Student Handbook


🔙 Student Life

Introduction to Logos Student Life

Dear new seminarians,

Welcome to Logos Evangelical Seminary and joining us as a member of the Logos family. We will be spending a period of time living and learning together. The vision of our seminary: “Attempting Great Things for God, Rescuing Millions of Souls.” We hope you will take your equipping here with diligence and become a servant after God’s heart in His Kingdom.

Our seminary emphasizes a four-fold, balanced approach in cultivating your spirituality, knowledge, lifestyle, and ministry. Spirituality is not formed by books alone but through your interactions in daily life with your family, others, and responsibilities. These will all affect your ministry. In fact, the most essential training lies in spiritual formation, which cannot be learned through intensive classes alone. Rather, spiritual formation comes about step by step, through months and years of practice in relying upon the Holy Spirit. My sincere desire is that you will not forget to stress the importance of cultivating your spiritual life while paying attention to knowledge, lifestyle, and ministry. My prayer is that your studies at Logos will be of great help to you throughout your whole life.

Devotional Life

The best time to meet with God is at the beginning of the day. Our thoughts are clear in the morning, and a new day is waiting for us to start.  If for some special reason you have to do devotions at another time, it is best that you arrange it as early as possible. Choosing an appropriate time can help you come before God without rushing through it or experiencing interruptions.

Choose a place that you can use regularly for prayer in solitude. You must start with the right motives and not do devotions as a rote habit. The reason you want to spend time with God is simple: because you love Him.  You love Him with all your heart, mind, and soul, so you can’t wait to go to that special, quiet place to be with Him.

Devotions are a time for worship and prayer and not for Bible study. If you  would like to do Bible study, you can find another time for it so that your time of devotion will not take too long. Catherine Marshall once said, “I knew a long time ago that, unless I spend a short time of worship and prayer at the beginning of the day, that day will not go smoothly. I would usually ask at this time, ‘Lord, do you have something special to say to me today?’”

Below is a very practical and simple devotional procedure:

a. Read a passage of scripture or a psalm of praise.

b. Enter into a time of prayer. You can use the following acronym (ACTS) as a guide.

Adoration – Praise God’s nature, tell Him you love him, adore him, and worship Him.

Confession – Examine yourself to see if there is anything that displeases the Lord in your life and ask for His forgiveness and regeneration.

Thanksgiving – Thank Him for what He has done, for those around you, and for the things that have happened.

Supplication – Bring all your petitions before Him.

c. Listening – During your prayer time, pause to listen and let Him speak to you. If time allows, you can meditate quietly on the scriptures you have just read.

New Student Entrance Guide

Welcome, Logos freshmen, in joining the training of ambassadors for the gospel. We know that becoming a worker after the Lord’s heart requires not only the knowledge of spirituality, but also its practice in various life aspects. Doing so reminds us to learn how to face our new environment and the different customs of a foreign country or land.

The purpose of our seminary’s Office of Student Development in providing this Student Handbook is to help our students adjust to their new environment effectively in the least amount of time. Below are the items you need to attend to first as you enter the seminary:

  1.  Arrive at the dormitory (please contact the dorm manager first)
    1.1   Apply for a telephone
    1.2   Apply for electricity
  2. Report to the seminary (can be assisted by the Student Council)
    2.1 Bring the following items to the International Student Advisor:
    2.1.1  Passport
    2.1.2 I-20
    2.1.3 I-94
    2.1.4 Visa
    2.2 Report to the Registration Office:
    2.2.1   Register
    2.2.2   Select classes
    2.2.3   Pay fees at the Accounting Office
    2.3 Report to the Office of Student Department:
    2.3.1  Process Student Identification Card
  3.  Apply for (can request the assistance of student care staff, fellow students, or neighbors):
    3.1   Bank Accounts
    3.2   Social Security Number
    3.3  International Student Health Insurance
    (Please consult with International Student Advisor.)
    3.4  Driver’s License
    3.5  Car Insurance

Student Housing

Logos has three dormitory buildings available for student housing. One is called the House of Good Shepherd, which is a complex of 50 apartment units. Each unit has its own bathroom and kitchen and is equipped with a refrigerator, gas, dining table, chairs, kitchen light, hallway light, smoke detector, single/double bed, garage door remote, air conditioning, and furnace. The second building is called the House of Grace, which is made up of four single houses. Each house can house two to four people and comes with a refrigerator, gas range, and furnace, single/double bed, and garage door remote. The third building is called the House of Blessings, which is a complex of 10 apartment units. Standard equipment includes: a refrigerator, gas stove, heater, garage door remote, and single/double bed.

