Fall Semester Announcements - 2021

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 voice, email and text messages sent over land lines and cell phones. 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’s mass notification system is also linked with the social media sites of the 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 the W&M News on Facebook and 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.

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 email.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 Questionnaire (PIQ). 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. IT has created a link on 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 are required to provide the Drug-Free Schools Annual Notification to all students, faculty, and staff at W&M. Please take a few moments to review the notice that was emailed to you from W&M Student Affairs on October 22, 2021. 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, please reach out to one of those resources for 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, occurring in connection with any academic, athletic, extracurricular, or other university program, regardless of the location. Should you or a friend need help or wish to make a report, information is available on the university’s Sexual Violence website. The website also includes information about other campus resources. Reports may be made online through www.wm.edu/report. 

Policy Prohibiting Title IX Sexual Harassment and Gender-Based Harassment

Our community of trust requires that its members treat one another with respect, dignity, and fairness. This policy is designed to foster a safe environment for the members of the William & Mary community.

The university is committed to maintaining an environment that is free from sex- or gender-based discrimination, sexual harassment or sexual misconduct and in which sexual orientation and gender identity and the freedom to make individual choices regarding sexual behavior is respected by all.

Sexual harassment, gender-based harassment or sexual misconduct by anyone is prohibited.  It will be addressed in a prompt, equitable manner in accordance with this policy and the applicable procedure.

Please review the policy language on the Compliance & Equity website. 

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 offers individual, group, and couples therapy, as well as workshops on a wide range of topics that are salient for W&M students. Psychiatric services and urgent/crisis appointments are also offered. 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; Tribe Rides; Silver Cloud, a robust collection of online tools that can help individuals cope with anxiety, depression, and stress; and “At Risk: Friends in College,” avatar-based learning modules that teach students, faculty, and staff how best to recognize and respond to signs of distress in students.  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 our Virtual Health & Wellness site. Download the William & Mary Wellness App for more opportunities at your fingertips (search "William & Mary Wellness" wherever you download your apps).

Student Handbook

William & Mary’s Student Handbook – including the Student Code of Conduct and the Honor Code – is published annually on Community Values & Restorative Practice’s website. 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. Please be aware that the university has a policy that requires students to disclose arrests within 72 hours. Information about the policy, including the form for disclosure of arrests, is available online. 

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.

Sanctions for Driving Under the Influence

The university does not tolerate the dangers to self and others represented by driving under the influence; therefore, the presumptive sanction is suspension for at least one semester for a first-time violation. DUI for persons over the age of 21 is defined as a 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, argumentation, speaking, listening, learning and exploration of ideas. More information about university policies concerning free speech can be found on our website, along with relevant links to the Student Handbook and the Use of Campus Facilities policies which 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; demonstrations, rallies, vigils, and other group free speech exercises; and distributions of literature such as leafleting and pamphleting. For assistance in scheduling and planning your activities, please contact the Scheduling Office in the Sadler Center.

Please review Fall Planning Considerations for Student Organizations

W&M&You Polling Program

Last year the Provost’s Office, Student Affairs, and Information Technology launched the W&M&You polling program to create a mechanism for students, faculty and staff to provide input on critical questions for the university.  We are continuing the program this year to further develop opportunities for campus engagement and input. 

If you signed up for W&M&You last year, you do not need to sign up again.  If you are new to our community or have not previously registered and would like to sign up to receive periodic texts from campus administration asking what you think, how you feel, or what you want related to a particular question, register to participate at https://www.wm.edu/wmandyou or through the W&M mobile app. You will receive a confirmation from 757-221-4332 once you have been subscribed. Text messages are sent from and responses received by this number, so we encourage you to save it to your contacts. Responses available to the Climate Working Group managing W&M&You are de-identified and anonymous to protect participant privacy, while registered user information and identifiable responses are confidentially maintained by W&M IT.

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. In most cases, your parents’ homeowner’s policy may already provide such coverage. Check with your family’s agent to make certain your property is 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.

Students Living Off-Campus

The City of Williamsburg and the local Neighborhood Relations Committee (NRC) work collaboratively to improve the quality of life for all who live in the City of Williamsburg — their website includes a Student Renter's Guide which offers useful information about everything from trash collection and recycling to parking and making necessary arrangements for extended time away from your home/apartment (e.g. over breaks or between semesters).

W&M also created its own Off-Campus Living Guide (pdf) with detailed information that will help you understand your rights as a tenant (if you are renting property), the resources available to you in the greater Williamsburg area, and the basic responsibilities of living in harmony with your Williamsburg neighbors.

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 web site.