Effective Working Relationships

Bethel has been well described as a Christian learning community. In order to be exemplars of the learning processes as well as mentors and guides to student learners, each faculty member is expected to make certain basic commitments to the distinctive Bethel community of which she or he is a member.

1.   Relations with Classes

• The teacher will note and seek to consider individual differences among students.

• The teacher's aim will be a just and impartial, yet sympathetic, friendly and courteous, treatment of each student.

• The teacher will not impose personal, economic, political, or theological views on students; but rather will grant them freedom of discussion and opinion.

• The teacher will hold inviolate confidential information about, or given by, students except when it should be disclosed to the proper authorities for the purpose of maintaining standards of the school or for the safety or good of the student.

• The teacher will give counsel with a view to the best interests of students rather than to obtain majors or fill classes.

• The teacher will not tutor one’s own students for extra remuneration.

• The teacher will seek to demonstrate how course content can be viewed or interpreted from a Christian perspective.

2.   Relations with Colleagues

3.   Relations with the community

• The teacher will indicate when speaking as a private citizen that he or she is not speaking for or representing the institution.

• The teacher will participate in the life of a local church and is encouraged to exercise leadership in the larger Christian community.