STUDENT LIFE
Education at Benedictine College is more than academic. Through the “residential” pillar of the college mission, student development is an education in living and learning life skills. Benedictine College students characteristically have the desire and dedication to serve a meaningful purpose in life. This is part of the warm and spiritual atmosphere that permeates every phase of college activity and inspires students to mature and grow—spiritually, culturally, and socially, as well as intellectually—while living in community.

RESIDENCE HALL PROGRAM
Benedictine College has a rich tradition in residential life; residentiality is the fourth pillar in the college’s four-part mission. This tradition stems from the Benedictine Order which founded the first universities in Europe and established the first dormitories or residence halls near these monastic centers of education as early as the 5th century. Living in residence halls, students prepare themselves to become responsible community members through intellectual, social, spiritual, and emotional maturation. 

A professional staff Residence Director (RD) lives in and guides the community-centered life of each residence hall. The Residence Assistant (RA) is an undergraduate student who aids the RD as a member of the hall staff. RDs and RAs take a special interest in the growth of students and coordinate activities in the hall that support the mission of the college. These activities include developing and implementing service, educational, recreational, social and religious programs.

LIVING ACCOMMODATIONS
Eight residence halls serve as the foundation for building community and student life at the college:

• St. Joseph Hall was the first hall built on campus in 1924 and provides private rooms for up to thirty-one upperclass men.
• St. Martin’s Memorial Hall was completed in 1950 in memory of the fifty alumni who gave their lives in the service of their country during World War II.
• Turner Hall opened in 1957, was renovated in 2004, and in 2005 was named Courtney S. Turner Hall in honor of a long-time and significant benefactor of the college and Atchison community. It houses freshmen men in a community housing style, and is the location of St. Augustine Lounge.
• McDonald Hall, a carpeted residence hall with semi-private bathrooms, was completed in 1965. It houses upperclass women.
• Newman Hall, a carpeted residence hall with semi-private bathrooms, was completed in 1967. It houses upperclass men.
• Ferrell Hall, built in 1893 and recently renovated, was originally St. Benedict’s Abbey. It now houses upperclass women in two, three, four, and six person suites.
• St. Scholastica Hall opened in 2005. It houses freshmen women in a community housing style.
• Kremmeter, Legacy, and Wolf Halls, three separate apartment-style buildings, are scheduled to open in fall 2008. Kremmeter houses upperclass women, Wolf houses upperclass men and Legacy is a community building on the first floor with housing for upperclass women on the second floor.

Campus housing includes four campus houses that are available to upperclass students who commit to service projects on campus and in the community.

CAMPUS MINISTRY
The Mission of Benedictine College Campus Ministry is to bring the Good News of Jesus Christ to all students, faculty, and staff in the spirit of the New Evangelization and in union with the local and universal Catholic Church. Our vision is to propose faith in a way that inspires men and women to follow Christ’s vision for life and become the best version of themselves. We minister the sacraments and promote virtue, dynamic orthodoxy, Christian discipleship, ecumenical outreach, Biblical literacy, liturgical prayer, Catholic social teaching, and the charisms of our founders St. Benedict and St. Scholastica. Students of all faiths are welcome to grow in their spiritual life through activities including service trips, retreats, Mass, youth ministry, adoration, evangelization, vocation discernment, education, prayer, music ministry, fellowship, and volunteer work. We follow Jesus who said, “If you wish to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” (MT 19:21).

STUDENT GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATION (SGA)
The student government is designed to promote the general welfare of the student body in its academic, social, cultural, and religious needs.

The executive officers of the student government are the president, vice president, director of communications, treasurer and director of clubs and organizations. These officers, along with the class officers, hall representatives and communications coordinators form the Senate, which serves as the main representative and voice of the students. They are responsible for formulating and executing student government administrative policy.

ACTIVITIES AND ORGANIZATIONS
Students are encouraged to form and join organizations which contribute to the development of the whole person. The college, with the student government, provides many opportunities for cultural growth. Nationally known speakers, lecturers, players and musicians appear on the campus each year. Regularly scheduled student recitals, the Atchison community concert series, a regular program of professional performing arts events and film series, and the opportunity to hear prominent educators and artists who appear in the greater Kansas City area serve to enrich the lives of the students.

In addition, there are many student clubs and organizations, including national honor societies, social and religious organizations and service clubs. Early in the year each student has the opportunity to become acquainted with the full range of organizations, their functions and activities.

Students participate in an exciting schedule of social activities. Activities include picnics; attending football, soccer, basketball, volleyball, baseball, and softball games; Family Weekend, Homecoming, the Mother-Son/Father-Daughter, and Spring Formal; intramural sports; and other various “fun” events planned each year by Student Activities.

STUDENT HEALTH CENTER
The services of the Student Health Center, located at 1201 North 2nd Street, are available to all students free of charge.

