The EDGE leadership program
The EDGE Leadership Program (Effective Development through Guided Education) provides structured leadership programs, inspiring students on campus to develop their potential to be effective advocates for themselves, their peers, and their communities. What separates The EDGE from other leadership development programs is that students will have the option to complete leadership certificates that are sequential (Bronze, Silver, or Gold) or specialized (Community Service and Engagement, Athletic, or Diversity, Social Justice, and Women and Gender issues). Students who elect to participate in The EDGE will:

• Develop or enhance skills such as communication, critical decision making, analytical skills, clarification of their personal and professional values, goal setting and effective planning, and many others;
• Prepare them to be effective motivators of their peers;
• Discover their own personal leadership style and how it impacts their ability to work with others;
• Build a foundation in leadership theories and develop their own personal leadership model;
• Foster a commitment to leadership in community service, social justice, or athletics;
• Reflect on their experience either written or orally.

The EDGE program collaborates with many other departments and groups on campus to make these workshops highly interactive, well-rounded, and diverse. Other components that make up the program include: The President’s Council, The LVC Social Justice Institute, Impact (the leadership/community service newsletter), and The Student Leadership Resource Center.

For more information about this program, visit www.lvc.edu/leadership.

Community Service at the Valley
In keeping with the College’s mission to prepare students for a life of service to others, Lebanon Valley College encourages its students to get involved in volunteerism and community service. Staff in the Office of Spiritual Life work with students to coordinate service opportunities that benefit the health and well-being of the local and global community.

Individual students, student organizations, academic departments and athletic teams submit their service hours monthly. Individual hours may be applied toward Bronze, Silver, or Gold Service Awards, which are noted on LVC’s internet-based Job Center Profile. Group hours are recorded and displayed on bulletin boards in Mund College Center and Miller Chapel, providing a comprehensive picture of how the College is affecting the community. Listings of current service opportunities are also provided on these boards.

Examples of past projects include:

• work days with the local affiliate of Habitat for Humanity,
• the removal of invasive plant species in local parks, 
• participation in the Relay for Life of the American Cancer Society,
• service trips to New Orleans, and
• meal service at a local rescue mission.

Students interested in serving children, the elderly, the environment, health care, or other fields will find opportunities to give back to the community while further enhancing their educational pursuits at the College. Visit www.lvc.edu/community-service for more information.

Peer Mentors
A Peer Mentor (PM) is an upper-class student who leads a group of approximately 15-20 first-year or transfer students throughout their first year at LVC. Peer Mentors assist new students with making a successful transition to LVC through structured experiences, a mentor relationship, and being available for support for academic, personal, and social struggles or providing necessary information about appropriate support services. 

The program begins during the Fall Orientation and ends at the conclusion of the fall semester. The overall goal of the program is to make sure that each new student connects with other peers and an upper-class mentor, and the College as a whole.

Student Government
Student Government includes 34 students; 24 full-time (this includes the class officers from each returning class) and two commuting students are elected from the student body each spring for a one-year term beginning in September. In addition, eight freshman students are elected in September. Student Government officers are elected each spring from among the 26 upper-class students. Students on disciplinary or academic probation are ineligible for election.

One of the Government’s major responsibilities is to foster understanding, communication, and cooperation among the students, faculty, and administration. It serves as the channel for all students’ recommendations for establishing or changing policy and routes these recommendations to the appropriate administrative offices or faculty committees. Student Government also approves the constitutions of all campus organizations, regulates the elections of student government members and class officers, appoints student government members and other students to needed campus committees, and appropriates student activity funds.

Each spring the budget finance committee collects budget requests to determine the allocation of funds from the student activities fee to approved clubs and organizations. The committee makes its allocation recommendations to Student Government for approval. All clubs and organizations receiving funds must submit a financial statement to Student Government each semester.

With the Director of Student Activities and the College Center, Student Government coordinates and provides financing for student activities. They also plan the welcome back social, homecoming events, winter formal, and the campus-wide surprise “Dutchmen Day.” The LVC Student Programming Board plans and implements a variety of events (comedians, coffeehouses, performers, bands, lectures, Saturday trips, etc.) to entertain and educate the student body.

The Underground Dance Club
The Underground Dance Club is a student-run, non-alcoholic gathering place for current LVC students and their registered guests. The Underground is open each Saturday evening from Midnight–2 a.m. for students and their guests to meet, dance, and socialize in a relaxed, comfortable atmosphere. Admittance is free for LVC students and $3 for their guest(s). All patrons of the Underground must present some form of ID prior to entering the Club. LVC students should bring their college ID and guests must have ID showing that they are 18 years of age or older.

