The SAU Student Handbook is a central resource for students enrolled at Spring Arbor University. This document contains the current official edition of the student handbook and may be updated at any time.
The Spring Arbor University Concept
Spring Arbor University is a community of learners distinguished by our lifelong involvement in the study and application of the liberal arts, total commitment to Jesus Christ as the perspective for learning, and critical participation in the contemporary world.
Statement of Faith
We believe in one God, the Holy Trinity: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, as revealed in the Christian scriptures known as the Holy Bible.
We believe that Jesus Christ is God’s incarnate Son who lived a perfect life on earth, proclaiming God’s reign and establishing a community of disciples; who sacrificially died on the cross for the sins of all people; who rose in triumph from death, accomplishing salvation for all who truly believe in him; who is now at the Father’s right-hand interceding for us; and who will return to earth in victory, judging all people and establishing his everlasting Kingdom.
We believe in the Holy Scriptures as the inspired and authoritative Word of God. It bears unerring witness to Jesus Christ, the living Word. It is the trustworthy record of God’s revelation, completely, truthful in all it affirms, attested by the early church and subsequent councils, faithfully preserved and true in human experience.
We believe that human beings, men and women equally, are created in the image of God and are called to be his faithful stewards on earth. Although all people have become alienated from God and affected in every part because of sin, by God’s grace all who truly repent of their sin and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ are justified by faith and adopted into the church, the people of God.
We believe that repentance and belief in Christ are evidenced by commitment to a life of obedience to the authority and commandments of the Bible.
We believe that the value of human beings does not depend on their marital status, but that human families were established by God to perpetuate humankind and to provide a stable community for nurturing children in faith and righteous living. Marriage between one man and one woman is the instruction of the Bible for establishing families, and physical sexual expression is to be confined to the marriage relationship.
We believe that God not only counts believers as righteous, but that he makes them righteous; freeing them of sin’s dominion at conversion, purifying their hearts by faith and perfecting them in love by his Spirit, and providing for their growth in grace through God’s participation at every stage of their spiritual life, enabling them through the presence and power of the Holy Spirit to live a victorious life of righteousness, justice, and practical usefulness.
We believe God’s Kingdom promises to establish “a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells” (2 Peter 3:13, NIV) and where resurrected believers will participate in God’s everlasting Kingdom.
Spring Arbor University Community Distinctive
The Spring Arbor University Concept offers this community a map for day-to-day living. The following are specific resources utilized by the University:
The Bible, thoughtfully and prayerfully interpreted, is the community’s final standard and model for personal and interpersonal conduct. Love, justice, mercy, compassion, purity, obedience, respect, self-control, and wisdom are primary scriptural principles embraced by Spring Arbor University. Each member of the community is challenged to be committed to living a Christ-like life.
The Free Methodist Book of Discipline is endorsed by Spring Arbor University. As a Christian institution, founded in the Free Methodist tradition, Spring Arbor University strives to maintain standards and values that are evident within evangelical Christian faiths.
Galatians 5:13-14 reminds us that while we were called to be free, our freedom is best used when we serve one another in love.
Romans 14:1-23
1 Corinthaisn 8:1-13, 10:22 23
In an effort to cultivate a Christian community, the accountability process is designed to guide students towards personal responsibility, maturation, and consistency in respecting the SAU community standards in which they commit to abide. Conduct contrary to stated standards, values and expectations is subject to institutional confrontation and accountability, which depending on the seriousness of the behavior, may result in separation from the SAU community. Recognizing we are all in different phases of personal and faith development, SDS members seek to journey with students through the accountability process and offer appropriate individual support and a variety of resources. Students are encouraged to share with trusted SDS staff member issues of personal struggle or questions regardless of the nature of the challenge. SDS will compassionately and confidentially support students as they work towards wholeness, redemption, and reconciliation.
A person is of profound worth. Individual dignity is damaged by prejudice, racial or ethnic slurs, gossip, unsubstantiated statements, the willful misrepresentation of the truth, and the use of intimidation or physical force. Indignities against the human spirit will not be tolerated in our campus community.
All human life must be respected and protected from conception to completion. Healthy and balanced behavior within the Spring Arbor University community is the goal.
We view all forms of sexual intimacy that occur outside of the covenant of heterosexual marriage, even when consensual, as distortions of the holiness and beauty God intended for it. In addition, use and/or possession of pornography in any medium is unacceptable because it exploits the sanctity of the human body, and distorts God’s created purpose for sexuality.
To ensure the environment will be conducive to individual and community flourishing, community members are asked to embody the admonition in Luke 6:31, “Do to others as you would have them do to you.” Consider how one’s individual actions may impact others. As an example, community members are encouraged to avoid excessive noise and to respect the personal study and healthy living needs of fellow students.
Academic integrity is vital. Dishonesty, plagiarism, intentional acts of fraud, and any other action that lacks academic integrity will not be tolerated. Accountability action will be taken in such situations. Please see the Spring Arbor University catalog for further details.
Students are expected to conduct themselves in an appropriate manner in the classroom. Faculty members and fellow students have the right to expect students to behave in ways that do not interfere with the learning process. Behavior that is disruptive in the classroom is disrespectful and can affect the offending student’s status and grade in a course.
We want to help students grow and mature to be competent professionals. We encourage students to behave in ways that are consistent with this goal. This includes being attentive in class and fully engaged in class activities without distracting the faculty member and other students.
Faculty members have the right to address disruptive students in several ways. One way involves asking disruptive students to leave the class and not return until they have signed a statement of conduct. Persistence in behaving disruptively can affect a student’s course grade and opportunities, both inside and outside the University, that rely upon a faculty member’s recommendation.
