Community Standards
Commitment to Community Standards
Goshen College is dedicated to fostering a spirit of hospitality on our campus, as part of maintaining a healthy living and learning community. We welcome all people regardless of race, color, national or ethnic origin, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or any legally protected status. In order for a diverse community to thrive, we must recognize our differences and seek understanding and integrity in our relationships. Students at Goshen College are expected to support an environment of mutual respect and accountability, to care for the personal dignity of others and to have integrity in their conduct and communication.
The spirit of respect and hospitality at Goshen College reflects our character as a Mennonite-Anabaptist liberal arts community of scholarship, learning and service. We believe that the expression of hospitality is best understood in the life and character of Jesus Christ, who welcomed all. The Mennonite Church promotes a community founded on love and justice in which all persons possess inherent dignity as children of God. Our understanding of the complex challenges of being together in community is informed and transformed by the life and teachings of Jesus.
Goshen College is committed to encouraging students in intellectual, social, moral and spiritual growth. Students are invited to engage in a dynamic and life-giving community here and to mature as individuals through respectful relationships. All are expected to demonstrate sensitivity for others’ convictions, perspectives and struggles. Within the context of our community, we seek to become Christ centered, passionate learners, global citizens, servant leaders, and compassionate peacemakers.
Academic Community
As an academic community that values intellectual growth and personal integrity, Goshen College requires students’ honest and accurate representation of their work and thinking. While collaboration and idea-sharing are encouraged, and new innovations in learning technology are valued, all submitted work must reflect the student’s genuine engagement with course content. Students are considered in violation of this standard when they copy others’ work, share their own work to be copied, or use technologies in ways that bypass learning.
Care for Self
Care for self is a guiding principle that encourages students to prioritize their physical, emotional, and mental well-being while navigating the challenges of college life. It reflects the belief that self-respect and self-awareness are essential to personal and spiritual growth and academic success. Students are expected to make choices that promote their health and safety, including practicing responsibility regarding substances like alcohol, tobacco, and drugs. By understanding the impact these substances can have on their well-being and the community, students are encouraged to make informed decisions that align with their long-term goals. Based on this guiding principle, students are prohibited from using alcohol, tobacco, and other substances on campus. (Exceptions are outlined in campus policies)
Care for Others
Caring for others on a college campus means fostering a community of respect, dignity, and compassion. Racism, sexual misconduct, and acts of violence undermine this commitment by denying the humanity and worth of others. As a diverse and inclusive community, we reject attitudes and actions rooted in racism, uphold respect for all individuals, and condemn violence or threats of violence in any form. Goshen College encourages accountability, understanding, and reconciliation, calling each member of the community to live out the values of love, respect, and justice in all relationships and interactions.
Care for Property
Goshen College encourages all students to practice stewardship by caring for the property of the college and respecting the belongings of others in the spaces where we live and learn. Stewardship involves recognizing that shared spaces and resources are entrusted to us and require thoughtful and responsible use. Whether it is maintaining the cleanliness of residence halls, treating classroom equipment with care, or honoring the personal property of peers, students are expected to act in ways that reflect mutual respect and consideration. By fostering a culture of stewardship, we create an environment where all members of the community can thrive and feel valued.
Expectations and Policy
Members of the Goshen College community are expected to demonstrate individual responsibility by showing consideration for others; abiding by federal, state and local laws; and adhering to campus policies. When a student’s behavior has direct implications for others and/or the well-being of the campus community, there is cause for community involvement, regardless of where the situation occurs (e.g., home or abroad).
These Community Standards inspire the campus policies and processes articulated in the following documents: