maintain standards of personal integrity; to be responsible for their actions; to observe established laws and College regulations; and to respect the rights, privileges, and property of others on campus or elsewhere.  

The student conduct process is intended to be a learning experience which yields growth, behavioral changes, and a personal understanding of the responsibilities, consequences, and impacts of actions. Outcomes are designed to balance education with accountability and community safety. This process balances the needs and rights of students with the needs and expectations of the College. It supports and values Franklin & Marshall College’s mission and offers a continuum of responses, which are educational and restorative in nature. Students are treated with care and respect while being afforded the opportunity to receive a fair resolution process. Statuses and conditions are designed to promote the College’s educational mission. The Student Code defines College intervention, resolution options and possible disciplinary action related to the behavior of individual students. In some places, the Code describes common outcomes for violations, but the College necessarily reserves the right to assign any specific outcome for a particular circumstance.