Mount Vernon Nazarene University
Graduate and Professional Studies
The purposes of this section of the Catalog are:
At the sole discretion of GPS, proceedings under the GPS guidelines set forth here may be suspended when acts or conduct involving possible violations of the standards contained herein are also the subject of criminal or civil enforcement proceedings, so long as suspension will serve the best interests of MVNU or better facilitate the administration of justice. MVNU reserves the right to place a hold on the student's records and/or registration, pending the resolution of proceedings in this Catalog.
The Learning Environment
We believe a strong ethical foundation is one of the most important aspects of your education. Through the integration of faith and learning, we promote the values and principles of the Christian faith upon which MVNU was founded. Learning in this context teaches students how to succeed in the workplace without compromising those qualities. When combined with the curriculum, students can feel confident that they are earning a degree that can be life changing.
MVNU seeks to
MVNU supports the intellectual, personal, social, and ethical development of its members. These goals can best be achieved in an open and supportive environment that encourages reasoned discourse, honesty, and respect for the rights of all individuals. MVNU students are encouraged to exercise personal responsibility and self-discipline and engage in the rigors of discovery and scholarship.
GPS students are members of the MVNU academic community committed to basic and broadly shared Christian and ethical principles and concepts of civility. Integrity, autonomy, justice, respect, responsibility, and Biblical interpretation represent the basis for the rights and responsibilities that follow. Participation in the MVNU community obligates each member to follow a code of civilized behavior while attending MVNU.
Student Behavior
As a Christian liberal arts university, MVNU is committed to moral and spiritual values. Where these values imply restrictions of conduct, they are in the interest of a richer experience of community life. Each member of the MVNU community is expected to behave honorably, considerately, and peacefully while enrolled at MVNU. The standards of behavior are those of the Church of the Nazarene, which is the sponsoring church and which provides substantial financial and moral support.
GPS students are expected to assume responsibility for unquestioned honesty and for choosing morally-enhancing forms of recreation, entertainment, and interpersonal relationships. GPS students are also encouraged to refrain from the use of alcoholic beverages, tobacco, and other habituating drugs.
The Christian value system espoused by GPS does not condone offensive pictures or literature, or other inappropriate materials; expressing lack of self-respect and respect for others in public display of affections, swearing and profane or obscene language; and all forms of gambling.
MVNU affirms the biblical teaching that sexual intimacies are to be shared as God’s gift within the context of a committed marriage relationship between a man and a woman, and to do otherwise is to distort the holiness and beauty that God intended. As members of a Christian community, we are admonished to avoid certain sexual activities held to be incompatible with God’s will for our sexual integrity, including, but not limited to, fornication, sexual promiscuity, adultery, homosexual acts, homosexual behavior, public expression and/or promotion of a homosexual lifestyle, and viewing/ participating in pornography.
Students who are admitted and who continue to be enrolled must give evidence of the ability to function in the total university environment, meeting financial, emotional, academic, and behavioral criteria. Inability to so function will call for review at various official levels for continuation of enrollment.
In the event of a behavioral offense, MVNU has various responses, including, but not limited to the following: withdrawal, suspension, dismissal, or expulsion. In each of these cases, the student is not permitted on any MVNU campus.
Student Rights
It is important that students at MVNU understand the limits or perimeters of their rights.
First, MVNU is a private church university. This indicates that MVNU students are in a different category than students at a public, state-supported university. Comparisons between both must take this into consideration.
Second, MVNU students are in a "contractual" relationship. As voluntary attendees, students agree to accept the responsibility to fulfill MVNU community rules, regulations, policies, and procedures.
Third, MVNU may dismiss a GPS student if it deems the student’s behavior to be incompatible with its standards. Students may be suspended, dismissed, expelled, or withdrawn on either academic and/or behavioral grounds.
Fourth, MVNU subscribes to federal regulations protecting student privacy. The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) affords students certain rights with respect to their education records. It is codified at 20 U.S.C. section 1232g. The United States Department of Education has issued regulations to implement the law.
The federal law may be accessed at:
http://www.ed.gov/policy/gen/guid/fpco/ferpa/index.html
The federal regulations may be accessed at:
http://www.ed.gov/policy/gen/guid/fpco/ferpa/leg-history.html
Academic Performance
Standards of Academic Performance
In order to ensure that the highest standards of academic performance are promoted and supported at GPS, students must:
Faculty members are qualified as professionals to observe and judge all aspects of a student's academic performance, including demonstrated knowledge, technical and interpersonal skills, attitudes and professional character, and ability to master the required curriculum.
Grade Appeals
Students who appeal a grade must follow the policy in the Catalog.
Academic Policy Decision Appeals
Students who appeal an academic policy decision must follow the policy in the Catalog.
Academic Integrity
Standards of Academic Integrity
MVNU encourages personal integrity and maturity in its students. To that end MVNU adheres to the principle of unquestioned honesty in its expectations of students, faculty and staff. Academic dishonesty may involve attendance fraud, cheating, plagiarism, laboratory fraud, fabrication or electronic media fraud. For additional information, please check the Catalog.
Drug-Free Campus
The institutional Drug-Free Campus statement is available in the Student Handbook.
Sexual Discrimination, Sexual Harassment, and Sexual Violence
The complete policy is available at this link:
http://www.mvnu.edu/policies/Sexual-Discrimination-Sexual-Harassment-and-Sexual-Violence.pdf
The grievance form is available at this link:
http://mvnu.edu/policies/Formal-Grievance-Form.pdf
The flowchart is available at this link:
http://www.mvnu.edu/policies/Consultation%20and%20Grievance%20Contacts.pdf
Students with Special Needs
Qualified students who have a physical or mental impairment which substantially limits one or more major life activities may receive assistance at MVNU as provided in Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and in the applicable provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. More comprehensive information is provided in the following links:
http://www.mvnu.edu/catalog/1213/disability-services-access.html
http://www.mvnu.edu/academics/services/dservices.asp
Note: The advanced nature of the GPS program is more rigorous than the traditional programs and any qualified GPS student must meet the requisite academic and technical standards required for admission or participation in educational programs.
Campus Safety
Information regarding MVNU Campus Safety can be found here: http://www.mvnu.edu/services/safety/safety.asp. In compliance with the Cleary Act, MVNU regularly publishes campus crime statistics which can be accessed via the same link.
Catalog Links