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We Affirm the Dignity of the Human Spirit.
Within the Christian community, the individual is of
inestimable value and worthy of profound respect. This respect should
be demonstrated through the appreciation of individual differences. Individual
dignity is damaged by prejudice, racial or ethnic slurs, gossip, and unsubstantiated
statements, the inconsiderate or malicious conveyance of incriminating
truth, the willful misrepresentation of truth, and the use of intimidation
or physical force. The indignities against the human spirit cited above
cannot be tolerated in a community set apart for total commitment to Jesus
Christ.
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We Affirm the Sanctity
of the Human Body.
The human body should be maintained through a proper
balance of rest, exercise, and diet. The use and possession of tobacco
products, hallucinogenic drugs, marijuana, narcotics, alcohol, or the
misuse of prescription drugs may create considerable spiritual, physical,
and psychological problems; consequently, such behaviors are unacceptable.
An atmosphere of wellness, devoid of unhealthy, unbalanced behavior is
the goal for this community. Individuals possessing or using these substances
will be subject to local, state, and federal legal sanctions where applicable
as well as disciplinary action. Furthermore, the use or possession of
pornographic material in any medium is unacceptable because it exploits
the sanctity of the human body. All human life must be respected and protected
from its conception to its completion.
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We
Affirm the Priority of Learning.
Spring Arbor University is a living/learning environment
committed to the development of the whole person. Through the process
of living and learning in this community, certain identifiable outcomes
should be realized. These include: a maturing, personal faith in Jesus
Christ; a consistency between personal beliefs and behavior; the ability
to live in and take responsibility for the community; the skills to effectively
manage change; and an awareness of a personal life purpose with the requisite
skills to express that purpose in a culturally diverse society.
An environment conducive to lifelong learning must be the responsibility
of every individual. Such an environment will foster the development of
skills in critical thinking, problem solving, research writing, and fundamental
personal disciplines. Aggressive steps should be taken by members of the
academic community to ensure it. Excessive noise, disregard for established
quiet hours, and insensitivity to the personal study needs of fellow students
undermine individual progress toward academic goals. Furthermore, academic
dishonesty by its very nature is an affront to the process of learning and
to the vitality of an academic community. Academic dishonesty is an intentional
act of fraud in which a student seeks to claim credit for the work or efforts
of another without authorization and documentation, in which a student intentionally
impedes or damages the academic work of others, or assists other students
in acts of dishonesty. Consequently, such acts must evoke a disciplinary
response from the academic community. |
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We Affirm the Distinctiveness of
Our Community.
Spring Arbor University is an academic community
comprised of Christian faculty, staff, administrators, and students.
While enrollment is not limited to students with a personal Christian
faith commitment, the University's mission includes exposing students
to the truths of the Biblical Christian faith. Intellectual and
spiritual growth are both intended outcomes of an educational experience
at Spring Arbor University.
In order to encourage an atmosphere conducive to intellectual and spiritual
development as articulated in the Spring Arbor University Concept, to
recognize and honor the heritage and ongoing commitments of the Free
Methodist Church with which Spring Arbor University is affiliated, and
to be an institution whose purposes, programs, and practices are honoring
to God, the Spring Arbor University community establishes the following
guidelines and expectations for all students:
The Bible, thoughtfully and prayerfully interpreted, is our final
standard and exemplar for personal and interpersonal conduct. Scriptural
principles, including love, fairness, justice, mercy, compassion, purity,
obedience to the laws of the land, respect and self-control, are upheld
as the ideals by which members of the Spring Arbor University community
are to govern their lives. Students are expected to have a commitment
to Christian conduct, social justice, and to a consistent Christ-like
witness. We consider violations of basic Biblical principles
to be destructive to this Christian community. It should be noted that
conduct which is contrary to these stated values, and of the expectations
that follow, is subject to institutional confrontation and discipline
which may include separation from the community.
While many principles and precepts for living are given in the Bible,
not all areas of personal conduct are specified in detail. As a result,
behavioral standards vary significantly even within evangelical Christian
denominations and groups. The Spring Arbor University community recognizes
the value of upholding certain standards articulated by the Free Methodist
Church dealing with matters complementary to basic Biblical values.
Spring Arbor University endorses the statements relating to Christian
conduct in the Free Methodist Book of Discipline and encourages compliance
with these principles.
It is recognized that involvement in the Christian academic community
of Spring Arbor University may take varying shapes and levels of commitment.
Institutional expectations appropriate for some individuals may be less
appropriate for others. Factors including maturity, personal issues
of conscience, leadership roles, community expectations, effect of personal
behavior on other Spring Arbor University community members, and overall
image and mission of the University must be weighed in determining what
may legitimately be expected by the institution.
As a matter of commitment to the best interests of this intentional Christian
academic community, the following expectations, in addition to the basic
Biblical values such as stated above, are established as a baseline
for students of the Spring Arbor University community so that a work,
study, and living environment conducive to good health, Christian values,
and academic excellence can prevail.
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