Campus Life

Student Development

(Click here to view the Student Development website)

Mission Statement

The Student Development Division supports the mission of Young Harris College by creating a campus environment that cultivates and celebrates the holistic development of educated, inspired, and empowered individuals.

Rules and Regulations

By enrolling in Young Harris College, a student becomes a citizen of the College community, which consists of everyone who works, lives, studies, and learns on the campus, as well as everyone who visits the campus. Each student’s personal life should be conducted in a context of mutual regard for the rights and privileges of others. It is further expected that students will demonstrate respect for the rights of students, faculty members, and other employees. Regulations which govern the lives and conduct of Young Harris College students are to be found in the student handbook, Guide to Student Life. Individuals should further recognize that group living requires some compromises and that some regulations are necessary in order to protect the individual rights and the welfare of the College.

Student Services

Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS)

The College’s Counseling and Psychological Services is located on the ground floor of the Appleby Center residence hall. Students who are attempting to cope with one of life’s ongoing challenges are encouraged to meet with the College Counselor. Direct counseling services provided by the Counselor are confidential. Any student needing assistance beyond the professional abilities of the Counselor will be referred to community agencies or private professionals. The Counselor also provides programs in residence halls, in classrooms, at club meetings, or in similar settings. While emergency and crisis situations are given top priority, no problem is too small for consideration. The Vice President for Student Development, the Campus Minister, members of the faculty and other College employees are available to aid the student in making the necessary social and academic adjustments.

Food Services

Through its contracted food service provider, Sodexo, Young Harris College offers a program of nutritious and balanced meals in the Grace Rollins Campus Restaurant, including late-night dining Sunday-Thursday nights until 1:00 am.  Beginning in Fall 2010, students will also have the option of healthy grab-and-go sandwiches, salads, and smoothies available through the Balance Café located inside the new Campus Recreation Center. In addition to regular meal service, special dinners, picnics, and banquets are held throughout the school year.  A private dining room may be reserved for special occasions.  For groups traveling or planning an off-campus event, arrangements can be made for a sack lunch.

Health and Wellness Services

Health and Wellness Services is located on the ground floor of Appleby Center residence hall. This clinic is staffed by a registered nurse who maintains regular hours for walk-in visits Monday through Friday. Health care needs that cannot be managed at the campus clinic are referred to local physicians and hospitals. All students are required to complete and submit various health forms prior to beginning classes. Required health forms can be found on the Health and Wellness Services web pages.

Religious Life

Since the founding of the College in 1886 by a Methodist circuit-riding preacher, Artemas Lester, religious life has been an integral part of Young Harris College. Through weekly Chapel services, religious groups, Bible Study, Praise Band, spiritual life retreats, Christian concerts, mission trips, Operation Christmas Child and other service opportunities, students are nurtured and challenged to grow spiritually. Religious Life is supervised by the Campus Minister who also provides pastoral care and counseling to students and other member of the campus community.

Residence Life

The Residence Life staff is committed to provide and maintain clean and safe living environments conducive to intellectual and personal growth, where students can study and share ideas with peers, faculty, and staff whose culture, lifestyle, and opinions may be very different from their own. Residence Hall Councils (RHC) in each hall offer social and educational programs and provide residents with opportunities for self-governance and leadership development. The Director of Residence Life manages the overall residential living program, while each residence hall is supervised by a professional, live-in Resident Director and student staff on each floor.

Police Department

The Young Harris College Police Department is a certified police agency recognized by the State of Georgia. The department is staffed by certified officers with full police powers authorized to enforce College polices as well as all local, state, and federal laws. The campus is patrolled and an officer is on duty 24-hours a day, seven days a week, year-round.  In addition to general safety and law enforcements services, the Police Department maintains campus crime statistics and reports, conducts educational programs, issues parking decals and enforces campus parking policies, and provides safety escorts, lock-out assistance, and security and traffic/parking assistance for athletic and campus-wide events. The Police Department office is located adjacent to the common room in Manget residence hall.

Intramurals

The YHC Intramurals program provides students the opportunity to participate in a variety of sports such as flag football, volleyball, soccer, softball, Frisbee golf, and basketball. Through this program, students are offered ways to stay active, increase physical fitness and promote emotional well-being while competing in a structured and friendly atmosphere.

Campus Activities

Campus Activities is dedicated to planning and executing educational, social, and cultural programs for the community. The Director of Campus Activities is responsible for the advisement and direction of the Campus Activities Board (CAB) student organization that is charged with the planning and implementation of student activities and events. Any student interested in getting involved on campus can express his/her ideas by joining CAB.

