Department website: https://www.vanguard.edu/student-life

Amanda Lebrecht, Ed.D., Vice President for Student Development

STUDENT LEARNING AND DEVELOPMENT

The Department of Student Development exists to shape campus culture, promote community, and foster student success.  Programs and services are designed to create a seamless learning environment to assist students in all areas of personal growth, including their adjustment to university life.

The Four-Year Discipleship Plan (FYDP) is the foundation for Vanguard University's co-curricular educational programs and services.  The FYDP was designed to create a dynamic partnership with Vanguard's academic programs.  Inside and outside of the classroom, the University seeks to foster an atmosphere and promote learning opportunities that shape students into dynamic and well-rounded followers of Jesus.  To that end, Student Development and other co-curricular departments promote holistic development of students in a manner that furthers Vanguard's mission of cultivating Spirit-empowered, Christ-centered leaders.

The FYDP is comprised of five educational domains, which guide the programming of Student Development, along with the Office of Global Education & Outreach and Career Services.  Every co-curricular department works together to create services and events that provide education within each domain over the course of four years.

STUDENT HOUSING

Department Website: https://www.vanguard.edu/student-life/residence-life

The University provides housing for traditional undergraduate students. Because Vanguard University is primarily a residential University, all single freshman and sophomore students less than 21 years of age are required to live in university-owned housing unless they are residing with a parent or legal guardian. Additionally, on and off campus students are not permitted to live with members of the opposite sex other than their spouse and/or sibling (as long as sibling does not have another roommate of same gender).  All Residence Halls come furnished with an extra-long twin bed, mattress, desk, chair, and a shared dresser.   Students will need to provide their own linens, towels, blankets, pillow, and bedspread.  Residence rooms are designed for double, triple, or quadruple occupancy.  The Residence Life program is supervised by the Associate Dean of Residence Life, and each residence facility is under the supervision of a professional Resident Director and student Resident Assistants.

The University reserves the right to hold periodic room inspections of the residence areas without advance notice. All campus housing is closed during Christmas break as the right of occupancy does not include Christmas Break. Additional information regarding Residence Life is located in the Student Handbook.

ELIGIBILITY TO PARTICIPATE

Broad participation is encouraged in the many student activities Vanguard University provides. Eligibility to participate in all co-curricular activities is determined in part by the student’s educational record.

SPIRITUAL FORMATION: CHAPEL

Department Website: https://www.vanguard.edu/student-life/spiritual-formation-chapel

Based on the core values of Vanguard University – Truth, Virtue, and Service – the department of Spiritual Formation seeks to deepen student’s relationship with God and establish vision and practices for life-long spiritual growth in Christ.

TRUTH: To help students grow in their knowledge of God and be able to apply the truth of God’s word to daily lives.
VIRTUE: To help students grow into spiritual maturity by engaging in the spiritual practices and disciplines that point them toward a life of wholeness in Christ.
SERVICE: To encourage students toward Spirit-empowered leadership so they may demonstrate their faith in Jesus through works of service and leadership.

Chapel is the center of campus life at Vanguard University. Our purpose in gathering is to create space for students and faculty to encounter God – to enter His presence, to worship together, and to create space to hear His voice. Chapel exists to cultivate the habit of meeting with God. Not merely believing in God, but meeting with Him regularly, in community, together. The University hosts three distinct Chapel services each week:

Tuesday Morning Community Chapel

This service highlights the work of God across campus through student testimonies and voices from faculty and staff. It is the space where Vanguard assembles as one community.

Wednesday Morning Prayer Chapel

An open, unhurried space for prayer, devotional reading, and worship. Deliberately stripped back, this service is designed for students not only to hear the Word but to become doers of it, walking hand in hand through the practices of worship, prayer, and Scripture. Formation by doing, not only by listening.

Wednesday Night Shine

A student favorite. Shine offers extended worship, a relevant message, and ministry time in response.

In addition to our weekly Chapel gatherings, we have established an intentional investment in community and discipleship through a growing network of peer- and faculty-led small groups. Because lasting change happens in the context of relationship, we are committed to turning rows into circles.
Student-Led Small Groups

Bible studies, book studies, discipleship and new believer’s courses, and life groups are typically held on Monday Nights. These are an opportunity to walk out one's faith alongside friends.

Alternative Chapels and Faculty-Led Small Groups

During the Chapel hour on Thursday mornings, staff and faculty of Vanguard host small groups of their own. Additionally, there are regular options for department chapels, flex chapels, and special events.

