The student life department of Dakota Wesleyan University serves as the center for student advocacy and is responsible for preserving the freedom of all students. Dakota Wesleyan University strives to ensure all students receive equal educational opportunities. Students should contact the director of student life or director of student support services if they require accommodations for equal opportunities, including freedom of access.

CAMPUS MINISTRY
Campus ministry at DWU celebrates that we are all God’s children and understands that an individual’s faith journey is a critical part of college. Seeking spiritual growth, theological exploration, growth in expression of faith, and answers to faith and life questions are vital parts of that journey. Campus ministry seeks to create and nurture a Christian campus community, ecumenical in nature, while embracing the university’s relationship with the United Methodist Church. The office of campus ministry is committed to:

• liberal arts education;
• the university's relationship with The United Methodist Church;
• diversity in an inclusive atmosphere;
• the dialogue between mind and soul;
• building relationships;
• developing whole persons;
• promoting service to God and humanity.

Campus ministry is open to all persons who desire to grow in their understanding and love of God, in relationship with one another and in service to the world. Campus ministry seeks to offer an ecumenical ministry by affirming the diversity of faith experiences, understandings and backgrounds while maintaining grounding in the biblical witness and heritage of the Christian faith. Diversity is affirmed and unity sought in the body of Christ through this ecumenical ministry. For more information, contact campus ministry at 605-995-2919 or visit the office in Rollins Campus Center.

Campus ministry seeks to create and nurture a Christian campus community, ecumenical in nature, while embracing the university’s relationship with the United Methodist Church.

• CAMPUS PASTOR
  The campus pastor serves as the pastor to the university community and is charged with oversight of the university’s ministry and religious life. Thus the campus pastor is the primary institutional liaison for all religious or ministry activity on campus. Individuals and groups seeking to engage in ongoing or new ministries, fellowships, small groups or worship services (including all weddings, funerals and memorial services) at DWU must consult with the campus pastor concerning procedure, policies and standards.
    
• STUDENT MINISTRY COUNCIL
  Student Ministry Council is a standing committee of the Student Association Senate which is student led and assists the campus ministry office in fulfilling its mission by offering ministries to bring people in, grow them in Christ, and sends them out into the world for the student body and entire campus community.
    
• FELLOWSHIPS
  Diversity of thought and tradition is vital in building unity in the body of Christ, however diversity to encourage division among the body is firmly rejected. Therefore, formation of individual religious organizations or clubs is discouraged. However, denominational sponsored ministry partnerships with campus ministry to provide student support and growth in particular traditions is encouraged to supplement DWU’s campus ministry. This does not include par-church organizations or independent religious sects. Fellowships may gather for the abovementioned purpose under the following guidelines. Fellowships must be recognized by the DWU Office of Campus Ministry, have sponsoring church(es) or faith community(ies), have appointed staff/faculty advisor(s), and note campus ministry and partnership church on publicity.
    
• SMALL GROUPS
  Gathering in small groups for the purpose of growth in faith and discipleship are encouraged among students, faculty and staff. Groups may be formed around spiritual formation, topical study or common interest. Persons interested in forming small groups or joining a small group need to contact the campus pastor or student ministries council devotion coordinator.
    
• LEADERSHIP OF FELLOWSHIPS, SMALL GROUPS AND STUDY GROUPS
  To insure integrity of DWU’s campus ministry and to create safe, hospitable and quality programming, all persons in leadership of fellowships, small groups and study groups must receive appropriate orientation/training before assuming leadership. Standards and methods of appropriate orientation/training are set by the campus pastor.
    
• STANDARDS
    
  • Leadership, advisers and participants of campus ministry events shall recognize that DWU seeks to promote a campus atmosphere in which a diversity of Christian traditions and other religious faiths and expressions of spiritual life are respected and productively engaged.
    
  • While it is recognized that appropriate expressions of evangelism may be integral to some faith convictions and activities, out of respect of individual’s privacy, the following are examples of unacceptable behaviors and actions (but is not exhaustive): organized door to door or other campaigns in the residence halls; individual visits that are unwanted; respect to those who refuse unsolicited phone calls or e-mails; visual displays or publicity in classroom space; literature or survey campaigns where individuals cannot easily or comfortably avoid being approached by those distributing the literature or surveys and respect of those who refuse; persistence in personal invitations of any kind to events after the invited has clearly indicated a desire not to participate. Off campus churches, groups or organizations must abide by the university’s no solicitation policy and receive permission from the director of student life before publicizing or soliciting on campus and abide by the above expectations.
    
  • Campus ministry publicity shall be clearly marked as such and purpose of events clearly stated.

CAREER CENTER
The Career Center assists students at any point in the college years in appraising their interests and abilities, exploring careers of interest, making personal career decisions, and exploring graduate work or study. The Center helps students prepare for the transition from college to career by assisting with resume writing, interviewing, portfolio development, writing effective cover letters, job seeking and networking. For more information, contact the director of student life.