New Student Orientation

Young Harris College’s orientation program, Students Together for Advising, Registration, and Transition (START), provides students with the information and skills necessary to make a successful transition to college life. New students are required to attend a summer START program preceding the opening of the fall term or an abbreviated START program preceding the opening of the spring term. During START, students and parents are informed about policies, procedures, academics, and extracurricular life. Orientation activities include the Math placement exam, registration for classes, and activities which familiarize the students with campus life.

Common Reading Program

YHC’s Ship of Thought common reading program is a first year experience initiative that brings together the campus community by requiring all first year students to read a common book. The program allows new students to participate in a shared experience which encourages community dialogue and personal reflection with their peers as well as faculty and staff. Each year a book is chosen by the campus community and the themes of that book are integrated into a number of activities both inside and outside of the classroom throughout the academic year.

Student Conduct Council 

The Student Conduct Council is in place to evaluate the student conduct system, recommend policy and procedural changes, recommend sanctions for student conduct violations, and oversee and populate the Hearing Board, Appellate Board, and Traffic Appeals Board.  The Council is comprised of 6-10 students, 3 staff and 3 faculty members. The Associate Dean of Students manages the students conduct system and serves as the advisor to the Student Conduct Council.

Student Organizations

(Click here to view the Student Organizations website)

A variety of clubs and organizations contribute to students’ educational experience through development of individual talents, leadership, and service outside the classroom. Policies regarding clubs and organizations are contained in the Guide to Student Life.

Special Interest Groups

• Campus Activities Board
• College Republicans
• Delta Gamma Drama Society
• Inter-Greek Council
• Invisible Children
• Political Science Organization
• Pro Musica Camerata
• Student Government Association
• Young Democrats
• YHC Bass Sports Club
• Young Harris Outdoor Club

Social Organizations

• Alpha Iota
• Alpha Omega
• Alpha Xi
• Gamma Psi
• Phi Alpha Phi
• Phi Delta
• Sigma Beta Sigma
• Zeta Pi

Campus Publications

• Corn Creek Revue
• Enotah (Yearbook)
• Enotah Echoes (Newspaper)

Religious Groups

• Baptist Collegiate Ministry
• Inter-Religious Council
• Newman Club
• Praise Band
• Wesley Fellowship

Honorary and Service Groups

• Circle K
• Common Ground
• Dorcas Society
• Phi Theta Kappa
• Spat Club

Other Opportunities for Involvement

• Bible Study Groups
• College Choir
• Compulsive Lyres
• Concert Band
• Guitar Ensemble
• Jazz Band
• Intramural Sports
• Leadership Conferences
• Outdoor Education
• Theatre Young Harris

Intercollegiate Athletics

(Click here to view the Intercollegiate Athletics website)

Young Harris College fields intercollegiate teams in men’s basketball, women’s basketball, men’s baseball, men’s cross country, women’s cross country, men’s golf, women’s golf, men’s soccer, women’s soccer, women’s softball, men’s tennis, and women’s tennis. Each team plays a full schedule and competes against four-year NCAA/NAIA institutions. The teams are ranked often at the top of their region and frequently compete for the national championship. Several players have been drafted by professional leagues. The women’s soccer team finished second in the nation in 2004 and in 2006 won the NJCAA national championship. The College holds membership in the National Junior College Athletic Association and in the Georgia Junior College Athletic Association. Future plans include the submission of an application by June 2011 for membership in NCAA, to include membership in a prestigious Division II Conference.

The College believes that participation in intercollegiate athletics is inherently beneficial and promotes values, cooperation, responsibility, fair play, loyalty, tolerance, and respect for authority, which will have a positive influence on the student athlete during the collegiate experience and throughout life. The athletic staff seeks to instill in athletes the realization that they are indeed fortunate to possess the abilities of mind, body, and spirit that allow them to attend college and participate in athletics. We believe that athletics benefits the athlete, the College, and the surrounding community. Ability-based scholarships give athletes an opportunity to receive a quality education, to fulfill their dreams of participating in collegiate sports and to enter doors to future endeavors both on and off the field. Young Harris College students, faculty, and staff benefit from interaction with athletics. The teams also offer the local community an opportunity to see quality athletic competition at a minimal cost and attract many visitors to the College.

Buildings and Grounds

(Click here to view the Building and Grounds website)

The main campus of Young Harris College comprises approximately 525 acres, containing 25 major buildings in the core campus. The College owns more than 100 additional acres of wooded mountain land adjoining the main campus. A trail runs from the campus to the top of Brasstown Bald, the highest mountain in Georgia.

The Alumni Office houses the offices of the Director of Alumni Services and the Assistant Director.

The Berry Outdoor Education Center (OEC) is named in honor of Irene Hackney Berry and was given to the College as a part of the estate of Irene Hackney Berry. The OEC serves as the home base for the Tennis Complex.

