A major influence on the total development of the Siena student is the campus environment that fosters the growth of the body, mind and character of each individual. There are a wide variety of educational, social and cultural programs that provide opportunities for experiences that complement the academic program of the College and that foster the acquisition of a liberal arts education.
To assure that the campus environment remains one conducive to student development, the Code of Conduct for Students sets forth the minimal principles that should guide the behavior of all students, so that the campus serves as a place where students can pursue knowledge in an atmosphere conducive to individual growth. The Code is published in the student handbook, Siena Life. Each student is expected to obtain a copy of the current handbook and know its contents. Siena Life is also available on the web at www.siena.edu/sienalife.
Orientation for New Students and Families
Orientation is designed to acclimate new students and families to the campus environment. The extended orientation program consists of three phases. New students participate in Phase One in the days that lead to the start of the fall semester. During this time students are moved into the residence halls, commuters are checked in at the Sarazen Student Union, and all first year students participate in a four day introduction to the Siena community, its resources, and their peers. Phase Two, an optional program, consists of both on and off campus activities throughout the day before classes begin. Phase Three, Family Weekend, welcomes the parents and families of the class back to campus in early October.
Transfer students are also strongly encouraged to attend the Transfer Student Orientation Program designed specifically for them. This single day program includes opportunities to learn more about campus services and how to access them, meet other transfer students and members of the college community. Notification about this program is available on the college website and via direct mail to confirmed transfer students.
Community Living
Siena College provides a variety of on-campus housing accommodations in Hennepin, Hines, Padua, Plassmann, Ryan, Snyder and the Townhouses. First year students are typically assigned to doubles, triples and quads in Hines, Plassmann and Ryan. Returning students will have the opportunity to select from all remaining housing in doubles, quads and 4, 6 or 8 person townhouses.
The Community Living staff is charged with fostering a safe and healthy living environment on campus that enhances the Franciscan, Catholic, and academic mission of the college. The Director of Community Living oversees the Community Living program at Siena. The Assistant Directors of Community Living collectively coordinate educational and programming efforts, along with housing assignments, vacation closings and card access. In each residence area, there is a Residence Director, a live-in professional staff member charged with the administrative responsibility for all residents and the facility. Additionally, they provide personal, social and academic guidance to assist with student concerns/development. Resident Assistants are returning student leaders residing in each residential area who promote the College/Departmental mission by serving as a resource to students through programming, making referrals, and serving on duty. Friars in Residence are men who reside in each residence hall and provide support for both resident students and the Community Living staff. The Facilities staff provides a safe and clean environment for the common areas.
Student eligibility for on-campus housing is determined at the point of admission to the College. Housing spaces are allocated each year for new freshmen and, to the extent spaces remain available, for new transfer students. Acceptance of admission to the College as a resident student indicates acceptance of the offer of housing by the College.
To the extent space is available, it is expected that resident students will live in college housing and participate in a College board plan for the entire time of their enrollment at the College. Exceptions to this residency requirement include: students admitted to the college as commuters and residing within a 60 mile radius, independent students, and others who receive a written waiver prior to matriculation from the Assistant Vice President for Admission. Each year students are required to sign a housing license which is binding for one academic year (fall and spring semester) except for students graduating at the end of the fall semester, studying abroad, or entering residence for the spring semester.
If you wish to appeal the residency requirement at any time you must submit a Petition for Release form to the Assistant Director of Community Living. The appeal should be a request to be contractually released from the Housing/Food Service requirement. Reasons for appeal may include but are not limited to: particular medical health needs, changes in your personal or financial circumstances, or to review a first year freshman’s request to change to commuter status as defined by the student handbook, Siena Life.
Commuter Students
Commuting students are an important part of the Siena College life. Commuting students become our outward diplomats to the local community.
