The new 26-27 school year comes with a new student handbook. The changes to the student handbook followed hefty conversations amongst the school’s Dean Council and the Code of Conduct Committee. The code of conduct had not been reviewed since the publication of the latest edition.
Big changes came to the phone policy. In previous years, phones were allowed everywhere on campus, and teachers were responsible for establishing expectations on phones in their classrooms. Starting this school year, cell phones are strictly prohibited in all academic spaces. All academic buildings, the upper level of the Student Center and the pathways that surround them are phone-free spaces. Students are also not allowed to use cell phones in study pods, while walking to or from class or during breaks.
Headphones are not allowed to be connected to cell phones in these spaces. The lower level of the Student Center, all dorms and athletic buildings are the only exceptions to this new rule. Teachers have the right to confiscate cell phones. Collected cell phones will be held in the Dean of Students office where students can pick them up at the end of the school day.
The dress code also saw significant changes. Students won a battle they had been fighting for many years: blue jeans are part of the dress code.
Every Tuesday is a dress-down day. Sweatpants are and t-shirts are allowed. Dean of Students Jennifer Rundles called the new system a “give and take.”
Every F-Day in the cycle is a formal day. Formal days are a time for the entire school to dress up and commemorate a special occasion going on at school; all-school meetings fall on F-Days, often bringing in guest speakers. Days apart from Tuesdays and F-Days remain nearly the same in terms of dress code, plus blue jeans.
The point system is expanding this year; along with previous infractions, students can receive points for a cell phone violation and inappropriate language. The points system leads to distinct disciplinary actions. The first detention given to students comes at five points (it was previously at 10). At five points students will receive an email letting them know about their next-day morning detention.
Morning detentions are at five and 10 points, and always take place on D or G-Days. During detention, students will not have devices or work on homework. Instead, they will be assigned to write a letter that plans to solve those disciplinary actions that landed them in detention. After morning detentions, students can get Saturday detentions and sent to the disciplinary committee.
For substance use, the safe haven policy was edited. In case of emergency, students have the ability to call for help without facing disciplinary action. Students need to have called before being caught. The call will get them to safety, but parents will be notified and conversations will be held to put students on a better path. Due to confusion from previous years, a student does not have to explicitly call Safe Haven for the rule to be applied, asking for help is enough. Students are still not allowed to possess alcohol or drugs.
Rundles mentioned that the latest edition of the code of conduct had not been reviewed since its publication several years ago. “We wanted to make sure the code of conduct was steeped in the actual four pillars,” Rundles said.
The rules were made for LFA to prepare students for life outside the campus.
Rundles said the Dean of Students office has not seen as many phones as they were expecting, and teachers notice students are more present and productive in class.
The code of conduct is subject to change, but it has been seen to have positive impacts thus far.