The Carter and Irene Berry Campus, named in honor of Carter and Irene Hackney Berry, was given to the College as a part of the estate of Irene Hackney Berry.

The Center for Appalachian Studies houses both Appalachian Studies and the Bonner Leaders program. The Center has both classroom and office space.

The Charles R. Clegg Fine Arts Building, completed in 1965, is named in honor of a former president of the College. The Clegg Building contains the Hilda D. Glenn Auditorium with a seating capacity of 1,060 and a large stage and orchestra pit for theatre and music presentations. The Clegg Building also houses studios, practice rooms, a choral rehearsal room, and classrooms for the Division of Fine Arts.

The Cross Country Trail utilizes the immediate campus and surrounding area and is easily one of the most scenic and challenging in the state. Approximately two miles in length with a compacted gravel surface, the course incorporates a variety of challenges for runners, traversing mountainous and flat terrain, crossing bridges and short stretches of pavement. The course includes switch-back portions and connecting loops making it possible to easily add to the length of a meet.

The Department of Outdoor Education is comprised ofOutdoor Education classrooms, offices, equipment storage, programming and services.

The Duckworth Library was named for J. Lon Duckworth ‘20, an alumnus and trustee of the College and Henry Duckworth ‘17, a benefactor. Completed in 1969, the facility includes a wireless network, a 24-hour study room, and a variety of seating options including study carrels and group study areas. The library complex also houses the Campus Technology Center. The Duckworth Library contains a diverse collection of materials to support teaching and learning. The main collection contains more than 45,000 volumes, including audio-recordings, DVDs, and bound periodicals. In addition, the Library subscribes to over 53,000 electronic books and more than 170 active periodicals. The Byron Herbert Reece collection, the Merle B. Mann collection of Indian artifacts, Vietnam Veterans Oral History project, and the Ogletree Lincolniana collection are housed in the library. Most of the library’s holdings are accessible through the library’s online catalog, available through the library’s homepage. Thanks to advances in technology, the library’s services and resources extend far beyond the walls of Duckworth Library. The library provides students and faculty with access to an excellent collection of databases and electronic texts and journals, provided by GALILEO, (Georgia Library Learning Online) that can be searched from anywhere, on campus or off. Through an international network of libraries, library staff can also obtain materials that are not available locally. Reference librarians are available to assist users with services and collections during most of the hours the library is open. In addition, they visit classes, teach workshops, and schedule individual research consultations. Through its collections, facilities and services, the Duckworth Libraries upholds its mission to support teaching, learning, and research at Young Harris College.

The Fine Arts Annex, located across the street from the main campus, houses the College’s Art Department and provides space for music instruction.

The Frances Wood Wilson Soccer Field, used by the women’s soccer team, honors the wife of Fred B. Wilson, a trustee and benefactor of the College. Funds for construction of the facility were provided by the Frances Wood Wilson Foundation.

The Goolsby Center for Humanities and Social and Behavioral Science, completed in 1993, is named in honor of G. Milton ‘16 and Ophelia Roberts Goolsby ‘16. This 40,000 square foot building provides 12 classrooms and 20 offices for Humanities and Social and Behavioral Science faculty. In addition, the Goolsby Center contains a conference room, the 158-seat Wilson Lecture Hall, and the Dobbs Black Box Theatre.

The Grace Rollins Dining Hall is named in honor of Mrs. Grace C. Rollins, whose late husband, Mr. O. Wayne Rollins, served as a trustee of the College for 21 years. The building includes an attractively decorated public dining area, a faculty/staff dining area, and the Robinson Dining Room, a private dining area named for College trustee J. William Robinson, which seats 40 people and is designed for audio-visual presentations. The building was completely renovated in 2007.

The Hesed House, established by a student-faculty committee, was home to the College’s presidents from 1930 to 1960 and now houses the Academic Success Center.

The Intramural Field is used by the College’s intramural athletic program.

The Maxwell Center for Mathematics and Sciences, completed during 1979, is named for Alva Maxwell ‘14 and Edna Stephens Maxwell, who gave many years of devoted service to the College. Mr. Maxwell served on the College’s Board of Trustees for 63 years, and, for 16 of those years, he served as its chairman. The history of the family of Mrs. Maxwell is intertwined with that of Young Harris College. Her grandmother, Mrs. Nancy L. Robertson, gave the original parcel of land upon which the College was established. This multipurpose classroom building houses the physical and biological sciences, mathematics and the O. Wayne and Grace Rollins Planetarium.

The Men’s Soccer Field is used for intercollegiate soccer and practice.

The Myers Student Center, named for Dr. T. Cecil Myers ‘40, provides a space for study, recreation, and gathering. In addition, the Myers Student Center is used for special occasions such as dances, receptions, and lectures.