Commuter Services include:
- enrollment in the Commuter Council composed only of commuter students
- special administrative mentor in the Office of Student Academic Success and Engagement
- representative on the Student Senate and Student Events Board
Special Activities for Non Resident Students include:
- Special Commuter Welcoming Day
- Time Management Workshops designed for students who work off campus
- Discussion groups dedicated to various topics including:
- Work Life Balance
- Local internships and career opportunities
- Upper Class Commuter Success Tactics
Student Activities
The program of extracurricular and co-curricular activities is sufficiently varied to offer a wide appeal. There are more than 70 student organizations chartered by the Student Senate.
The Promethean, the student newspaper, Saga, the yearbook, and Pendragon, the literary magazine, provide publication opportunities. WVCR-FM, the campus radio station, provides opportunities in broadcasting, and Stage Three offers experiences in acting, stage management and production.
The student activities closely aligned to academic life include, but are not limited to, the Political Science Society, the Accounting Students Association, the Education Club, the History Club, Harvard Model United Nations, the Finance and Business Societies, the Biology and Chemistry Clubs, and the Computer Science Club.
Siena sponsors club sports programs that compete with teams from other colleges and universities. Some of the club sports that have been offered include men’s hockey, rugby, karate, equestrian, and volleyball. The men’s club hockey team has been a fixture in postseason play in the past.
Weekend Activities
Student organizations, Community Living staff, the Damietta Cross-Cultural Center, Class Councils and the Student Events Board regularly sponsor events throughout the academic year that include on campus performances of musicians and entertainers, dances, dinners, speakers, and a variety of community social events. In addition, many of the student groups and departments host a variety of off-campus events in the surrounding communities.
Significant activities each year include New Student Orientation, Family Weekend, Winter Weekend, Siblings’ Weekend, Charity Week, and Sienafest.
Dramatics
Stage Three, the campus theatre company, presents four major productions and a series of special events in cooperation with the Department of Creative Arts Theatre Program. The shows are cast and staffed from the Siena community and are directed and designed by professionals from Siena’s theatre faculty, guest artists and qualified students. The use of guest artists in various capacities provides students with the opportunity of observing and interacting with theatre professionals from outside the campus community in the production process.
Members of Stage Three come from almost every major and are involved not only in campus productions but also in community service projects, presentations and workshops.
Stage Three is governed by a five-member board, nominated and elected by the general membership. Artistic direction and advisement are provided by the Theatre Program faculty and staff.
Stage Three members participate in the season selection process with the Theatre Program faculty and strive to achieve a diverse offering of theatrical productions each year. Recent productions include Doubt, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Drood, How I Learned to Drive, The Diary of Anne Frank and the world premieres of Monster Island and Abbotts’ Dance. Stage Three will also produce a performance that reflects on positive goals for campus life at Siena for the new student Orientation in the fall.
Music
In addition to its regular academic offerings the music program at Siena also offers opportunities for students to participate in orchestral and vocal ensembles in public performance. The Siena Chamber Orchestra and the Siena Chorus are two examples of courses offered for credit and designed with public performance as course objectives.
The Creative Arts Department cooperates with Stage Three, the student theatre company, in producing musical works from the American musical theatre.
In support of extracurricular activities, the department sponsors field trips each semester to New York City arts events such as opera, ballet and Broadway shows.
The Siena Music Series and the Franciscan Chamber Orchestra bring professional musicians to the campus to present concerts and to offer workshops for students. The Music Series collaborates with other professional groups in the Capital region and has performed at the Troy Music Hall and the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception.
Student Government
Students may take an active role in campus affairs through involvement with the Student Senate, Student Events Board, Hall Councils or one of 70+ student organizations.
The Student Senate includes 23 elected or appointed representatives from the classes, residence units, the commuting population and from the student body at large. The senate represents the student body with matters concerning student life on campus.
The Student Events Board consists of 32 elected or appointed representatives and coordinates many extracurricular and co-curricular activities on campus.
