/Institutions/Lancaster-Bible-College/json/2024-2025/Traditional-Undergraduate-Student-Handbook-local.json

/Institutions/Lancaster-Bible-College/json/2024-2025/Traditional-Undergraduate-Student-Handbook.json

Campus Standards and Restorative Conduct Process

Lancaster Bible College | Capital Seminary & Graduate School educates students to think and live a Biblical worldview and to proclaim Christ by serving Him in church and society. We do this in a safe environment and in a way that honors God and one another in our Christian living and learning community.

Willing compliance with college policies should not be a burden. Rather, it reflects respect for God-appointed authority and the shared joy of living and studying among our community of believers. A student admitted to Lancaster Bible College accepts the responsibility to conform to all College rules and regulations.

Purpose of Discipline and Accountability

The purpose of discipline at Lancaster Bible College is to help all students move toward spiritual maturity and to ensure our campus is a safe, healthy environment for living and learning in line with our Community Lifestyle Standards. Our approach to discipline is Gospel-centered (Colossians 3:12–17) with the following goals in mind:  

• Protection – allowing students to be safe and kept from harm.

• Correction – allowing consequences to be useful as a warning and call to abandon sinful behavior.

• Redemption – allowing hope to return and rescue individuals from destructive patterns.

• Restoration – allowing individuals to restore their relationship with God and others.

Discipline begins with self and flows outward to others in humility and mutual accountability. Each student has the responsibility to care for their own choices and shares responsibility to confront one another in love (Galatians 6:1-5). The progression of loving confrontation begins with friends, then moves upward to Resident Assistants, then Student Affairs leadership. Even if the confronted individual does not respond, we are to remain prayerful and committed to the restoration of that individual (Matthew 18:15–17).

Depending on the circumstance and situation, Student Affairs leadership may need to become involved immediately with the purposes of discipline and accountability in mind, especially those of a more serious nature with impact to the individual or the campus community.

If a student is having difficulty with an issue in his/her life, whether it be in violation of the Community Lifestyle Standards, LBC Handbook or not, he/she is strongly encouraged to seek help from a member of the campus community. When students voluntarily come forward seeking help, every effort will be made by the College to bring healing, wholeness, and reconciliation. Student Affairs, faculty, and C3 staff are eager to listen and help students through difficulties. 

Responsibility and Enforcement

The Board of Trustees is charged by law with the responsibility of establishing policy governing the conduct of the College, its employees, and its student body. The president of the College is appointed by the Board of Trustees and is entrusted with the internal governance and administration of the College. The Board of Trustees orders and directs the president of the College to administer and enforce its policies as herein announced. In carrying out this responsibility, the president is vested with authority to take disciplinary action appropriate to various circumstances. The president has delegated this function to the Office of Student Affairs.

The president reserves the right to retain any case involving allegations of a student violation in which:

• College property has been damaged or destroyed.
• The conduct in question may threaten the safety of any member of the college community or any college property.
• The conduct in question and the associated investigation would disrupt the educational process and/or orderly operation of the college.
• A federal, state, or local law may have been violated.

Student Disciplinary Procedures

Students are held accountable to the LBC Handbook policy and Community Lifestyle Standards. When there is a report or incident involving a potential violation, a Student Affairs team member will contact the student, under the oversight of the Dean.

Lancaster Bible College will not act arbitrarily or capriciously. Students will be treated fairly and given due process.

1. Student Affairs personnel will meet with student(s) to investigate, discuss the incident report, and collect facts regarding the incident. 

•  Student Affairs representative will outline potential Handbook or Community Lifestyle Standards violations. 
• During the initial meeting, students will have an opportunity to share their account and ask questions.

2. The Student Affairs representatives may consult with any of the following resources during an investigation: documentation from incident/concern forms, input from Residence Life team members, Director of Residence Life, Athletics, Students, Faculty, Staff or Public Safety.

3. Conduct meetings will seek to cover three main areas:

Truth telling: What happened and who was harmed?; 

Confession and Ownership: What a student thinks and feels about what happened.; 

Gospel: How God and His Word applies to this situation.

4. If differing accounts exist, individual meetings will be held to seek the truth.

5. The dean or a Student Affairs representative will update the participants throughout the discussion / investigation process via email.

