2017-2018 CIU Student Handbook
12
STUDENT RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Authority of the University
Although Columbia International University exists for students, the board of
trustees, by charter and bylaws, is ultimately responsible for the educational
programs and campus life. The president of the university reports to the board of
trustees and is responsible for the organization and administration of the school.
Scriptural Commands and Clear Teaching
The God revealed in the Bible desires to transform, illumine, and empower faculty,
staff, and students. He is the source of all authority and has power to transform
His children into the image of Jesus Christ; He is the one who changes our lives in
community.
Scripture teaches that certain attributes are available to individuals through
the Holy Spirit. These attributes include
“love, joy, peace, patience, kindness,
goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law”
(Galatians 5:22-23; NASB). This “fruit of the Spirit” is to be sought, encouraged, and
demonstrated in our relationships.
In contrast to encouraging these positive attributes of the heart, Scripture
condemns attitudes such as greed, jealousy, pride, lust, and hatred. Although
these attitudes are sometimes difficult to discern, they can hinder relationships
with God and others and lead to unacceptable behavior. Certain behaviors are
expressly prohibited in Scripture and therefore are to be avoided by members
of the university community. These include theft, gambling, lying, dishonesty,
gossip, slander, backbiting, profanity, vulgarity (including crude language),
sexual promiscuity (including adultery, homosexual behavior, premarital sex, and
pornography), drunkenness, immodest attire, and occult practice.
Scriptural Principles Contextually Applied at CIU
Within the context of our educational mission and cultural circumstances, certain
responsibilities represent our attempt to apply clear scriptural principles at CIU.
These responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
o The responsibility to actively participate in the university’s life of prayer
and faith:
•
To observe Sunday as a special day of rest, worship, and service to
the Lord. This includes involvement in a local church;
•
To have a time of daily communion with the Lord in prayer and
meditation on the Word with a focus on personal godliness, spiritual
growth, right relationships with others, and God’s direction for life;
•
To attend chapel services for worship, inspiration, fellowship,
spiritual growth, and the dissemination of community information;
•
To attend Prayer Days each semester for corporate prayer.
o The responsibility to practice complete honesty in connection with course
work, interpersonal relationships, and daily activity in every setting:
•
To acknowledge the source of words, sentences, ideas, conclusions,
examples, and/or organization of an assignment that is borrowed
from a book, an article, another student’s paper, tapes, etc.;
•
To use only legally authorized duplication and/or distribution sources
for music and movies.