The Residence Hall Association and hall councils serve as the liaison body for residential students and the Siena staff and administration. RHA strives to provide quality programming and engagement opportunities for residential students and to advocate for the needs of residential students.
Dining Services
Lonnstrom Dining Hall
During the academic year when the residence halls are open, Lonnstrom Dining Hall provides meals for students. A variety of meal plans are available to resident and non-resident students.
Massry Commons in Snyder Hall
Massry contains a convenience store and dining facility. The dining facility is open for to-go breakfast and for dinner, featuring a full buffet menu that accommodates the various tastes of Siena’s community. The convenience store is available to stock up on items for your living space such as toiletries, snacks and beverages.
Health Services
The Siena College Health Service provides medical care for common health problems, health maintenance and health education. Services are provided by certified nurse practitioners in collaboration with a physician consultant, and registered professional nurses. The Siena Health Service Office is located on the lower level of the Marcelle Commons Building in Townhouse Complex. Clinic hours are Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. while classes are in session. For more information, please contact the Health Service at (518) 783-2554.
The Sarazen Student Union
The Sarazen Student Union is the facility available for the extracurricular activities program and an area in which students can relax, socialize and study. It includes spacious lounges, meeting rooms, internet stations, Casey’s, Student Lounge, Promethean, SAGA Yearbook, student government offices, multicultural center, commuter lounge, Information Desk, the Post Office, the Damietta Cross-Cultural Center, Community Living, Campus Programs Office, Saint Card Office, and the Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs. The Sarazen Student Union is open daily except during academic holiday periods. Casey’s offers a coffee house, bakery, snacks, deli, beverages, and sandwiches and salads.
Motor Vehicle Registration
All vehicles must have a Siena College permit to park on campus. Students must park in designated lots. See “Siena College Traffic Rules and Regulations” for detailed information and a map. The Traffic Rules and Regulations can be found on the Siena College website under Public Safety. A hard copy may also be obtained at the Department of Public Safety. Resident freshmen are not permitted to have a vehicle on campus. A request for and exception to the College’s, “No Resident Freshmen with Cars Rule,” may be requested from the Director of Public Safety. Exceptions are granted for medical reasons (for students to obtain medical treatment) and for employment (normally for 20 hours of employment per week). All resident freshmen exceptions must be requested and approved prior to bringing a car on campus.
Registration of Motor Vehicles
- All students must register their motor vehicles with the Department of Public Safety. Upon presentation of a State Department of Motor Vehicles registration, your college I.D. and the pre-registration form, a parking permit will be issued. The permit must be affixed to the rear side window on the driver’s side of the vehicle.
- There is a registration fee required for each vehicle registered.
- Registering the vehicle of another student, for any reason under a false name, will be considered falsification of registration and subjects the individuals involved to a fine of $100 each and the loss of the privilege of having a vehicle on campus.
- Resident freshmen are prohibited from having vehicles on campus, and those found to have a vehicle being kept on campus without prior authorization are subject to a $100 fine and disciplinary action.
Temporary Parking Permits
Temporary parking permits are issued in accordance with Siena’s Parking Rules and Regulations. Resident freshmen must obtain permission for a temporary parking permit from the Director of Public Safety, prior to bringing a vehicle to campus. Temporary permits for freshmen must meet the same qualifications as a Resident Freshmen Parking Permit, that is medical and employment as explained above. Temporary permits, except for freshmen, may be obtained 24 hours a day, seven days a week, at the Public Safety Department on the North side of campus in the Plant Operations Building. Permits are issued to visitors and students who demonstrate need and who would otherwise be entitled to possess a regulations parking permit.
Traffic Appeals Committee
The purpose of this Committee is to hear appeals regarding tickets issued by the Department of Public Safety. The Committee consists of a member of the Administration, three students appointed by the Student Senate, and the Assistant Director of Public Safety as the Chair.
Students wishing to appeal a ticket issued to them should follow the procedures outlined on the Security Department’s webpage, http://www.siena.edu/publicsafety.
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