3.0 Community Life
3.2 Equal Employment Opportunity
3.3 Discrimination and Harassment Policy
3.5 Illicit Drugs, Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms Policy
3.6 Non-Academic Disciplinary and Grievance Policy
3.7 Students with Disabilities
3.8 Campus Facilities and Services
All students are expected to conduct themselves in a manner which would become the office of minister. Although not all students studying at the Seminary are preparing for professional ministry, the “office of minister” is the standard of conduct expected.
- Respect for others should be the foundation of all relationships.
- Students are expected to be fully acquainted with all published policies and will be held responsible for compliance with them.
- Students are expected to comply with all federal, state, and local laws. These principles also apply to any conduct that is likely to have an adverse effect on the Seminary. One aspect of conduct is the ability to adhere to Seminary policy and procedures. Students who do not register on time, pay their bills on a timely basis, return requested forms, return library books, pay library fines, write thank you notes to donors, etc. are breaching Seminary policy and engaging in conduct which does not “become the office of minister.”
- Misconduct also includes, but is not limited to the following: dishonesty, substance abuse, illegal gambling, destructive negligence, falsification of records or other information, harassment or discrimination, imperiling the safety of others, and abusive or patterned promiscuous sexual behavior.
The Seminary reserves the right to investigate and sanction alleged misconduct even when it occurs off campus if the misconduct impacts the educational activities of the institution. The Seminary usually will apply the Student Code in instances where off campus or online conduct occurs in connection with a Seminary sponsored event, when students are acting as representatives of the Seminary, when the alleged misconduct affects another member of the Seminary community, or when the conduct suggests a potential danger or threat to others.
3.1.1 Disciplinary Action
Students who engage in inappropriate conduct of any nature will face action up to and including criminal prosecution and expulsion from the Seminary. Students may be dismissed at any time at the will of the faculty. Disciplinary actions for less extreme violations of the code of conduct are described as follows: The Office of the Dean receives and reviews all complaints and concerns about a student’s conduct.
No anonymous charges will be given consideration. If the Office of the Dean finds that a student’s behavior is harmful to others, creates an impediment to the teaching mission of the Seminary or violates Seminary policy and/or procedures, the Dean will discuss the behavior with the student. If the conduct is considered to be of a serious nature, the Office of the Dean has the option to:
- Suspend the student immediately for a period of time deemed appropriate for the misconduct, or
- Impose non-academic probation for a specified time period, not to exceed one year
If after the suspension/probationary period, it is found that the student has not corrected the behavior that resulted in the disciplinary action, the Dean may permanently suspend the student from his or her academic program.
Special students and Auditors who violate Seminary policy and/or engage in inappropriate behavior can be expelled from a course. If the behavior is severe, or if it is a second violation, they can be prohibited from enrolling in future courses.
3.1.2 Appeals
If a student believes that disciplinary action by the Office of the Dean is unwarranted, he or she may file a formal complaint with the Seminary’s Student Complaint and Advisory Committee. (See Appendix B: Student Complaint and Advisory Committee Policy & Procedure.)
The process by which students’ complaints and appeals are handled can be found at How Complaints and Appeals are Handled.
3.1.3 Re-Admission
Any student dismissed for non-academic reasons or under permanent suspension may not apply for re-admission to the Seminary for a period of two full years from the date of dismissal. Procedures for readmission are described in Student Handbook section 5.7.5, Application for Re-Admission after Academic Dismissal.
3.2 Equal Employment Opportunity
Lexington Theological Seminary is an equal opportunity employer. All recruitment and employment programs and procedures are administered by the Seminary without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, citizenship status, age, or physical or mental disability of otherwise qualified individuals.
3.3 Discrimination and Harassment Policy
The Seminary does not accept or tolerate harassment, discrimination, misconduct, or sexual violence in any form on its campus, in its courses, or in other settings directly related to the Seminary. (See policies in Appendix C: Title IX Policy and Grievance Procedures: Sexual Harassment, Discrimination, Sexual Misconduct; Appendix D: Policy Statement on Racial Discrimination/Harassment; Appendix F: Polity Statement on AIDS/HIV; Appendix G: Whistleblower and Anti-Retaliation Policy).
