Chapel
Chapel Policies
Chapel worship services are a vital part of Southwestern. The Holy Spirit moves powerfully through the anointed Word and worship to impact students. In chapel, students get a break to tune into God’s heart and purpose, touch the Spirit’s pulse on our campus and access current campus life information. It is time well spent in the presence of God and fellow believers for a life changing experience.
1. Regular Chapel attendance will be required of all undergraduate students taking courses on campus.
Chapel is each weekday as follows:
Day of the Week Chapel Hour
Monday/ Wednesday / Friday 10:10 a.m. to 11:10 a.m.
Tuesday / Thursday 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
* Full-time students (enrolled 12 or more hours) attend chapel five days per week.
* Part-time students (enrolled less than 12 hours) attend chapels when their classes
meet before noon.
* Distance Education students taking courses on-campus follow the part-time
guidelines above.
* College Work Study students only work hours that do not conflict with chapel.
* Graduate Students are encouraged, but not required to attend chapel.
I.D. Scanners located at the back of the Full Life Center Auditorium record chapel attendance. Students must scan in at the beginning of chapel and out at the end of chapel to be counted present. Students are responsible to verify that their I.D. has their correct student information and is scanning properly.
2. A student is considered late 15 minutes after chapel begins.
3. Scanning and Leaving before the end of chapel results in an absence and disciplinary action. Students should remain until chapel is concluded. Students needing to leave chapel should immediately notify the Chapel Secretary, a Dorm Pastor or Resident Assistant to
be excused.
4. Chapel attendance is recorded by the Chapel Secretary’s office. The office will report to students each month the number absences to date. Excessive absences will result in penalty and loss of privileges for the students. The following scale will be used to determine
acceptable chapel attendance each semester:
0 - 15 Absences Acceptable
16 – 19 Absences Unacceptable –
Student will be placed on immediate Chapel
Probation for remainder of semester – See #8 below
20 or greater Absences Failure – Student will be placed on immediate Chapel
Probation for remainder of semester and will be on Chapel
Probation for the next full semester This scale applies to students required to attend chapel every day. Students with work release will have a reduced number of chapel absences allowed. Reports are updated in the Chapel Secretary’s Office and student inquiries into their record are welcomed.
5. Chapel Excuses. The chapel attendance policy takes into account possibilities of absence due to: (1) serious illness, (2) death in the immediate family, or (3) unavoidable circumstances. In these situations, the student should obtain a Chapel Excuse Application available in the Chapel Attendance Office. Students have ONE (1) WEEK upon returning to chapel to present the completed application and supporting documents to the Chapel Attendance Office. Submitting this form does not automatically grant an excused absence. After the application review, notice of the decision will be sent to your campus mailbox.
6. Chapel Work Releases. Students should make every effort to avoid work conflicts with the chapel hour. However, the chapel attendance policy takes into account absences due to unavoidable work conflicts. New and Continuing Students should obtain the Chapel Work
Release Application during registration week from the Chapel Secretary’s Office. All release forms and supporting documents must be turned in ONE (1) WEEK following registration or employment time. Any change in work hours/status must be reported to the Chapel
Secretary’s Office. Submitting this form does not automatically grant an excused absence. After the application review, notice of the decision will be sent to your campus post mailbox. Students with work release will have a reduced number of chapel absences allowed.
7. Chapel Absenteeism. Absenteeism will be treated with immediate and utmost concern. The Chapel Secretary’s Office will keep accurate records of chapel attendance and report individual chapel ratings to the individual student, Student Life, and the Chapel Coordinator’s
Office for inclusion on your Ministry Transcript.
8. Chapel Probation. At anytime during the semester when a student’s attendance falls to an unacceptable level, the Chapel Secretary’s Office will place that student on immediate chapel probation. At the end of a semester, any student’s attendance that falls to a failing
level will be placed on Chapel Probation for the following semester as well. Two (2) full, consecutive semesters of failing chapel attendance will place a student on suspension for the following semester.
A student’s chapel rating should be regarded seriously. Any unacceptable or failing rating negatively affects opportunities for ministry, as well as scholarships and awards. Students under "chapel probation" are not permitted to participate in any extracurricular activities, such as traveling groups, varsity sports, chapel leadership/music, school musicals/programs, summer/holiday tours, hold an office in campus organization, classes or student congress,
student missions association (SMA) or engage in a school activity which puts them in a visible, public role during the time the probation is in effect.
9. Chapel Suspension. Any student earning a failure chapel rating two consecutive regular semesters will be suspended for the next regular semester.
Chapel Code of Conduct
Daily chapel services are an essential part of campus life at Southwestern. The possibilities are unlimited when students gather together with one heart to hear the message of God’s Word, worship the living God in Spirit and truth, and respond to His will for their lives. Testimonies abound of the mighty things God has done in students’ lives during chapel services at SAGU. That legacy continues!
An important part of preparation for ministry is the development of attitudes, practices, and behaviors appropriate for corporate worship with other Christians. Scripture emphasizes the importance of this with the exhortation, “Therefore, my brothers, be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues. But everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way” (I Corinthians 14:39-40 NIV). To insure a reverent atmosphere in which God can do what He desires through the power of the Holy Spirit, the following code of conduct for chapel at
Southwestern will be enforced.
1. Students should come with an open mind and a heart expecting to receive spiritual nurture and challenge.
2. Bringing Bibles and taking chapel notes is sound practice and assists students to retain the seed of Scripture which has been sown.
3. Avoid unproductive, unethical behaviors, such as . . .
a) sleeping/slouching in chapel
b) studying or reading material unrelated to the service
c) writing or passing notes
d) distracting others during a service by talking, laughing or any other disruptive behavior
e) bringing food or drink into the chapel
f) turn cell phones off / no text messaging
g) leaving prior to dismissal
4. Scanning and leaving chapel is unethical and reflects dishonesty.
All students are subject to this code and when it is violated, the following steps will be taken:
1. A verbal warning may be given by any Resident Assistant, Dorm Pastor, Dean of Students, Chapel Attendance Secretary, Staff, Faculty or Administrator. The warning may be formalized in writing and notification of the warning given to the Dean of Students.
2. Repeated warnings will result in a conference with the Dean of Students. The student may be placed on disciplinary probation.
3. If the behavior continues, the student will be asked to appear before the Student Conduct Committee for further action.
Special Services
The University plans and conducts special emphasis services each semester. An annual Spiritual Saturation Week, World Missions Convention and other special services are held each semester to heighten the spiritual life on the campus. Attendance by ALL students (ON-CAMPUS AND OFF-CAMPUS) at these special services is required.