The health center provides facilities for first aid and the dispensing of nonprescription drugs and limited primary care services through the use of nurse practitioners and/or physician assistants under the supervision of a registered nurse. In the event of serious illness or injuries, students are referred either to the hospital emergency room (located across the street from the campus) or to a physician of their choice.

POLICIES
Each student must be covered by a health insurance plan. The college offers an optional insurance plan that is available for a fee to all students and their dependents. Interested students should contact the Student Health Service or the Student Life Office.

Each new student must submit a health record that provides a health history, gives evidence of a recent physical examination and complete a required immunization series.

ADVISING AND COUNSELING

ADVISING
Academic advice and help throughout the collegiate progression of each student’s course work is directed by selected faculty members. As soon as the student chooses a major field, a faculty member in the major discipline becomes his or her academic advisor. Students are encouraged to work closely with an academic advisor in planning their sequence of courses; however, the student bears the responsibility for fulfilling all requirements for graduation.

COUNSELING
As with any age group (especially one living and studying in a residential community), students may face challenges that strain their coping abilities, create stress, and result in other problems. Professional and licensed counseling, assessment, and consulting services are readily available on campus to all students.

Counseling Center offices are located at 1201 North 2nd Street, but can be accessed with one telephone extension (x7621). Although the staff is available for emergency consultation, appointments for regular services are strongly advised.

CAREER DEVELOPMENT

CAREER COUNSELING
The Career Development Office in the Student Success Center located on the first floor of the Library assists students and alumni with career-related decisions by providing career counseling, assessment and information about occupations and graduate/professional programs. Students are offered counseling and workshops to help determine personal strengths, weaknesses, interests, skills, goals and values. To help prepare for that first professional job search, students receive guidance on interviewing skills; networking and job search methods; and resumé, cover letter and vita writing. The office also coordinates career and graduate school fairs, interview days, and on-campus recruitment.

INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
Only four hours of internship can count towards graduation. A critical aspect of career development for college students is the development of professional skills while pursuing academic studies. Therefore, all students are encouraged to participate in at least one internship. Internships are programs designed to provide students with work experience applicable to their occupations upon graduation. While freshmen and sophomore students are encouraged to hold internships in order to crystallize decisions about their future careers, juniors and seniors can receive academic credit for completing an internship.

The Career Development Office posts listings for internships which can be completed during the school year as well as nation-wide postings for summer internships. Some employers provide paid internships while others are voluntary.

JOB GUARANTEE PROGRAM
Incoming freshmen can contract with Benedictine College to guarantee a professional job upon graduation. Students are expected to maintain a ‘B’ average, attend Career Development workshops, complete an internship and participate in student organizations. If an enrolled participant does not receive a job offer within six months of graduation, the school will pay the graduate’s student loan payments for up to twelve months while providing all services available in the Career Development Office at no charge. Participants must enroll their freshmen year.

PUBLICATIONS
The Circuit (the campus newspaper) and its online edition and the Raven (the college yearbook) are edited by the students of the college. These publications encourage journalistic ability and serve as a means of communication for the students and faculty.

Loomings, a magazine of the arts sponsored by the English Department, is published yearly by the students. It includes poetry, short stories, essays, art, photography and musical compositions submitted by students and faculty.

SPORTS

INTERCOLLEGIATE
The Benedictine College Intercollegiate Athletic Department affirms a holistic approach to education formalized in goals that are intended to promote intellectual, social, physical and spiritual growth of student-athletes.

By its very nature, the athletic program is designed to serve the entire community. Students are admitted to all regular season varsity sports without admission charge with a student ID. Benedictine College currently competes in the Heart of America Athletic Conference (HAAC) and is a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA).

Benedictine College has a solid winning tradition, fielding teams that are competitive in the conference and at the regional and national levels. Since joining the Heart of America Athletic Conference in 1991, Benedictine College has won numerous conference championships in a variety of sports. Many Raven sports teams have gone on to post-season play. Former Coach Ralph Nolan, basketball player Darryl Jones and football player Jamie Mueller are members of the NAIA Hall of Fame.

The athletic arena provides an extended education for the student-athlete. Participation in intercollegiate sports provides a learning laboratory for each student-athlete. Benedictine College offers a balanced sponsorship of sports for men and women. The athletic program for men includes baseball, basketball, cross country, football, soccer and track & field. The intercollegiate sports for women are basketball, cross country, soccer, softball, spirit squad, track & field and volleyball. Benedictine athletics has produced many all-conference, all-region and all-American honorees as well as scholar-athletes.

INTRAMURALS
More than 80 percent of the students at Benedictine College participate in some kind of intramural sport activity. A wide range of activities and events serve the students’ interests and abilities. Intramural sports activities may be single gender or they may be co-recreational, depending on the sport or the event. Opportunities exist for forming teams and for individual participation.

COLLEGE POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
Students are expected to comply with college and office policies and procedures. This includes the Community Code, Student Handbook policies, the four-year residency requirement, Room Draw, Student Health, and Technology and Information Services policies.