Spiritual Life
Chapel 2022-23
Chapel seeks to build Christ-centered community where spiritual experiences can occur. Each individual bears a responsibility to the chapel community—from those on stage to those in the audience. Chapel helps to build life together as a community, through experiences that range from laughter to heartache.
The style of chapel reflects the heritage and traditions of the Church of Christ while recognizing that our students come from many different faith traditions. Chapel facilitates spiritual experiences, in the pursuit of truth, through reflection, praise, exploration, and service.
Chapel is held from 11 a.m.-11:30 a.m. Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday in the McDonald-Moody Auditorium. Attendance is required at Chapel Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday for all campus residents, and all students under the age of 25 enrolled in 12 or more hours. Part-time commuters, graduate students, and commuters 25 years or older are encouraged to attend chapel but are exempt from mandatory chapel attendance. Questions regarding the chapel attendance policy should be directed to the Dean of Students in the Student Affairs Office located on the second floor of the Mabee Student Life Building (SUB).
In order to provide an environment where community and worship can take place, chapel must be free from distractions. Behaviors that prevent self or others from engaging in the program may include disruptive talking, actions, or use of devices such as laptops, cell phones, or ear phones (buds). Those engaging in such actions may forfeit their Spiritual Life Credit for the day. Students must be present, with the opportunity to engage, to receive credit.
Students are required to obtain forty-five (45) Spiritual Life credits through attendance of chapel programs each semester, unless otherwise exempt from chapel for one or more days during a given semester as outlined below. These programs include plenary chapel on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday, small groups on Friday, and a bimonthly online option. Additional Spiritual Life credits may be offered to students who attend approved programs at alternate times. Alternate programs are approved by the Office of Student Life.
Students may apply for exemptions on specific days of the week if any of the following apply:
Request forms for chapel exemptions are available in the Student Life Office on the second floor of the SUB. Students must file an exemption for each semester. Students with approved exemptions require fewer Spiritual Life Credits as outlined below. The exemption form (with class schedule and work letter attached) must be submitted within the first 12 days of class or within 5 business days of a status change. A $50 administrative fee may be assessed for exemptions filed outside of the required deadlines. If an exemption is granted after the required deadline, the credit requirement will be modified based on a sliding scale from the day the exemption was submitted. All exemptions are at the discretion on the Dean of Students.
Number of Days Exempt | Required Credits |
---|---|
0 | 45 |
1 day per week | 34 |
2 day per week | 23 |
3 day per week | 12 |
Full Exemption | 7 |
Students are responsible for scanning their student ID card as they leave chapel as this will document their attendance and their Spiritual Life credit. Students are also required to monitor their accumulated credits in correlation with their required credits. Students arriving between 10 a.m. and 10:10 a.m. will receive a tardy. A tardy counts as 3/4 (.75) of a Spiritual Life credit. Students arriving past 10:10 a.m. and those not scanning their cards will not receive credit.
Dishonesty in the scanning process will result in an increase of required Spiritual Life credits and a violation of the Code of Student Conduct. Examples include scanning without attending and scanning for another student.
Students are responsible for monitoring their own Spiritual Life credits on the LCU Portal and are encouraged to do so weekly. Students are encouraged to contact Chapel Records with questions or concerns regarding their chapel credit balance. Students who did not attain the adequate number of Spiritual Life credits during the semester will be placed on probation and notified through their LCU email account. Students placed on probation may request a meeting with the Dean of Students or other designee.
Chapel Records is located in the Student Life Office, upstairs in the SUB. 806.720.7501.
Chapel probation will be based on a tier system based on the number of credits acquired throughout the semester. Please see the table below for reference based on approved exemptions.
Tier 1: Students receiving 40-44 Spiritual Life Credits will receive the following sanctions:
Tier 2: Students receiving 35-39 Spiritual Life Credits will receive the following sanctions:
Tier 3: Student receiving 34 or less Spiritual Life Credits will receive the following sanctions:
Chapel Exemptions Sanction Tier Table
Spiritual Life | No Exemption | 1 Day | 2 Day | 3 Day |
---|---|---|---|---|
Tier 1 | 40-44 | 30-33 | 20-22 | 10-11 |
Tier 2 | 35-39 | 26-29 | 18-19 | 8-9 |
Tier 3 | 34 and below | 25 and below | 17 and below | 7 and below |
The university has implemented procedures for student appeals with the intent of assuring fundamental fairness. Students who believe they were not treated fairly in the chapel attendance process or that the sanction imposed was unreasonable can submit a written appeal to the Dean of Students within three (3) business days of receiving the probationary notification. The Dean of Students will present the letter to no fewer than three members of the Conduct Review Board (CRB), made up of faculty, staff, and students, for an appeal decision. The decision of the Conduct Review Board is final. Refer to the Student Appeals process for a detailed explanation.
Church Services
All students are encouraged to attend church services on Sunday morning, Sunday evening, and Wednesday evening. Students looking for a church in Lubbock should find and be involved in a local church home. Green Lawn Church of Christ is conveniently located adjacent to the LCU campus. For information regarding other churches in the Lubbock area, please feel free to contact LCU faculty, staff or fellow students.