King College > Current Students > Student Services > Stewardship and Service > Chapel, Convocation and Service Policy

Chapel, Convocation and Service Policy

Rationale:

• Chapel, Convocation, and Service (CCS) are important, essential ways of partially fulfilling the core values of the college: educating persons to be intellectually proficient and disciplined, spiritually astute and mature, vocationally focused and adaptive, socially confident and compassionate, life long learners, and transformers of culture.
• CCS fit into certain Life-Span Development stages: Individual-reflective faith wherein persons are capable for the first time of taking full responsibility for their religious beliefs, and Conjunctive faith, where individuals are more open to paradox and opposing viewpoints.
• To facilitate these core values and life-span development the following policies will be applied:

Philosophy:

• Chapel is a worship service that involves the whole person, body, mind, soul and spirit.  Worship comes from inside each individual and cannot be forced from outside. The chapel space, worship format, and the act of worship itself should speak of the excellence and dignity of the God we worship.  All who come to worship are asked to conduct themselves in a way that shows respect for the space they are in, the persons they are worshipping with, and the God they love and serve.
• Convocation is an intellectual forum for the presentation of ideas that should challenge our way of thinking about and perceiving the major issues of our culture and world.  Diverse points of view are welcomed, invited, and sought.
• Service and mission projects are a means of reaching beyond ourselves to the greater community (locally, nationally, and internationally) with the love and compassion of God.  A list of approved service projects is posted on the CCS section of Blackboard and can also be found by contacting the office of the Assistant Director of Student Affairs.  All approved mission projects are posted on the CCS section of Blackboard and are coordinated through the Chaplain’s office.
• Cultural/Educational events provide ways to stimulate our intellectual and spiritual growth through the performing and visual arts and other venues of classical significance.  A list of approved events is posted on the CCS section of Blackboard.
• Study abroad opportunities are numerous at King College and provide excellent ways to expand and enrich one’s education at some of the best universities in the world.  A list of approved study abroad opportunities is on the college website and can also be found by contacting the Coordinator of Off-Campus Programs.
• All students sign the college honor code when they enroll at King College and will be on their honor regarding the recording of their attendance of CCS programs and events.  It is a part of each student’s covenant agreement when they enter the college community to participate in chapel, convocation, and service projects.  All agree to do this of their own free will.  Such participation is an integral part of a King College education.  Therefore, CCS is not a requirement imposed from the administration as much as it is an internal, personal audit.  It has to do with character and integrity.
• The College Honor Code states:  “On my honor, I pledge to abide by the King College policies described in the Student Handbook. I understand that students of King College are to be honest in words and actions, in particular, not to lie, cheat, plagiarize, or steal. I pledge to conduct myself in a manner based on Christian values and to require the same of fellow students. I understand that a violation of this Honor Code may result in my appearance before the Honor Council.”

Policy

CCS participation is required of all traditional undergraduate students.  A traditional, full time, undergraduate student as it relates to Chapel, Convocation, and Service requirements will be defined as a student enrolled in a program that is principally a day program and that meets principally on the main campus.  Therefore, CCS will not be required of G&PS students either on the main campus or off-site and will not be required of other students enrolled in off-site programs.  This policy is intended to recognize the unique nature of off-site programs. It does not reflect a lessened commitment on the part of the College to Christian higher education, rather it acknowledges that some traditional methods of fostering the spiritual life of the College may not be the most appropriate methods for non-traditional programs and sites.

• Faculty and Staff are encouraged to set an example for students through their attendance and participation in CCS.
• Students will be expected to acquire 14 CCS credits per semester.  The total CCS credits required for each academic year will be 28.
• Students will acquire CCS credits in any combination of the following:
  1. Attendance of any official college chapel or convocation: 1 credit per attendance.
  2. Participation in any official college service project: 1 credit per 1 hour.
  3. Participation in any official college extended mission project such as over Spring Break or May Term: 7 credits.
  4. Attendance of any cultural/educational event pre-approved by the chaplain’s office: 1 credit per event.
  5. Participation in any official college study abroad program: 7 credits per May or Summer Term, 14 credits per semester, and 28 credits per year.  Check with the Coordinator of Off-Campus Programs.
• Students, on their honor, will record their own attendance or service participation using a pre-arranged program on Blackboard.
• The Student Development Office will monitor each student’s credits as recorded on Blackboard. Students who do not accrue 28 credits for the academic year will be contacted by the Student Development office and informed as to how to make up the credits.  If the credits are not made up the student will be allowed to register for classes for the next semester but will not be allowed to begin classes until the credits are completed.  Further, students may not graduate and receive their diploma until all credits are completed (normally 112 for four years or a portion thereof depending on when the student enrolled at the college).
• Credits that are missing may be made up through one day of college service or mission project for each missing credit.  The service or mission project must be pre-approved by the chaplain’s office and/or the office of the Assistant Director of Student Affairs.
• Cheating concerning credits for CCS will be considered violations of the Honor Code.
• Chapel will be held in Memorial Chapel, 10:30 – 11:10 AM, Wednesdays.
• Convocations will take place in venues appropriate to the event and program, for example, the Student Center Complex, First Presbyterian Church, FAB, Memorial Chapel, White Hall Auditorium…, 10:30 – 11:10 AM, Mondays, or at other announced times.