Mid-Continent University

99 Powell Rd. East

Mayfield, KY 42066

Home

School for Global Business English

270.247.8521, ext. 374

fax: 270.247.3115

COMMUNITY PRINCIPLES AND STANDARDS

The School for Global Business English (SGBE) is a part of Mid-Continent University which is a private, Christ-centered, four-year, liberal arts institution. The SGBE community is one which seeks to honor Jesus Christ while placing a great deal of importance on relationships and recognizing the need for responsible behavior. Our “Community Principles and Standards,” found in the ESL Student Handbook, describe the environment we seek to maintain. It is also an invitation for you to join us in a very special community experience.

The SGBE, as a part of Mid-Continent University, is a Christ-centered educational program committed to promoting the synthesis of academic knowledge and Christian values for spiritual, intellectual, social and physical maturation.

SGBE students may not agree with the values or beliefs of the school or find them acceptable. Nevertheless, the responsibilities of community members must be specified to assure orderly community life. Therefore, as a part of the SGBE and Mid-Continent community, students are expected to follow the “Community Principles and Standards” throughout their time of enrollment.

Responsibilities for Creating a Caring and Respectful Community

Within our community the greatest expression of fellowship and the highest principle for relationships is love. Since God first loved us, we ought to demonstrate love toward one another. For the purpose of our community we have identified the following specific expressions of love as being among the most desirable.

Building Up One Another: We ask each member of the community to strive consciously to maintain relationships that support, encourage and build up one another.

Making Allowance for One Another: Because of our tendency to put ourselves before others, difficulties in relationships do occur. In such cases we are to respond with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience, making allowance for each other and forgiving one another.

Caring for One Another: We are responsible to care for others by coming alongside those experiencing grief, discouragement, illness, tragedy, or other personal trials. Expressions of bearing one another’s burdens include comfort, encouragement, consolation and intercession.

Respecting One Another: Because each person has worth and dignity, each member of the community is asked to be sensitive to every person. Discrimination against others on the basis of race, national origin, age, gender or disability is not acceptable. Any kind of demeaning gesture, symbol, communication, threat or act of violence directed toward another person will not be tolerated.

Speaking the Truth in Love: A community such as ours can be strengthened by speaking the truth to each other with love. Problems in relationships and behavior can be resolved constructively by confronting one another in an appropriate spirit. If the welfare of the one being confronted is valued and if the confronter is motivated by and acting in love, the process can produce growth.

Reconciliation, Restoration and Restitution: Healing broken relationships is necessary for a healthy community. When relationships have been harmed, regardless of the reason, individuals are expected to reach out to one another, forgive one another, restore relationships and make restitution.

Responsibilities for Individual Attitudes and Behavior

Attributes of the Heart: These attributes include: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. These attributes are to be sought, encouraged and demonstrated in our relationships. We are also called to integrate the characteristics of peace and purity into our lives. In contrast to encouraging these positive attributes of the heart, we all know we are often tempted to respond with negative attributes of injustice and attitudes such as greed, jealousy, pride, lust, prejudice and hatred. Although these attitudes are sometimes difficult to discern, they can hinder relationships and lead to unacceptable behavior.

Prohibited Behaviors: Certain behaviors are expressly prohibited; and, therefore, are to be avoided by all members of the community. They include theft, lying, dishonesty, gossip, slander, backbiting, profanity, vulgarity, crude language, sexual immorality (including adultery, homosexual behavior, premarital sex and involvement with pornography in any form), drunkenness, immodesty of dress and occult practices.

Academic Integrity and Truthfulness: As a Christ-centered community, we strive for honesty in all forms of academic integrity. We expect truthfulness and fidelity to be expressed in every learning context. In order to understand academic integrity and truthfulness more clearly, explicit definitions regarding the lack of academic integrity and truthfulness are listed below.

Academic Dishonesty – stealing an exam; giving another student an answer during a test; handing in work or papers written by someone else; posing as someone else to take a test for her/him.

Attendance Problems – arriving late to class more than 3 times; missing too many classes.

Cheating – Copying an answer from another student’s paper or test; peeking at notes when notes are not to be used during an exam.

Plagiarism – stealing another person’s idea or illustration and using it as one’s own without giving credit to the original author; copying sentences or paragraphs directly from an article or book to use in an essay without giving credit to the original author.

Submission to Civil Authority: Members of the SGBE community are expected to uphold the laws of the local community, the state and the nation. An exception would be those rare occasions in which obedience to civil authorities would require behavior that conflicts with the teaching of Scripture. On such occasions, each individual would submit voluntarily to the penalty for his or her behavior. Behavior resulting in arrest on or off campus is subject to review within the SGBE's disciplinary procedures. Please note that an arrest may jeopardize a student’s visa to the U.S. Therefore, serious consideration should be given before a student chooses to violate any U.S. law.

SGBE STANDARDS

In addition to subscribing to the sections on “Responsibilities of a Caring and Respectful Community” and “Responsibilities for Individual Attitudes and Behavior,” members of the SGBE community voluntarily commit themselves to the following standards of behavior. This commitment results from the conviction that these standards serve the common good of the individual and the institution. These standards are set forth as principles and values of the SGBE community that serve to preserve the ethos of the campus community and the homestay environment. Furthermore, they reflect our commitment to helping each member of the community grow in maturity and in the ability to make wise choices.

Because of the importance of trust and responsibility to one another, violations of these standards (on-campus, off-campus or at homestay residence) are regarded as a serious breach of integrity within the community.

Worship: Corporate worship, prayer, fellowship and instruction are essential for our community. Therefore, students will attend chapel. This will be an opportunity for students to learn about religion in America. You may not agree with the values and beliefs of the SGBE and Mid-Continent University. However, we ask for you to respect the community’s expressions of faith.

