POLICY ON DISCIPLINE
i. Preamble
The relationship and conduct of students at the Trinity Theological Seminary (TTS) shall be consistent with the purpose and mission of the Seminary as published. On rare occasions, in every institution, questions arise concerning personal conduct and whether this is compatible with the nature and purpose of the institution or not. To address such questions, should they arise, Trinity Theological Seminary has established a committee on Students’ Discipline to conduct an impartial investigation of the facts and make recommendations regarding what actions should be taken.
ii. Composition of the Committee
The Committee shall consist of the Vice President (Chair), the Dean of Students, two faculty representatives appointed by the President. The Chairman and one representative of the Students’ Representative Council.
i. Procedures
A. Specific cases could be brought to the Committee’s attention by any student. The normal channel shall be the Chairman of the SRC. However, the Committee’s procedures shall not be put into effect unless the Committee, having reviewed the available data, reaches a consensus that there is a case to be dealt with.
B. When a case has been accepted by the Committee, the following options shall be open to the Committee:
1. Counsel with the person concerned by the Committee as a whole, by selected members of the Committee, or by other persons designated by the Committee.
2. Should it appear to the Committee that disciplinary action would be required in a particular case following preliminary findings; the Committee shall conduct further investigations into the matter. No recommendation shall be made until the person concerned has received a detailed written description of the charges against him or her and the source or sources of such charges, has had an opportunity to appear before the Committee and have explained to him or her the evidence the Committee has received, and has had the opportunity to offer a defense. Whenever such a hearing takes place, the person concerned may have witnesses appear in his or her behalf. He or se may be accompanied by another party and that party may act as counsel.
If, following the hearing, the Committee learns of or elects to hear further evidence or gather more data before reaching a final decision or recommendation, it shall give written notice to the person concerned of such further evidence or data and shall give him or her the opportunity to submit further comments about the evidence to the committee before it makes its final recommendation to the President, who, by the Deed of Agreement of the Seminary, has the final powers of discipline over all students.
C. The Committee has powers to recommend that students be dismissed from the Seminary. Such cases shall be discussed and commented upon by the faculty at a meeting specially convened for the purposes of considering the Committee’s recommendations for a student to be dismissed. The final decision rests with the President who shall act on the said recommendation in accordance with the article II, K of the Deed of Agreement of the Seminary.
1. DRUG AND ALCOHOL ABUSE/PREVENTION
Trinity Theological Seminary recognizes alcohol and/or drug dependencies as illness, major health problems and potential safety and security problems to the institution. The policy is intended to maintain a drug-free environment on campus. All faculty, staff and students must abide by the terms of this policy.
A. GENERAL PROHIBITIONS AND SANCTIONS
Trinity Theological Seminary prohibits the unlawful manufacture, distribution, dispensation, possession or use of controlled substances, or being under the influence of illicit drugs or alcohol on the campus or any other work site connected to the Seminary. Violation of this policy will result in disciplinary action up to and including dismissal and expulsion and criminal penalties.
B. EMPLOYEES:
As a condition of employment, employees must abide by the terms of this policy and are required to report to work fit to perform their duties in a safe and efficient manner.
Any employee found to be under the influence of alcohol or any illicit drug, while at work, shall be liable to summary dismissal.
2. STUDENT-STAFF CONFLICT
i. Preamble
This policy is intended to encourage and facilitate resolution of a serious grievance which a student may have with a faculty member, supervisor, administrator, or a member of the staff. The desire is to resolve the grievance in the early stages of the process.
ii. Steps in Grievance Procedure
A. A student, who has a legitimate grievance, should meet promptly with the person involved (i.e., faculty members, staff, supervisor, administrator). The procedure ends when a mutually-acceptable solution is reached.
B. If the grievance is not mutually resolved, the student may pursue the matter in the following manner:
i. Within seven days of the meeting in ii, A, the student should send a written statement about:
a) The nature of the complaint
b) The steps already taken to have it resolved.
ii. As soon as possible after receipt of the written statement, the appropriate person (see B i.a,b, or c above) must:
a) Meet with each party separately.
b) Meet with parties together to attempt to resolve the grievance)
c) If the grievance is resolved, provide a signed documentary proof of the resolution within three days. Copies to this resolution, signed by the parties involved, are to be lodged with the administration.
d) If the grievance is not resolved through the steps above, the student may make a written appeal within seven days to the Vice President. The Vice President will convene a hearing Committee as follows:
i. The Academic Dean will select two members of the faculty (if possible, one of them must belong to the same denomination as the student), one member of the administration, possibly the Administrative Secretary and two students, nominated by the Students’ Representative Council, to serve on the Hearing Committee as soon as possible, after receiving the written request, and will appraise the President on the process.
ii. The Committee will meet to hear and resolve the grievance. The decision will be presented in writing to each party in the grievance with a recommendation to the President. The decision of the President, provided it does not contradict provisions in the Institution’s Deed of Foundation, shall be final. If the President was the first person contacted pursuant to B i.b above, because an administrative person was involved, the decision of the office of the President and the Administration should be final.
3. DISCRIMINATION, HARASSMENT, INTIMIDATION
Trinity Theological Seminary is committed to creating and maintaining a learning community in which students, faculty and staff can work together in an atmosphere free of all forms of discrimination, harassment or intimidation. It is the intention and responsibility of the Seminary to prevent or correct and, where necessary, discipline persons – students, faculty staff who perpetrate such acts.
4. DEALING WITH THE OPPOSITE SEX
Students, faculty and staff are expected to be extremely circumspect in their dealings with the opposite sex.
5. PUBLIC FUNCTIONS WITHIN AND OUTSIDE THE SEMINARY
Any group of students, who wish to organize any public function within or outside the campus, must seek permission from the President through the Dean of Students.
An application for permission to organize a public function should provide the following information:
i. The nature of the function;
ii. Date and time of the function;
iii. The venue of the function;
iv. Names and description of lectures, speakers, preachers, performers of the function;
v. The purpose of the function.
6. PROCESSION
i. Any group of students wishing to organize Procession/Demonstration in or outside the Seminary shall notify the Dean of Students in writing with a copy of the official approval stating when the demonstration is due to begin.
ii The written notification shall state clearly the purpose of the procession/demonstration and the name(s) of the organizer(s).
iii. The Dean of Students, in consultation with the President, shall prescribe special conditions, limitations or restrictions as may be considered appropriate in the circumstances.
iv. No procession/demonstration shall be permitted within the hours of 6:00p.m. to 6:00a.m.
7. PUBLICATIONS
i. The President should be informed of any intention to produce a student publication within the Seminary and his approval in writing shall be obtained for such a publication.
ii. A copy of each issue of publication shall be lodged with the President, the Vice-President, the Dean of Students and the Williamson Library on the day of publication.
iii. Each issue shall state the name of the Editor, the Membership of the Editorial Board and the Publisher.
iv. The members of the Editorial Board will be held jointly responsible for the full contents of each issue of the publication.
8. USE OF VEHICLES
i. Any student, who wishes to use or keep a vehicle on the campus of the Seminary, must obtain permission from the Vice-President through his or her Hall Master.
ii. The Seminary accepts no responsibility for such vehicles, or for any damage that may occur to them or to their owners, drivers or passenger. The use of such vehicles is a privilege, which is enjoyed by the user at his or her sole risk.
9. FUND RAISING:
No student or group of students is allowed to raise funds in the name of the Seminary within or outside the campus without the written permission from the President of the Seminary.