Required Books

ECLA Library

Electronic Resources

Libraries in Berlin

Computers in the computer lab and in the workstations in student residences are maintained to support the programme of teaching and learning that is the mission of the college. Using college-owned facilities establishes a contract between the college and the student to use them legally, ethically, in accordance with their educational purposes, and with civil regard for other members of the campus community. College-owned computer facilities (including the campus network and internet connection), whether accessed remotely or locally, should not be used for commercial purposes, nor in any way that infringes German state and federal laws or international laws with regard to libel or copyright.

Computer programs and electronic files belong to the owner. They are private, confidential and protected by copyright; only the owner can explicitly give permission for another user to access them.

Individual usernames and passwords belong solely to the owner of the account.

Students are responsible for the storage of their work. Students should note that individual student files, student logins and student projects will be deleted two weeks after the official end of the programme.

ECLA is not responsible for material found, posted, sent or published from personal computer accounts, personal file servers or personal Web pages that may be traced back to this campus.

Students are responsible for keeping their personal computers updated and virus-free whenever connected to the ECLA campus network.

The following are forbidden uses of ECLA IT facilities.  This list is intended as an illustration of the kind of activities forbidden and is non-exhaustive:

• Unauthorised access or attempts to gain unauthorised access, to confidential information.

• The use of file-sharing tools to access peer-to-peer networks is prohibited, as is use of tools designed to circumvent the blocking.

• Altering or tampering with the configuration of computers in student labs and other common areas, or installing unauthorised games or other programs on their hard disks, or on the shared-files area of the file servers.

• The unauthorised physical or virtual extension, or re-configuration, of any portion of the campus network, by such means as include routers (wired or wireless), wireless access points, network wiring, or other methods.

• The download and storage of unlicensed copyrighted files (music, movies, software, etc.) on ECLA servers and computers.

Any violation of IT policies may result in the suspension or revocation of use privileges and/or the blocking of network access until final resolution of the matter.

ECLA life is demanding in many ways. ECLA students are members of an intellectual community and as such they are expected to take responsibility for that community, both within and outside the class room.

ECLA is a residential college. Living closely together on a small campus can often require good social skills and a certain level of maturity. ECLA is first and foremost an intellectual community, and the entire campus should be treated as a learning environment. We expect from everyone the respect, generosity and tolerance necessary for such a close-knit community to function well. The minimal requirements include:

• Respect for property, both for what belongs to fellow students and for what belongs to the college.
• Use of common facilities - like telephones, garden furniture, computers, laundry facilities etc - as common: do not privatise or monopolise what doesn't belong to you! Making personal property of what is intended as common is a form of theft.  
• Respect for quiet hours and quiet spaces (reading rooms and the library). Give others a chance to sleep and work in peace. The basic rules are secured by German Law, according to which there can be no loud noise in public spaces between 22.00 and 7.00, and between 12.00 and 15.00.
• Keeping common living areas clean and tidy - past experience has shown that failure to keep to this can be a great source of friction among students!
• Respect for safety regulations, including instructions concerning placement of bicycles and furniture.
• Respect for guest and party policies.
• Respect for instructors, staff and fellow-students

Failure to comply with any of the above rules will jeopardize a student's status in the programme and in severe cases may result in probation, suspension, or expulsion.

The minimal requirements are just the starting point, of course. Social life on a residential campus can only be as good as its residents make it, and generally reflects the energy, imagination and generosity they bring to it. The college provides a framework for residential life, but it is up to students to make something out of it. The best social events, artistic projects, study groups, sports games, etc. at ECLA have come about because students made them happen. The non-residential members of the ECLA community (i.e. faculty and administrators) are always happy to be invited along to parties, dinners, poetry evenings, football games and so on - they even take the initiative to get things going once in a while - but experience shows that social life works best when the students see themselves as leading the way.

Your friends and siblings are welcome to visit ECLA and to stay with you in your room free of charge. For the sake of the community's safety and for issues of liability guests who will be staying for more than a single night must be registered with the Residential Life Coordinator. Unregistered guests will be considered as trespassers.

We ask for your understanding that parents and other older relatives cannot stay in the student dorms. However, we may be able to provide other accommodations on campus. Please inquire with the Residential Life Coordinator if such accommodations can be made.

