2026-2027 Student Handbook
Last Updated August 2026
The Elon University Student Handbook is a publication of the Division of Student Life.
The Student Handbook contains critical information associated with student conduct as well as information regarding campus policies and regulations.
Updates to all sections of the Student Handbook may be posted periodically. It is the responsibility of all Elon University students to become familiar with campus policies and procedures and to watch for updates, which are distributed to the community via email. The current version of the Student Handbook is posted online at: https://elon.smartcatalogiq.com/current/student-handbook/ Printed copies are available by request to the Office of the Dean of Students.
Questions or comments regarding the Elon University Student Handbook should be forwarded to:
Dr. Whitney Gregory, Dean of Students
336-278-7200 (voice), wgregory@elon.edu (email)
Elon University Mission Statement
Elon University embraces its founder's vision of an academic community that transforms mind, body, and spirit and encourages freedom of thought and liberty of conscience.
To fulfill this vision, Elon University acts upon these commitments:
- We nurture a rich intellectual community characterized by active student engagement with a faculty dedicated to excellent teaching and scholarly accomplishment.
- We provide a dynamic and challenging undergraduate curriculum grounded in the traditional liberal arts and sciences and complemented by distinctive professional and graduate programs.
- We integrate learning across the disciplines and put knowledge into practice, thus preparing students to be global citizens and informed leaders motivated by concern for the common good.
- We foster respect for human differences, passion for a life of learning, personal integrity and an ethic of work and service.
Statement of Nondiscrimination
Elon University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, or national origin (including shared ancestry or ethnic characteristics), sex (including sexual orientation, gender identity, and pregnancy or related conditions), age, disability, genetic information, religion, veteran’s status, or any other protected basis under applicable law (collectively, “Protected Categories”) in the recruitment and admission of students, the recruitment and employment of faculty and staff, or the operation of any of its programs and activities.
Consistent with Elon University’s non-discrimination statement, the University does not tolerate discrimination or harassment of employees, students, or other individuals associated with the University including, but not limited to, vendors, contractors, and guests on the basis of any of the Protected Categories, whether actual or perceived. In addition, retaliation against any employee or student for exercising their rights under this policy or applicable non-discrimination law will not be tolerated.
Any employee or student who fails to comply with this policy will be disciplined as appropriate consistent with University policy. Any employment agency, vendor or contractor used by the University will be informed of this policy. Failure to comply with this policy may result in termination of contract.
This policy applies to, but is not limited to, recruitment, employment, promotion, demotion, transfer, position advertising, reduction in force, termination, rates of pay, and selection for training.
Allegations of any policy violations by students should be directed to the Office of Student Conduct. Allegations of any policy violations by employees, vendors, or guests should be directed to the Office of Human Resources.
Commitment to the Values of Freedom of Expression and Inclusivity
As expressed in our university mission statement, Elon University “embraces its founders’ vision of an academic community that transforms mind, body, and spirit and encourages freedom of thought and liberty of conscience” with a commitment to “foster respect for human differences.” The University encourages open, ongoing intellectual engagement and debate through mutually respectful interactions that preserve the openness of public dialogue, animate the academic freedom central to the enterprise of higher education, appreciate human dignity and difference, and reflect the shared tenets of honor codes that guide good practice across colleges and universities. An environment that encourages diverse views and the free exchange of ideas is vital to the Elon University mission and, indeed, the aims of higher learning.
Elon’s mission highlights both freedom of expression and inclusion as cornerstones of a dynamic academic community, and as necessary for holistic student development in a student- and learning-centered educational environment. The exchange of ideas and the safety and well-being of the Elon community are both essential elements of a rich intellectual community.
Nurturing both freedom of expression and inclusion, Elon is committed to creating and sustaining a strong campus community, wherein each member critically examines multiple ideas and perspectives about the issues that matter most to our campus, community, and world. We foster a campus community that embraces an exchange of ideas, with thoughtful discussion, ongoing dialogue, and respectful debate that is both robust and free from harassment.
The marketplace of ideas works best when multiple voices speak and are heard, when serious ideas are taken seriously, and when impassioned responses are coupled with reason. This can be difficult and nuanced, for free speech is not without consequence and may include the condemnation of ideas or social isolation due to the expression of ideas that others view as damaging. The advancement of knowledge arises out of a crucible of difference, wherein risk and challenge are essential.
While embracing an open exchange of ideas, we also acknowledge and expect all within our community to act in ways that acknowledge that words have impact, and that impact is differential and contextual, influenced by societal structures, life experiences, backgrounds, and identities. We abhor and rebuke speech that disenfranchises, denigrates, and dehumanizes. Targeted harassment, threats, and speech that creates a hostile learning environment have no place at Elon.
There are inherent responsibilities that accompany membership in an academic community committed to the advancement of knowledge and open inquiry. These responsibilities include acknowledging the impact of one’s speech, listening openly to understand the perspectives of others, affording respect and dignity to all, contending with challenging and discomfiting ideas, being thorough in one’s own inquiries, and actively engaging when speech threatens to harm others. These values are inscribed in the pillars of Elon’s honor code: honesty, integrity, responsibility, and respect. By assuming and acting on these responsibilities, each and all of us participate in sustaining the values of the academy and creating a healthy academic community reflective of dissenting views supportive of personal transformation.
Difficult conversations challenge members of our community to be logical in our arguments, capable of respectfully seeing things from others’ perspectives, careful about what we say and how we say it, committed to the advancement of knowledge and understanding, open to change in one’s own views and actions, and resilient in the face of adversity. The learning that takes place through a robust exchange of ideas and the skills of democracy that are sharpened through such exchanges are essential to our future success, individually and collectively.