Since 2018, SPU has allowed students to be in same-sex marriages. For more on the Student Lifestyle Expectations, see “The SoHS & Student Conduct Expectations.”
Student Standards of Conduct, 2018
In December 2018, the Office of Student Life received administrative approval to eliminate the word “homosexual” from conduct rule #8, so that only extra-marital sexual activity and amorous cohabitation are prohibited. The rule now reads, “Behaviors for which students or student organizations are subject to disciplinary action include. . . 8. Sexual activity outside of a married relationship. Cohabitation between two persons in an amorous relationship who are not married to each other is also prohibited.” The version of the standards featured here is from 2020.
Student Standards of Conduct, 2016-2017
For the 2016-17 Student Handbook, the Office of Student Life changed the phrase “Lifestyle Expectations” to “Student Standards of Conduct.” At this time, the sexual conduct policy was moved from rule #3 to #8 in order to bring to the fore a commitment to academic integrity. The version of the standards featured here is from 2017.
Student Lifestyle Expectations, 2015-16
In 2015-16, the Behavioral and Community Expectations (including the policy prohibiting “cohabitation and related forms of premarital, extramarital, or homosexual sexual activities”) no longer appeared in the Undergraduate Catalog; they now appeared exclusively in the Student Handbook. At this time, the sexual conduct policy (expectation #3) defined “cohabitation” more precisely as “unmarried students in an amorous relationship living together.” The reference and hyperlink to SPU’s Statement on Human Sexuality was removed from rule #3 and placed in the preamble to the Behavioral and Community Expectations. A copy of the 2017 preamble appears below.
Community Standards and Policies Excerpted, 2006-07
In advance of the Equality Ride visit to SPU in April 2007, President Eaton reminded the community of the “Lifestyle Expectations” in the 2006-07 Undergraduate Catalog and provided a link to this set of excerpts. They state that “Behaviors for which students or student organizations are subject to disciplinary action include….3. Cohabitation and related forms of premarital, extramarital, or homosexual sexual activities.” The reference to the Statement on Human Sexuality being “available in the Office of Student Life” suggests that the SoHS was not online prior to 2007. In course catalogs from 2007-08 to 2014-15, a hyperlink to the SoHS accompanied the student lifestyle expectation prohibiting same-sex sexual activity.
Community Standards and Policies, 2006-07
The full section on Community Standards and Policies in the Undergraduate Catalog at the time of the Equality Ride visit in April 2007.