Applicant must be currently enrolled full-time student. Applicant must submit application form and payment to Student Development Department; once accepted, the dormitory manager will arrange for residence.

School Activities

1. Wednesday Chapel

The purpose of the Wednesday chapel is establishing a life of worship for students, imparting wisdom from the life and ministry of seasoned Christian ministers, and fostering mature Christian character. All full-time students are required to attend chapel throughout the academic year, and part-time students are encouraged to attend.

2. Wednesday Afternoon Student Activities

The campus hosts student activities on Wednesday afternoons from 1:30-2:30 pm. These activities are designed to promote relationship-building among students. They include teacher-student small group caring time, testimony sharing, exposure to missions, leisure and recreation, workshops, and special topic presentations.

If for some reason you cannot attend chapel or participate in the student activity, you must request a leave of absence.

Below are the guidelines for absences from chapel or student activities:

  1. You are allowed two absences at most each academic year. When requesting the leave, you must first fill out a permission request form at the Office of Student Development. Only after your request is granted is it effective.
  2. You must notify your advising professor and let him or her know the reason for your absence.
  3. If you encounter an emergency and are not able to ask for leave ahead of time, you need to notify the Office of Student Development and your advising professor via telephone that day, then fill out the permission request form afterward.
  4. Please do not ask someone else to bring your request for leave.
  5. If you are absent more than twice a semester without good reason, a record of this will be kept in your student file for one year; you may also lose some privileges during this period, such as voting rights and qualification for financial aid application. You may also receive a notice of warning from the Office of Student Development and be brought before the Department of Academics for discussion.

3. Prayer Meeting

Besides training students to “stand up and preach, go out and evangelize,” our seminary also expects all our faculty, staff, and students to become people who can “kneel down and pray.” “Lifting up our praying hands” is the purpose of our prayer meetings. In order to encourage all faculty, staff, and students to participate in prayer meetings, there are regular prayer meetings scheduled at both the seminary and dormitories. The seminary also designates a special 40-day prayer chain and fasting network as needs arise.

4. Pre-Academic Year Retreat

The seminary holds an annual Pre-Academic Year Retreat one week before school begins to promote vision and unity among all faculty and students. All full-time students must attend this retreat from beginning to end. If for some reason you cannot attend, you must first request leave from the Office of Student Development. Moreover, you are required to listen to audiotapes of the retreat and turn in reflective reports afterward. Absence without reason or failing to listen to audiotapes and turning in the reports will result in this record being kept in student file for one year. Some privileges during this period, such as voting rights and qualification for tuition aid application, will be taken away. The student will also receive a notice of warning from the Office of Student Development and be brought before the Department of Academics for discussion. Part-time students must choose to attend one retreat from beginning to end before graduation.

5. Caring Advising Small Group

The purpose of the caring advising small group is to care for the social life of the students and give counsel to living out the faith.

Members: Full- and part-time doctoral and master’s students, led by the advising professor
Meeting Time: Wednesday afternoon, 1:30-2:30 pm (Please refer to the schedule given by the Office of Student Development.)
Meeting Place: Decided by each small group.
Meeting Content: Arranged by each small group. Each student in the small group is given $10.00 to spend per semester. (Please request reimbursement by turning in all receipts to the Office of Student Development.) Any unspent money cannot be accrued to the next semester.

