COMMUNITY LIFE AGREEMENT

Life Pacific University has chosen to set itself apart for the purpose of training and equipping Christian leaders to serve in the Church, workplace, and the world. Students, by their voluntary membership in this community, individually and collectively agree to:

Abide by all the regulations of the University (see below).
Use personal discretion involving activities which may not contribute to an individual’s flourishing or may reflect poorly on the campus community.

All students represent Christ and Life Pacific University wherever they are, and are expected to abide by community standards, both on- and off-campus, when school is in session and during breaks. Community standards are in place for the purpose of moving students toward Christian maturity and creating an environment that is conducive to academic learning and personal growth and development.

HIGHLIGHTED SECTIONS

Abuse of Campus Processes

Students whose behaviors, active or passive, impede any campus process (including the disciplinary process, admissions process, etc.) will be subject to disciplinary action. Such behaviors may include:

• Failure to obey the summons of a university official.
• Failure to fully disclose all information to a university official (especially during an investigation or the disciplinary process).
• Falsification, lying, hiding, distorting or misrepresentation of information to any staff or faculty member.
• Attempts to influence the testimony of another.

• Attempts to disrupt an individual’s participation in the disciplinary process.
• Forgery, alteration or misuse of campus documents, records, or identification.

Knowing/Presence Contribution

Community accountability is of the utmost importance at LPU. Students are always encouraged to speak directly with a person who they know is involved in activities that are in violation of the Community Life Agreement. If resolve cannot be reached, they are expected to speak with an appropriate staff or faculty member.

Members of the LPU Community not only commit to upholding our shared values, but also holding one another accountable in love. Failure to confront or report known violations of the Community Life Agreement may result in disciplinary action.

Key Campus Policies

1. Alcohol and Drugs
2. Cohabitation
3. Harassment
4. Inappropriate Device Usage
5. Inappropriate, Lewd, Indecent, or Obscene Behavior or Language
6. Inappropriate Sexual Behavior
7. For all policies and procedures, please find our student handbook here.

1. Alcohol and Drugs

Students are not permitted to possess, use/consume, or distribute alcohol or alcohol paraphernalia, illegal drugs or drug paraphernalia, synthetic forms of drugs, prescription drugs for which the student does not have a valid prescription, or any other form of controlled substance at any time while enrolled at LPU (including all semester breaks).

Students are not permitted to possess or consume medicinal marijuana, even with a valid prescription or authorization card. Please refer to Appendix B for information on LPU’s federal compliance with the Drug Free Workplace Act as well as a more thorough explanation of the policy. Recreational cannabis use, though legal in California, is also prohibited.

Students who provide alcohol or drugs to other students, particularly students under the age of 21, may be subject to more severe disciplinary action and possible criminal prosecution

2. Cohabitation

Students are not allowed to live with or engage in overnight stays with members of the opposite sex in the same living arrangements (e.g., same house, apartment, hotel room, etc.), except related students living in the home.

3. Harassment

Harassment or intimidation of a community member or the threat of physical or emotional harm in any communicated form will never be tolerated. Any harassment should be reported to a Resident Advisor, Director of Residence Life, Senior Director of Student Development, or Senior Title IX coordinator (see section on sexual harassment).

4. Inappropriate Device Usage

The University monitors inappropriate online connectivity and usage. The University does not allow activities that are prohibited include viewing pornography, gambling, and piracy in any form on any type of device. Life Pacific University does not condone or tolerate the unauthorized copying of licensed computer software and other media, which is considered a theft and a violation of federal law. Anyone who violates this policy may be subject to disciplinary action and could face additional costly civil or criminal liability.

5. Inappropriate, Lewd, Indecent, or Obscene Behavior or Language

Inappropriate, lewd, indecent, or obscene behavior, language, music, or dress will not be tolerated. This includes, but is not limited to, the possession or display of sexually suggestive material, and derogatory, sexist, racial/ethnic material in any form on university-owned or leased premises, including electronic devices.