6. Student Affairs committee will provide recommendation for outcome.

7. A final meeting will occur with the primary participants to discuss findings and sanctions (if needed). If participants fail to attend the final meeting, conduct letters will be sent and sanctions enforced immediately. Failure to attend will also void the opportunity of appeal.

Preponderance of Evidence Standard

Lancaster Bible College applies the preponderance of evidence standard to investigations, where the burden of proof is met when a claim is more likely than not to be true.

Truthful Testimony

It is a community expectation that students are honest when asked about a situation involving potential Community Lifestyle Standard violation(s). If a student lies during this process, the severity of the situation and/or sanction may be escalated.

Appeals

A student has the right to appeal a disciplinary decision made by the dean or his/her representative. All appeals will be heard by a vice president or his/her designee. An appeal must be made in writing, include the basis for the appeal, and must be received within three (3) calendar days after the receipt of an imposed sanction. Appeals must be based on one or more of the following claims:

• The sanction imposed is grossly disproportionate to the offense.
• The decision was not supported by substantial evidence.
• New evidence has become available that would significantly alter the results.

Any information included in the appeal that does not apply to the above three reasons for filing an appeal will not be considered in the appeal process. After reviewing the incident report(s), appeal letter, and other pertinent information, the vice president or other appeals officer will render a decision within 10 business days of receiving the appeal and any related information. Appeals of suspension or expulsion will go before an impartial appellate review board who will recommend a decision to the vice president. If more time is needed to decide, the participants will be notified. The decision of the appeals officer is final and will be provided to the student(s) in writing.

Sanctions

The range of sanctions is directly related to the nature and severity of the offense.  The College is not required to impose the same sanctions in all situations involving the same offense, nor is the College required to always impose the maximum penalty.  Consideration is given to the student's previous discipline record and the spirit in which the student receives and responds to correction.

Graduating students who do not complete assigned consequences may have their diploma and transcripts withheld until sanctions are complete.  Students who do not fulfill their disciplinary sanctions will be subject to further discipline, with the increased possibility of suspension.

The following sanctions are listed in order of ascending severity.  Typically, one or more sanction(s) may be imposed per violation, including, but not limited to: 

1. Admonition: An oral statement to the student explaining that he/she has violated a student regulation.
2. Censure: A written statement to the student explaining that he/she has violated a student regulation.
3. In-Kind Restitution: This may include, but is not limited to, the reimbursement of costs for damage to, or destruction of, college property or property of any person; restitution in the form of appropriate service to be completed by the student; the relocation of the student within college housing facilities; and the required attendance of the student to the appropriate educational programs.
4. Monetary Fine: A monetary fine of an appropriate amount for minor disciplinary violations.
5. Community Service: Service performed for the purpose of strengthening the community.
6. Social/Community Probation: Indicates the behavior exhibited is socially unacceptable. Therefore, a designated period of time is set, and a specific action plan is agreed upon for the student to complete.
7. Restriction of Privileges: The restriction of any college privileges, co-curricular participation, or placement within the Residence Hall for a specified period of time.
8. Disciplinary Probation: A specified period of review and adjustment during which a student is under an official warning that his/her violation was very serious. While on disciplinary probation, a student will be considered as “not in good standing” with the college and may face specific restrictions on his/her behavior and/or college privileges. Students involved in similar or additional disciplinary incidents while on probation may be recommended for immediate suspension or expulsion.
9. Eviction from Residence Hall: Eviction from college housing without a refund if the student is currently residing in a residence hall or an on-campus apartment.
10. Disciplinary Suspension: The denial of enrollment, attendance, and other privileges at the college for a specified period of time. In cases where a student is suspended for the duration of the semester, clearance for re-enrollment must be received from a dean. Permission to apply for readmission upon the termination of the period may be granted with or without conditions/restrictions. A student who has been issued a disciplinary suspension sanction may be prohibited from visiting on campus or attending all college or open social functions and is deemed “not eligible to return” to the college during the suspension period. The suspension shall be followed by a period of disciplinary probation.
11. Interim Suspension: An interim suspension may be imposed by a vice president or his/her designee, prior to the beginning of the administrative process. The interim suspension may be imposed in extreme cases where the alleged action of a student(s) may pose a threat to the wellbeing of the college, any of its members, or him/herself, or there is substantial evidence that the continued presence of the student(s) on the campus will disrupt the college or the education process. Prior to imposing an interim suspension, every effort will be made by the dean or his/her designee to give the student an opportunity to respond to the charge(s).
12. Expulsion: The dismissal of a student from the college will preclude the ability to apply for immediate re-enrollment. A student who has been expelled is not eligible to return to the college for a period of two years. Expulsion requires approval of the President.

