UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT LIFE

There are over 70 student clubs and organizations at Stevens, and the community is always planning something to do — informal get-togethers, comedy nights and formal parties, cultural celebrations and residence-hall social functions. Throughout the year, there are also lectures, workshops and concerts sponsored by the Entertainment Committee.

The Residence Hall Association hosts a weekly coffeehouse. The Student Government Association (SGA) sponsors "Techfest" each fall and "Boken" in the spring. Both events feature fun-filled, festive activities. Special outings, such as the New York City Opera, New York City Ballet and other interesting and cultural affairs, are organized by the Office of Student Life. The Office of Student Life annually hosts a dinner for student leaders at the end of spring semester.

Throughout both semesters, students can take advantage of our own well-attended, on-campus cinema, where discount-price feature films are shown each week from Sunday to Tuesday evenings. Colonel John’s, an a la carte style eatery, is also a popular gathering place.

Unique and impromptu recreational activities are also common. Each fall, students, staff, faculty and administrators help inflate the giant balloons used in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, and each spring students operate a water station for the New Jersey Waterfront Marathon that runs through Hoboken’s streets.

Student Government

At Stevens, you are an important member of the community. The keystone of the undergraduate division is the SGA; it directs and funds all student activities with the assistance of the Office of Student Life. Other elected groups include the Co-op Student Council, Ethnic Student Council, Residence Hall Association, Interfraternity Council and Panhellenic Council, and all serve the interests of their members. Members of the administration frequently hold informal meetings with small groups of students, providing an opportunity for an exchange of ideas and opinions.

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Athletics

Stevens competes at the NCAA Division III level for intercollegiate sports. Men participate in baseball, basketball, cross-country, golf, fencing, track and field, lacrosse, soccer, swimming, tennis and volleyball. Women represent Stevens in basketball, cross-country, fencing, lacrosse, equestrian, track and field, soccer, swimming, tennis and volleyball. Nearly all are affiliated with the Skyline Conference and compete in the ECAC Conference. Our mascot is Attila the duck.

Stevens also offers intramural sports, a variety of club sport teams, http://www.stevensducks.com/campusrecreation/club, an extensive outdoor recreation program and a wide offering of informal sport/recreational opportunities. We want students to enjoy our full program of activities throughout the year.

For a closer look, visit our state-of-the-art Charles V. Schaefer, Jr., Athletic and Recreation Center, Walker Gym and DeBaun Field and our web site at www.stevensducks.com.

Ethnic, Cultural And Religious Groups

The student body comes to Stevens from all corners of the nation and around the world. Stevens welcomes the dozens of ethnic, cultural and religious groups that have been formed on campus. These include the American Culture Club, Black Student Union, Chinese Student Association, Christian Fellowship, Filipino Association, Indian Student Association, Korean Student Association, Latin American Association, Muslim Student Association, Newman Association, Pakistani Student Association and Vietnamese Student Association.

Honor and Professional Societies

Membership in honor societies, both local and national, is by invitation and extended to juniors and seniors. National societies include Tau Beta Pi, an honorary engineering society involved in community-based public service projects, and Alpha Phi Omega, a national service fraternity. Other honorary engineering societies with chapters on the Stevens campus are Eta Kappa Nu, the electrical engineering honor society, Epsilon Mu Eta, the engineering management honor society, and the Phi Omicron chapter of Pi Tau Sigma, the mechanical engineering honorary fraternity. The National Society of Collegiate Journalists, an honor society, recognizes students who serve with distinction in the media. If a student has distinguished his/herself in the dramatic arts, you may be eligible for Theta Alpha Phi.

The Stevens honor societies are Gear and Triangle, which honors juniors and seniors for outstanding work in extracurricular activities, and Khoda, which selects its members from the senior class on the basis of noteworthy contributions to the Stevens community in general.

A number of national professional engineering and scientific societies have student chapters at Stevens, and membership in them gives students a better chance of judging your career choices. They include the American Society of Mechanical Engineers-which held its first organizational meeting at Stevens in 1880, the American Chemical Society, the American Society of Engineerign Management, the American Institute of Chemical Engineers, the American Society of Civil Engineers, the Biomedical Engineering Society, the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers, the International Society for Pharmaceutical Engineers, the National Society of Black Engineers, the Society of Automotive Engineers, the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers, the Society of Physics Students and the Society of Women Engineers.

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Social Fraternities and Sororities

The decision to join a fraternity or sorority at Stevens is strictly up to the student - about 35 percent of undergraduates choose to do so. The Interfraternity Council and the Panhellenic Council establish rules and oversee rushing and pledging. The formal rushing and pledging period occurs during the spring semester. It is Stevens’ policy to actively advise fraternities and sororities on compliance with state statutes against "hazing."

Nine national social fraternities have chapters at Stevens: Alpha Sigma Phi, Beta Theta Pi, Chi Phi, Chi Psi, Delta Tau Delta, Phi Sigma Kappa, Sigma Nu, Sigma Phi Epsilon and Theta Xi. Two national social sororities have chapters at Stevens: Delta Phi Epsilon and Phi Sigma Sigma. There is also a local sorority, Omicron Pi, on campus.

Three other greek letter organizations are starting a Multicultural Greek Council: Mu Sigma Upsilon is a multicultural sorority; Chi Upsilon Sigma is a Latin based sorority; and Lambda Upsilon Lambda Fraternity is a Latin based fraternity.

Special Interest Clubs

Stevens has dozens of special interest clubs, such as the Equestrian Club, Paintball Club, Photography Club and Stevens Yacht Club, just to name a few.

For those interested in media and communications we have The Stute, our weekly student newspaper; WCPR radio; WSIT-TV, an experimental television station; Red Shift, our student literary magazine and Link, the yearbook. Each gives students practical experience in a media function and affords the college community an outlet to express their opinions.

Performing Arts

Grace E. and Kenneth W. DeBaun Auditorium is a 480-seat theater in Edwin A. Stevens Hall where many performances are held throughout the semester, with most events free to students. DeBaun Auditorium is run by a student staff trained in technical theater by its professional staff, including lighting design and operation, sound design and operation, set design, decor and construction, stage management and costumes and props.

The Ondrick Music Room in the Howe Center is available for open rehearsals most weekdays from 10AM until Midnight and for at least 6 hours each day on the weekends. Two new Boston pianos are available for use, along with two electric pianos and a number of other instruments. Recordings and sheet music are available for review and check-out. Instrument and voice lessons are also available for undergraduate students at only $25/lesson, and are given either in the Music Room or in the teacher’s studio near campus.

The Office of the Performing Arts runs both DeBaun Auditorium and the Ondrick Music Room. In addition, the Stevens Choir, Jazz Band and Concert Band are student organizations produced by the Office of the Performing Arts. Concerts for each group are at least once per semester, with rehearsals 1-2 times per week. Additional ensembles are formed as needed by student interest and availability, along with corresponding concerts and performance opportunities.

The Stevens Dramatic Society, our oldest active student organization, produces several productions per year. Students handle all aspects of production, from acting to scenery design, lighting and sound to stage and business management. In addition to book plays and musicals, improvisational theater is presented by the Off Center Comedy Troupe. Performances are held either at DeBaun Auditorium or in the Bissinger Room.

For more information on all of the performing arts at Stevens, please contact David Zimmerman, Executive Director, at 201-216-8960 or dzimmerm@stevens.edu. For a list of Artists-in-Residence, organizations, and the latest schedule of performances, please reference www.stevens.edu/performingarts.

Graduate Student Life

As a member of the Student Life Office, the Assistant Director of Student Life develops and implements the Graduate Calendar of Events for both the fall and spring semesters. The events offered on the calendar are of a social nature such as a coffee house series, picnics and tours of nearby attractions. It is a chance for graduate students to network outside of the classroom. The Calendar of Events is mailed out to all enrolled graduate students at the beginning of the fall and spring semesters. Graduate students also have the opportunity to get involved with several of the established graduate student organizations. These organizations also offer events that are open to graduate students. For more information, log on to the graduate activities web page at www.stevens.edu/grab/gsa/index.html or stop by the Student Life Office on the 10th floor of the Howe Center.