6. Personal and Relational Growth Conference

The seminary plans a Personal Growth Seminar and Married Couples Relationship Growth Retreat annually to help facilitate the relational and marital growth of the students in preparation for them to become good witnesses for the Lord and examples to others in bringing blessings to them in ministry. Dates will be announced.

7. New Student Orientation
New student orientation will be held once before each semester. Every new student must attend. If for some reason you cannot attend, you must first request leave from the Office of Student Development.

8. Social Club Activities

Social clubs are formed for the purpose of helping students cultivate various interests.

Members: Students can participate in club activities based on their own interests. If students  desire to form a new club, five students must bring their request to the Office of Student Development at the beginning of the fall semester, and the club can be formed after a request is granted. Each club has a $200 budget annually.

Meeting Time and Location: Arranged by each club.

9. Special Activities

The Student Council and the seminary will plan special activities during specific holidays or ministries. These activities help to promote relationships between the students and the seminary as well as the seminary and outside entities.

Special activities include:

  1. Campus Beautification Day/Social Service Day
  2. Good Friday Fast and Prayer Meeting
  3. New Students Welcome Party and Graduating Students Farewell Party (including Spring Festival and Mid-Autumn Festival)
  4. Commencement Ceremony

Full-time students must attend all of the above activities. If you cannot attend, you must request a leave of absence.

Student Character and Behavior

Students are called to become pastors or Christian organization ministers; as such, the biblical standard demands that they become models in word, deed, and character. Our seminary requires a higher standard for our students’ character and life testimony than societal expectations. Students should obey the law, respect the constitutional authority, and abide by the seminary’s policy and regulations. Inappropriate behaviors refer to behaviors that do not meet the benefit of our students, faculty, seminary, and the teaching process. They include (but are not limited to) the following. Violators will be disciplined:

  1. Academic errors, such as cheating, lying, plagiarism, and other dishonest behaviors;
  2. Bodily and verbal abuse, threat, coercion, or harassment which damage other’s health and safety;
  3. Use or possession of illegal drugs, over-drinking, and smoking;
  4. Sexual misconduct, such as sexual assault, harassment, and homosexual behavior;
  5. Attempt or acts of theft and damage to seminary or personal properties;
  6. Possessing, copying, or using seminary keys without permission, and entering and using seminary facilities without permission;
  7. Illegal possession or possession of guns, explosives, other weapons or dangerous chemicals on campus without permission;
  8. Stealing or inappropriate use of seminary’s computer equipment, such as:
    8.1 Entering, reading, or altering staff, faculty, or personal files without permission;
    8.2 Transmitting or deleting seminary computer system materials without permission;
    8.3 Using other’s identification or password without permission;
    8.4 Using computer equipment to interfere with other students, staff, or faculty;
    8.5 Using computer equipment to watch, transmit, or receive obscene, indecent, and other inappropriate information;
    8.6 Using computer equipment to interfere with seminary’s regular operation of computer systems;
  9.  Fighting or use of slandering, vulgar language;
  10. If, for any reason, the student’s marital status changes during the program of study (e.g. marriage, divorce, remarriage…), he or she shall notify the SDD (Student Development Department) at least three months prior to the change. SDD, if possible, will arrange or refer the student to necessary counseling services (e.g. FOCCUS premarital counseling, professional marital counseling). If the student intends to conceal the fact, the case will be forwarded to the Student Disciplinary Committee for further evaluation.
  11. Violation of seminary’s academic rules and regulations. When the Student Character Committee handles student disciplinary cases, it strives to conduct itself in the spirit of Galatians 6:1-2 by taking Christ-like effort to care for the overall good of the student so that its decisions will promote his/her learning, growth, and professional development. The student, seminary, and church’s long-term well-being should be the primary consideration of the committee’s decision-making process. For the seminary to become a responsible and redeeming entity, we hope the entire faculty and student body can bear the responsibility of notifying the Office of Student Development immediately upon discovering any inappropriate, immoral, and damaging word or deed done by any student to the seminary or to his/her ministering organization. Upon receiving a report of misconduct, the Dean of Students should begin a necessary investigation at once, which includes communication with all involved parties, evaluation of the possibility of resolution by the involved parties themselves, or further action. If no resolution can be found, the Dean of Students should gather all information provided by the involved parties and bring a written report to the Seminary Business Council. When necessary, the Student Character Committee should further investigate and interview all those involved. The Committee should refer to the written report brought by the Dean of Students and discuss in detail to verify if the student has violated seminary regulations. If it is found to be true, the Committee must present its findings to the Seminary Business Council. The Dean of Students, who is the chairperson of the committee, should notify the student orally and in writing the decision of the seminary and any related disciplinary actions. The student can choose to accept the verdict of the Committee or appeal to the Seminary Business Council. The statement of appeal needs to be submitted within two weeks of the verdict. Upon receipt of the statement of appeal, the Seminary Business Council should further discuss the case. The student also has opportunity to clarify his case in writing for the Business Council to deliberate. The Seminary Business Council should make its final verdict within 30 days. The entire faculty and student body should abide by the final decision of the Seminary Business Council and seek unity within the seminary. Any disciplinary action executed upon any student by the Office of Student Development must be reported to the Faculty Council. All the hearing/deliberation records, decision, and statement of appeal documents shall be kept on file by the Office of Student Development.

