Jenzabar University

Discipline and accountability support the Mission of Huntington University to educate students broadly for a life of moral and spiritual integrity, personal and social responsibility, and a continued quest for wisdom. Working in conjunction with the expectations of the Community Life Agreement and Academic Catalog, the University seeks to provide a redemptive environment where students are supported and challenged to lead Christ-like lives.

Like all communities, we are responsible to hold each other accountable. This accountability can be done peer to peer, student leader to peer or faculty/staff person to student. We hope that students feel comfortable approaching one another or a faculty/staff person about the many challenges that they are facing. As stated below, it is the desire of Huntington University to create an environment that welcomes honesty as students pursue full healing and restoration in their lives. We invite any student who may be struggling with an issue to make contact with any member of the Student Life staff, in order that resources and support might be provided. In the event that additional accountability is needed, the disciplinary process becomes essential. Most of the disciplinary issues that students encounter are resolved after an initial conversation and response. Many students make the necessary behavioral changes and continue moving forward in their University experience. In the event that further disciplinary responses are required, the severity of the response may be increased which may include community service, restitution and even suspension or dismissal from the University. It is our hope that students will live lives of integrity and humility where the discipline process can serve as a teachable moment along their journey.

As stated above in the explanatory notes for the Community Life Agreement, alcohol use is a complex and controversial issue for Christians. While the Bible speaks strongly against drunkenness (Ephesians 5:18, Galatians 5:21, Romans 13:13), it is also true that Jesus’ first miracle involved turning water into wine (John 2:1-11) and that the use of alcohol is not condemned in the Bible. The developmental principle is certainly relevant to the use of alcohol. University students may lack the maturity necessary to make responsible choices about drinking. The community principle is also of major concern when considering the use of alcohol. Allowing alcohol on campus or even allowing students to be on-campus while under the influence of alcohol would be likely to change the character of the institution in ways that would not be desirable.

Most Huntington University students are not yet old enough to drink legally. While 21-year-olds could be allowed to drink without violating the law, the difficulties of keeping the campus alcohol-free would be much greater in that situation. And, students under the age of 21 would be much more likely to find themselves in social situations in which their slightly older classmates were using alcohol, thus creating more temptations for illegal under-age consumption of alcohol. Huntington University defines possession of alcohol by a person physically handling an alcoholic beverage, or by being in the same dwelling where alcohol is present.  

For an alcohol violation, the following response is common:

• Disciplinary probation for 30 days. As a result, the student will be prohibited to participate in any extracurricular groups or organizations at Huntington University.
• Twenty hours of community service in 30 days at one of the following places: Food Services, the MCA scene shop, the athletic office or the Maintenance office. Failure to complete any or all of these hours will result in a $10 fine per incomplete hour.
• Either a number of counseling sessions, reflection paper or meeting with a mentor.
• Online alcohol assessment ($35 cost is placed on your student account).

For athletes who consume alcohol, the University wants to provide a way to maintain the community of the athletic team while appropriately responding to the violation of our Community Life Agreement. The athlete will miss 20% of the athletic competitions for their current or upcoming season, which are designated in the list below. Contests that can be used to serve the suspension include regular season and post-season competition only.

For athletes who are disciplined for a first-time offense of consuming, possessing, or purchasing alcohol, the response will be as follows:

• 9 - Baseball
• 6 - Basketball (M/W)
• 2 - Bowling
• 6 - Cheerleading
• 1 - Cross Country (M/W)
• 2 - Golf (M/W)
• 3 - Soccer (M/W)
• 7 - Softball
• 3 - Tennis (M/W)
• 1 - Indoor Track (M/W)
• 1 - Outdoor Track (M/W)
• 7 - Volleyball

The athlete will be permitted to practice and travel with the team but will be unable to dress in uniform for competitions for the designated amount of time above. The athlete will complete 20 hours of community service for the athletic office within 30 days of meeting with the Student Life office official. This will be done in conjunction with the Associate Director of Athletics. If no community service hours are available through the Athletics office, then you may complete your community service hours at one of the following places: Food Services, the MCA scene shop, or the Maintenance office. Failure to complete any or all of these hours will result in a $10 fine per incomplete hour. For dual-sport athletes, all violations are served during the sport that the student is currently playing in. For a violation taking place after the fall sport is over, the student will serve the suspension during the next spring sport session. If a violation happens after the spring sport is over, the student will serve the suspension during the next fall sports season.