Persons to whom this policy applies include the administration, faculty, staff, mentors, trustees, and students of Lexington Theological Seminary. All affected parties are strongly urged to study the policy Appendix H: Language Issues. This document expands upon the theological and practical implementation of just language policies at Lexington Theological Seminary.
3.4.1 Just Language Statement
Lexington Theological Seminary’s mission is to train men and women to be leaders of the church. To that end, the administration, faculty, staff, and students covenant together to strive for both our written and spoken language, to reflect the equality of the people of God, and to maintain the mystery of God. “Just Language – language that reflects our changing consciousness about God, the universe, ourselves, class, gender relations, race, disabilities, and violence – is essential if we are to overcome injustices and hatred that obstruct peace, equality, and harmony for which we long.”1
3.4.2 Accountability within the Seminary Community
This policy will be specifically communicated to all incoming students, faculty, and staff. All incoming students and newly hired faculty and staff will receive the policy which provides theological reflection and practical guidelines for implementation of the Seminary’s policy, emphasizing the importance of language issues in the Seminary Community. Faculty members have complete freedom to specify the way in which language issues will be treated in classroom discussion and written work. If no explicit statement is made, students should assume that they are responsible for knowing the written recommendations included in the above referenced policy.
Students, faculty, and staff members who choose to use exclusive language for people or who choose to use God-language of one specific gender only (thus choosing not to follow these recommendations) may be informed by any member of the community about the effect their usage has on others. Such reminders are generally most effective in private conversation.
3.5 Illicit Drugs, Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms Policy
The possession, sale, or use of alcoholic beverages is prohibited on campus and all Seminary-sponsored academic, cultural, or social events unless specifically authorized by the President of Lexington Theological Seminary. No smoking or use of tobacco in any form, including e-cigarettes, is allowed inside Seminary facilities or at public gatherings of the seminary community.
All Seminary members are prohibited from unlawful possession, use, dispensation, distribution, or manufacture of illicit drugs at Seminary facilities, on Seminary business, or at Seminary-sponsored activities.
Lexington Theological Seminary prohibits the possession of any firearm or deadly weapon on Seminary property or at Seminary-sponsored events, even if an individual has been issued a license by the State or is otherwise legally permitted to carry a weapon.
For the complete policy see Appendix E: Illicit Drugs, Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms Policy.
3.6 Non-Academic Disciplinary and Grievance Procedures
For a full statement of the policy and procedures for Student Complaints and its Advisory Committee at Lexington Theological Seminary see Appendix B: Student Complaint Advisory Committee Policy & Procedure. For a full statement of the policy and processes for grievance procedures at Lexington Theological Seminary see Appendix C: Title IX Policy and Grievance Procedures: Sexual Harassment, Discrimination, Sexual Misconduct.
3.7 Students with Disabilities
The Seminary complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 regarding students with disabilities. No otherwise qualified individual shall be denied access to or participation in the services, programs, and activities of the Seminary solely on the basis of a disability. The Seminary shall provide reasonable accommodations for each eligible student who has a physical or mental impairment or is regarded as having such impairment.
Each eligible student is responsible for presenting relevant (no more than three years old), verifiable, professional documentation and/or assessment reports to the Dean. Information concerning a student’s disability is treated in a confidential manner in accordance with applicable federal laws. Documentation presented shall be reviewed to verify the existence of a disability. Further documentation may be required from the student to substantiate the claim of a disability or to assist the Seminary in determining appropriate accommodations. Documentation must meet the following criteria:
- Issuance by a qualified professional (must include the evaluator’s name, title, credentials, license number, signature, and date of evaluation on letterhead stationery);
- Provision of a diagnostic statement identifying the disability and the date of the original diagnosis and including a description of the diagnostic criteria and/or diagnostic tests used;
- Description of the current functional limitations of the disability for major life activities and in an academic environment;
- Details of all medication (dosage and existing side effects), assistive devices/services, and treatments currently prescribed or in use;
- Description of the expected progression or stability of the impact of the disability over time; and
- Recommendations for accommodations, adaptive devices, assistive services, and compensatory strategies to compensate for the functional limitations.
