Chapel Policy

Spiritual Formation Program

In an effort to prepare young men and women to impact our world for Jesus Christ, Huntington University provides ample opportunity for students to benefit from a variety of programs designed to foster spiritual growth and maturity. Community Chapels, Student Chapels, Commuter Chapels and Convocations are among the approximately 75 offerings in the Spiritual Formation Program each semester. 

Due to the centrality of the college’s commitment to provide spiritual challenge and nurture to its students, the following attendance policy is in place.

Participation Policy

All full time traditional undergraduate students (12 hours or more), under the age of 25 are required to receive 30 chapel credits each semester, 20 of which need to be from the Community chapels on Tuesday and Thursday and convocations on Friday. Part-time students are not required to attend chapel but are encouraged to do so weekly. Credit totals are updated each Friday and available for viewing on the HU Portal. There will be no opportunities to make up any missed chapels.

Chapel Discipline

Students who fail to receive the required 20 core credits plus at least 10 additional credits, anytime during their Huntington University career, will be subject to the following sanctions:

1st Offense:

15 hours of community service to be completed by the end of the second full week of classes of the following semester. Any unfinished hours will be charged to the student’s account at a rate of $10 per hour. 
Any student, who falls grossly short of the credit requirement, i.e. less than 20 total credits, will accelerate their sanction process by one full step. 

2nd Offense:

30 hours of community service to be completed by the end of the fourth full week of classes of the following semester. Any unfinished hours will be charged to the student’s account at a rate of $10 per hour. 

3rd Offense:

One semester suspension. 

A student who is dismissed, suspended, or transfers to another institution after the semester in which they are found to be delinquent in their chapel attendance will not be sanctioned further. If, however, they choose to return to Huntington University, they will enter at the same level of offense at which they left. 

Any student involved in cheating, misleading or falsifying information in regard to any aspect of the Huntington University Spiritual Formation Program, or the administering thereof, will result in disciplinary action up to suspension.

Waivers and Exemptions

Requests for a waiver or exemption must be completed within the first two weeks of the semester by completing the Chapel Alternative Request Form available in the Office of Campus Ministries. Extra-curricular activities and part-time employment will not be considered as reasons for waiver or reduction. 

Waivers or reductions include:

  • Education majors in junior block are required to attend 23 chapels with 15 of those being core chapels.
  • Education majors who are student teaching receive chapel credit waivers.
  • Social work majors during their senior-year practicum semester.
  • Nursing students during their junior and senior-year clinicals must attend any 12 chapel events (core or elective) during the semester.
  • Students that are married, raising children or can provide proof of full-time employment during the entire semester.
  • Illness, injury or other emergencies may qualify a student to receive a reduction in their chapel requirement only if the student was unable to be on campus and/or attend classes for at least two consecutive weeks.

Grievances, Petitions or Appeals

It is the student’s responsibility to monitor their progress toward meeting chapel requirements using the HU Portal. Students should attempt to resolve any discrepancies or questions concerning their chapel attendance as soon as that discrepancy appears. 

Students who fail to meet the chapel requirement will be notified by the Dean of Christian Faith and Life on the Monday of final exams in the semester in which the offense occurred. 

Any grievances, petitions, or appeals must be submitted in writing to the Campus Ministries Committee and delivered to the Office of Campus Ministries by the Wednesday of final exams in the semester in which the offense occurred. 

The Campus Ministries Committee will respond to student grievances, petitions and appeals within seven days. The decisions of the Campus Ministries Committee are final.