SUPERIOR RESOURCES

Priyanka Nair ‘08 of India did research on genetically modified tumors with Robert Kurt, associate professor of biology.

A high-speed network links computers in offices, classrooms, libraries, and residence halls to College servers, applications, the Internet, and Internet 2. Wireless network access is available to students at many locations including all residence halls, the libraries, and Farinon Student Center. As soon as you arrive at Lafayette you will be assigned a user ID and password that gives you access to these facilities. You can bring your own computer or use one in one of the public computing labs available in several buildings.

Skillman Library, the principal learning and information center on campus, was completely renovated and expanded recently. Skillman and Kirby libraries house 530,000 volumes; subscribe to 2,200 magazines, journals, and newspapers; and have an extensive collection of electronic journals, full-text databases, and online indices. Students also have access to 30 million volumes in the Pennsylvania Academic Library Consortium’s virtual online catalog.

The facilities in the completely renovated and enhanced Acopian Engineering Center are superb and are provided exclusively to support undergraduate engineering education. From day one you use the laboratories as part of your course work. A special feature is the team of technicians who work with you to complete a design project or fabricate a device.

The Williams Visual Arts Building is one of the leading high-tech facilities for art education in the country. It includes sculpture and painting studios, a flexible studio area, a gallery, and seminar rooms. Other resources for the humanities include the Williams Center for the Arts for plays and concerts; music studios, including an electronic studio; numerous campus publications; a radio station; and visits from artists and specialists in specific fields of study.

Oechsle Hall provides state-of-the-art facilities for psychology and neuroscience and Hugel Hall of Science is an outstanding complex for biochemistry, chemistry, and physics. Ramer Hall was remodeled in 2006 to house the history department. Natural and social science laboratories feature the latest equipment and virtually all departments have dedicated student computer labs with software specific to particular fields of study.

RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES

You’ll be encouraged to do research at Lafayette. The faculty members are distinguished teachers, researchers, and published writers, 100 percent of whom hold the Ph.D. or terminal degree in their field. They put a premium on both academic and personal growth, and their first priority is teaching and mentoring.

You can do a research-oriented independent study in a particular subject, or work as a research assistant with a professor on their ongoing research through the EXCEL Scholars program. EXCEL Scholars may work part-time during the semester and full-time during January interim session or through the summer. In addition, you can pursue your own research, guided by a faculty adviser, for a senior honors thesis.

Conducting research through any of these three methods is invaluable experience. It gives you in-depth knowledge of a particular subject as well as providing favorable consideration when applying to graduate schools or for prospective employment. You will have the chance to present your research at national conferences and seminars.

LIVING ON CAMPUS

Located on a hilltop above historic downtown Easton, population 26,000, Lafayette is a friendly residential community. Housing is guaranteed to all students and required throughout their Lafayette careers. All first-year students live in one of the college residence halls. International students will most likely have a roommate from the United States. Most halls have lounges, laundry facilities, and a kitchen. All housing is within a few minutes’ walk of the academic and administrative

One of three international players on the men’s basketball team, guard Paul Cummins ’08 played last summer for Ireland’s national team. He has a double major in psychology and music.

buildings.

You will have a post office box in Farinon Student Center. This center houses the student residence and student activities offices as well as offices for many student organizations. There are two dining areas, the college book store, a movie theater, and a large lounge area for meeting your friends.

As an upper-level student, you can choose your room according to a lottery system, with seniors selecting first, juniors second, and sophomores last. The Sullivan Lane Residential Village, dedicated in 2006, features apartments for two to seven residents, single rooms, and special group housing. You may choose your roommate(s) if you plan to live in a double room or apartment.

Residence hall life is integral to the college experience. Student resident advisers, living on each floor, are trained to help other students and are always willing to share their experiences and advice. They organize programs designed to contribute to your overall experience.

You may choose to become part of a social living group and live in a house used by that group, such as Arts House for students involved in the arts. There are fraternities (for men) and sororities (for women) which have names based on Greek letters. Members of these groups often organize philanthropic and social events, and share maintenance of the house.
Students with similar interests may live together in a residence hall; of particular interest to international students are the French, German, and Japanese floors, HOLA (Heritage of Latin America floor), and CHANCE (Creating Harmony and Necessary Cultural Equality floor).

Many international students participate in the Host Family Program. They are matched with a volunteer host family from among faculty, staff, and administrators. The families invite students to their homes for dinner and sometimes to accompany them on trips to sites of interest in the area.

Easton features Two Rivers Landing, restaurants, the State Theatre, book stores, and craft shops around a central city square. Two major cultural centers—New York City and Philadelphia—are within an hour and a half driving distance from Easton and are easily accessible by bus.

Many international students travel in the United States during their vacation periods, but if you need to stay on campus, you will have living facilities available. You can remain in your hall during fall (two days in October), Thanksgiving (three days in November), and spring (a week in March) breaks.

During the January interim session and over the summer, specific college residence halls are open for students who wish to remain on campus.