 6. Inappropriate Sexual Behavior

Students who engage in inappropriate sexual behavior will be subject to disciplinary action. The following are examples (but certainly not all) forms of inappropriate sexual behavior:

• Sexual relations outside of marriage, including any type of intercourse or fondling of sexual organs (see “Marital Relationships” below).
• Displays of public affection that might be deemed inappropriate (i.e., heavy kissing and/or groping) whether done in a public or private setting.
• Sleeping or lying with members of the opposite sex.

Grievance Policy: Formal Complaints

Students who have a grievance are encouraged to use the academic or co-curricular processes described in the following sections to seek a resolution. Individuals who initiate a complaint are protected from unfair action or treatment. LPU will take appropriate action against any employee or student who retaliates against another employee or student who files a grievance.

Student Classroom/Faculty

If a student has a grievance or concern regarding a faculty member or classroom issue, the student is encouraged to first meet with the faculty member to resolve the matter. If resolution is not made to the satisfaction of the student, the student should then contact the Assistant to the Vice President of Academic Affairs. The Academic Office will inform the student of how the grievance will be handled and how privacy in the matter will be protected to the extent the student desires and is possible. The student will be asked to convey the facts of the situation in writing. At the end of the meeting, options will be discussed, and a follow-up appointment will be made with the student if requested. If the issue is minor, the Academic Office may wait to see if additional complaints are filed about the same professor. Should the issue be of a more serious nature, the Administrative Council will be notified.

In matters of dispute regarding a final grade assignment, the student, after meeting with the professor and not achieving a resolution, is asked to put the facts in written form and submit an appeal through the Assistant to the Vice President of Academic Affairs. The Academic Committee will review the facts of the case and make a determination based on the evidence provided.

Co-curricular Grievance

In the event that a student has a serious concern about a specific policy of the University that is outside of academic concern, the student is encouraged to communicate with the Dean of Students/Vice President of Student Development. The appeal should be made in writing describing the nature of the grievance, the evidence upon which it is based, and the remedy sought. The Dean of Students will act to bring formal resolution to the stated grievance. If satisfactory action is not achieved, an appeal may be directed to an Ad Hoc Appeals Committee for final resolution.

An individual may contact the Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education for review of a complaint. The bureau may be contacted at:

2535 Capitol Oaks Drive, Suite 400
Sacramento, CA 95833
http://www.bppe.ca.gov
Telephone: (916) 431-6924
FAX: (916) 263-1897

Title IX Exemption Disclosure

Life Pacific University is a Christ-centered learning community that exists for the transformational development of students into leaders prepared to serve God in the Church, the workplace, and the world. Our identity as a Christian institution within the Foursquare tradition, characterized by a diverse community of Spirit-empowered students, scholars, and practitioners whose hearts and minds are devoted to Christ and His Kingdom, is central to all that we do and teach.

As a Christian institution, we affirm the divine creation of humanity in the image of God (Gen. 1:26-27). The image is shared by all humans equally and, therefore, all individuals are equally valuable. We do not tolerate any form of illegal discrimination or harassment and are committed to providing a learning and living environment that promotes dignity, student safety, transparency, personal integrity, civility, and mutual respect.

While the University does not exclude students from attendance limit educational activities based solely on sexual orientation or gender identity, our biblical beliefs regarding human sexuality and gender do inform and animate many of our policies and practices. Therefore, LPU has applied for the regulatory exemption under Title IX, 34 C.F.R. section 106.12. Furthermore, LPU is also exempted by the state from California Education Code 66270, to the extent the application of California Education Code 66270 is not consistent with the institution’s religious tenets.

Life Pacific University maintains the view that all official student data (including, but not limited to admissions applications, enrollment data, alumni records, and transcripts) and decisions (including, but not limited to housing assignments and the application of other residential policies) will reflect a student’s sex at birth.