Organization
Student Character Committee
Chairperson: Dean of Students
Members: Academic Dean, one professor representative

Disciplinary Actions:

  1. Warning: first time violator or unintentional violator of seminary regulations will be given a written warning. This record will be kept on file for one year from its effective date.
  2. Probation I: violators of seminary regulations in action or attitude shall be kept on probation for one semester. If no visible correction is found, the student will be suspended or dismissed.
  3. Probation II: violators of academic rules will be kept on probation for one semester and related course credit will be revoked.
  4. Suspension: the Student Character Committee will decide the period of the student’s suspension. Once the suspension is over, the student can apply for re-entry.
  5. Dismissal: Serious violation of seminary regulations will cause the Student Character Committee to discipline the student with total dismissal.
  6. The Committee will decided whether the above disciplinary action(s) will appear on the student’s grade report. The period of record keeping will be decided by the Committee.

Student Grievances and Method of Suggestion

General Grievance Guidelines
In case of grievance, the student should talk to the other entity (student, faculty, or staff) privately according to the spirit of Matthew 18:15-22 and resolve the issue at the initial onset of the incident. If the student does not think he/she can resolve the issue on his/her own, then they can proceed with the following guidelines:

  1. If the student cannot resolve the issue on his/her own, he/she can request the assistance of the Dean of Students or the advising professor, under strict confidentiality, to resolve the issue; and the relationship shall terminate after the issue is resolved. When necessary, the parties involved may sign on the resolution agreement and keep a copy for themselves; the third copy should be sent to the Office of Student Development for record keeping.
  2. If the grievance cannot be resolved, the student shall submit a written report to the Dean of Students within two weeks, detailing the history of the incident and approaches taken for settling the issue.
    The Dean of Students shall interview the parties involved and conduct a thorough investigation, then meet with all parties involved to seek resolution. If the grievance can be resolved, the Dean of Students shall present a written report within two weeks, and all parties involved shall sign the report. The original copy shall be kept on file at the Office of Student Development, and each party involved shall have one copy to keep.
  3. If the grievance is concerns a violation of seminary regulations or the student committed an offense and does not show remorse, the Dean of Students shall refer the case to the Student Character Committee for a hearing. If the case has to do with faculty and staff, then related department head(s) and Director of Human Resources shall sit in at the hearing.
  4. If the grievance is not resolved after the following of all the procedures listed above, the student can appeal to the Seminary Business Council within two weeks. The chairperson of said Council shall call a hearing to resolve the grievance. The Council may invite other members (such as the president of the student body) to sit in. The committee shall reach a decision within thirty days, and the verdict, signed and dated by all involved parties, shall be delivered to all parties. The Office of Student Development shall keep the verdict and hearing records on file. The verdict shall not be changed, and shall be presented at the Seminary Business Council or the Faculty Council. If a member of the committee is involved in the situation, the Dean of Students shall assign another faculty/staff member in their stead. If the Dean of Students is involved, the seminary President shall assign someone else to take care of the issue.

