Student Handbook - University of Dubuque

SEMINARY MISSION STATEMENTThe purpose of the University of Dubuque Theological Seminary, an ecumenical seminary of thePresbyterian Church (U.S.A.), is to serve the one God—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—and advancethe ministry and mission of the church of Jesus Christ by preparing women and men for faithful,compassionate, and effective pastoral and lay ministry in congregations, with special attentionto rural and Native American constituencies, by research and publication in the theologicaldisciplines, and by active participation in the life of the church.UNIVERSITY OF DUBUQUE CODE OF CONDUCTThe University of Dubuque is committed to being a “community where diversity is appreciatedand Christian love is practiced.” This commitment is reflected in the motto of the school, takenfrom I Corinthians 12:4, “Many Gifts, One Spirit.” The University of Dubuque is a people calledtogether by God in a common Christian mission. Students, faculty, staff, trustees, alumni/ae,friends, and administrators—people with diverse gifts and vocations—have been broughttogether by God to live in covenant community in service to God and the world.Early in the formation of God’s people, the rules for life together were set down, “You shall notsteal. You shall not bear false witness…You shall not covet” (Exodus 20). Paul summarizes theselaws in his letter to the Romans with this commandment: “Love your neighbor as yourself”(Romans 13:9). Jesus summarizes it this way: “Do to others as you would have them do to you”(Matthew 7:12).As an academic community committed to the Presbyterian tradition, we bind ourselves to live bythese precepts. Having been blessed by God, we will seek daily to love and respect each other sothat we may be a blessing to the world.WENDT CHARACTER INITIATIVEMade possible by the endowed Lester G. Wendt and Michael Lester Wendt Character InitiativeFund, the Initiative has been established at the University of Dubuque to promote a Culture ofCharacter by infusing throughout the campus, in a measurable way, the values of truthfulness,honesty, fairness, and the Golden Rule. This Culture of Character is consistent with theUniversity’s Mission and Values and with its Reformed Christian identity which undergird anawareness of a community informed by Judeo-Christian values, committed to a strong workethic, and affirmative of a desire to manifest in one’s professional and personal life the on-goingcreative process in faithfulness to the Creator of life. This Initiative is of significance for the totaleducational experience of all students through curricular and co-curricular programs. And, it issignificant for faculty, staff, administrators, and trustees, recognizing that all are teachers aseach person provides service to students and relates to one another. The Wendt CharacterInitiative is overseen by the Wendt Center for Character Education.17