Student Character and Behavior

Students are called to become pastors or Christian organization ministers; 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 greatest benefit for our students, faculty, seminary, and the teaching process. They include (but 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 in possession of illegal drugs, over-drinking and smoking;
  4. Sexual misconducts, such as sexual assault, harassment, and homosexual behavior;
  5. Attempt or acts of theft and damage to seminary or personal properties;
  6. In possession, copying, or using seminary keys without permission, and entering and using seminary facility without permission;
  7. Illegal or in possession of guns, explosives, other weapons or dangerous chemicals on campus without permission;
  8. Stealing or inappropriate use of seminary’s computer equipments, 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. Violation of seminary’s academic rules and regulations.When the Student Character Committee handles student disciplinary cases, it should 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 bliss should be the primary consideration of the committee’s decision-making process.

    For the seminary to become a responsible and redeeming entity, we hope all the 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 report of misconduct, the Dean of Students should begin necessary investigation at once, which includes communication with all involved parties, evaluation of the possibility of resolution by involved parties themselves, or taking 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 with 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. All the 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 above disciplinary action(s) will be decided by the Committee whether they appear on the student’s grade report. The period of record keeping will be decided by the Committee.