Sexual Harassment Grievance Guideline:
The seminary adheres to the California state government’s stipulation to provide a safe learning and working environment for all students, faculty, and staff. Any sexual harassment act is deemed damaging to our educational environment. Our seminary will do all it can to prevent and eliminate the occurrence of such acts. Any violator shall take responsibility for their own behavior and accept punishment. This guideline applies to all students, faculty, and staff. Outside entities, such as visitors and contract workers, shall submit to this guideline as well.

  1. Definition:
    direct or indirect sexual aggravation, which includes uninvited sexual conduct, sexual demand, and/or inappropriate verbal language or physical act related to sex.
  2. Whom to appeal in case of sexual harassment:
    a. The Dean of Students will handle sexual harassment grievances concerning students or faculty/staff.
    b. The Seminary President will handle sexual harassment grievances concerning department heads.
  3. Grievance Procedure:
    When sexual harassment is encountered or in question, you may bring your grievance to the person in charge. After discussion, you may proceed with the following:
    a.
    Informal Grievance: First, try your best to solve this issue as an informal grievance. If a resolution cannot be reached, you may present the case as a formal grievance. Discussion with the person in charge does not constitute a formal grievance.
    b.  Formal Grievance:
    (1)  You must state your grievance concretely in a written petition; after signing the petition, you may present your grievance to the person in charge.
    (2)  During the investigation, you must tell the name of the accused and the content of your complaint. The person in charge must notify the accused immediately and let him/her know what he/she is being accused of. Everything should be kept in confidentiality during the investigation.
    (3)  After the investigation, if punishment is required, the seminary will act according its own rules. The accused has the right to request counseling. Only after proven guilty will record of the act be kept in the student’s personal file.
  4. Revenge:
    No individual shall carry out revenge or threats of revenge in any form to the person(s) executing the seminary’s rule. If revenge or threats of revenge is suspected, further punishment will be executed. Punishment for revenge or threats of revenge shall not be changed no matter what the outcome may be from the grievance investigation.
  5. Punishment for False Accusations:
    If the grievance is proved to be false after investigation, the false accuser shall receive punishment according to the seminary’s rule.

Student Council Articles

I. General Guidelines

1. This council is named the Logos Evangelical Seminary Student Council (referred to as “the Council” below).
2. The purpose of the Council is to advocate the spirit of self-discipline and self-governance among students, to enhance fellowship and care among students, to create a communication channel between seminary and students, and to promote seminary assignments.
3. The office is located at the main campus of Logos Evangelical Seminary.

II. Membership

4. Those who are studying full-time at Logos in the D.Min., M.Div., M.A.C.S., or Th.M. programs become full members of the Council automatically. Part-time students may apply for associate membership through the Office of Student Affairs but with no voting rights.
5. The rights and responsibilities of membership:

1) Members have the rights and responsibilities of attending the assembly meetings and participating in the various ministries promoted by the Council.
2) Members have the rights of election, being elected, and deposition of coworkers.
3) Members shall pay the membership fee. The amount of membership fee is to be proposed by the coworker team and decided at the assembly meeting.
4) If a student has completed a degree program and begins another degree program (e.g. Th.M. or D.Min.), they will need to pay the membership fee again. Those who did not go through the graduation process but transfer to another degree program will be exempt from paying the membership fee again.

III. Structure and Meetings

A. Member Assembly
6. The assembly is composed according to the Bylaws Article 2 Section 4 and is the highest decision-making body.
7. The assembly shall be held at least once a semester and be presided over by the Chairperson.
8. Special assemblies may be called by the coworker team or at the written request of one-third of the members.
9. The quorum required for the assembly is half of the number of the members. The assembly is established only if attendance reaches half of the members.
10. Any action taken or decision made is approved only by at least majority of the attending members at the assembly.
11. If necessary, the Chairperson may invite faculty or faculty representatives to observe the assembly.