ECLA's houses are designed to be healthy living and working environments for the students enrolled at ECLA. By a 'guest', we understand a friend or relative who visits ECLA for a specified, short period of time. ECLA's houses are not hostels. "Couch-surfing" is not permitted. We are also unable to make accommodation for live-in partners, or visitors who stay much longer than a week. It is especially important that roommates agree with each other concerning what constitutes a fair use of shared space. In addition, the common areas of student houses must always be available for socialisation or study.  No one - overnight guests and students alike - is permitted to sleep in common areas. 

ECLA staff reserve the right to terminate the stay of any non-resident who violates community rules or policies, or causes a disturbance of any kind.

Students may host parties in their residences or rooms. After 22:00 parties are only allowed in the Party Room in Kuckhoffstrasse 24. Students must at all times obey the rules of the ECLA community regarding smoking, alcohol use, illegal substances, noise and guests. Failure to observe these rules may jeopardise their enrolment status. Students are responsible for cleaning up after parties.

Students are subject to disciplinary action and full financial responsibility for any damage they cause to ECLA property, including their own rooms.

Smoking is strictly prohibited in all college buildings. Students who smoke outside the buildings dispose of cigarette butts etc. in the ashtrays provided.

Violation of this smoking policy will jeopardise the student's residential privileges, and may therefore endanger the student's enrolment in the programme.

Students who drink must do so responsibly. Destructive behaviour associated with alcohol consumption may jeopardise the student's residential privileges and enrolment in the programme.

The possession and use of illegal substances by ECLA students are strictly prohibited. The normal penalty for violation of this prohibition is dismissal.

Any student who distributes illegal substances will be immediately dismissed from the programme.

It is the policy of ECLA to provide a working and learning environment free from harassment of any kind.  In a close residential community it is imperative that all its members feel not only safe and secure, but also comfortable.  Any behaviour which jeopardises this is totally unacceptable and will be dealt with severely.

Harassment is defined as unwelcome and unauthorised incidents and/or patterns of conduct and/or speech that are severe, pervasive or persistent, which render the college environment hostile, intimidating or demeaning to the victim.

Sexual harassment is defined as unwelcome sexual advances, requests and other unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature where:

• submitting to such conduct is made, either expressly or implicitly, a term or condition of an individual's employment or education; or
• submitting to or rejecting such conduct by an individual is used as the basis for employment or educational decisions affecting the individual; or
• such conduct has the purpose or effect of substantially interfering with an individual's academic, or professional performance or of creating an intimidating, hostile or demeaning employment or educational environment.

Sexual assault: Absent consent, sexual activity is exploitative, coercive and/or violent and may constitute sexual harassment, sexual assault or rape. Any behaviour on the part of a member of the college community, its guests or its visitors that constitutes a sexual offence is a violation of college regulations. It will not be tolerated and may be subject to prosecution. A member of the college community who believes he or she may have been subjected to harassment, sexual harassment or any other sexual offence should file a complaint with the Administration of the College. (In some cases it may be necessary to do so immediately after the incident.) 

Any incident of harassment, sexual harassment or sexual assault thought to constitute a criminal offence under German law will be handed over to the police, and is likely to result in dismissal.

In case of emergency, always contact the Residential Life Coordinator (0157 7149 3481).

The emergency number in Germany is 112. Please note that the use of this number if you are not in an emergency situation is prohibited and not covered by ECLA's insurance policy.  Having a temperature does not constitute an emergency. Students who use the number in non-emergency situations will be required to take financial responsibility themselves and should note that the cost runs into hundreds of Euros.

Visa

Local Registration

Residence Permit

Medical Insurance

General

Once a week, a physician is on campus to attend to routine medical consultation. The physician's office hours on and off-campus are available on the ECLA website.

Counselling

Students have access to the services of a professional counsellor. All aspects of the counselling are strictly confidential. Further details and on campus office hours for each term are announced by the Residential Life Coordinator at the beginning of each term and posted on the ECLA website. To contact the counsellor, students should email to Counselling@ecla.de.

Breakfast, lunch and supper will be served on weekdays in the dining hall at Waldstrasse 70. Brunch and supper will be served on weekends and on other days when regular classes are not scheduled. Vegetarian options are included in everyday menus. Students with special dietary needs should inform ECLA in writing before the beginning of the programme. Medical conditions can be accommodated, provided a student presents a doctor's certification in writing to the ECLA administration before the beginning of the programme.

Reading Room

Media Lab

Sport and Fitness

Bikes

Transportation Tickets