Jason Spencer and Daniel Wallen
Reporters
April 28, 2006
Changes to the chapel program to take effect during the
upcoming fall semester may be a blessing for some but a curse for others,
especially for students planning to spend a semester abroad.
President Don Jeanes announced in the general session of the trustees meeting
that changes will be made to the chapel program at Milligan College beginning
fall 2006.
The new chapel program will require students to attend a total of 160 chapel
events during their time at Milligan. Divided by eight semesters, students would
attend an average of 20 chapel events each semester.
"(Students) can choose to go to 35 or 5, not recommended, in a semester as long
as they get 160 by the time they graduate," said Campus Minister Nathan Flora.
The required 160 credits will only be in effect for incoming freshmen.
"Returning students will be prorated according to their academic class," said
Flora. "For example, seniors will need to participate in 40 programs during the
next year."
Another change to be implemented in the fall is that students caught attempting
to have their card scanned without attending the service will lose all credits
for that semester.
"If you are caught falsifying your attendance at an event, any participation in
programs that semester will be voided," said Flora. "(If you) sneak out of
chapel on your 15th count for a particular semester, you would lose all 15
counts toward your 160 and the ability to earn any more that semester."
Students may not receive their diploma until they have attended 160 chapel
programs.
"If you do not earn 160 by graduation your senior year you will not graduate and
must come back and participate in programs until you do," said Flora.
Students will "have to be much more conscious about how many (chapel services)
they are going to each semester," Flora said. They "will need to plan to go
extra some semesters to account for semesters abroad, nursing clinicals, student
teaching, athletic events and other field experience."
“Given the fact that Milligan is such a big supporter of study abroad programs
with CCCU (Coucil for Christian College and Universities), it’s not very
reasonable that you can’t receive chapel credit while you’re away Milligan,”
said senior Mandi Mooney. “They should come up with some kind of compromise.”
Flora, however, has generally received positive feedback.
"Our general awareness through interviews with students and employees is that,
over all, these changes have been well received," Flora said.