LVC students must sign-in their guest(s) at the College Center desk prior to entering the dance. Each LVC student may sign-in up to two guests per evening. LVC students will be held responsible for their guests’ behavior.

Recognition of Student Organizations
In order to become a recognized organization eligible to receive funds from Student Government and to hold meetings in campus facilities, new groups must apply for probationary club status through Student Government. Once approved for probationary status, clubs must do the following within a 15 week period: (1) conduct an open all-campus meeting inviting participation, (2) hold regular organizational meetings, (3) draft and approve a constitution, (4) affix the signatures of full time students interested in the club, (5) elect an executive board, (6) select a faculty or full-time staff member as an advisor to the organization and (7) submit all of this information to Student Government, the Vice President of Student Affairs or designee and to the Director of Student Activities and the College Center for approval.

Constitutions from clubs must state the purpose for the organization, the reasons such a group would be beneficial to the campus community, and how the group will contribute to the educational mission of Lebanon Valley College. No group may discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national or ethnic origin, age, or gender; and a non-discrimination clause must appear in the Constitution. Members of sports clubs such as the volleyball club, etc. may be asked to sign a waiver of liability form before participating in club activities and must meet the sports club guidelines developed by the Athletic Director.

For further specific information regarding the formation and recognition of campus organizations, see the Director of Student Activities and the College Center. 

Scheduling of Activities and Facilities
All student events need to be scheduled with the Office of Student Activities. All facilities need to be reserved through Conference Services at x6310. All facility requests must be submitted five (5) working days prior to the event. Audio visual equipment should be requested through Media Services at x6200. Posting of posters must follow the College’s posting policy.

For safety reasons, students and student organizations are not allowed to use charcoal or gas grills on campus unless the event has been approved by the Student Affairs or Conference Services staff. 

Organizational Maintenance Responsibilities
Groups utilizing College facilities for programs and meetings are responsible for the following maintenance tasks: trash removed, floors cleaned, furniture returned to original set up, windows closed, and lights out.

Campus-Wide Events
All groups must follow the following procedures when planning a campus-wide event with an anticipated audience of 75 or more individuals:

1. Obtain approval from and secure the date with the Student Activities Office. Update the Student Activities Office of all planning and implementation procedures leading up to the event.
2. Schedule the facilities with the Conference Services Office at x6310. If the event is to be held in the Arnold Sports Center, the Director of the Arnold Sports Center at x6261 must be contacted for approval.
3. All media equipment must be ordered from the Media Services Office at x6200. Equipment is limited and, often, may need to be obtained off campus. The sponsoring group will be held responsible for arranging for payment of any rental fees.
4. Depending on the anticipated attendance number and the nature and location of the event, advisors of the sponsoring organization may be required to attend. Underground staff may also be needed to provide additional supervision. The sponsoring organization may be required to cover the expenses of hiring the Underground staff and/or Public Safety for its event.
5. The sponsoring group is responsible for all of the advertising of its event. If the group wants to advertise off campus, then the LVC College Relations Office must be involved with this process. Please contact them at x6030.

Group Fundraisers and Benefits
In order to avoid conflict among student groups, all fundraisers by LVC student organizations must be approved by the Office of Student Activities. Approval is indicated by an approval signature on the form. Such clearance entitles an organization priority over groups who might otherwise attempt the same project. Forms for fundraising, available at the College Center desk, and online, must be completed and returned at least one week in advance. Exclusive fundraising events must be confirmed with the Office of Student Activities each year in September or they will not be considered exclusive.

When an organization wants to plan a benefit event or provide a fundraiser in which the money goes to a specific cause, the Student Activities Office and the Advancement Office must be involved in the planning and implementation stages of each event. The group advisor will be asked to supervise the event.

Additional Guidelines for Fundraisers

1. Any off-campus solicitations of businesses, corporations, professional partnerships, or merchants for either financial support or gifts-in-kind must be approved by the College Advancement Office at ext. 6220.
2. Money raised must be deposited in a College-sanctioned account. The College will send a check to the appropriate person(s) or charity. 
3. Credit card vendors are not permitted to actively solicit on campus. No fund-raising activity may involve the solicitation/completion of credit card applications. 
4. If items directly compete with the College store or dining services, clearance must be obtained from the supervisors of these operations. 
5. Fundraisers at athletic events must be approved by the Office of Student Activities and the Director of Athletics. 
6. Raffles must meet specific requirements and meet the guidelines stated by the Office of Student Activities. Please pick up and complete an appropriate form from the Office of Student Activities at least one week prior to your event.

Contracts
Lebanon Valley College does not accept financial responsibility for contracts negotiated by students individually or as representatives of student organizations.

Any student organization contemplating a contractual agreement is urged to discuss their plans with the Director of Student Activities and the College Center prior to finalizing and signing a contract.