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Professional and Honor Societies

Graduate students are eligible to become members of professional and honor societies. Honor societies of interest to graduate students are Tau Beta Pi, the national engineering honor society, Eta Kappa Nu, the electrical engineering honor society, Pi Tau Sigma, the mechanical engineering honor society, and Sigma Xi, the Scientific Research Society of North America. Of particular note is that the Tau Beta Pi chapter, established before the turn of the last century, was the fourth in the country and the first in the state of New Jersey.

The Society of Sigma Xi, whose founder was a Stevens alumnus, recognizes and encourages original research in science and engineering. Election to full membership is based on noteworthy achievement as an original investigator, as evidenced by publications or the successful defense of a doctoral dissertation. Associate membership can be achieved by showing marked excellence in studies and demonstrated aptitude for research. As part of its activities, the Stevens chapter sponsors a series of lectures by authorities in various fields of science and engineering.

Among the professional societies of interest to graduate students are the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, which held its first organizational meeting at Stevens in 1880, the Society of Automotive Engineers, the Association of Computing Machinery, the American Chemical Society, the American Institute of Chemical Engineers, the American Society of Civil Engineers, the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, the American Institute of Physics, the American Institute of Mining, Metallurgical and Petroleum Engineers, the American Society for Metals, the Biomedical Engineering Society, the Iternational Society of Pharmaceutical Engineers, the American Society for Engineering Management, and the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. Many academic departments either independently or in conjunction with these or other organizations sponsor technical colloquia and seminars.

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SOCIAL LIFE OFF CAMPUS

Hoboken:

Hoboken is a unique, one mile-square community and a center of urban renaissance. Once known as the birthplace of the late Frank Sinatra and baseball, it is a wonderful place to live and is home to thousands of artists and professionals, among others. Washington Street, the main thoroughfare, has taken on a European flair with over 50 restaurants, delis and cafés, as well as art galleries, bookstores and music and dance clubs. Hoboken’s picturesque streets with renovated brownstones and quaint parks have also become the backdrop for motion pictures and television sitcoms.

Located on the west bank of the Hudson River, the waterfront plays a dominant role in the life of the city. During World War I, Hoboken was the port of embarkation for hundreds of thousands of soldiers, and later (as portrayed in the award-winning film, On the Waterfront), the city became a major center of the shipping industry. Now, in the new millennium, the waterfront is the focus of renewed interest and activity; construction is underway to turn the old ferry slips and empty piers into complexes for housing, office and recreation facilities.

Just minutes away from Hoboken is Secaucus and the exciting Meadowlands Sports Complex, home to the Giants, Jets, Devils and Nets. You can also see the circus, Ice Capades and popular musical groups perform at the Continental Airlines Arena.

Further north and west are a variety of suburban towns where many Stevens faculty and staff reside. There are shopping centers, lakes and parks, as well as farms, horse stables, water parks and ski resorts toward the Pennsylvania border, which many students visit.

New York City:
Our campus overlooks the Hudson River and New York City, the cultural capital of the nation. Whether you prefer to haunt museums or art galleries, attend the theater, or hear music ranging from classical to rock, New York City is the place to go. Eat in Little Italy or Chinatown, pick up bargain-basement-priced tickets to a Broadway or off-Broadway play, ride a bike or rollerblade in Central Park, stroll through SoHo, catch a Knicks or Rangers game at Madison Square Garden or go to the famous Bronx Zoo. A ten-minute train ride whisks you from the Hoboken PATH Terminal into midtown and downtown Manhattan. Students can also take a bus from the Hoboken Terminal into the Port Authority Terminal in midtown, or a ferry from the Hoboken Terminal to Battery Park downtown and from 13th Street to midtown.

Taking Advantage of Local Events and Activities:

The Office of Student Life can provide specific details about events in Hoboken, at other nearby colleges and in New York City, and can arrange for tours or discount tickets to many events. Special rate movie tickets for Loews Cineplex Theaters are available.

