STUDENT LIFE

Housing

St. Mary’s College is a residential college. Students must live in the college dormitories and take their meals in the dining room. The only exceptions are students who live with their families in the St. Mary’s area. No other arrangements may be considered.

The men’s dormitory is supervised by the priests; the women’s dormitory has a supervisor who acts by the authority of the Rector. The supervisors are in charge of maintaining and enforcing the rules and standards of the College.

Those students who find they must stay on campus during vacation breaks must receive explicit permission from the Rector, and will pay room and board. For those staying on campus, all rules and regulations will remain in full effect. The College is not responsible for students who, during vacation, do not stay on campus.

RULES AND DECORUM

St. Mary’s College aims at developing men and women with true and strong Catholic character. The College has clear standards and expectations for students as guidelines, both within and without the classroom. The following rules are not optional, and the students who do not behave according to them will be asked to withdraw.

General Decorum

1. You are to refrain from swearing, using indecent language, and wearing immodest dress. Alcoholic beverages, drugs, and rock-and-roll music are strictly forbidden. The use of tobacco products is restricted on the campus.

2. You must maintain Catholic standards in courtesy, kindness, morality, and honesty with your peers and in your dealings with the faculty and employees.

3. You cannot enter the Academy buildings without permission.

4. You are to respect the other persons’ property and privacy. You may use other students’ belongings only with their permission. You are not to be in another student’s room without his permission. When two or more students are in one bedroom, the door must be left open. The rooms of men and women are in separate buildings and are off limits to members of the opposite gender. You are not to enter the dormitory of the opposite gender for any reason. College men are to be in the area near the girl’s dorm only at meal times.

5. Any attendance at off-campus parties or gatherings must be approved beforehand, and you must conduct yourself according to Rules 1 and 2.

6. You are to live on the campus unless you live with your parents in the area.

7. You are expected to help with regularly scheduled dorm jobs.

8. Off-campus jobs are not permitted unless specific written approval of the Rector is procured. The Rector will determine the character of the individuals with whom you will be working and the general atmosphere of your chosen workplace. Your grades will have to be of high enough quality to merit this exception.

9. You may have an automobile on the campus, but its use may be restricted.

10. Each time you leave the campus, you are to sign out with the proper authority, or indicate your destination on the sign-out board in the hall of the College Building.

11. You are expected to attend daily Holy Mass and Rosary. You should go to confession often, at least every two weeks.

Hours

1. You are to be on campus by 9:00 P.M. on Sunday through Thursday nights; and by 11:00 P.M. on Friday and Saturday nights.
2. There will be grand silence after 10:00 P.M. on weekdays, and after 11:30 P.M. on Friday and Saturday. During grand silence noises, telephone use, and conversations are strictly forbidden.

Attire for Men

1. Your general appearance is to be neat and clean.

2. Men are to have their hair cut in a short manner with no hair falling over the ears or back collar and the hair generally off the forehead.

3. During class hours and at liturgical functions, men wear a dress shirt, a tie, and a jacket or sweater. This is in effect upon arising until 4:00 P.M. Sneakers and sandals are not permitted during these hours. Jackets and sweaters may be omitted when the temperature is above 70 degrees.

4. During non-class hours, men are to wear neat appearing clothing that befits the occasion. Shirts with imprints of inappropriate slogans are not allowed.

Attire for Women

1. Your general appearance is to be neat and clean.

2. No obvious cosmetics may be worn. If an inordinate amount is used, you will be sent to your room to remove it.

3. During class hours and at liturgical functions, women are to wear skirts, dresses, or jumpers. These will be at least two inches below the knee. No clothing may be tight, see-through, sleeveless, or immodest in any way. Sneakers and sandals are not permitted at these times.

4. During non-class hours, women are to wear skirts, dresses, or jumpers on or off the campus.

Attendance and Punctuality

1. You are expected to attend all your classes, and to be on time for each class and activity. Instructors will determine their individual policy for tardiness.

2. If you are absent from class, you must get an admission note from the Dean or the college secretary to present to your instructor at the next class meeting.

3. If you are absent from class, it is your responsibility to make up all class work.

4. Repeated absences or tardiness will constitute reasons for withdrawal. A student with more than five absences during a semester will withdraw from the college for the remainder of the semester, losing all semester credits.

N.B. The Sacred Triduum is the most important spiritual time of the year. All boarding students must remain on campus during the complete Holy Week.

Spiritual Life

It is at St. Mary’s that, above all, one can pursue and cultivate a deeper spiritual life. Prominent in the College curriculum are courses that present the truths of the Catholic faith: Theology, Sacred Scripture, Liturgy, and Patrology. The chapel is centrally located and very convenient. Every day the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass is celebrated. Students and parishioners gather every evening to say the Rosary. There is Benediction on Thursday evenings as well as on Sunday afternoons following Vespers. Exposition and adoration of the Blessed Sacrament are part of the monthly First Friday observance. Students may attend Prime each morning and Compline each evening. All the ceremonies of the Liturgical Year are carried out in a solemn manner. Every year students take part in an Ignatian Retreat. Once each week they also attend a spiritual conference given by a priest. The sacrament of Penance is available at any time.

Advising

Students may consult with a counselor, faculty members, and the Dean regarding academic matters. Spiritual direction is available from the College Chaplain and the other priests.

Activities

Students are encouraged to plan and organize social activities. There are opportunities to participate in:

Men’s soccer team
Parties
Square dances
Picnics
Plays
Movie nights
Talent entertainment
The schola for singing at liturgical functions
Instrumental music groups
Hikes
Radio productions

A gymnasium, sports fields, and a weight-lifting room are available on campus. An abundance of cultural and recreational activities can easily be found in Topeka and Manhattan, which are each located within an hour’s drive from the College.

Library

The College library has over 60,000 volumes housed in the Library Building. The books are shelved on four different floors. The main reading room is on the top floor. The librarians will assist in locating desired books or information. Students may check out up to five books for two weeks. Books may be renewed one time. There is an overdue book fine.

A collection of current periodicals is kept in the Reading Room in the College Building.

Students may access online databases to search for books and articles. They may also use the libraries of the three universities in the vicinity of St. Mary’s College.

Computers

Students have access to Apple and IBM-compatible computers with Internet in the College Building. There is an annual fee of $75.00 to use this facility.

Health Services

For illnesses and injuries students may use the services of the St. Mary’s Hospital and Clinic, the Cotton-O’Neil Clinic, or the Jesuit Lane Family Practice, all of which are located near the campus in the city of St. Mary’s. Charges incurred are the financial responsibility of the student.

Placement

Information and instructions pertaining to pre-employment skills are offered to all students, as well as the establishment of personal credentials for use when conducting a job search. Listings of full-time employment opportunities are available to graduating students and alumni.