Students requiring special accommodations must contact the Dean for an initial discussion concerning the request for accommodations. The Dean is the school official responsible for determining what constitutes a reasonable accommodation for the disability. Following the Dean’s decision, the Registrar shall communicate to the student’s instructors concerning the accommodations granted the student.
The Seminary prohibits discrimination or harassment based on disabilities. Grievance procedures for non-academic issues including discrimination or harassment are outlined in Appendix C: Title IX Policy and Grievance Procedures: Sexual Harassment, Discrimination, and Sexual Misconduct. The Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean is the designated “school official” for Title IX matters pertaining to discrimination and harassment.
3.8 Campus Facilities and Services
Access to Seminary facilities is a privilege. Students and visitors are reminded to respect all Seminary regulations with respect to campus facilities and services. Students requiring clarification of policies or procedures regarding campus facilities should contact the Business Office and review Appendix M: Campus Safety & Security Policies.
3.8.1 Bosworth Memorial Library
The Bosworth Memorial Library has more than 100,000 physical items (books, bound volumes of periodicals, microforms, and other media) as well as over 35,000 electronic books, and regularly receives nearly 100 periodicals. Additional materials are available through interlibrary loan. Research information is also available through library access to extensive electronic databases. The library also maintains an audio-visual library. Recordings of seminary chapel services, convocations/lectures, etc. are available for check-out. The library maintains a web portal to its many resources and services at http://lextheo.libguides.com/home. See Appendix O: Library Policies for a full statement of the library’s policies and procedures.
3.8.2 Online Writing Lab
Seminary students are expected to be able to write at a graduate level. In order to help students reach that level, LTS offers those students who need assistance one-on- one help through an online writing lab service provided by Smarthinking. This is introduced in the orientation course required of all entering students and is accessed through a unit embedded in courses. See Handbook Section 5.13, Seminary Writing Support Policy.
3.8.3 Counseling
Students wishing to discuss personal concerns are invited to use the following services:
- Faculty: Each member of the faculty is available to students. The primary matters discussed with the faculty are academic and vocational; however, discussions with faculty are not limited to these issues
- The Office of the Dean: The Office of the Dean works with students, advocates for students in appropriate circumstances, and works to assist individual students in solving problems that might inhibit academic progress.
3.8.4 Verification of Enrollment
The Registrar will provide verification of enrollment for loan deferments, denominational inquiries, etc. Students must complete a Student Information Release Request form. If a deferment or other request contains a release section to be signed by the student, the Information Release Request form is not required.
Subsequent to provision of the verification by the Registrar, the student is responsible for reporting to the lending or other agency any changes in enrollment (number of hours, etc.). The student should be aware that failure to provide notification of such changes may be construed as fraud.
3.8.5 Transcript Requests
Requests for release of a transcript must be in writing and must carry an original signature. Everyone requesting a transcript must use a Student Information Release Request form. Requests from students/former students with unmet financial obligations in the Business Office will not be honored until the obligation is met.
The transcript can be provided to the student/former student or mailed directly to a third party.
- One work week should be allowed for preparation of a transcript. It is rare that transcripts can be provided on demand. Requests for transcripts must be pre-paid. There will be no credit or invoicing.
- Transcripts are $10 for the first copy and $2 for each additional copy requested at the same time.
- Transcripts are printed on safety paper which cannot be altered and will show the words “COPY” when copied. The back of the transcript includes a key explaining the grading system, transfer hours, etc.
3.9 Use of Seminary Resources – Computing Resources
Computers and printers are available for student use in Bosworth Memorial Library. Adding, deleting, and changing computer software is not permitted. See Appendix P: Information Technology Policies.