Chapel Credit Commitment

Chapel is first an opportunity for spiritual formation, and secondly a requirement for all undergraduate students, as mandated by the University Board of Trustees with the intent of facilitating spiritual vitality and growth. Chapel attendance is required. Each student commits to thirty (30) Chapel credits per semester. This requirement is not intended to impose a model but to teach the value of meeting with God and to establish a rhythm by which the community collectively seeks Him. For that reason, Vanguard maintains chapel involvement as a requirement for the student experience—and we take seriously this aspect of each student’s experience and education. To neglect the spiritual part of our development is to neglect a core part of a Vanguard education. If a student does not meet their chapel attendance expectations, there will be disciplinary actions in the form of additional fines, as instituted by the University and possibly further academic and/or co-curricular restrictions.  It is our hope that students will thoroughly review their options as communicated from the Spiritual Formation office via email correspondence. VU Chapel is an important part of the culture and community of Vanguard University.

STUDENT GOVERNMENT AND STUDENT ORGANIZED PROGRAMMING

Vanguard University endorses and practices self-government by students. The Student Government Association (SGA) works within the larger context of the University community, its values, and objectives. Specifically, student government is a means to promote spiritual and academic vitality and growth. The SGA serves as a liaison between students and administration, staff and faculty, providing a means for discussion and solution of student issues. All members of the student body are supported by the SGA Executive Board and can vote in elections for the SGA President. SGA is a part of the Office of Student Engagement (OSE) and is advised by the Associate Dean of Student Engagement.

The Commuter, Graduate, and Family Programs (CGFP) team is an organization designed to promote various student activities and   integrate commuters and graduate students into campus life through intentional programming. The CGFP team plans and promotes student activities, fosters community development and social and spiritual growth opportunities, while encouraging a healthy, active student culture and community. The CGFP team is a part of OSE and is supervised by a professional staff member of the OSE team.

STUDENT PUBLICATIONS

Department Website: https://www.vanguard.edu/academics/academic-programs/undergrad/english 

The Vanguard Voice is a student publication overseen by the Department of English. It is primarily focused on campus news and information of interest to the university community. Students enrolled in the Introduction to Journalism, the Minor in Journalism and Digital Media, or who are simply interested in journalism, are eligible to join newspaper staff. This is an excellent opportunity to develop and hone their writing skills. 

Synecdoche is Vanguard University's literary journal. This annual publication is entirely student-run as the graduating seniors of the English department serve as its Editorial Board. The journal itself is exclusively comprised of student content in the categories of Scholarly Works, Creative Works (short stories, poetry, stage plays, and creative nonfiction) Scholarly Works;, and Photography and Artwork. 

CAMPUS RECREATION AND INTRAMURAL SPORTS

Department Website: IMLeagues.com/vanguard 

Recreational and intramural sport opportunities are offered through Vanguard University Recreation (VU Rec), which is a division of the Athletics Department.  VU Rec provides the Vanguard community opportunities to live a healthy, active lifestyle and promotes personal development through physical activity, sport leagues and tournaments, and outdoor experiences.  VU Rec offers a variety of opportunities for participants to find an activity they enjoy, including indoor and outdoor soccer, volleyball, flag football, basketball, dodge ball, ultimate Frisbee, spike ball, and many more. VU Rec also oversees the student fitness center, open recreation time in the gymnasium, open turf time on the soccer field, as well as hikes and guided outdoor trips.  Also located in the Fitness Center, there is the VU Rec Equipment Rental Hub for students to rent out lawn games, camping equipment and much more. For more information regarding intramural sports and recreation, please email vurec@vanguard.edu.

SAMSON'S CAREER CLOSET

Under Career Services, Samson’s Career Pop-Up Closet provides you with professional attire and resources such as headshots for your interviews, career fairs, and/or networking events. Career Services wants to ensure you make a great and competitive first impression for an internship or job. If you are you in need of professional clothing, schedule your Career Closet appointment and get free business attire by logging into VUConnect and completing a Career Services appointment request for the Career Closet. The closet will also be out during Career Services events throughout the year. 

LIVING WELL COMMUNITY RESOURCE CENTER

The Living Well Community Resource Center intends to provide students with adequate support and supplies in all areas that may hinder their academic success and or well-being. We aim to ensure each student is equipped with the proper resources in order to succeed academically, by eliminating all forms of insecurities and instilling hope to those in need. Our goal is to lend a helping hand to VU community members who need food and hygiene products, clothing, books, and laptops. We want to ensure a worry-free school year by coming together as a community to eliminate food and housing insecurity by accommodating each other’s needs.