COUNSELING SERVICES
At various times in a student’s life, situations may occur where advice, counseling or a caring ear is needed. Confidential personal counseling services are available. The counselor provides help in coping with the pressures and problems of college life, group educational sessions and individual counseling. To make an appointment or to talk with the counselor, contact the campus counselor at 605-995-2896.

HEALTH SERVICES
The student health services office is staffed by a registered nurse who provides services to all students Monday through Friday. The nurse will consult with students concerning health matters and render certain health services as needed. Limited dispensary services are available under the direction of local physicians. Since the university does not maintain a staff physician, students are referred to local doctors when deemed necessary. Students needing a physician after student health services office hours may consult with the resident directors of the residence halls for a referral, or, in an emergency, use the Avera Queen of Peace Emergency Room. The student is responsible for all costs incurred. For more information or to make an appointment, contact the campus nurse at 605-995-2957.

IMMUNIZATION POLICY
Dakota Wesleyan University requires all students who were born after 1956 to present written confirmation from their family physician that the student has one of the following:

1. documentation of two doses of MMR (Measles, Mumps and Rubella) vaccine or one dose of MMR plus a second dose of measles vaccine, separated by a minimum of 30 days; or
2. medical documentation of having had measles, mumps and rubella, or the presence of immune antibody titers; or
3. written notice from the student's health care provider that he/she should not receive an MMR immunization at this time.

Students born after 1956 who are unable to comply with one of the above must be re-immunized.

Dakota Wesleyan University also requires each student to have a documented TB (Tuberculosis) skin test done within the past year. If the student has had a positive TB skin test in the past, a copy of the most recent chest x-ray must be submitted with the physical.

1. The series of three Hepatitis B vaccines.
2. A Meningococcal Meningitis vaccine (for serogroups C, A, Y, and W-135).
3. A Varicella (chickenpox) vaccination series if a student does not have a reliable history of proof of chickenpox.
4. Immunization of Tetanus/Diphtheria (TD) booster every 10 years. Diphtheria, and poliomyelitis should also be up to date.

INSURANCE POLICY
Dakota Wesleyan University requires that all full time students carrying 12 or more credit hours must have a billable major medical insurance policy. If you do not have your own private policy that will provide coverage in Mitchell, S.D., you MUST purchase a major medical policy from Student Assurance Services, which is offered through the university. If you are a student athlete, you are required to carry private medical insurance.

1. The memberships, policies and actions of student organization will be determined by the vote of only those persons who hold official membership in the organization and are members of the university community. Officially recognized campus organizations are those approved by the Student Association Senate. Only officially recognized organizations may use the name of the university in its name and publicity. Honor societies are not recognized organizations and are recognized as such by individual academic departments and academic affairs.
2. The Student Association Senate, in consultation with their advisor, has the power to terminate an organization when an organization fails to follow its intent and purpose as stated in its bylaws. Approved student organizations wishing to carry out fundraising projects must obtain prior permission from the student senate vice president.
3. If the Student Association Senate financially supports an organization, that organization shall be responsible to the Senate for the funds provided by the Senate. The Senate will audit the expenditure of funds it provides.
4. Each organization shall choose a campus adviser from the university faculty/staff whose appointment is approved by the Student Senate Executive Committee and advisors in an advising capacity to Student Association Senate. Advisers should be elected and their names submitted for approval by the second meeting of each new Senate. In the event that an adviser cannot serve, the vacancy must be filled within two weeks.
5. A statement of purpose, criteria for membership, rules of procedures and a current list of officers for each organization should be placed on file in the offices of the vice president for campus life and the Student Association Senate in the fall of every year.
6. Campus organizations will be open to all students without respect to race, creed, sex, national origin or physical handicaps.

1. Student organizations shall be free to examine and to discuss all questions of interest to them and express opinions publicly and privately by orderly means that do not disrupt the regular and essential operation of this university; students shall be free to support expressions and demonstrations.
2. Action by individuals or groups to prevent speakers invited to campus from speaking, to disrupt administrative operations of the institution or to obstruct and restrain other members of the academic community and campus visitors by physical force is disruptive to the pursuit of learning and of a free society. Therefore, any student interfering with individual or institutional rights of movement will be subject to disciplinary action.
3. Official student organizations shall be allowed to invite and hear guest speakers. For purposes of orderly scheduling of facilities and so that the occasion is conducted in a manner appropriate to an academic community, the student organization must clear such speakers with its adviser and the Student Association Senate, and schedule the event on the master calendar found on Tigernet, in Microsoft Outlook, and in University Relations.
4. It must be made clear to the academic and larger community that sponsorship of the guest speakers does not necessarily imply approval or endorsement of the views expressed, either by the sponsoring group or the university.

1. Editors and managers of student publications should be protected from arbitrary suspension and removal because of student, faculty, administration or public disapproval of editorial policy of content.
2. Only for proper and stated causes should editors and managers be subject to removal and then by orderly and prescribed procedures.
3. All university published and financed student publications should explicitly state on the editorial page or title pages that the opinions therein expressed are not necessarily those of the university or student body.