Building Up One Another
We expect each member of the community to strive consciously to maintain relationships that support, encourage, and build up one another. (Romans 15:1-2)
SAU Community Care Covenant
As Jesus calls us to love our neighbors as we love ourselves (Matthew 22:37-39), and Paul reminds us to look to the interests of others above our own (Philippians 2:3-4), the faculty, staff, and students of Spring Arbor University commit to practices protecting our personal health as a means of loving others well and caring for our community. We will evaluate our personal actions in light of their impact on others and sacrifice individual preferences and personal freedoms to act in the best interest of the community.
As mandates subside and institutional and personal choices increase, we commit to showing respect for one another and acting in ways that reflect our unity in Christ and our interest in fulfilling the shared mission to which Christ has called us.
As a Christ centered University community, we apply biblical responsibilities for honesty to all forms of academic integrity. Plagiarism is for bidden; we expect truthfulness infidelity to be expressed in every learning context.
Luke 16:10; Ephesians 4:25
The following are practices that continue to guide our actions in these areas:
Loving Others
- Stay home if we have contracted Covid or have Covid symptoms and are awaiting a test.
- Be positive, attentive, and helpful to anyone around who may be in need of support.
- Extend grace, kindness, and patient encouragement to those who may have differing opinions or act differently than we would hope.
Caring for My Community
- Be mindful of the extended Spring Arbor community when traveling, leaving campus, or participating in activities with elevated risk.
- Be honest and forthcoming in contact tracing efforts, as well as honoring all quarantine and isolation.
- Abide by evolving state, local, and campus guidelines for re-engagement (e.g., size and location of gatherings, masks, and regulated activities).
- Pray for the health and wellbeing of our community, our city, our nation, and our world.
Engaging in Our Mission
- Employees: Actively support the learning and living experience of our students however it is delivered (in-person or online).
- Students: Actively engage in our learning however it is delivered (in-person or online).
Student Development and Success (SDS)
Supported by research on higher education, SAU believes that college student growth and development occurs both inside and outside the classroom. SAU’s department of Student Development and Success works to facilitate the holistic development of students with the understanding that personal growth is largely the responsibility of students. SDS’s intent is to create a living and learning environment that nurtures individual and corporate academic, spiritual, personal, and physical flourishing. SDS seeks to provide engaging programming, appropriate levels of challenge and support, and student-centered service in order for students to thrive in the vibrant Spring Arbor University community.
Our Purpose
Championing efforts throughout campus to meet students where they are and support them making the most of their SAU journey.
Our Mission
Student Development and Success fosters a community of Christ-centered living and learning that engages and empowers all students to thrive at SAU and beyond.
Our Vision
Partnering with faculty, staff, students, and friends of Spring Arbor University, SDS is committed to developing authentic relationships, providing dynamic programs, and creating community-building experiences that:
- Foster growth by nurturing mind, body, and soul;
- Support classroom instruction and inspire lifelong learning;
- Value the breadth of God’s creation and prepare students to competently engage our diverse world;
- Strengthen resiliency skills for managing life changes and transitions;
- Explore vocation and equip for critical participation in the contemporary world;
- Cultivate wisdom, character, and responsibility; and
- Inspire Christian faith development among our diverse student body.
In order to accomplish our mission and objectives, SDS is comprised of several different offices, services, and programs designed to:
- Provide support systems to aid in developmental progress
- Promote intercultural awareness, sensitivity, and appreciation
- Create and encourage participation in effective out-of-class opportunities
- Increase understanding of Christian perspectives and how to apply them in all aspects of life
- Continue to improve the quality of campus life and sense of community and belonging
- Enhance and further the academic mission of the institution
- Model commitment to Jesus Christ and his Lordship
Our Commitment
In our service to and engagement with the students and our fellow educators, we will be…
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PRESENT |
Meeting students where they are and engaging them in a manner meaningful to them |
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HOSPITABLE |
Creating generous space for others in our midst and in the margins; created for their benefit at our expense |
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CONSISTENT |
Honoring others with our dependability, fairness, respect, sense of responsibility, and a tempered reaction to circumstances |
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DISCIPLINED |
Persistent commitment to a long-term perspective; pursuing what is best over what is convenient and valuing the eternal over the temporal |
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INSPIRING |
Encouraging reflective being, motivating compassionate action, revealing potential, and breathing abundant life in our connections with others |
Our Motivation - 1 Peter 4:7-11
The end of all things is near; therefore, be serious and discipline yourselves for the sake of your prayers. Above all, maintain constant love for one another, for love covers a multitude of sins. Be hospitable to one another without complaining. Like good stewards of the manifold grace of God, serve one another with whatever gift each of you has received. Whoever speaks must do so as one speaking the very words of God; whoever serves must serve with the strength that God supplies, so that God may be glorified in all things through Jesus Christ. To him belong the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen.
Our Interactions - Fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23)
We seek to exhibit in all interactions…
Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control
Our Credo
Spring Arbor University students are…
- The most important people on campus; without them, there would be no need for the institution.
- Not just enrollment/retention statistics, but God’s creation made in His image, with feelings and emotions like our own.
- Not people to be tolerated so we can do our thing…they are our thing!
- Not an interruption to our work, but the purpose of it. We are not doing them a favor by serving them. They are doing us a favor by providing us the opportunity to serve and educate! Our commitment is to do so with care, compassion, and competence.
- The future. We will use every opportunity to educate them for a successful life of service to Christ and His kingdom.
I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong-that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith.
Romans 1:11-12
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