Principles & Practices of Christian Citizenship

The vision of Northwest University, to Carry the Call with heart, head, and hand for the glory of God alone, is the foundation for all Student Development services. The mission of Northwest University, which is to provide, in a distinctly evangelical Christian environment, quality education to prepare students for service and leadership gives the vision direction and clarity.

The Principles and Practices of Christian Citizenship are the guidelines the University community follows in the adventure of making the vision and the mission a reality. As a result, students upon graduation should be able to answer fundamental questions such as:

Who am I in Christ?
What do I believe and why?
What is God’s call for me?
How can I effectively fulfill God’s call?

The entire Northwest University experience should provide every student a foundation for life-long learning and development.

As an institution of the Assemblies of God, Northwest University has standards for student behavior based on biblical precepts and principles, the doctrinal statements of the church, and on widely held practices within the fellowship.

Christian maturity involves more than adherence to explicit scriptural statements of right and wrong. It involves a total commitment to the Lordship of Christ and a life of dynamic discipleship. The mature Christian recognizes scriptural principles that govern conduct and applies these principles to every area of attitude, conviction, and behavior.

The Scriptures establish basic principles which guide the development of Christian character and govern all Christian behavior. These include but are not limited to:

Access through Jesus Christ to the forgiveness of God and to the help of the Holy Spirit in doing joyfully what God requires in His word (Romans 14:4 10, 15:1 3; Phil. 1:20 27; 1 Cor. 8:7 10; Col. 3:23; 2 Cor. 6:14 18; James 1:27, 4:4; 1 John 2:15 18).
The Lordship of Christ over all of life (thoughts, speech, and actions); wholehearted obedience to the moral law of God as taught in the Bible and exemplified in the life of Christ; the careful stewardship of mind, time, abilities, and funds; opportunities for intellectual and spiritual growth; and the care of the body as the temple of the Holy Spirit.
The responsibility and privilege to love God with all our being and to love our neighbors as ourselves because unselfish love must be the motive in all of life’s decisions, behavior, and relationships.
The responsibility to pursue righteousness, to practice justice in relationships with all people and institutions, and to give aid and assistance to all who are in need.
The need to exercise freedom responsibly, lovingly, and sensitively within the framework and context of God’s word in relationship to the Assemblies of God fellowship and all constituencies served by Northwest University, other church organizations, and our communities at large.

The Community Handbook acquaints and informs students regarding the Northwest University way of life. The Handbook describes what students can expect of the University and what the University expects of students. All expectations are designated to assist everyone in the adventure of Carrying the Call.

When students apply for admission, they must indicate that they have made a personal commitment to Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and that they are willing to live according to the standards of the University community. This means abstaining from all morally wrong practices such as but not limited to stealing, use of profane, vulgar language, sexual sins, dishonesty, cheating, gambling, pornographic literature, the possession of or use of illegal drugs, and/or alcoholic beverages.

Northwest University students are expected to recognize their responsibility to God by careful use with their time and engage only in such activities as may contribute to their spiritual, moral, intellectual, and physical well-being. Questionable entertainment and all activities which diminish a person’s moral sensitivity and fervent walk with God must be avoided. Nothing should be viewed or listened to which contains anti-Christian views or portrays Christian principles in a negative context unless assigned by a Northwest University professor for academic purposes. Being an authentic biblical Christian both on and off campus is a clear and present standard of Northwest University.

In keeping with the vision and mission of the University, the following attitudes and behaviors are expected of all members of the University community: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control” (Galatians 5:22 23b, NIV).

Northwest University will promote Christian citizenship in instruction, corrective confrontation, and discipline, when necessary for the purpose of developing and maintaining a Christ-centered environment. An acceptable citizenship record, which includes academic and financial responsibility to the University, must be maintained to qualify for enrollment, participation in student offices, extra-curricular activities, including all athletic and music programs, and graduation.

The University reserves the right to modify and amplify the standards and dates set forth in the Student Handbook and to use its discretion in the interpretative enforcement of all ideals and standards of conduct.

The University reserves the right to require any student who is considered to be out of harmony with the goals and the spirit of the University to withdraw, including involuntary administrative withdrawal.

Northwest University is committed to a policy of non-discrimination with regard to race, color, national origin, sex, age, marital status, or physical disability. Persons having questions regarding University policy of non-discrimination should contact the Senior Vice President for Finance.