The Observatory is situated just a few minutes from campus, the College’s observatory benefits from its high elevation and access to the wonderful dark skies of northern Georgia. In addition to the main telescope housed in a 15-foot dome, the facility also contains piers which mount two 8-inch scopes. The observatory has a number of other telescopes that can be used on the site as well. The main telescope is a Meade 16-inch reflector with Schmidt Cassegrain optical design. It has computerized pointing capability, which means the astronomer can simply select the desired viewing target from a large database of astronomical objects, press “Enter,” and the telescope will automatically point to that target and begin tracking it. The observatory is located at an elevation of over 2000 feet on the flanks of Brasstown Bald, the tallest peak in Georgia. The site is on Georgia state property, near the Brasstown Valley Resort. The high elevation, combined with the relatively low light pollution in the area, make for excellent viewing conditions on clear star-filled nights.

The Rollins Planetarium, located in the Maxwell Center for Mathematics and Science, was made possible through the philanthropy of Wayne and Grace Rollins. With seating for 109 people under a 40-foot dome, the planetarium features a GOTO “Chronos” star projector and a newly-installed Sky-Skan definiti fulldome digital projection system.

The Pruitt-Barrett Administration Building was constructed in 1949 and was renovated and expanded in 1986 and 2000. The building is named in honor of two benefactors of the College, J. C. Pruitt and Guy Barrett. The Pruitt-Barrett Building houses the offices of the Vice-President for Enrollment Management, Vice President for Student Development, Business Office, Financial Aid Office, Registrar’s Office, Human Resources Office, and the Academic Advising Center.

The Rivers Softball Field, named in honor of alumnus, Governor E. D. Rivers, is used for intercollegiate women’s softball.

Sharp Hall, built in 1912, is the second oldest building on campus. Last renovated in 2009, Sharp Hall houses the Myers Student Center, YHC Bookstore, and offices of the President, Executive Vice President and Provost, Vice President for Academic Affairs, Vice President for Advancement, and Vice President for Planning, Assessment and Registration.

Sharp Memorial United Methodist Church, constructed in 1949, is a memorial to a former president of the College, Joseph Astor Sharp. The Church serves the needs of the College and the community.

The Susan B. Harris Chapel, a memorial to the wife of Young L. G. Harris, was built in 1892. Last renovated in 2009, the Chapel is used as a general assembly hall for vespers, concerts, and lectures. The Chapel is the oldest building on campus and is more closely associated with the traditions of the College than any of the other buildings.

The Tennis Courts, built in 2010, are located adjacent to the Berry House. The twelve courts provide the College with the facilities to host and participate in intercollegiate men’s and women’s tennis.

The Zell B. Miller ‘51 Field, named in honor of Governor and US Senator, Zell B. Miller, is used for intercollegiate baseball.

Residence Halls

The Appleby Complex, named for alumnus and trustee, Scott B. Appleby 1895, was first occupied in 1961 and is composed of three units: Center, East, and West. Center and West are arranged in two-room suites with a connecting bath. East is divided into six units, with each unit containing three two-person rooms with two baths and a living room. Center has space for 116 students; East has space for 40 students; West has space for 44 students. Each division has an apartment for a resident director, a common room, and a laundry room.

Enotah Hall, completed in 2010, is a state-of-the-art facility and accommodates 200 students. Each unit will has two two-person rooms with two baths, a living room, and a kitchenette. The building contains four Wenger music practice rooms, study rooms, and an apartment for the residence hall director.

Hillgrove Hall, completed in the fall of 2002, contains 48 rooms and accommodates 96 students. Each room has its own bathroom. Also within the hall is an apartment for a resident director, a TV lounge, a computer room, and a laundry room.

Manget Hall, completed in 1956 with funds given to the College by Mr. Scott B. Appleby 1895, honors the memory of Mr. John Manget. The building includes 11 units and accommodates 67 students. Each unit has three two-person rooms with two baths and a living room. Also within the hall is an apartment for a resident director, a common room, and a laundry room.

New Residence Hall, to be completed by the 2009 Fall Semester, will be a state-of-the-art facility and will accommodate 200 students. Each unit will have two two-person rooms with two baths, a living room, and a kitchenette. The building will also contain four Wenger music practice rooms, study rooms, and an apartment for the residence hall director.

Rollins Residence Hall, completed in 1986, honors the late O. Wayne Rollins, who served as a loyal trustee of the College for twenty-one years prior to his death in 1991. The building includes 11 units and accommodates 88 students. Each unit has four two-person rooms, two baths, and a large living room. Also within the hall are guest quarters, an apartment for a resident director, a common room, and a laundry room.

Each of the College’s residence halls is outfitted with cable TV; courtesy telephones are available in each common room; and each room has access to the College’s computer network and to the World Wide Web.