Student Life

Student Life believes that students are responsible for their own actions, growth and development. The Student Life staff is here to support students and help them make decisions. Student Life helps develop student leadership by providing opportunities for students to learn about trust, respect, communication and the advantages of being involved in campus life. These opportunities are provided through the following areas: Campus Ministries, CAP Center, International Programs, LEAD, Residence Life, Student Activities, and Student Life.

Campus Ministries
The Campus Ministries program at Graceland promotes growth and learning in all areas of campus and personal life. It seeks to provide ministry in a variety of ways in keeping with both the beliefs and traditions of our Christian heritage. The Campus Ministries Offices are located in the Memorial Student Center (MSC).

Campus Ministries offers numerous activities throughout the week. For those who wish to worship in other settings, you will find the Community of Christ, Catholic, Presbyterian, Methodist, Mormon, Church of Christ and Baptist congregations in Lamoni and nearby communities. If additional information is needed, please contact the Campus Ministries Offices. The house religious activities are directed by the house chaplain. These may consist of house devotions, prayer groups, or other growth enhancing activities.

There are numerous ways for persons to share their talents and desires to serve. If you would like to be involved, please contact your house Chaplain or the Campus Ministries Office. A key factor to the success of this program is input and involvement of students in the planning and conducting of activities and ministries.

CAP Center
The Career, Academic and Personal Counseling (CAP) Center is located in Patroness. CAP Center professional promote student success by providing integrated services to students including:

Career Planning. Career Development specialists guide students through the process of self-assessment, choosing a major and exploring possible career fields. They provide resources to assist in securing internships, jobs, and graduate school applications. Students may enroll in a career exploration internship during Winter Term. Two career planning courses are offered each semester as well as resume and interviewing workshops for job seekers. A career resource library and a computerized career guidance program are also available.

Academic Advising. Academic Advising specialists help all new students with the academic planning process as well as to explore life and career goals. Advisors share information about campus resources, educational options, and academic policies and procedures and help them choose majors. Students begin to work with their Academic Advisors during new student orientation prior to the beginning of classes.

Personal Counseling. Personal Counseling specialists help students with problems that interfere with their academic and social life on campus through individual, group or couples counseling, crisis intervention, or brief problem-solving sessions. Through the counseling process, students may explore their interpersonal relationships and their university experience. Counselors are available to talk with student groups on personal development topics such as assertiveness, eating disorders, date rape, and conflict resolution. Counselors may refer students to other professional services when necessary. Working closely together, CAP Center professionals promote student success and provide integrated services to students.

Dean of Students
The Dean of Students is responsible for student-related programs and services other than those assigned to be a part of the academic program. The Dean is a student advocate who provides leadership for the Student Life area. Responsibilities of the Dean of Students include sponsoring the Graceland Student Government, coordination for co-curricular programming, administering the student judicial process and administering programs designed to enhance the co-curricular educational experiences of students.

Students are encouraged to talk with the Dean about their ideas to improve student life, personal concerns, or matters that require some resolution to make their life and experience more enjoyable.

Graceland Student Government
All students enrolled at Graceland are members of the Graceland Student Government (GSG). Student government is involved in all campus areas affecting students. The GSG includes the following branches:

Campus Organization for Social Activities (COSA)
COSA is responsible for planning and carrying out all campus-wide student-initiated social activities. COSA sponsors campus-wide events such as dances, live acts, concerts, variety programs, movies and other special events. COSA assists the house representative in planning and implementing social activities for each house.

Those attending weekly COSA meetings are the COSA President, the COSA Board (including the Vice President and Publicity Manager) and the house representative from each house. The COSA Board is appointed by the COSA President.

Council of House Presidents (CHP)
House Presidents, CHP President, Hall Directors and Director of Residence Life meet for in-service workshops and to discuss the quality of residence life. Much of CHP's time is spent in developing skills and techniques to adequately prepare house presidents for the responsibilities they have undertaken.

Intramurals (IM)
Graceland sponsors a comprehensive intramural sports program for full-time students, faculty and staff of the university. The purpose of IM is to create a program of recreational activities to promote physical, social and cultural growth to all participants and spectators.

Senate
The members of Senate include the Speaker of the Senate, senators from each house, CHP President and Vice President for Student Life. The Senate has seven standing committees to expedite the legislative process: Campus Environment and Facilities Services, Constitution and By-Laws, Elections, Housing, Food, Parking Lot, and Student Rights and Welfare.

Senators report the actions of the Senate to the house and represent the house's viewpoint at Senate meetings. Senate meetings are open to anyone interested in attending.

Student Academic Council (SAC)
SAC is composed of a student representative from each house, five students appointed at large.

SAC is responsible for the academic area of the GSG. The duties of SAC are to assess student views on academic matters, to relate students views to the faculty or administration, to maintain an academic atmosphere in the residence halls and sponsor academic activities.

International Programs
The Office of International Programs is responsible for the orientation and support of international students while attending Graceland. Each year 100+ international students representing 30-40 countries attend Graceland. Study abroad resources are available to all students by contacting the International Programs Office. The office is located in the of Patroness Hall.

Judicial System

Council on Student Welfare (CSW)
The Council on Student Welfare is a committee of faculty, administration and students appointed by the President to serve in an advisory and judicial capacity relating to the welfare of the students and the university. Cases are referred to the CSW by either the Vice President for Student Life or the Associate Dean of Students. Referrals are most generally for violations of university regulations or for repeated minor offenses that affect the general welfare of other students. Additional information regarding the CSW is available in the Dean of Students Office.

Residence Life Council (RLC)
The Residence Life Council handles many of the disciplinary problems that occur in the residence halls when clear and concise guilt is established. If there is evidence of use and/or possession of illegal drugs and/or the student is a repeat offender, the case is referred to the Council on Student Welfare (CSW).

LEAD (Leadership, Education And Development)
LEAD provides effective experiential learning opportunities for students by combining curricular and co-curricular experiences. LEAD offers a variety of leadership courses with an option to earn a minor in Leadership.

LEAD designs and presents a series of workshops, lectures, seminars, conferences and programming. LEAD offices are located in Patroness.

Organizations
All special interest groups seeking to be recognized as an authorized student group on the university campus must receive official approval from the Council on Student Life. Charters and other information regarding clubs and organizations are available from the Student Activities Office.

Charters
To be chartered, the organization must file the information contained in the Application for Charter with the Council on Student Life through the Director of Student Activities Office. Each organization shall be recognized from the date of its registration through the end of the fourth week of classes of the succeeding fall term. Student organizations are responsible for chartering themselves in the spring of each year. A current list of clubs and organizations is available in the Student Activities Office.

Fundraising Requests
Fundraising requests require the approval of the Council on Student Life prior to the event. A Request for Fundraising Activity form is available in the Student Activities Office and must be submitted 14 days in advance of the activity.

Publications
The Tower is a weekly newspaper published by the students, which attempts to keep the university community in touch with Graceland happenings, and student and faculty opinions. The Acacia is the yearbook of the university, also published by students. Both of these publications are under the supervision of a faculty sponsor.

Student Activities
The Office of Student Activities is located in the Memorial Student Center and offers a wide variety of programs, services, events and social opportunities for the campus community on a regular basis.

The Director of Student Activities works with students to develop exciting and stimulating campus programs. This office works closely with the Campus Organization for Social Activities (COSA) to develop programs funded by the student activity fee.

All students are encouraged to participate in and take a leadership role in the campus programming effort. The goal is to not only provide quality programs, but to develop leadership in those students planning, coordinating, and assisting in the program implementation.