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CONDUCT AND STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES

We ask that students act in a responsible and mature manner, taking the safety of oneself and others seriously. Stevens complies with government regulations for health and safety; therefore, we also expect students to comply with all federal, state and local laws. The student handbook can be found online at http://www.stevens.edu/student_life/handbook/index.htm.

Alcohol Policy:

The legal age for consumption of alcoholic beverages in New Jersey is 21 years of age. No alcoholic beverages are permitted in residence halls where freshmen reside. Other resident students and guests may consume alcoholic beverages in private living units provided that such consumption meets the conditions listed below. Failure to adhere to the following regulations results in the termination of the gathering and/or judicial action.

A. Persons may not transport open containers of alcoholic beverages, nor may they consume alcoholic beverages in hallways, foyers, stairwells, bathrooms, in open air or public areas.

B. No kegs, "beer balls" or other such containers are permitted on campus.

C. No unauthorized distribution of alcoholic beverages, or possession of alcoholic beverages for purposes of distribution on the Institute’s premises or at Institute- sponsored or supervised activities is permitted.

D. Any event where alcoholic beverages are sold or where any charge or donation is made for admission to the event requires a special Alcoholic Beverage Commission permit, as well as registration and approval by the Institute. This permit may be obtained through the Office of Student Life.

E. Drunken or disorderly behavior on property owned or controlled by the Institute or at functions sponsored or supervised by Stevens is not permitted.

Drug Policy:

The Stevens drug policy is as follows: "Stevens Institute of Technology will not condone the use, sale or possession of illicit drugs or narcotics on the property of the Institute or on the property of any affiliated organization recognized by the Institute. No warnings will be issued. An infraction will subject the student to disciplinary action by the Institute in the form of suspension or dismissal. In addition, the student may be subject to prosecution under federal, state and local law."

Additional information about the drug and alcohol policy, or the drug and alcohol assistance program, is available from the Office of Student Life and in the Student Handbook on the web site at http://www.stevens.edu/student_life/handbook/index.htm.

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If a student violates the rules, he/she may be put on probation, be required to fulfill community service and, depending on severity and/or repetition, be suspended or expelled. Students have the right to appeal any such action before the Non-Academic Committee on Appeals. If a student is suspended or expelled, he/she will not receive any refund of tuition or fees paid.

Honor Board for Undergraduate Students

The term "honor," when used in the context of the Stevens Honor System, connotes the desire to see that students do not shortchange themselves or their classmates by receiving credit for work that is not the student’s own or for work that is not fairly produced. To this purpose the Honor Board was established in 1908.

The Honor Board is composed of a group of students elected by their classmates. They investigate a situation when a student’s honor is questioned and present the evidence to the accused student. This can result in a confession or a presentation of the evidence and its rebuttal by the accused student to the panel of students.

If a student confesses or is found guilty, the Honor Board recommends a penalty to the Dean of Undergraduate Academics. The accused student can appeal the decision of the Honor Board. Appeals are directed to the Faculty Committee on Appeals by submitting a letter to the Dean of Undergraduate Academics up to 14 days after the penalty decision of the Honor Board.

The constitution and by-laws of the Honor Board can be reviewed by visiting their web site at http://www.stevens.edu/honor_board.

Academic Dishonesty Policy for Graduate Students

Cheating during in-class tests, take-home examinations or homework is, of course, illegal and immoral. A Graduate Academic Evaluation Board exists to investigate academic improprieties, conduct hearings and determine any necessary actions. The term "academic impropriety" is meant to include, but is not limited to, cheating on homework, during in-class or take-home examinations and plagiarism. The accused may elect to be present at the hearing along with any witnesses (s)he chooses. Appeals of the Board’s decisions are first made to the Academic Appeals Committee and then, if necessary, to the chief academic officer, the Chair of the Dean’s Council. Members, chosen from the Graduate Committee, include a faculty member from each school, a graduate student and the Dean of Graduate Studies.

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