Personal Appearance and Dress: Students at SGBE will dress neatly, cleanly, modestly and appropriately. The student is expected to demonstrate a high degree of responsibility, including use of good judgment and discretion. Appropriate dress is also determined by the occasion and place.

Entertainment and Recreation: The SGBE expects its members to use discretion and discernment in their choices of entertainment and recreation (some examples include media, Internet usage, and games). Activities and entertainment that are of questionable value or diminish a person's moral sensitivity should be avoided. Consideration for others and standards of good taste are important, and all activities should be guided by this principle (whether on or off campus – including homestay).

Illegal and Legal Substances: The SGBE and Mid-Continent University prohibits the possession, use or distribution of illegal substances and the abuse or illegal use of legal substances, including prescription and over-the-counter medication.

Tobacco: Recognizing that the use of tobacco is injurious to one’s physical health, we encourage members of the campus communities to not possess, use, or distribute tobacco in any form on or off campus. In addition, our campus is smoke free.

Alcoholic Beverages: The community recognizes the potential risk to one’s physical and psychological well-being in the use of alcoholic beverages. It also recognizes that use of alcoholic beverages can significantly and negatively impact the community. Accordingly, students will refrain from the use of alcoholic beverages.

Gambling: Gambling (the exchange of money or goods by betting or wagering) is viewed as an unwise use of resources and is not acceptable in any form.

Respect for the Property of Others: Members of the community are expected to respect the property of others, including University property, private property on and off campus (including Homestay residence), and public property. The intellectual property of others is also to be respected.

Policies and Procedures: Compliance with day-to-day policies and procedures of the community is expected from members. These routine items are listed in the SGBE Student Handbook, the University Student Handbook, the Faculty and Staff Handbook, and the University catalog.

SERIOUS OFFENSES AND CONSEQUENCES

Our experience as academic and student personnel professionals has shown that certain practices or activities may potentially endanger or adversely affect the physical and emotional well being of members of the University community. The purpose of the following section of regulations is to draw attention to the serious nature of these kinds of practices and activities and to describe the University’s position on them. We have listed consequences for these actions to underscore our concern for the welfare of each person at the SGBE.

Hazing

Hazing is defined as subjecting a fellow student or fellow students to abusive or humiliating pranks (e.g., initiations, responses to engagements, “kidnappings,” etc.) Hazing is not permitted at the SGBE and Mid-Continent University. Any student participating in either a “just for fun prank” or in a deliberate hazing activity will be held responsible for his/her behavior. Regardless of motive or intent, any student participating in a prank-type activity, which potentially endangers or adversely affects the physical and emotional well being of another student can expect immediate and serious disciplinary action. This includes the probability of dismissal from the School. Careless or irresponsible behavior of any type which endangers or adversely affects others or which is blatant disregard for property will be confronted in a similarly serious manner.

No Nudity/Public Indecency

As a Christian community, it is SGBE policy that nudity or public indecency on campus will not be tolerated. Any student participating in these acts can expect immediate dismissal from the SGBE.

Fire Alarms

The student who pulls a fire alarm when no fire exists can expect immediate dismissal from the SGBE.

Fire Equipment

Tampering with fire hoses or extinguishers and other protection equipment is against state law and will result in immediate dismissal from the SGBE. Any type of lighting in corridors or stairways and outside is part of the system of protection. Also included are the “exit” signs and “exit” lights.

Fireworks

The possession and firing of some fireworks is against Kentucky state law. All fireworks are dangerous. Therefore, any student using fireworks of any kind while on campus is subject to immediate dismissal from the SGBE.

Firearms and Weapons

SGBE students are prohibited from possessing or storing on campus or in homestay home (including vehicles on Mid-Continent University property) ammunition, detonating and explosive devices, bows, crossbows and arrows, open blade knives, knives with blades greater than four inches, firearms and other edged weapons, devices that utilize aerosol or compressed air canisters to shoot projectiles of any type, sling shots, BB guns, pellet guns, paintball guns and martial arts weapons. Any student who stores a firearm/weapon in any location on campus (including vehicles) makes a public display of a weapon or replica weapon and/or discharges a firearm/weapon on the property of Mid-Continent University or homestay home, is subject to immediate dismissal from the SGBE. This policy is intended for the protection of Mid-Continent and Mayfield community members and is not intended to interfere with academic instruction or provided services.

OTHER COMMUNITY REGULATIONS

Racism and Racial Reconciliation

Racism and racial discrimination in any form will not be tolerated in community life on this campus. Therefore, the University has adopted and supports nondiscriminatory practices in hiring and promotion and expects all faculty, staff and students to live in a manner that consistently reflects God’s love and Biblical command that we love one another.

Any behavior, in word or deed, which shows disregard or disrespect for individuals or groups is inconsistent with the redemptive love of Jesus Christ and is not acceptable within the Mid-Continent University community. The University considers racism and racial discrimination to be serious offenses, which must be addressed firmly, and which may result in suspension or expulsion from the University.

Inappropriate behavior, which includes words or actions, should first be addressed in accordance with the “Helping/Confrontation” model explained earlier in the Student Handbook. Continuation of inappropriate behavior should be reported to the Dean for International Student Programs.

Sanctity of Life

Scripture affirms the sacredness of human life, which is created in the image of God. Genesis 1:27, “So God created humankind in His image, in the image of God He created them; male and female He created them.” Therefore, human life must be respected and protected from its inception to its completion.

Sexual Misconduct

Remaining sexually pure is God’s plan for our lives. Members of the SGBE community are committed to responding to students involved in sexual misconduct with a caring and compassionate attitude. Both male and female students will be held equally responsible for the consequences of their sexual activity.  

ESL HOME

CONTACT US