Statement of Community Values
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Document Number: STUD--104
Revision #: 2.0
Document Owner: VP of Facilities and Infrastructure
Date Last Updated: 06/13/2018
Primary Author: Dean of Students
Status: Approved
Date Originally Created: 11/07/2011
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General Description
Description:
This document provides a statement of community values that are at the fabric of the University.
Purpose:
To provide a broad overview of values.
Scope:
All faculty, staff, students, and administrators
Responsibility:
All faculty, staff, students, and administrators
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Requirements
Relevant Knowledge:
Current University policy
Terms and Definitions:
Additional training
Corrective Action
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Policy Provisions
1. Statement of Community Values
1.1 Preamble
Cumberland University holds high ideals and expectations of each student who chooses to join its community. In upholding these ideals, Cumberland proclaims the values of the worth of the individual; personal integrity; critical, independent thinking; self-discipline; and community responsibility and accountability, and seeks to experience the growth and fulfillment which characterize a dynamic environment. University regulations go into effect when an individual matriculates and continues until the time of graduation or withdrawal. By the act of registration, the student agrees to accept the standards and regulations reflected in this document and other publications of the University.
Acknowledging each person’s freedom and responsibility, each student should also recognize the occasional need to modify behavior for the good of the Cumberland community or of society at large. In this sense, all students should strive to behave responsibly in an effort to create a climate of mutual respect. A student’s continued enrollment and participation in university life is conditioned upon adhering to the behavioral expectations of this Statement. Students who engage in behavior that betrays these values will be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including expulsion from the university.
In affirming these values, the Cumberland community expects each student to exemplify behavior consistent with these values in all facets of university life; academic classes, convocation/cultural life programs, musical and dramatic performances, athletic competitions, lectures, presentations, and off-campus events and programs associated with Cumberland; as well as to exemplify them within all university facilities including residential housing, academic buildings, library, offices, dining hall, fine arts center and student center. The affirmation of these values also includes complying with federal, state and local laws both on and off campus.
1.1.1 VALUE ONE: Personal Integrity
The Cumberland community values personal integrity and academic honesty as the foundation of university life and as the cornerstone of a premier educational experience. The community believes trust among its members is essential to scholarship and is basic to effective interactions with and operation of the university. As members of the Cumberland community, students can expect reasonable actions will be taken to ensure that their experience will be free from behavior that compromises this value. Such acts include dishonesty, including, but not limited to, cheating, plagiarism or forgery; furnishing false information to any university official, faculty member or office; alteration or misuse of any university document, record, or instrument of identification; abuse of computing resources.
1.1.2 VALUE TWO: Worth of the Individual
The Cumberland community values the dignity and worth of every individual within that community, recognizing that each person is unique with certain rights and responsibilities. Respect for the individual calls for toleration of differing opinions, attitudes and cultures, and for insistence on fair and just treatment for all individuals by the community itself and the individuals which comprise it.
As members of the Cumberland community, students can expect reasonable action will be taken to ensure that their experience will be free from behavior that compromises this value. Types of behavior include, but are not limited to, physical abuse, threats, intimidation (verbal or otherwise), harassment, hazing, coercion and/or other conduct that threatens or endangers the health or safety of any person.
1.1.3 VALUE THREE: Critical, Independent Thinking
The Cumberland community values the pursuit of truth and the communication of knowledge. The community encourages individuals to develop the on-going capacity for critical thinking and judgment. The community believes in the individual’s right to teach and to learn, as well as in the individual’s responsibility to prepare adequately.
As members of the Cumberland community, students can expect that reasonable actions will be taken to ensure that their experience will be free from types of behavior that compromises this value. Such acts include, but are not limited to, disruption or obstruction of teaching, research, administration, disciplinary proceedings, or other university activities, including public-service functions and authorized non-university activities which occur on
university premises.
Other acts which compromise this value include participation in campus demonstrations which disrupt the normal operations of the university and infringe on the rights of other members of the community, leading or inciting others to disrupt scheduled and/or normal activities within any campus building or area; intentional obstruction which unreasonably interferes with freedom of movement, either pedestrian or vehicular, on campus.
1.1.4 VALUE FOUR: Discipline
The Cumberland community values self-control and respect for self and others, which enable all individuals to develop intellectually, spiritually, socially, emotionally and physically. The community believes in the on-going developmental process of an individual’s assuming responsibility for the effect their behavior has on themselves and others.
As members of the community, students can expect that reasonable efforts will be made to ensure that their experience is free from behavior that betrays this value. Such acts include, but are not limited to, violations of the stated university policies in regard to alcohol and drugs, smoking, or sexual conduct.
1.1.5 VALUE FIVE: Community Responsibility and Accountability
The Community values positive interpersonal relationships among all members of the community. In so doing, the community respects the rights and properties of all individuals and the community itself. The community also values the laws of the society and the just administration of those laws. The community encourages responsible citizenship and involvement of each individual, and seeks to serve and to be faithful stewards of all its resources.
As members of the Cumberland community, students can expect reasonable action will be taken to ensure that their experience will be free from behavior that betrays this value. Examples of such behavior include, but are not limited to, attempted or actual theft and/or damage to property of the university or any member of the community, or any other public or private property; unauthorized possession, duplication, or use of keys to any university
premises, or any unauthorized entry of use of university premises; illegal or unauthorized possession of firearms, explosives, and other weapons or dangerous chemical on university premises. In addition, students are expected to comply with all university policies, as well as to comply with federal, state and local laws. Persons the university believes to have engaged in illegal or otherwise prohibited activity may be subject to disciplinary
action, up to and including expulsion from the university; persons convicted of illegal activities will be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including expulsion from the university.
1.2 Foundations of the Student Development Program At Cumberland University
According to the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, there are basic ideological, yet practical goals for an effective Student Development program. These goals became part of a report entitled Campus Life: In Search of Community. These goals have been personalized to Cumberland University and are summarized below.
1. Cumberland University is a purposeful community, a place where the intellectual life is central and where faculty, staff, and students work together to strengthen teaching and learning on campus.
2. Cumberland University is an open, honest community, a place where freedom of expression is uncompromisingly protected and where civility is powerfully affirmed.
3. Cumberland University is a just community, a place where the dignity of all individuals is affirmed and where equality of opportunity is vigorously pursued.
4. Cumberland University is a disciplined community, a place where individuals accept their obligations to the group and where well-defined governance procedures guide behavior for the common good.
5. Cumberland University is a caring community, a place where the well-being of each member is sensitively supported and where service to others is encouraged.
6. Cumberland University is a celebrative community, one in which the heritage of the institution is remembered and where rituals affirming both tradition and change are widely shared.
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Performance Evaluation
Performance Metrics:
Compliance with standard policy and procedure
Customer Satisfaction Rating
Consequences:
Further training
Loss of privileges
Subject Experts
The following may be consulted for additional information.
Dean of Students
VP of Facilities and Infrastructure