B. Coworker Team
12. The number of Council coworkers is seven in all and includes positions in the following areas: secretary, caring, activity, finance, general affairs, and worship. The vice chairperson shall take on one of the jobs listed. The assembly shall elect an auditor from the members.
13. Members who have not completed one semester at the seminary have voting rights but shall not be elected. (The Dormitory Council coworker election will be held after the Logos Student Council coworker election.)
14. Coworker Election Procedure:

1) Election is held at the winter assembly after the last chapel service in the fall semester.
2) Candidates are full members of the Council.
3) Election is by anonymous votes.
4) Election process
a. First, elect the seven coworkers.
b. Then, elect the chairperson and vice chairperson out of the seven coworkers.
c. Other coworker positions will be assigned among the coworkers and announced later.
5) If in the first round of voting there is no one who has received more than half of the votes, vote again between the ones who have highest and second highest votes.
6) If two have the same votes, then the assembly shall conduct the election again.
7) The current chairperson shall not be re-elected for chairperson.

15. Coworker Deposition Process
Deposition may be proposed by written request of one-third of the members and approved at the special assembly with votes of two-thirds of the attending members.
16. The Duties of the Coworker Team
1) Carry out decisions made at the assembly.
2) Take responsibility for council affairs when the assembly is not being held.
3) If necessary, propose the revision of bylaws according to Bylaw Article 4 Section 21.

17. Job duties of each coworker
(1)Chairperson
(A)Represent the Council to external parties
(B)Preside the member assembly and coworker meeting
(C)Attend and coordinate various ministries
(D)Promote and coordinate various ministries

(2)Vice Chairperson
(A)Assist chairperson to promote the Council affairs
(B)If the chairperson cannot perform his or her duties for any reason, act on behalf of the chairperson
(C)Assist and support other coworkers

(3)Secretary
(A)Collect and organize meeting minutes and related documents
(B)Communicate activity announcements
(C)Provide information for the seminary newsletter

(4)Finance
(A)Responsible for accounts payable to and receivable of the Council (the Council funds are kept in the Office of Student Affairs)
(B)Make the list of account activities available for the public
(C)Provide a budget of expenses and updated balance

(5)Activity
(A)Plan regular social events
(B)Assist in coordination of seminary events

(6)Caring
(A)Care for student life needs
(B)Care for small group operations
(C)Assist new student reception

(7)General Affairs
(A)Purchase supplies for Council events
(B)Coordinate resources and decorate facilities for Council events
(C)Other duties related to general affairs

(8)Worship
(A)Arrange praise and worship for the Council’s regular events
(B)Arrange praise and worship for the Council’s special events

18. Coworker Team
1) Meet at least once a month
2) Invite faculty or faculty representative to the meeting if necessary
3) Regular meeting is valid only if two-thirds of coworkers are present
4) Agenda items shall be approved by two-thirds of the coworkers

IV
. Supplementary Articles

19. These bylaws are to be approved by the member assembly and forwarded to the seminary before taking effect.
20. Any revision of these bylaws may be proposed by the Coworker Team or written request by one-third of the members and approval by two-thirds.
21. If there are any questions in regards to these bylaws, the Council Coworker Team will interpret them.

Other Information

Medicine Cabinet

The seminary keeps a medicine cabinet in the Student Activity Center to provide basic internal and external medicine for emergency use.

Emergency Telephone

For the convenience of students, the seminary provides a telephone by the Office of Student Development for emergency use. Telephone use guidelines:

  1. Please make sure that your call does not go for longer than five minutes.
  2. The telephone is provided for local calls only (626 area code). Please use your own telephone card for long distance calls.
  3. Please avoid using office telephones. Please do not use office telephone without permission.

Besides this handbook, other related information can be found in the Dormitory Handbook for the House of Good Shepherd and House of Grace, as well as Financial Aid Handbook. If interested in more information, please check with the Office of Student Development. Please also provide your most updated information to this office for future corrections.