General Information

Introduction - The Campus Life Handbook is the official guide for all students of Otterbein College. Published annually by the Student Affairs Office, the handbook provides information you need now and throughout the academic year.

College Mission - The mission of Otterbein College is to educate the whole person in a context that fosters the development of humane values. Otterbein College is a private, church-related co-educational college that sponsors traditional and continuing education programs of liberal arts and professional education at Baccalaureate and Master's levels. Our commitment is to the liberal arts as the broad base of all learning.

Philosophy of the College - Otterbein College, affiliated with the United Methodist Church, is grounded in a Christian heritage that fosters concern for purpose and meaning in life, the dignity of persons, and the significance of community. The Otterbein tradition offers dialogue with other faiths and philosophies, intellectual stimulation, openness to the day's issues, and incentive to new understanding. Thus, Otterbein College seeks students, faculty and staff who represent societal diversity. The College maintains openness to all qualified persons and does not discriminate with regard to race, sex, religion, ancestry, ethnicity, age, sexual orientation, disabling condition, political affiliation, veteran status or marital status.

Nondiscriminatory Policy - Otterbein College is committed to providing equal educational and employment opportunity regardless of sex, marital or parental status, race, color, religion, age, sexual orientation, national origin or disability. Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972, prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in any educational program or activity receiving federal assistance by the way of grant, contract, or loan. Title IV of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 is similar in its prohibition of employment discrimination on the basis of race, sex, religion, color or national origin. Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 prohibit discrimination against qualified individuals with disabilities. Equal educational opportunity includes: admissions, recruitment, extracurricular programs and activities, housing, facilities, access to course offerings, counseling and testing, financial assistance, employment, health and insurance services and athletics. Inquiries regarding compliance with any of these federal regulations may be directed to the Vice President for Academic Affairs, the Chair of the Affirmative Action Committee; the Director of Human Resources; or the Director of the Office of Civil Rights, Department of Education, the Office of Federal Contract Compliance, or the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

Privacy of Educational Records (FERPA)- The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) grants students certain rights in connection with educational records maintained at Otterbein College. Questions and requests for greater detail should be addressed to the Vice President and Dean for Student Affairs. The College reserves the right to notify parents or guardians of “dependent” students, regardless of the student’s age or status of conduct in health and safety emergencies, hospitalization or where, in the College’s judgment, the health or well-being of the student, or others, may be at risk. NOTE: The policy on PRIVACY OF EDUCATIONAL RECORDS is available, in its entirety, in the Student Affairs Office.

1. Students, parents, and foreign government agencies supporting dependent students have access rights to the educational records maintained about them during their enrollment.
a. “Dependent” means being listed as such on the parents’ annual federal income tax statement, or (in the case of foreign students) receiving at least 50 percent or more of their support from parents or foreign government agencies. (Note: There is a separate definition of dependency for federal financial aid purposes.)
b. Non-immigrant foreign students have agreed to give the Immigration and Naturalization Service access to certain information.  

2.  Certain educational records are exempt from this access right.

3. “Directory information” – the starred (*) items below can be furnished without the student’s permission, unless the Student Affairs Office receives a written request from the student, annually by September 30, to exclude themselves from the directory.  However, please be aware that when we exclude information, it is either all or none. 
*  a.     Name
*  b.     Addresses - campus, home, and/or local address
*  c.      Telephone numbers - campus, home, and/or cell phone
*  d.     Email address – campus
*  e.     Campus SMC Number
*  f.      Enrollment Type
    g.     Date and place of birth
    h.     Major field of study
    i.      Participation in officially recognized activities and sports
    j.      Dates of attendance at Otterbein College
    k.     Degrees and awards received while attending Otterbein College
    l.      Most recent educational agency or institution attended by student
    m.    Weight and height of members of athletic teams
 *  n.     Pictures
    o.     High school of student
    p.     Greek affiliation
    q.     Class rank of student

4. Unless the student waives access in writing to specific information, and with the exception of items described in number two above, all educational records reviewed and placed in the student’s files following January 1, 1975, are considered available to the student.

5. Students have the right to inspect and review their student educational records within seven days of the day Otterbein receives a request for access. Students should submit to the Registrar’s Office, Career Center, Financial Aid Office, Business Office, Student Affairs Office, Alumni Affairs Office, head of the Academic Department, or their appropriate official, a written request that identifies the record(s) they wish to inspect.