The Honor Code

A central principle of Bryn Mawr College is the trust that it places in its students. This trust is reflected in the academic and social Honor Codes and in the philosophy of self-governance which shapes student life. Individual students take responsibility for integrity in their academic and social behavior. Administration of the academic Honor Code is shared with the faculty and the Dean of the Undergraduate College. The Academic Honor Board, composed of both students and faculty, mediates in cases of infraction. The Social Honor Board consists of the eight members of the Academic Honor Board and four rotating members, one from each class. These students may provide mediation in cases where conflicts cannot be resolved independently by the individuals directly involved.

The successful functioning of the Honor Code is a matter of pride to the Bryn Mawr community, and it contributes significantly to the mutual respect that exists among students and between students and faculty. While the Honor Code makes great demands on the maturity and integrity of students, it also grants them an independence and freedom that students value. For example, because of the Honor Code, many examinations are self-scheduled, allowing students to take them at whatever time during the examination period is most convenient for their own schedules and study patterns.

In resolving academic cases, the Honor Board has the full range of options. It might fail a student on an assignment or in a course, separate the student from the College temporarily, or exclude the student permanently. Social infractions that are beyond the ability of the Honor Board to resolve may be brought to a Dean’s Panel, which exercises similar authority. For details regarding Honor Board hearings and Dean’s Panels, please refer to the Student Handbook.

Privacy of Student Records

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 was designed to protect the privacy of educational records, to establish the right of students to inspect and review their educational records, and to provide guidelines for the correction of inaccurate or misleading data through informal and formal hearings. Students have the right to file complaints with the

Family Policy Compliance Office
US Department of Education
400 Maryland Avenue, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20202-5920

or https://studentprivacy.ed.gov/file-a-complaint concerning alleged failures by the institution to comply with the act. Questions concerning the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act may be referred to the Undergraduate Dean’s Office and to the Registrar’s Office.

Directory Information

Bryn Mawr College designates the following categories of student information as public or “directory information.” Such information may be disclosed by the institution for any purpose, at its discretion.

• Category I: Name, address, dates of attendance, class, current enrollment status, electronic mail address
• Category II: Previous institution(s) attended, major field of study, awards, honors, degree(s) conferred
• Category III: Date of birth
• Category IV: Telephone number
• Category V: Marital status

Currently enrolled students may withhold disclosure of any category of information under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 by written notification, which must be in the Registrar’s Office by August 15. Forms requesting the withholding of all directory information are available in the Registrar’s Office. Students may also request the withholding through the College’s Student Information System. Bryn Mawr College assumes that failure on the part of any student to request the withholding of categories of directory information indicates individual approval of disclosure.

Campus Crime Awareness and Fire Safety

This report is prepared in compliance with the Federal Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act, as amended by the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013. The statistics are maintained and compiled by the Campus Safety Department.

These laws require all institutions of higher education within the Commonwealth to provide students and employees with information pertaining to, but not limited to crime statistics, security measures, fire statistics, fire safety measures, policies relating to missing persons, and penalties for drug use, on an annual basis. These acts also require that this information be available to prospective students and employees upon request.

The primary purpose of the federal law is to create a national reporting system on crime and safety, as well as fire safety for our nation’s colleges and universities. Bryn Mawr College is located in Lower Merion Township, a quiet residential suburb of Philadelphia. Bryn Mawr has a strong crime-prevention and fire safety program that includes the entire community—students, staff and faculty. The entire report is available on-line at www.brynmawr.edu/safety/act73.htm plus the link is disseminated via e-mail and print messages to the Bryn Mawr College Community by October 1st every year as required by law. Should you have other general questions please contact the Campus Safety Department at (610) 526-7911.

Right-to-Know Act

The Student Right-to-Know Act requires disclosure of the graduation rates of degree-seeking undergraduate students. Students are considered to have graduated if they complete their programs within six years of the date they entered college.

Class entering fall 2018 (Class of 2022)

• Size at entrance: 390
• Within 4 years: 70.5%
• Within 5 years: 79.7%
• Within 6 years: 81.8%

Equal Opportunity, Non Discrimination, and Discriminatory Harassment Policies

Bryn Mawr College is firmly committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all members of its faculty, staff and student body. Bryn Mawr College does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national or ethnic origin, sexual orientation, age or disability in the administration of its educational policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic, and other College administered programs, or in its employment practices.

In conformity with the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended, and Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, it is also the policy of Bryn Mawr College not to discriminate on the basis of sex in its employment practices, educational programs or activities. The admission of only women in the Undergraduate College is in conformity with a provision of the Civil Rights Act. The provisions of Title IX protect students and employees from all forms of illegal sex discrimination, which includes sexual harassment and sexual violence, in College programs and activities.

Inquiries regarding compliance with this legislation and other policies regarding nondiscrimination may be directed to the Equal Opportunity Officer (eoo@brynmawr.edu or 610-526-7630) and Title IX Coordinator (titleix_coordinator@brynmawr.edu or 610-526-7630), who administer the College’s procedures.

Access Services

Bryn Mawr College welcomes students with disabilities to the campus community. Access Services provides reasonable accommodations for eligible students protected under the Americans with Disabilities Act due to documented learning, physical, medical, or psychological disabilities. Students who may be eligible for academic adjustments in the classroom, housing modifications in the residence halls, or other modifications should make an appointment with the Office of Access Services by emailing accessservices@byrnmawr.edu. For additional information about Access Services, including eligibility criteria, documentation requirements, and procedures for requesting accommodations should check the Access Services website at https://www.brynmawr.edu/inside/offices-services/access-services.