Restorative Practices

Restorative practices ensure an awareness of those who are harmed when community standards are violated. They seek not only to prohibit the recurrence of such violations, but to repair the relational and other damage done in the violation itself.

The following restorative practices may be referenced and encouraged within the discipline process.  Students may be given the opportunity speak into their own behavioral growth and learning outcomes:

1. Opportunity to offer official apology or provide reparation: We recognize our responsibility to confess sin to God and each other (James 5, 1 John 1:9). Student Affairs staff may act as a safe, third party to deliver an apology or reparation.
2. Behavior Plan: A plan crafted with specific behavioral goals and outcomes. The plan will clearly state the consequences if these items are not adhered to within the defined timeframe.
3. Mediation: Offered with the goal of conflict resolution and reconciliation between two or more parties.  Mediation must be agreed upon by all involved.
4. Educational Assignments: Learning assignments that address an area of thought or conduct.
5. Bible Study: Study of Bible passage(s) designed for spiritual growth. The study may be led by a member of the Student Affairs team or through independent study with follow up.
6. Service opportunity to offended parties: Restorative service will seek to identify who was harmed and repair the damage.
7. Referral to C3 Counseling Center: Counseling is never mandated but may be recommended as a helpful tool to address deeper issues affecting behavior. A C3 Referral form will be documented.
8. Accountability Relationship: One on one relationship designed to hold the student accountable to growth within specific areas related to thought and behavior.
9. Church Involvement and Spiritual Disciplines: Involvement within a local church body and regular time with God is essential and will be encouraged.

Retaliation

Federal law and institutional policy prohibit retaliation. Retaliation is defined as any adverse or negative action against a person participating in any reporting, investigation or proceeding that is perceived as: intimidating, threatening, coercing, hostile, harassing, retribution, or violence that occurred in connection to the investigation and follow-up of the report. Any person violating this policy will be subject to investigation and possible sanctions, up to and including suspension or dismissal.

Notification of parent/guardian in disciplinary matters

Lancaster Bible College reserves the right to contact parents/guardians in the case of alcohol and drug offenses by students under 21 in accordance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).

Department of Health Order for Higher Education Discipline

The U.S. Department of Health, Education & Welfare has released a General Order ED025 805. This directive informs the Judicial Standards of Procedure and Substance in Review of Student Discipline in Tax-Supported Institutions of Higher Education.

The General Order ED025 805 states:

The voluntary attendance of a student in such institutions is a voluntary entrance into the academic community. By such voluntary entrance, the student voluntarily assumes obligations of performance and behavior reasonably imposed by the institution of choice relevant to its lawful missions, processes, and functions. These obligations are generally much higher than those imposed on all citizens by the civil and criminal law. So long as there is no invidious discrimination, no deprival of due process, no abridgment of a right protected in the circumstances, and no capricious, clearly unreasonable or unlawful action employed, the institution may discipline students to secure compliance with these higher obligations as a teaching method or to sever the student from the academic community.” (pp. 5, 6)

In summary, colleges and universities do not prosecute criminals; they discipline students who violate their rules. This order views the discipline of students in the educational community, for all but the case of irrevocable expulsion, as part of the teaching process. In the case of irrevocable expulsion for misconduct, the process is not punitive or deterrent in the criminal law sense, but rather, the process is a determination that the student is unqualified to continue as a member of the educational community.

Student Conduct Records

The Office of Student Affairs maintains all student conduct files (paper and electronic formats) for matters involving Community Lifestyle Standards or Handbook violations. Conduct records are maintained separately from academic transcripts but are considered educational records subject to the federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and may be disclosed to Lancaster Bible College officials with legitimate educational interests without prior consent from students. All student conduct files are maintained as required by law, generally a minimum retention of seven years from the date of the incident.