2019-2020 Student Handbook | 1 Letter from the President American Baptist College and your Future There are places where people accomplish great things quietly and sometimes with little recognition. American Baptist College is one of those places. Nestled here on the banks of the Cumberland River in Nashville, TN, American Baptist College educates and develops men and women for worldwide leadership and service in the traditions of Martin Luther King, Jr., Rosa Parks, and Nannie Helen Burroughs. Students who attend American Baptist College soon learn the historical significance of the college. The College’s unparalleled purpose and passion for preparing men and women for greatness in leadership attracts students, like Georgia U.S. Congressman, John Lewis, who is a prominent alumnus. As a new student, you will find American Baptist College to promote lively discourses about important ethical, spiritual, and justice topics that become infectious on campus. If you have a passion for advancing the mission of justice, compassion and reconciliation in the world, your academic home is here at American Baptist College. We see education as a call to the high place of moral thinking, acting, and leadership. Here on the grounds we affectionately call the ‘Holy Hill,’ in the class rooms with faculty and fellow students, you will gather insight and courage for leading change in the world. The entire faculty, staff, and administration are dedicated to serving you, our student. Your education is our top priority. When your energy, discipline, and commitment to becoming an educated person meets with our commitment to academic excellence the results will surprise you. Welcome to our learning community. From here you can launch your dream for a better world. SINCERELY, Dr. Forrest E. Harris, Sr. President American Baptist College 2019-2020 Student Handbook | 2 Table of Contents The college reserves the right to withdraw, modify, increase or otherwise change the regulations herein contained. Changes will be announced and posted on campus bulletin boards, posted on the College website, and/or emailed to the college community. This handbook is not meant to be interpreted as a complete compilation of every requirement, but is meant to acquaint the community with American Baptist College’s rules and regulations. Further, the content contained in this handbook supersede all previous publications. College Information……………....…………………………..…………………………………………………………...5 Mission of the School……………………………………………………………….………………..….………....…………….….........5 Identity……………………………………………………………………………………………………….……………………………………….5 Goals………………………………………………………………………………………….…...……………….………………………………...5 General………………………………..….………………………………………………….…………………………………………….………..6 Administrative & Faculty Contact Information…………………………………………...…………………...…….……………7 Right to Revise and Amend………………………………………………….………………………………………….11 College Facilities………………..………………………………………………………………………..……….…….…..11 Campus Housing and Residential Life………………………………..…………………....………………..………………….…...11 The Susie McClure Library……………………………………….………………………………………………………………………….12 The Fine Arts Room………………………………………………………….…………...……….……………………………..…..………12 J.H. Flakes and J.B. Lawrence Administration Building…………………………………….…….…………………….……..12 Griggs Hall………………………………………………….…………………………………...……………………………………...…………13 Baptist World Center………………………………………………………….………………………..….……………………………......13 John R. Lewis and Julius R. Scruggs Leadership Development Center……………….…………………………..….…13 Alumni Hall……………………………………………..………………………………………………………………….……………………...13 Campus Safety and Security.………………………………………………………….……………………………..…………………...13 Access to Campus and Building….…………………………………………………………………….………………………………...14 No Weapons On Campus Policy….………………………………………………………………………….……………………….....14 Student Activities…………………………………………………………………………………………………………...15 Chapel Services and Spiritual Life…………………………………………………………………………………….…………..…..15 Chapel Attendance & Graduation Policy………...….………………………………………….………………….……..……..15 Christian Service Placement…...……………………………………………………………………..………………….………….....16 Garnett-Nabrit Lecture………………………………………………………………………………….………………….……….……..17 Founders Day………………………………………………………………………………………………….……………….……..………..17 Discovery Week………………………………………………………………………………………………….…………….…….….…….17 ABC Day……………………………………………………………………………………………………………….……………….………….17 Student Government……………………………………………………………………………………………………………….……....18 Baptist Student Union……………………………………………………………………………………………….……………….……..18 Class Officers ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………..….………………...18 Greek Organizations …………………………………………………………………………………………………..…………………….18 Honors Day………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….…………………….19 Constitution Day…………………………………………………………………………………………………………..