Community Life

Community Life encompasses all types of learning that go on outside the classroom and consist of mainly personal growth in independence and interdependence. This education, thought less formal and more spontaneous than traditional learning, requires some structure if it is to occur. This section briefly outlines some of the structures and resouces available. Consult also the Messiah Student Handbook.

STUDENT LEARNING COORDINATORS
Student Learning Coordinators (SLCs) are student staff members who report to the Director of Student Life. Each SLC is responsible for one of the four main residence buildings on campus, just as RA's are responsible for their floors in Grantham. Their primary responsibility, as a team, is to foser the personal and community development of student in the realms of faith, service and leanring. The SLCs coordinate community life with a particular interest and responsiblitly for their residents, but with a common concern for all campus resients.

SLC-On-Duty System
The SLC On-Duty system is designed to provide for the routine and emergency needs of students. During regular weekday hours (Monday-Friday, 8:30a.m.-4:30 p.m.) the professional staff is availabe to respond to such needs. After hours., SLCs are available on campus from 5:00p.m. to 7:00a.m. Monday-Friday. An SLC in on-duty for teh duration of each weekend. Check residence bulletin boards to identify which SLC is on duty and where that SLC can be reached for emergencies. After 11:00 p.m., only emrgency needs are appropriate for contacting the SLC on-duty.

Extended Absences
If students plan to be away from campus overnight or longer, they are encouraged to tell their roommates or SLC as a courtesy which helps provide a secure community atmosphere at all times and minimizes uncessary panic.

Incident Reports
From time to time, incidents occur which need to be reported and recorded in order to maintain the safety and security and integrity of teh campus. Proper communication in this area will not only help to insure the welfare of the community, but it will go a long way toward the prevention of future problems, incidents, and crimes. Students who are invovled in, or who witness such incidents are asked to report them immediately to an SLC or the Director of Community Life.

The fundamental purpose for staff intervention in these situations is to help those involved. Examples of types of incidents which should be reported are:
1. Student injury/illness
2. Death in the Family
3. Disciplinary offences
4. Fire/False Alarms
5. Damage to peronal or College property
6. Motor vehicle accidents

Always be sure to contact local authorities first in the event of an emergency or crime. See the section on Emergency Information for details.

Whenever a reportable incident occurs, contact an SLC as soon as possible. The SLC will take down the details of the incident on a report form which will then be forwarded to the Director of Community Life.

As paraproffessional staff, SLCs are responsible for reporting incidents in which they are involved, become aware of, or witness. While many cases which are reported may involve only a personal incident (e.g., motor vehicle accident), or other cases may be interpersonal in nature and/or invovle a violation of community standards. In these instances, SLCs will concientiously exercise their responsibilities in reporting the details of the situation to the Director of Community Life for action and adjudication.

SPIRTUAL LIFE
This section is not intended to suggest that spirutal life can be separated from other areas of Community Life. It is highlighted here only because it is important to clarify the resources which encourage us and hold us accountable.
1. The community of the Messiah College-Philadelphia Campus regularly gathers to engage in communal reflections on faith and life. Attendance at these gatherings maintains compliance with the college-wide chapel requirement.
2. The Philadelphia Student Government Coordinates a bi-weekly Vespers Service held for prayer, worship and reflection.
3. Messiah College-Philadelphia Campus strongly encourages attendance at a local church for corporate worship and service. For a list of local churches see here.

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