As the end of the semester draws ever nearer and some students rush to the gym and Calvary Chapel to fulfill their 30 required chapels, many students are starting to reconsider chapel policy.
A total of 290 students are on chapel probation this semester, said Todd Pickett, associate dean of spiritual development. If those students fail to meet the chapel requirement — 15 of which must be in person, as well as eight conference sessions — again this semester, they won’t be able to enroll in more than 12 units next semester. Students aren’t the only ones considering the policy, Pickett said.
“This year we are reviewing all aspects of our program right now, including chapel probation,” he said.
Spiritual Development staff isn’t sure what those changes — if changes are made — would look like yet. Some wonder whether the university could really afford to limit enrollment with the current economy. Pickett said he saw no foreseeable instances this year of students not being able to reenroll due to failed probation, but said the university won’t compromise its standards to keep students’ tuition money. Pickett compared maintaining the policy on the part of the university to students keeping up their end of the bargain.
“I think we maintain the standards we believe in, and do what we can to help students meet them,” Pickett said. “If we can’t afford to do that, then I think we’re letting our students down.”
The students most likely to get behind are those who have part-time work scheduled in the mornings or commute to campus, Pickett said. He maintained that Biola’s requirement policy is consistent with other similar schools, most of which implement fines or registration holds.
“Our policies are in the mainstream and are generous in comparison with some others,” he said. “We are reviewing the published policies this year and hope to affirm or reform them next year…. [We] want these policies to encourage students’ spiritual development — that’s the goal.”
One way the department is helping busy students this semester is through the introduction of online chapels. Students can now watch videos of missed chapels online instead of purchasing CDs. Videos of chapel makeups have begun to be posted on Youtube at Biola’s channel. A new Tuesday night chapel called The Advancement, as well as lectures and other on-campus events give students some leeway.
“If someone cannot find at least one chapel a week to attend, and then make up 15 chapels for two semesters in a row, then I would ask them if they really want to belong to a community that pursues spiritual development by and large together,” Pickett said. “I suspect they don’t and so may not belong here.”
Students have their own opinions about the policy.
“I don’t think one should be forced to spend time with God,” said freshman M. Brandon Lee.
Freshman John Terranova had a rather unique solution.
“Perhaps a better consequence would be a 10-20-page paper describing [the] meditation of a certain Bible verse,” Terranova suggested. “That way, they are hopefully learning something in their spiritual walk with God as they are being disciplined.”