…………………...19 2019-2020 Student Handbook | 3 Student Services and Information……………………………………………………….…………………..……..19 Student Photo ID Cards…………………………………….……………………………………………….……………………………….19 Internet Access………………………………………………………………………………..…………….……………..…………………...19 CAMS……………………………………………………………………………………………..…………….………………….………………...19 Use of School Email……………….……………………...……………………………………………………….………..…...…………..20 Buying Textbooks Online…………………..…………………………………………………………………………………..……….…..20 Disability Support……………………………………………………………………………………………………………….…..………….20 Financial Aid……………………………..………………………………………………………………………………………..……………..22 Work-Study……………………………………………….……………………………………………………………………….……...……...23 Disbursement of Refunds………………………………….…………….………………………………………………………...........23 Financial Policies……………………………………………….………………………………………………………………….....………..24 Tuition & Fee Schedule…………………………………….…………………………………………………………………….…………..24 Business Holds…………………………………………………………………………………………………….……………..…….……….25 Health and Wellness Center……………………………………………………………………………….…………….….…...………26 Health Insurance…………………………………………….………………………………………………………………………………...26 Meal Plan………….………………………………………………………………………………………………….………….……………….29 Food Services at the Flame Café………………..…………………………………………………………….……………..………..29 Weather Emergencies.…………………………………………………………………………………………….…….……….…...…..30 Transportation and Parking ……………………………………………………………………………………..….……….……......30 Postal Services …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………....….30 Academic Testing and Placement……………………………………………………………………………..………..….………..31 Graduation………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..………..……...…..31 Policies, Procedures, Rules and Regulations…………………………………………….…….……………....31 Community Commitment Statement…………………………………………………………………………………………..…...32 Honor Pledge………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….……..….32 Violations of the Community Commitment Statement or Honor Pledge……………………………….……...….32 Honor Council…………………………………………………………………………………………………..……………………………...32 Types of Violations the Honor Council Reviews ………………………………………………………………………..……...32 Penalties Imposed by the Honor Council ……………………………………………………………………………….….……..33 Procedures of the Honor Council ………………………………………………………………………………………………...…..33 The Community Conduct Council.………………………………………………………………………………………..…….…....34 Penalties Imposed by Community Conduct Council…….………………………………………………….…….…………..34 General Regulations on Student Conduct and Disciplinary Sanctions………………………………………………..34 Disciplinary Offenses. ………………………….…………………………………………………….…………………………………..…35 Disciplinary Sanctions………………………………………………………………………………………………………….…………….40 Procedures of Community Conduct Council (Non Academic Setting)....................................................42 Procedures of the Community Conduct Council (Academic Setting)……………………………..…..….......…….43 Student Appeal Policy and Procedures………………………………………………………………………………………………44 Procedure for Dismissal of Students……………………………………………………………………………..…………………..45 Procedure of Readmission for Dismissed Students……………………………………………………….....….……………45 Grievance Procedures for Students Involving Students……………………………………………..…...…….…………46 2019-2020 Student Handbook | 4 Grievance Procedures Involving Faculty, Staff and Administrators…………………………….……....…...........46 Housing Policy…………………………………………………………………………………………….…….…………….……….………46 Residential Student Academic Standard Policy………………………………………………………………………………….52 Library Policy……………………………………………………………………………………………….………….…….…….…….…….54 Policies for Student Organizations…………………..………………………………………….………….……..……..….………55 How To Start a Student Organization………………………………………………………….……….……………………….....55 (College) Logos and Watermarks, Use by Student Organizations………………..…………..…………….….........56 Copyright Infringement…………………………………………………………………………….……………..………….……..…..56 Break Policy……………………………………………………………………………………………….……………………………...……56 Campus Security and Safety Policy………………………………………………………….…………….…………………………57 Compliance with Campus Security Act………………………………………………….………………………………………….57 Responsibility For Compliance…………………………………………………………….…………………………………………..57 Campus Crime Report and Security…………………………………………………….…………………………………………..57 Crime Report……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….....58 Campus and Community Notification of Criminal Activity………………….…………………………………………...58 Campus Safety………………………………………………………………………………….…………………………………………....59 Procedure to Report Activity and Emergencies……………………………….………………………………………….…..59 Annual Testing……………………………………………………………………………….………………………………………….…...59 Federally Mandated Crime Statistics…………………………………………….………………………………………..……....60 Clery Act Crime Definitions………………………………………………………….……………………………………….………....60 Crime Definitions from the Uniform Crime