Exchange Students: About Haverford
Haverford College is a coeducational liberal arts college located outside of Philadelphia. It is nationally recognized for its strong academic program and student-run Honor Code. Haverford's size, 1150 undergraduate students, allows for close relations between students, faculty, and staff.
Although students choose Haverford because of its academic excellence, a sense of community participation informs the Haverford College experience both inside the classroom and out. Students work together through the arts and cultural activities, self-government and service programs, athletic programs, and day-to-day campus life.
Learn why Haverford might be right for you.
Academics
Because Haverford is a small school with only undergraduate students, there are small classes (the median class size is 17) and ample opportunities for students to work closely with professors. 70% of the faculty lives on Haverford's campus.
Students may take courses in a variety of disciplines and typically enroll in four courses each semester.
Student Life
Haverford has a number of political, religious, artistic, and cultural clubs and organizations which all students may join. Many exchange students participate in activities sponsored by the International Students Association. There are many volunteer opportunities for students in Philadelphia and the local neighborhoods. In addition to clubs, the college also sponsors a variety of events (i.e. concerts, dances, movies, etc.) which are open to all students free of charge.
Haverford's athletic facilities include an indoor track, weight and fitness room, athletic fields, basketball courts, fencing and squash courts. Students may also use the swimming pool located at Bryn Mawr College. Exchange students may participate in club and intramural (basketball, soccer, softball) teams.
Haverford has a single dining hall where all students on the meal plan eat their meals, making it a very social place. Additionally students may buy meals at the Coop or in Lunt Café, open in the evenings.
The Honor Code
Haverford is distinct from many schools in that it is governed by an Honor Code. The student-run Honor System, which covers academic and social life, is based on the belief that students can take responsibility for establishing and maintaining standards for their own behavior. The Code is not a list of rules, it is a philosophy of conduct through honesty, integrity and understanding.
Students are expected to take full responsibility under the Honor Code for their conduct and integrity in all academic work, including all homework assignments, papers, and examinations, and to confront those who do not. In return, Haverford students are trusted with a greater degree of freedom in their academic pursuits. Self-scheduled, take-home, and/or unproctored examinations are a routine part of the Haverford experience. In the social realm, it is expected that students will show concern for others and that problems, when they arise, will be dealt with in a spirit of mutual respect.
Exchange students are expected to adhere to the Honor Code while at Haverford.
Student Resource People (SRPs)
Exchange students arrive in August approximately a week before the start of classes for Customs, an orientation program which acquaints new students with the college and surrounding areas. Several SRPs or Student Resource People are assigned to the exchange students. The SRPs help the exchange students adjust to life at Haverford and all that it entails, including the specifics of academic registration, student services, banking, shopping, and day-to-day questions about living within the college community.
Learn more about the current SRPs.
Housing
Housing surrounding Haverford is expensive so students are encouraged to live on campus not only for financial reasons, but also to be able to be fully integrated into the college community. 98% of all students live in college housing on-campus. Transfer and Exchange students are housed together in Comfort Hall, one of the dormitories. Students are typically placed in a suite of singles with a communal bathroom for the floor. Rooms are furnished with a bed, desk lamp, shelves, dresser, closet/wardrobe, and desk.
Housing assignments are done automatically for exchange students, so no extra forms are necessary. Questions about housing should be directed to:
Marianne (Smitty) Smith, Director of Housing
Website: Housing @ Haverford
Email: msmith@haverford.edu
Phone: 610-896-1298 | Fax: 610-896-4960
Philadelphia & Transportation
Just ten miles away from Haverford are the cultural and educational resources of Philadelphia. Located in southeastern Pennsylvania, the city and surrounding area combine a unique blend of old and new. The history of the nation is relived at Independence National Park, the Liberty Bell, and Valley Forge National Park. Downtown Philadelphia offers theatre, ballet, symphonic orchestras, and restaurants. The Philadelphia area offers more than 100 museums, including the Franklin Institute and the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Philadelphia is easily accessible by the SEPTA regional rail lines (there are two stations near the campus) and it takes approximately 20 minutes to reach downtown Philadelphia. Philadelphia International Airport is also easily accessible by rail from the college.
New York City, Washington, DC, and the New Jersey seashore are all easy day trips from the Haverford campus.